Good Tidings to You...

...where ever you are. Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Better late than never.

Although there was not one hand knit gift given, I still enjoyed Christmas. I did receive the Arwen Keyhole Scarf in a beautiful blue color from my good friend Cindy. It is my new favorite scarf.

I found this mistletoe hairpin tutorial from Matsutake. This is my kind of project - quick and sweet. It is made with wool felt and beads, and you never have to look for mistletoe, because it is always right there above you - actually attached to your head. Perfect really.

One of my New Years resolutions is to spend more time here. I've really missed this place.

I wish you peace and joy in the New Year!

xox

Mary

P.S. Here is the vintage clip art link.

Shock and Awe

You think I am going to talk about the Tiger Woods incident? No, I'm talking about something far more shocking than that little ditty. I'm talking about someone knitting the Anthropologie Inspired Wrap. Then what is the awe you say. It is that two people have finished knitting the Wrap, and both came out fantastic.

I'm so excited, because when I pressed the publish button on that pattern, the little voice in my head started in. You know the little voice I'm talking about? The one that tells you to put down that piece of chocolate cake, or tells you that you probably shouldn't have another glass of wine. The little voice that basically takes the fun out of everything. Yes, that voice. It caused me to worry that the pattern would be difficult to understand, or that I should have had someone test knit it. Basically I worried that people would be disappointed, and if there is one thing I hate to do, it is disappoint.

Christianne from Drop Stitch Knitter made the Anthro Inspired Wrap with Cascade 220 Wool and left off the buttons. I love how it came out! The color is great for fall.

Rosemary in Time knit the wrap with a tweed yarn, and also left off the buttons, and I adore how it came out too!



Thank you both so much. You really made my day, because I have the rare opportunity to tell the little voice - I. told. you. so.
:-)

Bonjour, mes amis!

Hello, my friends!

I'm settled into my new digs, and have even had a chance to knit a little. I present to you my new hat.

Pattern: Champs-Élysées Beret
By: Linda Wilgus, Popknits Issue Fall/Winter 2009
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Ariosa, 2 Skeins, Sangria
Needle: US 10 circular

I leave you with my favorite multilingual quote :-)

"Beer me dos Long Island ice teas, s'il vous plait."

Andy Bernard, The Office, Season 4, Business Trip

P.S. Still looking for a photographer :)

Shine a little light ...

This lampshade project was featured in the book Thriftychic by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell. It is a great way to use a button collection. I thought I had a lot of buttons, but this lampshade took over 300 buttons. It is composed of mostly vintage buttons, but I ended up buying a few new ones too.



I really do like the uniqueness of this lampshade.

You can buy lampshade frames on-line at the Lamp Shade Shop. I used a lamp shade that I had and just removed the existing fabric.



There are several other projects in this book that I plan on doing including a painted display cabinet.

Happy weekend!

The Eye of the Storm

It feels like I am in the eye of the storm right now. We have been through the most difficult part of the storm, putting our house on the market, keeping it clean for showings, offers, counter offers, counter to the counter offers, inspections, repairs, contingencies, appraisal, and now the calm before the big move at the end of the month. which is when the tail of the storm will come whipping through, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to post. Let you know that I'm still here. Please forgive me for I haven't been able to keep up with comments on your blogs, but I am enjoying reading them whenever I get a chance. What is most disturbing to me is I have not picked up the knitting needles in several weeks. Soon, soon things will be back to normal, or what I call normal.



I did have a chance to knit Damson a few weeks back. Ysolda Teague's latest shawl pattern. She is so clever. I love how the edge looks like crochet, but it is all knit stitches.



Damson by Ysolda Teague
String Theory Yarn - T.O.E. 100% superwash merino wool, 385 yds/sk
Color - Dark Star
US size 6 needles
Mods on Ravelry

WANTED: Photographer, one who is committed to taking creative close up shots, will tell me when I should fix my shirt, knows how to use photoshop, and doesn't sigh when asked to work. Do you know anyone?

Hello!

I'm sure I must have mentioned the blog Pretty Ditty before. Jamie blogs with a wonderful sense of humor and has so many great ideas. She writes fantasticly helpful tutorials. Oh, and Jamie is a wife, mother, pattern writter and shop owner too! I don't know how she does it all, but I'm glad she does!

This is my grown up version of her Hello Pin she made for her daughter's first day of school. You can find the templates and instructions here. They are fun to make. I made this one while watching a baseball game. It's that fast and easy.

Thanks for sharing your creativity with us, Jamie!

Anthropologie Inspired Wrap

Anthropologie Abundant Wrap

I was recently perusing the Anthropologie website just for fun, and came across this wrap. I thought it would be great for fall. As I looked more closely, it seemed like easy enough construction to make. I played around a little with some yarn and came up with my design, inspired by the original.

Anthropologie Inspired Wrap
Yarn: Cascade 220, (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 220 yds/sk), 3 skeins
Needles: US 8, 14" straight needles and US 8, 20" circular needle
Tapestry Needle
12, 1-1/4" buttons




The pattern is in pdf format on my side bar, if you'd like to make one!

Lemon-Scented Blueberry Cupcakes

The wild blueberry harvest is underway here in Maine. The little native berries are deceiving, because although they are small, they are full of flavor.



I was looking for a recipe from Cooking Light that I used to make. It was a delicious breakfast tart that used several cups of berries. I couldn't find the recipe on their website, but I came across a recipe for Lemon-Scented Blueberry Cupcakes. I love Cooking Light's recipes, because they use natural ingredients as opposed to artificial sweeteners.



The Lemon-Scented Blueberry Cupcakes did not disappoint. They are moist and tasty, and the lemon and blueberry together is delicious. The frosting was easy to make, and not too sweet. I will definitely make this recipe again.

Does anyone have any good recipes they are willing to share that use blueberries?

Drops 65-6 Lace Top

It has been a busy few weeks around here. We've had lots of company and then we went to visit family for a week, so that is why there hasn't been much activity around here. I have been doing a little knitting when I have a chance, and finally finished this Drops Design top.

Drops 65-6 Lace Top

Reynolds Sunday Best, 6 skeins cream 0010

US 4 circular needle

It was a fairly quick, bottom-up, and seamless knit.

All the beautiful fall patterns are starting to come out. I love seeing all the new fall patterns. Jared Flood from Brooklyn Tweed has a new pattern booklet out through Classic Elite Yarns that I can't wait to get my hands on.

One - Yard Wonders: 101 Fabulous Fabric Projects

Last fall Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Haskins of CraftyPlanet requested submissions for a book they were compiling called One Yard Wonders, so I submitted two patterns. I was so excited to learn that they had excepted my patterns, and even more excited when I saw them on the cover (dog bed and lunch bag). The book is due out in October and can be pre-ordered at Amazon.

To celebrate the release of the book, Storey Publishing is having a giveaway of fabric. You can also see a preview of patterns on the One Yard Wonders Facebook page.

Can you tell I'm excited?

Tuck

Today, I hosted a little afternoon tea for my mother, sister and nephews. It was a cleaning out of the fridge of sorts. The salad was delicious - spinach, goat cheese, salmon, red peppers, and some pesto and artichoke orzo. The adults liked it.

I wore Tuck, so that my sister could take pictures for me.

It has been done for over a week, but I just haven't had a chance to take any pictures. This was a quick knit and watching the shaping come to life through the tucks and folds was interesting.

Tuck
By Norah Gaughn
Volume 4
Berroco Mica, 1128
6 Skeins
US 6 staight needles

Mods: Did not do the tucks in the back of the vest.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A new skirt for an old sweater

Back in May, I went to the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show. I picked up a few tablecloths that I thought would be pretty as a dress or skirt. I made a skirt out of one of them a few weeks back, but finally got around to taking pictures today.

This tablecloth had the prettiest scalloped border detail. It was so easy to make. I cut the tablecloth in half, sewed the edges together, added a bias binding to the top and inserted an elastic. It was that easy. Here is the detail of the border.

It was a pretty tablecloth, so I'm glad it worked out. I had a hard time cutting it.

The sweater is something I knit in March of 2008 (pre -blog). It is a free Drops Pattern. Knit with Classic Elite Four Seasons and US 10 circular needles.

Enjoy your weekend!

and the winner is...

The lovely Amanda is the winner of the giveaway. My son picked the name this morning before school. Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments. You really know how to make my day!

It has been really crazy around here lately. We are selling our house, and this Sunday is the Open House. I've been cleaning, painting, weeding, planting, de-cluttering, packing, etc. I'm so tired, but my house has never been this organized and clean. Wish us well on Sunday. I don't think I can keep this cleaning gig up and knit and craft too.

One Year!

Thank you for all the sweet comments on the summer dress. I actually blushed a few times while reading them. You are the best!

One year ago I started this little blog. I like to blame it all on MadMad, because she showed me how to get started. It has been so much fun to share ideas, thoughts and creations with you all. I really appreciate every comment I receive. They always put a smile on my face and make my day!

I'm having a little giveaway to celebrate this joyous occasion. I wish I could send you all something, but one lucky winner will receive a copy of the Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer Magazine, some knitting needles, a ball of Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace, and a bag made by me in the Amy Butler Madison pattern. All you need to do is leave a comment by Thursday, June 11 at midnight est, and I will pick a name on Friday. Thank you again for visiting!

(We actually lit a candle and had cupcakes at 10:00 last night. Photos are courtesy of Son, who just wanted to go to bed.)

Summer Dress

I had this idea in my head to make a dress with a knit bodice and a sewn skirt after seeing this photo. I had some blue worsted weight yarn in my stash and found a pattern, and off I went. The photo in my header is the original color of the yarn. I did a picot edge to finish off the bottom hem and it was done in no time at all.



Now came the hard part. Trying to find some fabric that would match the yarn. Sounds easy enough. It was a nightmare, but not being one who gives up easily, I came up with the idea of dying the yarn black to match some fabric. Sounds easy enough. It was a nightmare. It took three dye baths to get it to the brown color that it is now. I used a brown lace fabric for the skirt and added an underskirt. I made the underskirt just a little longer so that it would show and left the edge unfinished.



To make the skirt, I measured my hips, added about 6 inches, and then measured the length adding a few extra inches for a casing. I made a casing at the top of the skirt leaving an opening, and threaded some elastic into the opening with a safety pin. After I tried on the skirt and adjust the elastic to were it fit best, I sewed the ends together. I then blind stitch hemmed the top to the skirt. If my instructions are confusing and you plan on trying this, I'd be happy to answer more detailed questions.

The Details:
Pattern for knit top - Drops 113-16 (free)
Yarn - Sugar'n Cream 100% Cotton, worsted, 2 skeins
Needle - US 7 circular
Modifications - shorted and with a picot edge

Please come back on Friday. It is my first year blogiversary, and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend it with. Oh, and I'm working on a giveaway too!

Help...please

May 22, 2009

Ministry of Knitting Mojo
Department of Fiber Arts
Knitting Division

To Whom it May Concern:

I'm writing this letter to inform of a deep concern I have regarding my knitting mojo. As you know, I am a one (maybe two) project at a time knitter. I knit almost everyday to reduce hormone levels stress. Quite recently, the last three weeks to be exact, I have noticed a decrease in my knitting mojo. Well, a decrease would be an inaccurate description. I lost it totally. I did not even work one kyok in 1 stitch on Cherry Fizz which is very disturbing considering this is a spring scarf and it is almost summer. Then last night, to my surprise, I found myself surrounded by five projects with yarn for a sixth. I don't have to tell you that this is completely unacceptable and quite embarrassing, if I'm to be totally honest. Especially since one of the projects is crochet and I don't know how to crochet. Whatever were you thinking when you put this in my head? Clearly, I'm due for some kind of focus adjustment. I can only hope that this adjustment is of the minor tweaking and not a major overhaul as I have a blog with readers that enjoy knitting content. I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Lucky Knitter

P.S. Have a nice weekend! ; D

Two t-shirts and an apron...

It sounds like the title of a movie! Doesn't it?

This week I went to the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show. If you are ever in the area the three times a year that they have this show, you should treat yourself. I bought some vintage fabric, kitchen towels, buttons and lace. All the linens were in wonderful shape and the vendors had them all cleaned beautifully. There were even gorgeous French fabrics from the 1800's, and lots of vintage clothing. Need I say anymore? It was fantastic.

I made a couple of quick projects using some of my finds. First up a t-shirt that I added some crochet flowers to. Total cost $1.00.



Next, a t-shirt that I cut a 1 inch strip off the bottom and used the strip to make spider web roses. I zig-zag hemmed the bottom of the shirt for that ruffle effect. I used one of those Hot Pattern videos as a guide. Total cost zero dollars.



Last, an apron made with a vintage kitchen towel and some left over pieces of fabric and lace from other projects. I love how it came together. Total cost $3.00



Here I am playing house in my new outfit!



Have a great weekend!

Wardrobe Refashion

I took the Wardrobe Refashion Pledge for the months of May and June. I have been following the WR blog for a while and I am inspired by the members creativity. I've been wanting to learn how to sew my own clothes (that I would actually wear), so by signing up I'll be doing just that. It will be trial and error I'm sure, but I think it will be fun and challenging, and not to mention good for the earth and my wallet. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The inspiration for this t-shirt is based on American designer Phillip Lim's clothing line. The idea came from a Hot Patterns video. Did you know Hot Patterns has a whole bunch of great video tutorials on YouTube? I used a plain t-shirt that I wasn't comfortable wearing, because it was so long. It was perfect for this project. I cut 2 inches off the bottom, and zig-zag hemmed the raw edge. This gave it a lettuce edge look. I like that look. Then I took strips of the cut off hem and gathered them slightly. I sewed them around the neckline about an inch apart. I used some of the leftover fabric to cover some small buttons and added them in between the two ruffles. I really like how it came out.

I have to send a big thank you to Melynda at Country Girl Couture (she has a lot of great ideas), because I never would have found out about these Hot Pattern videos, if it wasn't for her.

Watermelon Popsicles

I know, I know, I don't post for three weeks and then I have two posts in three days, but I wanted to share a recipe for watermelon popsicles that I made the other day. It was record breaking temperatures for April here - over 90 degrees! I wanted to make something cold and refreshing with ingredients I had on hand. I remembered seeing a recipe for watermelon popsicles in a magazine last summer that looked really good, but of course I couldn't remember what magazine. They looked like pieces of watermelon. They had green rinds made from cantaloupe and chocolate chips for seeds. I tried to find a similar recipe that was quick and easy. I ended up combining several different recipes to make these and they are tasty.

1 c. watermelon chunks
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1/2 c. sugar
6 ice cubes
1 tsp. lemon juice
chocolate chips (optional)



whirl together in a food processor or blender.



Spoon into popsicle mold or paper cups. Stir in a few chocolate chips for seeds. Add a popsicle stick and freeze.



Enjoy!

Spring Top Week

Rae from Made by Rae is hosting Spring Top Week. She has a wonderful ruffle top tutorial on the Sew, Mama, Sew website. It inspired me to make an Anthropologie inspired top that I saw on Grosgrain.


I followed Rae's tutorial leaving off the ruffles, and then added some lace that I had in my stash. I tea dyed some of the lace and then also dyed some pieces gray, and left some natural.

This is the detail up close.

I think I might make another one out of swiss dot material.



In the knitting department, I am working on a dress with this as the top part, and fabric for the skirt, but more on that soon.

Finally, there are some great DIY fashion blogs out there that I've really been enjoying lately. They all have wonderful tutorials on DIY fashion.

Weekend Update

There isn't a whole lot of knitting going on around here this week. Frankly, I'm too tired to even knit a row at night. I started Cherry Fizz, but I'm calling it Pink Lemonade. This is as far as I got before I "fizzled" out. Maybe next week I can get back to it.



I've been making Easter favors. I used this tutorial from Indie Fixx.



It's time for my son and I to hide the eggs for his little cousins. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with family enjoying the traditions of your holiday!