knit, too!

winter's here... and a question about storage

2012-01-21T08:35:00.007-05:00

I swear the next thing I knit will not be from Quince! ;-)

maybe....

I finished Agnes just before the cold weather really hit. Knit from Quince and Co.'s Puffin (colorway: gingerbread) it's a dense but comfy sweater in a simple, classic design. I should have probably knit down a size, cause this is pretty big on me, but I love wearing it like an oversized sweatshirt, sitting in my kitchen watching the snow come down!

Question for you knitters (and non-knitters, too!) How do you store and organize your finished handknits? Mine are in piles, baskets, drawers, and bins -- all over the place! As I finish more and more big projects and sweaters, I am seeking out some sensible, tidy, and pest-proof storage. Any recommendations for favorite systems, products, or just ideas, please feel free to share. Thanks!

think pink!

2012-01-13T07:26:00.005-05:00

"...think pink and the world is rosey-red"

I am not typically one for cowls, but I loved the stitch pattern here and the opportunity to work with Quince & Co. Puffin, which I picked up on a recent trip to Maine. I knit this for a friend's birthday in November and really love it.

State Street Cowl pattern found here.

Quince & Co. Puffin found here. I chose pomegranate and I love the shade! Pink may be my new favorite... and it's got me singing this song!

happy new year!

2012-01-02T08:22:00.011-05:00

Spent the last week of 2011 in one of my favorite places, reading a great book, taking lots of walks and wearing my finished Agnes sweater.

Hope 2012 brings you all continued peace, love, happiness, or whatever you are seeking.

Hooray for a new year!

...

All photos taken with iphone/instagr.am, by me.

winter knitting.

2011-12-17T15:27:00.002-05:00

some almost-finished sweaters and an almost-snowy sky.

maine.

2011-10-23T11:42:00.003-04:00

I am lucky to live so close to such a beautiful state as Maine! I am entranced by the many islands, small coastal communities, and remote, rural living. I often fantasize about my husband and I living off the grid in a house surrounded by water like this couple (maybe someday...) But a great thing about being so close to Maine is the opportunity to visit KnitWit Yarn Shop in Portland and shop their selection of Quince and Co. yarns!

I chose the colorway "gingerbread" to make Agnes and am loving it already. It's knitting up so squishy and soft!

Rhinebeck!

2011-10-18T21:16:00.005-04:00

This was my first year attending the annual New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (referred to by many as simply "Rhinebeck", the name of the town where it's held). It was a wonderful experience! My friend Rosie and I spent the beautiful fall day shopping for ecological yarns, petting sheep, and eating some tasty treats (lamburgers!) Here are a few photos I took.

Can't wait to start knitting with my new yarn... and for Rhinebeck 2012!

autumn walks.

2011-10-15T08:35:00.008-04:00

I love taking walks in the fall when the air is cooler and there is so much changing color, light, and movement to see.

all photos were taken on the go with iphone/instagr.am.

the journey is the destination.

2011-10-10T18:29:00.014-04:00

Am I different from a lot of knitters in that my enthusiasm for knitting is deeply embedded in the process rather than the final product? Although I am always pretty thrilled to wear a sweater, gift a pair of mittens, or show off a shawl, knitting is more about the making than the wearing for me. Because of this I work pretty slow and careful, obsessing over tiny details and pausing at every stage of the project to take things in (I also get distracted or don't pay attention and make loads of errors which I have to redo, but that's a different blog post!) I don't think I could ever knit a sweater in a weekend, no matter the pattern or yarn, and to be honest, I don't even think I would want to...

This particular sweater is the story of several months in my life, starting on the February day my friend Rosie and I traveled to Portland, ME and purchased Quince & Co. yarn from KnitWit (as well as ate french fries in Duckfat, admired pretty garments in Chellis Wilson, and poured over cookbooks at Rabelais). The journey continued through the spring as I worked through the colorful charts of bulky cable stitches from my seat on the sofa and carried me through the steamy summer months where I could only bear to hold a sleeve's worth of wool on my lap. It lead me right up to the fall, as a garment emerged and I began to get excited about paring with jeans and boots or tights and a dress... and maybe even to Rhinebeck next weekend?

These photos aren't great, but they capture the process and the satisfying moments that I paused and noted my progression. They are the journey, which is where the true essence of the story lies.

I still have to block this (and take some better photos) but I feel like the real project is done and that (to me) is as exciting as it was to cast on. It's new story is sure to be told with every wear.

Pattern: Aidez by Cirilia Rose

Yarn: Quince & Co.'s Osprey in Chantrelle

Modifications: Instead of knitting five separate pieces and seaming them, I knit left front, back, and right front panels as one piece, carefully following the multiple charts right up to the armpits (18"); knit the sleeves in the round on dpns till they were also 18" long; joined all the three pieces Elizabeth Zimmerman style to knit the yoke, shoulders as one piece incorporating raglan decreases; knit the collar to the back of the sweater; seamed the very back of the collar and kitchered the armpits. Voila! Forgot to do the waist shaping decreases. Oops.

For more project details please view my ravelry page or feel free to leave a question in the comments!

one year.

2011-10-01T08:45:00.002-04:00

As September finishes I realize it's been one full year of living in the same state, the same city, the same apartment. It's not much of an accomplishment, just interesting to point out after so many years of moving (for good reasons!) from the city, to the island, to the desert, and back. And after one year I am continuously happy with where I live -- it's a good feeling!

The photo above is my most recent labor of love, Edie Shawl by Bristol Ivy for Quince & Co. I am knitting with their yarn chickadee in the shade of honey. It's slow going for me, but I am loving how the pattern emerges (like stripes and polka dots!) It's quite different from other shawls I have made, which are typically lacy, drapy and open, but this one is sure to be a favorite when it's done!

If you aren't already signed up for Quince & Co's emails, I highly recommend them (you can sign up right on their homepage, quinceandco.com.) They are pretty simple, just a photo with a link to a new pattern, but the styling, design, and beauty always take my breath away. It's a treat to find one in my inbox.

For Edie, I am knitting along with another blogger/raveler in Oklahoma. Hi, Shelli!

I'm all ears.

2011-09-26T08:06:00.009-04:00

A few weeks before a friend of mine was due to have her baby on 4th of July weekend, I decided to knit her two little hats. She had shared pictures of baby hats with oversized animal ears on Facebook and I felt I could grant her wish. I quickly searched ravelry for patterns to make a mouse and a bunny hat and found this and this. I purchased superwash wool in the appropriate colors and began what I thought to be a simple little project.

I just finished yesterday, 3 months later. What the heck took me so long??

Making the hats was the easy part. They are small and quickly flew off my size 9 needles. I used the picoted cast on for one, which was fun, but decided to mix it up and add a seed stitch border to the white hat. Both came out nice.

My big hang up really, was on the ears. The pattern for the rabbit ears was clear and concise, telling me exactly what to do, but (typical) I refused to listen! I experiemented with bigger ears, more tapered ears, tried different ways of seeming the ears. I think I made 6 rabbit ears total... and I am pretty darn sure that rabbits only have 2!

In the end, I ended up making the rabbit ears exactly as the pattern describes. The same size, shape, and method. No imporvisations neccessary. duh. How can 376 ravelers be wrong? Its funny how that happens.

The mouse ears were less complicated. I let the pattern (free, here) do all the work.

In the end they are a little lopsided, one rabbit ear is (somehow) bigger than the other, and some of the pink yarn shows through the white... but who cares? I had to let my perfectionism go on this one. It's going to be worn by a baby, who is going to steal the attention away from my knitting for sure. No one is going to say 'that seam is off', or 'that mouse ear is slightly more round'. No, they are going to be speechless when they see the adorable baby Matilda wearing my hats.

heart vermont.

2011-09-07T10:22:00.004-04:00

This heartfelt post from Savory Knitting came to my attention a few days too late to purchase a pattern, but not too late to help out.

Savory Knitting has shared an emotional, first-hand account of the devastation in Vermont from recent hurricane Irene, as well as ways to help out with the recovery. I was fortunate to have only experienced a little rain and wind during the storm, but not everyone had it this easy, and many folks in Vermont lost a lot or are still cleaning up.

Please note that Green Mountain Spinnery in VT is donating proceeds from their shop between September 3 to September 11, 2011 to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund. They are located in the heart of this lovely state ...AND their yarns are amazing! I am thrilled to add more of their fiber to my stash as well as help out my neighbors.

You can shop their beautiful yarns here: http://www.spinnery.com/shop/

early autumn.

2011-09-07T08:06:00.006-04:00

Hi!

I didn't mean to go so long without posting. Please don't mistakenly think I was 'On Vacation' (as my last post suggested) that whole time. I glanced at my blog occasionally and thought how nice that concept was though, so I guess that through my blog I was able to savor that sweet, summery week off I had back in early August a little bit longer.

I've been working on a flurry of knitting projects these last few weeks and getting excited as the weather cools and it starts feeling more and more like fall. I have nothing finished to show you though, the only thing I have completed in the last month was this, which I highly recommend.

it. was. amazing.

happy fall everyone!

on vacation.

2011-08-05T11:51:00.005-04:00

spending the week on martha's vineyard with some friends!

visiting some of my favorite spots.

eating some delicious food.

enjoying the light, the sand, and the sea.

knitting a little red cotton shawl.

having a great week!

island bound.

2011-07-23T12:28:00.008-04:00

Getting ready for vacation... enjoying Lena's book, and swatching for luna!

The yarn shown here is Angora Extra.

I am also experimenting with the Kushu Kushu scarf kit I bought last summer in Santa Fe, NM.

Even though I am only a few rows past the cast on, I am having trouble getting excited about the project. Not only is the yarn tricky to work with, but it just does not have the same pleasurable feeling between my fingers as woolly fibers.

I do like that the project makes me think of my summer in Santa Fe! I was orginally drawn to the project by a sample I saw knit up in a shop there. I thought the fibers, colors, and end result were truly unique.

We'll see how far I get!

ginkgo leaves in summer.

2011-07-17T20:04:00.005-04:00

I finished knitting ginkgo on July 1st, blocked it on July 3rd, and finally photographed it today, July 17th! To me, that means it's finally done.

I increased the stockinette portion to 215 sts for a much larger shawl. I absolutely love the end result, even though I had to find another skein of yarn when I was pretty close to the end. This shawl took just a few yards over 4 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Silk.

I love how the little bit of lace punctuates the stockinette!

This was a truly wonderful project to knit. The pattern is designed by Maggie Magali and is available as a free download on her lovely blog Fragrant Heart.

Thanks to Nancy of gettingpurlywithit.com for introducing me to this pattern!

hi there!

2011-07-15T09:11:00.009-04:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged. Life, work, and going back to school have just got in the way! But i've missed it and I have lots of unfinished projects piling up around here -- perhaps blogging will help keep me on track?

hope you're all having a great summer!

*above photos were taken with iphone/instagr.am app!

**project details can be found on ravelry, or in future posts.

ps. i'm so excited to have won Lena's giveaway! her book MAPS looks gorgeous and i can't wait to enjoy it in person!

summer/fall projects: 2010

2010-12-04T21:41:00.006-05:00

wurm cowl.

summerflies shawl
in mirasol nuna.

phinney in ultra alpaca.

vanessa headband by nancy ricci.

bells.

finally: something for him!

drumroll please...

2010-08-10T10:06:00.003-04:00

I finally finished my Sundrop Cardigan!

This sweater has been quite the saga. Both yarn and pattern were purchased at Webs on a trip to New England in May 2009. I cast on during that same trip and finally finished almost a year and a half later!

Things would have gone a lot faster if I hadn't started over halfway through, but I am really happy with the changes I made, the sweater's overall fit, and everything I learned from the process. I am even somewhat a fan of the set-in sleeve, though I would like to avoid them, when possible, in the future.

The only thing left to do is find some pretty buttons!

Red Scarf Project + a pattern!

2010-06-06T17:10:00.007-04:00

Have you heard about the Red Scarf Project? Organized by the Orphan Foundation of America, the Red Scarf Project puts handknit and crocheted red scarves into care packages for orphans in college and vocational schools across the country. They ask for the scarves to be unisex, and, obviously, red, since they are sent out to students on Valentine's Day. I think this is such a nice idea! Even though I only lived an hour from my family when I was in college, I remember getting so many wonderful care packages from them on holidays, or sometimes just for no reason. My mom always knew when I needed a pick me up, a little motivational message, or a Dunkin' Donuts gift card. I even recall her once sending me fresh, homemade banana bread as a surprise, which we laughed about because it wasn't so fresh when I finally made it to the post office to pick it up!

But since scarves don't spoil, you can send one to OFA between September 1 - December 15th and they will see that it gets to a college student who needs a little hand made love. The address is on their site as well as free patterns, yarn suggestions (washable, no lace preferred) and ideas for other goodies to include in your care package.

The scarf pictured here is one that made from Berroco Peruvia in a double moss stitch. It was very easy and fun to make. Here's how:

cast on a multiple of 4 sts + 2 (so 18, 22, 46, whatever you like!)
Row 1: *k2, p2, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: *p2, k2, rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 3: repeat row 2.
Row 4: repeat row 1.
repeat all 4 rows for the length of your scarf!!

Land of Enchantment.

2010-06-03T09:42:00.009-04:00

A few weeks ago, Nick and I moved 292 miles north from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We are really happy to be here -- Santa Fe is an amazing city with so many things to do (something we often noted the lack of when we lived in Las Cruces). But this morning when I read Abby Powell's roadtrip post on her blog Abby Try Again, I felt this sudden longing for the land we left behind. The landscape, the sunshine, and the incredible food make this city where I spent a year and a half of my life a very memorable place!

More polaroids of Las Cruces and Old Mesilla can be found on my flickr...
I'm off to explore Santa Fe!

Back in Black

2010-06-01T07:59:00.001-04:00

I'm constantly taking in inspiration from from around the web -- knitters, artists, designers, photographers, etc -- and I started a new tumblr blog to reflect that. I am not sure yet how good I will be at keeping up with it, but there is just so much brilliance and beauty out there, I wanted somewhere to collect it and share it with others. This blog will be dedicated to my own creations, like these projects I knit recently with black yarn. I loved working with the yarn and know I will wear them a lot, but both projects were difficult to photograph, so I don't have many images.

Side Slip Cloche by Laura Irwin
from the book Boutique Knits.

The yarn I used was Plymouth Yarn Mulberry Merino, which was given to me from my friend Stacie for my birthday. It's soft and fuzzy and makes a hat that's warm and cozy, but not too heavy.

Wedge by Norah Gaughan

I knit Wedge with 4 skeins of Queensland Collection Leche yarn. It's a fun pattern, lots of garter stitch and a little bit of short row working to make it interesting and give it some shape. I love the movement of the fabric, like waves. The scarf looks so much more complex than it is. Norah is such a brilliant designer!

Something for You!

2010-05-18T15:04:00.006-04:00

wow! Its been over a month since I shared anything here on the blog. I figured you were all tired of the half made and occasionally finished objects I usually parade in these posts, so today I thought I would share something different: something for you to make!

Here is a free download for a bulky cable purse pattern I created called Instant Gratification!

---> download now <---

Instant Gratification is a handbag knit with bulky weight yarn and features simple cables, knits, and purls. This is a great pattern for beginners, especially those who want to learn cables. It's knit flat and then folded in half and seamed on the sides. You can line the bag with pretty fabric, too! You only need about a half yard.

The best part about this bag, is that it knits up quick, hence the name. I hope you find it as fun and 'gratifying' to knit as I did!

You may wish to make this bag for yourself or give it as a handmade gift. You may also want to share the pattern with someone else who loves to knit, or who has been searching for something just like it. It is okay to give away this pattern, to knit it, share it, and even modify it as you wish, I just ask that you give me proper credit as the designer. That's all. Commercial use is not allowed, so I ask that you do not make and sell this bag. If you have any questions or exceptions please feel free to contact me. That's all I ask! Thank you!

starting over.

2010-04-06T15:41:00.006-04:00

I bought the yarn and pattern to make the Sundrop Cardigan when I was at Webs last year in May. I knit the back panel, one front panel, and, upon completion of the second panel, realized that my pieces were not going to fit together. I had counted inches, not rows or pattern repeats, and everything was going to be off. Seaming it looked like it would be a nightmare. So what did I do? I folded it up nearly and put it in a drawer, where it sat for six months....

I dug it out recently because I wanted to finish it and I knew, unfortunately, that this would mean starting over. What a pain!!! But I am so glad I did. I cast on for all three panels and am knitting the whole thing in one swoop right up to the armholes. No seams to worry about! I also went and made the button band and button holes a lot smaller because I did not really like how they looked when I knit them the first time (and added an extra pattern repeat to compensate). I really enjoy working in this stitch pattern and, honestly, I don't mind knitting it twice! Now, if I can only finish it and wear it with a cute summer dress, because the weather's getting awfully nice here in southern New Mexico!

So, lessons learned:

count rows, not inches.
it's okay to give projects a 'time out'.
having to start over is better than finishing something that you know you will never wear/use.

Hope this advice comes in handy for you, too!

best wishes!

2010-04-05T10:02:00.007-04:00

The Bailout Plan 24" x 18" Oil on Panel

I failed to mention that the lovely video I shared on Friday was brought to my attention by the one, the only, Heather Neill! and what better a day to introduce her than today, her birthday!

Happy Birthday Heather!

See her amazing work on her website and read her musings and inspirations on her blog.

Mother's Darts 36" x 24" Oil on Panel

I suggest sitting down with a cup of tea and browsing through some of Heather's paintings online. And if you ever do find yourself in the Granary Gallery on Martha's Vineyard, take the time to study her work in person. Her paintings are rich, detailed, exquisitely mastered magical realism, each one accompanied by a piece of writing by Heather herself. Sometimes it's a story, a meaningful poem, a bit of inspiration, or a biographical reflection. The words always work well with the paintings, though the paintings stand just as strong without them. Heather is a very thoughtful artist and she doesn't let one detail go overlooked. And she never forgets her sense of humor!

I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do!

natural.

2010-04-02T11:50:00.004-04:00

Here's some creative knitting inspiration for your weekend! I'll be back in a few days with some finished projects and follow up ideas from my last post.

* * *

P.S. I am marking down all the sewing patterns in my etsy shop to $3. Please check out what's there or pass this along if someone you know loves to sew! thanks.

the creative habit

2010-03-17T14:17:00.003-04:00

Last week my friend Abby blogged about Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit. Feeling like I have grown further and further from what was once a very creative life, I decided to give this well-known book a read. Its a wonderful resource for how to handle your creativity and get past roadblocks that stop us from often being creative. Many of the techniques can be applied to all aspects of "working" life. Mainly, I have been applying the ideas to myself as a knitter and how I could eventually treat my hobby as a business without spoiling my love for the craft.

Just curious, readers (if there are any readers out there) do you knit/sew/crochet/craft as a business? Do you ever think about trying it? what prevents you? what challenges do you face? how do you overcome them? Basically, I would like to open up a little discussion here. Please don't be shy...

I have more I want to say on this topic too. Let me gather my thoughts...

Cairn + Coffee

2010-03-14T17:06:00.004-04:00

As proposed, this month is going to be all about getting stuff done! Earlier this week I finished knitting Cairn in Berroco's Ultra Alpaca yarn. I had fun playing with color combinations for these little gloves, especially because I have so many shades of Ultra Alpaca in my stash. These were knit for a friend who I know loves trees and nature, so the color combo seemed just right!

The weather is getting warm here in southern New Mexico, so it's time to start brewing my favorite summer beverage: cold brew coffee! A few years ago, Rosie introduced me to the New York Times article about it and got me hooked! The Blue Bottle Coffee Co. in San Francisco -- and now Brooklyn, NY -- is also known for this delicious drink. It's pretty simple to make at home with some mixing bowls and a strainer. I just buy regular espresso, though the chicory is good too.

Find the recipe here and enjoy!

on the needles

2010-02-28T17:00:00.004-05:00

I have so many unfinished projects, it's not even funny. I've decided to dedicate the month of March to getting things done! Here's a little inventory of what's on the needles these days.

Alpaca Sox Legwarmers
Knit with Opal uni-solids in Cocoa

I can't wait to wear these with boots and tights on a chilly winter day, but its beginning to look like that might be next winter at the rate I am going!

Wedge by Norah Gaughan

I realized back in November that I don't have a simple, black scarf to wear with just about anything, so I cast on for Wedge with Queensland Collection's Leche. I ran out of yarn before I finished, but yesterday I finally made it back to Fiber Chicks in Albuquerque for more.

Cairn fingerless mitts by Ysolda Teague

Thrummed mittens
with the help of yarn forward.com.
(this one still needs a thumb!)

Oh, yes, and this sweater. I started it in May 2009 and would love to finish it by May 2010!

Now, pardon my absence, but I have some knitting to do!

New Etsy Shop!

2010-02-16T11:22:00.006-05:00

Etsy
Buy Handmade
vanessae

For any of you out there who are sewists ( sewers? or sewsters?) I want to share with you my new etsy shop!

Not too long ago I started collecting vintage sewing patterns. I love the illustrated envelopes, finding the occasional uncut virgin pieces inside, and wondering who may have sewn the dress or blouse way back when. Slowly I came to realize that I owned waaay more than I was ever going to find the time to make (especially at the rate I sew!) Now I want to share them with you. Please take a look... and pass the link along to any other sewists you may know! And if you don't see anything that grabs your fancy, check back often. I hope to be doing updates every weekend!

inspiration: other people's projects

2010-02-10T11:26:00.010-05:00

Lately I am really loving the look of crochet. These bright, colorful granny squares sure do brighten up winter! Maybe its time to learn a new skill??

{click the images to visit their source!}

And look, Crochet Today has this free pattern to get started!

knitscene winter/spring 2010 & CEY

2010-01-26T13:45:00.005-05:00

I am debating whether I should pick up the newest Knitscene Magazine. I really like the two looks below.

{heather raglan by Cecily Glowik MacDonald}

{Geodesic Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio}

I've bought a couple issues in the past, but have never knit anything from this magazine. I find the styling to be less inspiring than it's big sister Interweave, and the patterns, although trendier than other publications, a bit boring.

On the other hand, I am undoubtedly in *love* with this top from the Classic Elite Spring 2010 book Farmer's Market.

The shape, color, style, and construction are all right up my ally! Also, it reminds me of this vintage crush I have had for a long time.

As always, CEY has lots of gorgeously photographed spring and summer looks that I think will brighten up your cold, dreary January day.

2010.

2010-01-24T14:18:00.003-05:00

I started the new year with the unfortunate news that my local yarn shop would be closing at the end of the month. Very sad! Not only will I miss having a store nearby to shop for gorgeous yarns, find unique patterns, and pick up the most recent copy of Interweave Knits, but I will also miss seeing the familiar faces that the shop has introduced me to since I moved here a little over a year ago.

{fingerless mitts, a birthday gift knit by rosemary from this pattern.}

The reason for the shop closing goes beyond the poor economy (I won't get into it here) but I must say it has been unfortunate watching a number of our regular patrons turn to online resources to buy their materials rather than supporting the local ones right here in town just to save a buck.

{thrummed mittens, in progress, malabrigo worsted yarn and this pattern.}

Often, a LYS can be more than just a store that caters to knitters, spinners, and crocheters. It is also a spot for local artists, crafters, designers and folks of all ages to gather, socialize, share what they are making, and often learn a new skill. Our LYS has hosted shows by local artists of various mediums, classes and workshops on a number of different crafts, and was a meeting place for many local fiber groups.

On numerous visits to the area before I even moved out here, I always tried to include a visit to the shop. The staff was friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about everything! Since moving here over a year ago I have also found part time work in the store and taught several classes and workshops. We live in a somewhat rural part of the state and have fiber lovers who travel for hours to come to our shop since it is (or was) the only one around. The shop will be greatly missed in the community, both as a local business and a unique creative outlet.

It's important, though, not to forget that a LYS is a business, too, and the space to gather share projects, ideas, and art would not exist if we do not support these stores by purchasing materials there, even if it sometimes costs a little bit more. I know the economy is tough right now and many of us don't have have as much money to spend on luxuries like yarn as we would like, but at times like this is is also important to think about where your money is going when you spend it, rather than just how much you are spending.

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit! Hope your new year and projects are going well!

knit bliss.

2010-01-12T12:33:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting a cozy shawl collared cardigan to warm up my winter. I love this one from the Debbie Bliss pattern book 'The Big Easy'.

Actually, everything in it looks really wonderful, styling included!

Ishbel on my neck!

2009-12-20T14:38:00.003-05:00

I finished my lovely Ishbel just in time to wear it home for the Holidays. Today I am flying from 60 degree desert temperatures to a New England snowstorm!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Ishbel on my needles.

2009-11-20T23:31:00.006-05:00

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

looking forward.

2009-10-20T11:35:00.002-04:00

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.

Finished projects + leftovers.

2009-09-07T16:36:00.005-04:00

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

2009-08-25T13:22:00.009-04:00

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.

2009-08-20T14:13:00.005-04:00

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!

feelings for fall.

2009-07-26T18:57:00.003-04:00

I know fall is still months away, and summer, in most places, is in full swing, but looking at the new Berroco Fall-Winter 2009 pattern books gets me excited about the cooler days ahead.

Just look:

lovely. feminine. cozy.

and looks like lots of fun to knit!

Sweater Weather.

2009-06-29T16:50:00.008-04:00

Remember when I said June was going to be my month of finishing up old project? You probably don't, because even I forgot and spent more time working on my Sundrop Cardigan than anything else. Here's part of the front panel...

Look how addictive that lovely leaf stitch looks!

I did, however, sew on the buttons, weave in the loose ends and photograph my Puff-Sleeved Feminine Sweater that I started in February. The pattern is from Stefanie Japel's book Fitted Knits and the yarn is Knit Picks Merino Style in 'hawk'. This is my first completed hand knit sweater... and one that I will actually wear! I loved the pattern and am pretty happy with the end results.

Like most of Ms. Japel's designs, this pattern starts at the neck and works it's way down, increasing to create the raglan sleeves and decreasing for a cute, fitted waist. I really loved working in the top-down structure. I also liked the seed stitch collar and all the little details she slips in to keep it from getting boring. There was very little seaming to do in the end, and I was also able to try the sweater on during various stages of growth to be sure that it fit. I considered adding some rows in the waist to make it a little longer, since most sweaters that I wear are not this short, but after giving it some thought I decided to follow the recipe as it was given and let the sweater be of the short nature in which it was designed. I think it will look really cute over a summer dress or with a long tunic in the fall.

The only trouble I had was with the lacework in the peplum but that was mostly because I had never read a chart before. You'd have to put your face pretty close up to my hips to see the mistakes and anyone who's doing that obviously has bigger issues than the yarn overs in my sweater, so, I let that go!

An area I feel I am improving in is choosing the correct yarns for my projects. This is sometimes a tricky thing. I started off as one of those knitters who would fall in love with a yarn that was totally wrong for a project and not see my mistake until the end. What do I mean by "wrong"? Well, my first ever garment was a chunky wool camisole top -- not very practical (but it taught me how to do armhole shaping and sew seams!) My second garment was a hideous pink, green and shimmery striped sweater. Whoa! It was a pretty yarn, but for an entire sweater? I just wouldn't wear it and that realization kept me from completing it. At the time, I didn't think about that when I was in the store, but now I do. I realize that black, grey and neutral colors are what I feel most comfortable wearing. And that simple yarns can help define stitches and show off delicate details.

For this project, I used the exact yarn the pattern called for and barely strayed away from the pattern. I think if I were to start over of knit it again I would choose a pima cotton or bamboo blend for a warmer-weather garment (rather than wool) but other than that I am pretty pleased. Knit picks merino yarn is super soft (though a bit pilly) and knits up very well. It's pretty darn good for the price!

For someone who is often a much more "experimental" knitter, not straying away from the pattern was a big step in learning how to follow directions and understand the basics of garment construction. I realize that taking risks can be a very exciting part of knitting, but it's also nice - and easier to learn from - the no hassle projects. Especially when you are pleased with the results!

You can find more of Ms. Japel’s stylish, wearable knits in her two books Fitted Knits and Glam Knits and it’s always fun to see what she making on her blog www.glampyre.com!

Thanks for visiting! Hope you're all having a great summer.

a quick hello and a question....

2009-06-08T19:56:00.004-04:00

Well, I returned from one trip and am already planning another! This one's just a quick visit to Tucson, AZ for a weekend in July, mostly to see Bill Callahan, but also to do a little exploring in the city, too. Does anyone have any recommendations for places to stay or things to see while we are there?

I'll be back again soon to share some finished projects, I promise! I am, in fact, dedicating June to finishing a number of things I have started making in the last few months. so... stay tuned!

Thanks for reading... I look forward to your travel suggestions!

a little vacation.

2009-05-10T18:13:00.005-04:00

I won't be posting for the next few weeks... I'm venturing back home to visit family and friends and fill my lungs with some salty air! Stay tuned to my flickr page for visual updates and thanks again for all the great compliments on my Spring (Ruffle) Top. I even made it onto the Sew, Mama, Sew blog! yay.

Spring (ruffle) Top!

2009-05-05T12:11:00.003-04:00

I finished this cute spring (ruffle) top -- sans ruffles -- from Made by Rae in one afternoon! The pattern is from a tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew and I suggest giving it a try. It's very easy to follow and doesn't require much fabric. I used some old Amy Butler fabric I had in my stash and a little quilting solid that matched it well.

I might be getting the hang of this whole sewing-my-own-clothes thing!

yarn of transformation, indeed.

2009-05-01T16:35:00.004-04:00

I downloaded the pattern for Stephanie Japel's Reclamation Scarf with it being the perfect project to take with me on my trip in May. A nice, easy knit to work away in the airport (along with a good book for the plane ride) and a chance to use the 2 lovely skeins of Alchemy Synchronicity that I rescued from the sale bin at my LYS a few weeks ago. Well, I was eager to try out the pattern (and the yarn) and got a little head start...

ohhhhh! the Synchronicity is just dreeeeeaammmy! So, so lush to work with, it's totally fair that it rings up at between $24 - $30 a skein. The 50% wool, 50% silk blend makes it both soft and shiny, as well as strong with just enough bounce (merino!) I really, really can't get enough -- but at that price I might have enough already.

And look at all the gorgeous colors it comes in! Wish these were all mine....

(photo taken today at Unravel Yarn Shop in Las Cruces, NM)

it's been a long time....

2009-04-28T13:22:00.010-04:00

I used to do a lot of felting. If you look back at the beginning of my blogging days you will see early felting experiments that I documented and shared. I loved the technique and my ability to design bags with it. I made many of them in a vibrant array of colors and sold them in my etsy shop, gave them as gifts, and donated them to be auctioned off at community fundraisers. Then, last winter, I stopped making them. Just as my store became successful and as I had my washing/felting times down pat, I decided I had enough, and moved on to other projects.

Felting (or fulling,) I should explain, involves working with 100% wool yarn on larger needles to create an object that will intentionally shrink when you wash it. Much like when you accidentally wash a wool sweater, the fibers tighten and you get the effect of a solid, fuzzy fabric where you can't see the stitches. It's great for making sturdy things, like purses, clutches and Christmas stockings as well as other crafts and accessories.

One of the reasons I got away from felting was that I moved to a new apartment without a washer dryer of my own. Feeding quarters in the machines at the laundry mat to wash our clothes was enough of a nuisance, getting used to the new equipment and all those test cycles just wasn't in me! Also, I found after a long time of knitting numerous projects that would later be felted and not show my stitches, that my stitch definition was getting sloppy and I wasn't progressing with the new techniques I wanted to learn (sweater shaping, lace work, socks, etc) so... it's been awhile, but I am back to felting, for today at least. I made a couple of soon-to-be-felted bowls, which look like stretchy ski caps before they run through the hot/cold cycle. The bowls are for a workshop I will be teaching at Unravel in May and they are pretty fun to make. As long as you have a washing machine that cooperates!

It's amazing how quickly things dry here in the desert! I removed my two bowls from their third trip through the washer (I have cleaned just about everything I own by now!!) and started stuffing them with plastic shopping bags to form the rounded shape. Honestly, after a few minutes in the warm New Mexico sun they were dry! They do kind of look like little Jackie O. hats, don't they?

a good read.

2009-04-17T14:03:00.003-04:00

I love to knit, but sometimes find it eats into my reading time, big time! does anyone else have this problem?

In May, Nick and I are traveling to visit family and friends on the east coast. I am really excited to visit my "home" and also looking forward to the quiet, downtime our 6 hour flight has to offer. Usually, I bring some knitting, but this time I am thinking of just bringing a good book to read, since it feels like it's been months (oh, wait it has been!) since I actually finished reading one. I've been knitting so much lately that I haven't given any attention to the list of books I want to read... it keep growing and growing! Here are some of the titles I am considering for the plane. I thought I'd share with pictures:

This book is sooo good! I am already about 1/3 a way through and hopefully will be done by the time we leave, but it's not entirely likely!

I have heard only good things about this book, and would love to sit down and devote 6 solid hours to it in the air!

Last fall I read On Chesel Beach and enjoyed it, despite it's odd reviews. This would also make a nice airplane read.

I always love Murakami's mix of sci-fi, fantasy and magical realism, set against a dreamy yet modern Japan.

I've been reading bits and pieces of this here and there. Thoughtful, informative and beautifully written, with important stories to tell, I really should focus on reading it all!

Choices, choices!! Any other thoughts or suggestions from you kind readers would be delightful. I miss the the pleasure of a good book as well as the satisfaction of finishing one! What have you been reading lately?

Cherry Blossoms.

2009-04-13T15:49:00.004-04:00

I finally finished my plum tree yoke top (designed by my dear friend Rosemary of suzy smalls handmade) and am happy to wear it as the weather gets warmer.

I had really wanted to photograph the top outside but it's been so windy and everything here in New Mexico is so... brown that it was hard to get an interesting photo. So, here I am in front of the boring ol' white wall in my bedroom again.

I really liked constructing this top and even though I ran into a few small issues (my own issues, not the patterns), I learned how to correct myself and already bought fabric to make another. It's a comfortable shape and doesn't need to be too "fit" ... no zippers, darts, buttonholes or bias tape trim! wooohoo!

It's funny to think that I have been sewing for twice as many years I have been knitting. My skills with a sewing machine and fabric have not improved as greatly as my skills with needles and yarn. (Not that I am any expert knitter, but I have a lot less trouble reading instructions and completing projects with knitting than with sewing.) Perhaps there is something about the simple, tactile qualities of knitting that I just "get", as opposed to working with a machine? I know that there really isn't anything wrong with that, I have found my niche and found what I like, but I do realize that my skills as a sewer will not improve if I don't keep sewing sewing sewing! As I often tell beginning knitters, you'll only get better with practice!

2009-03-23T17:02:00.005-04:00

I love this vest in the Classic Elite Yarns Spring 2009 Round Pond pattern book.

And it just so happen to have 9 balls of Reynolds Soft Linen in my stash that I rescued from the sale bin at Unravel last Monday. It's not the same Soft Linen that the pattern calls for, but pretty close and would knit up into a nice summer garment.

or...

I also have 6 100 yard skeins of this lovely stuff, gifted to me from a very dear friend via another dear friend. It's 100% wool from (guessing) the 60's or 70's and in one of the prettiest shades of purple I could ever wish for. hmmm... maybe a vest for fall?

Well I have plenty of time to think it over before it's time to start. I am currently working away on the Puff Sleeve Femme Cardigan I began last Friday, after my bout with cast on fever!

You know what I did? I ended up casting on the same old way I always have, the trusty long tail! and I also ended up going up one needle size for the cast on row, just like I always do, and it came out perfect. I was very happy! I got the best result when I used an aluminum needle just to do the cast on, then knit the first row onto my circulars. The aluminum is a bit more slippery than my circular plastic set and I think that friction was giving me the problem. The aluminum allows my cast on stitches to flow fluidly onto the needle.

I'm really happy with this pattern, too. I've only knit the collar and yoke so far, but I am finding Stefanie Japel's directions to be quite clear and easy to follow. I like how it's working up and I can see why everyone raves about her fabulous patterns!

Oh, can I talk about one more thing?
This weekend, Stefanie's going to be teaching at workshop at Unravel, the LYS where I work, for her Textured Circle Shrug from Glam Knits.

I won't be able to sit in on the class (because I'll be working) but at least I'll be able to hang out in the shop and see what everyone makes! You can contact Unravel for class times and price at (575) 647-1181.

casting on... and on... and on...

2009-03-20T14:36:00.003-04:00

Happy Spring! I was going to post today about the new spring-y top I am making, but, of course, it isn't finished yet. Here's a work-in-progress photo.

The pattern is an original Suzy Smalls design and the fabric is Cherry Blossom Geisha by Lonni Rossi for Andover Fabrics. I really can't wait til it's done and on my body but in the meantime I've got a bunch of other projects going and in spite of that, I've cast on another.

I'm excited to be making the Puff Sleeved Feminine Cardigan from Stefanie Japel's first book Fitted Knits. Like all of Stefanie's sweaters it's a top-down knit, which I really like. It just make sense to start at the neck and work your way down, (rather than knit a bunch of separate pieces and sew them together later) and also makes it easier to try on during the knitting process, guaranteeing the perfect fit. Anyway, I decided to cast on for this cute cardigan this morning and that's about as far as I got. I ended up casting on several times, different ways, to see which one worked and I liked best. Here's what I tried and where I was having issues:

Long tail cast on:
I like this method, but find that my long tail cast on edge often looks sloppy and uneven. When the edge is at the bottom of a sweater or along the brim of a hat (which will be stretched) I can usually get over this and don't even notice when it's done, BUT since this edge is going to be on the collar, I feel it will be a bit more noticable and needs to look good! so I tried some other ways...

Cable Cast on and Knitted Cast on:
I see a lot of knitters use a knitted cast on and I found it was very easy and made a lot of sense to my fingers. The cable cast on not so much -- I think I cast on too tightly for this method. The only trouble I had with the knitted cast on was that, since I tend to cast on tight, I upped the needle size (I do this all the time with the long tail cast on) that way my fist row of stitches isn't impossible to knit. This seemed to leave my first row looking, well, a little hole-y. too loose perhaps??

I don't know.... am I making too big a deal out of the this? I probably am. When the entire sweater is knit and done and worn over a cute little summer dress will I really be looking at the collar in the mirror thinking "oh my golly, what a horrible cast on!!!!" or will it all just blend in and look ok and probably have bigger mistakes that overshadow it anyway (haha).

Either way this was a fun chance to learn some different cast on methods.
What cast on do you prefer? When do you find one works well over another? share your thoughts if you wish. I'd love to hear them!

In the meantime, enjoy the first day of spring!!

socks that rock!

2009-03-18T12:17:00.006-04:00

Yippeee!!!

I am psyched to have knit my first pair of socks! I found that they were surprisingly... easy. I don't usually like knitting things in pairs, but socks were so much fun to do and magical to create, that I looked forward to turning another heel!

One thing that made these socks really wonderful to knit was the bigger gauge and size 7 needles. You only need to cast on 40 sts and can work in almost any worsted weight yarn. I chose Berroco's Comfort for it's machine-washability (50% nylon and 50% acrylic or something like that) and for the value (210 yards for $5.99!), but am surprisingly happy with how soft this yarn is and easily it knits up! I also chose to knit the socks with very little, well ok, no, leg. I started with a simple 1" cuff then jumped right into the heel flap without fear, making for a cozy little slipper style sock that takes little time to stitch.

There are so many important knitting skills involved with socks, which is mainly the reason I wanted to learn to make them. Picking up stitches, knitting short rows, grafting with the kitchner stitch and not to mention decreasing with both ssk and k2tog, though the toughest thing about knitting socks may just be the double pointed needles! They're my biggest weakness, but I am getting better only with practice.

If you are interested in learning to knit socks, I recommend a class, since a lot of the steps make more sense when you see them demonstrated in person. (This sock class is offered at Unravel Yarn Shop in Las Cruces.) If you feel daring you could give this pattern a try... and keep a book like Stitch and Bitch or Knit Aid on hand because that has answers to everything!

Happy knitting and good luck!

2009-03-18T12:03:00.003-04:00

I am completely in love with the pattern books from Classic Elite Yarns. Not only do I want to knit everything I see, but I also admire the styling, photography and classic settings that these girls are in. Here's a peek at St. Johns Bay, one of their Summer 2009 books.

Doesn't this feel like the perfect New England summer? Oh, how I'll miss the Northeast this year. The desert is going to get hot, hot, hot!

(almost) spring things.

2009-02-27T15:52:00.006-05:00

It's just insane how beautiful the weather in the southwest has been here lately! I am not trying to rub it in for those of you living in colder climates, instead I am sharing with you the promising thoughts of budding trees, warm days and SUNSHINE that lay in store. Spring will come... I have proof! In the meantime, here are some wintry things that I wanted to post before the cold-weather months are over.

This hat was knit from the pattern Hannah and you will notice that it (purposely!) has a hole in it. It was knit as a request from someone that came into Unravel and wanted a hat she could pull her ponytail through when she is working outdoors in cold weather. I helped her pick out a dark green Cascade 220 Superwash yarn (perfect working outdoors!) and got an idea of size and style for the hat. It was a pretty easy knit. I doubled the yarn and used size 10 needles and knit the entire thing flat, then just sewed it up halfway. I think the buttons are a cute (as well as functional) touch.

I also knit another version of the le slouch beret, this time with the double moss stitch. Oh, I looove working in this stitch! I love the texture and how quick and fluidly it knits up. I used a little less than 2 balls of Berroco's Pure Merino from my stash, a gift from my friend Aly. I think this hat has just enough slouch for me! Even though I won't be wearing it this winter, I will hold onto it for now. The color and stitch are just too pretty to part with!

I thought I'd share with you a new yarn purchase I made when I was traveling in Arizona last month. I had the opportunity to visit the gorgeous shop Knit 1, Bead 2 in the funky town of Jerome, AZ. My eyes and fingers fell in love with the oddly beautiful Shire Silk from Plymouth yarns.

It's 100% raw silk, very light weight with a nubby texture and hints of gold, cream and deep green running through each minty strand. can you tell I am in love? Now I am not usually one to buy yarn without a project in mind, I've already got enough lonely skeins lying around waiting for an assignment than I know what to knit with, but this stuff was too pretty and different I couldn't pass it up. I bought 3 skeins hoping to make a spring scarf, no particular pattern in mind, just knowing something this lovely was bound to be good!

Here's what I've started so far. It's a very fickle yarn, doesn't work well with many patterns. I had something lacy in mind, something open and airy, but not too intricate since the bumpy texture will not let it show. I decided on this wavy pattern and worked in 3 different size needles before deciding that smaller was better and settling on a size 8. (the "swatch" above is size 10 and a little loose for my liking) I still think the yarn is beautiful and it isn't too tough to work with, just knits up differently than the alpaca and merinos I've grown used too. It requires a lot of patience and trial and error.

I'm not making this for any particular reason except that I enjoy to knit, so I could start over and over again all I want, but eventually I'm gonna want to finish something! Anyone have a suggestion for the silk? I looked at some projects made from the same material on Ravelry but nothing there really made my heart skip a beat. For now I'm just as happy to admire my yarn on the shelf, and wait for the right project to come along... eventually.

just a few things...

2009-02-02T17:22:00.005-05:00

I feel like I don't have much to show for myself lately. January was a month of dreaming and scheming and not a lot of getting-knitting-done.

I did make this VERY important "garment":

This handy 12" x 6" rectangle is one of the simplest things I've knit in awhile and helps keep my coffee warm when I'm not yet ready for that second cup. It's actually stretched a bit from use, so I think if I made another one I'd put cables or a thicker rib to keep it snug. Still, it gets the job done and worked up quickly from leftover yarn in my stash.

So, it was not a busy month for knitting, but I did take trips to San Francisco and Scottsdale, Arizona. I got a new job and taught my first ever knitting class. PLUS I cast on for this top:

It's from The Best of Interweave Knits and I'm using that Blue Sky Alpaca Silk I just can't stop raving about! Although it's a small garment, it's probably one of the biggest projects I've tackled, 200+ stitches circling my needles! I'm about 12 rows in and think I have a mistake, so I might have to start over tonight... sigh. See why I'm not very productive?

Audrey!

2009-01-22T11:21:00.002-05:00

Please add this to the list of things to make someday when I either:

-have a ton of extra time + money
or
-my own flock of sheep to sheer and provide me an unlimited supply of yarn...

a gorgeous knit coat pattern from Blue Sky Alpaca named, presumably, after one of my favorite style icons! The photo here isn't very large, but if you click on over to the pattern you can see it close up and maybe even start making yourself one. Yellow would be pretty too. or eggplant. or teal.

ok, enough with the posting + dreaming and on with knitting! Thanks for your motivational feedback on the top and dress (yeah, right!) below.

elegance all day long.

2009-01-16T15:24:00.017-05:00

How crazy would it be to knit a dress? Especially something like this dress below, which Rosemary sent me the link to. Amazing! The pattern is only $3.00 but I am sure the yarn to make it would cost a small fortune.

I have been quite smitten with the vintage look lately. A few months ago, Rosemary also gave me a set of old knitting books that she found at an estate sale in Vermont. Just one glance at the Jackie O hair-do's and mod mini dresses you can probably guess them to be circa 1965. These books are so fun to look at. The photography and styling alone is just great!

Here are a few of my fave looks.

I love them all, but can't seem to get the the Lacy Evening Sweater (below) out of my head. It is by far one of the best knit things I have ever seen...

...so I am planning to make this sweater in 2009! I am thinking of Blue Sky Alpaca's Silk in either Peacock, Peridot or Ginger and hope to have it done by summertime, or more likely the fall. I think it will be just as fun to knit as it will be to (eventually) wear! The pattern describes it to be "perfect for cocktails-into-dinner" but I think it will look cute when drinking before any meal. [haha!]

Knitting Round Up!

2008-12-25T17:59:00.009-05:00

Is it the end of the year already? wow. A lot happened this year, I had 3 different addresses and held 3 different jobs. whew! how ever did I have time for any knitting? well, I did, a little bit at least, mostly in the last few months when things slowed down. I really regret not working a little harder and opening my etsy shop this Holiday. I had such a great time with it last year. I do hope to do it again but for now it sits abandoned, a 'gone fishin' sign hung on the door, hoping someone returns soon...

what have i been so busy working on these last few weeks? well, lets take a look and see....

Scarves for friends!

I decided to make both of Nick's brothers a scarf for Christmas, and whipped these up in 2 weeks time! I used Berroco's Cuzco yarn to knit to knit up thick and quick.

Man-sized mittens for Nick!

I used knitty's "build your own mitten template" to get all the calculations correct, but changed the decrease to the instructions on this pattern. Mittens are pretty tough for me, I have to admit. I'm not good at making things in 2's and had some trouble with the thumb. But, all issues resolved Nick's pretty happy with his mitts and they keep his fists warm on the handlebars.

A new beret!

I based this hat on the Le Slouch but added a few details of my own.

Interweave Knit's Zig Zag Hat!

As blogged about already, I love this hat and made one for myself... and one for a friend.

oh, and a few fun swatches!

Purchasing the book Super Stitches Knitting gave me lots of fun stitches to try and more ideas for things to create.

This year, I've become a much more patient knitter. Working with some finer materials and with more difficult patterns, I've become more fond of knitting swatches and trying different needle sizes and stitches before I decided just how to proceed with my projects. No more diving right in! This leaves me feeling much more confident with my stitches as I work and although it might be en extra step, I feel more productive and am happy with the end result.

so... I am looking forward to what 2009 knitting brings me. Perhaps I will finally start and finish a sweater... or learn to knit socks... or brighten things up with a few more colorful felted bags! who knows? but watch this space... and share with me what you're making, too. I'm on ravelry as vanessa.e and flickr, too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

hot socks.

2008-12-20T22:06:00.003-05:00

I've been feeling some pressure to start knitting socks, and I am starting to like the idea. I've never been a big sock fan (I try to go sockless for as much of the year as I possibly can) but these two pair of lovely knee socks spotted in the new Knit.1 magazine look like something I would definitely wear. I love them layered over tights and with a pair of pretty boots. Something new to learn in 2009!
{photos from the knit.1 website, where you can find lots of other pretty things.}

I ♥ Hats.

2008-12-10T16:37:00.011-05:00

I love knitting hats. They're fun and quick, instantly gratifying and always useful. I think this pattern, from the Fall 2008 issue of Interweave Knits is my new favorite. Working on the lacy ribs is like reading a good book you just can't put down. "One more page and then I'll go to sleep, one more page..." until you stay up all night reading to the end, only to miss the characters and long for more when you wake up in the morning. But in this case I could quickly knit up another!

The hat has a really great decrease. Instead of decreasing down to just a few sts, you end with close to 30 on your needles, resulting in a loose fitting crown and a quick finish!

I used Blue Sky Alpaca's Melange paired with Madil's Kid Seta, a silk/mohair blend, for the fuzzy look. The dark colors make it hard to really show off the lace-like stitch, but I like them best on my head. And despite being a hat with holes in it, the kid mohair and baby alpaca blend make it suuuuper warm and soft.

Now that I have more than enough hats to keep my head warm, I am starting to think of others' heads who may be catching a chill this winter. Blogger Jean aka The Scottish Lamb is collecting Hats for the Homeless. I am getting started on a few and hope that you will take the time and that extra skein of yarn you have lying around and knit some too! She has info somewhere on her blog for where to send them, or you could donate them to a shelter or winter coat drive in your community. Its cold everywhere this time of year... even here in the southwest.

102 reasons...

2008-12-04T15:10:00.006-05:00

The blog Poppytalk put together a thoughtful list of 101 Reasons to Buy Handmade gifts this holiday season. I, for one, don't need much convincing. A moment or two glancing at the beautiful items on etsy and my cart is full! I could fill this blog with links and images of all the goodies I like, but then you might get them before I do, so I'll let you go peruse for yourself. While you are there, be sure to check out this new shop from one of my favorite people, the multi-talented Suzy Smalls! Right now the shop is full of lovely, well selected vintage items (like the fabulous dress above!) and anyday now will also be feature hand made, original clothing! The dress below is just a preview of the goodness to come. It's inspired by the look of vintage patterns that she loves to sew, but with some custom details that make it modern and unique!

shop :: suzysmalls.etsy.com

Back to blog a bit more…

2008-12-02T15:31:00.001-05:00

So I took a break from blogging (as I said I would) but knew I couldn’t stay away for too long! I’ve been working on several new projects and have been happily posting pics on flickr, but have a few things to share that require a bit more space. Stay tuned…

Vintage-style Apron Take Two.

2008-12-02T15:21:00.003-05:00

Last year my grandmother asked me to make her an apron similar to one her aunt had growing up. She showed me the apron – it tied in the back and did not go over the head – but I couldn’t find a similar pattern anywhere! I ended up constructing one by tracing the original apron and making my own pattern pieces. It came out ok but two things kind of threw me: 1) not being experienced enough of a sewer to know how to put it together without instructions. I did a bunch of things in the wrong order. 2) Bias tape… having NEVER sewn with it before I ventured out with little direction and attempted to make my own tape. This was a LOT of work and the results were just so-so. I kept searching around and eventually found a vintage pattern from this etsy seller that was PERFECT! This year I returned to my apron with a bit more experience and decided to line the apron rather than deal with the tape. Also, I like how the lining gives it a bit more substance, since the fabric I used was kind of thin.

Oh and I must add that yes, my grandmother LOVES country western, so the fabric of choice is completely appropriate! I’m so excited with how this came out I am not even waiting til Christmas, I am sending it to her today.

Just had to mention....

2008-10-09T19:00:00.004-04:00

I was so excited when I heard about the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm and their yarn CSA. It's a great idea for knitters and yarn lovers to support a growing small business and get to know where their fiber is coming from. For me personally, it's a nice way to stay connected to the Island that I love so much.

(She really has my dream job!)

You can buy shares or individual skeins here.
Visit their site here.
And subscribe to their blog.

Going for the gold!

2008-09-23T16:10:00.003-04:00

I wasn't going to post this yet, because the dress isn't quite finished (all I have left to do is shorten the hem) but I needed an excuse to blog!

This may be my last post for awhile. Friday I am leaving to drive across country and live with my boyfriend in New Mexico -- a big change from New England where I have lived all my life. I don't know when I'll have internet access or be settled in yet, so this type of thing may be put on hold for a bit, but you can guarantee I will still be knitting and sewing and creating something...

Now seems like the perfect chance to look back and say what a wonderful thing having this blog has been! Three years ago I started photographing and sharing my knitting adventures publicly and I have come to meet a number of wonderful bloggers, crafters, sewers, knitters and friends. I'll still be checking in on all your blogs daily and invite you to keep up with me on flickr. Please, please stay in touch!!

Oh, and about this crazy gold dress! I made it from a vintage pattern I bought from an awesome etsy seller, Selma Lee. I bought some other great patterns too and can't wait to start making those soon! The fabric is Michael Miller and, again, I don't know what I was thinking going with a wild pattern that I will probably never wear. I guess a metallic gold polka dot dress is something every girl should have in her closet no matter what state she lives in!

Thanks again for reading, sharing, commenting and to those who made purchases from my store. I hope you all carry on in your creative ways and find passion in the process of making so many wonderful things.

Most importantly, have fun!

slow stitches.

2008-09-03T09:31:00.006-04:00

I am always impressed when knitters whip up an amazing project in just a few days or less. Haven't quite figured out if I am too distracted, lack focus or just enjoy taking my time, but I am officially not a speedy knitter! I've worked on this scarf for several months now -- 5! -- sometimes stitching for lengths of time while tuned into NPR or my ipod, other times just picking up a row here and there while I waited to my coffee to perk or during commercials on Project Runway.

One of the tricky things I learned about knitting lace is you can't multitask. No knitting while I'm on the phone or watching tv as I usually do, this precise pattern forced me to count every stitch and keep track of what row I was on, never straying far from the instructions which were printed out nearby on a sheet of scrap paper. Many times this summer I felt too consumed by work, company and warm weather activities to really care what row I was on or if this project would ever be completed, but now that it's done I love it and can't wait to add it to my fall wardrobe!

I'm really happy with how it came out. Blocking the scarf made a huge difference in revealing the details of the intricate lace. I simply soaked it in room temperature water for a few minutes, gently rang it out and then let it dry flat on a towel outside. You don't have to dry it outside, I just thought the warm, late summer air would make it a bit more special.

So now it's on to the wintery knits -- ribbed and cable knit hats, maybe a neckwarmer or cowl, and that sweater I really want to finish. But this is not it for me and lace! I really loved making this scarf and look forward to tackling some more complicated knits. Please, if you have any patterns you love, do share them with me! I'm always up for the challenge of something new.

film fantasy.

2008-08-20T09:00:00.004-04:00

It's been awhile since I blogged about something someone else is doing. Like these brilliant polaroid composites from photographer Patrick Winfield.

I really like the ones of trees and landscapes, but also love the more random "freestyle" ones that remind me of quilts!

You can see more here at his site, and also some of his other work. All done with polaroid.

counting raindrops.

2008-08-13T08:30:00.004-04:00

It's been kind of cool and rainy here lately, not what you would typically expect for August. We've had almost a week of drizzly days and lightning storms late at night. Nothing like rumbles of thunder to awaken you at 4 am! I guess this is the perfect time to work on finishing up my April Showers scarf which I started back in, uhm, April.

The scarf is another purl bee project that I couldn't pass up. It's my first time knitting lace and though it's repetitive (what knitting isn't?) I found the lightweight fiber and airy knit to be a perfect summer project. Now I've only got a few rows to go before I block it. Anybody have a good technique for blocking lace? This is all so new to me... I'm excited to learn!

The fiber I used was Blue Sky Alpaca's Silk, a 50/50 silk and wool blend. lovely, lovely stuff!

Quiet Time.

2008-08-03T21:57:00.003-04:00

Hello... I'm still here.

It has quite possibly been awhile since I last posted (a month!) mainly because I haven't had much to post about. Between working, going out, swimming in the ocean, working some more and spending quality time with my houseguests, I haven't had a single moment to sit down and stitch. No knitting, sewing or crafting for awhile! That's not to say I haven't enjoyed the last month of summer time fun. I've been doing everything good that you should be doing when you live on a gorgeous New England island in the summer -- including a little relaxation!

I've also been keeping up with so many of my favorite blogs, glancing at them each day on my lunch break. I'm get so many ideas for knitting, crafting and photo projects as well as fall fashion inspiration.

I'll be back with plenty of new and completed projects soon! Hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sewing Up a Summer Storm

2008-07-01T17:59:00.010-04:00

First off, I'd love to say.... Thank You!

I had a lot of fun making that dress and I really appreciate the feedback I got from you lovely readers! Some of you I have never even met, but I look forward to your blog posts whenever I see them in my google reader and smile when you comment on my little creations. I love that this blog has become a place where I not only get to show off the things that interest me, but where I can correspond with others who love to knit, sew, shop and all around appreciate the handmade! so.... thanks, just for being out there on the other end of the line!

And now... bring you my next endeavor. Another garment!

I bought this fabric with making pillow cases in mind. I loved the print but thought it was too bold to wear as a dress. It sat neatly folded on my sewing table for a few weeks and the more I looked at it, the more I wanted to add it to my wardrobe. so.... I decided to make a casual top. I ordered the pattern from Vogue and I plan to modify it so it can be a dress. Consider this colorful creation to be a practice run!

I've officially been bitten by the sewing bug lately. Having my own set up and plenty of space to work in has definitely been a motivator. I do miss my knitting and although I haven't felt like picking up the needles all that much, I know I will again soon! Right now I'm happy to be sewing again and I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

All Dressed Up.

2008-06-22T13:07:00.007-04:00

Here are some more photos of the dress I just finished! The fabric is Amy Butler and the pattern is Butterick B4443. Its a pretty simple fit. I really love the fullness of the skirt. I think I'm going to wear this a lot!

mmmmm... nothing better than homemade iced coffee on a lovely, summery Sunday! Even Midge was in the spirit for posing!

It felt really good to finally finish this! Now onto more projects... I have a scarf I've been knitting since April. Hopefully I'll finish sometime before the fall! I'm really excited to do some more sewing, though I'd also be happy to knit one of these. So much inspiration from you wonderful bloggers!

hello summer!

2008-06-20T07:51:00.001-04:00

What a perfect day for a new summer dress! I finally finished sewing this dress I began last September. It wasn't all that tricky... I just didn't feel motivated until the warm weather was upon us. And now, here it is!

(action shots are coming soon. )

oh, the internet.

2008-06-03T09:01:00.002-04:00

I just added a bunch of new blogs the I like to the sidebar on the right. check them out!! some of them are far from knitting related, but things I find interesting and inspiring!

(more knits to come, I promise.)

Pre-Summer Update.

2008-06-01T23:19:00.004-04:00

Hello.

I've moved (again) and started up working full time. I must say, I am ridiculously happy to be here, both on the Island and back at my old job. This is a place I missed so much over the winter -- it just feels good to be waking up here again! I've been trying to get a little bit of crafting time in before the craziness of summer and, as you can see from the image, I've been doing a little sewing. Perhaps I'm influenced by my talented roommate, or just the desire for a summery dress for the sunny days ahead. More photos when I am done... because I will be soon!

Hope you are all enjoying the warm weather... what sort of projects does it inspire you to make?

summertime wishlist.

2008-05-17T11:28:00.004-04:00

for work:

and for play:

nothing much here.

2008-05-07T09:25:00.004-04:00

hi!

I am just dropping by to say hello! I don't have much to show you except buckets of sunshine and anticipation of warm(er) weather. I know winter ended months ago, but I feel like spring is just starting to show it's face around these parts and things are just beginning to bloom. It's lovely, but kind of a distraction from my projects and I think I may already be nearing the point of my blogging summer hiatus! In just a few weeks I'll be living in a new house, start my full time summer job and finally see all my friends I've missed over the winter. I apologize in advance for the neglect, but please stay tuned... because there's always a few polaroids or finished projects to share!

the knitting part.

Oh, I do have one question, for those of you who have knit lace before...
I'm working on a scarf and having a ton of fun (though I don't want to show it off until it's done!!) I've neared the end of one skein of yarn and am wondering how to start the second with out it being too noticeable. I feel like with the delicate, airy fibers it will be tricky to hide!

any suggestions?

Thanks and happy spring!!

*photos from my recent visit to las cruces, nm, where spring was already well under way.

on my reading list

2008-05-01T20:32:00.003-04:00

If you're a self taught knitter (like me) then half the time you don't know what the heck you're doing! Having a little book to answer questions or give tips is always helpful. Vicki Howell put together the perfect, purse sized volume, Knit Aid, and she does a great job selling it:

I totally want to be her when I grow up! Haircut and all.

Where to begin?

2008-04-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

Thanks, everyone, for your positive comments in response to my big move. I am very excited for it! Not only will it be fun to live in a different part of the country, but to reunite with my boyfriend and see him more than a few times a year. I can hardly stand it! As I said, I don't know what I'll do yet for work or school, once I get out there, but I am not too worried. I think the thing that is causing me the most anxiety at this point is the move itself. Embarrassing at it sounds, I just don't know how to move that far and only take so much stuff. I am a hoarder: clothes and shoes, books and records, photo and art supplies, yarn and fabric. How do you choose what is significant enough to take? How do you let go of it all and start fresh? Any tips or personal experiences you would like to share I look forward to reading.

I know that I can always leave things here at my dad's house while I am gone, and I plan to leave a lot. The idea of traveling light seems nice. Also, my volvo can only hold so much! But really, with packing, where do I begin?

inspiration!

2008-04-09T08:21:00.004-04:00

I'm still working on my sweater here... not much excitement besides nearing it's completion. Rows and rows of yellow yarn. No exciting photographs can be made of it, really, so I decided to post some other knitting/crocheting projects that look tempting and beautiful.

If only I could crochet....

I'd make this from the purl bee! They have wonderful patterns, designs and fibers. I wish I had the patience, time and skill to knit them all!

Thinking ahead to next winter, I'd like to whip up a pair or two of these:

The pattern is free on Lion Brand's site.
Also on the purl bee site is this wonderful Bird Seed Scarf. I'm thinking of an easy project to knit up when I am on the plane this week (yes, traveling on friday!) and a scarf might be the perfect thing to get lost in while I listen to my ipod and drift above the clouds.

What projects have you been working on lately?

just in time...

2008-04-02T14:58:00.005-04:00

We're getting to the point where it's warm enough outside to not need hats and gloves (yay!) but it's not too late for this simple accessory. I finally finished these armwarmers, made from this pattern on knitty.com, and love how they came out. They supply the perfect amount of added warmth for, say, taking the dog for a walk at sunset, or walking around town with a refreshing ice coffee in hand. Plus the yarn, with it's fading shades of green, is quite lovely to wear.

It took only one skein of yarn to make these. I like the variation in color and the asymmetry of the pattern. I'm trying to decide if I should use the other skein to make another pair... or something else. hmmm?

pattern: voodoo found on knitty.com
materials: Tosca by Lang Yarns

sweater update.

2008-03-24T17:29:00.007-04:00

I am totally hooked on knitting this sweater at the moment. I just don't want to do anything else. I knit while I am on the phone, while I watching tv and while someone else makes me dinner because I can't stop knitting and do it myself! And when I am at work, out with a friend, walking the dog or doing anything else, all that goes through my head is the fact that I am not knitting! Truly, I am obsessed.

I am making my way through the pattern slowly... and backwards. I started with the two sleeves and am working my way up the front right panel. I figured this way, since the back takes the longest, I could work on that last rather than get frustrated with how long it takes to knit. So far, this system works for me. I feel good about the progress I've made, though I worry that sweater patterns were designed in a certain order for a reason, and I am about to find out why!

OK, enough babbling from me -- and back to my knitting.
What projects has everyone else been hooked on lately?

springtime, for knitters!

2008-03-20T13:01:00.001-04:00

I think I chose the perfect time to start knitting a sweater. I've been talking about making one for awhile, but first I had to get through all the winter projects, the inventory for my store, gifts and orders and, ahhh, now it's time to knit for me! And springtime, too. Working with inexpensive acrylic yarn yields a perfect weight sweater for spring and keeps the cost of materials in a realm that makes me feel ok if my first finished garment isn't perfect. Plus the color I (finally!) chose is warm and sunny and a delight to work with, mostly because I can't wait to wear it!

I ended up knitting an entire sleeve (instead of a swatch) with the yellow yarn I was indecisive about the other day. Comparing the colored yarns I was debating with the colors in my closet (as suggested) I found the rest of my wardrobe is mostly black, denim, and more black so any splash of color is warmly welcomed! I had a yellow sweater in mind before I even began, so I decided to go with that.

I picked the pattern for my sweater (shown in purple, above) from Lion Brand's collection of free patterns, but the inspiration for springtime knits came from many places. Rosemary sent me a link to these cardigans from Little Grey Bungalow, a great blog with vintage inspired looks. Patterns for both of these spring sweaters are there, too!

The Gap has an adorable (but tiny!) waffle knit cardigan on it's shelves this spring. I feel like I could knit that up in a cinch and for less than $39.50, but I'm taking it one sweater at a time.

And as always, there's springtime at Anthropologie. sigh.... anthropologie!

They've got a bigger crop of lightweight, floral embroidered, warm-weather knits than I can cut and paste here! Now we just need the warm weather to cooperate. Maybe by the time my sweaters done!

First steps...

2008-03-18T19:17:00.003-04:00

My work is not on the flier, but it is in the show!

This is the first show at Plymouth's new Russell Gallery, at the Plymouth Center for the Arts. It's a great space that a year ago didn't even exist! The building has been slowly remodeled from the old Russell Library, to the new Art Center, all the while keeping the charm and history in tact. The Center still has a way to go, but the kick-off of their first show was a true success. We had an opening on Friday night, March 14th, with a turnout of over 250 people! I'm happy to have my work be part of the gallery's progression. If you are nearby downtown Plymouth, MA stop in and see the exhibition and if you feel like helping out, the Art Center always needs volunteers!

Decisions, decisions.

2008-03-13T15:59:00.003-04:00

I am really bad at making decisions. I don't know what it is. I will stand in front of products in the store for minutes and minutes, put down my basket and ponder. I'll even walk around, down another aisle and come back, trying to reach a conclusion. It's really bad.

I had one of those moments (lasting, err, several moments) today in the craft store when I went to buy yarn to make this sweater. I did the math and realized that I could make it for less than it would cost me to get something equivalent at H&M, so I went to shop for yarn. I just couldn't decide between these two colors:

So I bought a scane of each and took them home to ponder some more.

My initial thought was to make this sweater golden yellow, but the yellow for this pattern is much less than golden. Its a bit more of a pale, buttercup. I really like the pea green, too. That's where things get tricky. I just hope I don't end up knitting it in basic black. Then again, I know I'll always wear it!

Thoughts?

the end is near.

2008-03-11T16:03:00.004-04:00

With the production of polaroid film sadly reaching an end, I am thinking about getting one of these.

I know it's not digital, but I've got enough medium format film stashed in my freezer to serve me for awhile... at least until they stop processing it. I really never thought that I would see the end of silver photography come so quickly. Massart is offering it's last darkroom class next year (I heard this from a slightly unreliable source.) Still, it's very very sad.

To think I spent 4 years getting a degree in a science that is now obsolete. At least I got to take part in photography while it was still alive!

spring is getting cloche!*

2008-03-10T23:21:00.006-04:00

I totally forgot about this hat!

I started knitting it a few months ago, finished it eventually, and then just... forgot about it. I picked it up and sewed the button on today. It's a nice hat for springtime, so the timing is right.

It's knit from a mix of two different yarns I found in my mom's stash. I particularly liked the two together, and had just enough for this cloche style hat!

(*sorry, I had to use that line. you don't even want to know about the puns I come up with and don't use!!)

Compulsion.

2008-03-09T22:06:00.004-04:00

For some reason I am totally compelled to buy this print:

maybe because it's just SO awesome?

Wouldn't it be lovely?

2008-03-06T09:30:00.004-05:00

ok, Abby, you asked for it!

I wouldn't mind turning this into a Project Runway forum for a little bit. I'd enjoy hearing all of your opinions about last night's finale... what did you think of Christian's win? Big surprise?

I kind of thought this would happen for a couple of weeks now. Actually, I worried this would happen. He's just so annoying and seems like he's already done the work of manufacturing himself into a character, catchphrase and all. But that's what our culture loves. He'll do fine. And I admit, he really is a good designer. Though I really thought from watching the shows that Rami had it all wrapped up... he really is good.

When PR was over I changed the channel and found myself in the midst of some more fashion inspiration, this time from a 1964 classic.

Feathers, big hats, ridiculous ruffles and sleek female forms don't seem so original anymore, do they Christian? It's hard to match the drama of Cecil Beaton!

I love the Ascot scene in My Fair Lady. Perfectly choreographed, elegant and hilarious. As fashion should always be.

ArteyPico Awards!

2008-03-03T10:37:00.008-05:00

There are so many good blogs out there! I spend waaayyy too much time online trying to take them all in. It's exciting to that in the midst of all these online publishers, I can have my own little place to track my progress through the variety of projects I take on. What's even more exciting... is that other people read it! People from all over the world. Earlier this week Australian blogger Bec awarded me the ArteyPico award for not only being creative, but and inspiring as well! Bec has her own wonderfully creative world she shares via The Small Stuff. I was first drawn to her blog through images of her bags on her flickr. Lots of people have been sewing cute totes from fun fabrics, but something about hers stood out to me as special. I love her homemade patterns, fun fabrics, buttons and embellishments, as well as the cute names and stories that make tote her own. Thanks, Bec, for introducing me to your crafty world... and for choosing my blog to give an award to! How flattering! Now i get to choose 3 blogs that inspire me and pass the award on.... how to choose? how to choose?

Well, I do love looking at UNIFORM Studio Journal (who I borrowed this photo from, above.) Her blog is very consistent with the style of clothes she makes -- clean, modern, simple, artistic. Her designs feel like contemporary art, all the while looking extremely wearable, comfortable and practical -- not to mention being gorgeously cut and detailed. I love peeking in to see what she's working on, or what's available in her shop. It's very motivating to watch another designer or artist work, which is a reason why I like reading crafting blogs so much!

Also making some great clothes is Rosemary, a good friend of mine, who award-worthy blog is embroidered woven sewn and drawn. I met Rosie a few years ago when I was living on Martha's Vineyard and we bonded over nights of cooking delicious dinners, drinking wine from her family's vineyard, and doing lots of crafting!! Recently, when I moved from the Island, I suggested she keep a blog so that I can continue to see what she creates. Blogging has been one of the many great ways we have kept in touch and has also allowed us to share the ideas we have and things we make, pose questions or seek out advice. Its delightful to us that others get the connection, too!

Thirdly, and this is so, so hard to choose one more, but I would like to award a blog that always appears in my google reader as 'title unknown'. I love reading this blog for insight to a world of fashion, art, shopping, photography and design. I know very little about the blogger, Vic, except that I am into whatever she posts! She refers to the blog as her 'wishlist' and I hope that all her wishes come true! I am always sharing these links with friends in "oh my god - check this out!!" emails. Whether photos of well decorated interiors, links to foreign art exhibits or just cool products one would dream to buy, a peek at her blog offers an escape into a beautiful world from any ordinary day.

So there, that's just some of what inspires me to keep putting stuff up here. If I could give out a million awards they would go to: The Cherry Blossom Girl, Quiet Epiphanies, Book By It's Cover, Posie Gets Cozy, A Dress a Day, Poppytalk, Keep Up, Getting Purly with It, Only Shallow, and Lena Corwin, just to name a few. All inspiring, all creative and all making the internet a more interesting place!

Just a little something...

2008-02-28T15:51:00.003-05:00

I engaged in a quick little knitting project last night while watching the design-off between Chris and Rami on Project Runway. I have to say that while sewing clothes with human hair sounded gross, the final product looked damn good on Chris's models!

Anyways, I knit this simple little scarflette, (no human hair included) with leftover yarn from this hat, which was fun to work with, though I probably won't again. I like the texture of the thick-and-thin fiber, but found the yarn to look and feel too synthetic. It pills very easy and doesn't wear well, so, I was happy to use up the rest of it for this little project on myself. I closed the scarf with a pin I found in my mother's old costume jewelery box. I am not sure if that's Santa on there, but it's cute either way.

Speaking of Chris's hair-trimmed frocks, I wonder if there are any fiber spinners who have made yarn from human hair? I have read about and seen this book and know that it is possible to really knit with anything from natural animal fibers to dryer lint! Talk about resourceful!

Two Hats Are Better Than One!

2008-02-27T19:54:00.008-05:00

My friend Briana, another talented and creative knitter, sewer and baker extraordinare, made this pink stitched hat for our friend Rosemary. Lucky gal!

I went to visit Briana and Rosemary on the Island this week and we engaged in a little afternoon crafting, better known to those involved as 'crafternoon.' I also finished my plated cable hat (which was also for Rosemary) while I was there. We got to do a little photo shoot and assembled some matching attire.

As stated... lucky gal! Good thing she has the clothes to match her new hats!

Politics aside...

2008-02-21T20:19:00.011-05:00

I really like Meghan McCain's crazy cabled beret.

Another exciting project to try and make from photographs on the net. Looks like it will be a lot of fun!

(But I'm still voting for Obama.)

cables and craft night.

2008-02-20T22:48:00.003-05:00

Oh, how I miss Craft Night!

Craft Night consists of many good things: 1) being with friends 2) eating delicious, homemade food 3) working on our weekly crafts and - when it's in season - 4) watching project runway. I've been absent from the tradition since I moved, and miss my crafty friends so much. But tonight was one of those nights I really would have liked to have their company when tuning into the ridiculous that has become Project Runway! (Christian getting fan favorite! wtf?) So much crying and whining -- the show is much less fun to watch sans the funny comments and observations from my friends. Maybe thats why I haven't enjoyed this season nearly as much as the others. Still, an hour long tv show about sewing clothes... not bad at all.

Oh, and Rosie, the blue cables are for your hat!

wanderlust.

2008-02-20T07:47:00.006-05:00

I've been dying to update this blog, really! Since I started working again I've barely had a moment to take any pictures, write any words or, most importantly, finish anything to show you! So, here's one of my numerous projects still on the needles.

These armwarmer(s) are a simple 2 x 2 rib and made with a yarn of such awesomeness that my camera can't seem to capture it. It's Tosca by Lang Yarns, an Italian company. The best part is I found the two skeins in the clearance bin at my local yarn shop -- for only $3 each!

The wool/acrylic blend runs through various shades of green -- all quite lovely. It gives the illusion of subtle stripes or different yarns but it's all the same skein. I thought it would be perfect for making a pair of fingerless gloves that would match, but not necessarily be identical. I've just got to stay motivated and knit them both!

I've sort of been in lock-down position since starting this job. Gone are the days off where I wake up early and have the entire day to do whatever I want. Although, that agenda (or lack of one) was starting to get a bit difficult to handle. Having a little responsibility and order in my life is not a bad thing at all. I just miss the opportunity to knit all afternoon and go on adventures every weekend! But soon enough, the adventures will continue and in the meantime I am trying to maintain a delicate balance of work and pleasure, so that life is always good. If you've figured it out -- let me know!

cable attempts no. 2 - plaited cables.

2008-02-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I joined Ravelry, the social networking site for knitters. I didn't post anything on it right away, since I wanted to spend more time actually knitting rather than babbling about it on the internet, BUT last night I was having a hell of a time trying to figure out the pattern for this hat, so I decided to ask for help. I posted in one of Ravelry's forums and got responses that recognized the hat as having plaited cables... which I had never heard of, let alone knew how to do! Rather than keep asking stupid questions I decided to look online for patterns and find out for myself. That's when I stumbled upon this lovely blog and got a step by step tutorial -- with pictures! lucky me!

Getting purly with it led me through the process over 9 sts:

row 1: slip 3 on to cable needle, knit 3, knit 3 from needle, knit 3 more, purl 1. repeat.
row 2 + 3 + 4: knit all knits and purl all purls!
row 5: knit 3, slip 3 onto cable needle, knit 3, knit 3 from needle, purl 1. repeat.

Yup! Pretty straight forward. I discovered it's a lot like what I was doing here, only when I tried applying that pattern, for some reason, it didn't look right. I'll be referring back to Nancy's blog for some other patterns and tutorials, too. She's got some great things over there.

Thanks to all the others who suggested patterns and techniques. They all led me to a fun experimental piece. Now I've just got to pick up some yarn to make the real hat and we'll be rolling!

a little something extra.

2008-02-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

I found these little felted flowers (2 of them) in the clearance bin at Marshalls. They were less than 50 cents and I think you are supposed to pin them on your shoes. I thought they'd look extra cute on a hand-knit hat.

cable attempts - no. 1

2008-02-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

This is the hat I started making BEFORE I saw the enlarged, color photo of the cable knit hat I have been stalking. I made this one up with the tiny black and white newspaper photo as inspiration. It's a bit different, but I kind of like it.

Since the pattern is my own I would be more than glad to share it with you! I'll try to get it all transcribed today. The idea for this hat also came from the simple ribbed hats I made for Nick's brothers and posted recently. I wanted to make more hats like that, but with a little, er, twist.

That Hat!

2008-02-04T09:07:00.000-05:00

Check it out... aren't those chunky cables just amazing!?

I first saw this little picture printed black and white in the local Boston newspaper, the Phoenix, of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, (who are playing here in April in support of their new album. Yayy!) But that cabled hat really caught my eye. I just went onto their website for a better look. The tiny black and white clip in the paper didn't do much justice to those gorgeous golden cables... I've got to make one of those!

Any advice for starting the pattern would help... I am just going to try and make it up as I go!

cold feet

2008-02-03T11:23:00.000-05:00

...no more!

I made these adorable Mary Jane Slippers from the pattern on the wonderful purl bee blog. They came out a little bit boxier than I was hoping (because I knit with a larger guage) but are perfectly comfy for around-the-house wear!

I really like how the purl bee's pattern are beautifully photographed step-by-step for us visual learners. I have trouble following directions in general, so having clear photos to illustrated each step is a very helpful way for mastering some of the trickier aspects of a project like this -- like knitting an attached i-cord. Simple as these slippers are, I got to learn a lot while making them!

p.s. it's really nice out today!!

Cool Beanies.

2008-01-26T11:18:00.000-05:00

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.

2008-01-23T20:50:00.000-05:00

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!