save the whales...

Just recently (like 2 days ago) there was yet another whale rescue attempt off our Southern California coast due to fish netting. And as my heart aches a little for these gentle giants cruising the mighty seas and getting caught up in our commercialization of the ocean, I had to post this awesome knit and pattern from Bec Brittain. I mean, how real does this look? So cool. Check it out here and share the love ♥.

© Bec Brittain

© Bec Brittain

© Bec Brittain

ooohhhh, sweet shawlette of mine...

I really am truly thankful that we live in 2012 where not only are patterns available on-line and available for instant purchase and download 24/7, but in case you do decide to purchase a pattern book via Amazon.com, it arrives within 24 hours on regular shipping. Hence Sweet Shawlettes by Jean Moss arriving on my door step in less than a day. God bless the Internet.

I already knew that Jean Moss' patterns in this book were already going to be Ah-Maz-Ing, but the pictures! Oh the photography is so pretty. The cowls and shawls are pretty. The wording is pretty. The entire book is, well, pretty! And I love pretty things :) Plus, the price ($14.93 via Amazon) is well within reason for all the pretty patterns you get.

First on my queue...the Ceilidh Shawlette. Just look at it below. Pretty. 

Ceilidh Shawlette

I've already ordered my yarn and I'm actually going to change the tartan patten up with a different color palette. Can't wait to get started...

And here are some more pretty patterns from the book. Ahhhh, I'm so in love...

Drift Cowl

Harlequin Cape

Mantilla Shawlette

Kitty Capelet

smock, smock, smock...i like smock...

So, remember when I mentioned somewhere on this blog about all that Lion Brand® Wool-Ease® that I purchased on sale a while back? Well, I still have some left and I'm always trying to find quick, easy, and fun projects to do just so I can get through all that yarn. My latest creation you ask? Why it's a one skein knitted "smock" for a two year old. And when I mean one skein, I really mean one skein. I literally knitted to the last yard; including unraveling my gauge swatch to finish the pocket.

What's really fun about this project is the embellishing part. I added a pocket, some crocheted flowers, and some embroidery, but the ideas are limitless. An knitted owl on a pocket would be super cute; check out Ysolda Teague's pattern on her blog at http://ysolda.com/2009/09/01/hoot/. Or maybe some fun intarsia on the front. Even just an initial on the upper left hand side ala Laverne would be pretty cool. Oh, the creative choices...they're swirling in my head!

I'm including it as a free pattern below (I'm calling them notes really) for nat and callie knits and I can't wait to see what gets made and shown on raverly...yay! Enjoy!

http://www.scribd.com/natandcallie/d/87602031-Smock

Smock

shrug it up...

I just posted on raverly my finished Briar Rose Bolero by Ysolda Teague. It came out super cute and I love the style of it, except...it came out a little bit bigger than I wanted it to. Although in my defense, I have recently lost a cup size (bye bye breastfeeding), so I'm not too broken up about it. 

It was a challenging knit, but I  loved it! You can check it out at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/briar-rose-bolero to purchase and read up on how other knitters conquered this seamless shrug.

The seamless join

Two separate pieces united!

did someone say wool sweater?

Gotta love President Day Sales. Went to Joann’s and bought 5 skeins of Patons 100% new wool for $20. I’m so not kidding. So what does one do with so much bulky yarn you ask? Well, you get on raverly.com and peruse the hundreds of fun patterns to get inspired. In my case, I found Oatmeal Pullover by Jane Richmond and literally debated about whether or not to purchase it or just do my own version. I mean really, it’s a top-down raglan sweater, not the human genome project. But alas, my sheer laziness won out and I figured how can I not support a fellow designer. So off we go…

When I read the gauge that the pattern called for in US 10.5, I thought it was off, and sure enough, it was. By a lot. Unless you’re a REALLY loose knitter, you are not going to get that gauge. I did 3 gauge swatches before I casted on: US 10, US 11, and US 13. I settled on the US 11 - yeah, I’m a loose knitter.

Casted on late evening on February 19th, and by bedtime, I had already knitted 1 skein and finished all the raglan increases and connected the body. Talk about an incredibly fast knit. No joke. If I keep this up I might be done in less than two days. I have to say, so far this is the perfect 1st sweater project for someone hip & young who wants to knit something quickly for themselves and be proud to wear it (aka, all you hipsters out there).

Oh, and a PS about this yarn: It’s soft, lofty, yet holds together very nicely and doesn’t split while knitting as far as a roving yarn goes. I’m actually very surprised and super happy with it considering it was only $20. Score!

I did end up finishing the sweater last night. The only reason it took me longer than it should have to finish is 1) it’s been unseasonably warm in LA the past few weeks - it was 90 degrees on Sunday and who wants to knit heavy, chunky wool in that weather and 2) I’m notorious for knitting one sleeve and then not having the motivation to knit the second. Shame on me.

I made the following modifications:

On the body I knit about 7” from the underarm and began some body shaping by decreasing 4 stitches every other row for 4 rows and then increased back. As for the sleeves, after reading everyone’s comments on the arm area being tight, I picked up 14 stitches. I have lots of room. Next time I might pick up 12 stitches instead. We’ll see. I also lengthened the sleeves and added 8” of ribbing.

My only concern is the raglan increase. I’ve never increased a sweater the way the pattern called for. I understand why (so that it’s tight fitting), but it can look a little weird to a person who knows about knitting.

Overall, I really like this sweater. For the amount of time it does take to knit up it is awesome. Perfect first sweater project for sure ;)

hansel & gretel...

I've just put the pattern out for my 'Hansel & Gretel' hat at my raverly store! It's super cute and has a Latvian Braid in the front, so it's perfect for all those knitters who want a little more of a challenge besides the usual knit/purl combo for a pixie hat. Plus, it's a really fast knit since I use bulky yarn and you can always mix & match colors! Oh, and the hat size I made is for a newborn, which clearly Callie is no longer, but she wanted to wear it anyway. Check it out at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hansel--gretel-3 and buy the pattern now!

awww...

My dear friend Stephanie Bennink took these beautiful pictures of these adorable babies using my hats as props. She's amazing (as you can see), so click here or her button on the right to sign-up for a regular photo session or one of her "Minis" which is a great deal! You won't regret it :)