Feeling like doing a bit of crochet?

If so, here is a super fun project.  The Starfish dishcloth, Pattern by May Ann Fritz.

I used Lily Sugar n Cream in the Colors Aqua and Cream.

Size I crochet hook.

Fun,

Easy,

Quick,

Satisfying and oh so useful too!

Color Affection progress

Just finished section two. Headed to section three. Three color transitions and short rows. Should get interesting.

Mobcap in Maddie

The first pattern I’ve selected from the Jane Austin Knits magazine is the Modified Mobcap created by Elizabeth Cherry.  I’m using Madeline Tosh Vintage in the color Truly, Madly, Deeply. The Mag states that in the Regency era, the mobcap was an everyday garment, often worn indoors in lieu of a bonnet.  I imagine Jane sitting in her parlor sipping tea wearing just such a hat.  Oh, how elegant...

Lovin the new Jane Austin Knits

Great patterns! So happy reading this new magazine from cover to cover...

what to make next...

For some reason I have been very indecisive about my next knitting project.  With all the yarn stash I’ve accumulated, stored and periodically reviewed, you’d think it would be a no-brainer on what to make next.  Not so.  I’ve just been reluctant to commit.  That is until I read the blog post by Stephanie McPhee, The Yarn Harlot, about this wonderful pattern/project; Color Affection by Vera Valimaki. A beautiful shawl made up using 3 different colors.

It appears that the knitting community in general is smitten by this pattern and the resulting project (2,891 and counting).  What really drew me in was going over to the Ravelry site and looking at all the photographs of the projects being knit using this pattern. They are all so pretty and so different from each other.  I’m always in awe at how yarn selection has such an impact on the look of a project.  And yes, I’ve made my yarn selections;

Main color; Plucky knitter fingering; Humphrey-Light brown

Contrasting color 1; Plucky knitter fingering; Purple Reign; Dark Blue

Contrasting Color 2; Sanguine Gryphon Bugga; Bess Beetle-Dark brown

So I’ve cast on and I am looking forward to the journey ahead.

a Modern twist

Who remembers wearing rag curlers as a little girl?  Well I do and I remember setting my daughters hair in them when she was a little girl too.  So why not as an adult?  That is what I thought as I ready this lovely post on Vintage rag curlers by Carli over at Simply Notable.

And yes, I may have gone a little crazy with this latest project. Me and my sewing machine that is.  It has been a while since she was pulled out of hiding.

Carli did a great job of putting together a tutorial with easy to follow directions and photographs for making rag curlers.  After reading her instructions, I knew that I just had to make this project! Once I finished making my first batch, I was so excited to give them a go.  I washed and towel dried my hair and then when it was just barely damp, I wrapped my hair around these cushy soft rag curlers.  The bit of stuffing in the middle really is the secret to creating such great curls. Once ready for bed, I laid my head on the pillow and I found that they didn’t hurt in the least… In the morning I pulled them out of my hair and there were these lovely, bouncy curls.  I have really straight hair and was so excited to witness the curls last for the entire day.  The second day they had fallen a bit loose and I found that I liked them even more.  What a great project and the results are fabulous!  Thank you Carli for making the old new once again.  I’ve just completed a couple more sets (16 seems good to me) and plan to gift them to some very special ladies…

All sewn up and waiting for stuffing in the middle

I made a total of three sets of 16 curlers

I love my curls!

Play it again

If you love a pattern and how it turns out, make it again, right?
I was curious how a pair of toast would knit up using lace weight yarn. Pattern by Leslie. I cast 30 stitches of Malabrigo lace onto my size  3 square dp needles.  I had so much fun watching as the knit fabric unfolded to reveal its silky soft texture.  And I do mean soft.  This pair of toast should have no problem doing as the name implies, keeping the wearer nice and warm.  I’m almost done and plan to gift to my daughter Kristi.  Hope she likes them.

I also worked on a bit of crochet using Madeline tosh DK yarn and a size I hook. This is my second Calm Cowl. Pattern by Suzana.  Such a quick satisfying project. My niece Nicole liked the first one so much I happily let her have it.

check out some amazing Creativity over here