For the Frill of it! Ruffle Up the Needles

Kim Hargreaves

OK..so the world has gone all Ruffly. Well, if you can't beat 'em ...Join 'em! especially with all the wonderful yarns for Fall and the patterns galore that take their inspiration from the Ruffled Up Runways this season. This one started me running for the needles

Anthropologie


Don't want to go too far with it??...just start with an Accent Piece- a Scarf or Wrap-Here are some favorites---use a yummy yarn in a glorious color!

All Ruffled Up from the Stitch PoetAmy Swenson Ruffle FluffTrinket Kim HargreavesRuffled Edge Wrap Vogue KnittingLuscious Cowl SweaterBabeLace Scarf Leslie ScanlonEveryday Wrap Julie WeisenbergerRuffled Scarf Kirsten Hipsky

Want to flirt a little more with flounces ---go for it!!
Flamenca Tina Whitmore

Ruffled Cardigan Vogue KnittingVogue Knitting



This one is on my needles---very kitteny!!

Lion Neck Wendy Bernard

A Sweater AfFAIR-Classic Fair Isle Inspiration

Every knitter loves the Fall...new yarns, gorgeous patterns, crunchy knits in glorious colors. I think this Fall's designs are among the best collections in many years---I don't know where to start! There are books and skeins and needles all over the place as I rework and redesign and just play! Love it!!

I really cannot remember a time when I was not a knitter. I try to think back to what brought me to cast on my first stitches. I do remember falling in love with a sweater and thinking "I can make that!" Whenever I walk into a shop or open a magazine or catalogue I have sweater radar and zoom right into designs that inspire. I am famous for standing outside a shop with a pad and pen and scribbling and sketching something I just saw(not polite to do it in the shop!)

Drops

Somehow,however, I always turn back to go forward. I love classic. The new knitting has been a lot about architecture-form, fit, angles...and its all fabulous and interesting and fun to knit as it pushes us as knitters to knit out of the box. For my knitting style,however, I find particularly at this time of year that I am reaching for design that fits any mood and any decade. Sweaters my Mother wore and sweaters that are a joy to knit.

Vogue Knitting

Vintage Vogue is a great resource that inspires me , but I often turn to Ralph Lauren who has never strayed very far from bringing looks that echo history yet move easily in a new age.

Ralph Lauren has captured classic and made traditional style his own with his design signature that echos classic American Prep, Western Prairie, Ski Chic,English Country House and Grace Kelly Elegance. Time and again the Lauren runway returns to the classic Sweater Girl look and it often starts with one of my favorite techniques to knit come fall -Fair Isle. Lauren was doing this in the 80s

and he is still doing it today...it works forever.

Fair Isle knitting is as old as knitting itself, so many traditions and many different names for the same technique from all over the world-Great Britain of course, Icelandic/Scandinavian ski design, South America with gorgeous rich colors from Peruvian textiles...It is really a simple thing,it just looks complicated, and it is always beautiful. Fair Isle knitting involves a repetitive pattern done in multiple colors-usually two colors at a time. I love the process of planning a Fair Isle-skeins of color to mix and match...deciding whether to do an all over look or just at the cuff or collar

Nichole Reese for Vogue

...be it a Traditional Icelandic look Lopi
a Peruvian palette Michele Rose Orne
or Veddy British Style Kim Hargreaves

my fall knitting bags are never without at least one project incorporating fair isle. Open any catalogue and you will always find inspiration Gorsuch

and that is when I run for the needles! Here are some of my favorite patterns incorporating Fair Isle knitting techniques---where to start!!! Have fun!

Icelandic Inspiration :

Verena,Veronik Avery for Interweave,Patons,Pam Allen for Classic Elite,Veronik Avery,Drops, Drops,Champagne Maker-Stitch Poet

Sweater Girl

Drops,Katie Davies,Ysolda Teague,Tammy Eigeman Thompson,Pam Allen for CEY,Robin Melanson for Twist Collective

From Around the Globe

Jenn Jarvis for Vogue,Mary Jane Mucklestone for CEY,Michel Rose Orne for CEY

In the Clutch...and on the Needles!

Strawberry Clutch, Kate Gilbert


Inspired by my shopping for a Clutch Player in The Shopping Bag Chronicles, I thought why not Cast-On-A-Clutch...here are some Favorites!!

The Chip Bag, Champagne Maker-StitchPoet

Make Up Bag,Joelle Meir Rioux-Vogue Knitting


Twitterpated,Zephyr Style


Downtown Clutch, Cirilia Rose


Encore, Champagne maker-StitchPoet


Buckle Bag, Cecily McGowan MacDonald, Vogue Knitting



Ashley Cabled Clutch Celia Cheng, Cafe Knitter

Flamenco, Noni Designs


In a Clutch, Champagne Maker -StitchPoet


Shell Seekers, Champagne Maker StitchPoet



Quick and Classy Cabled Clutch, Sarah Marie Fuchs-One Skein Wonders


Bow Clutch, Julie Hines, Vogue Knitting

Coco, Janine LeCras, MagKnits

A Mid Summer's Knit Dream-Confessions of a Knitter's Season

Medano Beach,Heidi Kirrmaier

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing
at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was
knitting!
Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the
trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL
OVER!"
"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"

I dream in skeins of yarn. Knitting patterns dance in my head while I go about my day...they tap me on the shoulder in the middle of emails and meetings telling me to shorten the sleeve, knit in alpaca, use two strands... 24-7 I am a KNITTER. I have been known to fall asleep with a skein of yarn by my side, a knitting needle in my hair and a pile of patterns under my feet.

I can become crazed over a skein of yarn, or completely enthralled with a pattern that must get cast on at once. I can walk through a shop, open a catalogue, or look through a magazine, spot even a smidge of a sweater/scarf/jacket and HAVE to make it! I have so many torn out pages that I have sent me running to yarn shops or digging through my yarn bins to duplicate. This one keeps me up at night!
Lutz and Patmos

I am also Color CRAZY. I can be haunted by a shade for weeks on end. I will spend hours searching through shops and drive miles to hunt down THE perfect match to what I have in my head-this week it is all about Tangerines and Mandarin Oranges, last month it was Pale Pistachio, or was that Tiffany Box Blue?? or Faded Denim??

Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Fortunately there are others out there like me, completely in love with knitting fibers and the process of designing the perfect pattern to get on the needles. My yarn shop friends know to just let me play and that I will know it when I see it.

Anacapa,Kendra Knitta from Knitting in the Sun by Kristi Porter

I am always planning the next project-OK, I am always Planning the next 20 projects-grabbing a sleeve from here and a neck from there and a yarn inspiration from there...I see a yarn and think "oooh, what can I do with that?" I clean out stash and stumble upon treasures forgotten and grab pattern notebooks and scour them for ideas to match my loot.

Nantucket Red,Thea Colman

The knitting needles Never rest, even in the Summer, but in the summertime I do approach my knitting a bit differently. The projects are quicker, smaller, leisurely, easy on the brain cells-perfect for kick off your shoes, put up your feet, grab a cool drink, a good book just and sit and knit!

Boathouse Row, Champagne Maker, The Stitch Poet

Since February I have been planning and plotting and playing with my summer ideas-the fiber is cotton, which I adore all year, maybe some linen mixed through! The projects of the season are chosen to let me knit while I read, or knit while I catch up on episodes of Mad Men. I pick projects and design ideas that down shift the brain, a the brain never closes! There is no off switch to this affliction except to Run for the Needles...

Flair, Wendy Bernard

...and the needles rarely stop! I am finishing the Medano Beach Bag (above) while typing this actually! As the end of July nears I am in "Get it Done!" mode...I want to finish up the true summer styles and move into transition knitting...I know the new fall patterns are knocking on the door shortly. I am giving myself permission,however, to stop looking at the calendar and JUST KNIT!

In the summer before the fall patterns really start to capture me I follow some simple steps for my knitting. All projects designed kick back, slow the brain and leave space to plan the knitting season ahead!!

Here are some very simple steps I TRY to follow to make the most of my Summer Knits-Enjoy!!!

1.Be Inspired- LOVE your pattern, no on-the-fence, wishy washy emotions here, find the "Have to Make it"

Empire Waist Top, Mari Lynn Patrick



Buttercup, Heidi Kirrmaier

Paper Crane, Kirsten Johnstone

Pam Allen

2. Fall in Love-Buy yarns that talk to you, if you are spending time working with a yarn it should jump off the yarn shelf and follow you home. For summer buy cottons, linens, organics-light breezy and soft in colors that make you smile:
Ellie's Reclaimed Cashmere

Misti Pima Silk Handpaint

Tilli Tomas


3. Follow that Stitch-Sometimes there are patterns that haunt me til I cast them onto needles-I will not rest til I start knitting:
Gisela,Julie Weisenberger

Shoreline Cape, Stitch Poet

4. One and Your Done! Not all One Skein Wonders but this time of year QUICK and FUN are the keys-Instant Gratification:

Liesl, Ysolda Teague

Take Me to New York, Stitch Poet



5. Places to Go... Things to Do ! Choose a project that is portable, not bulky unless you are knitting in the A/C...a few skeins should do it:
Kimono Beach,One Ball Knits

Pleated Wrap, Debbie Bliss

Lace Shrug, Heather Bagni


Montego Bay, Amy Singer

6. NO Heavy Lifting! You need brain dead-miles of garter or straight knitting with wonderful yarn that does all the work for you!
Garter Stitch Swingy Jacket, Jenn Pellerin

Blossom Shop, The Stitch Poet

Three Way Wrap, Ingrid Nickols

Never Want to Let You Go! Follow the Flock and Fall in Love, Swans Island Spins a New Yarn!

If you ever have been fortunate enough to wrap yourself in a blanket, scarf or wrap from Swans Island you know the true definition of simple luxury! I consider Swans Island blankets to be Elegant Comfort Food for the Soul and Self-from a loom. Each piece is woven by hand from wool from their own Corriedale sheep. The wool is spun by Green Mountain Spinnery in Vermont then back to Swans Island in Northport Maine where the magic happens.

It was a joy to visit their showroom in Northport Maine. The studio is housed on a 17 acre farm along the beautiful mid-coast of Maine in an 18th century farmhouse. It is much like visiting a gallery as you stand and look at blankets and wraps and baby blankets all hanging to be admired but be sure to touch-that is where the connection begins.

I am far from alone in my appreciation and genuine adoration of Swans Island. The line has grown and expanded and received wonderful press because it is the real thing, bound to tradition, committed to the belief that beauty and utility are not mutually exclusive. Swans Island is authentic, each piece created with care and love for the work put in, an original. Yet, the beauty is so basic, so simple, so easy, from Swans Island.

This spring Michele Obama became a fan. Mrs. Obama needed an American handcraft to present as a gift to the Prime Minister of Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, a blanket of green and yellow was selected and she reportedly fell in love with Swans Island as does anyone who just touches one... and now they are giving every knitter a gift... and I am in love!

How exciting to discover that my favorite blanket company(the best baby gift any baby can receive) has introduced their first skeins of yarn! There are two weights-fingering, at approx 568 yds a hank, and worsted weight at 250yds. Approximate retail per skein is $29.99. The colors are lovely, soft blues, yellow, tweedy beige, natural, gem purple,happy pink,rich blue...I do hope they replicate the colors they use in their blankets soon but believe me I had no problem finding colors, what I did have a problem with was putting down the skeins...I just want to walk around with them all day! Knitters run for the needles...I don't know that any other wool will do after playing on Swans Island.

Planting Seed-Stitches! Run for the Needles-Spring Knitting Blossoms

Little Cotton Rabbits

The skies are grey. The Home Opener was postponed. The gardens are covered in winter kill as the buds and bulbs struggle to show their faces...I need Spring!

Blue Sky Alpacas

So what do I do? Head for the Yarn Shop!

Classic Elite-Heather Bagni

I have packed away the winter projects of wools and the skeins of tweeds and Alpaca. It's Cotton-Time! Drapey cardigans, Elegant Tanks, Shrugs and wraps and easy to wear in Colors that make you smile. Skinny yarn, Luxurious cotton blends, Eco-inspired fibers. The spring patterns have arrived like a welcome bouquet.

Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2009

Spring knitting used to be an after thought. The season is so very short--in New England often we get a handful of true spring days and then a heat wave. With this winter filled with storms and ice I found myself digging in the stash for cotton and garden colors and got an early start. I couldn't wait til the yarns and patterns hit the shelves but they are here now and there are some welcome surprises.

Noro-Jane Ellison

Rowan -Sarah Hatton

The yarns this year are eco-concious, natural, simple and clean-many organic based with a mix of cotton and other natural organic fibers like corn and bamboo. My favorites can be found with Rowan of course-I love Milk Cotton and Purelife Organic Cotton DK, and Handknit Cotton . Patterns from Classic Elite, Ella Rae, French Girl Knits,Interweave... are all in queue. Drapey, lace filled, elegant, stitch intensive,shaped and sheer, cropped and cute,clean and classic...pick up a skein and get started-you will feel the season beneath your needles.

Rowan-Sarah Hatton

Rowan Sarah Hatton


Interweave-Hannah Fettig-Now on the Needles!


Some of my other favorites from the spring collections:



Interweave-Olga Buraya-Kefelian Vogue Knitting-Shiri Mor

Classic Elite-Cecily Glowik -Now on the Needles!

Debbie Bliss Twist Collective-Fiona Ellis
Vogue Knitting-Shiri Mor

Baby It's COLD Outside! Who Cares...Run for the Needles, The Winter Vogue Knitting

Winter is a Knitter's Season. We don't care about snow and ice and frigid temps...you can find us curled up with skeins of alpaca, mohair, merino, cashmere...and the new Vogue Knitting. Quick Knits... Cables... and Color! That will get me through til the driveway thaws...

Knit One...Give One-A Few of My Favorite Things

Knitting is truly THE Giving Art. The joy from watching something tangible, useful and beautiful appear from my needles always surprises me. I admit that I am a selfish knitter but I am not selfish in sharing my love of knitting. I try to convert every non-knitter I meet and I love spending time with other knitters, sharing our projects and ideas. For the knitters I love and the non-knitters I love that I drive nuts trying to push yarn and needles on...here are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Meet my new best friend Irene. Irene and her BFF,designer, artist and knitter Barbara Benjamin Haines have created my favorite new treasure KnitBliss from A to Z starring Irene of course.

Barbara and Irene have also created a precious mitten kit. Visit their Etsy shop

Lantern Moon does the only tape measures you will ever want, tie one on a package, build a knitter's kit with a pattern, yarn and their needles
around it-you may want to use one of their fabulous baskets to fill.



I think that one of the nicest knitter's indulgences is a beautiful case to carry and keep needles. Lantern Moon has beautiful silk cases for sets, individual needles and projects



Finding your gauge is never fun...until now. This is too cute from Karatstix

I collect skeins of yarn. I fill baskets and drape them and really decorate with luscious fibers, mixed and handpainted and soft and...Wrap up a skein of yarn that maybe your knitter wouldn't splurge on for themselves..can you say Cashmere!! Love Be Sweet and any gift from them would be a hit!
This is Magic Ball...it could change your life!

Of course a great knitting bag is essential!!! Treat them to Orla Kiely
I think one of the BEST gifts you can give is your knowledge. Create a fun Gift Certificate for Knitting Lessons and wrap it with some needles, yarn and a cute tape measure. Create a new knitter!

Give a subscription to Vogue Knitting or to the new Twist Collective. Support your local yarn shop and give a gift certificate wrapped with the latest Rowan book.

Remember to donate anything from your stash to local nursing homes or to Sue Manning's Knitting Connection
erhaps the best Knitting Basket you can ever give comes from Heifer InternationalFour wool producing animals for a family to produce woolen goods to help them sustain themselves.
Some of my favorite new books would finish your gifting to inspire!

A Whole New TWIST!- Run for the Needles...Twist Collective Winter Issue

Kate Gilbert's Sweet Pea Coat

I am a magazine junkie...if it has pages I subscribe to it. There are piles of unread issues that I never seem to have time to catch up with and loose leaf notebooks stuffed with pages of design details, fabrics, recipes, wonderful inns, great bags...and of course knitting ideas!

The magazines I always find time for are my knitting magazines, but lately they have let me down...not a lot that grabbed my needles---that was until the Twist Collective

Technically the Twist Collective is not a magazine but a Webzine, you don't flip through the pages...you click through the pages. Now the whole on-line magazine/periodical thing, webzines, has not caught on with me. I still like the feel of the New York Times in my hand, and love to curl up on a rainy day with a pile of unread Vogues and Traditional Homes and Town and Countrys and...You can't curl up with a laptop and you can't tear the pages out!

That is why I was skeptical when I first heard about The Twist Collective--a knitting magazine on-line???? How could that work??? Tuulia Salmela's Cabled Cuff Gloves


WOW... was I WRONG!! This is not your Mother's Knitting magazine!!What a Joy! The new Winter Twist is ready and online and it is just beautiful!! A visual treat filled with lovely articles with the centerpiece of course being the collection of patterns that will have you running for the needles!

Mari Muinonen's Sylvi

Twist Collective was started by a group of creative talented knitters led by Kate Gilbert as Creative Director. The Collective was formed as a way to present wonderful designers' work and feature gifted writers. Patterns are available for sale through the Twist Collective site and I love the instant gratification of my printer popping out the patterns so I can get right to it!

Everything about the issues are refreshing. There are lots and lots of places you can download free patterns but this really is a Magazine. I certainly would pay to subscribe to it so I have no problem with the nominal download charge of $7.00 or so per pattern, plus you only pay for the patterns you want(I wanted everything!).
Jennifer Lippman-Bruno's Heroine

There are no yarn reviews per se or "shop talk"- just lovely verse, fun and informative pieces that you want to read again and again by terrific knitters in the know and writer's who just breath to knit... such as Knitter's Review Clara Parkes, the Mason Dixon ladies, Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne as the "Problem Ladies" offering advice and help and articles such as Melanie Marten's timely "In Defense of Selfish Knitting!-you better believe it!
Connie Chang Chinchio's Broderie

Each yummy page on the Twist Collective has up close details, beautifully photographed by Sadie Dayton, and bits of info... simply scroll over a design for details on materials, the designer and price info. The issues are divided into themed segments---DO NOT miss Critter Comforts featuring the magical watercolors of Eloise Narrigan (Eloise has an ETSY Shop--go visit!)

Pam Allen's Ariosa Cowl

Twist Collective is published quarterly. There is also a monthly newsletter(my only gripe is that there was no newsletter announcing the new issue, at least I didn't receive one) and a wonderful Blog filled with great "behind the scenes" , yarn discussion and tips and talk. Anne Hanson's Fantasia Shawl

Unlike traditional knitting magazines the yarn companies don't drive the content... the designers do! Designers are paid a"healthy" percentage of their pattern sales rather than a flat fee. Yes, there are ads but they are scattered throughout and blend nicely with the content so you are not thumbing or scrolling through pages of ads to get to the meat of the issue-the patterns!
Robein Melanson's Stormsvale

Ysolda Teague's Vivian

Twist is changing not only how patterns are sold and delivered, but also how on line magazines are presented. I hope the publishing planet is watching...it can be done well! Go Visit..Go Play!

Take it from the Top-The Sweet Potatuh Sweater

You're the top! You're the Coliseum.
You're the top! You're the Louvre Museum.
You're the melody from a symphony by Strauss.
You're a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse!
You're the Nile! You're the Tow'r of Pisa.
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa.
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop!
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top! Cole Porter




I suffer from a disorder...ADKD, Attention Deficit Knitter's Disorder...I am always itching to move to the next project, always designing the next thing up on the needles...I can't wait to finish what I am working on so I can start casting on the next great thing!!

That is why I am so excited to have rediscovered Knitting from the Top, or Neck Down Knitting...when you are done..you are done! Move on..cast on the next one..Love that!

Here is the sweater that brought me back to knitting on a circular needle (Hello! great for traveling!!...What have I been thinking , poking the person in the seat next to me...)From the Top...now Off the needles...

Love this pattern... it is Pamela Wynne's February Lady Sweater which can be found on Ravelry

I have always made lots of sweaters in the round, but from the bottom which gives you a more yokey look(great for Icelandics). Knitting from the neck allows for more drape and you can try it on as you go to see if you like what you are doing, the length of the sleeves.... The neck is often more open knitting this way, which is why it is used for baby patterns so often,

Nashua Handknits Leaf Yoke Cardigan

but you can cast on fewer stitches and increase out as you go. When knitting from the neck down you just have to be sure you mark your sections off properly and keep track of your rows and you are good to go.

Here are some ideas done From The top to inspire...Have fun, you'll be on to the next project before you know it!!

Chic Cables and Lace Cowl Neck from Sweaterbabe

Wendy Bernard's Ingenue from

Shalom Cardigan from Meghan McFarlane's blog Involving the Senses


Flair from Wendy Bernard's Knit and Tonic

Vine Lace Top Down from SweaterBabe

Good Reads for the Neck Up to Knit from the Neck Down

Better than Mac and Cheese...Run for the Needles!

I know, I know...it has been a wild, rough and tumble week. Unless your name is Warren Buffet the news has not been cheerful. Stock tickers combined with the noise from the election, which even this political junkie has had enough of, you may just want to crawl under the covers...not so fast!...not without your knitting.

I admit to knitting a la Madame Defarge this week....through debates and playoff games and Dramamine rides on Wall Street- I have gone running for my needles!

How to cope...well, not a lot you can do and that is maddening in and of itself...so you might as well breathe and knit! This is knitting season!! and no matter the news casting on a new project always brings us back to what matters most...yarn! So much better than Macaroni and Cheese to provide comfort don't you think?!

Where to start??? Here are some thoughts to get you to turn off CNN and run for the needles!


1. Take a walk outside!!! The colors this season are Amazing!! Golds and Reds and Crimsons...made me crawl through the stash to pull "leaf peep" colors to work with...

I spent the early part of the week winding yarn, Manos and Montera. I am knitting Michele Rose Orne's Walk in the Woods from her Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits. Taking so many elements from the woods around Michele's (and my) beloved Maine. I loved this pattern the instant I turned the page and have been playing with the colors to make it my own. I also love working a chart pattern after a summer of yarn overs. A great hint for this type of knitting is to skip the tiny balls and butterflies and just cut strands for each color section as you work...there will be lots of tails to deal with but your knitting will move faster and with less tangles.

2. Go Shopping..DON'T buy it, Knit it! The mailbox is filled to the brim with magazines and catalogues. Flip through the fall mags and catalogues for projects. I love Anthropologie for design ideas...They are knitters I am sure of it!! you can see that in the original and unique styles. Here are some favorites on their racks and pages that got me designing...

This is on my needles next from Sweaterbabe -Love her patterns-cozy, yummy, quick to knit and Very Anthropologie!

This Ralph Lauren capelet reminded me that I want to knit this one from The Stitch Poet

3. DON'T UNravel..Ravel-It!! I found a wonderful Calvin Klein sweater and knew it was too great not to knit

Nordstrom

I played on Ravelry and found a few different patterns that were close

and then went and wrote my own version to work with my Chocolate Ultra Alpaca...now on my needles but here is Eva wearing it...

Ravelry is a wonderful place to organize your knitting planet. It is also one of the best places to get ideas and inspiration and information for your next project. Here are some of my Fall "Gotta Knits"...in the Ravelry queue...


Interweave
Deborah Newton Knit Scene

Veronik Avery ,Interweave

DROPS Designs

Woolen Collectibles

Gedifra

Classic Elite

Sirdar

Dolce Handknits

Woolen Collectibles



4. Last but NEVER least... you need to laugh!!

Don't Shrug it Off...It's Just a Litle Something

Undertow The Stitch Poet Fresco Shrug by Kristen TenDyke for CEY

It is only the 2nd of September and it never fails, every year the minute you turn the page from Labor Day the air changes course en route to the W word. I'm not ready to toss the flip flops just yet but I am ready to play with my fall projects. So maybe just a little something!!??

Boat House Rows from The Stitch Poet

Do you want a portable project to sit at the games and knit? Maybe you have fallen madly in love with some of the new yarns like me and don't want to melt your credit card by buying 20 skeins to make something from it. Or maybe you just love being finished fast! so you can start the next project!...

Shoreline Cape The Stitch Poet

This season pattern collections are filled with sweet and sassy, warm and wonderful, fun and flirty capelets, shrugs, wraps... to knit up and throw on whenever there is a hint of chill...Run for the Needles, these are some of my favorite Little Somethings...

Cabled Wraplet from DROPS /Garn Studio

Fair Isle Capelet,Michele Rose OrneInspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits

Lily of the Valley Shrug ,Michele Rose OrneInspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits

Deborah Newton's Tweedy Waistcoat Interweave

Loppem by Norah Gaughan for Berroco

Juliet from Zephyr Style

Stacey Charles Merino Lacey Bobble Striped Capelet

Teva Durham's Capelet with Buttons Loop-D- Loop

The Stitch Poet's Wrapigan

Anne Hanson's Gnarled Oakwoods, The Twist Collective

Pam Allen's Montera Shawl,CEY Star Shawl from Berroco

Embelished Shawl from DROPS /Garn Studio

Run for the Needles-Inspired to Knit from Michele Rose Orne

(Interweave Press)

I am a Pattern-a-holic,think I've mentioned that before... I collect books and patterns and leaflets and ...I have every Vogue Knitting since the start . When I know the new VK is coming I can't wait to run to the mailbox. I plan a special night to curl up and read it cover to cover then go back through it with sticky notes and make notes of what yarn to pull from the stash.
(Vogue Knitting)
Some issues are more fulfilling than others but I have them all and there are issues that I go back to time and again. So of course like every August I couldn't wait for the new Vogue... Well, maybe I could have. I have been through it a few times now looking for something to say "Go get the needles" but there are only a couple of designs that I am pondering and that got my fingers itching. Overall it seems a bit recycled to me but I know I will find myself doing the seed stitch cardigan by Cathy Carron(below) and I love the return of Mittens! This is a fun issue but maybe after devouring the ecent VK editions my expectations for what should be the best issue of the year were a bit high...good but I want to be Inspired...

(Vogue Knitting)...Which ia why I am so excited by this new book. Maybe my reaction to the Fall Vogue is because on the same day I received my copy of Michele Rose Orne's wonderful book aptly titled Inspired to Knit This book stands apart from any recent book I have seen. This is a book to cherish, a joy, a book for Knitters! You know from page one that Michele loves everything about the process. She is a Knitter too and gets that not everyone knits for perfection but for passion. Her patterns are a mix of every reason we love to knit...the yarn, the design, the patterns, the joy of just sitting and watching something wonderful flow from your needles.

There are patterns for every level and will make you want to stretch your skills and do what I love...play! Whether you love yarn or patterns or technique or just sitting and knitting, or you are like me and love it all , this is a great book to own and read and use. Some of the designs will take your breath away and keep you up at night deciding what to make first and which yarn to use and colors and... (Interweave Press)
I adore the process and am happiest sitting on the floor surrounded by yarn designing my next project so for me this book is a treasure as Michele discusses her inspirations and thoughts behind each pattern and encourages you to play with your own ideas. I have always been such a huge fan of Michele's and was so excited that she was finally doing a book of her own. So the new Vogue got tossed aside...I absolutely love this book, the patterns of course, but the layout and care of explanation. The "story" boards of inspiration and seasonal themes are fabulous. Not sure which one to start with but my guess is the cover will be on the needles soon. Have a Manos stash so hope to have enough colors to tackle the Walk in the Woods. Thank you Michele...finally a book to make me go running for my needles!

Sheep at The Beach-The Summer Knitting Season

(Miss Bea's Seaside-Rowan)

Too Short! That's what the Summer knitting season, much like Summer itself, is all about. After countless Summers of knitting myself nuts trying to get Summer knitting done before Labor Day, only to be met with a September of -"OMG! its Fall and I haven't started ANY Fall knitting",I learned to STOP knitting myself in circles and just sit and knit.

Summer knitting, actually knitting anytime of year, should be stress-free, no deadlines, no anxious moments(unless of course you are dealing with a pattern written with holes in it). Breathe...so what! if it doesn't get done by Labor Day, so what! if you tuck it away til next year, so what! if Fall comes and you are still knitting pink cotton..its OK!!! THAT is what knitting should be in your life...the place that it is OK to work at your own pace and on your own schedule. Here are some ideas to make Beach Bag Knitting what it should be...Relaxing and fun!:

1. Love It!!-Choose a project you love-this works anytime of year but in the shortest knitting season find something you are crazy about working on and who cares when you finish it...it is ALL about the knitting not the calendar...I love cables so one of my summer projects(and I promise it will not get done this summer but will continue right into the Fall) is this cable cardigan from Sirdar

(Rams Wool)

2. Day Off and Done!-Work on a project that knits up quickly...a flirty little top, bag or cardigan...love this Blue Sky Eyelet Cardigan and this quick cable clutch -switch out the bulky wool for a thick ribbon yarn, throw a great button on for a closure and go out to dinner!

(Blue Sky Alpacas) (Keep it Simple Designs)


3. Carry Along Swatching-Try NEW thing...play with new stitches or teach yourself a new "trick"...for me this summer's "Knitting outside the Box" is Lace...work on carry along swatches with scrap yarn til you "get it" then go play!! For my Lace lessons I Love this shrug from Kim Dolce and Classic Elite's Fan and Feather cardigan is in the works...

(Dolce Handknits) (Classic Elite)

4. Keep it Cool-Don't knit on Sweaty yarn-Mohair is NOT a Beach Bag yarn-yuck! Smooth cottons and silks are perfect...this year is the best with loads eco-friendly yarns to try. I love Rowan's Pure Life Organic Cotton-DK

(Rowan)

5. Dumb Dumb Knitting is OK!!!,not every project has to have your full attention especially when you are sitting by the lake-actually some of my favorite projects are Dumb Dumb projects...summer is a good time to put your brain on cruise control-find a great yarn you love and knit in garter stitch!! Love this adorable jacket from Kim Dolce. You can knit and read a good book at the same time!

(Dolce Handknits)

6. No Heavy Lifting! 'Tis the season for portable projects...might seem silly to work on a scarf or socks but they are easy to carry and worked in a light yarn make the perfect "take me to the pool" project. Try afghan squares!!...one of my favorites...The Great American Aran Afghan from Knitter's Magazine

(The Great American Aran Afghan)



7. Organize-summer is a great time to organize your stash, figure out what you have-hop on Ravelry and pop it all in one place so when you find that perfect Fall pattern you can check what you have in your own "stock" and start knitting right away.

8. Finish it!-Pull out a project from last Summer -you started it for a reason so see if you still love it enough to finish it this summer

9. Gift it-OK no one wants to think about it but the summer is a great time to do some gift knitting-simple portable projects like socks and scarves...you may be able to cross a few people off your list by Sept.! Check out Handknit Holidays and Holiday Knits for inspiration ...



10. Pattern Prep-I am always planning the next project...the line circles the globe with all the things I want to knit next. Much like organizing your stash pattern prep is a fun way to figure out what you have in the baskets and files that may be next in line. The Container Store has cute files and organizers to pop the patterns into by categories-cables, aran, lace, scarves, socks, bulkies. cardigans, shawls...Ravelry is also a great place to keep all the dream projects in one spot and see what others are doing with the patterns you love...

11. Yarn Tours-if you are on the road traveling this summer visit the LYS in the spots you are vacationing. Visiting new yarn shops is so much fun...great way to meet new knitting friends and find yarns and patterns that your local LYS may not carry-if you are traveling abroad this can be the best part of the trip...in France especially there is a yarn shop on every corner...skip the patisserie-go buy some gorgeous yarn! Knitters Magazine publishes a Shop Finder-toss it in the tote.

12. Read and Knit-Yup, you can do both-keep the knitting and the reading light and you won't drop a stitch. Here are some Good Yarns...

Confessions of a Yarn Lover

(Knitter's Review)

OK, if you are going to spend time with me...get ready to go yarn shopping, talk cables, swoon over skeins, chat about stash,ponder patterns...I am a Knitter with a capital K.


I dream in yarn. My idea of a good day is playing in a wonderful yarn shop, gathering gorgeous skeins and designing my next project, and the project after that, and after that...

Yes, I am a yarn-a-holic, thank goodness! I cannot imagine my world without yarn. Every room in my house has yarn, lovingly arranged as I arrange vases of flowers with careful attention to color that work with the design 0f the room. I love to play with yarn and the good news is...I am not alone!

Admit it...you have bags of yarn under the bed. There is yarn in the trunk of your car, your basement, your attic, your closets...under your bathroom sink, in the freezer!?? Well maybe just the angora and mohair are in the freezer.

There are knitters who love to knit, getting lost in the stitches, watching the fabric grow beneath their fingers, falling into the world of a cable while whatever else that has gone on that day fades away. I LOVE to knit! I have been known to knit through a day without remembering to eat or to run home form the office to finish a sleeve. There are also knitters who have a passion for yarn, I will make the argument that not all knitters are yarn lovers. I have seen people knit on "twine" and be happy. As much as I love to knit, need to knit, I am a yarn snob. There now the world knows. The yarn matters! Not just to inspire, but also to define. An Aran sweater can be knit in any "basic"...but there IS a difference. You can knit in a basic worsted and end up with a nice sweater, or you can knit in a yummy blend or a wool spun with a "hand" that will make you grab your needles and knit an heirloom. I have been known to stop people in a shop and say "do you really want to knit with that?"

If I had not spent the amount of time in yarn shops that I have in my life then I might think that I could possibly have some issues-afterall skeins of yarn have actually talked to me. I have been known to walk around a shop holding three or four skeins just to have them with me. Sometimes it is the color, sometimes the texture, sometimes just the yummies of it. IF you love yarn you are nodding your head about this passion, and I know that I am NOT alone. Knitters may smile as they pick their yarn for their next project. Yarnies,however, will sit on the floor of a shop with you and play with the skeins!

Skeins of yarn adorn my home and my world. I have skeins that I know will never get knit-they are too beautiful to disturb. I have bought just one skein of a gorgeous handpaint just to pop it into a basket. I will keep a skein on my bedside so I can dream what to knit from it.

Somehow in all the yarn that surrounds me I never have the right match for the design I want to work on next...so I better go yarn shopping! Meet you at the yarn shop...