Fiber in the Family

Craftiness runs in my mom’s side of the family. My grandmother was a quilter and a florist. My mom and her sisters always sewed their own school blouses (to match the mandatory navy blue jumpers) as high schoolers. My mom can sew, knit, crochet, embroider, make floral arrangements, oil paint, tole paint, decorate cakes, make ceramics, and more.

My cousin Lindy definitely inherited the crafty gene: she sells these adorable puppets from her Etsy shop.

Each set is made from Lindy’s own patterns.

These puppets would make a great gift for any kid!

Ingenuity

This is more of a status update than a post. But I just made impromptu stitch markers here in my work office, using a Starbucks cardboard coffee sleeve, a whole punch, and a pair of scissors. And I'm quite happy with myself for doing so.

Knitting Travels: Greenville, South Carolina

I traveled to Greenville, SC last week. While my S.O. was meeting with colleagues at Clemson’s Automotive Research campus to discuss advances in hydroelectric vehicles (below)….

… I hunkered down at Brew and Ewe, a delightful coffee shop that also features a gift shop where they sell various “woolens” and other handmade gifts, books, and the like. Unfortunately, “the like” did not include yarn, but this was a cozy place to do work and sneak in the occasional row of knitting.

I love love love their logo:

In the afternoon I took a break and checked out the Needle Tree, tucked away in a cute yellow cottage on a residential street.

They had a great sale corner, and such an adorable space. (Most of the yarn is in the back room, where the knitting circle was).

If you go, you can also say hello to Lola the cat and Houdini, the Bernise Mountain Dog (not pictured) who hold down the fort.

As for the yarn selection, you’ll find a nice assortment of common and not-so-common yarns, including Blue Heron Yarns, Mountain Colors, Louisa Harding, Blue Sky Alpacas, and the usual suspects (such as Malabrigo and Cascade).

Be sure to check to see what treasures are hidden in the draws and cupboards in this shop. That’s where I found this Shibui Knits sock:

Yes, it is sock yarn. It may or may not turn into socks… lately I’ve joined the shawlette trend and will have a few projects to share soon.

Heard around the house....

Scene #1:

Katie: I want German Angoras. You can spin their fur.

Michael: You want bunnies?

Katie: I want you to make me a bunny hutch.

[Michael laughs]

Katie: A bunny hutch is where rabbits live.

Michael: I know. You need to say "bunny hutch" a lot more.

Free Pattern & FO: Promenade Shawl

I loved the Colonnade shawl when I first saw it in Knitty. So beautiful.

But I dislike purling (feels like driving over speedbumps) and I much prefer double-sided scarves and shawls. So I modified Colonnade.

This modification was inspired by two current instances of awesomeness:

(1) Two Book: Reversible Knitting by Lynne Barr and Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits: Creative Techniques for Knitting Both Sides Right.

(2) Stephen West's Colonnade Shawl in the Fall 2009 edition of Knitty.

I give you Promenade.



First, go read Colonnade.

Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo worsted in Vaa (dark green - color 1); 2 skeins Malabrigo worsted in a funny color that I dyed (multicolor - color 2).
Needles: Size 10

Follow directions from Colonnade through the "Set-Up Row."

Now you will follow the rest of the directions for the "Stockinette Section" BUT you will work in GARTER stitch.

Moving on to the lace section. Change to color 2 yarn. Knit 1 row.

Here's the lace pattern. Remember: you need to continue to increase every other row at the edges and around the markers, using YOs as per the Colonnade pattern. This lace pattern uses a multiple of 3 sts.

2-Sided Promenade Lace:

2yo = double yarn-over; wrap yarn 2x around needle.
sk2p = slip 1, knit 2 sts together, pass the slipped st over; creates a centered, 2-st decrease.

Row 1: k1, yo, k1, *2yo, sk2p*, repeat ** until 1 st remains before marker, yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, k1. Continue ** and working increases at markers as established, until 2 sts remain in row, k1, yo, k1.

NOTE: So long as you have a multiple of 3 sts on your needles, your 2yo-sk2p lace should work out exactly with the markers.

To make the larger eyelets using the 2yos, you will k the first loop of the yo, then purl the next loop, and k all other sts, like this:
Row 2: k3, *k1, p1, k1*, continue **

Rows 3, 4, 5, 6: Knit all rows. Remember: you need to continue to increase every other row at the edges and around the markers, using YOs as per the Colonnade pattern.

Repeat.

NOTE: Since you work this is a 6-row repeat, the number of sts between the markers will always be a multiple of 3, so your st count should always work with the yarn-overs at the markers.

Yummy!

Common Sense Crafts

This is why I crocheted rail guards for our crib all those months ago. [Free Pattern Here.] [Ravelry.]



Now that AJP is pulling himself up on everything, and chewing everything else, these are essential to keeping paint chips out of his mouth.

FO: No-Seam Nimbus

Pattern: Nimbus
Designer: Berroco Design Team
Yarn Recommended: Berroco Peruvian Quick
Yarn Shown: Cascade Pastaza held double
Needles Used: Size 10 circulars
Size Shown: 40" Bust



I knit this using the No-Seam Nimbus instructions that I provided in an earlier post.



Modifications:
Lengthened the body by adding more rows of garter stitch.
Made cap sleeves, which is easy to do if you work the top-down set-in sleeve method. The sleeves are my favorite part of the sweater.



FYI: The double-thick Pastaza is way too heavy for this sweater. Not recommended.