Knits in Class

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

2012-01-27T09:05:00.000-06:00

Baby Girl is 1. Will I ever stop calling her Baby Girl? Maybe when she's 20.

Finer Things

2012-01-20T07:00:00.002-06:00

Showing early appreciation for the finer things in life.

Sneak Peek

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

January's Phat Fiber box is coming soon! Here's a little sneak peek of Knits in Class Fiber Studio's contributions:

January's theme is Luxe, so I thought it only appropriate to offer the guilt-free luxury of silk and merino sock weight yarn in richly colored semi-solids of Fox (left) and Sable (right).

If you aren't familiar with Phat Fiber, it's a box chock full of fiber and yarn goodies - the perfect way to sample indie fiberistas from around the world. (You can see what other Phatties are offering in the sneak peek video right here. It's going to be a super yummy box!) In addition to the sampler boxes (sign up at PhatFiber.com for the box drop notification - they go fast!), you can enter into a drawing on the Ravelry board for a Superbox - which contains one sample from every contributor. This month, the Superbox also contains ...drumroll... a Babe spinning wheel! seriously! A real full size spinning wheel!

You do not want to miss this one! So, get shopping - all it takes is a purchase from one of the participating Phatties. And I just happen to have updated my shop...

For more Fiber Arts Friday goodness, visit the Wonder Why Gal!

R2-D2, Better with baby

2012-01-12T14:51:00.000-06:00

The R2-D2 hats are done and off to their new owners. As the hats are for 6-month-old babies, it was really all about pleasing the parents. And, really, what's not to love?

Baby Miles seems to know the awesomeness - smiling, and he actually keeps it on his head! (Addy, take notes)

Hot Sox redux

2012-01-09T21:11:00.000-06:00

This is me, circa 1979, in front of the giant tree in the yard of the first house I ever lived in. Isn't the outfit amazing? The socks and sweater are a set, given to me by my godmother Aunty Zany. This is always referred to as the picture with the "hot sox" outfit.

Ever since I started dyeing, I've been tossing around ideas on doing something fresh with this concept. Once Addy was born and the hot sox sweater was passed on to her (I don't know what ever became of the socks), I knew I needed to act on it.

I started working with a sock blank, handpainting it in gradient rainbow tones, and steaming it.

I rather like the effects - not quite as vibrant as I had hoped, but it is making a nice gradient, heathered effect pair of leg warmers. (Because, as you know, we just can't get enough of baby leg warmers.)

The blank is a sock weight superwash merino and nylon blend yarn knit doubled. Instead of knitting two-at-a-time sock-weight leg warmers, I decided to use the two strands together as a worsted weight, loosely based on the Purl Bee's Baby Leg Warmers patter n.

Don't forget about the Mr. Darcy giveaway! Entries are open until January 14

Recognize this?

2012-01-04T16:51:00.000-06:00

Please say no. I just spent 5 weeks with no studio so this room could be completed. I'd appreciate it if you also think it's unrecognizable from it's earlier appearance as a basement.

Mr. Darcy Giveaway!

2012-01-02T08:39:00.000-06:00

Do you need some Mr. Darcy in your life? (and who doesn't?) You can get him for free - just check out the giveaway at Handmade MN for chances to win.

Treat Yourself

2011-12-17T15:25:00.000-06:00

(Watch Parks and Recreation? If so, you get it)
My friend Rachel, over at Twist Your Stitches, has a great Christmas present for you - Rachel is hosting a fantastic giveaway of two beautiful skeins of Knits in Class worsted Merino Silk Single Ply yarn. That's almost 500 yards of goodness!

Rachel also shared a beautiful hat she made with my Worsted Single Ply yarn - World's Warmest Hat by Dove Knits. (which just happens to be a free pattern on Ravelry!) Rachel's hat looks so warm and cozy I might just need to knit one up for myself...

Check out Rachel's blog to enter the giveaway - there are three different chances for you to win! Thanks so much, Rachel!

In the meantime, don't forget to Treat Yourself with some great yarn, fiber, and dye on sale at Knits in Class - just use the code STUDIO15 for 15% off your entire order!

R2-D2 x 2

2011-12-16T12:53:00.000-06:00

I love making novelty hats for babies. The projects are quick, the results are adorable - and babies aren't old enough to object to wearing the hats. When I mentioned an R2-D2 hat to my brother (while we were talking turkey hats, naturally), he asked if I would make one for his son, Miles. Apparently, he was excited enough about the hat to tell his work colleagues, and now I'm making one more.

I'm really ridiculously excited about these little hats - even googled some pictures of R2-D2 to add in some more detail. (Did you know you can purchase R2-D2 swimsuits? Google is amazing.)

Because I was making both hats for babies, I used Cascade 220 Sport (instead of the worsted weight) and size 6 needles to size it down a bit for tinier heads. The design is really quite simple - just a basic striped hat with duplicate stitching for details. The Purl Bee has a fantastic tutorial on duplicate stitching, and I'm addicted to it now - such a simple, fun way to add in details! I really like the subtle three-dimensional quality it gave to the R2-D2 hat, too.

PS - Don't forget the Serenity Now! studio sale at Knits in Class Fiber Studio - 15% off everything with the code STUDIO15

PPS - It's Fiber Arts Friday! Go check out all the great fiber happenings at Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Serenity Now!

2011-12-12T11:49:00.000-06:00

This is my dining room. Or, it was my dining room. My studio is currently under construction, which means good news for all of us!
Good news for me: an organized, peaceful (if small) studio coming soon.
Good news for you: I need to regain my sanity (and my dining room), so I'm having a SALE! Everything is 15% off - just use the code STUDIO15 at checkout. Easy as pie.

Please help me regain my sanity. Lest I become Frank Costanza.

Happiness is...

2011-12-07T12:01:00.000-06:00

a red balloon.

Addy loves baby storytime at The Red Balloon Bookshop (so do I!). Miss Sarah plays the violin, sings songs, reads great books, and there is much clapping of hands and bouncing on laps. One of the highlights is the red balloon (naturally) that each child gets to bring home, which brings Addy joy well into the next day.

Wrap Up

2011-12-05T16:36:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all who came out to The Handmade Christmas this Saturday - for the inaugural year, I thought the show went really well. The people who were there certainly had smiles on their faces and purchases in their hands!
Here's a taste of the fibery goodness, in case you missed it:

There was a shuffleboard court on the floor in front of my booth, which I loved (because silly little things like that make me happy).

I'm busy getting some new things photographed and listed in the shop, but it's slow moving around here with a nasty virus that's been moving through the family thanks to our little germ carrier.

The Handmade Christmas

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

You do NOT want to miss this. Saturday, December 3!

Happiness is...

2011-11-30T10:18:00.001-06:00

music.

Knitting Monsters

2011-11-28T14:35:00.000-06:00

It all started with an impulse buy at Barnes and Noble. Rebecca Danger's "The Big Book of Knitted Monsters." With a subtitle of "Mischievious, Lovable Toys" how could I resist?

(People ask all kinds of questions when you're knitting monsters in public. Mostly because I think they're wondering what wierd kind of pants you appear to be making.)

One of my nephews has a birthday coming up soon, and I really couldn't think of a more fun birthday gift than a knitted monster.

Hugo the Couch Potato Monster

All packed up for Oli!

And now I'm dreaming of all sorts of ways to use up my enormous yarn stash to knit monsters.

Which is probably a good thing, since Mr. Darcy is starting to question how I'm actually going to ever use all the yarn I've managed to collect. Maybe if I knit him a monster, he'll stop asking questions.

Winner, Winner, Turkey Dinner!

2011-11-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

Turkey head complete!

I tried to trick her into wearing it while she was playing with her farm.

She thinks its a toy.

Little Owl

2011-11-18T10:28:00.000-06:00

Because I apparently can't resist putting Addy in animal themed hats...

The Hoot Hat! Which has really become more of a Hoot Beanie, because I think I started this before she was born. Then got the whole body of the hat done, set it aside to do the embellishments (eyes, beak) and promptly forgot about it. And - surprise, surprise - her head has grown since she was a newborn.

Even though it took me a year to officially finish it (and the embellishments took less than an hour to add, to my embarrassment), I recall this actually knit up pretty quickly in Spud & Chloe Outer on size 11 needles. The Hoot Hat is a pattern by Susan B Anderson for Spud & Chloe - and we all know how much I LOVE Susan's patterns. Well-written, super clear directions, and adorable; Susan really knows how to design for little ones!

Regardless of the cute factor, what Addy actually thinks of this remains to be seen.

Wonder what she'll think when I try to dress her up like a roast turkey...

It's Fiber Arts Friday! Come and show us what you've got!

Turkey head

2011-11-15T09:00:00.001-06:00

My sister is partly responsible for this.

(picture from melondipity.com - they have some really awesome hats!)

So, when Addy sees pictures of her 9 month old self wearing a turkey on her head, I can say "Your Auntie Liz planted the idea. If she hadn't sent me that e-mail, I never would have thought of it."

And, what do you know, Spud & Chloe Outer just happens to come in a color that would be perfect for turkeys...

Noah's mitts

2011-11-14T12:38:00.000-06:00

If you have children, you know that things are never fair. So, after I made a pair of mitts for Finny, I knew life would not be fair unless I made a pair for Noah.

Knit up in Noah's very own colorway of blues and deep purple, Knits in Class sport yarn, on US 5s. While knitting these, I realized his hands are the same size as mine. And he's 8. Holy moly.

Happiness is...

2011-11-09T09:10:00.000-06:00

...a fresh leaf pile...

Holiday Boutique: Mark Your Calendars!

2011-11-08T10:00:00.002-06:00

It's coming...

Fall Fiber Fest

2011-11-07T11:43:00.000-06:00

People like purple ladders. (a LOT - maybe I should have been selling those, too)

The Upper Midwest Alpacas Fall Fiber Fest on Saturday was a great experience - I was pleased to have had such a smooth first show. Small, but very well-run - big kudos to the incredibly kind (and organized!) fiberistas who managed to put on a great show and run their own businesses. Not a huge show, but this is only their third year, and the quality of the vendors was excellent. I was next to a great alpaca farm from Iowa and a rug hooker from Wisconsin (and now I might have a new hobby). And, I finally got to meet Angela of All For Love of Yarn - a fellow Minnesotan, Phat Fiberista, and purveyor of beautiful yarn - in person!

The quality of the attendees was excellent as well - it was nice to have a chance to chat with my customers and feel like I was building a relationship with them, something I might not have had a chance to do at a larger venue.

Up next: The Holiday Boutique at The Yarnery in St. Paul. This one's all fiber, so I've been busy creating some super-soft, colorful, fluffy rovings and batts.

Crazy Neighbor Lady

2011-11-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

That would be me. I'm the crazy neighbor lady.
The one responsible for an 8 foot purple ladder in the back yard.
The same one who has yarn drying all over the place and asked the mailman not to step on her shawl as he crossed the yard (hey, it was blocking).

But it's all for a good reason. Saturday, I'm vending at my first show - the Upper Midwest Alpacas Fall Fiber Fest! (say it three times fast, I dare you) But seriously, it's going to be a great show - all products sold there are sourced from American fiber farms, and I'm hoping to make some connections with more Minnesota farms while I'm there. Come and check it out! I'll be there with my purple ladder (and bunches of yarn and Greener Shades dyes).

Start your weekend with a good dose of fiber - check out Fiber Arts Friday!

Happy Halloween...

2011-10-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

... from the chicken, the farmer,

and two "karate / ninja guys."

Happiness is...

2011-10-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

...a hula hoop.

Bonus happiness: I managed to do a tripod, impressing both my children and myself. However, I have no proof. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Color Geek

2011-10-14T16:26:00.000-05:00

I'm a total geek about color. Especially when it comes to dye. I am endlessly fascinated by the way a simple shift in a formula or fiber type can completely change the color's make up.

Take two of my new colors - Witching Hour (on the right), and It Was a Dark and Stormy Night... (on the left):

I'm completely crazy about both of these - a deep, rich purple on silk and merino worsted weight, and a beautiful gray with lots of depth, dyed on a tencel merino fingering weight.

But my favorite part?

They are dyed using the exact same color formula. The game-changer is Tencel, which is a man-made fiber that doesn't pick up acid dyes like Greener Shades. The merino, however, picks it the dye beautifully. Since the yarn is a mix of the two fibers, it picks up the dye differently than the silk and merino yarn (silk, like merino just soaks up the acid dye colors).

What's your favorite fiber geek-out?

Need some inspiration? Check out Fiber Arts Friday!

Happiness is...

2011-10-13T14:39:00.000-05:00

...eight candles on a birthday cake.
Happy birthday Noah!

Phat Fiber October: Witching Hour

2011-10-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm a contributor to the Phat Fiber box.

There have been some amazing themes (as usual!) lately, and I'm particularly excited about October's "Witching Hour" theme.

My contributions for the month are two yarns: Pumpkin, a silk and merino sock-weight blend (a favorite colorway in the shop); and something new - It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...., a drapey, smooth merino and tencel blend. Dark and Stormy is a brand new colorway as well as a new yarn base (this would be gorgeous as a shawl or lace scarf). Dark and Stormy will be up in the shop when the Phat Fiber October sneak peek video airs, which is right before the box drop. Another yarn inspired by the theme will be up in the shop, too - although you'll just have to wait to see it... (It's so juicy good that I've been tempted to hide it away for myself)

For those not in the know, the Phat Fiber Box is a sampler box full of goodies from independent fiber artists all over the world. Each month has a different theme, which the artists take and run with. The level of creativity is amazing - and the craftsmanship is unbelievable; this is a great way to discover new artists. Follow the Phat Fiber threads over on Ravelry for some great sneak peeks into this month's box!
The box is incredibly popular - the only way to get one from the Phat Fiber shop is to sign up for e-mail notification of the box drop times. Or, enter for a chance to win a super box by making purchases from contributors' shops through the Ravelry thread.

Socktoberfest 2011

2011-10-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

It's Socktober! Which just happens to be the best time to knit up a pair (or two, or three...) of warm, cozy socks for winter. For me, it's a chance to finish up a pair of sport weight ankle socks...

finally get a chance to knit with my Art Nouveau sock yarn,

and maybe squeeze in a pair of worsted weight slipper socks with some of my leftover Mr. Darcy yarn.

Join in the fun with the Ravelry Socktoberfest group, tweet along with the tag #socktoberfest, and enjoy free shipping in my shop with the code SOCKS11. And all yarn can be sock yarn, right?

What are you planning this month?
(Need some ideas? Check out Fiber Arts Friday!)

Happiness is...

2011-10-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

...writing your name in wet cement.

Finny' mitts

2011-10-04T10:30:00.001-05:00

My middle child, Finny, has been watching me knit for as long as he can remember. And he frequently has ideas about what I should make for him. But, not always the patience to wait for them to be completed: I would like a scarf, Mom. To wear to school tomorrow. And I want it to be orange and green and brown stripes. And really, really long.

Well, buddy, I'm not too sure about finishing that scarf by tomorrow. How about some mitts instead?

I'm not sold on this colorway - I think it needs some tweaking. But, a happy Finny makes a happy mama.

I clearly need to start using a sports photography shutter. The kids are way too fast for the camera.

Particulars: Sucky Thumb mitts, modified to cast on 42 stitches. Used Knits in Class sport weight, in the Painted Turtle colorway. (which was created especially for Finn, who loves orange and green, especially when it's found on the backs of painted turtles)

What Generosity Looks Like

2011-10-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

Knitters are a generous community. If you are a knitter, you already know this. (If not, you might want to consider becoming a knitter in order to enjoy such generosity) My fellow Sunshine Yarnie Morgan was working on a test knit for the Summer Days baby sweater, and asked me if little Addy would be the right size. Since she was, Morgan knit up the sweater in gorgeous Sunshine Yarns Luxury Sport in the Macintosh colorway, picked out some super cute buttons and packaged up the whole finished sweater just for Addy!

Perfectly knit, absolutely fantastic color selection (thanks to Char, Morgan's sweet daughter)
All Morgan asked in return were so pictures of Addy in the sweater.
So, we had a little photo shoot:

The drooly chin look.

Serious face.

Listening to brother Finn.

Clapping hands. ("Am I doing it right?")

Open sweater to show off the round baby belly.

Action shot.

Modeling is exhausting.

New obsession

2011-09-30T14:00:00.001-05:00

I have a new obsession. Something quick. Something colorful. Something fun. Something cheap. (well, relatively speaking. as opposed to buying a sweater's worth of yarn.)

Embroidery.
On a whim, I bought an embroidery kit for a lobster apron at my local craft chain store. It was not what I went in looking for, but, well, that happens to me a lot.

Our nanny extraordinare's birthday was coming up quick, and she is certainly worthy of hand crafted gifts. I knew she liked embroidery, and I thought this would be a fun kitchen accessory to go with her embroidered dish towels. I figured if it didn't work out, I'd just go buy some more dish towels.

I thought it turned out pretty sweet - and I loved working on it. So much so that I was a little bit sad when I finished.

I'm working on a little alphabet sampler right now. And bought three new embroidery patterns in the meantime. Check out Sublime Stitching for some really cool patterns and tools. Adorable stuff on Etsy, too (as always).

I've got some big plans for embroidery around my house...there's a blank wall that needs filling...stay tuned for more...

Can't wait for more fiber? See what others are up to at Fiber Arts Friday!

2 UFOs and my defeat

2011-09-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

The good news: I've finished two of my UFOs.
The carrots from Susan B. Anderson's Peas and Carrots in Itty-Bitty Nursery.

Sadly, these went away as a baby gift - I definitely see more carrots in my future. I've been working on the pea pod for Addy and it's a fun little knit.

Specs: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride bulky, and a craft store feather boa, US 9 needles.

Also, the Churchmouse Yarns and Teas' Turkish Bed Socks.

These socks are, as promised, great with clogs. And, a really, really fast knit. I see more in my future.
Specs: Sunshine Yarns' O.W.L.s, from the Harry Potter club, in the Twist base, US 2 needles.

The bad news? I've cast on more than a few new projects. The justification: I need shop samples for an upcoming show. (works for me)

Happiness is...

2011-09-26T16:28:00.000-05:00

... a homemade birthday cake for breakfast.

Happy birthday, Finny!

Cheater

2011-09-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah - I made a resolution. And I broke it:

I cast on this modified version of the Sell Your Sole sock in my Knits in Class Cherries sport yarn. I'm justifying it as a business necessity.

State Fair 2011

2011-09-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

The Minnesota State Fair, the "Great Minnesota Get-Together," ended yesterday. And now my neighborhood is back to normal, with no cars being parked on lawns, and I can drive to my house without getting directed into 10 different parking spaces on the way. Living just a few blocks from the fair, you've gotta love it. One of my favorite parts each year is visiting the Creative Arts Building, conveniently located just a few steps inside the main gate. There is an amazing assortment of stuff in this building, encompassing the various creative endeavors of Minnesotans.

I'm not completely sure what this is, but it won a prize.

Mosaic cat fish (very literal interpretation)

Tinker Toy midway

Obligatory Scandinavian craftsmanship

One of several walls of knitting

Seriously cute (and skillful!) baby knitting

I also love the animal barns - Mr. Darcy and I checked out goats, horses, and a variety of poultry. (I soooo want a chicken coop in my backyard!) But, oh, the irony of the Fair:

Mr. Darcy is feasting on a turkey sandwich from Turkey To Go while inside the poultry barn looking at turkeys. The Turkey To Go stand is, ironically, directly outside the exit of the poultry barn.

And, a little stash enhancement... the Lovey Dovey top and two skeins of Spud & Chloe. My incentive to finish up those UFOs.

Taming the UFOs

2011-09-02T08:51:00.000-05:00

I don't mind working on multiple projects at once - in fact, I rather enjoy it. However, there comes a time every year or so when I realize I have half a dozen (okay, more like a dozen) projects on the needles in various states of completion. This is one of those times. So, I'm halting everything and forbidding myself to cast on anything new until I can finish these UFOs up.

Yesterday, I completed the baby legs project, which has been lingering FAR too long:

I had decided in March to change up the pattern to make a pair of leggings, instead of pants, since I was getting frustrated with the joining and dreading the upcoming short rows (I know how to do them, I just really don't like it). I pulled back until I had two separate leggings and set the project aside. And am now embarrassed to admit it took all of an hour and a half to finish them. Probably a good sign to finish up those other nearly-complete UFOs.

Want more fiber this Friday? Check out Fiber Arts Friday!

Art Nouveau Calamity Jane

2011-08-21T21:35:00.000-05:00

While I'm drowning over here in a sea of UFOs, some people are actually managing to finish some projects. One that I'm in love with features the Knits in Class Art Nouveau sport yarn:

(I love this picture of the yarn!)

This gorgeous Calamity Jane was created by chastitycatt. She generously let me use her images to show off her beautiful work.

Not only am I impressed with the finished product, but chastitycatt is one focused knitter - about 5 days from start to finish! I, on the other hand, am about to pick up the second sleeve on a sweater that's been lingering since winter 2009...

*Art Nouveau is currently out of stock in the shop, but I'm dyeing up more (and saving a skein for myself, this time!) - just convo me if you want to reserve a skein of your very own*

Surprises

2011-08-09T10:30:00.002-05:00

Something new...

It Runs in the Family

2011-08-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

My dad made this. With his own two hands and a few power tools. It's been in our house about a week, and I am still astounded that he MADE this.

Mr. Darcy and I were desperate for storage space in the dining room. Combing through catalogs, some antiquing with my mom, re-purposing an old chest of drawers, all yielded nothing suitable. My mom said that dad would probably "love" to make something for me (her words, before asking him). My parents are both creative souls - mom paints, gardens, sews and knits and dad makes jewelry and recently returned to doing larger-scale carpentry projects.

As it turned out, he was happy to take on the challenge. He set to work making careful measurements and taking pictures of the built-ins. He designed it himself - selecting the wood based on how sturdy our family needed it to be, and picked out a beautiful piece for the top, which would be stained with tung oil to give the sideboard some extra dimension and interest. I was overwhelmed the amount of detail work that went into this. And, overwhelmed that my dad would do this for me.

At one point, he apologized that it was taking so long. When it was assembled in our dining room yesterday, he said "It's finally here - a whole year later." I, of course, didn't care how long it took. I couldn't believe he had made this just for me, and that it was so perfectly constructed for our space. It was something I certainly never could have done.

And, then it occurred to me how often I apologize for how long it takes me to make a hand-knitted gift. (like the baby blankets that always arrive well after the babies do) The recipients always say they don't mind, they can't believe I made this just for them. I love knitting for others, but I think I never really understood how sincere their words were until I said them to my dad.

Thanks, dad, for everything.

Fairy Garden

2011-08-05T10:02:00.000-05:00

On the boulevard of a city sidewalk...

Take a closer look...

...and find a fairy house.

Complete with a tiny tea set, couch, and a tiny pink crocheted bed.

I love this fanciful little garden, tucked away on the corner of 1st and 25th in Minneapolis, and I couldn't resist snapping a few photos to share. I hope it makes you smile, too.

Start your weekend off with a healthy dose of fiber and check out more Fiber Arts Friday fun with the Wonder Why Gal!

Giveaway!

2011-08-04T09:52:00.001-05:00

My Art Nouveau sport yarn is the featured giveaway on the Phat Fiber blog today!

It's easy to win: just leave a comment on the Phat Fiber blog about your favorite item in the shop. (I love comments here, but it won't get you entered to win :) )

Didn't win but still coveting the colorway? More is coming soon (in sock weight, too) - to reserve your skein, send me a convo and I'll create a custom order for you.

Sun, Sand, Sea and Sheep Sightings

2011-08-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

Things have been a bit quiet on the blog as I've returned from vacation and gotten myself back into normal life (work, custom orders, tackling Mt. Washmore). Mr. Darcy and I spent a gorgeous week in southern California with all three kids (missing one of the hottest weeks on record in Minnesota). Here's a photo re-cap of our trip -

Noah and Finn chasing the waves at Huntington Beach (or maybe, the waves are chasing them?)

Miss Addy and me - Addy is wearing some vintage Lily Pulitzer bottoms that belonged to either me or my sister. Thanks to Mr. Darcy for making me look half-way decent in swimwear :)

Noah enjoying a s'more - there were fire pits at the hotel pools and they sold s'more packs in the shop - how fun is that?

Late night snack with Finn.

Finn enjoying his coveted lollipop. (that kid ate his way through California, I swear)

Noah tried out body surfing, and loved it.

Color inspiration at the Aquarium of the Pacific

Noah gets up close and personal with a turtle at the San Diego Zoo

Sheep and goats at the San Diego Children's Zoo - you know it's a good vacation when you get to pet some sheep and goats.

My favorite thing in LA - the Noah's Ark exhibition at the Skirball - it was worth the LA traffic to see this.

A view of the ark - the animals were made from recycled materials and there was plenty for the children to manipulate within the exhibition - as the guide described it, "The story doesn't happen without YOU."

Lion and lamb in the ark

More sheep in the ark - I loved how their ears were made from rearview mirrors.

Star Wars Mini-World at Legoland - the kids were so excited they about fell over.

One last photo - more color inspiration from the Aquarium of the Pacific. Expect to see this show up in a colorway soon - I've got some new base yarn I'm playing around with.

Hope you all are having a great summer!

Spud & Chloe & Me

2011-06-23T11:56:00.002-05:00

My yarn is hanging out with Spud & Chloe Fine at Darn.Knit.Anyway in Stillwater.
They look pretty happy together.

Shepherds with time on their hands

2011-06-18T08:47:00.001-05:00

Watch it, love it.

 Watch it, love it 

(shared by French Press Knits, and too good not to pass on)

Pooches, Polka dots, and Pacis

2011-06-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I blogged about Addy's fabulous quilt made from Laurie Wisbrun fabric, and I also said that I really didn't think I could sew anything. I actually do know how to sew, but it frequently causes extreme frustration, swearing, and sweating. My sewn pieces are literally composed from blood, sweat and tears.

So, it's no surprise that I would choose to knit a baby gift.

(Susan B. Anderson's elephant pacifier clip form Itty-Bitty Nursery, made with bits of Sunshine Yarns semi-solid sport weight yarn)

But I remain a sucker for fabrics. And the new Pooches and Pickups line by Laurie Wisbrun for Robert Kaufman was just too sweet to pass up. The fabric was calling to me - I have a lab. And I needed to make a baby gift for my brother and his wife, who also have a black lab (who is about to be usurped as the baby of their family).

And I did it! I made something! Not counting the fabric washing and ironing (and I had to dig DEEP to find the iron), it only took me 3 hours to cut, assemble, and sew this little play mat. I am proud to say there was no blood, no tears - and just a little sweat (it is summer).

The pattern is largely from the Cheerful Quilted Playmat on the Purl Bee (a fantastic source of free patterns for sewing, knitting and crocheting - check it out!).

I gifted the playmat and paci clip to my sister-in-law Bridget at her baby shower yesterday - my new niece or nephew will be born in the end of July. Maybe a baby gift inspired by black labs will keep their lab Enzo from eating it.

Aha! moment

2011-06-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

Over at Labor of Love, Haley blogged recently about having "aha!" moments in knitting - and I couldn't recall a time when I had personally had one of those moments while working through a pattern. However, mere weeks after reading that post, my "aha!" moment arrived.

I've been working on the Lolly Pod for Gwen (knitting is my barter for her amazing photography), and the pod involves bobbles over a series of four stitches. After struggling through almost an entire row k4tog with worsted weight yarn, I came up with this solution: (please excuse the blurries - another aha! moment was how difficult it is to take a picture of yourself knitting)

Coming up to the k4tog...

Slip the stitches onto the shaft of a crochet hook (size isn't critical - so long as the hook is sufficient to grab the yarn)

There's all four stitches sitting nicely on the crochet hook...

Wrap the yarn as if to knit...

Use the crochet hook to pull the yarn through all four stitches...

All four stitches are now knit together...

Transfer the new single stitch to the right knitting needle.
I should note that this is NOT my own invention - rather, I know I read about this somewhere, and my brain miraculously managed to recall it when needed.

(can I just add how much I love knitting outside?)

Want to see what other fiberistas are up to today? Check out Fiber Arts Friday!

All 6s and 7s

2011-05-19T08:39:00.000-05:00

How do I have so many circular needles?
And why are so many of them size 6?

Ah, much better!

For the birds

2011-05-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

Finn loves birds. I love yarn. And like many of you, I don't throw any of it away - even small scraps. When Finn wanted to help the birds in our yard build nests, I came up with something that would suit both of us.

Based on a suggestion for yarn scraps from Ann Budd's Knitting Green, I started a scrap basket. I'll keep putting in my yarn scraps, and Finn can put the scraps in our bushes and trees for the birds to find. Maybe we'll spot some yarn-bombed birds' nests this summer!