neeka knits

Happy Love Letter Day

2012-02-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day - a fact I commemorated in video last year. I think it's silly to devote only one day of the year to loving somebody. So while I've long ago removed the pressure or need to be romantic on February 14th, I've decided it's not a bad idea to use today to celebrate things I actually have taken for granted the rest of the year.

While I'm not a fan of heart-shaped chocolate boxes (really, those chocolates are so nasty!), I am a huge fan of love letters. In the age of Facebook and texting, the love letter might quickly become a lost art, so why not celebrate today with a love letter, a written by hand on actual paper love letter. It can be written to anything that you love but take for granted. In fact, I've chosen a rather unconventional recipient for my love letter today and wrote it in my journal for safe-keeping. I've transcribed the letter below because I'm thinking there might be other recipients out there to whom it applies. Enjoy!

To my sweet and lovely Hands,

I am so grateful for everything you do for me.

I love the way you squeeze exactly the right amount of toothpaste on the brush in the morning, and how quickly and effortlessly you circle a spoon in my mug to stir my tea, or pinch the edge of a book to turn the page.

With you, I can cook dinner for a friend, or plant a tree in the garden, or draw a silly picture, or knit a scarf to keep me warm. You don't just make all these things easier, you make them possible. So thank you.

I promise to protect you from the cold and wind, to keep you safe from knives and scratchy things when I can, and nurse your wounds when I can't, to wash you with sweet smelling soap and pay extra money for the good moisturizer instead of the cheap kind, and to give you breaks and let you rest when you are tired. Mostly, I promise to stop taking you for granted and to tell you more often, as I'm telling you now, how amazing you truly are....

Love,
Your Brain

Webbing a Web

2012-02-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a spiffy new official website for Neeka Knits!

The kind with the plain old www.neekaknits.com thing going on, instead of a www.neekaknits.blog.etsy.tumblespot.sortofthingy. You know what I mean.

Because I'm always up for a challenge, I'm creating it myself! Yay for skill acquisition! So far, this is what you see on the home page. I think it does a good job of explaining where I'm at....

500 Sales

2012-02-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

This week, the Neeka Knits Etsy Shop reached 500 sales!

I haven't been keeping track, but I'm pretty sure that equals to

thousands of yards of yarn, tens of thousands of little knitted stitches

and a whole lot of cozy things keeping people warm!

A BIG thank you to all my customers, supporters, knit-wearers,

pattern-makers and crafty-inspirers!

You make this the best job ever!

Lacefield Boot Toppers

2012-01-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

Remember when I said I had some new designs to share? Well, this isn't quite a new design, as much as it is a new addition to an already existing design family. But I love them nonetheless. Please welcome the Lacefield Boot Toppers, a new member of the Lacefield Collection!

In addition to mitts and headbands, the "lacefield" pattern has now found itself on these cute little legwarmers, perfect for peeking out of your nicest pair of boots, like the lovely Frye Veronica Shorties I have on in the picture above. As a fellow Shorty, I feel a lot of love for these boots, even if I don't wear them as much as I should in the winter. So I knit up some extra special friends to go with them!

These leg warmers keep your calves cozy, while the tight fit shows off the pretty lace. I especially love the contrast of the feminine lace with some nice rugged worn leather.

If you're interested in knitting up a pair of these for yourself, you can find the pattern on the Neeka Knits Etsy Shop....

And as part of their coming out party, readers of my blog can use the coupon code "LACELOVE" when you checkout to get all 3 Lacefield knitting patterns (headband, mitts and boot toppers) for the price of one!

Sunshine on the Coast

2012-01-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those rainy days where I find myself perusing my photo stash for pictures of sunnier times. If I don't, I find I can forget what the sun actually looks like. Luckily, I didn't have to go too far back in my camera to find some lovely reminders!

In December, we went on one of our many Coast excursions, but this one was unique in the amount of pure unadulterated sun we enjoyed. Of course, our sidekick was with us too, soaking up all the rays she could find...

Me and my camera, meanwhile, enjoyed the many textures of the coast. The twigs and leaves poking towards the ocean....

The wave-worn wood...

But best of all, the thing I will remember most from this trip, especially in the damp, blanketed gray of winter, was the sunshine....

It was a sun so bright it reflected off of every surface, turning your vision into a stark contrast of black and white. It was the kind of sun that wasn't even sunshine, it was just pure light, clear and clean and capable of drying anything out, even my cloudy, soggy winter heart...

Oh, Hello 2012....

2012-01-23T19:36:00.000-08:00

Good old 2011 went a little fast for my tastes, but other than that it was a pretty great year, especially on the knitting front. I came up with lots of fun new knitwear designs this past year. Items like these fun mitts....

Or these variations on my perennial favorite...the kerchief scarf...

Or my new winter fave for those classic Portland days, the hoodie cowl....

These are just a few of the cozy little things that seemed to fly off my needles without giving me a chance to catch up with them. In fact, I'm just realizing now with a vague sense of shame that 2011 was rather paltry in the pattern writing department. This year does seems to have zoomed off at the same alarming speed as the year before, a fact I'm doing my best to ignore. However, while I'm no fortune teller, I do believe 2012 will still be a year chock full of knitting patterns. How do I know this? Well, because I have some lovely knits already waiting for the proper treatment (see above). And while some of these are items you may have already seen, like these trendy little mitts.....

...most of the knits whispering in my ear these days are the ones that are dying to get out and meet people. Knits that I've been selfishly keeping to myself, like this multipurpose shawl....

This lovely has done me right this winter, but she doesn't even have a name yet. She will, however, have a pattern very very soon, along with her friends. In fact, if I weren't totally superstitious of myself, I might just call it a New Year's Resolution of sorts. I have to be careful with this kind of language, since I spook easy when it comes to long term promises. So let's just say, here's to 2012!

Festiveness!

2012-01-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

We threw a little party in our house for our friends. It wasn't a New Years party but it did celebrate something new! In case you can't tell, there was also a rainbow theme involved complete with lots of bright colors and streamers and an adorable bunting I made out of those paint sample squares they give away for free at hardware stores. Those things are a goldmine of creative fun, I tell you. They can only be topped by the pure joy I get from arranging flowers...

While, I'll keep the party itself a mystery, I will tell you that in honor of the new year, or maybe to counteract the colorlessness that is winter in Portland, we're keeping the festiveness up in our house, at least for as long as it lasts. Annie already has her eye on those shifty balloons....

The Ultimate in Sticks

2011-11-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

My husband and his dad started this tradition a long time ago. They would celebrate when the clock turned to 11:11 am, calling it "International Stick Time." And furthermore, November 11 is "International Stick Day." They call each other every year on this day to celebrate, well, the pure stickiness of it. I've gotten in on the game, too, and I've been looking forward to today for quite some time. 11-11-11. There hasn't been a day this sticky 900 years, and oh boy, in 1111 they sure knew how to party.

In honor of today, I put together a little Etsy treasury to celebrate sticks and their glory. Enjoy! Meanwhile, I suppose I should get back to my favorite kind of sticks (the knitting kind) and have a little party of my own. Happy Stick Fest 2011!

Happy Daylight Savings Day!

2011-11-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

Today is my favorite day of the year. Strange but true. And it's not just the whole extra hour that I love. For some reason, Daylight Savings Day always brings with it gloriously breathtaking fall weather. Sunshine. Crisp Air. Leaves crunching underfoot. And today is no exception. I consider today my own special holiday, complete with gifts and rituals and a coziness all its own. So I present to you my Daylight Savings Day traditions:

Tradition #1

Take a nice lazy autumn walk somewhere with pretty trees and a nice view and a yummy snack.

Tradition #2

Don't turn your clock back the night before!! I treat my extra hour a little differently. I pick something that I have to do that I really don't want to do - when I was young it was homework, now it is cleaning my house - and I spend one hour doing it. Only then, as a special reward, do I get to turn the clock back. Poof!!! It's like I never did it at all! So magical.

That's it for the traditions, I guess. Maybe I need to do a little more work on the holiday before it'll take off. But it does always make me think about time and how strange it is, this collective agreement of ours. Most days, I never pay attention to the time. I don't have a watch, my clocks are always wrong, and I hardly ever know what time it is, and this makes me feel much more lost and disorganized than it should. Sometimes I think Time is a big, mean teacher and I'm just a really bad student. Which brings me to this knitting clock from Norwegian designer Siren Elise Wilhelmsen.

This ingenious clock actually marks time by knitting. It will knit a 2 meter long scarf over the course of a year, and the unknitted thread shows you how much time is left to knit in the year. This makes more than total sense to me. This is the form of time I've been living under! No wonder I'm such a bad student. I live in a totally different time world, and judging by my yearly knitting output, it's a warp-speed, light-speed, crazy fast kind of dimension. In fact, even though I do feel like a knitting clock most of the time, honestly, no matter what dimension I'm in.....I'm completely cuckoo....

Autumn is here, and I am back!

2011-11-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Wowsers! It's been quite some time since I've posted here. The cold weather showed up and Knitting Season 2011 took off with a vengeance! I've been a little more obsessed than usual this year, but I've still managed to get out and enjoy my favorite season...

The leaves are turning bright and fiery...

The boots and cozy knits are coming out again...

And Halloween was particularly festive...

Here's my pumpkin interpretation of my family (you can see who takes dominance in my house!)
I actually wore a costume this year too! My sister, husband and I went as cute cold weather animals, a polar bear, seal and a penguin. I would provide a picture, but I don't think that kind of black mail material really needs to be out there. You can just use your imagination as to which one I was - hint, I was rather soft and cozy :), which I think might just be my goal for the rest of the autumn too....

Treasury Love!

2011-09-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Neeka Knits was featured on the Front Page of Etsy today!!

This probably means nothing to anyone except fellow Etsians, but let's just say it's something I've been secretly hoping for since I opened my Etsy shop. I feel strangely "legit" now. Here's the lovely treasury itself from dewigirl007...

I really love the pretty soft feel coral color featured here, such an unusual color for fall. I guess I'm used to more traditional rustic versions of autumn like this one from WildWildernessPhotos....

Sigh...have I told you how happy I am that fall is here?

End of Summer Garden Bombs!

2011-09-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today was strange. Some bizarre kind of water just started dropping from the sky. I think it's called "rain." I think in Portland it might also be called "The Official End of Summer." Oh well, I'm surprisingly ready to move on into fall. I had such a great summer - full of sunshine and swimming and tropical drinks - and I've accumulated a good enough tan to keep me from looking like a vampire until, oh, October...maybe....

If I had to pick a summer highlight though, it would be my vegetable garden for sure! We tried planting a veggie garden in our backyard a few years ago but a certain furry sidekick ate all of our vegetables! This year we decided to reclaim the backyard from her and put a fence up to keep her out of the good stuff. To make living with an ugly wire fence in our yard a little more doable, I decided to add a little yarn bomb action....

I think our garden appreciated the attention and responded with some bombs of its own. This is the bounty from one day last week!

Oh, fresh garden tomatoes. I'll love you forever and ever and ever.

I hope you all had a spectacular, veggie-filled summer!

Museum of Contemporary Craft

2011-08-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

First off, I must apologize for disappearing for so long. I've had one of those months where all kinds of things, good and bad, have conspired to keep me away from the computer. Which isn't really all that terrible, if it weren't for the fact that I have so much to share with you!

I'm going to start with another Portland related post, but only because it's a little time sensitive. The lovely gals at Crafty Wonderland are joining forces with the Museum of Contemporary Craft this month, and have created a small temporary store in the museum's gallery space. Included in the store are some of my knit necklaces, including the special new design shown above!

The gallery is filled with all kinds of gorgeous artsy crafts, so it you are downtown this month, do go check it out. Especially since this week is also the start of the new Nikki McClure exhibit and, personally, I have quite the hankering to see her intricate papercuts in person. And I thought my hands had it bad....

My necklaces will be available in the gallery through the end of August. The Nikki McClure exhibit goes through October 29th.

I'm feeling like quite the Portland travel guide these days. I promise more posts soon for my out of town friends!

Knit Knack

2011-07-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Some of my knitted friends are now officially hanging out at Knack in Multnomah Village, waiting for you to take them home with you. So if you've ever wanted to meet any of my necklace cowls in person, now's your chance to go say hello. This one in particular likes to be petted...

Knack is a super cute gallery and store with a really well curated selection of modern, creative pieces by local craftsters and artists - I feel really honored to be included! While I was there, I was able to see some of the items I've been coveting on etsy like these awesome pillows by Blue Craft ...

Also, if, like me, you live in Portland and yet you've never been to Multnomah Village, you should correct this rather soon - preferably on a nice day when you have an hour or two to kill looking at books and sipping a drink at a sidewalk table. It really is a charming little old-fashioned village, and if the sun is out you can convince yourself you are in a different state entirely, enjoying life vacation-style. Though now that I think about it, in these days of the rapidly disappearing portland summer, sunshine alone is excuse enough for a vacation in my book.

If you feel like visiting the nice ladies at Knack, you can get more info on their website at the link below...

Rainbows and Yarnicorns....

2011-06-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

From Aldoaldoz Flickr

This Blog Post is brought to you by Rainbow Brite...Knitta Style!!

Rainbow Style Yarn Bombing!!!

Yet another brilliant yarn scrap idea from Oh Happy Day

Rainbow Brite's sweater collection.....

Best yarn scrap idea so far....why hello yarn lanterns...you, me, backyard picnic party right now! Actually, I found these yarn balloons hanging out at this INSANE rainbows and unicorns party. So.... what do you think the age limit is on unicorn cookies for your birthday? Just wondering....

High Tech Handwarmers

2011-06-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so these handwarmers don't actually look all that high-tech. In fact, they look like pretty basic little mitts, the kind I made six years ago when I was just getting into knitting. But, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Depending on how much of a hardcore knitter you are, this secret might potentially make you lose respect for me, but here goes.....

These handwarmers were knit on a MACHINE.

That's right. My knitting has gone robot style these days. I've been taking a Machine Knitting class over at Portland Sewing and, I have to say, these machines have surprised me. I thought using one would feel all factory-ish and industrial and totally separate and alienated from the cozy feeling you get from something handmade. But really, using one feels kind of like using a sewing machine. Sure, there's a big crazy machine helping you out, but it's still ultimately all about craft - about your hands, your materials and your desire to make something. Just like a sewing machine, the knitting machines can't knit all on their own, and even if there are big, fancy ones out there that can, they still need someone to tell them what to knit.

Still, what really amazes me is just how big and complicated these basic machines are. There are all these elaborate tools and needles and carriages just for some plain old stockinette. When I sit down to knit, I hardly ever think about what my hands are doing. It's like breathing. They just lift and lower and follow the rhythm. Spending time with these machines has made me appreciate just how brilliant and amazing my hands are. When I'm struggling with all the strange tools you need to use - needle pushers and transfer tools and claw weights - my hands get all annoyed and haughty. They sigh and say, "I could do this soooo much better....." And they're probably right. I'm biased, but I do still think knitting by hand is better. It is certainly SIMPLER. However, machine knitting is easier and FASTER, two things which, unfortunately, are the most valued in these modern times.

These handwarmers are what came off the machine. Basic stockinette, seamed up with a hole for the thumb. They were INSANELY fast to make. And they are functional. They work. But still, there was something missing, some kind of specialness. So I let my hands take over. I gave them some yarn, a crochet hook, a sewing needle and thread, and stood back in awe watching them do what they do best. They are HANDwarmers after all.....

Knit Outta the Box!

2011-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

It's official! Two lovely ladies from Knit Outta the Box contacted me awhile back and very sweetly told me how much they loved my Necklace Cowl pattern. So, we've decided to collaborate!

If you haven't heard of Knit Outta the Box, they are a new company that sells awesome knitting kits as well as their own line of exclusive yarns. The blue necklace cowl above is knit with their KB Cotton Tweed. Lovely, eh? A match made in heaven.

They are going to help me distribute the pattern to new and fun places. To start off though, a jazzed up version of the pattern is available on their website or over at Ravelry.

In more fun news, I will also be receiving my very own stash of KB Cotton Tweed, as well as their mohair yarn. Why, you ask? To invent some brand new patterns for them! Yay! It's a total dream come true. Normally with patterns, I come up with the things I want to knit and the yarn is an afterthought. So, I'm really excited to get my hands on some lovely new yarn and see what sweet things it whispers in my ear.......Ah, yarn, so flirtatious.

I'll keep you updated on my progress, so stay tuned for more! And Thanks again to Knit Outta the Box for your support!

Yarn Bombs - Part 2!

2011-06-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was International Yarn Bombing Day! And boy oh boy was it fun! I think I'm on a fast route towards becoming a yarnie delinquent. After decorating the tree in my front yard, I decided to take my yarn with me on our usual weekend dog walk. Our chosen yarn bomb sites:

THIS UNASSUMING LITTLE BENCH:

AND ONE OF THE THESE TREES.....(hint: it actually happens to be the one me and my hubbie got married in front of)

HERE ARE THE PICS:

YARN BOMB GANGSTA HANDS!

I probably should be more "anonymous" about this, but it's Portland and I seriously doubt anyone is after me. In fact, while we were yarn bombing plenty of people came by to talk to us and not one of them asked a single question about what we were doing with the yarn and the scissors and the camera. Nope. All they were interested in was our dog, Annie. Oh Dog-loving Portlanders. I think yarn bombing is pretty darn cool, but I suppose Annie can be cooler. Especially when she decides to drink bomb water fountains.....

Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!

2011-06-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

Finally, some motivation to do guerilla style knitting!
I woke up this morning and read that today is officially International Yarn Bombing Day.
So, I decided that it was my DUTY to grab some needles and go throw yarn at something.
Since I was still in my pajamas, I started with the tree in my front yard.....

These are just some quick pics I took. I'm hoping to get some better ones this evening, plus some pictures of whatever else me and my yarn decide to deface today.

Oh my, it's a happy day indeed!

Scrap Yarn "Necklace" Tutorial

2011-06-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

Remember last week? Huh. Neither do I. Summer sunshine makes me spacey.

Anyway, I believe I told you I was going to share a fun tutorial involving scraps of yarn. Now to be honest, I've been hemming and hawing about whether or not to follow through on my promise because my original idea for this tutorial didn't quite work out. And I'm not totally in love with the compromise I ended up with. But given the beauty that is never-ending internet space, I'm going to share it with you anyway. So start collecting up some yarn scraps and read along for a free little tutorial on how to make this necklace!

BABY SCRAP NECKLACE

Materials You'll Need:

Some scissors and....
A whole bunch of yarn scraps, the more the better.
They can be any length from 2 inches to 2 feet, but I think it's best, if possible, to use scraps that are all the same gauge. See that one straggly red piece hanging out in the picture above? That's a piece of dk I tied in by accident and it really does stick out. Of course, I'm realizing now that I could just snip it out and replace it with another scrap. So, you know, just dig in to your scrap bag. No worries.

Well, that's it for the materials list. (It is just a necklace made from yarn after all...You've probably guessed by now this will not be rocket science).

STEP 1: Tie your scraps together to create a ball or skein of "scrap yarn." You'll want to tie them together using a square knot. Find instructions here. Basically, you'll cross the end of your new scrap over the tail of your last scrap. The new scrap is on your right, the old scrap on your left. Then it's "right over left, left over right." So essentially, pay attention to the color of your new scrap to add on. You'll only be moving that color yarn. You'll end up with a strong knot like this...

STEP 2: When you've gotten through all your scraps or have had enough of tying knots, wrap your "yarn" around the back of a big chair to create a skein. Use some extra scraps and tie around all the strands in a few spots to keep them together when you remove it from the chair.

OPTIONAL STEP : Once you remove your skein from the chair you might want to give it a good soak and let it hang out to dry to straighten any wonky strands.

STEP 3: You'll have the beginning and end of your yarn hanging out from your yarn circle. Adjust them so that you have one strand hanging at opposite ends of your circle. Like this....

STEP 4: Now, wrap the loose strands around till there's a little tail left and then tuck that tail back under the wrapped yarn and pull. Trim the end.

STEP 5: Trim off any unruly bits and pieces and then grab your necklace by either end where the wraps are. Take a longish piece of yarn and thread it through the ends like this....Adjust the length, then tie it on!!

You can also twist it a few times before you thread the yarn through for an effect like this...

Admittedly, I feel a little silly wearing yarn scraps around my neck. But, I am still terrified by that horrific mound of yarn leftover from industrial factories, and all of the fiber waste that must exist in the world (just check out the sale racks at chain stores).

So I'll wear my necklace proudly, and if anyone tries to give me crap about it, I'll tell them my neck is a rather lovely place to hang out.

It's way better than the garbage.

What to do with little baby scraps...

2011-06-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

While we're on the subject of scraps, I will confess that yarn wrapping hasn't solved all my scrap woes. I still have plenty of tiny little baby scraps leftover from not always following that "leaving a 6 inch tail" rule. I'm talking a few inches here, the kind of yarn scraps that fall on the floor and look like little fiber worms. I've been puzzled for a long time about what to do with those, since felting isn't really my thang.

But, aha! I think I might have stumbled on a solution. It all started when I came upon this yarn in PatysLoveys etsy shop.

I think this kind of yarn is gorgeous. It reminds me of a woven rug, the kind of yarn that I'd rather look at than knit with. What's amazing about this yarn is that it's spun with scraps! And they look all grown up.

I started thinking about how I could make my own yarn out of scraps, and surprise, surprise I am not the first person to think of this. Behold the yarn scrap balls from Crochet Bug below:

I've since been diligently square knotting my baby scraps into a nice little ball of yarn. The ball is almost grown up enough for the project I have in mind. Tune in on Saturday and I'll be sharing my yarn scrap project, complete with tutorial and free pattern! Woo hoo! Yay for scrap busting!

In the meantime, I probably should stop whining about my piddly little scrap collection. It's just a few bags worth, drowned out in the sea that is my yarn stash. It's not like it fills my backyard or house or anything.

It's not like GIANT HAY BALES made from yarn...

I'm still kind of in shock that these things exist.

I'll stick with the baby worm scraps, thank you very much.

Wrap This - Scrappy Jewelry for Scrappy Knitters

2011-05-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Like most knitters, I have a lot of yarn scraps, those odd little lengths of string that are sometimes barely enough to cast on with, but are long enough that I feel guilty throwing them out. I collect the detritus of them whenever I'm done with a project and stuff them into a drawstring pouch, hoping one day I'll find a use for them.

Well, my sweet little scrappies, that day finally came. During one of my whirlwind "I need to organize my house!" weekends, I decided on a whim to "yarn wrap" my CD spool cover to cover up the ugly plastic.

It was so new and refreshing to use yarn in a needle-less kind of way, I started to think of other things I could yarn wrap. I wasn't quite ready to wrap the tree in my front yard (though looking at this picture from a tree in Japan, I think that should be one of my goals in life)...

So, I settled on yarn wrapping jewelry instead. Much more functional, summertime appropriate, and even better I got to use my long-waiting scrap collection!

Since I couldn't find anything the exact shape and size I wanted the earrings and pendants to me, I made my own shapes by hand forming lightweight, white polymer clay. I poked holes for the findings where needed before baking the clay.

These pieces ended up looking much sunnier and happier with their bright, wrapped stripes, and I like the way the white of the clay peeks out.

So, if you're feeling scrap happy this summer, or just need a break from knitting, put your scraps to work on some jewelry! These lovelies are also available for sale at my etsy shop .

Striped

2011-05-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've been having a love affair with stripes lately. Is it just me or do nautical stripes become trendy every single summer? As soon as the weather hints at warming up, I suddenly see images of people in pretty navy stripes standing all sunkissed by the dock. And every single year it sucks me in.

It's been cold here - too cold and rainy I tell you! - so I've lately been rocking a very cozified version of the stripes look. Kind of like this outfit above from Totokaelo, but without the heels, the purse, the skininess and the overall clean, stylish vibe.

Memorial Day weekend has arrived though, and I'm hoping that means that summer isn't too far away. So I should probably be updating my stripe warbrobe to include less hats, scarves and overall wool content. For instance, I should knit this Madewell top for myself in cotton....

Madewell Scenic-Stripe Top

That is if the idea of figuring out all those multi-directional stripes didn't make my brain hurt!
But I could at least go for more summery bright colors in my outfits like this one...

The Italian Job - from Chictopia

This outfit looks decently warm enough to pull off in the near future, except I wonder if I only like it because of the major jealousy I am feeling for her hair...

Regardless, my brain is whirling for ideas for striped knit things. But then I start thinking of the whole "dealing with all those yarn ends" problem. I've knit a few striped things in the past, and they never come out quite as nice as the fine gauge machine knit items. Hmmm...What do you think out there, fellow knitters? Are striped summer tops worth knitting? Any ideas?

While I mull this over, here is another manufactured striped item I came across, which seems rather apt for this weekend. The Grill Power Dress!

Sneaking up on Summer

2011-05-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Now, you all know I love to knit. I love yarn. I love learning new stitch patterns. I love barrelling through a sweater in a weekend, my hands glowing with the promise of something cozy to wear.

But, I have a problem. It's called summer. As soon as the weather warms up, I have about as much desire to knit as I do to run a marathon... which is to say, I get exhausted and sweaty just thinking about it.

Last summer, I came up with a rather sneaky pattern to beat the summertime knitting blues. It not only produced something I wanted to wear right away (which I'm starting to think is the only reason I ever knit anything), but with a lightweight cotton and only a few stitches on the needle, there was nothing overly warm or cozy to scare away my hands.

The past month, I've been trying to come up with a new, equally summer-friendly pattern to knit, but, well...I'm stumped. I try to imagine a knitted friend I might need this summer, but apparently I'm feeling rather hopeful and well-equipped. Give me sunshine in the morning, lakes to swim in, and big, ripe slicer tomatoes, and I'll wear anything. Acid-washed jean shorts. A turban. A clover chain around my neck. I don't care. Just give me summer.

So, until I can wrangle some kind of motivation out of my sunshine-addled brain, I've been sticking with the necklace cowl. Knit in fancy, silver glitter or multi-color stripes, they all feel like summer to me.

I've been knitting these up for sale in my Etsy shop and in the Crafty Wonderland store in downtown Portland. And while apparently I'm not interested in anything new for myself, I do think I might be convinced if this yarn were involved...

Madelinetosh Pashmina, Turquoise

Swoon.

Wouldn't this make an awesome necklace cowl, with big chunky knitted turquoise "beads"? And there'd be a whole lotta yarn leftover for something else, something new and exciting and a little summery? Come on, hands, you know you want to....

Oh Spring, you shouldn't have....

2011-03-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

At my house, spring starts every year with a flowery red carpet of sorts in front of our gate. It has been building up since last month, and now it's in its vibrant pink glory, a very thick camellia carpet that squishes beneath your feet. Because of its loveliness, I can easily forgive the perpetual tracking of random little leaves into our house, but in about one week when it turns brown and mushy and fermented, that's a different story.

So, I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts, and in its honor I've been embracing pink in its many forms, like dusky rose....

or even this very dark luscious cherry tart of a yarn from Madelinetosh....

I convinced myself into buying this yarn for a gift for someone else, and then, mysteriously, I never ended up following through on my plan. Which I guess means that this yarn is all mine now. Huh. Imagine that.

Any good ideas on what I should do with it? Other than pet it and stare at it? Let me know. Until then, I think I'll drape it around my neck like a gorgeous collar, put on some red lipstick and go practice looking regal on the red carpet outside. Annie seems to have it down pat already....

My heart can be random....

2011-02-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I take pictures of things. Random things. They're not meant to be pretty pictures, just reminders of the things themselves. It seems like a good idea when I'm taking them. Then, I find the pictures on my computer and I have no idea what to do with them.

So I'm going to share them with you. And then delete them.

Hope you're okay with that.

my mother-in-law's vintage lunch box. i have no idea what's inside.

my beloved bella sisters jacket. a dining room chair makes a good coat rack.

perhaps my favorite knit ever. cute little lace crop top, it's almost time for you to come out and play.

a rare glimpse of a skeptical annie. her eyebrows tell you things.

for instance, "why are you posting all these random pictures?"

Happy Anti-Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not really the Valentine's sort. You're talking to a girl who doesn't like diamonds, or jewelry. Crazy but true. I actually beg my husband to never, ever, under any circumstances, spend our money on anything made from real gold or silver for me. That is, unless he is totally okay with watching that money get lost by accident...and very quickly.

So yeah, Valentines and all its commercial trappings aren't really for me. Nope, I'm the kind of girl who's idea of a great romantic gift is a song. Which is why three years ago around Feb 14th, I wrote my hubby a love song about how much I hate Valentine's Day. It ended up on the album full of love songs we made together (oh, which reminds me bloggy friends...did you know I'm in a band?). And now finally we've made a music video for it which turned out surprisingly Valentine's Dayish - or at least the way Valentines Day should be - cute, sweet and full of heart.

Please watch, enjoy, and have a happy heart day! I hope nobody gives you jewelry :)

Put a Pin in it....

2011-02-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of this site called Pinterest? I don't quite remember how I got onto it - probably in one of those crazy alternate reality loops the internet throws me into every once in a while. It's a site kind of like facebook or craftgawker - you "pin" things you like from other websites and create "boards" with them. Other people can crib off of your pins, and you can crib off of other peoples.

The site itself and everything on it is really pretty, which is why every time I go on there I get very excited, very "pinterested" you could say. I imagine all the boards I can make, organizing all my thoughts and internet ideas and wants into one gorgeous little collaged package. But, I don't know....I just can't do it. I'm afraid my real life laziness has seeped online. All that mouse clicking and style hunting just seems exhausting.

So far, all I can manage on the site is to drool over other people's pins and boards. Sometimes I just want to cut and paste someone's whole user page into my life. So, in that vein, here are some lovely knitted related things I've found on pinterest from all the lovely, stylish people who aren't lazy....

Amy Butler has knitting patterns? Who knew! I want me some nautical stripes this spring:
http://www.lolalina.com/2010/10/06/new-amy-butler-knitting-projects/

Also on my spring knitting agenda - rock star drop stitches baby!

And Voila! The perfect bus to ride in on my rock star tour!

But perhaps the best thing of all, if I had to choose, would be to have this office:

http://www.flickr.co m/photos/woodleypark-zoo/3008584209/in/faves-lovelydays/

Yes, the chunky throw backdrop is awesome and ingenious. But really, I want the whole office. I want the clean, organized desk. I want the knick knacks arranged just so. I want the calming, pretty blue walls. Ahhh me.... the internet really knows how to make you and your house feel like crap. But let me just say....if I had this office, I could pinterest with the best of them. A girl can dream, can't she?

Etsy Front Page! (sort of)

2011-01-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I play around and make a treasury or two on etsy. They are like little collages you can make out of items on the site. Not the most productive use of time, but it's fun and if you are lucky, your treasury can become etsy's front page for a bit. And guess what? I signed in to etsy tonight and what do you know? My treasury!

Now I just have to figure out how to get one of my actual items on the front page too!

Swift!!

2011-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

I think people assume I'm the craftiest person in my family, you know, given all the hours and devotion and hand strength I've devoted to crafty pursuits in my life. And I certainly am craftier than Annie the sidekick (opposable thumbs help), though she can be crafty in a sneaky sort of way. And it's true, while I never forget how sweet my husband can be, I do sometimes forget that he has a whole lot of crafty in him too. Want some proof? Check out this handmade, 100% one-of-a-kind yarn swift he made just for me!

I know! It's amazing! Not only is it lovingly handmade, but it's made from all recycled materials too. He certainly earns the top crafty award when it comes to creative reuse. For instance...

Leftover metal from a broken bar stool and wooden feet from an old ottoman become this....

Wood scraps and a mini jar of paint from when we were deciding on colors for our bedroom become this...

And a whole boxful of old school "beginners"pencils? Well, you get the point.

Put it all together and you get a very happy little yarn ball maker....

Yup, I am fully in love my new yarn swift. I've always been in love with my hubby, but seeing him crafting away in our garage with a whole crapload of tools I never knew he had....ahhh, there are no words. In fact, our garage is surprisingly full of goodies (well, I guess it's not that surprising for someone who goes in there more than say... 4 times a year). But look!

Pretty, rugged looking tools and surfaces.

Old paintings I made and then abandoned.

And best of all, a lovely array of plumes from our pampas grass in the backyard. It's been so cold and wintery, I almost forget about the bounty it bursted out with at the end of summer. So silky and shiny and pretty, these plumes have to be one of my favorite things ever (after my new yarn swift, that is). In fact, I think it's about time they moved inside the house. I'm feeling crafty already....

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

2010-12-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

I'm really starting to feel the holiday spirit this week. I waited on a record setting line at the post office this morning. Nothing says Christmas to me like swarms of procastinating gifters. Also, there's a whole lot of sweets bedecking our kitchen counter - I also know it's Christmas when chocolate starts appearing out of nowhere. Plus, I've been knitting a whole lot of gifts (for other people to give to other people, but they are gifts nonetheless) and to further my giftiness, Becki over at Neighborhood Notes included me in their local pdx gift guide! Yay! I'm feeling the love, indeed :)

Check it out here:
http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/news/2010/12/gift_guide_local_goods_for_gals/

Crafty Wonderland!!

2010-12-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

Wondering why I've been so scatter-brained and absent on this blog? Check it out!

This is where me and good ol' Neeka Knits will be this weekend, along with all the knitted friends I've been obsessively making for the past few weeks. (My hands are this close to surrendering, but I'm not letting them yet. I just use my circular needles as a whip and slap them back into submission).

What's funny is, I keep feeling like I haven't knitted enough, until I realize it's like I've made gifts for every single friend I have all in three weeks. Usually one hand knit birthday present takes me months. So I guess it's a lot. Who knows. I'll take pictures of my boothage to show you all and you can be the judge. Or better yet, if you're in Portland this weekend, stop by and see for yourself!

Shop, Shop, Gobble, Gobble, SALE, SALE!

2010-11-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the Thanksgiving weekend of excess, the holiday madness has begun. The gluttony started yesterday at my family thanksgiving feast, to which I contributed a lovely sweet potato combo:

That yummy marshmallow-bespeckled casserole is actually this recipe made from sweet potato orzo! It got all browned and chewy.....ah chewiness, a much missed texture on the Thanksgiving plate.

Then the shopping began this morning. Now, let me clarify. I am not a Black Friday shopper. Never have been. Crowds. Lines. Disgusting displays of greed and wanton spending. It's not my thing. But when I found out my local yarn store was having a Black Friday sale with additional discounts for wearing your PJs? Well, greedy and wanton yarn shopping is another story. I picked up a bushel of puffy Burly Spun and I do believe I'm feeling the post-sale after glow.

Indeed, I'm feeling so festive, I decided to host an After Thanksgiving Pattern SALE on my Etsy shop! All Patterns are 2 for $5 now through end of day Monday. Stock up now and that way when you realize you need some fast, last-minute gifts in a few weeks, you'll be ready!

Check out the SALE here and feel free to pass the news along.

Meanwhile, I have some leftovers to attend to.....

Kerchief Cowl - Updated!

2010-11-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

The weather outside is freezing and not really that delightful. It was supposed to snow here, the weather peeps on TV have been attempting to whip up us into a snow-crazed frenzy for an entire week. But a little night-time snow shower was all we got, and it isn't pretty. My yard is sprinkled with small crunchy white bits that look and feel, but do not taste, like Nerds (the candy that is). Either that, or as if I decided to decorate my yard with 5 year old confectioner's sugar. Oh well. Maybe they're saving the good stuff for Christmas.

The cold weather has at least been good for one thing. I've been doing a whole lot of knitting, as well as a good amount of snuggling with my winter accessories, specifically the Kerchief Cowl I designed last winter. It's the warmest, coziest thing I've got in my repertoire, and I wanted to knit some up to share the cozy love. Of course, I couldn't knit the pattern as is, even if I did write the darn thing, so mods began popping up as they always do. First, I started with a bulkier, puffier, tweedier yarn. I skipped the textural garter rows and left off the bottom triangle. Then I added a big ol' huge vintage button.

Huh. Still cozy. And then I turned it inside out and upside down and poof!

It turned into a cool, kerchief bandana like thing, just like I wanted all along. So, if anyone out there is knitting this pattern, feel free to experiment. It'll keep you cozy no matter what. If instead, you'd like one of these new updated cowls all knitted up and ready to snuggle your neck, you can get 'em here. And if anyone else wants a pretty snow-covered yard...well, sorry, can't help you there. Give me a few weeks.

Oaxaca Highlights

2010-11-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe it's already been a few weeks since I got back from Oaxaca. I've been too wound up in a tangle of stressed-out holiday knitting to notice anything these days. So, before I forget (even more) and move on to different things, here are a few Oaxaca highlight pics. Oaxaca really is a magical place and the amount of craft and art everywhere is so inspiring! It made me want to lose myself in some detailed, elaborate, grand-scale sort of public art project....if only if my hands could knit faster....

Anyway, Enjoy! (And remind me that one day I really have to do a special post just on the amazing natural dye process the weavers use. It will blow your yarny mind!)

And the fun begins....

2010-10-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

One thing is for certain. I have been a picture taking machine since I landed in Oaxaca. Me and my camera are getting a little overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of exposures I've been scrolling through, but I can't stop. Every where I look is another picture! I want to post as many as I can here, but I think I'm going to have to limit myself just to stay organized. So I've decided to alternate subjects each time. Today's picture quota - Day of the Dead arty goodness! Preparations are ramping up here for the festivities and lots of art has started to appear. Sand sculptures are being built in stores and in the streets:

There is an amazing quantity and variety of papel picado - tissue paper banners with fun designs - my favorite is the bicycle!

We saw a group of young tattoo artists painting some amazing giant skulls to put out in the streets - they are making 37 of these total!

But our best find so far was the mural on this house! The community chooses a local artist to paint a different design on it each year. We were told last year was a skeleton cowboy riding a giant skeleton horse:

Here are some close-ups of some of the fun details:

All of this has really only just begun and I am so excited for all the amazing art spectacles I will see closer to the holiday. Another Dia de los Muertos photo installment is guaranteed!

Oaxaca!!

2010-10-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

That's right. My mystery vacation is revealed. Lucky little me...I am in the beautiful city of Oaxaca for a culinary tour and Day of the Dead celebrations. We had a little time to kill today before our tour starts, so my first stop? The Museo Textil de Oaxaca ( a textile museum!) for some serious woven and embroidered gorgeousness.

The colors combinations were unbelievable and most made with natural dye. I had some opportunities for yarn gazing (my favorite activity):

And saw some other gorgeous designs, like this fanciful skirt:

Check out what's on the back!

Since my Dad was still letting me choose the activities, we headed over to the craft market ("Mercado de Artesanias")...

Where I picked out this fun little summery frock...

I have a hunch the rest of my days here will be filled with just as much amazing art and craft goodness, so I'll be sure to post lots of pics. Adios! or Hasta Luego! Or whatever else would make sense...which reminds me...I really, really need to learn how to speak Spanish....

Vacation!

2010-10-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

Guess what? I'm going on vacation....tomorrow!! I'm going somewhere with warm weather, delicious food and even more delicious textiles (and no, it's not hawaii, but mister rooster up there is happy for me anyway). Curious? I'll be posting live from the spot this week with pictures, so stay tuned...

Today's Guest Blogger: Annie the Sidekick

2010-10-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

While I'm busy enjoying my rainy Saturday, Annie wanted to share this picture with you.
It's one of the headshots she had taken as part of her bid to get onto You-Tube (she's aiming for one of those tribute videos with a classical music soundtrack, not an embarrassing clip of her running into a telephone pole). Her ultimate ambition? To be featured on Cute Overload's "Rules of Cuteness." As in: Rule #37 - If you must scratch yourself, make it look pretty.....

October, please don't go away yet....

2010-10-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

I can't quite understand what time is up to these days. How can October be almost over?

Don't worry, I won't be whining as I did previously about a less than autumny month. October was full of crisp, sunshine-filled days and other autumn pleasures. There were pumpkin patches...

And apple picking...

I even got to pet an alpaca or two....(how killer is that mop top?)...

And as the nights got colder, October also featured those two stalwarts of the fall season - the total wussing out of my immune system (aka the flu) and the frenzied knitting of winter accessories to stay cozy. So I will blame it on these two as to why October is almost over and I haven't posted anything on this blog yet. I'll leave the question of how two or three days of fever prevented me from blogging for an entire month to somebody smarter and less lazy than me.

Meanwhile, I have a whole bunch of knitted friends who need their ends weaved in and buttons sewn on and long, soapy baths (They're needy but I like them anyway).

Look for a whole bunch of new additions to my etsy site in the next few weeks...which I think means November. Seriously...is there some sort of time warp going on?

First of the Last Thursdays

2010-09-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided to try setting up shop at the lovely, insane anarchy that is Last Thursday on Alberta. (For non-Portlanders this is kind of like a monthly street fair, but with no rules and regulations, lots of random "vendors," wierdly shaped bikes, impromptu performances, drunk people and hipster posturing).

This isn't really the first time I've tried selling wares at Last Thursday. Five or six years ago I went up there with a folding tray table and 6 pairs of randomly designed handwarmers. There were no signs or price tags or anything. I must of looked sad and rather adorable staring at the handwarmers on the table, laid out in front of me like some sort of strange solitaire game. I didn't sell anything, but I did manage to do a few trades with some of the other crafty vendors there.

Honestly, I don't know if I will fare any better this time around, but I do feel more prepared.
I'll still have a few pairs of handwarmers, of course...

But I'll also have some headbands, hats, cowls, scarves and even one or two little knitting kits I made up:

They come in cute little lamb bags. (After printing him a few dozen times, I've decided the lamb's name is Herb)

And I will also have lovely printed copies of all my knitting patterns. Given that 6 years ago during my handwarmer phase I just barely knew how to read a pattern, let along write one, I'm feeling particularly proud of my pattern pups. Oh little knitting self, how you grow up so fast.

If any Portland readers feel like heading out on a lovely, summery fall night, please come and find me. I'll be the one playing solitaire with knitted goods.

Balustrade Cowl

2010-09-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Let's have a little chat about lace. Not the kind of lace in doilies or the fancy see-through kind adorning a lot of black dresses this fall, but knitted lace patterns. The kinds with names like "winding trail," "passionflower" or "snowdrops," the kind of lace that wraps any hat, sweater or shawl into it's complicated web and turns it into a prized heirloom. I don't think I could ever have enough knitted lace, and a pretty lace triangle shawl is about the best it gets. Almost. Lately, I've been having trouble with my beloved triangle scarves. It's not just the logistics of keeping one wrapped securely around my neck - the ocean wind almost stole a lovely swallowtail shawl from me once on a Seattle ferry.
It's just that sometimes I crave something a little less sweet and quaint, and a little more modern.

So, me and my lacey, shawly self got together and decided on a compromise. The result is a long, wide cowl knit seamlessly in the round. Bands of simple, geometric lace are separated by slightly gathered garter strips that create a nice, full drape when wrapped around your neck. I designed it imagining I'd wear it this way, wrapped double so it looks like a pretty, perfectly tousled scarf with no ends, or shifting, or fiddling needed. But, actually, it turns out to be a more versatile little piece of lace than I thought...

I named this pattern Balustrade, which is a fancy architectural word for a railing on a staircase or porch. I named it this partly because the lace reminded me of the geometric shapes and patterns often found on railings or windows, but also because the cowl reminded me of the word itself - a bit of lovely, pretty fluff for something that is, at its heart, utterly functional.

If you find yourself craving a bit of lace, please check out the Balustrade pattern on Ravelry here or on Etsy here.

Butterscotch

2010-09-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

I do believe I have a new favorite color.

Lest you think favorites come easily to me, I assure you - they do not. I'm the type of indecisive person that when usually faced with the question - "What's your favorite color?" - will hem and haw before answering - "The first half of the rainbow." What can I say? I love colors. We get along famously. Picking a favorite is like asking me to name the best movie or author or - gasp! - food. My love (and gluttony) are too big for favorites.

But then this color came along....It started with these handwarmers I made for my friend Andrea...

It was one of those knitting experiences where I had to stop every few rows just to examine the lovely glow of the yarn. And then when I was writing up the pattern, I looked at the label and noticed the name of the color....Butterscotch. Oh my.

The cotton/cashmere yarn was quite buttery indeed. I turned the remainders into this headband and discovered the color was actually flattering on me too. Since then, I've been drawn to this color everywhere....In my new fabulously amazing shoes...

Even in puppy dogs...

And so now when I go into yarn stores, I can't resist any yarn that is vaguely this color. I recently picked up this ball of Berocco Peruvia, and I can't decide what to knit with it. Handwarmers? Hat? Cowl? I want it all!!!

The name of this particular colorway is something pedestrian like Orange or Pumpkin. But, I mean, seriously people, is there a better name for a color than Butterscotch? Butter. Scotch. Particularly when butterscotch pudding, or if you're feeling gluttonous, a butterscotch budino, is pure smooth, soft, caramel heaven? A color and a food all in one. Sigh. Welcome to my land of favorites, Butterscotch. I hope you stay a while.

Autumn Instructional

2010-09-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

I know there have probably been a millon blog posts on this already, and I'm sure everyone is sick of talking about it, but the weather this year has been really frickin' annoying. I've been dealing with it up until now, letting winter, spring and summer move along in their freaky, foreboding, vaguely apocolyptic ways. But now the weather gods have started to mess with autumn, and NOBODY messes with autumn.

Fall has to be one of my favorite things in the entire world. I spend most of the year pining for it, but here it is, September, and honestly, I'm not that excited. Summer in Portland didn't feel like Summer, and so, inevitably, Fall has started to feel, well, not very Fallish at all.

I don't even know if it's the weather's fault anymore. Maybe it's just me. So I've decided to share a little instructional I made, in case you need one too, on how to get into the spirit and fall back in love with fall.

Step #1 - Dress the part. Dig out your favorite fall boots, your cozy patterned tights, your rustiest colored clothing. When you get dressed in the morning, pretend it is the most perfect fall day out, with crisp, cool air, and red-orange leaves speckling the sky. Don't worry if people think you are crazy wearing a scarf and a hat when it's 80 degrees outside. If you're anything like me, you already look crazy.

Step #2 - Drink tea. Preferably something with cinnamon, or apple or vanilla.

Step #3 - Take a walk. Preferably with a cute dog. Look for signs of fall. Dead grass, leaves turning at the edges? No luck. Look for orange painted houses or brick walls and pretend they are trees.

Step #4 - Come home, curl up in your coziest chair and daydream about all the summer fun you had. It was there, remember? The days swimming in the lake, exploring golden meadows, eating ripe ~~tomatoes~~ peaches. Ahh, that was nice. Now, daydream about all the fall fun ahead - apple pies, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, cozy wool sweaters!

Feeling it yet?
Yeah, me neither. I miss my red ripe tomatoes.
Damn you, weather gods.

Sweet Olivia

2010-09-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

I love making baby sweaters. They should feel totally impractical - spending hours knitting something that will, in short time, be grown out of, covered in spit up, or ruined in a washing machine. But they just have so much else going for them, mostly their killer mini-size cuteness. Every time I knit an adult sweater, I find myself wishing it was for a baby. It would just be so much easier and cuter that way, and I wouldn't have to worry about the sweater being flattering or making my arms look like sausages. Baby arms already look like sausages! Plus, baby sweaters use a small amount of patience and an even smaller amount of yarn. And they provide a good opportunity for trying out new techniques on a quicker, faster project. A lace baby sweater, or pretty fairisle pullover? Maybe it's a little bit much, but they just scream heirloomy love, and warm, fuzzy knitted good will.

And, indeed, a whole lot of knitty love went into this baby cardigan I designed for my friend's new baby, Olivia. I wanted it to feel special and sweet, but also modern and a little bit bold. Like any great baby sweater, it was a fast knit, with a few challenges thrown in for fun, and a couple of great educational moments (purple and orange are made for each other? who knew!). I got to experiment with designing my own colorwork pattern and doing a partial steek. But what really made this sweater exciting was that it was the first time I've knit a baby sweater and wished I was knitting it in my size instead. I want one of these so badly!

If you know of any hip, modern babies in need of a pretty new something, please check out the pattern on ravelry here or etsy here. It's available in newborn to 2T sizing. However, the moment I started those colorwork leaves, the adult pattern became inevitable, so I'll let you know when that comes out too.

New decade, new camera!

2010-09-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

I turned 30 today. Ridiculous.
But, because it's my birthday I got a shiny new dslr camera! So, you know, things even out. A little bodily degeneration gets swapped for a little extra stuff. Cool.

I took it out for a spin, snapping shots of same of my favorite things, mainly this thing....

and some sweet birthday flowers from my parents that showed up on my doorstep...

and the project currently on my needles....

I am officially in love with a technological device. Now let's just hope this whole thirties thing ends up being loveable too...

Coastiness

2010-08-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely family vacation weekend recently in Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast. I love the coast up here. It's magical and serene even in the summer crowds. However, the weather does manage to be chilly and overcast most of the time. It has that curl up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and some knitting kind of a feel. (See? I told you. Magical!)

For this reason, I always bring at least one or two overly ambitious knitting projects with me - imagining blissful hours of cozy knitting listining to the waves crash on the shore. And how much knitting do I end up doing on the coast? Not a stitch. This time was no exception. Were there fires and hot cocoa and lots of wine? You bet. Lovely, serene walks on the beach?

Check.

Excessive displays of ocean-induced dog euphoria?

Abso-frickin-lutely. But alas, no knitting. I did manage to squeeze in a few knitting related photo shoots, however. Which is good thing because I ended up with some pictures for ravelry with a much prettier background than the scratched up walls and floors at home.

All this has brought me to the conclusion that if you ever find yourself at the Oregon Coast (and I hope you do...soon), you may or may not want to bring your knitting bag. However, your coziest handknit hat or sweater or scarf will never feel more lovely and at home.

Circles and Punishment

2010-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

We'll get to the contents of this picture in a second. In the meantime, I'd like to swipe that smug little expression off of my face. Because let's admit it people. I'm a blog slacker. Big time. A whole summer has gone by and I've posted not one pathetic word. Well, that ends right now, on the cusp of my 30th birthday. I'm going to commit myself to posting at least once a week from now on. (Where is that snickering sound coming from?)

In truth, I've been using my 30th birthday as a motivator for far too many ambitious things, but I really hope this one sticks. Because I do enjoy writing up these posts and thinking about knitting. I mean it's knitting! What else do I daydream about!

It makes me sad to think about all the knitting fun I've had in the past few months that's been left out here. Because I have been doing a lot of knitting. Like a lot. Like an obsessive amount. So maybe that's where I'll start, with one of my recent obsessions.

Obsession #1: Knitting in Circles

I had this idea for a summer cowl that was kind of a necklace and kind of a scarf. I wanted it to look like big chunky beads, but flattened and knitted and drapey. And I will tell you, this one was of those rare, magical times where one of my ideas actually worked.

I seriously love this cowl. It goes with everything and prevents me from ever having to go scarfless. Even in 80 degree sunshine. Best of all, it feels so good on. The pima cotton is soft and drapey, and the whole thing just feels sensual and casual like you should be at a backyard party somewhere sipping wine under the twinkling lights. (Not a bad idea, really). I made a whole bunch of these cowls in different colors and sizes. But maybe you'd rather make your own? Lucky for you the pattern is available, on Ravelry here or on Etsy here.

The circle construction of this cowl turned out to be surprisingly addictive. I've been obsessed with putting this circle into as many things as I can. Like this headband...

Or this one...

Or just recently this winter scarf...

Oh, the knitted circle, such a lovely, useful thing. Now that it's been knotted into my knitty little heart, I'm not sure if it will ever come out. Circle sweater anyone?

P.S. If you are interested in the headband pattern - you can buy it on etsy here. The pattern includes both styles.

dkk knits

2010-05-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

So, my sister has been traveling around Europe for the past two months. Surprsingly, I'm not that jealous. Really. Truly. Except maybe a little, teeny bit whenever she emails me about all the cool knitting she is seeing on fashionable ladies in Iceland, or Berlin, or Copenhagen. She sends me little snippets of design ideas - gauzy or deconstructed tunics, necklace necklines, chunky knits. She says the women in Copenhagen make knitting look chic. Intrigued, I spent a little time perusing the internet for some made in denmark knits, and wow, there is some crazy stuff out there. Why I haven't been drooling over international knitting for years is beyond me. Design sense + lithe, skinny european figures = some very adventurous knitwear.

Check out this dress from Trine Elmkvist, a graduate of the The Danish Design School.

I don't think this is what my sister had in mind, she was probably drooling over something machine-made and ridiculously impossible to knit like this:

I'll take the fun, handknit garter patchwork dress any day. And by take, I mean knit. I'm not quite confident enough to pull off wearing something like that. Which is maybe the downfall of a lot of the couture knitting I viewed. This chunky knit hat?

Seriously insane. You won't be seeing a pattern for one of these headache-inducing puppies on this blog anytime soon. I did, however, find one piece of handknitted yumminess that manages to be both chic, cozy, fun to knit and beautifully wearable.

This sweater makes me swoon. It's from a handknit line by Gudrun & Gudrun. You can't tell from the picture, but the knitting is just loose and gauzy enough be really sensual and drapey. It's knit from organic Faroese wool. Apparently it's their best seller, and Helena Christensen wears hers all the time.
And it's only 2,100 DKK. Which is, hmmm..... $372.41.

They don't skimp on prices in Denmark, let me tell you. In fact, that was the other half of my sister's recent report from Copenhagen - some serious whining about how expensive it is. Yup. Definitely not that jealous.

Sneaky Sneaky

2010-04-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I've been working on a trio of spring scarves, a little spring scarflette booklette, and I've been waiting to post until I had all the patterns done and available, but...I just can't resist sneaking in a few photos. I'm really excited about these little fluffies...I've been trying them on with different spring outfits (hello sunshine, you're lovely) and I'm pretty certain that I can get through all of spring and summer without committing the cardinal sin of appearing in public without a scarf...they just make me want to go outside, and garden, and sit in an outdoor cafe, and go to a wedding, and run barefoot through the grass... which is probably why it's taking me so long to get these patterns done. I'm aiming for this Friday but if anybody sees these and likes them and wants to let me know, it might just be the encouragement I need.

*As a sidebar - these photos apparently want to encourage me to get my glasses adjusted...hmmm...

Spring Bubbles Over

2010-03-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

I actually finished that second bubble sock and it was just in time for a lovely spring photo shoot....

They are sweet little socks and the pattern was fun to knit. However, my sock enthusiasm has waned considerably since February. I should have known it would be a short-lived obsession - it had all the classic symptoms. Anyway, it's a shame because in my sock-induced fervor I managed to accumulate quite a lot of sock yarn, which I now have no desire to knit into socks.

Oh well, it feels like summer (almost), so who needs socks anyway?
Time to move on to greener pastures....I'll be posting a pattern for this pretty green springtime something soon.....

Messy Scarf

2010-02-25T19:20:00.000-08:00

You might not be able to tell over the internet, but I'm a bit of a slob.

If there were a scale of slovenliness from 1 to 10, I'm about a 6. (I mean, there are some serious, serious slobs out there...I'm not so bad that I would end up on the evening "news" or anything).

Anyway, that's just who I am. I will always be the girl with dirty glasses, sweaters covered in dog hair, random bits of food stuck in her hair, and smudges all over her face. More often than not if some one is staring at me it's because they are about to say "Ummmm, I think you have a little something...."

At some point in my life my messy status went from being a fact to a point of pride. I just learned to love it as part of myself and incorporate it into my "style." I feel a little weird saying that because I don't always think of myself as stylish, but if were possible for messy to make you look more chic, this scarf manages to pull it off.

The original orange version of this scarf has seen a LOT of love over the years, and I've made more from requests from friends. It has a weird way of perking up an outfit - it's beautifully messy and fun, and it's a breeze to knit up.

This pattern is great for stash-busting or showing off random bits of pretty yarn. And I love that I get to knit stripes without having to tie in the ends.

With the kerchief cowl, the fringe cowl and now this, I might be a little triangle crazy. I promise this is my third and final pattern for a triangle shaped neckwarmer....but just between you and my messy self, I've saved the best for last :)

NOTES:

This pattern is really just a general guide to knitting this scarf. It is super flexible. Each one I've made has been a little different, depending on the yarn, but the pattern is always forgiving. It's good for beginners because if you make a mistake it's really hard to notice on the finished product.

You can use any kind of yarn you want for this project, but I recommend using a combo that goes like this:

Yarn A: something interesting with either good texture or lots of colors, something that pops
Yarn B: a solid colored yarn that coordinates with A
Yarn C: a mohair or something hazy for the lace

In the following picture, if we pretend the blue isn't there, than the sea green would be the A, the yellow-green is the B, and the grey is the C.
Pretending aside, I threw the blue in on a whim cause I liked it, so really, people, you should be using whatever yarn you darn well please.

To get a good drape, you'll want to use larger needles than you would normally use for your yarn. For instance, with worsted weight yarn, you'd want a size 10 needle or so. If your yarn is a range of different weights don't worry about it, just base your needle size off of a weight somewhere in the middle.

This scarf is knit flat on straight needles, but I'd recommend knitting on circular needles if you have them to accommodate all the stitches you cast on at the beginning.

The scarf is knit from the widest part of the triangle down.
The top of your triangle should be around 36 inches, though feel free to go bigger or smaller.

Figure out how many stitches per inch you get knitting in garter with Yarn A.
Mulitply that by 36 and then round to the nearest ODD number. Cast on that many stitches.

PATTERN:

Garter Section:

With Yarn A:
Knit 2 rows
Switch to Yarn B.
Knit 1 Decrease row as follows : SSK, knit to end, K2tog
Knit 1 row.
Knit 1 Decrease row.
Knit 1 row.

Lace Section:
Switch to Yarn C.
Row 1: P1, K1, *yo, K2tog* repeat until last stitch, P1
Row 2: P2tog, purl to last 2 stitches, P2tog
Repeat these two rows 4 more times, or until the lace section is a big as you want it be.

Then knit another Garter Section.

Keep alternating the Garter Section and the Lace Section till you have about 3 stitches left,
then K3tog and pull the yarn through the last stitch.

Attach fringe to the start of each section on both sides. You'll want to use a mix of all the yarns in the scarf for the fringe, just mix them all together until it looks like a good balance to you. I like to make my fringe really long, and then cut it at the end until the length looks right.

Wear your messiness with pride!

Feet are weird....or so I thought....

2010-01-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

It must be something in the water. Some curious side-effect of changing tides. Or maybe just some elemental shift in my brain's chemistry. Whatever the mysterious reason, I do believe I just might be turning into a sock knitter.

In the past I have offered many a fast-paced rant (ranting being a favorite hobby of mine) against sock yarn, sock needles, sock knitters and the basic concept of wasting my knit time on some thing as lowly and weird looking as my feet.

I won't go into the rant - I'll just have to take it back, as I usually do with most anything I rant about, since a furious rant seems to be some kind of precusor to my mind doing a complete 180 on me. Yes, yes, I'll just caught with my wooly foot in my mouth because my God if don't I want to knit me some socks. I want socks bad. I want heel flaps and short-row toes and magic loops. I want a whole drawer full of colorful hand-knitted socks with lace and cables and complicated stitch patterns climbing up my legs like vines.

So the sock knitting has begun....hit number one of the addiction being this pair of stained glass bubble socks with a rather nifty texture...

....or this one bubble sock to be more exact (please let this picture remind me something is missing).

In sock fervor, I went through my yarn stash and discovered a surprising amount of sock possibilities.....

2010. Bring it On.

I noticed that Canary Knits is undergoing a similar sock knitting conversion on her blog. And a friend of mine recently fast forwarded from beginning knitter to sock knitter in a few weeks.
So it could be something in the air, or I could just finally be joining the ranks, but I think more likely it's something else....ranting's cousin the "short-lived craving-induced obsession."

After all, just this morning I woke up thinking about sweaters....and felt bracelets.....and fair-isle handwarmers...

I'm a fickle pickle, what can I say?

Not-so-Plain Jane Cowl

2010-01-22T18:37:00.000-08:00

I've been avoiding sharing this one with you. It's plain. It's stockinette. It's exactly like a million other cowl patterns out there right now. Who knows what inspired me to knit this really. I mean it's WHITE - the non-color - I hardly ever wear white!

It is just really not very "me" in a lot of ways. However, given that I did knit up something so simple and uncolorful, it makes perfect sense that I would do it in the most complicated way possible. That sounds a whole lot like "me."

I went to Fred Meyer to pick up paper for my printer, and just happened to end up in their yarn aisle where a lot was on sale (and by just happened I mean I purposely walked down to the end of the aisle where the yarn was because...well...there was yarn there). They had Lion Brand Hometown USA which I had never seen before and which looked pretty decent as yarns go. And for $2 a skein, I figured it wouldn't really count against my pledge to Not Buy More Yarn till Stash is Diminished (I never had much faith in this pledge anyway).

I figured it could sit in my closet for a while and make itself useful for a cheap, fast gift. And white was a nice all-purpose choice. I never imagined that I'd find myself using it just a few hours later, when the urge to knit something fast and mindless latched on strong...

I would have cast on in the round, but I was too lazy to swatch and I didn't want it to end up droopy, so I made the whole thing pretty complicated for myself (see pattern below). Laziness always has a way of catching up with me.

The yarn - surprise surprise - turned out to be a little cheap and plastic-y looking, but it did knit up fast, and it is pretty soft, and the white does go with everything, and the fit is just right - long and drapey, but still keeping my neck warm.

So maybe I'm more of a plain jane than I thought....

PATTERN

I'm wondering if it's even worth writing up a real pattern, because like I said, there are a million simpler and more rational patterns out there that would get you essentially the same thing. That being said, if you want to be able to knit a cowl with whatever needles you have on hand, this method is useful. Let me know if you'd like any more details.

Here's the drift:
Figure out how wide you want your cowl to be (not how big around, just how thick from neck to boob).
Do a Provisional Cast On for approximately enough stitches to get you this width. I did 20 stitches in Hometown, or about 12 inches wide.
Then knit till it'll be as long around as you want it to be (mine is 30 inches around).
Remove the Provisional Cast on, place stitches on needle and graft two ends together.

Optional: I was steadfastly against this drooping below my neck, so I picked up stitches in the round along one edge, knit a few rows in garter and then bound off tightly. It made it a little harder to get over my head, but the firm edge has kept it where I want it - no drooping!

Optional: If you'd like a Mobius effect, simply put a twist in the knitting before grafting (Straight needles: rotate one needle and then take the needle out of the stitches and put it back in the right way to match the other needle, Circular Needles: Just rotate and then push the stitches back towards the needle on one side). **This gray cowl below was made this way, but in seed stitch.

Summer Flashback

2010-01-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Winter is officially here - rainy and dark and cold. Don't get me wrong, I love what winter brings inside my house - pots of soup, casseroles bubbling in the oven, hours of knitting pleasure, the warm, cozy joy of a Saturday morning cuddled under heaps of blankets and down. I just don't always love what happens outside, for example the cold icy rain that doesn't stop. (My poor exercise-deprived dog does not like this either).
I was uploading new photos and found these pictures from the summer still stashed away in my camera. I remember taking them thinking I would put together a visual tour of our neighborhood's floral bounty, and I can't think of a more opportune time to be reminded of those balmy summer afternoons...how much longer till spring?

Paw Me Mittens

2009-12-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

My dog likes to paw at us. She does it for food or attention, and it should be annoying but it is mostly just adorable (unless she mistakenly paws your eye, or inside your mouth).
So, after knitting up a pair of basic tweedy mittens, I decided they needed a little something extra. I cut out a paw print, cradled it in my hand, and honestly, my heart melted just a little. If that makes me a crazy dog lady, so be it.

The end result looks somewhere between a cozy mitten and a pair of old-fashioned driving gloves - only with some extra pup appeal :) And amazingly, every time I hold out my hands to Annie wearing these mittens, she slaps a paw right on the spot - she's a genius I tell you.

Pattern Notes:

I custom fitted these to my hands - which are rather petite- so you will want to adjust to fit your hand size. I wanted the mittens to be tight and form fitted to my hands. I would say an extra 4 - 8 stitches would make a women's medium - large, with extra stitches beyond that if you want your mittens looser.

I used a super chunky tweed yarn, but knit it tight on size 8 needles for warmth. Gauge was around 3.5 stitches per inch in stockinette.

These are knit in the round. I used two circular needles, though knitting in the round on double pointed needles would work too. The right and left are knit up the same.

Cuff:
CO 28 stitches.
Join to work in the round.
Work in Seed Stitch for 2 rounds.
Dec Round: Decrease 2 stitches evenly on each needle, 4 stitches total
Knit 1 round.
Dec Round
Knit 1 round.
Switch to K1xP1 Rib for 6 rounds.

Mitten Body:
Knit 4 rounds in stockinette
Increase 2 stitches evenly on each needle, 4 stitches total (24 stitches)
Knit 4 rounds
Increase Round (28 stitches)
Knit 4 rounds
Increase Round (32 stitches)
Knit 2 rounds

Knit 12 stitches, slip 8 stitches to waste yarn for thumb, and then knit into next stitch with live yarn (skipping over the stitches you just slipped to waste yarn) and knit to end of round.

Continue knitting around until you've reached 3 inches from where the thumb is.
Decrease Round: SSK, knit to two stitches before end of needle 1, K2tog
Repeat with the second needle.
Knit 3 Rounds
Decrease Round
Knit 3 Rounds
Decrease Round
Decrease Round again... You should now have 4 stitches left on each needle.
Knit one more round and then pull yarn through remaining stitches.

Thumb:
Remove 8 stitches from waste yarn.
Pick up 2 stitches from inside of the thumb to make 10 stitches total.
Knit in round for 2 inches.
K2tog five times to end
Pull yarn through remaining 5 stitches.

Weave in all ends. Then cut out your paw from felt or fabric and sew on to the palm of your mittens. Now prepare to be melted with cuteness every time you look down at your hands...

Seconds Handwarmers

2009-11-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

So, I finally made some handwarmers for the old husb-cap. Considering I have made countless numbers of handwarmers, including for people I've never even met, it's rather surprising he's stayed immune from them for so long. I guess I was just waiting for the proper pattern - I used the Beer Mitts pattern from Son of Stitch and Bitch, and they turned out hefty and cushy and comfortable and look quite perfect on him.

Now for the embarrassing part. I started these while it was still hot enough to crave Popsicles. I know this because I took a picture of myself wearing one - a fully completed first handwarmer - while eating a Popsicle.

Ahhh me. I was faced with my laziness yet again when I friend was over asking about handwarmers, and I was able to pull out from various closets no fewer than four or five lonely, pairless little handwarmers that were abandoned before their mate could be finished.

Then, this week I was reading an article about socks and discovered a name for my exact problem - "Second Sock Syndrome," or in my case just plain "Seconds Syndrome," - that strong inability to have to do something all over again that you just did. It feels nice to know I am not alone with this. However, I'm starting to think I'm ready for a cure. There are some things - I don't know - a pesky office job comes to mind- that you have to do over and over again, one second, one monday after another. So, I guess those things you do have the power to finish - all ends-tied-in Done- really can't be so bad, no matter how tedious the process.

As some not-asked-for advice to anyone out there who may have a similar problem - no matter how nice avoiding feels - It feels WAY nicer to grit your teeth, finish the second one, and see them on your husband's lovely hands petting your dog's tummy.

Fringe Cowl

2009-10-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

FRINGE COWL

Okay, so I am officially obsessed with triangle shaped cowls. Once I finished the Kerchief Cowl, all I could think about is how to transform my favorite scarves into cowls. This boho-style cowl is based off a mohair triangle shawl with ratty fringe that I knit up a few years ago and have gotten a surprising amount of wear out of. Who’d have thunk orange would go with everything?

This isn’t so much a pattern, as a bunch of guidelines. No need to be particular – the fringe covers up everything...

Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted
Needle: 10 1/2 circular (I knit at a loose gauge for more drape)
Gauge was about 14 stitches for 4 inches in seed stitch.
You’re shooting for about 17 inches total circumfrence at the top edge.

CO 59 Stitches

I knit in seed stitch in the round for about 1.5 inches. (K1, P1, repeat to end, then knit the purl stiches, and purl the knit stiches)

I then knit 1x1 rib for two inches (the ribbing was to bring it in closer to the neck for extra cozy. Because of the odd stitches, it didn’t come out exact. You could decrease 1 stitch to make it even and then increase a stitch when you switch back to seed stitch)

Switch to seed stitch again for another 1.5 or so inches, maybe a little more.

At the end of the next round, bind off 4 stitches, then another 4 stitches at the start of the round (8 stitches total).

Then I knit back and forth on the remaining stitches in seed stitch, decreasing by binding off 2 stitches at the start of each row for the next 6 rows or so.
Then I knit decreases at the beginning and end of each row till there were about 25 stitches remaining, or the width was about as wide as the ribbed section of the cowl.

From here I alternated one row seed stitch, with one decrease row (decreasing at both ends) until there were 3 stitches remaining. BO.

Then came the fringe, which is always my favorite part….
.

If a blogger posts a blog post, and nobody reads it....

2009-05-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hmm, we will have to see how this whole blogging thing turns out. I don't really enjoy the feeling of sending words out into cyberspace...it feels kind of like playing a music gig in an empty bar, where only the girl cleaning the tables is listening, but just barely ...wasted energy I tell you, wasted energy.

Anyway, I thought I would start a blog to keep track of my many addictions. Well, it's not that many. It's just two, really...knitting and food. Sometimes it's hard to say which one of those I could live without. It should be food, it really should, but I've been known to knit through some pretty severe hunger pangs. Anyway, here it goes...