Archive for ‘Knitting’

March 15th, 2012

308 Maple Street

by Christina

 

Hello, Friends!

Today I have a brilliant new online shop to tell you about. It is 308 Maple Street and is a co-op of sorts of (at this point) four different artists selling their handmade items.

One of the things I really miss about shopping online is the personal flavor and feel of a physical brick and mortar shop. You know – how the shop owner sets up the shop and displays various items. How you can pick up the items and look at them a little more closely. The one frustrating thing about a physical shop is you don’t often get to hear how the item came about or what inspiration sparked the flame in the artist to create the item you are looking at.

308 Maple Street combines  the look and feel of a physical shop with the detail and story of the item you often get on handmade sites.

So go ahead, browse through the shop and it’s various rooms. Perhaps you’ll find a bit of beauty for you and your home!

 

Please note that 308 does not take any commission or charge the artists any fee. All proceeds from the sale of the items listed go directly to the individual artists.

March 15th, 2012

Whimsy

by Christina

cashmere lace shawl for spring

hello friends!

I hope you are all doing well in your various corners of the world.

We have been enjoying amazing weather this week. Absolutely fantastic weather for March. It’s nearly 80 F here today. The windows are open, the birds are singing and the leaves are popping!

cashmere lace shawl for spring

It is the perfect time to show you what I have been knitting.

For the March newsletter pattern I designed a very whimsical lace wrap that is embellished with appliqued knitted flowers. For my shawl I went with bright colors – persimmon, lemon, kiwi, rose and white – but for a more subdued version you could do cream on white or white on green.

cashmere lace shawl for easter

I used Anzula Cloud which had been gifted to me by my sister after a trip she took to NYC. Isn’t it fun when the yarn itself has a bit of a story to it? It is a lovely cashmere/merino blend with just a touch of nylon to add durability and strength. The cashmere makes the shawl soft and whisper like to the touch. But don’t worry, the shawl is knit using a #4 needle – you don’t have to dig out the teeny-tiny needles.

The appliqued flowers are so much fun to knit. I just grabbed a bunch of my stash yarn and went to town. In fact, I made a few extra flowers – wonder what I shawl do with them.

For those of you who receive my newsletter you have a 50% coupon to apply to this pattern making it just $2.00.
For those of you who haven’t yet subscribed – you should!

You can buy the pattern here

tomorrow I have a new online shop to introduce to you!

 

February 23rd, 2012

Top Ten Knitting (and crochet) Blogs

by Christina

knitted lace shawl

At several of the last gatherings I’ve been to lately the topic of ,”What are your favorite blogs?” would eventually surface.

It’s rather fun to ask your friends. Some times you find that your friends read the same blogs and some times they lead you to discover a new one that you have never read before.

At one particular tea we all promised to send an email out with our top favorites. Well, you know how it is, one forgets, one gets busy, life pushes into the way.

Instead I thought I would list them here so that you all can check them out. Perhaps a few of them are your favorites already.

#1: Attic 24
Technically this is a crochet blog. But it is such a favorite of mine. Oh, my. Just a moment on Attic 24 can give me so much color inspiration. Lucy is a master painter with color.   Her chatter about her family and her home life is also encouraging because it is so similar to my own.

#2: Do you mind if I Knit?
Don’t you just love that name? And haven’t you found yourself asking that same question of your friends?  Vanessa Caban is a talented illustrator. In fact you may have read your child one of her books. I know I have. But her knitting…ah, there I loose myself… and her knitted dresses… some day I will knit myself more dresses.

#3 Curlew Country
I love Curlew Country’s outings with her children and family - oh, I could just live in those wonderful outing into the English countryside. They inspire me to get out into the nature around me.

 

#4 Posie Gets Cozy
I really appreciate Alicia’s simple take on knitting. It is refreshing, almost grounding. There is also something so comforting in seeing the simple aspects of knitting.
#5 Knitspot
Anne Hanson is a wonder at productivity. I love her blog because I can always count on a post. (Unlike spotty me). Her garden posts mark my summer days and encourage me along in my own garden.
#6 Lori times five

Lori is a recent discovery and I have enjoyed her photography and her knitting. The pictures of beach knitting make me want to fly away to the beach.

 

#7 Small Things
Ginny’s blog reminds me that life is simple so keep it simple. It is such a great blessing to be reminded of this fact. Her yarn alongs every Wednesday have become something I really look forward to.

 

#8 Blackberry Rambles
My sister’s blog. Even though we talk every day and live only 12 minutes away from each other there are aspects of her life that I miss and discover on her blog.  It is always a treat to read and an inspiration – well, she’s always been an inspiration to me – you know, the big sis that can do everything amazingly well.

 

#9 Soule Mama
Another blog that I love right now. There is something about her quietness, her joy she finds in her children and her simple knitting that soothes me. As a mom it is so helpful to hear other mothers talk about life with children.

#10 Needled
Kate Davies, isn’t she marvelous? The things she has been through and the things she has accomplished. I love it because her story is a story of strength and beauty. She uses the beauty of knitting and her designs to weave a tale of hope and that to me is quite inspiring.

What about you? Do you read some of these blogs? What are your favorites? Perhaps you have a few to introduce us to.

February 22nd, 2012

Rag Bag Cardi Ta-dah

by Christina

sock yarn cardigan tunic

It’s done!
The Rag Bag Cardi is complete and I’ve actually worn it already!

Sock yarn cardigan tunic

It all began not too long ago back on this post, do you remember?

I thought for sure I would use up all my fingering weight scraps. But I have a whole big bag left! I could have made this thing floor length!

sock yarn cardigan tunic

 As these winter days turn into warm wet spring ones I know I will be wearing this out and about as a light weight coat.

But for now, I’m just so happy to have it on Lucinda, my dress form, and look at it. Isn’t it fun what you can do with bits and pieces?

what is making you “yarn happy” right now?

Need some more inspiration? Take a peek at Ginny’s knitting.

February 15th, 2012

Mom’s Beads

by Christina

knitted necklace pattern

Hello, Knitters.

I’m have a new whimsical little pattern for you to enjoy. It’s a bit silly and fun… but I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed knitting my own.

Mom’s Beads is a knitted necklace. Yes! Imagine that. It’s simple and fun.

The pattern is written for two different weights of yarn, DK and worsted. I wanted to make it easy for you all to use something you had on hand or affordable if you wanted to splurge on some really fine yarn.

You knit the necklace end to end making little pockets into which you insert glass beads. I love how the glass beads add weight and drape to the necklace so that the piece acts like real jewelry.

Then you make a quick and easy little flower to pin on the side.

Oooo and don’t forget the cute little iCord bow you make for the back.

I used glass beads that are readily available for everyone – and extremely cheap. All you need to do is head to your nearest craft supply shop –  or (gasp) dare I mention it, Walmart – and get decorative glass “stones” for floral arranging.

You can read all the details here

Remember, if you are a newsletter subscriber you have received a coupon for 50% this new pattern making it only $1.50! What fun! The newsletter and coupon code go live today (15th February).

Video tutorials for this pattern can be found here

A big thank you to Heather who tested knitted the pattern for me and to Gina who tech edited the pattern. You guys are the best!

Enjoy!

PS: If you are wondering where in the world I came up with this crazy idea…well, you’ll just have to read about it in the pattern. =)

PPS: stop by Ginny’s blog for more lovely knitting inspiration

February 8th, 2012

Working With Wool

by Christina

Wool Felted Fingerless Gloves

Felted Wool Fingerless Gloves

Embroidered Fingerless Gloves

Hand Embroidered Fingerless Gloves

Hello Knitters,

Behind the scenes I’ve been doing something I rarely do – wool embroidery and crochet.

My first skill was crochet – my mom taught me when I was little. I made all sorts of things for my dolls. And then I made things for my mom and sisters.

It’s funny how life is… you know, I get a happy little feeling when I’m doing a little bit of crochet. I bet it’s childhood lurking in the background.

Anyways… this is what I’ve been up to.

Why? well, have you noticed? I really need a new camera for this blog. The above pictures were taken for me by my lovely sis. They are better than the regular snaps you see around here.

My plan is this: to sell a few of these fingerless gloves I am making on etsy and then to buy my sis’s camera from her…. =)

Yes, believe it or not, I have just set up an Etsy shop!

What have I been reading? Classic Railway Murders by Jonathan Baker

I know – not very intellectual … but honestly, at 9 pm at night I really don’t feel like reading anything very wordy. My brain is fried from talking to a 2-year-old all day long. It’s my turn to be entertained.

The Rag Bag Cardi? Well, it’s currently being blocked. But I can already see I am going to take out the neck edging. It is absolutely ghastly.  The grand “ta-dah” isn’t far away…

Joining with Ginny

February 2nd, 2012

Stripey Stripey, I love stripes!

by Christina

Sock Yarn Cardigan

Hello Friends!

I wanted to get this posted yesterday… but Lil John was under the weather again with a runny nose. Ugh.. being two is hard. Not only are you learning a million things a minute but your immune system is getting conditioned and knocked about. Poor little guy.

We had a lot of “car road” time and “pooh-bear” time yesterday. All the cars drive to “Gimmie’s House” where they eat apples and play with Gimmie and Papa. And Pooh-bear is a “silly-bear” who sometimes plays cars too.  Oh, my – it’s fun to see John’s imagination.

The Rag Bag Cardi is almost finished! I can’t believe it. It has been so fast to knit – I think that is because it is so much fun to knit stripes.

I added some lace panels to the bottom. I think it adds a bit of contrast and interest to the piece.

I can’t wait to get the front band on and to give it a good bath and blocking session. Hopefully early next week we’ll have a ta-dah post!

Also, I do think bright stripes are a must for January knitting from now on out. It was so happy and fun to knit during the rather quiet month. It added such brightness and happiness to knit with happy colors…

January 24th, 2012

Yarn Along

by Christina

sock yarn cardi

I’ve been amazed at how quickly this Rag Bag Cardi is growing under my fingers.  Two sleeves are complete. I knitted them flat so that I have a nice seam in which I can hide the ends.

I’ve been reminiscing as I knit – “Oh, yes, this yarn I made my sister-in-law a shawl out of. This was mom’s Christmas socks…oooh and so was this – boy when did I knit that?”  I think I could also call this sweater the memory lane sweater.

The one thought that gives me great pleasure is: these little scraps of yarn are not hitting the dust bin but being worked into something creative and wearable.

And yes, wearable. I know a few of you have commented on the colorful stripes … and yes, have mentioned that they couldn’t be seen in public. Well, perhaps. But… did you notice Anthropologie is selling a sweater very similar to my idea – heavier yarn of course:

So I can’t be completely crazy! =)

What am I reading? Well, I’m “re-listening/re-reading” An Irish Country Village. Over Christmas I read, A Dublin Student Doctor, and decided to go back because I couldn’t remember a few details from earlier in the series. If you haven’t read this series by Patrick Taylor you should give it a try. It’s a lovely easy read.

Joining Ginny in her Yarn Along

January 16th, 2012

Knitting and Tea on a Winter Day

by Christina

handmade

I wrote this post a little over a week ago but never got around to posting it. But I thought you would enjoy my reflections on a January Tea even if it is a little after the fact.

Today was a perfect January day. The temperatures outside were bitter and biting. The snow on the ground glittered and crunched under your feet.

John and I worked on chores and rewarded ourselves with a “project.” He chose the colors and car. I did the sewing while he watched, fascinated, on a chair beside me.

After lunch we packed the car up and headed off through the woods and over the resevoir to the cousins’ house where we spent our afternoon. Tea was savored – four kinds in fact, books were discussed, crazy events were laughed over, finished projects were displayed and current projects were worked on… all while the wind whistled and blew outside.

Yes, today was a perfect January day.

January 15th, 2012

Mama Ruffles & Baby Ruffles

by Christina

 handknit lace shawl pattern LOFT

One of the things I love about my family is how inspiring they are to me. My mom and sisters are wonderfully creative – amazingly creative. Each sister has a special talent. And my mom, well… she taught us all we know and then inspired us to go beyond her knowledge.

It was my older sister (I’m right in the middle, so I hope you can forgive me for referring to my sisters as older and younger) who inspired me to create the Mama & Baby Ruffles shawls.

handknitted lace shawl LOFT

She mentioned that we needed a cute “Baby” shawl for little Laura (her youngest) and of course I agreed. When it was finished she said, “Well, I want one too.” So Mama Ruffles was born. But then we all liked Mama Ruffles better than the first Baby Ruffles (now renamed Shoulder Ruffles) and another shawl was made (now the current Baby Ruffles).

Ah, you see how delightfully complicated inspiration is! =)

If I could dedicate patterns I think I would dedicate this pattern first to my Mom – who inspired me to be creative and then to my sis, Heather, who is a fabulous mother to 5 very creative children… and of course… to little Laura who has made it through so much. Love you little girl!

Here are the links for the patterns.

Mama Ruffles

Baby Ruffles

The new CCKnits Knitting News just went out and it contains a coupon for them. If you are not a subscriber – subscribe. You’ve missed out on this month’s patterns… but you are still in time for the rest of the year!

happy knitting!

C