All done!

1 05 2012

A few of you may have already seen my photos on my FaceBook Page or on Ravelry, but for those of you who have not, here are my photos of my finished Cotton Raglan Cardigan, which I love!

The Front view

The Back View

 

The Button

The button I choose was perfect and I’m so happy with the way it looks on my cardigan.  I timed it right at Joann’s and got this Dritz Button 1/2 off, which was better than paying $7.95, gulp!

This pattern was lots of fun and I truly have to say it’s quite versatile.  If you have time, I truly suggest that you check out Myra Wood’s Craftsy’ class, The Perfect Fit Seamless Crazy Lace Cardigan.  This is a wonderful online class that will really teach you how to knit the perfect fitting raglan style cardigan and how you can incorporate different elements to make it uniquely yours.  Even though I used the Simple Raglan Cardi pattern  from Lion Brand, I still used things I learned from Myra’s class.

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


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What’s on the needles and a published pattern!

11 04 2012

I’m happy to finally be back to knitting my top-down cardigan that I started last month.  With all the other things I’ve had going on, this fun project was put down but is now back in my lap.

So, as a refresher, I’m currently working on the Simple Raglan Cardi by Lion Brand.  I really do love the look so far and have decided that I will not be making this fitted as the pattern calls for, as well slightly rounded and do not care for “fitted” garments.

My goal is to have this project completed by the end of the month for our vacation!

 

Front View

Back View

Last year I had the honor of designing a shawl pattern exclusively for the Yummy Yarn Studio.    Honey Hugs, was the  February design for the Wrapped in up in Yummy Yarn Club club members.   You can purchase an e-Book that features this design, as well as designs from Meghan Jackson, Kourtney Robinson and the Yummy Yarn Studio.

Inspired by the warm rich honey tones of this yarn, I envisioned sunny fields of wheat, waving in the wind. This is a bottom up shawl design that uses short rows to give a slight curvature that will hug your shoulders to keep you toasty warm.  This design is bottom up, includes written and charted instructions that have been tech edited.

This pattern will be available for individual download September 2012.

 

Courtesy of the Yummy Yarn Studio

Back view of Honey Hugs

I love how this design turned out and the yarn, well it is indeed quite yummy!

I leave you this Wednesday with a photo of our honeysuckle that is now in full bloom.  It smells divine and I wish you could see it, it’s quite gorgeous!

 

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


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Easter Knitting and Crocheting

30 03 2012

Next weekend we celebrate Easter and there are so many fun, and creative, items to knit and crochet for this special time of year.  Today’s post features a few projects that are quick, simple and fun!

Purl Soho has a delightful Easter Egg Ornament that is quick to knit and perfect for using bits of left over sock yarn.  For a creative touch, you can make a bunch of these to hang on a twig tree for a center piece for your  table on Easter.  Check out their other two patterns as well, the Fuzzy Easter Chicks and the Mini Easter Egg.

Courtesy of Purl Soho

 

Knitted dish clothes make awesome hostess gifts and why not knit up a few to take with you.  The Easter Cloths by Kris Knits feature eight Easter inspired themes and are quick knits too!

Courtesy of Kris Knits

Make a handknitted Easter Basket that will last and last.  The Easter Basket designed by Kaity Von Rader  of Anacapa Knits is adorable and perfect for little ones to handle or can be filled with sweet treats for quick fun gifts.

Courtesy of Kaity Von Rader

If you prefer to crochet, the Easter Basket by Lion Brand is for you!

Courtesy of Lion Brand

Or even the cute as a button Easter Basket set by Rainbow Valley Crochet!

Courtesy of Rainbow Valley Crochet

If you like using egg cups on Easter for your eggs, be sure to keep your eggs warm and cozy with the Easter Bunny Egg Cosy designed by Audrey Wilson.

Courtesy of Audrey Wilson

If you love wearing holiday themed socks, then you really should have fun knitting a pair of Easter Socks designed by the Garn Studio/Drops Design. Be sure to check out a few of the other Easter inspired patterns including the Easter Pot Holder and the Easter Placemat Set.

Courtesy of Garn Studio

Need to dress up a special outfit or home decor for Easter?  The Easter Rabbit Applique by Carolina Guzman is a simple and quick crochet project that will surely fit the bill!

Courtesy of Carolina Guzman

I absolutely love the Hopsalots by Tiny Owl Knits.  This pattern is written in sizes small, medium and large, so you can make everyone a pair in your family!

Courtesy of Tiny Owl Knits

And everyone needs an Easter Bunny to sit on a table, to hold or to give.  Borris the Bunny Rabbit designed Oliver Boliver might just be the pattern to try out!

Courtesy of Oliver Boliver

There are many more fun and creative ideas but alas my time is running out.  You can find much more, so be sure to do a search on Raverly, Etsy and  Craftsy , for both knitting and crocheting,  by simply typing in Easter as your search word.

Another post you might like:  Hippity Hoppity

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


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New knitting project in the works.

11 03 2012

I’m a very slow sock knitter.  While I love hand knit socks, I get bored very easily when knitting them and have to find other projects to turn my attention to.  One such project has been a new the Simple Raglan Cardi by Lion Brand Yarn.  I love raglan style sweaters and cardigans. They’re always easy to knit, quick and create a perfect fitting garment for me.  I still plan to knit the   Summer Waves Cardi designed by Vera Sanon that I mentioned in an earlier post, but I wanted a quicker project at this time.

Courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn

While I do not have the yarn that this project calls for, I do have a lovely cotton in my stash that meets the gauge.  So for this project I will be using my stash of Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Cable in the color Straw, a size US 6 circular needle 29″  and a size US 7 circular needle 29″.   I plan to make a longer version of this pattern as I’m rather “hippy”, which mean I prefer a cardigan to fall in the middle of my rear and not my waist.

This is a very well written, easy to follow pattern and I would venture to say a good advanced beginner pattern – meaning if you understand knitting basics this pattern would be a great start for a larger project.

Progress photo

 

I’ve also joined a new online class,The Perfect Fit Seamless Crazy Lace Cardigan with instructor Myra Wood.  I’m really excited about this class and already can say “I LOVE IT!”.  Myra teaches you how to get a perfect fit no matter what your shape or size, how to obtain proper measurements, how to be creative by inserting lace designs, how to create correct body shaping and more.  This designer class is really going to inspire me to branch out and create unique one of a kind designs that incorporate color, texture and even lace.

Photo: Courtesy of Craftsy.com

For a limited time, this wonderful online class is available for $29.00, which is 50% off.  If you enjoy knitting top down raglan style cardigans, this is a wonderful class to take and the step by step videos and instructions are awesome!

While picking up a few more needed supplies for my online cardigan class, I purchased a new knitting tool by Boye.  The all Around 3 in 1 Needle Gauge  provides a gauge check, a needle and hook check and includes yarn and gauge recommendations.  This is a very handy tool for your knitting bag and not that expensive, I paid $3.99 at Joann and it’s listed for that price online at Amazon.com.

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

 

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


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A fun day of thrifting!

17 02 2012

Yesterday I enjoyed hitting all the local thrift shops and picking up a few great finds.  I couldn’t believe what I came home with and didn’t spend that much.  Most of my finds came from one of the local Goodwill stores and I was quite amazed to find so many great quilting patterns and knitting books for not too much.

Here’s what came home with me:

A few lovely vintage linens for a total of $7.00

A variety of quilting patterns for a total of $6.00!

Vintage knitting & crochet books for a total of $6.00

A few knitting books for a total of $10.00

A bit of quilting fabric for $ 10.00

The quilting fabric might have been a tad high, but for my $10.00 I got a full size Christmas panel, 4 fat quarters bundled together and two pieces of fabric at 1/2 yard each.   The books and vintage books to me were quite the find and I didn’t mind what I paid for them.  The highlight of the day though was the vintage linens that only cost me $6.00 for a wonderful card table cloth and two pineapple crocheted doilies.

I don’t get out to the thrift shops as often as I would like but when I do, I’m always so tickled with my finds!


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Wednesday Pattern Spotlight: Let there be hearts!

8 02 2012

I thought today would be perfect to highlight a few patterns that would be wonderful as Valentine gifts!

Courtesy of Simone Van Iderstine

The Queen of Hearts by Simone Van Iderstine  of Sand and Sky Creations is a beautiful stranded color-work hat that is worked completely in the round and includes corrugated ribbing.    This hat would make a very special gift and is perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Simone’s pattern is very easy to follow, includes written instructions along with a detailed chart for the heart design.  This project calls for 125 yards (114 m) of fingering weight (14 wpi) yarn in both main color and contrast color for the smaller hat.  Or 135 yards (124 m) of fingering weight (14 wpi) yarn in both main color and contrast color for the longer hat.   You will also need a US Size  US 2½ (3.0 mm) 16″ circular needle as well as a set of DPNs.

For an adorable quick knit for a little girl, check out the Heart Party Shrug by Jenny Williams that was in the Summer 2010 Issue of Petite Purls.

This easy to follow pattern includes sizes 4, 6,8, and 10, requires 204 yards of yarn, a size US 3 and 5 needle and a set of US3 DPNs.   This is a very inexpensive project with adorable results.  I actually made this shrug for a dear friend’s little girl and it turned out perfect. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Williams)

Give a cozy that will wrap a mug with love using Valentine Mug Cozy designed by Kristen TenDyke for the  Classic Elite Web Letter.  For this project you will need 1 hank of Elite Renaissance Yarn for the main color (7155 Renaissance Red) and  1 hank for the contrast Color ( 7119 Rose), US size 8 needles, and a yarn needle.

This cozy is knitted using the Stranded Colorwork or Fair Isle knitting technique.  When using this method,  you will carry  two colors of yarn across the same row and will alternate between the two to form a color-work pattern.  While one strand is being worked, the other is carried behind it (or in front of it on the WS rows).  This technique gives a thicker and much warmer knitted fabric. (Photo courtesy of Kristen TenDyke)

I hope you enjoyed a few of these ideas and for a couple of more, click here for last year’s ideas.

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


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Categories : All Knitting, Hats, Pattern Spotlight, Patterns, Review

Wednesday Pattern Spotlight: TNNA Part 3, The Fickle Knitter

25 01 2012

Michelle Miller and Me

 

I had the sincere pleasure of meeting a very talented designer at the TNNA convention this past Saturday, Michelle Miller, a.k.a  Fickle Knitter.

Michelle’s designs are even more fantastic in person and I’m simply in love with her shawl designs.  The one particular thing I truly love about this designer, she creates designs that only require one skein of yarn.  That is a big plus and it a great way for knitters to stash bust.

Courtesy of Michelle Miller

Did you know that Michelle just launched her very first book?

Leaves, features eight projects using only 395 yards of luxury yarn or less.  Each pattern is very well written, provides charts, offers tips, abbreviations and includes gorgeous photos of each design.

Inside you will find projects for  four small accessories that are perfect for newer knitters and four shawls for more advanced knitters.   The great thing about Michelle’s designs, each pattern has been tech edited and test knit for accuracy as well as clarity

Patterns include:

You can purchase a signed hard copy of Michelle’s book or purchase a PDF version.  Either way you will not be disappointed!  You can find all of Michelle’s design online at her Website and online at Raverly. Be sure to stay informed and join her Raverly group,  Fickle Knitter Design and follow her on FaceBook.

About:  Michelle Miller graduated from West Virginia University in 2003 with her first degree in Physics with an emphasis in Astrophysics.  She then attended California State University at Long Beach while studying Physics and doing Materials Science Laboratory research, graduating with her Masters Degree in 2010.

Michelle has been writing knitting patterns professionally since 2008.  She combines her love of mathematics and knitting and takes joy in her knitting (almost) every day.  Michelle has been published regularly with articles and knitting patterns appearing in magazines and books since 2009.  Michelle specializes in writing knitting patterns that only requires one skein of luxury yarns.


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First KALs of a brand new year!

4 01 2012

I typically post a spotlight on patterns on Wednesday but today I thought I’d post about my projects that I will be casting on this week for two KALs I’m participating in, as well as a SAL (spin-along)/KAL.   For me this year will be a lot of fun as I’m looking forward to stash busting and plan to start matching items in my Raverly queue and favorites with yarn on hand.  This is a large undertaking for me but it must be done!

I was so pleased that I actually finished up my pair of Nutkins from the December KAL for the Year of Stash Socks Group yesterday morning.  It took me a month, but I can now wear a brand new pair of socks!  I particularly liked this project as I learned how to knit short-row heels.    Ladies, if you haven’t tried this, it’s really not that hard and in my humble opinion, the heel actually fits my foot better than the traditional heel with a gusset.  I strongly recommend reading Laura Chau’s Short-Row Heel Tutorial.  It’s super easy to read and follow.

Nutkins - Knitted using At Knits End Yarn

I have chosen to knit the Cable Lagoon by Kris Carlson for the January KAL in the Year of Stash Socks Group using my stash of Liberty’s Yarn Sockenstein in a soft lilac.  So, this months KAL will be a challenge as I will be learning how to knit toe-up and will again be doing a short-row heel. 

Attention Sock Knitters, I have a question:  For those of you who knit toe-up, what is your favorite “how-to” website, tutorial or YouTube Video?  I would love to know, so please leave a comment.

Liberty's Yarn Sockenstein - Lilac

I’m also participating in the 12 Shawls in 2012 Group and plan to cast on a design that I’ve been itching to knit for ages, Cobble by Kitman Figueroa using my stash yarn,Punta Yarns Merisock Hand Painted in colorway HP53 , a mix of soft desert colors.

Punta Yarns Merisock Hand Painted Yarn

Lastly, I’m also spinning for a shawl in the Spin a Shawl Group and joined the Designer SKAL that started January 1st and ends on February 29th.  The pattern for this SAL/KAL is Fialature by Chrissy Prange.   I will need to spin  300 – 500 yards of worsted weight for this project and haven’t quite decided on my fiber yet, but I’m leaning towards my fiber stash of Black Trillium’s BFL  in Columbia .  If I have time, I may also participate in the SAL/KAL that started January 1st and ends March and spin for one of my favorite “no purl” patterns,  Carol’s Clever Little Shawl.

Black Trillium BFL Roving - Colorway Columbia

If I have absolutely no WIPs after all these, which mostly likely will not be the case, but you never know, I would love to knit a second 198 yds. of Heaven by Christy Verity for the dozen shawls in 20dozen group.

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


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The Elegance of Crochet

6 12 2011

This month I’ve found myself putting my knitting aside ( I hear the gasps on that one) and have been doing crochet projects.  I love crochet as it’s quick, simple and provides an elegance that my knitting often does not provide.

I’m in love with Japanese crochet and find these books to be quite wonderful and very appealing.  I recently asked an online friend her opinion about one book in particular as she had crocheted a beautiful scarf  from one of the patterns inside.  In her opinion, a wonderful book with well done charting.  So, I decided to purchase a copy of the book below that I found online at Ebay, from a seller I’ve purchased from in the past.  I can’t wait to get my books so I can start a few of the projects located inside.  I’ve also joined the Japanese Knitting and Crochet Group on Raverly  that was started for those who are interested in learning and knowing more about the  crochet and knitting from Japan.

One of the things I find to be most intriguing about Japanese Crochet is the use of designs that are very familiar and even reminiscent of times past, in particular the use of Irish Crochet.   Irish crochet was commonly used by our mothers and grandmothers for bedspreads,large table clothes and as elegant edgings to bed linen.  Today, Irish crochet lace can be used as an accent to a knitted vest, a sweater, gloves and even hats.  Crocheted lace, like it’s knitted counterpart, can be quite stunning giving a multi-dimensional effect to any crocheted or knitted project.

If you are familiar with the chain, slip, single, and double stitches used in all crochet, you can expect to spend perhaps four hours on the rose square and an equal amount of time on the edging. Stitching up the pincushion takes only a matter of minutes. ~ Piecework Magazine

I love Irish Crochet and found a great project for beginners.  The  Irish Crochet Pincushion , designed by Linda Ligon for the premier issue of Piecework in 1993,  is a perfect project to try.  This project requires 1 ball(563 yards) of Ecru DMC Crochet Cotton Size 30, 2 - 5 x 5 inch square pieces of Charles Craft Irish Linen fabric, 1 Crochet hook size 13 (steel), fiberfill, needle for hand sewing and matching thread.  This simple pattern is a great way to practice Irish Crochet and the end result makes a great gift for someone who might sew or quilt.

A second project that might be deemed for a more advanced crocheter, is the Fingerless Silk Mitts designed by Dixie Falls for the March/April 2007 issue of Piecework.   This easy pattern produces a pair of gorgeous and elegant mitts that would make wonderful gifts for brides to be or to be worn on any special occasion.  This project requires 1 skein of Treenway Tussah 100% silk yarn (100g/3.5.oz) in natural, 1 crochet hook size 4 (1.75mm), stitch markers, a tapestry needle and a handful of polyester stuffing.   Tussah silk provides strength, durability and warmth that can provide a lightweight mitt for wrist and hand strain caused by daily computer work or crafting.

For further information on traditional Irish crochet, please visit  Heirloom Crochet .  This website offers a collection of patterns to purchase for Irish, Venetian, Australian and Filet crochet, as well as a collection of free patterns, tips, techniques, and instructions.  For those of you who have an interest in Japanese Crochet, more information can be found online in the Japanese Knitting and Crochet Group on Raverly.

(Photos courtesy of Knitting Daily.com)

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Knitted Trees….

28 11 2011

I mentioned in a much earlier post that I would be making a set of Christmas trees from the pattern I found online at  Just Crafty Enough.  The  Potted Button Trees designed by Kathy Lewinski is a really fun pattern that took about a day and a half to complete.   I originally planned to use painted pots for my trees but decided I didn’t quite like how they looked in the pots and changed to a basket.  I’m very pleased with the end result!

So here’s the beginning – I had all my supplies ready to go and touched up the dowels after my hubby cut them to the length I needed.

I decided not to knit two colors for the trees, so they are solid – here they are before I added the embroidery, buttons, stuffing and dowels.

Ta Da… All done and I love them!  You can see the red and clear buttons in the first photo, but I never used them.  Instead, I used snowflake buttons for the two red trees and Christmas bulb buttons for the white tree.  The large tree is 10″ in length, the medium tree is 8″ and the small tree is 6″ (tree only and after completion).  I might have over stuffed them a bit, but all in all, I really liked how they turned out.

If you’re looking for a fun Christmas project that can be changed up with different colored yarn or buttons, this really is a fun project that is quick, super easy and gives a great result!

 


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