Patience

 

I have it and I don't have it. 


I don't know how I can sit for 10 hours doing one thing and be mad when somene  is 10 minutes late. I'm usually fine waiting in lines, but I can't stand chatting with the clerk. I can have patience teaching someone for the first time... but not if I've showed them already. 

 

I've decided blankets are a good tool to practice patience.

 

This blanket got me through a long, cold, dark and lonely winter of living alone. I loved it and I love it. 
I used soooooooooo much scrap yarns for this so who knows how many skeins total. I started last winter watching all of the available Downton Abbey episodes, which ran out waaay before my knitting did!
Projects like these are so great for passing time. I looked forward to banging out a few squares each night and paring up fresh colors each time. No two are the same... but I'm sure someday a child will prove me wrong.
I took the time to sew as I went, trying to get rid of all the ends and make strips so the final "sewing up" wouldn't be so daunting. It was still pretty daunting, but it just took a dreary winter day (the following year) to get re-inspired to finish. (Or more likely, bored with all my other endeavors.)
When I started, I had NO bleeeeeping clue I'd have my own yarn store in which to find the perfect border yarn: Manos del Uruguay's Maxima in the color acid. Yeah. It's the best. I also made a sweater out of it. It's probably not the last thing either,  I love the color so hard.
I don't know who will be the recipient of this blanket... a future child maybe? That's what I was thinking when I started. Hopefully it'll be my child, should I be so lucky, but who knows? It's kind of a strange size, bigger than a crib but not quite a twin or lap blanket. Well... it fits my extra long lap perfectly as long as no one wants to share... which is fine, because there's another long, cold, dark and lonely winter of living alone ahead and I need something to cover me for a bit until this winters blanket gets a little bigger.
I'll show you that one next year.

 

 

 

Knitting Green Blog Tour

Welcome to stop #6 on the Knitting Green blog tour! Like all of the other designers before me, I'm quite pleased to be a part of this book and tour. Knitting Green, by Ann Budd, is a great collection of practical and useful projects mixed with informative essays. Flipping through the pages, I found several projects I want to make, which to me is a good sign! Hmmmm, what should I make first??

The Caterina Wrap?

or the Eco Vest?

 

The bike basket, one of my patterns, is made of jute and lined with oilcloth. I'm jazzed that it made the cover!

Many people have asked me who makes the the purse handles, but I'm afraid I don't know. I got them at Brooklyn General, but there was no label or info on them at all, I swear! I'm not just a flake who forgets to write things down. I ordered the beautiful oil cloth from purlsoho.com.

 

The Save the Streams Slippers is also mine and I'm quite pleased with it. The shape is slick and easy to create. It makes use of scraps and tidbits and you can embellish with needle felting, embroidery or keep it simple. I want to make a whole pile!

The blog tour is almost over, but check out the rest of the stops here.

Then head out to your local book store to get your copy of Knitting Green! If they don't have it, check to see if they can order it for you. Most small book sellers are more than willing to special order at no additional cost.

Yarnplay Newsletter

It's been a long time since I last posted. Guess I've been busy dancing, enjoying spring and turning 30! Woah baby. It's a whole new decade and I don't mind it one bit!

I've been working on designing new projects, mostly  simple and fresh ideas for a newsletter called Yarnplay, put out by Lion Brand.

You can sign up for the yarnplay newsletter here and be sure to get the new projects hot off the press!

View all the yarnplay patterns here. They're FREE!!

This month I designed knit & crochet jewelry frames, shown here, that would be a perfect Mother's Day gift. (Or gift to yourself!) Last month I did a cool blanket that folds into a pillow and a funky steering wheel cover...aka, projects for the car!

Very cute and springy ideas are coming up in the next issues, so stay tuned!!

New Book: Knitting Green Conversations and Planet Friendly Projects

I'm excited about this new book by Annd Budd called Knitting Green. (Ok... secret's out, I'm biased because my knitted Bike basket is on the cover, woo hoo! My first cover project!!)

By making things ourselves, we automatically help the earth (I think) because we're not supporting huge, mass-marketed, smog-spewing machines. And by buying patterns like these, you're putting more money into the hands of smaller designers, like me, which feels good, right? I hope so. I also hope that this book will help consumers (like me) learn more about sustainable materials and practices.

Take a look at some of the books projects below. The bike basket is knit using jute twine, lined with a beautiful oil cloth from Kokka Fabrics and finished with yellow purse handles and tabs to snap to your handlebars. I really didn't want to send ithis project in because it looked so cute on my bike! I also did a cute slipper pattern that will fit practically any foot in your family and makes good use of those leftover bits of yarn. You can see photos of the slippers on the last page, below.  Click here for more book information and to pre-order. The book will be available in May!

Knitting Green

Mom's Handmade Holiday

My mom got all handmade gifts from me this year...

 

The Oragami Organizer from One Skein Wonders

 

The "Not-Ugly Car Trash Bag" also from One Skein Wonders

 

A chair cover of my own design

The chair before:

 

And finally, the Praying Mantis from Amigurumi Knits

Look closely...

Can you spy the awesome, Mod podge Magnum PI container I made mom for her birthday in 1987? Not bad for a seven year old!! Of course, my Aunt Wilma did help. On the back I wrote a very inspirational birthday message: "Have a Happy Time!"  surrounded by rainbows. I love that Magnum still has a special spot in mom's room, now joined by a much creepier gift!

 

 



Pile of hats...

I'm still obsessed with sewing, but just a little less since the i-cord border has entered my life. I can't believe I've never done it before! It makes such a nice, clean edge to these hats and a super cute way to add a splash of color. The black and white hat on top is made with bulky yarn and is quite helmety, but I'm into it. I added string ties to one of them and was thinking I'd eventually do it to the rest, but I'm not sure. I like how they look without ties, but it's certainly more practical to have them... for keeping the ear flaps in place and all. Hmmm...

Regardless, I have to decide which one I want, then I'll put the rest in my Etsy shop. I'm hoping to write patterns for them too.

Tiptoe Cardigan for Spud and Chloë

My latest addition to the Spud and Chloë pattern lineup called the Tiptoe Cardigan! I think this is my favorite design yet! I loved working each section a little differently. Even the sleeves! For a hot second I thought it might be too busy, mostly because of teasing from a friend who shall not-be-named, but I'm glad I trusted my own instincts. Adding the fabric flowers really tied it all together and I had so much fun making little fabric yo-yos for this that I really haven't stopped since.

Tiptoe Cardigan for Spud and Chloë by Kim Hamlin

Coordination

When random things line up in unexpected, pretty ways, my heart goes pitter-pat. I like to pay attention and let such moments inspire me. In fact, this is why I wanted to start this blog in the first place... to point out that inspiration is all around. It's not necessary to seek it out, 'work hard' or over think to find it, it's just there.

Some might not think it's worth the few extra dollars to buy fancy patterned page markers over the cheap post-it kind. Some might find page markers in general a frivolous expense... but I use them liberally, so the fact that I now have pretty printed ones instead of florescent yellow (thanks mom!) makes me really happy. It's so small and simple, but it really does brighten my day.  Look...

The page markers completely match the book cover! It's so cute, I just want to leave it laying around so everyone can see how 'together' I am! (ha)

So then later on in the week I was putting away some yarn that I had lost interest in using. It had been sitting around in the drawer/basket/pile for so long I just wasn't inspired by it anymore. Since it was taking up prime real estate in my room, I decided to put it in a storage bin, but then an awesome thing happened. These five skeins lined up next to each other, in this exact order, I kid you not. A perfect color scheme for a baby blanket I had just decided to 'think about' making. And so it was...

And the stitch pattern swatch I have going...

Remarkably close to the page markers and book, wouldn't you say??

 

What I made today

Ok, so to be honest,it's what I made today and yesterday. Mostly yesterday, I just ran out of light to photograph.

I was inspired by this post by Wren Handmade, guest blogging on Design*Sponge, to make fabric yo-yos. I actually made a bunch for a recent sweater design which I can't show yet, but here are some that I grouped together for a necklace. The pink fabric is from a vintage slip and the striped is a yummy silk taffeta. I like adding tiny buttons, especially in groups of three, to spice things up. I pulled out all the stops here, using buttons and fabric I've been hanging onto for a long time, but I'm glad, because it makes the new pieces feel like little treasure chests.

This post by Love Forever, along with the latest Anthropologie catalog showing(see necklaces below) inspired me to make my own version of a collar necklace.

Bit's of lace, many buttons, knit coral, chain, a locket, beads, yo-yo, embroidery... so again, a treasure trove of things I had lying around just waiting for a home.... all atop a piece of wool felt tied with vintage, silk seam binding.

 

 

 

Check out the awesome sloppy seems on the curtain I made! SO obvious with the sun behind them. I'm just not a perfectionist when it comes to sewing. I get started and blaze on through like a tornado. It's a little silly, but usually if you see me sewing, I'm procrastinating. Any "tiny sewing project" quickly turns into a major undertaking, so I just want to "Get er done!"

 

Also, here's a little buddy who'll be joining me at the flea market tomorrow. I found his unfinished form when moving into my studio, so I decided to finish him... or her? Her legs are quite long. Perfect for hopping!