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i'll take one of each pleeeese. sigh.

shopping for ideas and inspiration. looking forward to coming back from new mexico with a new bundle of projects to begin, and some completed ones to show off here. see ya in a couple days.

one hand to another

It was my long-time, lovely friend Kristin, a social worker-to-be, who encouraged me to make up an armwarmer pattern to match a pair she liked from H&M. As winter approached and in preparation for her birthday I knit up a pair with chunky landscapes yarn and size 16 needles. Although they were just recently completed, packaged up and mailed in time to be a holiday present, I hope they are worn with style and keep her helping-hands warm throughout the winter!

Happy Birthday!!

Here's the armwarmer pattern that I made up and used. only thing I changed was the amount of stitches cast on since I used a chunkier yarn. and the thumb works great! try it out.

and I said "cute hat...!"

The inspiration:

Found at urban outfitters, I thought why not try to add that style to one of my hats?? i especially love the contrast in colors they used and the 'old lady style' that makes it look like it was found in a vintage shop. too bad it's really brand new for $24.

The final product:

Not quite a beret, but warm and cozy all the same. note it's actually the same as the hat i made for nick, which took 3 tries at getting the right size. this was attempt number two and happens to fit me just swell. i might change the pin to an actual button that blends with the yarns a little better, or one that radically stands out. but sorta cute, don't you think?

brown and green

it seems like everything i have been knitting is brown and green. i need some new yarns for felting!! I am putting the projects on hold till i recieve my order from jo anns where i found varying colors of Patons classics merino wool at a very affordable price! Jo anns has a huge selection if your looking to pick up some craft store yarn. for me its just easier to order online than wait till i am off island. Right now my purses and eyeglass cases are coming out doutone. can't wait for the full color!!

I'm trying ou these color combos.

ooops.

The other night nick was looking at my posts and thought i made it sound like i may have made those adorable flowers pins! no no. i changed it so it reads easier because i never want to take credit for someone elses stuff! Barclay Studios is in Taos, New Mexico, right out of Santa Fe. I will be spending new years there and can't wait to do some shopping! The artist who fosterd these creations is Sonya Mackintosh. i may try making some of my own pins and accessories. soon!

barclay studios, santa fe

I really should be in the accessories business! Look at these adorable pins made from recycled sweaters by Barclay Studios.



They also have some beautiful, fun scarves. Admiring the prices (these pins are $12 each) I could make a bundle if all I did was sit and knit!

adventures in felting.

Here's a piece fresh from the wash!

You can still see a bit of the texture from using the garter stitch. I found that the stockingette stitch makes a tighter, smoother felt, but sometimes i do like the texture.

After several experiences, I am learning a lot about my felt! I set the washer to a hot/cold cycle for the longest amount of time i could (i know i am using a ton of energy, but all the jeans, towels, socks and undies got clean too!) and checked on my pieces frequently. When they look "done" i take them out of the wash and can still shape them while they're wet.

Letting them air dry on a towel I found works better than tossing them in the dryer. The heat and tumbling turns them into weird shapes. When i get real serious about this I am going to cut cardboard to fit inside each one so they can dry to the correct shape. For now i am getting ready to finish with buttons, snaps or whatever's required.

christmas is coming

everyone should want this book:

"For knitters looking for something new to spark their imaginations, AlterKnits is the answer. Featuring 27 imaginative projects, 10 creativity exercises, and thought-provoking quotes from Albert Einstein, Martha Graham, and many more, AlterKnits inspires knitters to expect the unexpected, to enjoy the rewards of experimentation, and to see the possibilities of knitting with broader vision."

no earflaps required

60 stitches on size 10 1/2 straight needles. knit 2 purl 2 rib for 9 inches!!
(see the results of 7-8".)

shape the crown:
row 1: ktog, p2 to end
row 2: ktog, p1 to end
row 3 + 4: k1, p1 to end
row 5 + 6: ktog to end

eight stitches remain... sew them up and an invisible seam down the back and wear in cold, cold weather.

*this pattern came courtesy of the lovely stitch and bitch book. it is not my own. put it on your christmas list if you haven't yet!

felt like a change

Today i am learning how to felt: learning how yarn shrinks and tightens and gets all furry -- and i am whipping up these adorable little green and brown change purses that smell like my dryer! yes, i think felting can be as addictive as learning how to knit in general!

the change purses will be for sale at a local crafters venue to benefit the Island Food Pantry on December 10th December 31st. I have to make a bunch by then. more info soon!

and ps. the hat finally fits!

current project: the boyfriend hat

Knitting for guys can be tough, especially since there aren't as many cool patterns out there for guys as there are for girls. Its also tough because they're heads are way bigger --haha -- well in my case thats what went wrong! I followed a pattern from Stitch and Bitch to create a ribbed hat on strait needles instead of circular ones. It seemed pretty straight forward, only the first rendition came out waaaay too small (looked quite nice to wear to temple on sundays tho...) and I am currently on the third!

measure. measure. measure.

I did luck out by finding the yarn in a discounted bin so I was able to pick up lots of it for a good price. Plus it combines the same three colors that are in my boyfirends new winter coat.

help: all thumbs!

one way to make cozy armwarmers

cast on 24 stitches on size 10 1/2 needles.
knit in the rib stitch (knit, purl, knit purl entire row) for 3/4".
switch to stockingette stitch (knit a row, purl a row, all rows) for about 7".
rib the last 3/4" before binding off.
sew 'em up using the mattress stitch, leave about 1 1/2" - 2" about 1" down for the thumb to poke through...

and then here's where i ran into trouble -- the "thumb warmer" (i guess thats what we'll call it.) basically i didn't know how to make it one continuous peice, so i ended up making the thumb separately and sewing it on! by casting 15 stitches onto size 9 needles and knitting in the rib stitch for about 3/4" you get a cozy little cuff to attach at the thumb opening!


does anyone know the correct way to do this??

winter warmerz

I started knitting precisely a year ago and one of the first projects i wanted to make were a set of arm warmers -- little fingerless gloves that tuck inside your coat sleeve and keep your fists warm, but still allow you to dig your subway pass out of your wallet or operate your cell phone in subzero temperatures (very appropriate for a new england-city girl!) i thought these to be very difficult until i started looking around at some patterns and finally began making them -- so simple! I combined patterns found in vogue knitting and knitty.com to create my own and whipped them up in just two short nights. (i only had the attention span to make one each night!)

the completed cami

this pattern came from a book i have called Teen Knitting Club. i am not a teen (i was once though...) but i undoubtably love this book! It features patterns for things you would actually want to wear (boys and girls) and the instructions are easily written out instead of in abbreviations. everything about it is very simplified which is helpful to beginners as well as more advanced or adventurous knitters who want to modify patterns or come up with their own designs. i made only a few small changes to the camisole and got something waaay different from the book, yet it fits me as the pattern said it would. knitting, like anything, can be a lot of fun when you learn the rules well enough to break them.

yarn over...!

Recently upon yarn shopping I discovered this amazing, inexpensive yarn from lion brand called landscapes. I really loved the colors that were twined in each ball and how soft it was! I started knitting a practice swatch on size 13 needles just to see how it looked and couln't stop until I had a scarf.... voila! and added some fringe for fun.

yea, i do photography, too.