Knitting and Sewing My Way Through Life

A Blanket Knit to keep me Cozy

2012-01-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

January is the perfect month to finish a cozy blanket to cover me while I read. This one has been on my knitting needles since last Fall and I finished it yesterday.

Once again I turned to my favorite knitting patterns in the Plymouth Yarn #638 Done by Monday Afghans book. These blankets are a breeze to knit. I used my Size 13 Addi Turbo 32 inch circular needles and 10 balls of Encore Worsted Yarn. For this afghan, I used one strand of Plymouth Encore Colorspun No. 7402, a white yarn with specks of blue and yellow and one strand of solid white held together.

The pattern is Boxes Afghan #4. Here's a close up of the stitch pattern and I think you can see the slight specks of color.

This yarn was in my stash and so I've again changed my stash yarn into a wonderful and useful project. I purchased this yarn several years ago on a day trip to visit a yarn store that was close to the Beach. It was a beautiful day for a ride and I always enjoy exploring different yarn stores.

And just to share a beautiful flower. Here's my Amaryllis in Bloom. This plant has 4 blossoms growing from one stem.

I didn't know that it was possible for more than one blossom to grow on a single stem. Maybe it's a Special Sign of something wonderful on the horizon.

Knit Gloves

2012-01-15T20:12:00.002-05:00

I just completed these knit gloves.

What makes them special is the yarn.

I discovered Spirit Trail Fiberworks Sunna Yarn when I visited Rhinebeck last fall for the Sheep and Wool Festival. The yarn is 75% superwash Merino/15% Cashmere/10% Bombay Silk and it is wonderful to knit. The joy of knitting this project was enhanced by using my Knit Picks Harmony Wood 6 inch Double Pointed Needles. These smooth needles and the soft yarn made this project work up quickly.

The pattern that I used is from the Ann Budd Handy Book of Knitting Patterns. To add a little detail, I found these lovely buckles at my local craft store.

I knit a 6 stitch i-cord about 3 inches long, slid it through the buckle and sewed it to the back of the glove just above the ribbing.

So now that the weather is cold, my hands will be nice and warm and I have a wonderful souvenir of my first trip to Rhinebeck.

I'm also happy to tell you that I typed the pattern and have added it to my personal pattern notebook. Now I have two glove patterns in addition to my favorite sock pattern in my personal pattern book. I'm continuing to refine my pattern collection and create a notebook that will hold the patterns that I use the most.

More Vintage Knit Doll Clothes

2012-01-09T20:01:00.000-05:00

Vintage Mary Maxim Knit Doll Dress

Meet Susie.

She's a 13 inch Music Box Doll from Fibre Craft.

I've dressed her in a vintage Mary Maxim Knit Dress originally designed for a "Big Sister" Doll.

I recently contacted Mary Maxim in my continuing search for vintage doll clothes patterns for my collection. They were kind enough to go in the archives and send me this pattern. The booklet contains outfits for both Big and Little sister Dolls that are knit and crochet.

This dress is made with DK weight yarn and size 6 knitting needles. The sleeves are raglan and are sewn in separately.

I've added a music box that plays "Happy Birthday" and I think these dolls make a lovely gift for a young girl's birthday.

Here's a view of the back of the dress. I used a 5/8 inch wide piece of white grosgrain ribbon in the back opening and used 2 hook and eye closures. I think snaps will work better but I couldn't find them in my sewing room and I was anxious to finish this outfit.

I'm planning on making several more of these lovely dresses and adding different embellishments to dress them up a bit.

The Joy of Knitting Cashmere

2012-01-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

This work in progress is a lovely White Cashmere shawl. It has been stored with several other projects.

White Cashmere Shawl

I purchased the cashmere at the Stitches East marketplace when it was in Baltimore at least five years ago.

The cashmere is from Cape Cod Fibers in Massachusetts. It is 4 ply 100% Cashmere and is extremely soft. I'm knitting it on a Size 5 needle with a gauge of 6 stitches to the inch.

My shawl currently measures a little more than 12 inches long so I have a lot of knitting to do before it's finished.

The pattern that I chose consists of a columns of stockinette stitch and columns of seed stitch. The pattern holds my attention but the yarn is so soft that I seem to get drowsy while working with it.

This will be a classic when it's finished but who knows when that will be.

2012 Tea Towel Calendar

2012-01-01T14:46:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite photos of 2011 was the bridge in my local park. I liked it so much that I decided to use it for my 2012 Tea Towel Calendar.

Thanks to Spoonflower.com and Photoshop creating my own fabric is simple.

You can purchase this fabric at Spoonflower.com and hem the edges for your own calendar. If you wish, I can finish it for you. Just email me directly for the details.

A very Happy New Year to all! May 2012 be filled with joy and kindness.

Favorite Photos of 2011

2011-12-31T16:57:00.000-05:00

Tulips in Janaury

Sock Yarn Bear featured on Craft Gossip.com

Peaceful Walk to the Bridge

Fabric designed on Spoonflower using my photos-Purse a personal design

Foster Kittens at my Kids Home

Shopping for a New Home

Mastered thread crochet after all these years

A New Favorite Quote

Mother Robin feeding her baby in my yard

Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers found in my Garage

Vintage Doll Coat-Pattern found in my collection


Sunrise in Florida

Christmas around the House

2011-12-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

With only a week until Christmas, I've started to add decorations throughout the house.

Here's a glimpse of just a few

There's a Holiday Hanging towel in the kitchen. You can find the pattern in my Ravelry shop.

This towel topper is simple to knit and takes only an hour or so from start to finish.

The dishtowel is folded in half with 28 stitches cast on from a series of running stitches.

I use white Sugar and Cream to knit the topper and a clear button for the closure.

I've made several to give as hostess gifts.

And here's one of my favorite ornaments. This Lilliput Lane Cottage is called "Glad Tidings". It is one of my cherished mementos from my Christmas in the Cotswolds of England in 2005.

Santa is another of my cherished Christmas decorations. He is originally from the early 1950's and has been part of Christmas in my home for as long as I can remember.

Knitting Ornaments for Holidays

2011-12-12T19:39:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I realized that I hadn't done any knitting specifically for the holidays. Last year, I made one of these Christmas ornaments and decided that I would complete the set this year and write the pattern to share with all of you.

These ornaments are simple to knit and look great in a bowl or on the tree.

Visit my Ravelry store to download the pattern for these ornaments.

Start with plain glass ornaments. These are 2 1/2 inch round ornaments.

I used Patons Brilliant from my stash but any Sport or Dk weight yarn will work nicely.

The first one has beads added to the knitting. You'll need 60 - 4 mm beads.

For this one I decided to eliminate the beads and knit 4 rows with one color and 2 rows with another color.

And this one is 4 rows of each color.

And then back to a beaded ornament. Only this time, I used silver beads and white yarn.

Christmas is still two weeks away so I still have time to make several more.

I really like the way these add warmth to the Christmas decorations in my home.

So what knit decorations are around your home for the holidays? In addition to these, I have Christmas stockings ranging from miniatures for the tree to full size to hold the presents, hot pads, and a special holiday hanging towel in the kitchen.

Knit Vintage Doll Coat

2011-10-02T16:05:00.000-04:00

I finished assembling this vintage knit doll coat yesterday. I found this pattern last summer in the Columbia Minerava Behive Yarns Manual for Knitting and Crochet-Volume 730 and wrote about discovering the pattern book in my post of July 24, 2011.

It is my favorite vintage doll outfit to date. I vaguely remember seeing a picture of myself as a toddler in a similar styled coat. I continue to expand my collection of vintage doll clothes. This coat is number 15 in the collection. The power point presentation of the others in the collection is on my website.

The body of this coat is knit in one piece from the neck down with raglan sleeve openings knit to the yoke making it incredibly simple to knit. The sleeves are knit separately and sewn into the raglan openings on the wrong side of the coat. The collar is added separately.

The yarn is Patons Astra from my stash and is 100% acrylic and machine washable and dryable making it a great choice for doll clothes that children can use to play. I used a U.S. size 5 needle to achieve a gauge of 6 stitches to the inch. The original pattern calls for Columbia-Minerva Calypso Germantown Knitting Worsted and size 4 needles.

The buttons that I used are also vintage. I found them at an antique fair several years ago. They fit both the color and the design of this coat beautifully.

This coat is designed for an 18 inch doll. The one pictured here is from the Springfield collection purchased with a 40% off coupon at the local Jo Ann Fabric Store although I'm sure it will fit an American Girl Doll nicely.

I'm considering offering this style coat as a custom order in my Etsy shop in the future.

My Newest Favorite Knit Shawl

2011-09-25T19:14:00.003-04:00

When I visited the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival last May, I found this wonderful pattern called Wildflower Jacket by Margaret Fisher. It's actually a shawl knit in triangles. This shawl was so simple to knit. It starts with a triangle that becomes the center back, then 4 additional triangles are knit on either side of the original triangle. What's amazing is how well the shawl wraps around my shoulders and stays on comfortably.

The instructions also suggest tacking the bottom edges of the front and back triangle to form a "sleeve edge"

I'm already planning my next shawl using this pattern. I have a cone of Bartlett Dk weight wool in a pale blue that will be great for the winter.

This shawl is made using a hand dyed superfine Alpaca yarn that I purchased at the MSWF. It is a wonderfully soft yarn and the shawl drapes beautifully.

I've decided to start a notebook of my favorite patterns and this pattern is going straight into the notebook.

Vintage Sailor and Mermaid Hugger Salt and Pepper Shakers

2011-09-04T16:15:00.000-04:00

Van Tellingen Hugger Salt and Pepper Shaker


The Sailor and the Mermaid

I have an overwhelming interest in preserving items from the past, especially the 1940's through the 1960's. Periodically I stop by vintage stores or visit antique fairs looking for treasures. This past summer, I discovered vintage items right in my own garage.

Several years ago, a relative was moving and asked that I take some of the items from the house. At the end of all the packing, a cabinet full of glassware still needed to be packed. I quickly wrapped all the glassware in a box and when I arrived at home, I put the box on a shelf in the garage.

Last month, I decided to go through the box. There were four sets of vintage glasses, a beautiful vase, and a cordial set of red glass complete with decanter and 2 cordial glasses. I'll share pictures of those another time.

At the bottom of the box was a very dirty old figurine of a sailor. I admit that I left the figurine in the bottom of the box for weeks. Finally about 2 weeks ago, I wanted to put the empty box away and so I took out the dirty figurine. Much to my surprise, it was a salt shaker. I carefully washed it and noticed that on the bottom were the words "Pat Pend" and on the back the words Van Tellingen.

Thanks, as always, to Google, I was able to research the name. Well sure enough, the sailor was part of a 1940's salt and pepper shaker called the Sailor and the Mermaid. The set is part of a Hugger collection because the two pieces fit together as though hugging.

I needed the mermaid and several more Google searches and ebay searches, I found my mermaid. She arrived yesterday and now my set is complete and I'm very happy to own and preserve it.

August Knitting

2011-08-14T19:53:00.000-04:00

Determined to reduce my stash of cotton yarn, I've been busy making these dishcloths and washcloths. I'm currently using up lots of yarn with the ball band pattern and this round Tribble pattern. I've made a few changes to the basic Tribble pattern, I use Size 8 needles and cast on 30-35 stitches. When finished they measure between 5 and 6 inches across. Becasue they are double thick, they make a nice heavy cloth.

I've finished all the variegated yarn that I had and now I'm working on combining the solid colors to create some fun pinwheel colors.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of these but it is very easy knitting. I can finish one in an evening.

And so as I finish up my stash of cotton yarn, I also began a new project. Below is the first square of my Heirloom Afghan.

I recently joined the Hunt Valley Cashmere Square of the Month Club. I'm thrilled with this yarn and the terrific way that I receive it. I signed up for the shipments to arrive every other month. I receive two skeins of this lovely 8 ply cashmere yarn in the cream color and have 8 weeks to knit one 12 inch square before the new yarn arrives.

I decided that this beautiful yarn should be knit in a simple pattern so I'm knitting a seed stitch square with a stockinette stitch center. I'm not sure if I'll make every square the same or alternate with a stockinette stitch square. Part of the fun in receiving the yarn every other month is that I have plenty of time to decide. Also, receiving just 2 skeins every other month fits nicely into my budget. I wouldn't be able to make a cashmere blanket if I had to purchase all the yarn at once. The finished blanket should be 20 squares and then a border. So that's two years of cashmere knitting.

I've been starting every morning with this yarn. Just 3 or 4 rows as I have my coffee before I start the hectic pace of my work day. A wonderful, peaceful start to the day.

Knitting a Vintage Doll Coat and Bonnet

2011-07-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I decided to spend some time going through my collection of vintage pattern books. It was supposed to be an effort to find books that I could sell or give away. Instead, it turned into an afternoon of admiring the many patterns that I have.

I came across this book by Columbia Minerva that does not have a copyright date listed but appears to be from the late 1950's or early 1960's.

This book is part of a collection that I received from an extended family member. The book starts with 8 pages of how to information on knitting and crocheting along with instructions for taking measurements and finishing a new garment.

Then there are 70 pages of patterns. The infant section includes cardigans, caps, booties, soakers, a baby bunting and several baby blankets. There's also a junior section for children, a women section that includes a Ladies slip over and cardigan set, a great pair of gloves, and a Paneled shirtwaist dress, and the family group has several afghans, a mother and daughter cardigan set, and a men's argyle slipover vest and socks. Finally, there is a stitch dictionary section that has about 15 patterns.

But the pattern that caught my attention and demanded to be started is this Doll Coat and Bonnet.

This coat is sized for an 18 inch doll. The gauge is 6 stitches to an inch on size 4 needles. I just happen to have several skeins of Patons Astra in a dark green that will work nicely. There is also a matching coat and Bonnet for a "Little Miss" in sizes 3 and 4.

This doll coat and bonnet will be an excellent addition to my collection of doll outfits made from vintage patterns.

I cast on the stitches for the coat before the afternoon was over.

I did find many other wonderful pattern books. Although, I only found a few that I'm willing to part with, I found many items that I want to knit. So my To-Do List gets longer.

The most interesting find of the afternoon is a hand written pattern for a blanket. The title on the page is "Treasure Chest". I'm going to begin to type the pattern today and make it this winter.

I love the idea of passing on patterns from the past to future knitters and crocheters.

Giveaway! Row Counter Bracelet for Knitting

2011-07-08T10:01:00.000-04:00

In 1997, I was getting my car repaired and was knitting while I waited. I was working on a pattern that required knowing what row I was working on and had no way to mark my progress except a piece of paper and a pencil. It was then that I came up with the idea of the beaded bracelet. After a few weeks of experimenting, I designed this bracelet.

I keep one with each of my projects and I always know what row is next and where I left off. When I'm not wearing the bracelet, I keep in attached to the handle of my knitting bag.

The wooden bead version, pictured above, is the original bracelet. This bracelet was available through the Patternworks catalog for more than 10 years. Now I'm happy to offer it to knitters in my Etsy shop.

I also started to make the bracelets using plastic colored beads.
This way, I can use a purple bracelet when I'm working with purple yarn

And a blue bracelet when I'm working with blue yarn.

I'd like to offer a bracelet to you. Leave a comment sharing your method for counting rows in either your knitting or crocheting projects. On Sunday, July 10th at 8 p.m., I'll choose a random comment and send the winner the bracelet of their choice.

I still make each bracelet so if you need the length adjusted, let me know. Also, if you have a favorite color, I may be able to make your row counter bracelet using that colored beads.

So, how do you keep track of the pattern row when you're working on your project?

Stitching up my Cotton Yarn Stash

2011-06-12T19:50:00.000-04:00

My stash of cotton yarn includes various colors of Sugar n Cream, Peaches n Creme, and Bernat worsted weight yarn. For the last 3 years, I've been trying to reduce that stash. I'm not sure how I accumulated so much cotton yarn except to say that the colors make me happy.Throughout the year when I'm in a mood, I like to buy a few skeins of brightly colored yarn and this yarn is super inexpensive.

I make tons of dishcloths and make and sell the dress dishcloths.

But now I'm determined to finish up this stash between now and Labor Day.

My first project is a granny square afghan. Here's square number 1. It is a 7 inch square.
I have plenty of Bernat yarn in this turquoise color and I have a 1000 yard cone of white. I don't crochet often but every once in awhile I enjoy stitching granny squares. Each one only takes a few hours.

In addition to all the dishcloths that I'm making, I decided to try a log cabin pattern to use as much of the different colored yarns that I can. Here's what it looks like so far.

I'm really enjoying this. It may become an afghan or a throw rug to place on the carpet.

Working with these yarns is a fun and relaxing break from my other more complicated knitting and sewing projects. I tend to work on these late in the evening or first thing in the morning, leaving my other projects for the times that I can be more attentive to the details.

Knitting a Shawl of Gratitude

2011-06-05T19:18:00.000-04:00

As the days have become warmer, I've been reorganizing my knitting projects and looking through my yarn. I have enough Bernat worsted weight yarn to make a shawl as a special gift. In my search for a pattern, I found the Shawl of Gratitude pattern by Lion Brand. I can't show you a photo of the shawl right now because it would ruin the surprise but showing gratitude is exactly what I want this shawl to do.

This pattern is so simple but knitting the worsted weight yarn on size 10 1/2 needles is producing a nice fabric. The yarn is 70% soft acrylic and 30% cotton and is machine washable and dryable. This will make it a great shawl for every day use.

I started this shawl last Sunday with hopes of having it finished today but I still have about 28 inches to knit. My other time commitments make it impossible to make any real progress in a week's time. My goal is still to finish it as quickly as possible.

I'm also busy making Buttercup Wristlets for my Etsy shop

and trying to use up most of the cotton yarn that I have. I've made a bunch of dishcloths and now I'm working on my first log cabin blanket using up as much cotton yarn as I can.

Sock Knitting

2011-05-30T22:15:00.000-04:00

Need I say more! Here's the beginning of 3 pairs of socks waiting to be worked on. I also admit that there are 3 other pairs started that I didn't photograph.

I actually like all of these knitting projects but just can't seem to finish one before I start the next. Now I have all summer to finish these and next winter, I'll have brand new socks to keep my feet warm.

I Will Finish Knitting This Shawl

2011-05-22T19:41:00.000-04:00

According to the receipt in the knitting bag that holds this shawl, I purchased the yarn and pattern in 2004. I purchased it at my first visit to Stitches East when it was held in Atlantic City, N.J.
The yarn is wonderful although I don't have the labels so I'm not sure of the content. It's probably a merino that was hand dyed. It is shades of turquoise with a slight bit of tan running through it.

The pattern is from Red Oak Designs and when I tried to find the website, it's no longer there. I do have a picture of the finished shawl. It is garter stitch with this triangular shaping to fit over the shoulders and the bottom edge is a feather and fan border for about 8 inches.

There are two skeins of yarn that I haven't wound yet.

And so, it's time to finish this shawl.

I can't imagine why I haven't finished it sooner. This one is now the oldest unfinished project.

Yesterday I put all my started projects in one pile. I have too many. Here's a brief list:

Socks-more than I care to mention
Scarves & Shawls-at least 3 that I really should finish
Sweaters-3 but I just started them in 2010
Blankets-2 that I started this winter and 1 that's been around since 2006
Baby sweaters, hat, & blanket- Quite a few!
Gloves both fingerless and with fingers - at least 5

And that doesn't include projects that I already have the yarn in my stash but haven't cast on yet.

So, this summer it's time to tackle these projects once again and see if I can finish a few before I start some new ones.

Sounds like a plan but I don't know if I can turn it into reality!

My Trip to the 2011 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

2011-05-15T16:18:00.000-04:00

This was my third consecutive year at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and this year I had a plan to maximize my visit. I got there at 9:30 a.m. and so the traffic to get into the fair grounds was minimal and I got a good parking space.

I decided to walk to the main exhibit hall first which is the farthest from the entrance and then work my way back so that when I was ready to leave, I'd be close to the parking lot. My plan worked beautifully, I was able to visit all the vendors in the main hall and still have the time and energy to visit many vendors in the tents that are closer to the fair entrance.

First, here's a few photos of some of the wonderful animals that were at the fairgrounds.

My first purchase of the day was this great Festival tote bag. Love the turquoise coloring and I have plenty of room for my knitting projects.

Here's my New Yarn Bowl. I've wanted one of these for quite a while. I stopped at Greenbridge Pottery. They had a wonderful selection of pottery.

In the bowl is one of the great yarns that I purchased at the festival. It is 100% Superfine Alpaca hand dyed by Janet Stollnitz of Dyed Dreams.

And below is the shawl pattern that I just love. I'm using the green alpaca for this shawl.

The shawl is constructed of seven triangles. I can't wait to wear this shawl.

I purchased the pattern at Ellen's half pint Farm booth..................

...........along with this beautiful yarn and another pattern for a poncho using the traditional feather and fan pattern.

And of course, I couldn't leave the festival without some sock yarn. This very bright colorway is 373 yards of Superwash Merino by Dancing Leaf Farm.

And I've saved the best for last. I visited the Hunt Valley Cashmere Booth and purchased almost 600 yards of this beautiful sky blue 4 ply cashmere. This yarn is amazing. It's so soft, I hope I can stay awake as I knit with it. I purchased a scarf pattern with the yarn and I'm going to make it a little wider so that it will cover my shoulders when I wear it.

It was truly a terrific day. The weather was perfect for the festival and the choices outstanding for a knitter like me. I made a real effort this year to buy from local vendors and I'm happy to say that I succeeded.

Dress Our Dolls Presentation

2011-04-24T10:33:00.001-04:00

Among the things that I like to knit and sew are doll clothes. I have been organizing the collection this winter and now they will be displayed at my local library. I am currently working on the documentation to accompany the display and will be posting the information to my website. Here's a sampling of the dolls in their outfits

This is an 18 inch American Girl Doll Size jumper and sweater that is my own pattern.

Below is a dress that I knit from a 1957 issue of Workbasket magazine

This is a dress for a 22 inch doll from a 1932 McCall's sewing pattern that I found at an antique fair

This dress fits an 11 1/2 inch fashion doll such as Barbie. I can't find the pattern right now so I'm off to search my collection of patterns.

This outfit is knit from a 1940's book called "I Learn to Knit to Dress my Doll Primrose"

I'm including several other dolls and outfits in the display along with pattern booklets from 1950 through the present that I have.

I hope that this will inspire young people to learn to knit and sew.

Take a Photo, Print the Fabric, Sew the Purse

2011-04-10T19:39:00.000-04:00

During the last few weeks, I've been spending a lot of my time sewing.

The simple wristlet pictured below is my latest design. I hope you like it as much as I do.

The top half of this wristlet folds over and has a button closure. The inside edge folds over, too, keeping the contents of the bag secure. I've made the inside edge a semi circle so its simple to get the contents out.

The fabric for this one is my own creation. With some help from Photoshop and Spoonflower, I've been able to create a print fabric from this photo that I took last summer in the garden.

I'm making a collection of this style bag and a card case that fits inside the bag with a variety of both new and re-purposed fabrics. Each bag is fully lined with a coordinating fabric. The bag measures 5 inches by 5 inches when closed and is 2 inches deep. It's the perfect size for carrying a cell phone or camera along with ID, cash, and cards. The key chain and clip are attached and I've added a brass butterfly charm to the key chain.

Look for Pond Court Creations on Etsy in the next month. If you discover Pond Court Creations from this post, please let me know and I'll have a special discount for you.

2KCBW Day 1 A Tale of Two Yarns

2011-03-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

I knit with all kinds of yarns. I've made gloves and scarves from beautiful cashmere, socks from a variety of natural fibers including wonderful merino, sweaters from cotton and silk blends and natural wools but when it's time to make an afghan or baby blanket, I turn to the acrylic blends.

Below is a blanket that I'm working on now. It's two strands of the very reliable Plymouth Encore worsted. This yarn is 75% acrylic and 25% wool. It's machine washable and even goes in the dryer. I've made many blankets using Encore and they are used and loved and last and last!

Another great blanket or afghan yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease. The blanket below, barely started, is on Size 10 1/2 needles with Wool-Ease Chunky. Again, same great qualities for an afghan that will be used and loved. The yarn is 80% acrylic and 20% wool.

And below, is another afghan made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease. This one is at least 10 years old. It's soft and comfortable and the color is as bright as the day I made it.

So, as so many others have said today, it all depends on the project. I am just as happy knitting with an acrylic blend as I am when I'm knitting with wool, cotton, or silk, it just depends on the type of item that I'm knitting.

Gold Ribbon Knitting

2011-03-20T20:07:00.000-04:00

I rejoined the local Women's Club this year and Friday was the GFWC District Achievement Day competition. There are many different categories within the Arts Creative group and of course, knitting is one of them.

I decided to enter three projects in the Advanced category.

I was honored to receive two Gold ribbons and one blue ribbon. The gold ribbon winners now send their projects to the State competition that is held in the first week of May.

This baby sweater is one of my prized projects. I found this pattern quite a few years ago at a show. I can't remember which one. It's a Garter Stitch Striped Jacket by Caroline Kollar Designs dated 2005. I've looked on Ravelry and did a Google search and can't find any information about the pattern or the designer. The pattern is 3 typed pages with a photograph of the finished sweater glued to the first page.

I decided to make the sweater in the 6 month size and used Plymouth Yarns Jelli Beenz and Plymouth Encore for the solid yarn. I'm really pleased with this color combination. When I went shopping for the buttons, I couldn't decide between the flowers and the smiley faced stars, so I decided to use both.

This sweater is simple to knit. It has a seed stitch edge, a stockinette stitch body and the solid stripes are achieved by knitting two rows with the solid yarn.

I'm hoping this sweater does well at the New Jersey state competition.

My other gold ribbon is for this simple baby blanket that measures 28 inches by 22 inches. I call the pattern Swirls-Diagonal Knit Baby Blanket. I made this one using Plymouth Yarns Fantasy Naturale. It's another simple to knit project. Two rows of stockinette stitch and two rows of garter stitch. I currently have another one on the needles using a blue variegated and a white solid wool.

I knit many of my projects just because the design interests me. Both of these projects were knit without a specific recipient in mind and added to my gift closet. That way, I'm not under pressure to finish a project when I need to give someone a gift--or in this case, when I want to enter something in a competition.

It is my favorite way to knit. It's a lot more fun to work on what interest me at the moment than to be pressured by deadlines. Life has enough deadlines without bringing them into my knitting and sewing.

How Cute are These!

2011-03-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

Knit egg cozy and sew mini apron are my two latest quick projects.

First, the Bunny Egg Cozy. I found this adorable knit pattern on Etsy while making a knitting themed Treasury. Since I love egg cups, I knew this would be a great addition to my collection. The pattern is by Little Cotton Rabbits. It's simple to knit and easy to put together. I had fingering weight yarn left from a baby sweater that worked well. I'll be making a few more of these for Spring for myself and as gifts.

Then, my mini apron. The apron is a Simplicity Pattern. I had plenty of scraps of cotton fabric and used quarter inch seam binding for the edges. Again, easy to make and really fun to own. I'm adding this to my upcoming library display of doll clothes.

In the meantime, I'm working on the Turn of the Glass Cardigan from Knitty. I can't wait to share it with you. The pattern is a delight to knit and I think it's going to be my all time favorite sweater.

And, I found another podcast to listen to while driving home from work. If you haven't listened to Savvy Girls podcast, give it a try. These two knitting sisters have a great podcast.

Knitting Dot Pebbles Dolls

2011-03-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

This is my latest knit doll from the Dot Pebbles collection. I purchased this as a kit when I was in London five years ago. Now that I'll be doing a display at my local library, I knew that I wanted to make her and include it in my display.

She was very simple to make. The body is knit in two pieces, the front and back, and the legs and arms are done in i-cord. Sew the pieces together and stuff with a fiber fill then proceed to add her facial features and her hair.

There are a variety of choices for her outfit. I decided to make the knit hat adding the beaded flower found in my stash of sewing supplies and then sew a simple dress for her.

The patterns are in the book Knitted Babes by Claire Garland. For more of her designs, I urge you to visit the Dot Pebbles website. Claire has dolls and a vast variety of clothes available for them. These are fun and easy to make and should provide lots of fun for the children that play with them.

Time to Sew

2011-02-13T19:48:00.000-05:00

This bag is a new design of mine that I've named the Tulip bag. It measures 8 inches high and has a 7 inch diameter. The bottom sits flat as I angled the fabric when I sewed it together. It's just the right size to hold my sock knitting projects. I've listed this Tulip Bag in my Etsy Shop. I'll be making more of these soon.

It was fairly simple to make.

Using two fat quarters of fabric, I cut 6 strips that were 4 1/2 inches wide and made a triangle at each end. After I sewed the strips together, I folded the fabric in half so that the bag is self lined.

I added six tabs to the top and made a half inch cord from the remaining fabric.

The bag took about two hours from start to finish.

The inspiration for this bag came from a 1950's magazine picture. After seeing the picture of a similar bag, I spent a lot of time thinking about the easiest way to make a useful bag. I think that I succeeded.

Also, this weekend, I made another Buttercup Bag. This is also in my Etsy shop. The fabric for this one is a recycled napkin that I found at a local Thrift store. The fabric was in excellent condition and I was able to make the bag using only one napkin. To finish it properly, I made a fabric covered button. I haven't done any of those it awhile. I forgot just how much they add to the custom look of a project.

I have 7 more napkins so I can make several bags with this cheery yellow and blue fabric.

I worked on several knitting projects this week, too. My sweater is progressing nicely and I did several rows on the blanket that I'm knitting.

On Friday, I had a wonderful opportunity to share my blog with a fourth grade class at my school. Their teacher is doing a unit on writing and has the students learning to write blog posts to improve their writing skills. Here's the link to the class blog. I continue to learn from children. Their approach is always fresh and new and it's a pleasure to listen to their ideas.

Basket weave Fingerless Gloves

2011-02-06T14:17:00.002-05:00

I knit these fingerless gloves in December as a birthday present for a good friend of mine. I'm happy to say that she really likes them and that they are getting plenty of use.

These gloves were a joy to knit. They are knit on Size 2 1/2 (3.0 mm) double pointed needles which is a favorite size of mine. I use the 5 inch double pointed needles by Brittany and find that the knitting moves along at a nice pace with this length needle.

The yarn is Lang Superwash Sock Yarn. It's a blend of wool and Polyamide that is machine washable and can be put in the dryer on low. I've used this yarn several times and always enjoy working with it.

The basket weave or "Woven" pattern is always fun to knit. I've used this stitch pattern to knit several blankets but this is the first time that I used it for gloves.

The pattern is featured in the One-Skein Wonders Sock Yarn book. This is a very good book for a variety of uses for sock yarn. I am planning to make several other items from this book.

I continue to work on several projects at once. Right now I have two afghans started and a wonderful cardigan that I'll talk about in another post. There's still several pairs of socks on the needles and I continue to work on doll clothes for my library exhibit in April.

And finally, I found a new podcast this week. It's called Subway Knits. I listened to the first two episodes so far. Give it a try, it's very well done!

January Work in Progress

2011-01-16T19:17:00.006-05:00

With the holidays over, I inventoried the WIP knitting projects

I started these socks sometime last fall. The yarn is Ty-Dy Sock in Color 1672 by Knit One Crochet Too. There is so much color in this yarn that I decided the best sock was a plain stockinette stitch sock.

When I brought the yarn home, I immediately started to knit with it. I worked on this sock every day for about a week getting the heel turned and about 3 inches of the foot done. Then, for some reason that I can't recall, I put them aside.

I have 3 other pairs of socks in progress, so Friday, I decided it was time to start to finish some of them. Because this sock is the closest to being finished, I'm working on it first. Besides, with this cold weather, I need all the socks I can finish.

The new project on my list is an afghan.

When I went to Michael's to scout out yarn for the afghan, I found these great stationary sets in the Dollar Deals. I'm a big fan of shabby chic prints and I really love these two sets.

Total cost was $6.00 and I have two sets that include a journal with matching pen and notepad. There's something about fancy stationary that makes me feel good.

I've also been busy sewing. Here's the second "Buttercup" Bag that I made. This one is in my Etsy Shop. There's more photos there. This little bag is really useful. I'm carrying the original one with me. It's really handy.

And just to chase away the winter chill, these beautiful tulips were in the floral department of my local grocery store. They do cheer up the house.

Knit Teddy Bear using Sock Yarn

2011-01-10T18:58:00.004-05:00

I spent yesterday sewing this 10 inch high bear together. The pieces were a quick and simple knitting project. The body is done in one piece from the legs to the top of his head and the arms, ears, and snout are knit separately.

The pattern is part of the More than Socks! booklet featuring Red Heart Heart & Sole yarns.

The yarn for this bear is Sockotta by Plymouth yarns that has been in my stash for quite awhile. It was supposed to be a pair of socks or a baby sweater but the colors yearned to be this bear.

His snout is a knit with Red Heart Yarns Heart & Sole in Ivory and sewed on after he was assembled.

His eyes, nose, and mouth are embroidered on using a black cotton embroidery floss.

I'm thrilled with the way the self striping works in this bear. I did match the yarn when knitting both the legs, arms, and ears so that they would be at the same part of the self striping.

This is now my favorite bear pattern for this weight yarn. I think I can use a lot of leftover sock yarn to create more bears.

Imagine using one yarn for his feet another for the legs and body to the waist (Pants) and another for the upper half of the body and arms as a shirt. There are a lot of possibilities.

He still needs a name! Any suggestions?

Latest Sewing Project

2011-01-02T19:14:00.004-05:00

This is "Buttercup", my latest bag design. This bag measures 5 inches wide and 2 inches deep and it's 5 inches high when closed. It's a simple design that closes with one button.

When open, the inside edge is curved to allow for ease in getting things in and out of the bag. The top inch of the inside edge folds over the outer edge when it's closed, keeping my things secure.

To complete it, I've added a loop and key chain and hook.

The fabric is cotton and it has a lightweight fleece in between the layers for stability.

This great little bag will be in my purse to hold all those small items that usually fall to the bottom. When not in my purse, I plan to use it for quick trips to the store to hold my phone, id, and change purse.

I think it will also make a good bag for my knitting tools.

Looks like I'll have to make a few more.

Check my Etsy shop in the near future for more like this one.

Photo Friday

2010-12-24T15:59:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas Eve. Here's the view in my hallway.
Wishing you all the best!

Knitting Themed Children's Book

2010-12-20T18:29:00.002-05:00

When I go to Barnes & Noble, I often check the children section for picture books with a knitting theme. This weekend, while looking over the shelves, the word "knitting" jumped out at me. I pulled the book off the shelf and was pleased to find "Noodle's Knitting". This is a delightful picture book about a mouse that wants to knit. She gets a ball of yarn and the story develops from there.

I read the book to a group of first graders today. They enjoyed it. I brought my knitting and after I read the book, many of them told me about moms, aunts, and grandmas that knit for them. Several told me that they already are learning to knit and many want to learn. I told them I would teach them when they were in third grade.

Finding ways to share my love of knitting is always fun.

Friday Photo

2010-12-17T19:13:00.003-05:00

At the Zoo

Fabulous Flip Top Mittens

2010-12-12T19:03:00.004-05:00

This beautiful cornflower Cherry Tree Hill Yarn is now my favorite pair of mittens for the winter.

The yarn was purchased at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and it is just wonderfully soft.

The mitten pattern was simple. I found it in a Red Heart Heart & Sole Yarn Pattern Booklet that has 13 patterns for items made with sock yarn. There's also a cute Teddy Bear made with self striping yarn in the booklet that I plan on making.

Here's a picture of the mittens with the top closed and a close up of the buttons that I used.

The buttons are from a growing collection of vintage buttons that I've acquired over the last few years. I have at least 10 more of these and hope to use them on a sweater sometime in the future.

Friday Photo

2010-12-10T18:55:00.002-05:00

View From Below the Bridge

This foot bridge over a stream was taken last summer at a local park. 

Have a nice weekend!

My Holiday Snowman Knitting Pattern

2010-12-08T19:32:00.003-05:00

A quick knit favorite for the Holidays!

Materials Needed:

U.S. Size 7 Knitting Needles

Worsted Weight Yarn (Picture made with Peaches & Crème Yarn)- White for Body, Your choice for Hat and Scarf

Chenille Stems in Black (eyes), Orange (nose), Red (lips)

2 -Three Inch Styrofoam Balls

PATTERN

Body -Cast on 25 Stitches

Row 1-Knit

Row 2– Purl

Row 3–Knit

Row 4-Knit

Repeat above 4 rows 13 times or until piece measures 8 inches long.

Cast off and sew cast off edge to cast on edge to form a tube.

Slide tube over the two Styrofoam balls to create snowman body.

Hat– Cast on 45 stitches

Work in K1, P1 rib for 1-1/2 inches, decrease last row to 30 stitches and switch to stockinette stitch for 1-1/2 inches.

Decrease for crown as follows,

Row 1-K3, K2tog, (K6, K2tog) 3 times, end K1;

Row 2-4-6 Purl across,

Row 3-K2, K2tog, (K5,K2tog) 3 times, end K1;

Row 5-K1, K2tog, (K4, K2tog) 3 times, end K1;

Row 7-K1, K2tog across, end K1 (10 stitches remain);

Row 8 P2tog across.

Cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing seam and thread through remaining stitches pulling firmly and sew seam of hat.

Add Pom Pom (I usually secure hat to body with a long pin through the pom pom into the top of Styrofoam ball.

Scarf-Cast on 6 stitches and knit every row for 10 inches. Tie surely around neck

Add small pieces of chenille stem for facial features as shown in picture.

©D. Trainor 2009

Friday Photo

2010-12-03T17:44:00.004-05:00

Yarn in Vintage Glass Bowl.

This beautiful green sock yarn is in a glass bowl that I saved from my Grandmother's house. The crocheted doily is one that my other Grandmother made in the 1940's.

Have a nice Weekend!

Thrilled with this Cardigan

2010-11-28T20:43:00.004-05:00

Here it is! Finished and ready to wear. This is one of my favorite knitting projects EVER!

The yarn is by Manos del Uruguay in my favorite shades of green. Every one that knows me, knows that green is my color. I purchased this yarn five years ago on a trip to Maryland but couldn't find the right pattern for it.

Then the fall 2010 issue of Knit Simple Magazine came out and included this pattern. It's number 16, short sleeve cardi. This sweater is knit in one piece from the hem up to the underarms, then the sleeves are knit on double pointed needles and added to the body before completing the yoke and neckline. Finally adding on the button bands.

It was a pleasure to knit and the seed stitch and the gauge made it go quickly. Done on size 9 needles with a gauge of 14 stitches to 4 inches. The dark green contrasting band is done with 4 rows of garter stitch.

Finally, I chose clear buttons so that they wouldn't distract from the lines of the sweater.

I didn't get a picture of this sweater on me but it fits beautifully. I know that I'll wear this sweater often.

Cactus in Bloom

2010-11-15T19:58:00.001-05:00

I just want to share this beautiful plant with you. This cactus is about a year old. It had one flower last spring and this week, it just exploded. There are at least 10 buds on the plant. They are growing into flowers at a very fast rate.

Hope you enjoy!

Time I started Holiday Knitting

2010-11-14T19:05:00.004-05:00

This post is inspired by an Artfire contest to win a terrific camera. The challenge is to share your plans for a handmade holiday. Here's a sampling of my handmade holiday items.

I know many people who have been busy knitting holiday gifts since July. I am not one of them. I knit all year and put the finished projects in my cabinet and then shop from that cabinet when I need I gift.

I do, however, enjoy knitting holiday decorations as gifts, package decorations and decorations for my home.

This snowman is one that I've knitted many times but still haven't written out the directions. I really need to do that and add it to my website and ravelry page.

Last year, I made these ornaments. I knit a straight piece and then sewed the piece to make a tube. I gathered both ends and covered plain glass ornaments. These really sparkle in the light. As you can see, I started adding beads to these. I didn't write out these directions, either.

And, here's a little gift bear in his new vest. This is for a project that my Woman's Club is doing.

Developing my bear wear and doll clothes is a major goal for 2011. I'd forgotten how much fun these little miniature outfits can be.

Knitting Doll Clothes

2010-11-07T09:52:00.002-05:00

Dressing dolls in knit outfits is fun and a good way to experiment with style.

Several years ago, I made this outfit from a Mary Maxim kit. Yesterday, I took out the storage box with my doll clothes materials to make another outfit from the kit. I was really surprised to see that the patterns were designed by Nicky Epstein for Mary Maxim.

The doll, yarn, and patterns are a kit and I purchased 2 dolls. I've started the tunic length cardigan and will be making the capri pants.

I'll be adding this to my ever growing collection of dolls that are dressed in outfits that I've made.

Here's the link to a dress for an 11 inch fashion doll like Barbie that I designed many years ago.

To Dress my Doll, Primrose

2010-10-17T11:59:00.004-04:00

Several years ago, I came across this book at a used book sale. After some research and help from my fellow Ravelers, I discovered that this book was published in the 1940's in France and then translated into English. It is a publication of Laines du Pingouin.

The book starts out with a note to Mothers that ..."Little girls cannot learn to knit by themselves unless mothers have the time and patience to actually show them how to do it".

Then there is a story entitled "The story of my doll Primrose". It's a cute story about a doll at Santa's House".

After the story is the second half of the book is devoted to teaching a child to knit and then includes the instructions for 4 complete outfits to knit for a 16 inch doll.

I decided to make the "Cinderella" outfit.

And, here she is. This was a lot of fun to make and very simple. I used Sirdar Snuggly 4 ply yarn and size 3 needles. Both the skirt and sweater have and i-cord closure.

To complete the look, I added a simple blouse that I sewed together from some scraps of fabric and added a lace trim to the neckline.

I enjoy dressing dolls, especially when I use vintage patterns. I like to think that in some small way, I'm passing on these patterns to future knitters.

A Tour of My Studio Space

2010-10-12T18:18:00.005-04:00

Cloth Paper Scissors has announced a blog tour of studio spaces and I wanted to welcome everyone to my favorite work space.

Through the years, I've lived in several places and always yearned for a large room where I could knit and sew and relax. A place that would hold my many supplies and tools along with space to display some of my finished projects while they waited for a recipient.

After years of working at the dining room table, I had a home with a 4' by 6' room. That was my first studio. Working in there was difficult but I loved having a space to call my own. Five years ago, I moved here and set up this 15' by 20' room as my studio.

Here's some pictures and a few captions to highlight some of my favorite things in and about the studio.

Above is my sewing space. A nice long table and plenty of light. The globe lamp on the sewing table has been with me since high school.

The dress form is "Scarlet". She's wearing an apron that I made and is holding a draw string bag that I made from two vintage linen towels.

The framed apron is my first sewing project. I was 7 years old and also in the frame is my Girl Scout badge for sewing.

The cabinet holds some of my sewing and knitting pattern books. On top sits my growing collection of dressed dolls. Each of these dolls is wearing an outfit that I knit.

The white cabinet has individual spaces that were meant for shoes but I use them to hold all kinds of notions. There's zippers, and buttons, and tools of all sorts in there. On top are two of the containers that I use to store my straight knitting needles.

Here's the view from the sewing machine. The other end of the room has my favorite couch. I spend a lot of time on that couch both knitting and planning my projects. In the background is a table with two chairs in front of the windows. The light is great there!

The room has a great closet. I've added a set of drawers that hold more yarn and lots of other supplies. And below is the bookshelf that's in the closet. Home to more pattern books.

Oh, and please excuse the mess but that's how I work best. I do clean up sometimes but this is what it usually looks like!

And finally, here's the cabinet that is home to some of my finished projects. When I need a gift, that's where I shop!

So thanks for stopping by. I've added this Answer Garden so please let me know how you like my workspace.

How do you like my Studio space?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Knitting Today Magazine-It's terrific!

2010-10-07T19:48:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Twitter (which I just joined, I'm @knitnsewstudio), I heard about this new knitting magazine last weekend. I checked out their website and then went to my bookstore and found the magazine.

I'm so glad that I did.

First, they do the one thing that I truly appreciate. They use the back page as an index with a small photo of all the projects in the magazine. This is so valuable to me. When I start looking through all my knitting patterns, it really helps to have the index photos so that I do not have to search the entire magazine.

Then there's the variety of patterns. My favorites in this issue include the clutch bag, cell phone cover, vintage cardigan, and an adorable six and a half inch bear with a sweater.

I don't know which one to knit first.

This magazine is on my "must have" list. I'm looking forward to their next issue.

New Sock Sunday

2010-09-19T19:35:00.003-04:00

This afternoon, I gave in and started a pair of socks with this beautiful Madeline Tosh Sock yarn. I bought this yarn at a festival last fall. Several months ago, I took it out wound the skein into this ball. Then I put it back because I was working on 4 other pairs of socks. Well, I'm still working on those other socks but I couldn't resist starting to work with this yarn.

The color is called "gilded". It's a wonderful golden yellow. Just perfect for this time of year.

I'm using my basic sock pattern but I'm using the slipped stitch pattern from another pattern for the sock.

As for the 4 pairs that are already started, I know I'll finish them eventually but sometimes a yarn just won't wait any longer to be used. I did start and finish the Baby Boom socks recently so I can justify starting these.

In the meantime, I continue to use stash yarn to create fingerless gloves. I've finished 6 pairs so far and I have two more pairs on the needles right now. These are great stashbusters. Some of the pairs are in my etsy shop along with some kitchen knits.

2011 Calendars for Knitter's & Yarn Enthusiasts

2010-09-12T19:25:00.007-04:00

I'm thrilled to share this Tea Towel Calendar call Yarn Dessert for 2011. I designed this calendar using yarn and various dessert dishes. If you'd like to order one, click here .

I'd also like to hear what you think of the calendar and so I'm adding this answer garden, please let me know. All your comments will appear in the "Garden"

How do you like the 2011 Yarn Dessert Calendar?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

And, there's another calendar being released shortly. It's the 2011 Dishcloth Calendar. The calendar includes many, many patterns for dishcloths and other household items. I designed one more dress dishcloth pattern to be included in the calendar. Visit Dishcloth Calendar dot com for the calendar, a free pattern, and more.

Lots of Company, Just a Little Knitting

2010-09-09T19:38:00.004-04:00

I had house guests for the last two weeks and lots of visitors so I've continued to work on using yarns that are in my stash to make fingerless gloves. I've finished five pairs and just added two of them to my new Etsy Shop.

Here they are

And now that my company's gone and the September weather is here, I took out this Encore Yarn and started an afghan.

This is the pattern from the Encore Done by Monday Afghan book.

I use these patterns all the time. I can usually finish one of these afghans in less than a month. Of course, part of the reason it takes me so long is that I keep working on other projects while working on the afghan. I can't seem to work on one project for more than a few hours before I switch to another project.

Pleat Neck Top Ready to Wear

2010-08-22T19:13:00.004-04:00

In my blog post of May 31, 2009, I discussed the start of this top. I was really enthused about the pleats at the neckline. This weekend, I completed the top.

The pleats were quite simple to make. The directions call for using 3 double pointed needles, placing four stitches on each and then holding the stitches in a pleat, knitting 3 stitches together, one from each needle. Another great thing about this design is that it was knit completely in one piece. There is no sewing or finishing required. The neckline is the highlight of this very simple top.

I'm looking forward to adding it to my wardrobe.

Pattern: Knit Simple Magazine spring/summer 2009
Pleat-Neck Top
Yarn: Bristol Yarn Somerset 85% Pima Cotton 15% Silk

This painting Says it All

2010-08-17T11:07:00.003-04:00

This is the Little Shepherdess by Janet Fisher.

Knitting while watching the sheep along the edge of a lake!

Sewing is still my First Love

2010-08-15T18:32:00.005-04:00

I just love my summer vacation. Two weeks off from work and plenty of time to spend in my studio. I finished several knitting projects and also had plenty of time to sew. Nothing makes time disappear faster than sitting at my sewing machine.

If I only had someone to fix my meals so I didn't have to be interrupted by grocery shopping and cooking!

This first bag is from fabric that I bought last year. The colors are perfect and the handles are real wood. I don't remember where I ordered them from. They've been around for a few years. The pattern is very simple. I want to make more of these and add a button closure.

The other bag is made from a vintage tablecloth that I purchased this spring. I totally enjoy working with vintage tablecloths. I added the buckle closure. I found the buckle at an antique fair. There is a marvelous woman that sells buttons and buckles. I get lost at her stand every time she does a show. She has thousands of selections.

This buckle is bakelite and the color coordinates with the fabric really well. This is my new everything bag. I'll carry it often. Great for knitting projects, paperwork from the office, and even as a handbag.

I also finished my vintage doll outfit. I just need to weave in the ends and take some pictures. Now I'm on to a sweater for winter, a pair of complicated cable socks, and back to a top that I started a year ago and the vintage baby sweater that I started in May.

Along with all that knitting, I want to make several more bags and do some more sewing before my job takes over my time again!

The View in the Park

2010-08-01T18:11:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is take my knitting to the local park.
It was perfect weather the other day and off I went.

And here's the view of the park and some ducks that live there.

These are the fingerless gloves that I worked on while I was there.

I'm working on making useful items from the odd balls of yarn in my stash. I have several beautiful yarns that I purchased over time. Since I only bought 2 skeins of most of these yarns, I only have a few choices for projects. I really like these simple ribbed fingerless gloves and so I'm making several pairs.

Here's a pair that I just finished.

One of my goals this summer is to knit doll clothes from some of the vintage patterns that I have. Here's Betty, she's a 16 inch porcelain doll that I won at the Boardwalk at the beach several years ago. The pattern is from a 1947 book titled "I Learn to Knit for My Doll Primrose", There's several patterns in this book but for now I'm just going to make the sweater and skirt. She'll need a blouse too, so I'll be doing some sewing.

For those of you that sew, have you heard of the ConKerr Cancer Pillowcase Project. Here's the link to the instructions. There are many drop off sites listed. I have some fabric in my studio that will make great pillowcases. It's a really simple project that will make a child smile. Thanks to Craft Hope for passing on the information.

Lots of Finished Projects!

2010-07-25T15:08:00.005-04:00

Here are my Red Socks, finished and ready for Fall. I really enjoyed working with this yarn. I finished these socks in less than a month. Of course, I didn't work on them every day. I can't wait to wear them!

I'm so happy that I finished a pair that I started working on these great Teal and Gray socks. I had about 5 inches of the leg done and then they sat unattended all winter. I'm a little disappointed in this yarn. The gray has pooled in a circular way but I do like the color combination.

While at the library, I discovered the Lucy Neatby DVD called Knitting Gems. I recommend it highly. I watched the attached I-cord segment and immediately had to try it. I knit this small coaster and attached a 3 stitch I-cord. I'm pleased with the finished edge that it gives the coaster. I think that I'll use that edging more often.

And here's 4 of the purses that my summer school students made. This was a beginner's knitting class and the girls are 5th and 6 th graders. They learned to cast on, cast off, create garter stitch and stockinette stitch. They really had fun. Two of the girls decided to add knitted flowers to their bags.

Finally a Few Projects Finished

2010-07-11T18:51:00.004-04:00

As far as I'm concerned, this was the first official weekend of my summer season. I get so much done because there aren't as many demands on my time at this time of year. I left work at noon on Friday and by 2 p.m., I was in my studio. I decided to finish this dishcloth. I started it months ago. It's the traditional Grandma's Favorite but I did it with 3 colors to match a dress dishcloth that I had knit. When I finished, I didn't like the way the strands were showing from the color change, so I did a single crochet border. I'm really happy with it.

The thrill of finishing something led me to take out another half finished project. These fingerless glove are made from wool that was in my stash. I only had 2 skeins so these gloves were a perfect way to use the yarn. I finished the first one months ago and the second one was about one inch long. In an hour or so, I had finished the other glove.

Then I finished another dishtowel topper that I started awhile ago and made this coordinating dress dishcloth. This pattern isn't written out yet .

I just love this time of year. Now it's on to completing my red socks. I just turned the heel of sock two.... and then who knows what else I might actually Finish!

Continuing the Red Socks

2010-07-05T19:22:00.005-04:00

I'm happy to show you the first of my Red Socks done and the matching one well on its way. This yarn has been so much fun to work with. In addition to the bright red, there are traces of lavendar and a golden yellow. The sock is my basic sock from Yankee Knitter Designs done with a K3, P1 rib along the leg and across the top of the foot. I'm looking forward to wearing these. Although, it won't be any time soon because the temperature is in the high 90's this week.

And to match my new socks, I found this great blazer today. I really am in a red phase. This jacket is by Liz Clayborne and I only paid $10.00 for it. I went to the outlet and the original price of this jacket was $169.00, it was marked down twice and then at $19.99, there was an additional 50% off. I'm thrilled! I am such a good shopper!!

And so, I think that I've satisfied the desire to be surrounded by red. Now I'm ready to move on to finishing another pair of socks and maybe one of the summer sweaters that are in progress. Both of them are shades of teal. I do love that color!!

My Red Sock Phase

2010-06-27T19:34:00.003-04:00

Last week I set out on a mission to find yarn to make red socks. I was basically obsessed with the thought of making red socks. Although the urge to work with certain colors is not new for me, the need to work with red is new. I almost always knit with blues, greens, yellow, and browns but last week was all about red. I pulled out my color theory book and sure enough, red is said to reduce anxiety and calm fear. Right now, that's me!. My job is giving me tremendous anxiety. As always, I turn to my knitting and, guess what, it works!

So here's my wonderful, bright socks. The yarn is called Baby Boom by Fiesta and the colorway is the June Flower of the Month. This is the first time that I'm working with this yarn and I'm really enjoying it. It has a terrific feel. The yarn is Extrafine Super Wash Merino and 10% nylon.

The picture below was taken at the park. One of my favorite places to knit. I have a vision of taking a project to the park and spending the day just focused on one project. Of course, I only managed to fit in a 20 minute visit because I had to get back to work ...but someday soon, I'll schedule a full day in the park with my knitting.

Here's the sock as of this afternoon. In one week, I finished the leg and the heel and I'm about half way through the foot. I should be working on the matching sock by the end of the week.

While at the yarn store, I also bought this solid red Lang sock yarn. The pattern is from Knitter magazine and I'm looking forward to making these socks next.

And then I'm determined to finished at least 2 other pairs that are started and work with some other beautiful sock yarn that I purchased earlier this year.

As always, I have a list of projects that I think I'll finish this summer but even if I knit all day, every day, I wouldn't get to them all in the next two months.

Summer is such a wonderful time for me. Plenty of time to knit and sew. Two weeks vacation and I'll be spending it in my studio. Time well spent!

Flea Market Finds for New Projects!

2010-06-13T19:04:00.003-04:00

Last weekend I spent Saturday at a huge Flea Market & Antique Fair. It was hot but we got there early and began walking from table to table. Here are a few of the terrific items that I found.

First, these vintage acrylic handles. I'll be using them for tote bags.

Then I found these two great vintage tablecloths. I should be able to make several tote bags out of each one. I really enjoy making bags from these vintage textiles.

And finally, I found these great buttons. I'm so excited about them. I'm searching for just the right cardigan pattern and then off to find just the right yarn. The buttons aren't that big so I think the yarn needs to be DK weight. I'm going to post this button picture on Ravelry and hope for suggestions for pattern and yarn.

Or, my other thought is to buy a cardigan and replace the buttons with these. That sounds easier but not as much fun.

This time of year is perfect for collecting supplies for my summer projects. Now if I only had more time off from work to create some of these projects. But two weeks vacation will have to be enough for now.

Knitting from a vintage pattern

2010-05-31T19:12:00.004-04:00

Several years ago, my mom and dad moved from our family home to their retirement home. As they were cleaning out the attic, I got a phone call. My mom had a huge box of workbasket magazines from the 1950's. "Did I want them?" "Well, of course", I replied.

As I went through each one and absorbed all the great information, I came across 3 patterns for baby items. This picture is one of them. It's probably from the late 1940's. My mom tells me that everyone went to this woman's house and she would type the pattern and sell the yarn.

Making up this pattern has been on my To-Do list for a long time. I finally started it. There's no mention of gauge or what size the sweater will be when it's done. The only clue that I have is to use a Size 3 needle. That's written in the upper right hand corner.

Some of the directions are pretty hard to read. So I'm following this pattern as best as I can.

I'm using Filatura Di Crosa Dolce Amore in White Multi Color. I cast on 76 stitches and the width seems to be about 10 1/2 inches.

I excited to see this sweater. Hopefully, when it's done, I will re-type the pattern and will be able to share it with other current knitters and send it on into the future.

I think it's important not to lose the wonderful patterns and skills of those knitters from the past. Don't you?

Yarn Dessert

2010-05-22T20:19:00.004-04:00

I treated myself to a new camera this week and today is the first time that I was able to experiment with it. The photo above was taken in black and white and since I'm learning to use photoshop, I was able to add this fading out border. I'm really excited about this picture. The yarn can be any color your imagination chooses.

As for the yarn itself. Here it is.

This is 280 yards of Little Lola by Schaefer Yarns in my latest find. I purchased 4 of these dessert dishes at a flea market for $1 each. There's a blue one, a gold one, a green one, and a red one. When I saw them, I knew they'd be great for photographing yarn. Wouldn't this make the nicest note card?

As for the yarn, this was in a huge plastic bag in the garage with yarns that I thought I was giving away. But....

I brought the bag back into my studio this afternoon and I really like most of it, so back in the stash it goes.

This yarn is definitely going to be a pair of socks. I really like the colorway and can't imagine why I was going to give it away.

Which brings me to....it's time to finish at least a few of the many socks that are already started. My UFO pile is endless!

My Weekend at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

2010-05-09T19:46:00.004-04:00

Such a great day! Here's a glimpse at some of my finds!

First, I went to the Meet and Greet with the Knitmore Girls and other podcasters. I listen to the Knitmore Girls podcast every week. They gave away these great goodie bags.

Saw these amazing sheep!
Love this dress at the Skein and Garment Competition! Does anyone know where I can find this pattern.
Bought this great tote bag, mug and of course, the pin!
As for yarn, this Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select in Pesto and Cornflower. I was in a very good mood, hence the very bright colors! And it was half price!
And finally, from Bartlett Yarns, a wonderful worsted weight yarn. More than 1200 yarns for a classic sweater that will last bringing me wonderful memories of the Festival.
My son and his girlfriend joined me this time, so it was extra fun. Had the best ice cream soda. Also, met a few people from Juniper Moon Farm. I'm one of the newest shareholders!

Shawl Finished in One Month

2010-04-25T19:24:00.004-04:00

I am so pleased to share this photo. This is the Multinomah Shawl by Kate Flagg. I discovered this pattern on Ravelry and since I absolutely love the Feather & Fan Stitch, I knew it was the right pattern.

What's truly amazing is that I purchased this yarn only one month ago and started the shawl the same day that I purchased the yarn. I've done a little knitting on it most days but yesterday spent about 5 hours finishing it. I'm so glad that I did.

I hope you can see the colorway. Someone commented that it looks like confetti and that's exactly right!

So, now I know what it feels like to start and finish a project in a reasonable amount of time. You know what, it feels really good. I must do more of this. I've been feeling pressured by all the unfinished projects lately, not to mention the yarn that is sitting and waiting to be used. I have dwindled down the stash but I still have a ways to go and next week is MDSW Festival so I know there will be new yarn!

The Joy of a New Project

2010-04-18T19:46:00.004-04:00

I just discovered this wonderful sweater pattern in the issue #65 of Simply Knitting. This magazine has become one of my favorites. The patterns are just detailed enough to make them special and yet they are not too difficult. The gauge and yarn information is very clear.

The yarn that I'm using has been in my stash for one year. It's yarn from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival from Bartlett Yarns. I wound the yarn today and yes, I actually did a swatch. I even washed it and now it's drying on a towel. The yarn took to water beautifully and seems to softening up nicely.

This is the first sweater I've seen in a while that has truly excited me. The shape seems perfect for spring, summer, and even the fall. I hope I finish this quickly as I'd like to wear it this season.
And here's my Multinomah Shawl in progress. I'm using the yarn that I bought a few weeks ago. It's Claudia Hand Painted Merino. This yarn is a pleasure to work with and I'm sorry but the picture does not really show the beauty of the colorway. I'll try to get a better picture when it's finished. The pattern is knitting up quickly. The edge is my very favorite feather and fan. Since I took this picture, I've done 7 repeats. The original pattern calls for 10 repeats but I've decided to keep going. I'll probably stop at 16 repeats. Hope to finish the shawl this week so that I can concentrate on the New Leaf Sweater.

Cactus in Bloom

2010-04-11T20:21:00.004-04:00

This beautiful flower has bloomed on my Christmas Cactus. Here's a series of pictures that I took this week. It has been remarkable to watch it grow and finally open today. The color is just exquisite. A shade of rose that only nature can provide!
Hope you enjoy them! And now on with my knitting

New Project & UFO to be Completed

2010-04-04T20:24:00.005-04:00

Here's a photo of my newest Dress Dishcloth. This will be number 5 and it's called a "Happy Day". I just have to put the finishing touches on the pattern and I'll have it ready to add to my site and to Ravelry. There's a similar dress to this one and hopefully, I'll put both dress patterns in one file. These will be Dress Dishcloths #5 and #6. I realized today that I don't have any of my original dress dishcloth "Going Dancing" in my projects on Ravelry so I'll be adding one shortly. I usually make mine with a solid and variegated yarn so I'll add that variation to Ravelry. I'm so pleased that so many people like the dress dishcloths. I'm considering opening an Etsy shop for my Kitchen Knits.

And with the nice weather, I'm trying to finish one more project before it gets too warm. Here's my rainbow blanket. Started last year after the yarn was stashed for at least a year maybe two. This blanket is so colorful. It's made with cotton and plush yarns. I have two more repeats of the colors so it's not really a lot of work. I just need to get to it.
Meantime, my Christmas Cactus has several blooms. I'm so excited. I don't think I've ever had one that bloomed in the spring. I placed this one under the skylight in my hallway and it has two buds on on stem and one bud on each of two other stems. I'll be sure to take pictures when the blooms open.And finally for today, here's the new spring fabrics from Maddy Moo Creations. I am so pleased to be part of this company. The custom made tote bags are great. I've been using one for a handbag all winter and it's terrific. I'm also using one as a knitting bag and it holds my knitting projects nicely.

Antique Fair Find!

2010-03-28T19:03:00.006-04:00

I found another piece of Gonder Ceramics at a fair last weekend. This is Mold #E-44, Small Swan Planter. Gonder Ceramic pieces are difficult to find so I was really excited to find this swan. I now have 5 pieces along with the original vase that started me on this collection.

We were cleaning my Aunt's house and I asked for the Star Fish vase that had been sitting in the same spot on the end table for as long as I could remember. My aunt's words were "that old thing, of course you can have it". I brought it home and my mom cleaned it up. I then went searching for Gonder on the web and found a book "Gonder Ceramics Arts". I've been on the look out for pieces ever since.

And, I'm happy to report that I finished another baby blanket from the 8 hour baby blanket book by Encore. This is yarn from my stash. I'm so happy to be reducing the size of my stash. I haven't added to the stash in a long time.

I continue to become fussier with my purchases and I'm really enjoying it. The pressure of all that unused yarn was getting to me.

Right now, I'm working on finishing a shawl that was started in 2004. In between, I'm working on my apron pattern. I hope to release it shortly. I'm knitting the second one and correcting the pattern as I go. Hope I don't need to knit a third one before I release the pattern.

Had to Have New Yarn!

2010-03-19T20:14:00.004-04:00

Work has been extremely stressful the last two weeks and will be just as stressful for the next month so today I just had to make a trip to the yarn store. There's a shop in the next town that opened a while ago but I hadn't been there yet so today was the day. I was delighted to find many of the brands that I enjoy knitting with. I came home with this:It's a 100% merino hand painted sock yarn. I just love the colors. They are so happy and fun. I'm not making socks with this. I think I'll either make gloves or maybe a small shawl. I have 350 yards so I'm off to search ravelry for patterns.

Also, after 3 years I finished my sweater during the storm last weekend. I'm just thrilled with the way it came out. It's a simple top down pattern from Creative Knitting Magazine. Their patterns seem to be fool proof. It fits wonderfully. I'm so pleased with this sweater.
I know the picture is not the best but I hope you get the idea. This sweater is made with yarn from my trip to England and so I'll enjoy wearing it even more than usual.

So now it's back to my work and hopefully time to wind the Claudia yarn and find a pattern to knit.

Finished a Baby Blanket

2010-02-28T22:02:00.003-05:00

Here's a Baby Blanket that I finished this week. It's one of the designs from the Encore Eight Hour Baby Blanket Booklet. These are my favorite baby blankets to knit. It really does only take 8 hours of knitting. The Encore Worsted yarn is held double on Size 13 needles. The blanket only uses four skeins of yarn.

When it's done, it's machine wash and dry. These blankets make wonderful baby gifts.

So, I continue to work my way through my yarn stash. I'm making a baby sweater that coordinates with this blanket. Also, just started another one with a pink variegated yarn that's in my stash. I haven't bought yarn for two months so I really am making progress. I continue to look forward to the day when I can shop and come home and start a new project without adding yarn to an already overwhelming stash.

"Closet Archaeology" An Incredible Exhibition

2010-02-19T20:08:00.003-05:00

Today started out like any other day off from work at this time of year. The sky was gray and as I started my day, I was less than enthusiastic. As I started to formulate my plan for what to do with the day, I remembered that I had seen an article about an exhibit at a local museum. I decided that today was the day that I'd visit.

What a wonderful surprise awaited me. This exhibit called "Closet Archeology" is a wonderful experience for all of us that are passionate about knitting, crocheting, and sewing. The artist has done an exceptional job of displaying the tools, accessories, and some garments of the past.

I spent over an hour just taking it all in. Many of the items are things that I have in my own collection but I've never seen anyone create such a wonderful exhibit with these types of things.

Here's just one piece of art that is there. You must see it in person if you're in the area.

Knit a Doll Dress with a 1957 Pattern

2010-02-15T17:48:00.005-05:00

Here she is! I recently purchased a Fibre Craft 7.5 inch doll at my local AC Moore and wanted to create a dress for her. Luckily, I found a pattern in one of my 1957 Workbasket magazines and decided to give it a try. It's just the right size.

I used some left over sock yarn and Size 1 needles. It only took about three hours to complete.

I have an extensive collection of knitting patterns and magazines and hope to knit many of the patterns in them to pass on to future knitters.

And here's what the neighborhood looked like today. The sun finally came out and it created this magnificent scenery. The snow was stark white and the trees cast these wonderful shadows. The water in the pond absolutely glistened.

Just a beautiful day for a walk!

Snow Day Fun!

2010-02-13T10:06:00.002-05:00

Wednesday was a terrific day for me. There's nothing quite like a snow day to spend time in my studio going through my projects and supplies. Also, plenty of time to work on some of the wonderful items that are already started.

Here's my Sewing Puzzle. All finished! I actually finished it last Sunday. Today I'm going to buy the glue and frame so I can put it in my studio.

And here's a fun photo of some of the snow that was left behind after the storm

Photos of some finished projects next post.

A Little Progress!

2010-01-31T10:19:00.003-05:00

I'm making progress using the yarns that I've collected. Last week, I made these green fingerless gloves. Same pattern as I used in December. The gloves are made with Debbie Bliss Yarns. I had one skein of each of these greens, so I put them together for these gloves. These will get added to the closet with the finished things , ready for gift giving or my next sale. The blue/grey ones are made with a wool that has been in the closet for at least 7 years. I only have these two skeins so these fingerless gloves are an ideal way to use it up. I have several more single skeins of yarn that I picked up in my travels and so I'm going to continue to use it up making these fingerless gloves. I have a red Debbie Bliss Tweed that is calling out to me. I think it's going to be a regular pair of gloves hopefully with a cable stitch. I've found several patterns on Ravelry so I just need to pick one and get started.

My knitting the last few weeks has not been very focused, I seem to work on a different project every time I sit down. This makes for very slow going and not many finished projects.

I went through several pattern books the other evening, searching for the next great project but haven't found it yet.

And here's my blanket. It's now 19 inches long. That means I only knit 4 inches in the last two weeks. It's coming out beautifully. I'm still hoping to finish this one by spring.

Tea, Anyone!

2010-01-17T19:20:00.004-05:00

I found this great teapot in Marshall's for $7 and it was just the right size for the tea cozy that I started earlier this week. It's as cute as could be. Small enough for just 2 cups of tea and oblong shaped.

And here it is, dressed in my new Tea Cozy. The yarn is from my stash. I purchased it on a trip to Maryland. There's a store in Columbia called All About Yarn. The label says it's wool but it has an elasticity to it that usually is not in wool. It's also an Italian brand that I haven't heard of. I was intrigued by the color combination of this yarn. It's very 1950's retro.

The cozy pattern is one I found on Ravelry. It's the Broken Rib Tea Cozy. A terrific pattern. Very simple. This made for some easy knitting this week and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment that comes with a quick project. I'll be making more of these Tea Cozies but I'll have to buy pots to go with them. So, I'll use my stash yarns but will spend some money on the pots. Maybe another idea for a Craft Fair or that shop that I keep imagining.

The shop I imagine is for rent right now. If I had the time and the resources, I'd be signing the lease. If it's meant to be, it will happen!

Also this week, I did a few rows on my blanket, but not enough to measure. I'm still working on dishtowel toppers and fingerless gloves. And I picked up a pair of socks and started working on them again. This weather makes me wish I'd finished more socks.

I'm having my first on line party next weekend. Maddy Moo Design your own handbag. These bags are great for knitting projects and as handbags. Let me know if you'd like an invitation.

This week's Knitting and two Dream Projects

2010-01-10T18:16:00.003-05:00

Here's my Diamond textured blanket. I knit a few inches this week so now it's 15 inches long. I've got quite a ways to go but if this weather continues, it will be easy to get done by spring.
Here's a photo of the cover of the August 1955 issue of Workbasket magazine. I have wanted to make this jacket for many years and I think this will be the year that I get to it. It seems to call for a DK weight yarn, 5 stitches and 8 rows to an inch. I'll absolutely have to swatch before I attempt this. I have a yellow DK wool from Bartlett Yarns that I purchased at the MSWF last May and I think I may use it for this.
Another dream project is to make a bedspread with this Bernat Handicrafter Cotton. It's a light weight, just a little heavier than fingering but not quite DK. This project could take a few years. Last summer, I attempted to start the quares but as you can see, I only made half of one square. I do love the leaf pattern though. I have about 30 balls of this yarn so I know it will be plenty when I get to it. By the way, I purchased this yarn in September of 2000. There was a huge warehouse type sale and I got it for next to nothing. It's moved with me twice already and I have a feeling, it will move again before it actually turns into the bedspread.
Mean time, I did manage to finish this scarf this week. It goes perfectly with a pair of gloves that I made, so now I have a new set for the winter. I'm going to wait to use it until a little later in the season when I have the urge for something new.

I'm also working on another pair of fingerless gloves with some yarn in my stash and a few more dishtowel toppers. Both are fun projects.

Tonight, I'm going to start a tea cozy with another yarn from my stash. Another item I've wanted to make for a long time and I'm finally getting to it.

Winter 2010 Knitting & Sewing

2010-01-04T19:53:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year to All! The photo is my project to start off 2010. It's a wonderful Reversible Diamond Pattern Afghan that I started about 2 years ago. The pattern is from Easy Afghan for Knitters, an old but favorite book for afghan patterns and the yarn is Sirdar Aran with Wool. A machine washible acrylic/wool blend that I find perfect for afghans. This yarn is very special to me because I purchased it 4 years ago from a small country yarn shop in England. I had the most wonderful visit to that yarn shop. The woman that was working was delightful. I dream of returning to that small town for a longer visit. I absolutely love the Cotswold section of England.

I try to make at least one afghan a year. I find it so comforting to work on a big project in January, February, & March. While the weather is so very cold, the afghan grows and keeps me warm as I curl up on the couch in the evenings and in the afternoons on the weekends.

And when I'm not knitting, I totally enjoy putting together a puzzle in these winter months. I found this one called "Sew Sweet". Lots of vintage sewing items. I hope it will inspire me to sew some new projects. One of the things on this year's To-Do list is to make myself several garments. It's been a while since I've done that but I find those clothes are my favorite and fit the best.

When I need a break from the afghan, I've started using the odd balls of yarn in my stash to make more fingerless gloves. I've been wearing mine and getting tons of compliments.

So, how do you pass the evenings durng these cold months?

Knitting Fingerless Gloves

2009-12-31T10:44:00.002-05:00

Here's the fingerless gloves that I made for myself this week. As I posted before Christmas, I've just discovered how fun they are to make and wear. I made 4 pairs so far including these for myself. The other 3 pairs were finished in record time and were gifted to friends that were not expecting a gift from me. They're response was terrific!

This pair is from Marks & Kattens Iceland Wool/Acrylic blend. I had 2 skeins of this yarn and used most of it. I've been wearing them this week and they feel just right.

As this year comes to an end, I'm happy to say that I've made huge progress in using the yarns that I've accumulated. I'm getting better and better at shopping my stash when I want to make things. I finished several projects that were lingering for years. I've also become more selective with my yarn shopping. I attended my first Sheep & Wool Festival and now I intend to make it a yearly event. I also discovered Yarn CSA's this year. What a wonderful way to give my knitting more meaning.

So that's it for 2009. Tomorrow I'll write about my knitting and sewing plans for 2010. Mean time, Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas from My Home to Yours

2009-12-25T11:39:00.002-05:00

May everyone have a wonderful day. Here's a glimpse of my tree and the decorations in front of my window.

Wish I'd Started Knitting these Sooner

2009-12-20T19:55:00.003-05:00

Here's two different fingerless gloves that I knit up yesterday. I really wish I had started these sooner as they will make great gifts for several of my friends. Time is such an issue for me. I just don't have enough time between the idea for a project and the due date for the finished project.

I really enjoyed making these. Started yesterday morning and finished both by the end of the day. Today, I'm working on the second white one and tomorrow, I'll make the second multicolored one. Then, if I can fit it in, I'd like to make two more pairs by Wednesday morning. Sounds a little too ambitious but I do this to myself all the time.

The pattern that I used is from Creative Knitting Magazine. They show this basic ribbed glove in DK weight, worsted, and chunky weight. The multicolored one is from Galway worsted weight wool and the white one is made with Snuggle by Alpaca Company. These fingerless gloves are an excellent way to use all those single skeins of yarn that are in my stash. I think,I'll make several pairs when I'm home next week and take them to my office. Maybe I'll find some takers in January.

In addition to the pair I spoke about in my last post, I found a pattern by Ganiggle Knits on Ravelry. It's a worsted weight fingerless glove with seed stitch and a nice cable stitch.

All of a sudden, I'm fascinated with these fingerless gloves. I found dozen of patterns of Ravelry in the last week.

Meantime, I just finished the shrug for one of my colleagues. It's the same pattern that I made for myself and posted about on October 18, 2009. This one is a nice shade of sage green. I'll deliver it tomorrow and hope she likes it as much as I do.

The Thrill of Finding Yarn

2009-12-12T19:31:00.003-05:00

So here I am, late on a Saturday afternoon with some unscheduled time. I did all my errands earlier today and by 3 o'clock sat in front of a tv movie and did some knitting. I'm working on another shrug, this one requested by a friend of mine to give to her daughter. After spending two hours knitting away, I put it down and make dinner. After dinner, I start looking through a few magazines that I uncovered while straightening up this morning and I find the November issue of Knitting Today from the UK. There is a pattern for a terrific pair of fingerless gloves. So I decide they are perfect for this yarn that has been around for way too long.Here it is. It's a beautiful baby blue silk/cashmere mix. I started a pair of glove with this years ago, but they never progressed. Now I'm sure they are perfect for these fingerless gloves. I intend to wear the fingerless gloves over regular gloves. I really like that look.

While searching for the cashmere, I discovered this green/blue combo yarn. I have two skeins, so it's probably just enough for a scarf. Now I really don't need another scarf but it will be fun to make and if I don't wear it, I'll add it to the closet of finished projects for the next time that I need a gift.

And, here's a new bag that I wanted to share with you. It's a cute little wristlet bag just right for carrying a small knitting project. It's got a pocket inside and is big enough for the cashmere or any other small project.

This is one of the Maddy Moo Creations bags These bags are incredibly well made. I am so happy that I found this company. When you get a chance follow the link on my website and take a look.

Finished Knitting My Socks

2009-12-06T16:20:00.006-05:00

Here they are. I finally finished my Mint Chocolate Chip Socks with the brown toes. I am really pleased with these socks. The yarn colorway is delightful. I did a traditional knit 3, purl 1 rib and they are comfortable and fit great. So that's one pair done and four more in progress plus yarn for at least one more pair.

I've been busy with holiday knitting since Thanksgiving. I'm making several ornaments for the tree and I've started a few Christmas Stockings. We'll see how far I get. It's really hard to find knitting time during this time of year. I'm looking forward to the Holiday break. I hope to settle in and finish at least one major project and make progress on a few of the others.

The week before Thanksgiving I had a chance to visit a small craft and art show. I wanted to see the photography of one of my co-workers. I must tell you it's beautiful. In addition to many scenes, she did a few photos of sheep and they are wonderful. Here's the link to her website. Be sure to take a look.

While at the show, I discovered these wonderful mini pottery pieces. They are about 2 inches high and perfect for holding needles or my seaming pins. I'll be putting them in my studio. I just love finding unusual containers for my supplies.

Happy Thanksgiving! Finding Time to Knit!

2009-11-25T23:24:00.003-05:00

I haven't had time to post because of work and getting my new patterns up on the website but I wish everyone a Wonderful Thanksgiving.

And when the dishes are done and the leftovers put away, may we all find time to work on that special knitting project that has been waiting patiently for our attention.

Here's one of mine in my new knitting bag for socks by Maddy Moo Creations.

The Newest Knit Dress Dishcloth

2009-11-08T19:16:00.003-05:00

I've been busy this week finalizing the pattern for this dress dishcloth called "Princess for a Day". I'll be releasing this pattern on my website within the next week. The one on the left is made with Peaches and Cream cotton in yellow and the one on the right is with Sugar and Creme in Robin's Egg Blue. I have the pattern written up and just need to put the final touches on it before I publish it. Along with this pattern will be the pattern for the Dress Dishcloth that I've named "Garden Party". I posted a photo in my post of August 2, 2009. I'm currently knitting up one to be photoed and also as a way of checking the pattern.

These two dress dishcloths are number 3 & 4 in the series. The original "Going Dancing" is on my website and the second is in the 2010 dishcloth calendar.

Other knitting this week has included the second sock of my Mint Chocolate Chip socks. The second sock always goes faster than the first for me so I hope to finish it this week.

Change of Season Knitting

2009-11-01T20:13:00.004-05:00

Today brought an extra hour. I do enjoy this day and this time of year. Last week these pine cones were all over the ground near my home so I took this mini planter and filled it up with the pine cones. I'm so happy with the way it looks.

With the days shorter and cooler, my knitting projects change and to help make the transitions, I knit several dishcloths. The simple patterns and quick completion help clear my knitting mind for the longer projects of winter.

I have a blanket that is waiting to be worked on. The yarn is from my trip to England several years ago. I'll be working on that blanket all through the winter and hopefully will finish it by the end of March. There's also the yarn for a sweater that has been in storage for four years, I think I'll use it this winter.

Meantime, I'm using this sign that hangs in my staircase to remind me that I don't need any new yarn for awhile. Life is simpler when I use what I have first. I've purchased enough yarn in the last six months to get me through the winter. I'm really trying to stop accumulating yarn and fabric to use later. I really want to use what I purchase when I purchase it (at least in the same year!)

Holiday Gift Set

2009-10-25T20:11:00.003-04:00

As the end of October gets closer, it's time for me to think about holidays. This year, I have very little stockpiled as I've given away a lot throughout the year. So today, I decided to begin to make up some gift sets.
Here's the first one. It's the original "Going Dancing" Dress Dishcloth in a variegated and a solid peaches & creme yarn, a matching tribble, and 2 hand woven potholders. I'll place these in a baking pan that I can purchase inexpensively and maybe add two dish towels and it will be ready for gift giving. I especially like to use these as hostess gifts when I go visiting around the holidays.

I have plenty of yarn and these go quickly so I'll be making several more sets. Then it will be time to move on to decorations. Each year, I make a few ornaments. I usually knit up a few small Christmas Stockings, some mini mittens, and last year I made several beaded ornaments. One of the beaded ornaments is highlighted in my posting of October 25, 2008.

I'm continuing to work on my socks. I currently have four pairs started and this yarn is for the next pair. The colors in this Shalimar Yarn are so perfect at this time of year. I tend to work on socks in sets. I finish one sock to a pair, start the other, and then switch to a different pair for a week or so before I go back and finish sock two of the pair. This keeps me from getting bored with any one yarn. Since almost all my socks are done in the same knit 3, purl 1 rib, I depend on the quality and colorway of the yarn to be the highlight of the sock.

Finally A Finished Piece

2009-10-18T19:17:00.004-04:00

I finally finished my shrug and I'm really pleased with it. This was the simplest of projects. Plain ribbing through out and two seams yet it fits beautifully. I just bought a white top with three quarter length sleeves to wear with it. This is made with 4 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Shadows. The yarn has been in my stash for awhile. I bought it because I really liked the colors especially at this time of year. Because it's an acrylic, it's mashine washable and dryable but the yarn has a nice feel to it.

I also finished the first sock of my mint chocolate chip socks. I've started on the second one. I am really trying to get some of the socks done. I have 3 other pairs started and yarn for two more pairs. As soon as I finish the Wanida socks from Sock Innovations, I'm starting the Diamond socks from Issue 17 of Yarn Forward Magazine. This is the first issue I've seen and I think it's a great magazine. Totally recommend that you look for it.
And finally, here's another photo from my day at the National Zoo. I just love his pose!

Busy, Busy Weekends!

2009-10-04T19:45:00.002-04:00

Both last weekend and this one have been busy with activities so I haven't finished any projects but I am making progress on three of them. My shrug is on the final 4 inches, my Wanida socks are done through the middle of the foot, and my mint chocolate chip socks are ready for the toes. Hopefully, next post will have a finished project. I'm expecting the shrug to be finished first. It's the closest and easiest to finish.

Last weekend I went to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Here's a photo of the baby Panda. He is as cute as can be and can you believe, he was sound asleep on those rocks. I took a lot of photos and will share more later. It was a great day!

While I was in D.C., I visited a Michaels' store and was able to purchase this Yarn Shop. I've positioned it next to one of my framed pictures of the sea. This is where I'd like to be, in a shop, close to the ocean and the beach. Can you imagine, stopping by, sitting and knitting in such a place?

Antique Fair Finds & Not much Knitting Time

2009-09-22T18:54:00.004-04:00

September brings many Antique Fairs to this area. I visited one on Labor Day and another one last weekend. The Gonder Vase pictured above was my find last weekend. This is the fifth in my collection. I started collecting Gonder Ceramic pieces a few years ago. While helping my aunt clean out my grandmother's house, I spotted a vase in the livingroom that had been in the same spot on the end table for as long as I could remember. I asked my aunt if I could have it and of course, she said yes. When I got it home, I researched the marking on the bottom and came upon the world of Gonder ceramics. This company was in Ohio and the pieces I have are between the 1940's and 1950's. This yellow vase is a real find for me. I had admired the photo of it in the collector's book that I have and I was able to spot it from a distance on the vendors table. The nice thing about Gonder is that it is relatively inexpensive. I have only found one piece at each Antique Fair.

This drawstring bag is from another find at an antique fair. It is a linen tea towel. I cut it in half and added the fabric for the facing and made it into a drawstring bag. This bag is another great bag for my knitting and sewing projects. I don't ever have enough tote bags. When I was younger, it was shoes, now it handbags, tote bags, and project bags.

Meanwhile, my knitting time has been severely restricted in September. With the start of school, I'm working longer hours and I'm really tired in the evening. I did finish an apron, knit from my own design. I don't want to share a photo yet because I'll be writing up the pattern and offering it for sale on my website and ravelry. It will be a month or so before it's ready. All I can say, is that I'm really looking forward to sharing this pattern. The apron came out beyond my expectations.

I've also been working on a Ladies Shrug with some yarn that was in my stash. The pattern is by Plymouth yarn. With any luck, I'll have it finished in a week or two. It's all ribbing and simple enough to work on, even if I am half asleep.
And finally, here's a photo of a sleeveless top that has been sitting in the closet, in one of my knitting bags for three years. This is totally ridiculous. It is completely sewn together. All that needs to be done is to weave in the few yarn ends and wash it. I am determined to wear it this fall. The only thing is, the yarn is a little heavy for a sleeveless top and I'm not sure what to wear under it. Maybe a three quarter sleeve t-shirt but I'm not sure about the neckline with a t-shirt under this top. Any suggestions?

Accessories for My Knitting

2009-09-04T18:17:00.004-04:00

I went to a local Antique Fair last weekend and found these great vintage glove dryers complete with instructions. They are so cool and will come in handy for my glove knitting. Then I stopped at a booth that had thousands of vintage buttons. The woman that owned them was so nice and I could tell that she really enjoyed her button collection. I pulled out many, many cards of buttons and could have bought a lot more but settled on these.The photo doesn't really show the clear one's that well but believe me, they're awesome. I'll need to make a sweater with one button for the large glass one and I'm thinking of buying a fine gauge sweater and replacing the buttons with the other smaller glass ones. The colored buttons are perfect for so many projects that I'm not sure where they'll end up but for now I'm just enjoying having them and pondering the possibilities of their uses.

Another accessory that I totally enjoy is my many, many Knitting bags and Tote bags for all those projects that are in progress. I use tote bags for everything from carrying my netbook, my lunch, carrying work back and forth from the office, and even carrying my mail to the post office. I keep a tote bag by the front door at all times and fill it with the things that need to go with me when I leave the house.

Here's three of my favorite bags. The one on the left, I sewed from a tapestry fabric, the center one, I knit and sewed on the handles, and the one on the right is my Namaiste bag. I keep the Row Keeper Bracelet for knitting hanging from the handle so I'm ready to knit any time.
These two handbags are my newest and they're terrific. These are custom made bags by Maddy Moo Creations. I am now an independent design consultant for Maddy Moo Creations. The quality of these bags is excellent. The best part about Maddy Moo Creations is that you get to pick the style of the bag and then choose the fabric. In 6 weeks, your bag arrives at your door. They also have great party opportunities where you can get a hostess exclusive bag for free and other bags at half price. I'm really excited about bringing these handbags and totes to my fellow knitters. I know you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

My knitting this week has been all over the place. I seem to be picking up a different project every day. I've worked on a baby blanket, a sweater, a sock, a scarf, and a dishcloth this week and haven't made much visible progress on any of them. That's what happens when I'm tired at the end of the day but want to knit. Now that the weekend's here I'm hoping to focus on one project and get it near completion. I'll let you know how that works out!

Knitting for Babies

2009-08-23T18:16:00.004-04:00

Pictured here is my latest knitting projects for a baby. The blanket is my Swirls Baby Blanket. The pattern is my own design and is on my website. This is the first time I'm making it using this yarn and it's coming out beautifully. The variegated yarn is Laines Du Nord Baby Cover, 100% Merino . I got this last winter at my LYS when it was on sale. I also bought the pink colorway, so when this blanket is finished, I'm going to make the same one in pink. The great blue project is a baby bunting that I've wanted to make for awhile. When I was a my LYS last week, this Snuggle by Alpaca Yarn Company was 30% off. It is ideal yarn for the bunting. I've always enjoyed the patterns by Sakonnet Purls and this bunting is as simple as could be.

Here's a photo of another bunting pattern that I have. This is from the Golden Hands series circa 1971. I pull this pattern out every couple of years but haven't made it yet. Maybe soon. I have to swatch some different yarns to find out which one is the correct gauge. The materials in the pattern are Fleisher's Shamrock and the gauge is 13 st and 17 rows to 2 inches in stockinette. The size is 18-20 chest. So I'm thinking that's newborn to 3 months. I do love this photo though.

Also

while going through my yarn again, I discovered this wonderful match of sock yarns. There's plenty here. It's enough for a complete baby outfit, sweater, hats, socks, or maybe I should make a shawl for myself. Heaven only knows, how long it would take me to make a shawl using this yarn. I have shawls that are a larger gauge that have been waiting to be worked on for several years.

I haven't touched my sock knitting all week. I think I needed a break from circular knitting. That going around and around gets to me after awhile. The sleeves for my sweater are also at a stand still. Just can't find the motivation to work on them. It's a shame, I really like this sweater and it's got great buttons for when it's finished. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be inspired to finish it one day soon.

On a non-knitting note, I saw a true rainbow on Friday. We've had so much rain. I walked past my dining room window and noticed that the colors outside looked a little pinkish, it was just before dusk. When I looked out the window, an amazing rainbow was going across the sky. It was truly a sight to behold. I tried to take photos but I think somethings are met to be experienced and not preserved in photos.

Getting Ready for Fall Season Knitting

2009-08-17T18:46:00.002-04:00

Well it's mid August, I've finished several projects and now I'm turning my attention to those projects that I'd like to complete and use this fall. The first photo is a beautiful triangular shawl that I call October Shawl. It's the simplest of patterns. Basically Cast on three stitches, knit 2, YO, and Knit accross. I've added a row of YO's about 30 stitches in to add some interest to the knitting. This yarn is really wonderful. It's called Paca de Seda by The Alpaca Yarn company in Autumn Orchard. The colors are the truly wonderful colors of fall foliage. Shades of Green and Rust. This yarn is 80% Alpaca and 20% silk so it feels so soft. I know it's going to be a favoriate shawl for October weather.
Next is a scarf in a wonderful shade of buttery, golden yellow. It's also a color of true fall foliage. The pattern is from the December 2008 issue of Simply Knitting. This is a British magazine that I find at Barnes & Noble. I really enjoy their patterns.

The last photo is a scarf using the mistake rib pattern. It's made with a bulky weight wool by Cascade yarn. The photo does not show the color well. It really is a rust not an orange. It matches the gloves from last week's post perfectly.

So those are my top three projects to finish by the end of September. I also pulled out two baby blankets that I have started and I'm still working on several pairs of socks including the Wanida Socks from the Cookie A Sock Innovation book. Still need to finish my pleated neckline top for September. So, I have plenty of projects in progress. Hope to show you a finished one soon!

Knitting Gloves in Memory of Jake

2009-08-09T13:27:00.003-04:00

I finished these beautiful gloves this morning, even weaving in the ends and filling the small gaps between the fingers. The pattern for these gloves is the Three Quarter Length Ribbed Gloves in the Vogue Knitting Mittens & Gloves On the Go Series. The yarn has a story. In late August 2006, I had to take my dog, Jake to be put to sleep. It was a very sad day. As I often do, I visited my yarn store later that day to find a special yarn to knit with to console me. I knew these gloves would remind me of Jake. The yarn is a silk blend in the same wonderful rust color that was in Jake's coat. I started the gloves and worked my way through both my grief and the gloves up to the start of the fingers. Then as with so many of my projects, they got put aside to work on something else. I picked them up about a month ago and now they are ready to be worn this fall.

Jake was a very special Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. My son and I brought him home on President's Day of his Senior year in High School. Jake immediately became part of the family. He was with us all the time. When my son went off to college, Jake was there. He greeted me first thing every morning and was there waiting when I got home at the end of the day. His company was priceless. As with so many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Jake developed heart desease at a young age. The last two years of his life were full of doctor visits and medication, but Jake didn't mind. He thought going to the animal hospital was an adventure. Both he and I made many, many friends at the animal hospital. The staff adored him.

I, like so many knitters, knit projects for different reasons. Sometimes, it's to celebrate, sometimes its to console ourselves, sometimes it just to create something beautiful and useful. Many of my finished knitting projects have a special memory. The yarn brought on vacation at a yarn shop that was a stop along the way. The blanket made to preserve memories of a special time in someone's life. The sweater that makes you feel special, safe, and warm, every time you wear it. I even have socks that give my confidence when I wear them. I save those for the times I have to make a presentation in front of a large group.

One time, I had a wonderful experience at the airport security counter. I always wear my hand knit socks when I fly. I was going through security and when I went through the detector, the guard said to me "Those are great socks! Did you make them?" I smiled and said "YES".

So what special stories are held in your knitting. Is it in the yarn, in the project that you chose, or in the uses of your finished knitting project?

Preview Newest Knit Dress Dishcloth

2009-08-02T14:42:00.003-04:00

The 2010 Knitting Calendar is progressing and will be ready for orders by the end of the month. Be sure to visit 2010knittingcalendar.blogspot.com to see my design Prom Date Dress along with all the other great knitting patterns that are part of this calendar. I'm really looking forward to the calendars release.

Mean time, I've been working on several new Dress Dishcloth designs for the collection. Pictured above is Garden Party II. This will be one of a series that I'll be publishing later this year. The collection will be available for download from my website. This dress has a v neck and points on the edge of the skirt. It's fun and still practical because the skirt is plenty big enough for wiping the counter or a few dishes. This design makes a great gift for a young girl to use as a washcloth.

I'm making great progress on my other projects. I've finished the first of Jake's Gloves and 2 fingers of the second glove. I'm turning the heel on sock two of the blue pair and yesterday, I started the Wanida socks from Cookie A's Sock Innovation. These socks are much easier than it first appeared. I'm taking the chart one row at a time and they are progressing nicely.

I've discovered a great way for keeping the chart easy to see while knitting. I'm using a 4 x 6 clear photo frame. I have the chart in the frame and the frame sitting next to me while knitting. It really makes it easy to read while knitting.

I did finish one project this week. Well almost, I still have to wave the ends in and decide if I'm going to crochet a border around the outer edge. It's a baby blanket using Tessin by Muench. This yarn has been in my stash for many years. I had started a different blanket about two years ago but it really wasn't progressing so I took it apart and made a different blanket. And so that's one more yarn out of my stash and one more unfinished project Done.

Re-Organizing my Knitting Projects

2009-07-24T19:47:00.003-04:00

I've just ended two weeks of vacation and I'm happy to say that I spent a great deal of time in my studio, knitting, sewing, and reorganizing my projects and supplies. I made a lot of progress on some of my knitting projects and did a lot of sewing. I found myself getting into a routine. An hour of knitting first thing in the morning, then sewing until lunch time, then making a few row keeper bracelets after lunch, knitting again until dinner. The evenings were spent knitting some more and reading a bit. I can truly say that I enjoyed this routine. But now it's back to my busy days at work. I have a few more days off before the end of the summer and then again at the holidays.

I thought I should make myself an updated list of my projects. I'm am trying desperately to reduce the number of projects that are unfinished and the amount of yarn that I keep collecting. I've made significant progress by not buying yarn without a project in mind. For quite a few years, I was buying yarn just because it appealed to me but I often found that I either didn't buy enough for a project or had absolutely no idea what I wanted to make with the yarn I had bought. Over the last year, I've been going through my projects before I shop. This has avoided a lot of waste of both time and money and much better knitting results. I've done the same with my fabric, button, and trim collection. More about the fabric stash another time.

I separated my list into six categories:

Projects to be Completed
New Projects to be Started
Other WIP's
Yarn for Undesignated Projects
Barely Started Projects
Old Projects & Yarns

The Projects to be Completed list has five items on it. (Five is my target number of projects at any one time. )

Pictured above is Project One. These are my three quarter length ribbed gloves called "Jake's Gloves". These gloves have a story but I'll save that for a posting when I finish the gloves. As you can see I'm working on the little finger of glove one. I'm hoping to finish these this week.

The next two photos are the two pairs of socks that I'm currently working on. The mint chocolate chip socks are using the needles that I need to start my Wanida socks from Cookie A's Sock Innovation, so I'm anxious to finish those. The Blue Socks have been around way too long. I just want them FINISHED!

Project four is a cardigan that got stuck when it was time to start the increases on the sleeves. Because I had time to knit during the day, I was able to concentrate on the pattern and I'm now ready to work on the sleeve cap. I hope to finish this cardigan within a month.

And Project Five is a simple baby blanket. I'm using yarn that has been in my stash for many years. I had to improvise to have enough yarn to make it. I'll post about that as soon as it's done. This blanket is my late night knitting because it requires absolutely no concentration. I only have about seven inches left to knit so it should be done shortly.

My new project list also has five items. I'm trying to finish at least one WIP before starting one
new project.

There's also five items on my Other WIP's list, four yarns on my Yarn list, four projects on my Barely Started list, and oh yeah, about 12-15 projects on my old projects and yarn list.

So, I have plenty of good knitting ahead of me, Just in time for the fall knitting magazine's to come out on the newstand. The lists go on and on.

And finally, here's one of my sewing projects. This is a drawstring project bag and a matching 10 inch square envelope bag with a clip to hang on my purse or belt when carrying small knitting projects such as my socks or gloves.

Hope you like it. I'll be putting a collection of these types of bags in my Handmade Shop on the website. I'll let everyone know when the collections ready.

Knitting Placemats Completed!

2009-07-17T18:58:00.006-04:00

Here's my two completed placemats. I'm am so happy with the way these turned out. The pattern is from the July 2009 issue of Creative Knitting Magazine. The yarn is Sugar and and Cream Cornflower Blue, Sunshine Yellow, Hot Green, and White. The colors are vivid but match up really well. I put these in the washing machine and dryer and as always, the Sugar and Cream Yarn gets soft and wonderful. I'm planning on making two more placemats and will keep this pattern in my permanent file. This pattern would also work well in a single color. The only change I made to the pattern was to eliminate the fringe.

So having completed one project, I, of course, started two more. One is my Bluejay shawl from Alison Hyde's book, Wrapped in Comfort and the other is another pair of ribbed gloves. I'm finishing up the original pair of ribbed gloves and found this beautiful silk and cashmere yarn in my stash and so I grabbed another set of needles and cast on for a second pair of gloves.

No wonder it takes so long for me to finish a project!! To celebrate finishing, I also did some yarn shopping. I'll write about my new projects next time.

I also started Gil McNeils, Needles & Pearls. This is her follow up to the Divas Don't Knit or as it was published here in the U.S., the Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club. I did have to order it from the U.K. but I enjoyed the first book so much, I couldn't wait for the second book to be released here. The shipping was more expensive than the book but I think it was worth it! I'm about a third of the way through and trying not to rush because I don't want the story to end too soon.

So now I off to work on one of my many WIP. Maybe the gloves, or the socks, or maybe back to the sleeves on my sweater.

Sewing a Tote Bag from a Placemat

2009-07-14T20:10:00.002-04:00

Blog Giveaway for those who Knit this Doll Dress

2009-07-10T18:58:00.006-04:00

I've written out the pattern for the Dress on the Cindy Doll by Fibre Craft. As I mentioned in my last post, I have placed the pattern of my website with the other free knitting patterns.

I'm giving away five Row Keeper Bracelets for Knitting, as seen here, to the first five people who make the dress and email me a photo of it.

I would really like to use these dressed dolls as a charity project. I'm not sure how I would distribute them If anyone knows of an organization that would like them and can distribute them to young girls between the ages of 3-7 years old, please let me know. These dresses take less than 2 hours to complete and are quite inexpensive. I think it's a great project for charity knitting.

Hope to see photos soon and look forward to hearing from you.

Meantime, I'm making a few more as I have five of these dolls in my supplies.

Knitting a Dress for 6 3/4 inch Cindy Doll

2009-07-08T08:28:00.004-04:00

This photo is the Cindy Doll by Fibre Craft. They are available at craft stores and online at Annie's Attic and Create for Less. They are inexpensive and make a nice gift for a little girl. About eight years ago, I designed this little dress for the doll. I finally sat down and wrote out the pattern and will be putting it on my website as a free pattern.

This dress uses a very small amount of yarn and is great for leftover yarn. The one on the left is from Sugar n Cream cotton in a solid. I show the back so you can see that it's a wrap dress. Basically no finishing. Just a ribbon tie with a bow at the waist. The center dress is also Sugar n Cream but I used a print for the skirt and a solid for the bodice. The one on the right is from leftover yarn from a blanket. This is a wool/acrylic blend. I can't remember what brand that is. It was just a small amount in my stash.

I'll post as soon as I've added the pattern to my website. At that time, I'm also going to give away 5 Row Keeper Bracelets for Knitting in a clear and blue bead combination. The bracelets will go to the first five knitter's who send me a photo of the Dress completed. If you use a different doll that's okay. I have no connection to these dolls other than that I think they're cute and just the right size for small hands to carry and play with.

Have a great day!

Knitting Socks & Dishcloths

2009-07-03T21:18:00.004-04:00

This has been a terrific knitting week. I've been going to a local park on my lunch hour, enjoying the weather, and spending some time knitting on my socks. I finally finished this blue shaded sock. I went to my LYS and bought the great grape colored yarn for the toes and finished the first sock in no time. I'm well on my way with the matching sock. I did these socks in a 3 by 1 rib and this is the first time I carried the rib down the top of the foot. It makes for a terrific fit. I bought enough of the grape yarn to knit another pair of socks.

Then I found the Sock Innovation book. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend that you see these socks. They are truly amazing. This is not late night knitting but the kind of knitting that will need your full attention. the patterns are all charted but worth the effort. I will be making a pair from this book using the grape colored yarn and another pair using a nice brown that has been in my stash for quite a while.

While I was in the yarn shop, trying to match yarn for the toes of the blue socks, this incredible teal and brown yarn jumped out at me. It looks just like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. I cast on this pair of socks as soon as I got home. I absolutely love the color of this yarn. It's making a color change every other round. Really fun to work with. The yarn is by J. Knits, Superwash wool and nylon.

And finally, I couldn't resist this Sugar n Cream strip yarn in greens and aquas. So now I'm off to relax with my beautiful Signature Arts Size 7 Needles and make a plain diagonal dishcloth so I can enjoy these great colors. Happy Fourth of July!

Coming Soon-New Knit Dress dishcloth

2009-06-27T12:30:00.004-04:00

I'm really pleased to let you know that I've designed another dress dishcloth call Prom Date Dress and it will be included in a 2010 Knitting Calendar titled "Gifts from the Heart-Back to Basics". If you'd like to get a glimpse of this new knitted dress dishcloth, along with some of the other great knitting projects, visit 2010 knitting calendar.blogspot.com. There's two different versions of this knit dress, one using seed stitch and one using garter stitch. I'm in the process of designing several more in what is becoming a series.

The photo to the right is the original knitted dress dishcloth. The pattern is on my website. The one on the right is made using a solid color only. The one on the left is made with Sugar n Cream Twists and a coordinating solid. This dishcloth is titled "Going Dancing".

Meantime, It's that wonderful time of year for me when I have plenty of time to work on projects. Vacation days are plenty at this time of year and I spend a lot of time in my studio. I'll be posting some photos of several new projects that I'm sewing along with progress on my knitting. this week I started the placemats from Creative Knitting. They're really coming along nicely. The first one is almost done. Hope to make four but I need at least two to put on the kitchen table Also picked up a pair of socks that's been on the needles way too long. I went and bought a new color for the toes and now I have the motivation to finish them.

Cotton Shawl for Summer

2009-06-14T21:43:00.002-04:00

Here is my latest finished project, just off the needles and with the ends weaved in! This is one of my favorite shawls ever made. The pattern was in one that my LYS made out of a mohair yarn but I decided to make it using cotton for the summer. I used Rowan Purelife Organic DK cotton. This yarn is wonderful. It is so soft and I chose the palest of greens Shade 992. The pattern called for the ties to be finished square but I decided to round them by decreasing at the beginning of the row for the last 2 inches. I also added a buttonhole so I can slip one of the tie through the other tie. I find this is really comfortable especially when I'm working.

I am sure this shawl is going to be used often. It just proves that project can be finished in a timely manner. I purchased the yarn on April 24, 2009 and finished today. Of course, I spent time working on other projects during the same time period. I find it impossible to work on one project at a time.

Now back to my Pleated neck top. Maybe I can finish it in time to wear this season. I'm also working on a pair of socks that I started quite awhile ago. And the Beaded scarf, i posted several weeks ago.

So many projects, not enough knitting time.

Off to watch Army Wives, one of the only shows I really enjoy. Gives me the idea to do some volunteer knitting for those mom's raising their children while their husbands are in the service.

2009-06-09T23:14:00.001-04:00

Knitting Experiments

2009-06-07T19:44:00.004-04:00

This has been a week of experimental knitting in addition to the projects that I'm working on. I discovered the stitch pattern that's pictured above and had to try it out. So I grabbed some sugar n creme cotton and my size 7 needles and cast on 34 stitches. doing one pattern repeat. I absolutely adore this stitch pattern! I'm not sure if I'm going to use it for a tote bag, an afghan , or a table runner but I'm definitely going to use it. It's only an 8 row repeat so it's fun without being to complicated.
Then I finally decided to make time to join the Monthly Dishcloth Group Knit a Long. It is really fun. I truly enjoy coming home from work and finding 11 rows of knitting waiting for me. It's just enough knitting to keep me occupied while dinner is cooking. I had fun not knowing what I was knitting. This photo is the end of Day 3. Can you Figure out what it is?
And yesterday, I made a visit to one of my favorite stores. I just found out there's an Anthropologie Store in the area. When I went there, this great frame was in the 50% off area. The picture barely does it justice. It's my favorite Turqouise, green, yellow and white color combination. All I need is to pick out an inspirational photo for the frame. I like to frame photos of my favorite yarns or something knitting related. I may try framing the photo of the sewing machines that I saw at Ellis Island. Those sewing machines really impressed me.

I worked on my green shawl this week and it's almost done. Hopefully my next post will have finished photos.