Arrived at my door!

Today was the day that 2 beautiful, still slightly wet, newly dyed Malabrigo came in the mail all the way from Uruguay! I'm working on 2 new designs using this yarn and I'm crazy excited to get working on these two! Featured in the photo is Malabrigo Rasta (in #416 Indiecita) and Malabrigo Worsted ( in #98 Tuareg). I can't wait to show you these new designs!

Twined Together

I am launching the pattern, Twined Together  today on Ravelry. This cute little pattern is from the Felicity Scarf & Cowl Project booklet from Universal Yarn.

This cowl is using 2 different yarns: Universal Yarn Eden - a luscious dk silk/wool blend and Felicity - a part wool novelty yarn. One ball of each!

It's knit and crochet, to create each wrapping tendril around your neck - some are i-cords and some are crochet chained. This pattern is pretty easy to make. I used a 6mm 16 inch / 40cm Knitting needle and a 6mm crochet hook.

Enjoy!

Sottosopra - Top Down Mittens in Cast On Magazine!

When I arrived home today, the mail was piled on the computer as usual. There were bills and the ever present, colorful advertisements for cheap pizza, but within said stack of mail, there was a copy of the latest issue of Cast On Magazine, August - October 2012. I was so excited!

This issue has my latest pattern, Sottosopra - Top Down Mittens, in it! These mittens are knit out of the lovely Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine - a yarn that knits up to be incredibly soft and shows off the cables wonderfully. The needles are a 40", 2.5mm needle - I prefer the Addi Lace for this project as the increases are easier to make with a sharper needle. 

I was inspired by toe up magic loop socks. Every time I knit a pair of toe up magic loop socks, I remark about how they look just like mittens - apparently the novelty never wears off :) I love the idea of wearing thin, but warm mittens when going to a walk in the park or going to work. Larger mittens have always felt so cumbersome and like I should be taking something out of the oven - like cookies! Also, I suffer from the idea that whilst driving, that overly thick mittens might cause me to hit something - hasn't happened yet, but it could.

For those wondering where this pattern is found, it's in the latest Cast On Magazine. "What's this?" you say. It's the member magazine from The Knitting Guild Association. The TKGA offers many correspondence knitting courses - including the Master Knitting Program. I've been a member for the last 5 years and always enjoy receiving my magazine.

Workin' Away . . .

I've been diligently working on way too many things lately. I've got a backlog of patterns that I will be sharing with you shortly. I'm actually quite excited for some of the patterns this fall. Cheryl and I had a wonderful photoshoot the other day, where once again, she worked her incredible talent to produce some of the cutest photos!

ps. Mr. Monkey Pants is wearing the Flowered Baby Headband and lounging in the Cuddly Baby Coocoon.

Felicity Scarf & Cowl Projects Booklet

I just received my copies of photos for the Felicity Scarf & Cowl Project Booklet. It's always so exciting to see something in print for the first time.

This booklet is now available for purchase from Universal Yarns. The neat part about working with Universal Yarns is that I retain the ability to sell these patterns as well! I will have each pattern available on Ravelry and here on my website separately. I'll post as soon as the individual leaflets are ready.

The Total Contentment Pill

Another gem from the vintage magazine stack was found today! - an advertisement featuring a miracle weight loss drug called the Total Contentment Pill from McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Fall 1977. Well now! Doesn't that sound like a great idea? And who knew? - You can get a 120 day supply for only, the new low price of 11.95! Kinda sounds like something that we would all later find out is actually speed but was "as safe as a cough drop."

Personally, the part I enjoy the most is the promise of "never again suffer embarassing fat build-up for the rest of your life." I guess more interesting to note is that a few years later, they had to shell out money to customers that were unsatisfied because the advertisement told them it would last for forever.

I think I need to order me up some of these :)

Legend of the Origin of Felt

A month or so ago, a couple came in and left five bankers boxes filled with really, really old patterns - some of them dating from 1919. I wanted to give them a look over before Diana decided what to do with them. It was then, I came across a copy of American Felt Craft (published in 1947 by American Handicraft Co., Inc HOW-TO-DO-IT BOOK).

When I first saw it, I paid barely any attention to it and little did I realize the gem that it contained. Within this little booklet of felted accessories, boleros, and suspenders! there is the "Legend of the Origin of Felt." This story is definitely worth the read - and needs to be read in a slightly historical accent . . .It's quite verbose and uses language from the 40's but I love it! (Even if it is historically inaccurate).

Now that you have read it, all I can say is "and lo!"

Don't you want a set of spiffy suspenders? "Worn with all types of dresses . ." I hope they were refering to the belts :) Although, that would be quite the fashion statement. I like the one with the hearts on it.

Such a cute/quirky book. I can't wait to see what the other books have within their faded covers!