22 Little Clouds

A few weeks ago, when I embarked on my one-skein challenge, the first pattern that jumped onto my needles was Martina Behm's 22 Little Clouds. I hadn't knit a Behm design before and while I know she's designed a gazillion patterns, I thought I'd start off with one of her free patterns to get a sense of what she's like as a designer.  

I decided on one of my older skeins, one that I had in my stash since August 2012 (yikes!).  Bugga is wildly popular but like a Behm design, I had never knit with it before so this little project was going to enable me to cross off two items from my knitting bucket list.

The combination of yarn and pattern is a total win-win. The subtle but vibrant color changes are gorgeous and the simplicity of the pattern made the shawl practically knit itself.

I would say that my first one-skein challenge project was a huge success ~ just not sure if I should keep this beauty or gift it?

Let the Knit Along Begin!

The day has finally come ... Autumn in New York is now available, and I'm looking forward to seeing the yarns and colors you choose.  I fell in love with Duck Duck Wool's Teal Tuesday and think it's a gorgeous color for so many skin tones and hair colors. 

So, let the knit along begin! Here are the details: 

Between today and December 20, knit an Autumn in New York hat for your favorite charity. A thread for works-in-progress photos will be open on the Project: Stash Ravelry Group so we can chat as we knit along.  

To be eligible for one of our fantastic prizes, you need to be a Project: Stash Ravelry Group member, post photos of your finished hats in the FO thread, and let us know which charity your hat (or hats) will be going to. It's that simple!

To get you excited all over again, the prizes are:  a pattern by Allyson Dykhuizen, a pattern by Melanie Berg, a $15 gift certificate for patterns by Jane Richmond, and a $25 gift certificate for yarn hand-dyed by Sandra of Duck Duck Wool.  Pretty cool, huh?

I'm really excited to be knitting along with all of you ... so get your needles and yarn and let's get started!

Autumn In New York

I'm bubbling with excitement over my new hat pattern, Autumn in New York, and just wanted to give you a sneak peek of my recent photo shoot with Miranda.

I am so happy with how this new design turned out and knitting it in Duck Duck Wool's merino DK was a complete joy and pleasure.

I'm getting ready to release the pattern tomorrow (for free) and hope that many of you will knitalong with the Project: Stash Ravelry Group for your favorite charity.  While we have fantastic prize incentives, knitting for charity is reward enough, I know!

A Tease to Please #4

I'm excited to say that my new hat pattern is almost ready to be released.  I spent a good part of last weekend working on the final touches ~ the pattern is now written and the hat has been photographed, but I want to read through the instructions a few more times before I share it.  I'm always amazed at how long it takes to design a pattern from sketch to final release ~ hats off (no pun intended) to all you incredible designers.  I just don't know how you do it, week after week!

One such designer is also one of my all-time favorites:  Jane Richmond.  There are some designers whose aesthetic you can see from a mile away.  If you've been following Jane for the past few years, I think you'll agree that she has a classic look that's pretty irresistable.  Whenever I get the chance, I jump to test knit for her and one of her recent designs was truly a joy to knit ~ the Beacon Hill Cardigan. 

Jane is one of those all-around designers:  hats, cowls, mitts, cardigans, pullovers, ... you get the picture. Jane has generously offered to donate a $15 gift certificate towards her patterns as a prize for our charity hat knitalong, and I couldn't be more thrilled. 


arbutus



Grace

So, there you have it, friends ~ no more teasing.  We've got three amazing designers and one incredible indie dyer (Allyson, Melanie, Jane, and Sandra) encouraging some charity hat knitting.  I can't wait to get started with all of you! 

A Tease to Please #3

There are some designers whose work catches your eye again and again.  There's just something about their aesthetic that fits right into your own style. You may remember when I posted about my summer test knit called Otherside ~ I've worn this classic top numerous times since finishing it and get the nicest compliments.

When I first came upon Melanie's designs, I was so impressed: she's one of those knitters who appreciates the simplicity of what yarn and needles can do.  I was so excited when Melanie said that she would donate a pattern prize for our upcoming charity hat knitalong so if you haven't knit one of Mairlynd's beautiful accessories, you're in for a real treat.  Here's a parade of some of my favorites ... just imagine the yarns and colors you can knit these with, and I bet some of them are in your stash!

nangou

chimaira

jinlys

A Tease to Please #2

So, the other day I posted the first teaser about the soon-to-be announced charity knit along that will be hosted over on the Project: Stash Ravelry group.  I'm loving the gorgeous yarn from Duck Duck Wool that I'm working with and cannot wait for the big reveal of my new hat pattern.  But, for now, as we approach the cast-on date (which, by the way, will be early next week), I wanted to entice you further by saying that this prize-filled KAL will have pattern giveaways by not one, not two, but three amazing designers.  To give you a little nudge to join in, here's a glimpse of one of these incredible talents.

I doubt very much that this post will introduce you to Allyson of the Sweatshop of Love blog, and I imagine that many of you have knit some of her inspired designs already. Allyson also runs Holla Knits and is the brain behind the ever popular Work + Shelter sweater....

... the beautiful Caitin's Cardi .... 

 
... and her most recent design, the Bristlecone Pullover, published in Knitscene Winter 2013. 

One lucky KAL winner will pick from Allyson's terrific patterns ~ thanks again, Allyson, for your generosity.  Okay, knitters, stay tuned for teaser #3!

Did Someone Say Knitalong?

I've missed knitting along with my Project: Stash Ravelry group so while I've been busy with my other works-in-progress, I've also been designing a new hat for a charity KAL that I'll be announcing ... very, very soon.

What I can tell you today is that I'm working with the most scrumptious yarn in the most soothing colorway.  This is Duck Duck Wool's Teal Tuesday colorway in the DK weight base, and I can't say enough wonderful things about Sandra's work.  She's such a talent:  she's smart, funny, generous, and knows her way around a dye pot!  Last spring, Sandra sent this skein along to me as a surprise and I haven't stopped thinking about it ever since.

My new hat design was completely influenced by the texture and color of this yarn, and I'm really excited to share it with you in a few days.  For now, consider joining our group of fun and supportive knitters and get ready for a fun and prize-filled charity hat KAL.  Duck Duck Wool will be one of the sponsors offering a nice incentive to join in and I'll reveal that information in the coming days, too.

Gosh, I'm such a tease!

Swoon

This new beauty must be in my wardrobe ... and fast! 



Purl Bee's Brioche Vest



As soon as I laid eyes on this new vest, I knew instantly what my next project will be.  Swoon, indeed.

I just may need to start a knit-along soon so stay tuned!

It's About Time

Somehow, I didn't expect my Nachtfalter to take as long as it did...but it did! Still, I'm so pleased with how it turned out, and I know that I'll be wearing my new top a lot this summer. The big bonus is that I got to do some stash busting with this project as I used my stash of Knit Picks CotLin and Comfy Sport in the pomegrante colorway. Knitting along with a lively and fun group of knitters over on the Holla Knits Ravelry group was an added plus, and I hope to join in on another of their KALs soon.

So, back to this project:  I loved the construction of knitting the twisted rib ribbing and then splitting for the front and back panels. I loved using the three-needle bind off at the shoulder seams which creates both a strong and attractive finish. And I loved the intricate moth stitch pattern which kept me on my toes. I'll admit that I did fall down a few times and had to frog back and reknit. Those of you who have had to tink back on a lace pattern can understand the fear I felt each time I had to do this ~ trying to figure out where those darn YOs were (sometimes in multiples of three or four) led to some nerve wracking moments!

Wanting to be a more mindful knitter, I didn't ignore my mistakes and now that I've finished, I'm so glad that I took the time and patience to correct those missed stitches. And finally, with uneven yardage, I combined the CotLin and Comfy Sport within the body but you can barely tell ~ I think it works! 

Blame It On the Heat

I didn't intend to have a two-week hiatus from my blog, but somehow the end of June rolled into the beginning of July and my knitting waned and I wilted.  Up until then I was regularly knitting on three projects.  A test knit cardigan which is still under wraps, a pair of stripey socks for the fun of it, and the Nachtfalter top as part of the Holla Knits KAL.

And then life got really full with graduations, birthdays, and beginning of summer shenanigans.  I can still remember when summers were synonymous with lazy days and long stretches of time to read and cook and indulge in passions that seemed to be neglected during the other seasons.  Nowadays, summers don't have that same relaxed feeling as it did in years past.  Sigh ...

Still, I have managed to keep up with at least one of my projects and I'm so happy with how it's turning out.  I was a little worried that I'd run out of my remaining ball of CotLin so when I picked up the stitches for the back panel of this top, I knit two lace motifs with Comfy Sport, and I don't think you can really tell the difference.  Yes, Comfy is much softer but since those two pattern repeats will be tucked under the blouson portion of the garment, it will hardly be noticeable (and the color matches perfectly, don't you think?).

So, now that we're well into July, I'm hoping my knitting mojo will steadily return.  I'm thinking of casting on a simple but elegant linen tank soon, but my Nachtfalter needs to be finished first.  Can I just blame my slow progress on the heat?  

Pour Moi KAL Parade

My favorite thing about knitalongs is the chance to chat with other knitters and watch their incredible progress, but more than that, KALs spark a ton of pattern ideas, some that I've never seen before. We had such a nice time over at the Pour Moi KAL, and I found the variety of projects so inspiring. Shateen, Ana, Darlene, and Rebecca picked gorgeous shawls to knit for themselves, each as unique as they are.

Shateen's Hitchhiker

Ana's Nautical Dream Stripes

Darlene's Springtime Bandit

Rebecca's Pendulum Shawl

Claire attempted her first pair of socks and they look like she's been knitting socks her whole life.

Claire's Basic Ribbed Socks

And then there's Michelle's awesome knitted shorts ~ she's my fashion-forward guru!

Michelle's Bombshell Shorts

 Last but definitely not least is Lisa's beautiful cardigan, knit in the most beautiful yarn.

My Pour Moi project still has to stay underwraps as it was a test knit for Jane Richmond, one of my favorite designers, but my KAL buddies definitely kept me going.  Thanks, friends, for being my virtual knitting group!

Now that the KAL is over, it's time to announce the winners of our three prizes!  Using the random number generator the winners are (drum roll, please ... ):

Rebecca ~ a Sezza pattern of your choice

Michelle ~a skein of Duck Duck Wool's Spellbreaker

Lisa ~ a Sezza pattern of your choice

Congratulations to the winners of prizes but really, we're all winners, right? We now all have a beautiful FO to add to our wardrobes!

The Summer of KALs

I didn't intend for this to be the summer of KALs, but it sure is shaping up to be just that. The Pour Moi KAL over on my Project: Stash Ravelry group is winding down and ending tomorrow at midnight so if you've been participating but haven't posted a photo of your FO yet, don't forget to head on over and show off your knitting. My Pour Moi project ended up being a beautiful test knit for the uber talented Jane Richmond, but as the pattern won't be released until the fall, I have to keep my FO under wraps. I can say that it's a cardigan and up until now, it's my most accomplished achievement.

I'm happily knitting along on my Holla Knits KAL Nachtfalter, but I've needed to step away from the needles so as not to get too ahead of the rest of the group ... 

... and I just jumped into the Self-Striping Sock KAL being hosted by the Just One More Row podcast gals. My sister, Esther, gifted me a skein of Patons Kroy Socks in a colorway that I've been anxious to try, and this is the perfect yarn for this KAL.

I don't usually have so many projects on my needles (did I mention that I'm test knitting  a cardigan for a German designer?), but these KALs have been hard to resist.  If you're knitting along on a pattern and/or with a group, please share.  I'm sure I have some spare needles lying around.

Resistance

It's been hard to resist not knitting on my Nachtfalter as the baby cable ribbing is so seductive. 

Over on the Holla Knits KAL, we're breaking the knitting down into parts and for week one, our assignment is to knit half of the ribbing which for me would be 3.75 inches.  

Ummm ... yeah, right ... it's the morning of day three, and I've already reached my assigned goal. Several other KAL'ers are finding the ribbing hard to resist, too, so I have a feeling we may be moving ahead a little faster than originally planned.

When I reached my 3.75 inches last night, I put my knitting down and picked up The Fault in Our Stars which has been my read this week.  I finished it and can see what all the fuss has been about ~ it's poignant, intelligent, funny, and deep. I find it interesting how some novels are designated YA when a book such as this one is truly for all ages. If this book hasn't been on your radar, get it ... from your local library, book shop, or online.  It's wonderful.

Summer Projects 1: Nachtfalter KAL

Yesterday was cast on day for the Nachtfalter KAL, and I have been so excited to start that I had all my materials in my I love London project bag ready and waiting to go. I swatched the baby cable ribbing on US4 needles as per the instructions, but since I'm fairly slim hipped, I went down a needle size to US3 for a more snug fit.

It's hard to believe that I've never knit with Knit Picks Comfy Sport before (especially since I've had some in my stash for about two years).  It's soft and easy to handle which for a cotton blend is a plus.
As you can see, I've called today's post Summer Projects 1 ~ being the goal-oriented knitter that I am, I have several warm-weather tops in my queue for the coming weeks, and I'm looking forward to chronicling my progress here.  We'll see if my ambitions are bigger than my stash!

A Brief Interruption

While I spend some time mulling over sweater pattern choices, I'm excited to be starting a new project next week over at the Holla Knits Ravelry Group.  It's time that I knit a Holla Knits pattern especially after admiring Michelle's beautiful FOs, here and here. I need some summer tops and why shouldn't I knit part of my warm-weather wardrobe, right?

Knit Picks Comfy Sport

I'm joining in the Nachtfalter KAL which starts on Monday, June 3, and in my attempts to be more mindful with my knitting, I spent a little time last night swatching the lace stitch portion. Isn't it lovely ... and oh, so interesting to knit!  Happily, I have enough Knit Picks Comfy Sport and CotLin in my stash to knit this pattern.  The color is pomegranate, and I love it.

If you're looking to knit a fun and unique summer top, join us. This is a lively group, and the pattern will keep you on your toes!

49 ... 50

Can you guess what today's post is about?  It's my birthday but not just any old birthday ... I'm 50 today, and it's both an amazing and shocking feeling to have hit half a century.  My dear friend, Toni, told me that turning 50 was freeing for her, and I love that idea.  So, on this very special birthday, I'm looking forward to shedding the doubts and roadblocks that have been scattered throughout my life over the years and embrace a more free me!

Now, let's talk knitting!  As a birthdaygift to myself, I started a new knit-along over on the Project: Stash KAL group on Ravelry.  Every now and then, we knitters need to knit just for ourselves and in the Pour Moi KAL we'll be choosing a project that we've been stalking and that will take us a little out of our comfort zone. I'm thinking of knitting a lace shawl as I've not tried to knit a full lace pattern before.  I've got this beautiful skein of Lorna's Laces Solemate in their stoplight colorway which might turn into this.

I'd love you to join me! 



FO: Derry Raglan & Cowl

I've managed to keep my Jump for Fall challenge alive by having a sweater on the needles at all times.  Wait -- correction:  now that I've finished my Derry Raglan & Cowl, I'll be searching around for a new winter knit to cast on, but for now, I'm basking in the satisfaction of another hand-knit sweater in my closet!

This raglan pullover was great to knit -- the pattern instructions are incredibly clear, sizing was spot on, and the lace detail running down the sleeves kept the knitting interesting.  With the removable cowl as an added detail, the pullover sports two different looks which is a bonus.

I didn't knit with a particular high-end, luxurious yarn.  Nope, I chose Paton's Classic Wool, a true workhorse yarn, and I'm delighted to say that it was a great match with the pattern.

Purloining from the Knitmore Girls' podcast, I happen to be in stitches today:  wearing my newly finished sweater and these! I'm so warm and cozy, I'm not even blinking at the next impending snow storm that's heading to the east coast.

The Long Journey

It's the first day of 2013, and I always mark this occasion in the same way.  It's purely personal, but I somehow doubt that I'm alone. I like to believe that what I do on New Year's Day sets the tone for how the rest of my year will be.  My gestures are small:  make sure to go for a run, cook delicious food, listen to great music, read a few chapters of my current book, start a new knitting project.

It's now afternoon: I ran 3 miles this morning, I'm listening to my favorite local radio station, and I cooked some black bean and cheese quesadillas for lunch.  My current book is next to my knitting chair, and after much contemplation, I've decided on my new knitting project.  Ready? It's been all the rage for over a year, and I sort of can't believe I'm going to join the craze, but I'm itching to cast on a long journey project and there's probably no pattern that will take me on a longer journey than .... the Beekeeper's Quilt.

From all that I've read, a nice size quilt will require at least 350 - 400 hexipuffs so I'm thinking that this project will become my in bed and car ride knitting. Each hexipuff is portable which will make knitting one easy to do from anywhere.

I'm completely fine with the idea that this quilt will likely take me all of 2013, but it sure would be nice to knit along with friends. If you're interested in casting on a long journey project and keeping company with fellow knitters, join me here.  

I hope you're doing exactly what you want on this very special day!

Helping Hands

When the events of the world start to feel as if only bad things happen, it helps to be reminded of all the wonderful acts of kindness bestowed on loved ones and strangers everyday.  I really believe that every little gesture can make a difference in someone's day, and it doesn't take much to lessen one's load.

When I saw that Sharon of Three Irish Girls created Knitters for Newtown, I joined up without a second's thought.  It's simple:  knit an 8 x 8 inch garter stitch square and send it to Sharon.  She will collect all the donated squares and sew them into blankets for the families who lost their precious loved ones on that incredibly sad day a week ago.  Knit one, knit two, knit a dozen ... every square will be a bit of love and hope for those families affected.

I'm inviting you to join me in this smallest of gestures.  I need my hands to be busy doing something for good.

A Little Cheer

Sometimes we knitters need to pick a wee project that will keep us smiling ....

Berroco Vintage

I knit this adorable mini mitten ornament as part of two knit-alongs:  Project: Stash Holiday Sparkle and CraftStash Tiny Ornament Swap.  I can attest that they are addictive (I've knit four of them already), and happy-making. Knit one!