Picture Day

I am the world's worst when it comes to documenting my knitting projects.  I  rarely keep track of modifications, needle sizes, gauges...even the yarns that I use.  Sadly, I never bother taking pictures, either.  Well, it's about time I change the way I track my projects. These are some of my favorite undocumented sweaters.



Me displaying Nati by Lucy Hulett



Jordan tunic by Wendy Bernard knitted in Louet EuroFlax

Detail of Jordan

 

Day Trip Cardigan by Melissa Wehrle

Little Peacocks by Sarah Hoadley

Detail of Little Peacocks

Modern Garden by Veera Valimaki

Detail of Modern Garden

Featherweight by Hannah Fettig



Minimalist Cardigan by Ruthie Nussbaum


 

 

 

Mr. Green Jeans by Amy Swenson

Loving lace

I've been a knitter for awhile, but I've always had a (somewhat) fear of knitting lace.  Lace - it's complicated and fragile, and I can almost feel all those little symbols on a chart egging me on...daring me to just try it.  And then me goofing it all up! Time has come to face my fears. I recently purchased Visual Encyclopedia: Knitting Stitches by Sharon Turner.  I'm sure there are many good stitch books out there but I like this one because stitches are grouped into categories (i.e., rib patterns, cable patterns, drop stitch, yarn overs, and lace), and gives both written instructions and charts.  Using this book as my guide, I've been working up samples in various patterns, and I'm finding that lately I'm loving lace. I'm hoping to incorporate some of my newly found knowledge and courage into a few designs.  I have both a cropped cardigan in mind and a pull-over that would strategically incorporate lace patterns in sleeves and necklines. 

I found an interesting website that might help demystify lace for you.  Stitch Maps is a new way of looking at lace with traditional symbols but without the grids.  This allows you to see the fluidity of a pattern and how the stitches relate to each other.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  http://stitch-maps.com/ 

 

Boot toppers and more boot toppers

 

 

These are my very own happy feet. Happy because I'm in my cowgirl boots and happy because I have my first two prototypes of boot toppers finished. These were knit using odds and ends of stash stuff. Changes I'll make:

• wear two of the same kind out in public :)   
• make the green one (fern stitch pattern) a couple of inches longer (hey, it was only a sample!). 
• I kind of like the length on the gold one (easily adjusted anyhow), but I'd possibly weave a thin leather strip through the eyelets (Leather and Lace?).
• Weave in the loopy end in the green one which is visible in the back.  Details, details.

I'm currently working on a pair in a beautiful worsted from Stonehedge Mills in yummy raspberry color flecked with a little bluish sheen. Stitch pattern is a chevron lace.  Will have picture posted soon. 

 

This fall I hope to open an online business selling my designs for quick-knit fashion wearables and high-quality merino yarn (made from organically raised sheep, hand spun and dyed in a variety of gorgeous colors, of course)and packaged in adorable reusable muslin bags.  Boot toppers will be the first collection, followed by fingerless gloves, cowls, scarves, etc. The boot toppers, which look great over skinny jeans or leggings, can be worn with a variety of boot heights - stretched higher on the calf over taller boots or scrunched down over ankle boots (which is one of my favorite looks). My kits are based on my observations that:

• There are a lot of DIYers out there who would like the perfect accessory.  (Oh, do you really like them??  I made them myself!!).  Particularly true if you'd like to highlight new and expensive boots!
• Sometimes you just want a small-but-satisfying knit that you can whip up quickly.
• Beginning knitters, at some point, get tired of making scarves and need to move on to the next level.
• Not everyone has the time to go to the LYS to pick out the perfect next little project.  I'll do it for you!
• The price point will be attractively small, but the fashion look will be big. 

Right now I'm having a lot of fun with my work, and I'm really cuing in on the colors and textures of summer and how they can be carried over into a fall wardrobe.  I'd love to hear any and all thoughts.  Thanks for visiting!

 

If I could knit the colors of summer...

 



I was so inspired by the colors at the Farmers' Market that I started playing around with some stitch patterns.  The green yarn (Chickadee by Quince & Co.) is knitted in fern stitch and looks much lacier when stretched out (as in the legwarmer that it will become).  The garnet (Shepherd's Wool worsted by Stonehedge Mills) is in a lace chevron stitch.  Love!



 

Color inspiration

The Farmers' Market in Holland, MI is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from late spring until early fall.  In addition to getting freshly-picked produce and gorgeous flowering baskets, it's also a great source for color and texture inspiration for my knitting.

Right now, I'm crazy for just about any shade of green.  I'm working on a pair of boot toppers using Shepherd's Wool worsted merino in a great shade called Ivy.  I'm using a cable pattern called Sand Cables.  Cables are usually created on a background of purl stitches, but this pattern uses all stockinette with cables.  The cables flow from one to another, and the result looks somewhat like a highly-textures fabric (pictures TBA to be added)...beautiful!

Miss Honey meets yarn

The Yarn Bomber Herself

Hi, I'm Nancy, recently retired from a long (but wonderful) career as a high school librarian/administrator.  After taking a long hiatus from knitting, I'm back!  In fact, I am exploring several entrepreneurial options for a second career that would combine some simple designs and packaging them as kits with yarn and patterns.  A little background about my crafty side. Before I became a knitter, I learned to sew and developed my love of fabric and fashion from my mother. My favorite memory of my mom was the two of us sitting on our front porch on a hot summer night leafing through the big fall issue of Seventeen and planning my back-to-school wardrobe.  The planning was followed by a trip to Marshall Field's State Street Store in Chicago (back in the day they had a HUGE fabric department) to purchase the fabric that would turn my hopes to be stylish, cute, popular at school year into a reality.  Popularity was somewhat elusive, but I did learn to sew and years later (following bachelor's and master's degrees) I began a degree program in fashion design.  Sadly, the program went unfinished but I did learn a lot about construction and design, which has served me well as both sewer and knitter.

I digress.  Shortly after resurrecting my yarn and supplies, I adopted a cat, Miss Honey.  Don't they just all go together?  Librarian, cat, knitting.  Yish....I hope I'm not THAT stereotypical!  Honey is the second cat I've adopted from Catnap From the Heart, a suburban Chicago no-kill shelter whose mission I admire. Anyhow, first night on the job as My New Cat, Honey proceeded to attack - literally attack - my yarn!  Apparently she has a very strong predatory instinct and though I supply her with myriad furry little toy mice, she seems to prefer the allure of my yarn bag. I have to plan each knitting session carefully, hiding the ball of yarn behind a pillow.  Anything is fair game - tape measure, cable needle, dpns.  Heaven forbid nature calls and I get up leaving "the goods" unprotected. She has totally destroyed both yarn and the image of me knitting peacefully on the couch, wine glass poised on adjacent coffee table, TV providing white noise.  But honestly, I wouldn't trade Honey for anything!