Friday Faves 5.24.13

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  I hope you are all looking forward to a nice long weekend full of relaxing, good food, friends and family and of course of knitting and crocheting.  Since the weather has changed for the warmer, I have been thinking cotton and linen.  You know those nice breathable fibers we like to wear when it’s hot and humid outside?  Below are a few of my favorite patterns on Ravelry.com that would work perfectly in either a cotton or linen yarn, some lending themselves more to one or the other.  My recommendations would be either M&K Linen or Butterfly Super 10 Cotton.

Clockwise from top left:  Cap Sleeve Lattice Top by Purl Soho is a pretty easy piece worked from front ribbing to the back ribbing in one piece with seaming only at the sides.  The Strafford Tee by Amy Christoffers is seriously one of my favorites, probably because I made it and love it!  I worked mine in the M&K Linen and it is beautiful.  Buttercup by Heide Kirrmaier is a super popular pattern on Ravelry.com and would look amazing done in the Butterfly Super 10 Cotton.  Gemini by Jane Richmond might be my next linen project.  I love how the photo (bottom right) shows it with flat panel in the front, but the photo (bottom left) shows it with the lace panel in front.  So it is complete reversible, two tees in one! Last but not least, the Die Cut Vest by Sara Morris is competing for the next project worked in linen in my book.  It is just a gorgeous piece with the lace overlapping in the front and with the stitch definition the linen has the lace will really look stunning.

Friday Faves5.24.13

I hope you have found some inspiration or at least some eye candy for the weekend.  Enjoy your long weekend and safe travels!

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Faves 5.10.13 – 60 Quick Baby Blankets

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Hello Everyone!

A new book has made it’s way into the store and there are so many cute blankets in it, I can’t wait to  show you!  The book is 60 Quick Baby Blankets and is put out by Cascade Yarns.  All of the patterns are written for either 220 Superwash or 128 Superwash yarns.  But we all know we can always substitute with other yarns, especially for those is warmers climates or with wool allergies.

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Though the blankets are mostly knitted there are several crochet techniques that are used or boarders and edgings.  And at the very end of the book there is a super cute little sheep you can knit.  It is WAY CUTE!

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This book includes many stitch patterns and techniques for beginners and advanced knitters alike.  The great thing is there are so many patterns to choose from allowing you to build upon what you know working through the variety of stitches.

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I would totally recommend this book is you are looking for a baby project or if you like to make afghans.  I really feeling like all of the blankets in this book could easily be scaled up to make an adult throw or blanket.  And the color combinations in this book are gorgeous, definitely worth the look.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and a Happy Mother’s Day!

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Faves 4.26.13 – Cowls from Class

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Hi All!

I wanted to share these awesome cowls that were done in the Colorwork cowl Class back in early March.  The ladies in the class did a great job and picked some wonderful colors.  This is a wonderful pattern written by graphica, that is available on Ravelry.com as a free download.  There are three different patterns included for different weights of yarn.

Thank you ladies for letting me post pictures of your gorgeous cowls.  I know your colorways will inspire many!

The yarns used in these cowls are Big Trend, Mille Colori, Regia Sock and Diversity, not listed in any order.

Have a great weekend!

Inspira collage

Designer Focus – Veera Valimaki

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Hello!

I wanted to spend little time showing off one of my favorite knitwear designers, Veera Valimaki.  Have you heard of her?  If you don’t know her by name, you may know her from her lovely shawl patterns, Stripe Study Shawl, Different Lines or Color Affection.  All have been very popular on ravelry.com and are gorgeous!

Veera’s designs are classic with clean lines but include texture and often short-rows.  She has many patterns outside of her more well know shawls, below is only a sampling.  I really like how most of her patterns are worked in one piece, either from the top down or bottom up.

Definitely give her designs a look, I’m sure you will see something inspiring and possibly your next project.  You can view more of her patterns on her website rainknitwear.com or on ravelry.com.  While on ravelry, be sure to check out all of the beautiful project pages for her patterns, there are so many great ones!

Shown left to right:  Hooray cardigan, Water and Stone cardigan, Happy Solitude cowl, Hidden in the Forest shawl, Gathering Stripes kids sweater, Twenty Ten cardigan, Stripe Study Shawl and August Pullover.

VeeraValimaki

{images from rainknitwear.com}

Friday Faves 4.12.13

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Hello Everyone!

I hope you all weathered the storm with ease and were able to enjoy the few warm days we had earlier this week.  But now we are back to having a chill in the air.  Chilly weather always makes me wish I had more knitted shawls ready to wear. Who knows maybe I’ll make that a goal for next year ;)

Also, some of these shawls mentioned are done in lace weight and with the new Merino Silk lace weight yarn in the store, it is REALLY hard to resist casting on for one of these shawls.  And the lace weight yarn helps it transition into warmer weather easier, bonus!

1.  Mama Ruffles by Christina Wall, project by SusanneS-vV 2.  Crooked Cathedral by Marisa Hernandez 3.  Annis by Susanna IC 4.  Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes, project by knittimo 5.  Semele by Asa Tricosa, project by knittimo 6.  Light in Shadows by Milja Uimonen 7.  Imagine When by Joji Locatelli 8.  French Cancan by Mademoiselle C,  project by SusanneS-vV

Friday Favorites 4.12.13

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Faves 3.29.13

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Hello All!

My favorites today stem from the newest issue of Knit Wear.  I am in love with so many patterns in this issue!  I twas really hard to pick these that are pictured here.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.  Definitely come in and see the magazine, I’m sure it won’t disappoint.

1. Die Cut Vest by Sara Morris  2. Welted Peerie Shawl by Faina Goberstein  3. Askew Cardigan by Cecily Glowik MacDonald  4. High Relief Dolman by  Courtney Kelley  5. Furrowed Vest by Norah Gaughan  6. Overlay Vest by Heather Zoppetti  7. Sequined Cable and Lave Wrap by Lisa Hoffman  8. Sectioned Tank by Lisa Hoffman

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Friday Faves 3.29.13

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Faves 3.22.13

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Hello Everyone!!

I hope your day is more colorful than the weather outside.  Will the sun ever come out?!?  Inspired by the weather and the need to still stay warm, here some simple sweaters.  Their basic shapes and plain design make them classic sweaters that will live in your closet and keep you warm for years to come.  Not to mention, not so scary for a first sweater.

1. Sweatershirt Sweater by Purl Soho,  2. Low Budget Pullover by von Hinterm Stein,  3. Boxy by Joji Locatelli (available for sale at BAH! Yarns),  4. Blank Canvas by Ysolda Teague,  5. Summer Raglan Sweater by Eline Oftedal,  6. Spare Time Pullover by Terri Kruse

Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

Friday Faves 3.22.13

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Faves 3.15.13 – Easter Inspired

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Hi All!

Sorry I’ve been absent, lots going on.  But I hope you like what I found.  These are super cute items to knit and crochet, seriously cute!  And the great thing is most of them look pretty quick so you still have time.

First up, these sweet little Hatching Easter Chicks  by Kim Handzo (1) are adorable and they can come completely out of their shells for cute little toys.  Though there isn’t a pattern in English for these “Faberge Egg” want- to-bes, I do think the Easter Egg pattern by ATERGcrochet (2) is beautiful and would look lovely on any Easter table.

If this little chick hat doesn’t win your heart the picture is sure too!  This Chick Hat Pattern by Melody Rogers (3) is a knit hat that ranges in size for newborn to 10 years.  You can make one for each of your little chicks!  And the little Spring Chick by Barbara Prime (4) is free.  So generous of her to share such a cute pattern!

Friday Faves 3.15.13

Okay, if baby chicks aren’t your thing, maybe bunnies are?  How sweet is the Bunny Ear Beanie by Inner Hooker (5)?  It might be the child int he photo but just too cute!  And there are many sizes to choose from for this crochet pattern.  The Bunny Puppet  pattern by Barbara Prime (7) would be a fun handmade item to add to an Easter basket.  With this pattern you can make various sizes and accessorize for either girl or boy bunny.  Or you can always make a whole family of bunny puppets!

Lastly, for those who enjoy felting and needles felting or want a small project to try felting and needle felting, these Felted Woolly Eggs by Marie Mayhew (6) are fun!  The colors and the embellishments can really dress up your hand dyed eggs And would look great as Easter decorations!

I hope you have found some inspiration in these patterns.  I would love to see what you do, so please feel free to post your projects in the comments or on Facebook!  Have a great Easter!

Friday Favorites 3/1/13

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Happy March!!  Can you believe we are already into the 3rd month of the year?  And we finally got a bit of winter weather too.    With the temperature dripping low, I have been thinking about cozy items to keep us knitters and crocheters warm.  What better way to keep warm than to make a shawl?  Here are several of my favorites.  Enjoy and stay warm!

1. #02 Reversible Cabled-Ribbed Shawl by Lily Chin  2. Superstar Shawl by Samantha Kirby  3. Haruni by Emily Ross  4. Summer Flies by Donna Griffin  5. Color Affection by Veera Valimaki  6. PI Shawl (July) by Elizabeth Zimmermann

FridayFaves3.1.13

{images from Ravelry.com}

Friday Favorites 2/15/13

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Hello All,

I have lots to share (especially since I missed last week)!

Ah, cables!  What are you feelings on cables?  I am a big fan! I like their intricacies moving along and crossing one another.  And have you every crocheted them?  Yes you can do that, it’s great isn’t it!

Here are some of my favorites that I have come across recently or have been in my Ravelry queue of a long time.  Maybe someday I’ll get to them.

I really like  Scrollwork (1) by Irina Dmitrieva and really, really like the project by anneleterme.  I really like how this cable moves and intertwines and done in the super soft looking white yarn just makes me want to wear it on all cold days.  I also like the pom-pom that anneleterme added, though the project doesn’t seem to call for it.

Beatnik (2) by Norah Gaughan is a pattern that has been in my favorites and in my Ravelry queue since the pattern was released, easily over a year.  This is a highly textured sweater, cables on the front and back of the body and moss stitch on the sleeves.  And I am a big fan of boat neck, necklines.

FridayFavorites2.14.13

So crochet cables are new to me and I think they really look great!  The  Honeysuckle Hat (3) by Aparna Rolfe looks hard but Ive heard crochet cables “aren’t too bad” as a customer told me.  I think the  Crochet Cabled Bracelets (4) by A la Sascha would be a great stash buster project and would bring some hipster chic to any ones wardrobe.  Sticking with the crochet cables, however lovely is Solas Caomh (6) by  Jodi Euchner.  It is gorgeous baby blanket, I especially like the braided cable up the center and how well the border matches it.

Speaking of baby knits, Korrigan (5) by Solenn Couix-Loarer, is a sweet little baby sweater with beautifully placed cables radiating out from the neckline.  I especially love how seahorseknits version finishes off the little dress beneath.  The nice thing about this pattern is the size range if from 0-24 months.

For you sock AND cable lovers out there, Sarsaparilla Socks (7) by Cookie A is a very cool pattern.  It reminds me of honeycombs, but that might just be the color.  I would have to say that I would be leery of taking the cable onto the foot, but for the leg, they are quite classy.

Lastly, another pattern that has been lurking in my queue for a while is the Acer Cardigan  (8) by Amy Christoffers, one of my favorite designers.  I” not sure exactly what speaks to me about this pattern, but it does and it has.  And one day I will make it, cable and all.