just in time...

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.

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!

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...

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.

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.

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!*

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.

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


maybe because it's just SO awesome?

Wouldn't it be lovely?

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!

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...

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!

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

...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!!