Knitting Dragonflies

I started this shrug, quick knit but then never got around to quite finishing it. (photos are taken before I had everything woven in and shrug blocked) This was the beginning of my orange phase. You know how you keep buying the same colors, again and again? Well I decided to buy the one I would lease likely pick out. This was the beginning of a love affair with orange, suddenly everything I picked out was orange. I had orange fiber, I was dyeing orange yarn, buying orange clothes… Pattern: Lace Stitch Shrug, Designed by Melissa Matthhay, size M/L made, size was good. Yarn: Nashua Natural Fiber Sassafras, 50% cotton, 50% acrylic (ribbon yarn), 7 balls (I bought 8 balls and did use a fraction of the 8th) Needle: size 10.5 US circular, or one straight for body and a circular for ribbing. Gauge: 13 sts to 4 inches. Alterations: The only thing I did differently was add about 3 inches to the ribbing around the shrug, so it would fold back around the neckline. It was a f

  My DH bought me a Starbucks coffee cup, and the bag was so cute, and I was feeling creative. I decided it was the perfect size to carry some knitting projects to work and back. So I found this tutorial on how to harden paper bags , (with dilute glue), by Lauren Volk. So with a little addition of some stitching, (I stitched over the base of the handles to make them stronger) and I glued a few photos on (careful to remember less is more, don’t succumb to the Bedazzler syndrome, no one with a Bedazzler can put just one stud or rhinestone on an item)). I wrapped some ribbon yarn around the handles and secured it, and painted the whole thing inside and out several times with the glue mix. I did cut a cardboard base to glue into the bag. Careful to set the bag up and shape it as it dries, and there is a fine line between just enough glue layers and too many. (too many make your paper bag brittle) Happy with the result I decided to find some fun fabric and line it. I just trace

I’m in the mood for swmmer and color! Flowers, sun and hot days. Along with tanks, sun hats and skirts, we will need a bright pretty bag, or tote. How about knitting one of these? From I Live on A Farm, a nice study market bag This bag is from Annie Modesitt and was published in Knitty summer 03, I like the raffia, it has such a nice texture. From the Island of Misfit Patterns, Baby’s Got a Brand new Big Bag  (pdf), I think we could even carry our knitting in this! Looks like a good stashbusting project! Hello Yarn has a great Skull and Crossbones tote , I'm casting this on today! And I fell in love with this little Morning Glory purse by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence May your needles fly as fast as Dragonflies… Technorati Tags: knitted bag pattern link , knit , knitting

One of the main reasons I bought the book Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard , is due to this pattern. The model is on the beach looking free and easy, the sweater is oversized and comfortable looking yet complimentary to her figure. And we must always bear in mind that sweaters in books are worn by models, the average size now being a 2-4 US but they actually would prefer a 0. Well as we know, everything looks cute smaller! Never the less, I decided I had to have this sweater. I frogged a ill conceived hoodie from 2 years ago. Of course I had lost all of the yarn info, so I had a mystery amount of it. Slightly bulky with 6 balls I cast on without fear. Since it was top down I hoped I could alter it, if I needed to. Thank goodness for Ravelry, I read all of the helpful comments of those that had gone before me with this pattern and took note. The sweater took off at a great pace. Before I knew it I was on the sleeves! I decided to try to get it done before the week was over!  

I’m on a mission to reduce my stash. I was trying to come up with a good project for some bulky yarn I had. Sitting outside, enjoying watching some birds nesting in my last years knitted bird houses (see pattern 1 and 2 ), I decided to attempt a free form crochet bird house. I decided to base it on the little finch nesting boxes I use to have for my caged birds. Begin with some bulky yarn and a fairly large crochet hook, I used a K size. Chain 4 and join with slip stitch. round 1; Sc 7 times in loop round 2; Now 2sc in each stitch round 3; sc, 2sc, repeat round 4; sc all around, spacing in 2sc 3 times evenly continue round 4 until your base of your bird house is the size you want. Now just sc all around until the house is deep enough to make you happy. Then sc across, turn and go back stopping just short of your beginning of the row, (this is the entrance of the bird house). Continue sc back and forth until the house is tall enough to suit you. Now fold the

I saw this pattern in Knitty Spring 2009 and fell in love with it! The simplicity and style. { rav link }. I had some beige 100% wool yarn and decided to use that instead of the cotton it calls for. And then something happened….. see this post , I wanted color, bold beautiful living color! OK, I had the pattern and the yarn, now ready to cast on! I knitted my gauge swatch , like a good girl should. Ready to go now. Studying the pattern  I kept thinking, it looks a little boxy, I’ll add a little shape to it, maybe some decreasing around the waist…..and I do so wish it was knitted  “ in the round ” sweater. My first sweater attempts were comical, several looked like they were made for Quasimodo , my next phase consisted of neck problems, I couldn’t get my head into the neck or the neck was x rated. I was apparently knitting for an entire sideshow. Then I discovered Elizabeth Zimmerman !  Amazingly, I could knit sweaters to fit, and I loved it! Like a good mystery, you have

The featured Etsy seller is Handmade by Sandi , from Suffolk, Virginia. Below is by Sandi: I learned how to crochet from my mom, many years ago (too many to count). I loved making hats and scarves for family members, as well as crocheted stuffed animals for children. In 2006, after starting chemo treatment for breast cancer, I crocheted myself little hats and skull caps to keep my head warm - even in bed! With the completion of my treatment, and my energy level coming back - I decided to pay it forward, by crocheting hats for other cancer patients. What a wonderful feeling to give back for all the help I received! I love the feel of soft yarn, when I am working with it, as well as wearing a finished item - makes me feel hugged, and you will too - when you try one of my scarves or hats. Of course, I also love to sew, and create items that make life easier. In addition - I love to wear earrings - and I'm always trying new styles. Some of my favorite items: