May 17, 2013 · 5:10 pm

Cabazon, southwestern style!

As promised, here are a few photos of my finished Cabazon crocheted tee.  I truly love it and look forward to wearing it this summer.  I have to share that I should have gone up on size as the waist is a tiny snug, but other than that I really like how it turned out.

As mentioned I substituted Rowan Savannah.  For this particular project I used 9 skeins (783.0 yards/716.0m) and only had a very tiny portion left over.  The pattern instructions are very well written and easy to follow, a huge plus for me.  It was a super fun project, so much so I have decided to hook yet another project!  I must keep you in suspense to the pattern but I will say I plan to use my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn in color#304, Raven.

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Do you enjoy crochet projects?

Have you ever made any of the Rowan projects?

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May 16, 2013 · 8:16 pm

Off the hook … Cabazon

Today I finished my Cabazon crocheted tee and I LOVE it!   I really enjoyed the pattern, as well as the  Rowan Savannah .  I even have to say it was fun to learn a few new crochet techniques too!  .

A bit about  Rowan Savannah .  I found the more I worked with it, the softer it became.  I also like how it holds it’s shape and doesn’t stretch out like most cotton yarns seem to do.  One word of caution, it does bleed when washed, so make sure to hand wash separately. I do recommended it for any style garment, knitted or crocheted.  Once my project is dry, I will take a photo for you all!

Since I truly enjoyed this crochet project, I decided to use my stash of Elsebeth Lavold Cable Cotton in the color putty and will be starting  a very unique and beautiful design called Abigail by Jenny King.  Jenny’s design give instructions for both a vest and a cardigan, and I’ve chosen to make a vest.

For a size medium/large vest, this project will require approximately 1,360 yards of worsted weight yarn and an US size G crochet hook.  I will have enough yarn and may consider adding short sleeves.

Back view – courtesy of Jenny King

Front View – Courtesy of Jenny King

What are you working on?

Current Projects on the Needles and Hooks:

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May 14, 2013 · 5:23 pm

Fiberlicious Tuesday!

I’ve been trying to catch up on my spinning so I can start my Less is More cardigan and I’m afraid my spinning partner in England is way ahead of me in this adventure.  The bright side, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

So to keep me motivated with spinning, my friend Elseline sent me a package containing 8 oz of a gorgeous BFL blend (Blue Faced Leicster and Tussah Silk) by Adelaide Walker that she picked up when she went to  Wonderwool 2013 in Wales.  Oh goodness this fiber is soft!!!

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Of course I too have to keep myself motivated to finish spinning so I can not only spin the fiber Elseline sent to me, but fiber I just bought from Mary Ann of Three Waters Farm.  I love BFL, it’s so soft and yummy to spin, and this 8 oz  in the colorway called Rags and Bones will be perfect for a shawl!

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What have you been spinning lately?

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May 12, 2013 · 6:35 pm

Fine Art, Rowan Style.

I’ve just received my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn in color#304, Raven, along with the Fine Art Collection booklet  to review for Rowan Yarns.  My very first impression, gorgeous yarn, my second impression, oh my, it’s so soft!DSCF4055

Measuring at 437 yards (400m), one skein of  Rowan Fine Art is perfect for a pair of socks, a scarf, an infinity cowl, a shawlette and more.  Now to decide what my skein will become, such a challenge for a knitter!

Do you have a favorite so far from the  Fine Art Collection ?  If yes, which pattern do you love the most?

Here’s your chance to give Rowan’s Fine Art yarn a try with this FREE pattern for a stunning lace scarf, designed exclusively for the Rowan website by Lisa Richardson. This stylish scarf shows off the beauty of this yarn perfectly and the pattern is suitable for beginners.

Courtesy of Rowan Yarn

Courtesy of Rowan Yarn

Be sure to login, then just click the link to download your FREE pattern: http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/patterns/robin-scarf

You can pre-order Fine Art online at Webs and  Jimmy Beans Wool.  Better yet, you can pre-order  the entire eight color collection at Simply Socks Yarn Company.  Be sure to ask your local shop if they will be carrying Rowan Fine Art too, I know mine will be!

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May 11, 2013 · 7:23 pm

Vintage Finds !

Today was perfect!  We started our day by going out to our favorite breakfast spot, then to a store to pick up an early birthday present for my husband. We decided it would be a great day to do a bit of antiquing, so we went to both of our Brass Armadillo antique malls and came home with a few new treasures.

I have to share that I’m very excited with a beautiful Delft plate I found that portrays a shepherdess knitting among her flock of sheep.  The transfer was from an original painting entitled La Bergere  and I am trying to decide where to hang my new find!

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My second find, a vintage set of circular needles that are brand new and still in the original box.  The needles were manufactured by P.G. Roberts Co. and are called “Countess”.  I have searched the web and cannot find out when these needles were made.  I can tell you that the tips are metal, sizes US 5 to 16, and that the four cables screw into the tips.  I have to say too that this set rather reminds me of the Denise interchangeables and if anyone has an idea of their age or when they could have possibly been manufactured, I would appreciate it.  I’m thinking the early 60′s, what do you think?

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Now it’s time to relax a bit and enjoy some crocheting!  I’ve just finished one side of my Cabazon crocheted tee and I will be starting the second side. I can’t wait to finish so I can wear it!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 10, 2013 · 6:00 am

A Glamourous Cravat!

I truly love quick knit projects and with all of the works in progress I have going, I casted on yet another one but this one was different, it was quick, easy and lacy.

I’ve had my lovely skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze Glamour sitting on my desk staring at me wanting to be knitted up but I didn’t quite know what I should make out of it, especially since I only had one skein that measures 177 yards (162m).  After searching through countless patterns, magazine and books, I found the perfect design on the Rowan website, the Glamour Cravat, Scarf and Throw designed by Louisa Harding.

Knit this beautiful lace cravat, scarf or throw, a free download as  part of the launch of our new yarn Kidsilk Haze Glamour(super kid  mohair and silk). This pattern is from the Rowan archive, originally  designed by Louisa Harding and re-worked in Kidsilk Haze Glamour, this  knitting pattern is a simple yet elegant knit and is for the  intermediate knitter. ~ Rowan

Rowan Kidsilk Haze Glamour in Smoke

This pattern is a free download from the Rowan Member site that is available in four languages.  I also love the fact, that the designer included three sytle options:

  • Completed wrap measures approx 40.5 cm (16 in) wide and 220 cm (86½ in) long and requires 5 skeins of Kidsilk Haze Glamour
  • Completed scarf measures approx 21.5 cm (8½ in) wide and 173 cm (68 in) long and requires 2 skeins of Kidsilk Haze Glamour
  • Completed cravat measures approx 16.5 cm (6½ in) wide and 100 cm (39 in) long and requires 1 skein of Kidsilk Haze Glamour

Since I only had one skein, I decided to knit the cravat and modified the original design ever so slightly.  I did not knit the garter stitch borders and I added a section of garter stitch for the middle of the cravat, which will rest at the back of my neck.  My finished blocked piece measures 6″ wide and 38 1/2″ long, and has very nice lace points at each end.  This will be a great accessory piece this fall and winter to wear with my jackets and cardigans, adding just the right amount of feminine sparkle at the throat.  I plan to wear mine using a 1928 Company  Marcasite pin to hold it in place.

 

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For inspiration on how to use a skein or two  of Kidsilk Haze Glamour, check out my fellow Rowan Ambassadors and their projects:

What are your favorite lace one skein projects?

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May 8, 2013 · 6:25 am

Yarn Along: Work in Progress and Of Course Reading!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well.  So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?  ~ Ginny from Small Things

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Still reading  The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher and I’m happy to say I’m half way through the book.  I’ve had too many distractions lately that have been keeping me away from this book, maybe this evening I’ll just sit and read and give myself a knitting break!

My project bowl is overflowing but I’m working on  each project a little at a time.  Keeps one motivated to have a few WIPs going!  I should be done with the front of my Cabazon soon, just four more rows and then I will start the back piece.

So, what are you knitting, crocheting or spinning?

Any good books lately?

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May 7, 2013 · 8:54 pm

It’s Austentatious!

For some reason after watching a new favorite, Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley, I’ve been a bit “Austentatious” and have been searching for things that are simply “Jane”.  So, without further adieu, please allow me to take you on a little journey, a journey into a bygone time of elegance, propriety, manners and romance.

For those of you who love and treasure Jane Austen, you may or may not know about Jane Austen’s World, a wonderful blog dedicated to everything “Austen” and the Regency period.  One of my favorite parts of this particular blog is the page dedicated to podcasts and audio books for Jane Austen, and so much more.  Another wonderful website that will get you lost in Austenland, is the Jane Austen Centre.  Be sure to take a look at their newsletter and their online magazine, both full of the Regency period and everything Jane Austen.

Austenatious Crochet features thirty-two original crochet projects focusing on women’s wear, such as dresses, sweaters, cardigans, and capelets, as well as handbags, scarfs, pillowcases and clothing for children.

Inspired by the  novels of Jane Austen, this collection is sure to please even the most devout Austen fan out there.  Inside, crocheters will love how each project contains an introduction that includes favorite bits of dialogue from the original novels, fully illustrated with photos, Regency-style illustrations, and step-by-step schematics.

I also have to tell you I love Interweave’s Jane Austen Knits, a once a year special issue featuring designs inspired by Jane Austen’s novels.  So far Interweave has published three, Jane Austen Knits Premiere, Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012 and Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2012.  I truly hope they continue with this special issue, fingers crossed for a summer 2013 issue!

Do you like a bit of embroidery now and then?  This delightful PDF download pattern, Jane Austen,  designed by Pam Jones, From the Craft Room,  is sure to inspire you to pick up your needle and embroider while listen to a bit of Sense and Sensibility.  Pam’s download comes with stitch instructions,  a template and more.

Courtesy of Pam Jones – From the Craft Room

While searching Pinterest for more Jane Austen inspired needlework projects,  I came across this piece of embroidery designed by Creative Carmelina,  I love it, a portrait of Jane Austen!

Courtesy of Creative Carmelina

Of course you must remember to think about stitch markers for your knitting.  The Jane Austen Emma markers by Knit Girl in Idaho are very cute, as well as the set of Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice markers by Knit Cubby.

Courtesy of Knit Girl in Idaho

Courtesy of Knit Cubby

If you like simple shawls with just the right amount of lace, then Lizzie Bennet’s Shawl designed by Annie Riley might be perfect for you! This sweet little shawlette is perfect for stash busting as it only requires one skein of fingering weight yarn at approximately 400 yards.  Got to love one skein projects!

Courtesy of Annie Riley

So, are you an Austen fan?  What’s your favorite novel?

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting and crafting!

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May 4, 2013 · 6:24 am

A Case of Startitis!

Startitis is a term used somewhat jokingly among knitters. It refers to an expensive, but rarely fatal affliction that often affects knitters and crocheters where they begin several projects all at one time but don’t really make much progress on anything before starting another new project. ~ Knit Wiki

Knitting WomanI would first like to say, it’s all Glenna’s fault, and I’m sticking to that excuse!  But in reality, well folks, I have a bad case of “startitis” and it started when Glenna posted her sock projects in simple patterns using beautiful fingering weight yarns.  The desire to cast on socks kept growing and growing  until I finally relented,  and yes, I gave in!

So, I have casted on Lara Smoot’s On Stranger Tides this morning using my stash of Springtree Road Muscandine in Tanis and will be casting  on Glenna’s A Niced Ribbed Sock using my newly acquired Patons Kroy in Grey Brown Ragg.  While I’m at it, I also hope to make a pair of crocheted slippers for my Mom for Mother’s Day, the Crocodile Slippers by Bonita Patterns.   See, I told you I have a bad case of “startitis”.  Is there a cure for this???  The bright side, I’ll not be bored!

Current Projects on the Needles and Hooks:

As a knitter, crocheter, or spinner, have you ever had the urge to cast on many projects?  I know I can’t be the only one out there :)

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May 3, 2013 · 5:03 am

Just sharing!

Since I’m still working on the same projects, I thought I would just share a photo of our front yard that is in full bloom in place of my WIPs.   Our Palo Verde tree is loaded with sweet smelling yellow blossoms this year and the bees are buzzing with delight!

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Have a wonderful weekend!

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