Cool Beanies.

I made these classic, beanie-style hats for Nick's brothers as sort of a belated Christmas present. They saw the one I made for Nick a few years ago and really liked it. I was happy to make them their own!

The pattern is basically the 'Hot Head' hat by Alex Zorn from the Stitch and Bitch book. I changed the pattern by knitting with a solid color yarn and making the hat several inches longer. I like the versatility of the longer hat; to be able to pull the brim down over your ears when it's frigid or to roll the brim up when you want that old fisherman look.

The K2 P2 rib is always interesting to knit with since it's like an accordian and looks SO SMALL when your working on it. I had a fear these hats would never fit the boys who are going to be wearing them, but I finished I was reassured that they do stretch...

...a lot.

January: I lay my knitting down.

It's been awful quiet around here lately.
But I swear I will follow up with some knitting-related posts soon!

Can you believe christmas was less than a month ago? The holidays rush at you so fast with so much anticipation and show, and then poof! they are over and forgotten and January quietly leaves you with a book to read and some time alone. This year, December was a time for making and doing and creating things to give and send and put in my shop, now January is a time to sit in bed and sip my morning coffee and do a little knitting in the afternoon. Of course I haven't been getting much done that way, unfortunately. I have, on a more productive level, been entering some art shows and have had my work accepted to Plymouth's new Russel Gallery. I'm also finishing all the projects I didn't get done before Christmas! I'm going to try and post as much as I can in the next few weeks, just so I can push myself to be a little more productive!

Idea Hunting.

oooo, this makes me want to learn how to crochet!



Pattern for babette blanket found on knittingdaily.com by Interweave crochet!

birthday!

Friday was my birthday, as well as Nick's last night before leaving. We met a bunch of friends in Boston for dinner at Wagamama, complete with Japanese beers, edamame, fire trucks and restaurant evacuation. Yup. All in an exciting night out.


Besides joining us for dinner, my friends gave me some really cool gifts. Rosie stitched me this lovely knitting needle carrier, personalized with my initials and in one of my favorite shades of blue. I had lots of fun filling it with all my frequently misplaced needles and taking photos of it.




And Stacie, knowing about my obsession with both art books and sheep, spotted this perfect paperback when she was in Venice. And brought it all the way back for me!

Just look at these guys!!

Stacie's been in the car with me several times when I drove past the sheep in the field near my old house on the Vineyard. I used to get such pleasure out of seeing them out there with their heads buried in the grass. Now I can gaze at these lovely sketches without risking an accident.

Thanks guys, for some terrificly thoughtful gifts!

Nick surprised me the most with a print I had been admiring from She Hit Pause Studio in New York. I should get a shot of it on my wall where it looks perfect framed and hanging up in the corner near my records, but I've been too busy catching up on my knitting and felting projects I've been neglecting. Stay tuned....

vacationland.

So I've been on a little bit of a vacation lately. Not that my day-to-day life isn't already vacationy enough (I haven't really worked since October, and that may be changing soon.) Since Nick has been visiting on his school break we have made it the point to travel all over New England visiting friends in the city, the mountains, by the sea and even across the border: New Hampshire, that is. Here are a few photos from our snowy encounter before I get back to business.

Nick is that tiny dot beside the trees.

... on snow shoes.

I'm taking polaroids, of course.

It sure is beautiful. But next year, I hope we go somewhere warmer.

Still Learning...

I'll admit it. Until this morning, I didn't know how to cast on. I've been faking all this time. Making it seem like I was an incredibly awesome knitter and knew my stuff. But really, I didn't even know how to begin. Then I watched this video:



Yay! Now I no longer have a bubbly, lumpy, uneven edge when I knit a ribbed hat, which I am doing. Successfully. And correctly, all thanks to the internet!

There are more ways to cast on at this helpful site.

baby its coooold outside.

nick took this picture when we got up this morning. glancing at the thermometer, it's no wonder zoe wouldn't go all the way outside. brrr.

the new years party was a colorful blast. i'll put some pictures on flickr soon. it was wonderful being back on the island for a few days and seeing all my favorite martha's vineyard friends. plus 2 kahoots shows in one night!! what a way to ring in 2008.