Projects...

...galore.

I can't remember a time when I had so many UFO's. Seems like I used to start something, and then actually finish it. Anyone else out there (again, ahem, tap tap tap, is this thing on??) having the same problem? It's as if I've developed ADD for knitter's...please understand, no disrespect is meant....

Veera's Color Affection, Jared's Loft t-shirt, plus lots of other stuff....as you can see, apparently I don't have the energy to link them...will do better tomorrow.

Queue.......

I was just looking over my queue over on Ravelry, and realized that is loooooong......

For my non-knitting friends, it's a fabulous website where you can post projects, view your friend's projects, sell your designs, etc.

Seems that my new "lifestyle", ie., going back to work, is eating into my knitting time. The good news: I still like the stuff in my queue. Now, just need some time to get back to it...

Facebook....plus a logo!

Hi all......:)

I just created an actual FB page, can you believe it? I feel like I am finally getting my arms wrapped around this technology thing.....anyhoo, I am exploring how to link things up between FB and my blog, as well as the best way to offer patterns.....meanwhile, fun fun learning new ways around the web! Oh, and check out my new logo....I love it!!

A little tease.......

This will be my latest pattern......it just needs to be written up. I was inpsired by Regency-era fashion, albeit for men.....I'm thinking ruffled neck cloths, cravats, jabots,whatever you call them. Then when I laid my hands on some gorgeous ArtYarn "splash" mohair and silk blend yarn WITH beads and sequins in it, oo la la, a ruffled neck scarf was born!! I actually really love the results. You can wear it straight on peeking out of a jacket a'la cravat, or twisted to the side for a jaunty French-y look, you decide....

Hats

Turns out I love to make hats. Check these out: A textured hat I did up for a Knitting 102 class at Renaissance Yarns, and the other is a naval-inspired slouchy toque, perfect for pint-sized pirates!

Luscious.......

Is is a capelet? Cape? Huge cowl? Dare I say it.....poncho???? K, this squishy warm luxurious capelet is done up in 100% baby alpaca. Chunky style. It is a top down, in the round knit, started with a tubular cast on to preserve its stretchiness. Modeled here by my beautiful friend Brooke, you can see that it is the ultimate layering piece. Over a t-shirt? Blouse? Leather jacket?

Did you know that some folks would tell you that a "capelet" must have an opening, i.e. it must button or tie in the front or back, versus being all one piece. Otherwise, you supposedly have to call it a poncho. Try selling a pattern for a poncho in 2011......just sayin'.

Anyhoo, the pattern will be available in the next day or two. Call it whatever you like, the bottom line is that it is Luscious. So there.

Urban Chill Cowl

I hate having a cold neck. Ever since having mono when I was a senior in high school, when the temperatures dip, I feel more comfy and secure if my neck is covered. The thing is, as nice as these long, double-wrapped big scarves may be, I myself am small in stature. Big scarves engulf me, and I look like the scarf is wearing me, rather than vice versa. Enter the cowl. As all of you knitters know, cowls are big (as in, trendy!) Call them what you like: neck-warmer, cravat, cowl, "snood", whatever, they are super popular right now. I designed this Urban Chill Cowl to be the perfect blend of what my neck needs: just enough warmth, streamlined enough to be chic, and buttons along the side so that you can choose to pull it over your head, or button it up. I did this one of Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted. Sumptuous, soft wool that is subtly variegated, and it took just one skein.

Green Gable

Here is my latest addition to Renaissance Yarn's pattern library. This is Green Gable, a lovely lacy scarf done in Tilli Tomas Symphony. This yarn is so pretty, it is a mohair blend that has some shiny metallic threads and is pre-beaded!! One skein will make this scarf. You can find the pattern for free at the Renaissance Yarns website.

Mehndi adventure....

....and it worked!!! After an arduous day (seriously...) of having my friend glop on an unbelievable amount of thick henna/indigo mud, and then sitting with it for 2 1/2 hours on my head (yuck, heavy and oozy!) I finally washed it off. Completely surreal. As enormous torrents of green/brown goop sluiced down my body, splashed on the shower walls, and made a general horror, I was reminded of the scene from psycho. Two ( or was it three?) lathers of shampoo and two applications of conditioner later, I was done. I was literally afraid to look at my head. Would the hair be green? Black? Orange? Wow. Deep, natural-looking, only slightly auburn-colored brown. Lovely. Can't wait to see how it matures, but meanwhile, I've hit upon a (slightly messy) miracle to the hair-dye dilemma.

My great Henna adventure

It all started when I developed a lethal allergy to hair dye.....so begins the novella. Actually, I've been developing a horrible allergy to hair dye for quite some time, but got around it by foiling on the color. Finally, I had such a bad reaction that my dermatologist told me "no more brown hair dye....ever. Either go gray, or go blonde". Well. Not one to give up easily, after tons of research, I've decided to try a henna/indigo mix. (Check out this all-encompassing website: www.hennaforhair.com). My friend came over this morning, and spent nearly an hour and a half applying brown gook to my hair. Now I am wrapped in plastic, letting it, er, "cure". Stay tuned.

Shameless self-promotion....

I have been waiting breathlessly for news on this contest I entered.....so here it is:

Alabaster

Shew! The LYS tour is finished, and I think a good time was had by all. Sooo, now that my design for our own Renaissance Yarns was unveiled as our free one skein pattern given out on the tour, I can unveil it here. Soooo, he she is (above). You can find the pattern on Ravelry via my profile, which is knittease. It's a top-down triangular shawl made from Schafer Yarns, called "Audrey". It was an absolute dream to work with, a wool and silk blend. Handpainted, it comes in a whole array of gorgeous colors.

For my next trick, I've entered Alpaca with a Twist's shawl design contest. Shipped it today, in fact. Crossing my fingers it will get there by the deadling...

LYS tour 2010 !!!

Just a few hours more, and the 5th annual Local Yarn Store passport tour will begin. Lots of shops, including our own Renaissance Yarns, have been burning the midnight oil preparing for this event. It will prove to be 4 days of fun, travel, prizes, FR*E patterns, etc. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines....

Welcome Back!

Hello dear readers....*tap tap* is this thing on??? Looking forward to taking up blogging again! So, what's new? Well, let's summarize: both kids are in school all day now, so I'm back to work , currently at my lovely LYS, Renaissance Yarns. I'm also dabbling in designing....stay tuned as I offer up some of the lace-designs I've been working on! You can find them (and me) on Ravely as knittease. TTFN!

Whew!

...long time no blog.  Well, school has started, and I've been busy busy busy.  Between Hat attack and some sample knitting I've done, I haven't had much time for posting.  Here is my latest, though, and I hope to get back in the swing of things!  This is Flair by Wendy Bernard, and I LOVE it.  I made this for Renaissance Yarns, but I love it so much that I want to do one for myself.  I realize that the flat photo doesn't do it justice, it should really be modeled, because on the body it looks just great.  Comfy, yet stylish and up-to-date. I made this out of Debbie Bliss's Aran tweed.   I'll find buttons for it today.  BTW, Wendy is coming to Renaissance Yarns on October 11 for an appearance and book-signing.....I can't wait!  She'll be there at 12pm, so stop by if you can!

OK, finally finished.  Just finished posting it on Ravelry, so here is the Tuvstarr vest modeled by me.  It should go to Renaissance Yarns today!

Progress happening

Here is the latest progress on the Elsebeth Lavold Tuvstarr.....went button shopping today, and I'd love some advice.  I'll post a pic of the two choices tomorrow.

Progress

Here is a little progress on a project I am doing for Renaissance Yarns.......it is Tuvstarr by Elesebeth Lavold, done in her new Bamboucle.  It is lovely to knit with, spongey and like terry cloth.   The pattern itself is easy and moving along quickly.

Tangerine dreams

I've got a couple of new projects on the needles. One is a shell for my LYS, one is finishing up my Noro mini cardigan, and now I've started a little something for my 7 y.o. daughter.  It is rare that I knit for her.  She is fussy about clothes, and attached to a few specific items.  But this pattern in the "Young Rowan" booklet caught my eye.  It's done in Rowan Handknit cotton, and I LOVE the tangerine color!!  It should look great with her Summer tan. Here is the beginning of it.....

Finally....

At long last, the hoodie is done.  It didn't take me all that long to reknit the sleeve, but then I procrastinated sewing it in.  The weather has been HOT here over the weekend, so that makes working with fuzziness less appealing.  Here it is, photos courtesy of my 7 year old daughter, so don't mind the blurriness too much.  Oh, and the toys in the playroom.........