Knitting away over here; I finished one project for a pattern I’ll be re-releasing soon, but I want to tweak it to add an additional size, so one more knit coming up. The smaller size was perfect airplane knitting.
This is an update of the Snowy Woods cowl, which was released last winter as an exclusive for one of WoolGirl’s club kits.
So far I’ve changed this up with a fatter, smooshier yarn which means it can be knit with fewer repeats and be closer to the neck, and I also want to make a version that will double loop around the neck. The current yarn is Knitted Wit’s Superwash Merino Aran, a heavy worsted/light Aran bouncy round fun to knit delight. More on this soon.
Other yarn was delivered while I was on vacation, and I was knitting away madly on it, until I looked closely and said to myself, “clown barf.” It’s a fabulous variegated paired with a semi-solid, but the stitch pattern I chose isn’t bringing out the best in the variegated, so it’s back to the drawing board on that one. No worries; I have time and determination.
Vacation: We went to Montreal for six days, and had a blast! It’s almost like going to Europe, very charming, bilingual, and much closer. We stayed in the old part of Montreal, and it was lovely. Our hotel had this bronze outside, which is a smaller version of the one we know and love in DH’s home town of Clayton, Missouri. We felt right at home.
Our hotel was near the Basilica of Notre Dame. The square in front of it always has something fun going on. There’s music at noon.
We saw a gorgeous bridal party…
And at night, Notre Dame’s windows glow blue.
We happened to be there during Just for Laughs, a comedy festival. We also enjoyed the Festival des Nuits Afrique. Montreal has a short summer, and they seem to make the most of it! So many people walking around, enjoying the sunshine and the warm evenings.
I don’t know if this police officer lost a bet, or if this is just part of his summer wardrobe.
This troupe was offering mariages gratuits, free weddings. No one took them up on it.
I saw a rendition of a very Canadian song, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, in a way I’d never heard it before. Sorry the sound isn’t very good; half the speakers weren’t working ’til later in the song. But I like the beat of this, in four instead of three.
There was a lot of good food, and wine.
(Breakfast of champions. Or champignons.)
My food mission was to check out poutines. This one was from Au Pied du Cochon’s food truck at the festival. Poutine avec foie gras.
And we had to try the poutine at McDonald’s, because, photo op. It was underwhelming, as far as poutine goes.
But I learned that chicken McNuggets are Poulet McCroquettes, which made me laugh out loud. Really, doesn’t everything sound better in French?
Whew! That was a big catch up. Back to my knitting. No more clown barf!
PDXKnitterati 
Thanks for sharing, love the cowl, especially the white one. Montreal looks wonderful, haven’t been since the Worlds Fair, many moons ago.
Thanks, and thanks for stopping by! I’m working on my last version of this cowl, and looking forward to publishing the pattern in August.
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I recently went to Montreal for the first time and I loved it!!
Get out of here!!! Our home is now the amazing Rockaway Beach, but we lived for 18 years in Kirkwood, MO! SLU grads. Love Clayton. And know just the statue 🙂 Go Cards!
It’s a small world! And I love that statue, right outside the Starbucks…one of our walk destinations when we’re in town.
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Stayed atd Montreal a week before the Just for laugh festival. I agree with you, a lovely place to visit. A perfect place in my mind good food, nice yarn shops, and great public transportation. We parked the car, in front of our AirBandB just off Rue Mont St Royal , but got around just fine.
Dianne
I didn’t make it to any yarn shops, and we never got on the metro. There was so much going on right in the center of town! This just means I have to go back. Glad you had fun, too!
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Montreal looked awesome! You know how to travel, my friend.
I’m knitting clown barf right now……and, unfortunately, I think it’s going to stay kind of barfy. Oh well …knit and learn. LOL
I think the current version I’m working on has vanquished the clown barf. Much prettier. Whew!
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Love the cowl pattern! Maybe you should host another KAL when you re-release the pattern 😉 And Montreal looks like a fun place to visit!
I am definitely planning a KAL for this cowl! And Lorajean came up with a custom colorway for it. I’m knitting it right now, and you’ll see it very soon.
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Montreal has been on my list for a long time, and you’ve really inspired me to make it happen soon.
I would have liked to have seen the clown barf!
It was so bad that I couldn’t even take a picture before I frogged it. Buh-bye! It’s been restarted with a different contrast color instead of the gray, but I’m currently side-tracked by another version of the Snowy Woods Cowl in a gorgeous custom colorway from Knitted Wit. Pictures soon!
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