Knitting for Family

Hi!

We're back safe and sound from our family visit down south. Now I can finally show you some recent sock knitting and a pretty bag (or two) I tricked my sister out of. 

The first pair of socks was for my sister as a swap. She gave me one of her hand-sewn bags and I knit her a pair of socks. She is convinced that she got the better end of the deal. I disagree and you'll see why in a second. For her socks, Sis wisely chose this Pagewood Farm Yukon in Bird of Paradise from my stash. Sadly, I forgot to get pictures of the finished pair before I happily mailed them off to her.

But I can show you her bag...and its sidekick!

This small duffle bag has been my constant knitting companion for about seven years or so now, and I've never even washed it! Look how great it still looks sitting right next to my new larger version of what my sister calls the Monkey Bag (there are monkeys in the fabric design). Gorgeous!

Let's look inside.

See its large zipper pocket and two open pockets? See how it stands on its own? I love the magnetic snap closure, too. So, you can see that I go the better of her. Silly sister.

Not only that, but inside was a surprise!

Another little bag--a round drawstring bag of pretty blue and brown fabric with a linen lining. It's very sturdy and just the right size. As a thank you, I have started her a pair of Vertigo Socks in the yarn she chose as second place--Pagewood Farm Glacier Bay in Mocha.

I wish I could point you to my sister's shop so you could buy one of her Sweet Shrub Designs bags, but she is not actively selling them right now. If you'd like one, though, let me know and maybe I can beg her to make a custom one for you. She does beautiful work.

I also just finished a late Mother's Day present for my mom.

You guessed it--more Pagewood Farm! This time it's Aleyeska in Pretty Pastels.

They are as soft as a lamb's ears, I tell ya! Hope Mom loves them.

It was a great visit with family, and I am glad to be back home. I have so much to show you, so I'll be back soon with more knitting and maybe some crochet, too.

Happy Tuesday to you!

See Ya Soon!

Hi!

Just popping in to say that I will be away from the blog for a couple of weeks while we are visiting with family down south.

I finally started reading up on some Knit and Crochet Blog Week posts today and plan to continue trying to catch up on those over the next few days. For the past couple of weeks I had a design project that had me squarely by the throat and in a mighty tight grip, I might add. I think I have it figured out now and hope to reveal the whole thing around mid-May.

Thanks, as always, for checking in and reading my little blog.

I'll be back soon with some fun posts!

Until then, happy yarn fun!

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2013

Sadly, I have to sit this one out. I find myself smack dab between publishing two new patterns and just discovered I have to redo the next one! Full speed ahead!

By all means, though, do what I'm going to do--read as many of the blog posts as you can this week.

Start with Eskimimi, the founder of the event. 

Do another thing that I did. Buy one of her patterns to thank her for arranging this every year. 

(I bought the Flutter Butterfly Mittens pattern--so pretty!)

One more thing--have fun!

Ivywalk Stole

The Ivywalk Stole is released!

I put together these stitch patterns a couple of years ago and it has waited all this time to be knit. I think it was supposed to wait, because this way I was able to use Wendee's scrumptious Entice yarn. Hazel Knits yarn is one of my favorites, because Wendee is a superb dyer and you can always count on superior quality from her. I have made many items with Hazel Knits yarn and have never ever been disappointed.

This was my first try with Entice, and believe me, you want to knit with this yarn. I loved this colorway, which my daughter Natalie helped me choose back in February when we were shopping at Madrona in the Fiber Gallery booth. Wendee named it Hoppy Blonde because of beer, but I also was reminded of honey and of flaxen locks. It has hints of both yellows and golden browns and everything in between.

This stole pattern is fun to knit because it's a bit challenging in places. I love how the feather and fan edging works great with the Stockinette stitch areas between the diamond shapes of the border, which has a bit of twisted-stitch cable going on. I also love that the ivy leaf pattern had me really stymied when I first began knitting it, but then made sense as I got on to the third rep or so. These stitch patterns help a hand-dyed yarn like this one to shine, because there are plenty of Stockinette stitch areas amongst all the lacy parts.

Thanks to Wendee for the yarn, to Natalie for the help with color choice and with photographing the stole, and to both Natalie and Tracey for getting out the kinks!