Serafina Cowl

My last knit of 2010

Serafina Cowl
Designed by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Quince and Co. Lark in Twig, 3 skeins
US 8 circular needle

Details: I was intrigued by the texture the offset cables added to this cowl. The pattern was well written and I followed it completely. (Including using the yarn called for in the pattern). Still loving the Quince and Co. yarn.

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year that includes lots of knitting and chocolate.

Woodsmoke Scarf

Pattern: Woodsmoke Scarf from Brave New Knits
Designer: Jared Flood
Yarn: Quince and Co. Chickadee: Glacier, 1 skein and Bird's Egg, 2 skeins
Needles: US 6 circular and US 6 double pointed

This scarf looks more complicated to knit than it was. I love the simple garter center and the way it contrasts with the lace edging. The yarn I used is Chickadee from Quince and Co. It is a soft and springy yarn and comes in beautiful colors. It's 100% American Wool that is spun in New England. I highly recommend trying it, and checking out the Quince and Co. web site. There you will find lots of great patterns and yarns. I'm planning on making this sweater after the holidays.

This scarf will be a gift for my mother. Finished just in time!

It's a Wrap

Okay, so the stockings are hung. The gifts are mostly bought and it's time to wrap everything. Every year I try to come up with a few wrapping ideas to make this tedious chore more fun.

I have a few gift cards to give and it's always hard to figure out a creative way to wrap them, so I came up with this knitted gift card holder. It's so quick to make. You can whip out a few while watching your favorite holiday show.



You can use any worsted weight yarn. Use up your scraps. Make it fun. Pattern Here.



I also made some of these candy cane reindeer to tie onto packages. These are so easy and a perfect craft for kids. All you need are candy canes, tape, yarn, tacky glue, google eyes, and red pom poms.





First tape the two candy canes together. Then wrap yarn around them. Any way you want to... anything goes. When you are happy with your results tack the end of the yarn down with some tacky glue. Add eyes and a red pom pom nose using tacky glue and you are done.

They can also hang on the tree.


Linking to Censational Girl and It's Overflowing.

Quick Knitted Gifts

I'm always trying to think of a quick gift to give to a friend or co-worker. I like to give something that has some aspect of thought to it and this coffee cup cozy fit the bill.

I used the Knit Coffee Cup Cozy pattern from Elizabeth Murphy of The Sitting Tree and some left over Brooklyn Tweed Shelter from my last project with US8 straight needles and a few leather buttons from my stash. This project is perfect for using leftover yarn.



You can use a paper cup or travel mug and then fill it with cookies, candy or a gift card. Anything goes. Put a bow on top and you are done. I think I'll make a few more.

I can't believe Christmas is only a few weeks away.

Coveside

I love everything about this sweater... the pattern, the yarn, the color, the buttons... EVERYTHING! The pattern, Coveside, is from Cecily Glowik MacDonald who has been whipping out patterns faster than I can knit them and they are all beautiful. The yarn is Brooklyn Tweed Shelter from Jared Flood. It is 100% American grown and spun. That is a fact I really like because I think it is important to support American farmers, mills and designers. The color is called Long Johns and it was a gem to work with from casting on to blocking. Sometimes picking the right button is a chore, but I found some oval shaped wooden buttons in my stash that complimented the yarn and style.



I will use this yarn again. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from.



The vest can be worn with the collar buttoned all the way up or unbuttoned.

Details

Pattern: Coveside by Cecily Glowik MacDonald (Ravelry Link)

Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, 4 skeins

Color: Long Johns
Needle: US9

I think this might be my holiday sweater!

Corded Rib Leg Warmers

Leg warmers are making a come back. These leg warmers were a fast knit using a super bulky yarn and a large needle. Knit in the round, the pattern is cabled but you don't have to use a cable needle. They are soft and cozy too. This pair was made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky which has just enough cashmere to make them feel luxurious. Perfect with boots, as Welly Warmers, or even some cute high heels.

Details
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky, 3 skeins
Needle: US 11 - 16" circular
Notions: Tapestry Needle and Stitch Marker

Here is the pattern.

Enjoy

Hill and Dale Cowl

The days have been getting cooler and I feel like I just want to have something warm around my neck. I love the fir cone lace pattern and thought it would look cute as a cowl. I love the scalloped edge the pattern creates. I used a bulky yarn and a size 11 needle and whipped this puppy up in no time.



A girl can never have too many cowls.

Pattern: Hill and Dale Cowl (available for free on the side bar)

Yarn: Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky, color 6601 Clover Honey, 2 balls

Needle: 16" US 11 circular needle

Enjoy!

A Cupcake Weekend

There is just so much to tell you about. I don't know where to start.



October is a busy birthday month around here, and this weekend we celebrated a few of them. I have been wanting to make this recipe from Lemonade Makin' Mama for Salted Caramel Icing for a while, and this seemed like the perfect time to try it. It was delicious. I did cool it in the refrigerator for a while to make it a thicker consistency, and I drizzled a some melted chocolate on top.



I didn't stop there. I also made vanilla cupcakes. I used this butter cream frosting recipe from Epicurious. That was so good too.



Today, while I was walking off the cupcakes, I took a few pictures and look at what I spied. I heart shape in the trees. I couldn't believe it!



Oh, and I went to see Wicked. It was a wonderfully written musical and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. If you have a chance to see it - you should.

Galinda: I don't understand why you can't just teach us history instead of always harping on the past.

Pretty in Pink

While finishing this sweater last weekend I kept noticing how pink everything looked. It was so beautiful.



The sweater is called Miette and it is a free Ravelry pattern which is always a bonus. It is designed to be a cropped sweater, but I added four inches to the length. I used Cascade 220 for the yarn in Peony Heather. It changes color depending on the light. I used simple mother of pearl buttons. This was a quick knit, and the pattern was easy to follow.



Pattern: Miette
Designer: Andi Satterlund
Yarn: Cascade 220, Peony Heather, 3 skeins
Needles: Us 8 and US 7


I saw Wicked this weekend with friends. I highly recommend it! The set, costumes, singing and genius script were incredible. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Lamb's Lace Cardi

Pattern: Lamb's Lace Cardi
Designer: Christina Wall
Yarn: Berroco Vintage
Color: Juniper
Needles: US7 and US5
Ravelry Link



I loved working with the Berroco Vintage. It is a nice soft yarn, and the Juniper color has little specks of lavender and pinks on a navy background. The pattern was well written, quick and easy to follow. It is a great sweater for fall, because you can wear it with a long sleeve shirt on a cool day, or a camisole on a warm day.

Thank you for all your nice comments on my last post. I really couldn't believe anyone was still paying attention.

:D

"We will not rest until this problem is solved. There will be no questions... Are there any questions?"

Michael Scott to the press in the Whistleblower Episode Season 6

Ruffle My Feathers

I could start this post out by telling you why I haven't been around here for so long, but the story is really very boring and so long that even I have trouble following it. Suffice it to say that I've been very busy.

I have recently found my knitting needles and yarn stash, and I can tell you it feels really good to be knitting again. I have a renewed passion for all things wool now that the hottest summer on record is coming to an end.




Pattern: Ruffle My Feathers
Designed by: Caryl Pierre
Yarn: Lang Jawoll
Color: Blue, brown, gray
Needle: US 6 Circular

Oh yeah... my old photographer (the one that I fired) up and went off to college... just like that.

Detail, details, details...

This was a fun detail to add to a plain cardigan. The tutorial and link for the lace can be found here.

I started with this cardigan.

I did have to remove all the beads from the shoulders of the cardigan first.


The lace came sewn onto tulle. In the tutorial the tulle is cut off, but I kind of liked how it looked so I didn't cut it off. What do you think?

Detail

Meet my new photographer. All my previous photographers were fired. Well actually they quit before I could fire them for cause. I guess they could see the writing on the wall. She is not bad with a point and shoot. She does whatever I ask her to do. She claims she was a model (something about hand knits). I just don't see it, but at this point I'm desperate, so I'll give her a chance.

Signs of Spring...

Finally, some signs of Spring are appearing. Mother Nature wasn't too pleased with my apology. She thought it wasn't sincere enough, so she punished me with four more weeks of rain. Really. I thought that we were going to have to build an ark. It was that bad around here.

All of that is forgotten today. It is beautiful and sunny and dry and not a cloud in the sky.



See what I mean? Beautiful.

On the craft front, I covered a not so pretty vase with the sleeve of an old sweater. It's incredibly easy to do. You just cut the sleeve off an old sweater and slip it around a vase. There are some great sweater vase tutorials on the Internet. I think it would be beautiful in fair isle, and look at this cute cable one Kim made.



And my favorite sign of Spring is:

hanging with my peeps!

Happy Spring!

A Letter to the Mutha

February 24, 2010

Dearest Mutha F Mother Nature,

Just a little note to check in with you and see how you are doing. I know I haven't written in a long time, but I feel that we are at a bit of a crossroads. I'm thinking that I may have unknowingly offended you at some point. You know with all this snow, sleet ,rain , and yet another school delay just when I was feeling hope could see bare ground again. I thought maybe you were sending me a not so subtle message that you were less than pleased with my actions. Was my offense in the Fall when I didn't prune the bushes and mulch the gardens? Did you know I moved away from that house? I thought the new owners should find out what they bought into might enjoy spending some quality time in the yard. Or maybe it was that time I walked past the dirty Kleenex on the sidewalk without picking it up. I know you are into the whole "go green" thing, but in my defense, I was worried about contracting H1N1. There was a lot of media hype about how important it is to keep your hands clean. There are some new Spring knits I'd like to start, but I just can't wrap my head around them until I see some signs of fairer weather. I want you to know I am deeply apologetic and I humbly ask for your forgiveness. I hope this letter will suffice, but if necessary I can call a media conference and read my heartfelt apology publicly. Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Mary

P.S. I know this is none of my business, but maybe it would help if you got out a little more. Maybe you could join a social networking group. I hear Facebook is fun. I'm sure there are other more healthy ways to vent your frustrations.

P.S.S. Looking forward to seeing your bright and sunny face at the Summer Reunion Picnic.