Camellia Shrug Pattern available for sale

I am so happy to write that my Camellia Shrug pattern is now available for download in the Interweave Store for $5.50.  To date, this is my most favorite design and I have seen some great projects made by some wonderful knitters.  If you haven't seen it already, Camellia Shrug is a lace shrug worked in an incredibly soft alpaca/silk blend yarn. The back is worked from the center outwards in a counterpane construction. The sleeves are continued on two sides of the square. Stitches are picked up around the opening for a rib band.

New Pattern: Adora Hat

Adora is a close fitting hat with an elegant scalloped brim. Worked in the round from the bottom up, the stitch pattern is a twin leaf with a contrasting eyelet stripe. The crown decreases bring the leaves into a pointed star shape. This hat should be worn with 1-2” negative ease.

I have been loving vintage hats recently, and I wanted this one to be reminiscent of the flapper hats from the 1920's.  I have lots of casual hats, but nothing that I would consider wearing with a nice dress on an evening out.  Instead of just letting my head get cold, I decided to design an elegant option that would keep me nice and toasty warm on a cold night.

Approximate yardage used: MC 110 (130) yds, CC 45 (55) yds

Skills needed:

ability to read a chart

working in the round
k2tog
ssk
yo

$4

New Pattern: Button Box Cloche

I am so happy to finally present my new pattern, Button Box Cloche.  Button Box Cloche is a vintage style embellished hat worked in two versions. The Red Version has a long and wide brim that flips outwards and is embellished with a colorful mix of buttons. The Purple Version has a short flared brim and is embellished with a mohair flower, hatband, and a few buttons. Worked in the round from the top down, these hats can be tried on as they are knit to adjust the length if necessary.


SKILLS NEEDED:
working in the round
kfb
m1

SIZES: Child (Adult S/M, Adult M/L)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS RED VERSION
Circumference: 21.25 (22.5, 24)”
Length: 8.75 (9, 9.25)”

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS PURPLE VERSION
Circumference: 21.25 (22.5, 24)”
Length: 7.75 (8, 8.25)”

MATERIALS:
Red Version: Rowan Kid Classic (70% wool, 26% mohair, 4% nylon; 153 yds/140 m per 50 g ball); color: 847; 1 (2, 2) balls

Purple Version: Knit Picks Gloss DK (70% merino wool, 30% silk; 123 yds/112 m per 50 g ball); color: Blackberry; 2 (2, 2) balls
Feza Yarns Kid Mohair Multi (85% mohair, 8% nylon, 7% polyester; 275 yds/251 m per 25g ball); color: 634; 1 ball

NEEDLES
Both Versions: US #6/4 mm dpns and 16” circular needle
Purple Version only: US #4/3.5 mm dpns
 
NOTIONS REQUIRED:
Both Versions: Tapestry needle to weave in ends, stitch marker, sewing thread to match yarn, sewing needle
Red Version: 40 assorted buttons (six ¾” - 1”, nine ½” - 5/8”, twenty-five ¼” – 3/8”); tear away fabric stabilizer
Purple Version: four 3/8” buttons, one 5/8” button

$5

Color Study Shawl Shades of Autumn

As I've been roasting away in the lingering heat, I decided to weave a shawl in shades of autumn in the hopes that the weather will soon cool down.  I carefully went through my stash and picked no less than 18 different yarns, some handspun, to use in this project.  I worked on my 48" tri-loom and created a fall hued rainbow of red, rust, orange, yellow, brown and olive.  I added on some short spaced fringe to give a nice finish. 

Fall Promotion

Fall is here!  Well, at least in theory for where I am.  Living in southern California means that it is only 100 degrees outside instead of 115.  But hopefully in other parts of the country the leaves are turning shades of red and orange and there is the cool crisp in the morning air.  To celebrate the return of handknits weather, I am offering 20% off all my patterns until October 1st.  Enter coupon code fallishere in the Ravelry checkout box.  Happy Fall and Happy Knitting!

Adventures in Applique and Vacuum Cleaner Cookies

It all started yesterday when I mentioned cookies to my husband.  He is stationed across the US from me, and until I can move out there we usually only get to talk on the phone once a day.  I mentioned that I had been craving some homemade cookies, and he burst out, "Oh!  Will you send me some cookies? Please please please!"  Would I really say no?  Of course not.  I really enjoy cooking for him, and being 2,400 miles apart makes that a bit difficult, so sure I'll send him some cookies.  He specifically requested my famous Vacuum Cleaner Cookies.  No they aren't made in a vacuum cleaner and they're more like bars than cookies.  My mom used to make them when I was a kid, and they are still my most favorite cookie.  Easy to make, not too many ingredients, completely unhealthy, but the most delicious cookie you will have ever eaten.  I promise.  So here is the recipe:

1/2 c margarine (not butter) melted
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 1lb box powdered sugar
1/2c flaked coconut
1/2c chopped walnuts

Combine margarine, cake mix and 1 egg.  Stir together until moistened.  Spead into a well greased jellyroll pan.  Beat 2 remaining eggs, then beat in cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Stir in coconut and walnuts.  Pour over mixture in jellyroll pan and spread evenly.  Bake at 325 45-50 minutes until golden brown.  Cool pan on wire rack then cut into squares.  It actually makes more than twice the amount shown in my picture, I already packed up half the cookies into my care package.  I have to keep a few for myself!

While the cookies were baking, I decided to make a little something to put in the package.  Hubby has gotten used to the insane amount of craft stuff I have and graciously accepts every little thing that I make for him.  Several years ago, while we were still dating, I convinced him to go to the Renaissance Faire with me.  In costume.  While it was 90 degrees outside.  Yes, he really loves me that much.  As a finishing touch to the costume, I gave him a handkerchief with my initials embroidered in the corner as a 'token of my affection'.  To my surprise, he carried it around in his wallet every single day until he left for basic training.  He left it at home somewhere but can't remember where, so I thought that today would be a good day to make something to replace it.  I've been oogling lots of beautiful quilts lately, many of them with incredible appliques.  I've never tried an applique and thought this would be a good opportunity to give it a whirl.  I designed a little heart with our initials embroidered inside.  I haven't embroidered for about 20 years, so I was glad to find that I can still do a decent job of it.  The applique, however, proved more difficult.  At first I tried just pressing under the 1/4" seam allowance but has a hard time.  I decided to put the finished size heart paper pattern on the side and basted the seam allowance to it and then appliqued it to the backing fabric.  When I had about 2" left on the straight edge of the heart, I pulled the paper out and completed sewing on the heart.  I think it turned out pretty well.  It isn't really as crooked as it looks in the photo, I just took the picture at a funny angle.  I stuffed a piece of my lofty batting on the inside.  Not really a pillow, I'm not sure exactly what it is.  Just one of those funny things to have around.  I wrote on a note to him 'its soft and squishy and has a big heart- just like you' haha.  Lets hope he doesn't take that the wrong way!

making progress on designs and quilting

Last night I finished the second version of the button box cloche.  Now comes the hard part... actually writing up the pattern!  With two versions, multiple sizes for each, plus some instructional photos it will take me awhile to get it looking clear and cohesive.  Before I tackle that big project, I decided to write up the (simpler) pattern for a hat I finished earlier this month.  I took the photos this morning, much to the amusement of my neighbors.  They probably wonder what that crazy girl with the tripod is doing.  Here is a closeup of the stitch pattern.

  After the photoshoot I came back home to type up the pattern.  My knitting assistant pooped out pretty early on and provided moral support from afar. 

At night I have been hand quilting my throw blanket.  I'm having a really hard time making the stitches small, I think I picked a batting that is too lofty for hand quilting.  I suppose that is just one of many mistakes I will make as a beginner.  I bought a neat book called the The Quilters Catalog by Meg Cox and it is packed with information.  Definitely not a 'how-to' book, but more a resource guide of teachers, history of quilting, different quilting machines, etc.  I'm not even 1/4 of the way through the book and my brain is already boggled.  I read a profile of Eleanor Burns and checked out her website http://www.quiltinaday.com/  I was really happy to find that her videos are available for free online.  I watched a couple of them and found that she is really entertaining and easy to watch while providing a lot of useful tips and instruction.  I laughed every time she unceremoniously threw her scraps over her shoulder and kept on working.  If you are a quilter and haven't watched any of her videos, check them out.

Ok, enough funny business.  Time to get back to work!