a quick dry

I can't wait for summer!  Warm weather, short sleeves, flip flops & the beach!  But first, there will be mud season.

There are a few things that I will be sad to let go as winter fades away.  I will miss how a fresh blanket of snow looks & how I can watch it falling peacefully from my window as I knit by the fire.  That brings me to one of the things that I may miss most.  Our wood stove.  It draws the whole family close to it, taking in that special heat that only a wood stove can give.

Not to mention, how darn quick it dries my knits!!!

I cast off my last sts on this vest & wove in the ends yesterday afternoon.  Soaked it for a bit, spun it dry & laid it out next to the fire just before I had to go pick up my daughter from school.

This morning its ready to wear!

The pattern is called Nordic Trail by Elizabeth Smith of The Brown Stitch.  This pattern is written extremely clearly.  An advanced beginner knitter looking for the next step: this would be the perfect place to start!

The back of the vest has this lovely lace panel insert, the Nordic Trail maybe?

I used Cascade 128 in Charcoal, a nice, bulky, 100% wool with a rustic look.

Skinny Cotton Pullover

My newest pattern is a sweet pullover knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Cotton, perfect for spring!

It is knit from the bottom up starting with the body.  The sleeves are knit & then everything is put together at the yoke.  The only grafting is at the underarms.  The pattern can be found here on the blog, on Ravelry or on Craftsy.

The sweater pictured above was made in the color-way Basil, the color below is called Zinc.

more shawlettes (what else)

These shawlettes have been done for a little while now & are just making their way here.

I chose this first one as a project for our trip to Disney.  

A bus ride to the airport + a 3 hr plane ride = lots of knitting time.

I searched my queue & chose Pipers Journey by Paula Emons-Fuessle.  I bought, downloaded & printed the pattern & it wasn't until we were on our way that I read in the pattern description how this would be 'the perfect project for travel knitting'.  So true.

I knit it up using Princess by Classic Elite.  This yarn contains quite the blend:   

40% Wool, 28% Rayon, 15% Nylon, 10% Cashmere, 7% Angora.

At first, this yarn was shedding all over my lap & I was afraid that I would always have to wear it with a white or light colored shirt.  After it was done, I soaked it in my usual way, but I was a little 'rough' with it in the sink.  I sloshed it around a bit, but not too much for fear of felting.  I spun it in the wash, laid it out flat, and when it was dry I brought it outside & shook it out.  The remaining floaties flew away & I was left with a gorgeous shawlette that doesn't leave its mark.  I can totally wear it with black!

Next up was a quick & satisfying knit.  I used Malabrigo Worsted Merino, a heavenly soft & lofty yarn for wearing around your neck.

I followed Marjorie Dussaud's pattern Winter Berries.

This was the first project that I made for myself after the holiday knitting rush was over. I simplified the pattern a bit by omitting the purling & knitting through the back loop & working them as regular knits & purls.  I love how the original design looks finished, I was just in the mood for a mind clearing knit & wanted to keep things super simple.

Winter White Hat... a free pattern

I have added a new hat pattern to the Free Pattern section on this blog.

It is also loaded up on Ravelry and on Craftsy to download for free.

I used Malabrigo Worsted Merino wool, color #63 (natural).  This yarn is very soft, lofty, and oh so warm & cozy.  A perfect fit for this hat.

Enjoy!

wrapping it up

With Christmas coming quicker each time I look at the calendar, I can now say that my Holiday knitting is DONE!

Last night I stitched the last special touches on the knitted gifts for my girls.

These are always the most fun & special gifts that I make.

Months ago, the girls looked through my patterns & chose what they wanted for me to make them... right down to the color.  A dark brown puppy with a blanket for one & a baby doll with yellow hair & a pink dress for the other.

Wanting to keep these gifts a surprise, the girls did not see me work on their projects.  I only brought them out while they were at school or sleeping.  I think the magic will pay off, because just the other night they asked when I would be making them their special toys.

Both patterns are written by Susan B. Anderson

The baby has a hat with braids that can be removed.

Not sure which is cuter... the belly button or the toes!

 Ruffled undies.

Big knits, little knits

Spinning Yarns, my local yarn store, runs a once a year special order opportunity for customers to order Madelinetosh, choosing your own colors by browsing the Madelinetosh website.  This year I entertained the idea of placing a special order, but I just couldn't get myself excited enough to order colors based on looking at them on a computer screen.  Margot (the owner) will always order extra yarn to stock her shelves, and trusting her judgement of color, I will usually come in soon after the prized shipment comes in to view them in real life.  

The colors are SPECTACULAR.

I didn't buy any yarn when it came in... I didn't have a project in mind & I don't buy yarn to just stash it.  It has to have a project attached to it.  

I would admire what was on the shelf & revel in the projects that a few of my students would be making out of their selections.  Eventually, as the Madelinetosh selection dwindled on the shelf, there was a lot of this red (tart) left over that nobody seemed to want.  It grew on me & before I knew it I was ready to knit something for myself.

I was in the mood for a cardigan & cables.  

I found the perfect pattern by Knitting Pure & Simple.  The Knitting Pure & Simple line of patterns are great.  Some of my first projects came from these patterns & are always comforting to knit up.  Written in the most simple way, they are easy to follow & are a cinch to adapt in order to add a little something different to make it your own.

I added a cable pattern to the back.

Next, I had a custom order for a blue bird hat with ear-flaps & tassels.  I knit this one up on the fly using a vibrant blue from Lambs Pride.  The black button eyes were stitched on tight & the tassel at the top of the head finished it off.

Using Berroco Vintage, here is a cute hat that will be given as a gift.  

Garter stitch ear-flaps, green on gray with a pom pom to finish.

Lastly, there is something soaking in the sink... for me.

Star Bud Hat

I have just added a new pattern to the pattern store here and on Ravelry for my newest hat... The Star Bud Hat.

















The hat pictured was knit using about 1/2 a skein of Swans Island organic merino wool (color: Early Thyme).  
This yarn is great!  It is super soft, hand dyed using natural dyes AND it is made in Maine!  The Swans Island company is actually in Northport, ME... quite a ways away from where I am in Southern Maine, making me oh so grateful that my local yarn store stocks this yarn on it's shelves.