Ishbel on my needles.

Sorry for the lack of posts. I have just been knitting away on Ishbel!

Things I want to make

I'm working away on Ishbel at the moment, but finding so much inspiration from these independent designers I've been following online, it's hard to stay focused on one thing!

Modern Garden Cardigan by Veera Välimäki

Pickadilly by pamela wynne

Wast Side Shawl by Gudrun Johnston

Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolda Teague


All images courtesy of their designers.

Clicking the titles and names of designers will take you to Ravelry where you can find the patterns, more photos and links to the designers blogs. Have fun exploring!

looking forward.

I am always looking ahead. I decided to go home for Christmas, to visit my family, eat some home cooked Italian food and just spend a week doing nothing in the house I grew up in. I am ready for a break, but, having been in New Mexico for a year now, I might not be ready for the cold weather, so I took it as an excuse to make myself a new hat.


I really don't need another hat. I have this one, and this one, this hat and that, but when I saw all the gorgeous new malabrigo merino silk we got in at Unravel, well, I had to buy some. and I had been wanting to make this hat from CEY's Round Pond, and well, now I had a place to wear it!


Besides spending the Holiday with family and friends, I am really looking forward to this trip as a chance to clear my head and focus on things. Sometimes when you are right there and close up looking at things it is hard to see what they really consist of, but then when you stand back and take a glimpse, it gets a little clearer. I'm just talking about life in general, nothing specific, nothing wrong. Just how traveling and returning can give you a fresh view on things.

I am looking forward to that.

the best giveaway.... ever?

Is here!


Susan from the Martha's Vineyard/Hudson Valley Fiber Farm is giving away a small hand-spinner’s flock of their award-winning Angora goats and a custom-made Sand Creek run-in shed to house them in. wow! That's right, goats! The cute ones above!! Can you believe it?


Having goats is a lot more than work than just enjoying their sweet faces and personalities, so the entry process is a bit complicated. To find out more about what you have to do to enter visit this link and read on! The Fiber Farm blog (A Shepards Tale) + Lamb Cam are one of my favorite things on the web. Although I am not a member of their yarn CSA, I think they are onto something great and happy to support them by passing this on. Share this with someone you may know who is ready for their own flock!

Apparently there is enough cuteness to go around.

{photos courtesy of the FiberFarm.}

Finished projects + leftovers.

I finished knitting my Springtime Bandit! It knit up so fast, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I was baffled by the construction of this piece, knit from the long edge out. It wasn't until I got a good ways through the chart that I understood it, but continued to be amazed. Working with the Ultra Alpaca was such a great experience, too. I have another skein of it leftover (I bought 3 because I loved the color so much!) and might make a hat to match. Thanks to Rosie for suggesting this fun project and knitting along with me! Even though we are miles away, modern technology brought our knitting together. Magical!

I also finished another projects recently: Fetching fingerless gloves from knitty.com. I think it's funny that this project is designed to be knit up in a weekend, and it took me closer to a month to finish. They sat for about 2 weeks without thumbs!



The yarn I used is Berocco's Inca Gold and, as you can see, there are leftovers of that too!
What to make next?

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

In the Midst

I've been posting lots of images of inspiration lately, so I thought I would show off what I have actually been working on...

Springtime Bandit by Kelbourne Woolens

I love, love, love it. I haven't knit a shawl before and so far I am hooked. The pattern is interesting enough to keep me focused, but not too tricky that I get stumped or hit roadblocks. Plus, I am not worried about how the seems will line up or if it will fit me correctly when I am done.


I am knitting it up in Berroco's Ultra Alpaca in a gorgeous shade of green. Sort of reminds me of moss. or spinach. or seaweed.

Ultra Alpaca is a very soft yarn with a luxurious handle. I think it's one of my faves and would love to do a sweater with this yarn at some point too!


Sorry the pics aren't too spectacular, but I'll have some more as it's completed.

winter whimsy.

Not only is the Winter Whimsy pattern book from Classic Elite Yarns full of gorgeous sweaters and accessories I want to make, but it's photographed by one of my all-time favorite ladies Cig Harvey!



I love the bright pop of color that gets added to an otherwise dark and gray season.




Cig taught at the Art Institute of Boston when I was a student there and although I didn't have the chance to take a class with her, I loved to print in the lab when she was, just so I could chat with her and peak at what she was working on. Her work was such an inspiration to my own!

Looking at these images makes me long for a cold, snowy winter (just a teeny bit!) rather than the mild one that I know is ahead. I can't say I miss the hassle of snow and ice, or that I would trade it for the sunny southwest, but perhaps I am a little homesick and, well, being from New England, the whimsy of a winter wonderland are just part of who I am!