FO: Essential Cardigan

What started out as an easy summer vacation project is now finally finished. I took a long break from this project and finally picked it up again a couple weeks ago to finish it up. The pattern is Essential Cardigan from Interweave Knits Summer 2010. The yarn is Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in Periwinkle Blue. This yarn has been sitting in my stash for many years and I thought this project would be the perfect use for it. I found lovely metal buttons on Textile Garden. The only modification I made was to make 4 buttonholes instead of 8. I bought the buttons before thinking up a project to use them for and only purchased 4!

FO: Nana's Shawl

Nana's shawl is now blocked and dried and I had a chance to take some nicer photos in the sunlight. It is a feather and fan shawl worked in three sections in a bulky weight wool yarn. Nana loves her hand knitted shawls and this one will be her Christmas present. I'm going to work up another one in a lighter weight yarn for myself, I'm thinking of Knitting Fever Whispers. Hopefully it will eventually turn into a new pattern for me. Stay tuned!

Cloudy Morning and Finished Objects

A few mornings ago, I came out to the kitchen to make coffee and found the nearby mountains covered with thick clouds. They came down almost to the base of the foothills where my apartment is, so I had to take a couple of pictures.

Over the past week I have finished working on several projects that are now just waiting to be washed. I finished spinning my purple mix of crock pot dyed wool, finished knitting the prototype for a new pattern which will also be a Christmas present for Nana, and finished weaving a bronson lace scarf. I have been a busy bee! Sorry for the lousy photos, it is late and quite dark in my living room at the moment. When everything is washed and dried, I promise to take better photos.

Pattern Update and Promotion

Cabled Heart Gloves is one of my first designs. These gloves are an everyday accessory for me in the winter months. They keep my hands warm and my fingers free to type while I'm at work. After a couple years of abuse, my original pair has become dingy and full of pills. I decided to make a new pair and printed off my pattern. Upon reading it, I decided it was time for a makeover. My designing over the last few years has led me on a long journey in which I have learned many new skills and read a lot of knitting books. In the updated pattern, I am adding an additional size, nicer photos and (hopefully) clearer instructions.

On Ravelry, Casey has just created promotional codes for designers to use in their pattern store. In honor of the new coupons, I have created one for this pattern. Receive $1 off when you purchase both the Cabled Heart Fingerless Gloves and Valentine Cables Hat patterns. Both feature cables with hearts and would create a nice set for a loved one. The coupon code is cabledheart, or just enter the code here. Coupon will be in effect from September 19-October 31.

Valentine Cables Hat now for sale

My Valentine Cables Hat, originally published in Knitscene Fall 2009, is now up for sale.

Valentine Cables Hat is a close fitting cabled hat worked from the bottom up. I wanted to create a hat with a unique cable pattern that is not too difficult for a knitter's first cable project. The brim is worked in K1 P1 rib and the body is worked in 4 sections of heart cables. The cabled sections are divided by lines of stockinette. Worked in a worsted weight yarn, this project is a quick knit that will keep you warm throughout the winter.

Vintage Weave It Loom

Ever since reading the article on the Weave It loom in the March/April 2010 issue of Piecework, I decided that I must have one. After reading the article I looked online and couldn't find one that I liked. A couple weeks ago I had the lucky opportunity to buy a vintage 1934 Weave It loom from the owner of eLoomaNation. It arrived in perfection condition with the original box and typed instructions. I decided to make a pillow to match my yellow sofa and green chairs. So far I have woven six squares, and I can't seem to stop!

Aster Vest Errata

I received an email today about the gauge for Aster Vest, so I got out my sample and re-checked it. The gauge should be 18 sts= 4", not 14 sts. So sorry for the error! The pattern pdf has been updated on Ravelry.