...keeping warm...

As promised

Warm and cozy mittens or fingerless mitts that are quick to knit up. 

The cuffs are long enough to fit inside or outside of a jacket or sweater sleeve.  Which ever you prefer, your hands will thank you for this bit of coziness while you’re out in the chilly air!

The fingerless version is perfect to put on when you need a little warmth but want your fingers free.  Perfect for when you are texting or taking photos!

Cuffed with a beautiful cabled band that is finished with a smart decrease and buttonhole, they are the perfect project to show off those special buttons you might have in your collection. 

              ~ Erin's Mittens ~

                          

Yarn:

Valley Yarns Northfield

[70% Merino/20% Baby Alpaca/10% Silk,

50gm/124 yds] 2 skeins

or

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight

[100% Superwash Merino, 198gm/350 yds]  1 skein

Supplies:

US 6/4mm 32 inch circular needle

US 7/4.5mm 32 inch circular needle

1 set US 7/4.5 mm double points

or needles to obtain gauge

cable needle, markers, yarn needle, two 7/8" buttons

Gauge:

5 stitches/inch over stockinette

Finished size:

hand circumference:  7.5 inches

length from edge of cuff to top of mitten:  10.5 inches

Notes:  Pattern includes both charted and written instructions.

...part three...

Yet another peak at a little something coming out soon!

Erin's Cowl will be out on the heals Erin's Mittens.  It's a cozy hug of cables for your neck.  The perfect compliment to Erin's Hat!

All three patterns use either Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock - Heavyweight or
Valley Yarn - Northfield.  Both yarns have beautiful stitch definition that show off the cables perfectly.  If you are looking for a quick holiday gift, any one of Erin's collection will be perfect!

Stay tuned for more details...

...Erin's Hat...

I've been working on this project for some time now and here it finally is!  Introducing Erin's Hat!

I designed this hat for my wonderful daughter, Erin.  It's the perfect accessory for the crisp autumn days, football games and tailgating;  these are a few of  Erin’s favorite things. Her hat is perfect whether you’re cheering on your favorite college team or just taking a walk on a brisk fall day.  A beautiful band of cables travels around the brim ending with a smart decreased, cabled buttonhole section.  The stockinette section and uniform decreases on the crown finish off this simple but classic hat.   Add a special button and you’re set for cooler weather and the crunch of leaves under foot!

~ Erin's Hat ~

Yarn:  

Valley Yarns Northfield

[70% Merino/20% Baby Alpaca/10% Silk, 50 gm/124 yds]

2 skeins,  colorway:  Chestnut

or

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight

[100% Superwash Merino, 198 gm/350 yds]

1 skein, colorway:  Tumbleweed

Supplies:

US 6/4mm 16 inch circular needle

US 7/4.5mm 16 inch circular needle

1 set US 7/4.5mm double points

or needles to obtain gauge.

Cable needle

markers

yarn needle

one 7/8 inch button

Gauge:

5 stitches/inch over stockinette stitch

Finished measurements:

circumference:  19 inches

depth:  8 inches

Notes:

Pattern includes both written and charted instructions.

I hope you enjoy making Erin's Hat as much as I enjoyed designing it!

Coming soon:  matching mittens, fingerless mitts and cowl!  Stay tuned!!

...Octavia...

My great-grandmother, Octavia loved flowers. She especially loved African Violets that grew in profusion throughout her home; pink, blue, violet and white. Whenever I see African Violets I think of her. Introducing....

~ Octavia ~

This triangular shawlette, named after her, has pretty little lace violets running throughout and is trimmed with a simple lace edging. Octavia looks lovely knit in a single skein of fingering weight yarn such as Floating by A Verb for Keeping Warm, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight or Annapurna also by A Verb for Keeping Warm.

I love the how the little violets make me think of my great-grandmother. This pattern is a sweet as she was!

~ enjoy ~

...Faye...

My grandmother, Faye, taught me to crochet. I remember watching her hands work the crochet hook and being fascinated by them. She was a very stylish woman and loved jewelry. Having worked many years in a jewelry store she had quite a jewelry collection.

~ Introducing Faye ~

I decided to use the "string of pearls" lace pattern as inspiration in the design of her cowl. The pattern has instructions, both written and charted, for two sizes. It's shown here in two beautiful yarns by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The blue version is done in Socks That Rock Heavyweight; colorway - In the Navy. The plum version is done in Gaea; colorway - Princess Plummy.

You can wear Faye many ways from long and knotted at the end, doubled and fastened with a beautiful shawl pin or wrapped several times snugly around your neck. It reminds me of Grandma Faye and her beautiful things.

~ enjoy ~

...one more sleep...

So, tomorrow I am leaving bright and early for Stitches East. I love this show, especially because I get to hang with my great friends Marcy, Carrie and Erica. I love these three ladies and I know we are going to have a blast.

I will be representing BMFA in the Webs booth which is really fun. I did this last year and had a great time. I am lucky that Tina lets me do this show and pretty excited that Steve and Kathy asked my back. Needless to say, it's a great experience!

If you remember, last year I had a pretty eventful time when I came home from Stitches East. I vowed that I would not have anything close to that happen to me again. It truly was 2 months of my life that I never got back.....

So after much hand washing, vitamin taking and a seasonal/h1n1 flu vaccination, I believe I am ready to travel east.

If you get to Stitches East stop by and say hello. The Webs booth is located at booths #: 701 703 705 707 800 801 802 803 804 806. (yeah it's that big!) I'll be the one wearing a beautiful scarf knit out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock, carrying hand sanitizer....

...but then you already knew that...

Knitters are pretty awesome. I know, I know. If you know any knitters you know that this first statement is pretty obvious. Knitters are kind, clever, giving, smart, hard working, diligent, and knitters rise to the occasion, whatever it might be. Case in point.....

Remember these?

Made by an awesome knitter.

And these?

another awesome knitter...

Yup, another clever knitter.

These were all gifts for Paytan. As were these....

(side note: the crown was knit by Virginia, a sock camp friend for Paytan's first birthday celebration! and the last little hat was dyed and knit by my wonderful friend Marcy. She had called me while I was on my way down to Newport for Paytan's early arrival and said she just had to cast on something tiny and pink right then. It arrived at Erin and Kris's house the day they came home from the hospital!)

So you can see that knitters are all of the things I said before; clever, kind, giving, smart, etc. But there is something else that knitters are...they are sneaky. Yes, I said sneaky. They put their heads together and come up with some of the most wonderful surprises. And here is one of the best surprises ever. A group of talented and giving knitters got together, with the herding leadership of Jen and Lisa (two of my favorite people on the planet) and knitted up this beautiful heirloom for Paytan. It's made up of different blocks of STR! It's the most beautiful thing!

Not only did they knit one for Paytan, but they did the same thing for Dylan who is the grandson of Debra (head dyer extraordinaire for depraved dyer! Check this out for more!) I don't even have the words to tell you what this blanket means to me. I can only say Susan, Judy, RoAnn, Celia, Anne, Tracy, Carrie, Leslie, Marcy, Sam, Tece, Mya, Terry, Marison, Stormy, Cathy, Karen, Laura, KT, Naomi, Linda, Virginia, Laura, Paula, Leslie, Alice, Susan, Ayelet, Liz, Mary, Jen and Lisa you have my undying gratitude. I can't wait to share this beautiful blanket with Paytan and tell her just how special each and every one of you is.

...grandma shower...

Time has been flying by and a lot has been happening. I owe you many posts that are waiting in the wings! First up, back in June several friends got together and had a 'grandma shower' for my! What a fun day. Susan and Carol got their heads together, came up with a guest list and I spent the afternoon in the company of friends, food and fun! The shower was complete with cake (red velvet~ a personal favorite of mine), wine (another personal favorite of mine....), and beautiful gifts! Here is a bit of the wonderful things I opened.

Cute clothes:

monkey stuff:

some great things to get my house equipped for the new arrival:

some fabulous books:

and last but not least, some beautiful knitted things.

First up, knitted by my friend irishgirlieknits, this is a beautiful pair of her cotty socks and a hat to match. She knitted them out of bmfa str in the colorway peek-a-boo peonie. I love this color and can't wait to try these things on the new little one. Pictures to come, I promise. Thanks Carrie, you are a gem!

Next up, a darling shrug and hat, knit by my other good friend knittinggolfer.

For the hat, she dyed the yarn herself! Can't wait to put it on that precious little head. Thanks, Marcy! Your are the best!

I have said this many times, but it bears repeating. I am very blessed. I have wonderful friends~ Thank you, everyone!~