No place like home

It's so nice to be back home!  I was away on a trip up to northern california for a family event.  Here is a picture of me with my lovely sisters.  It is a rare treat for us all to be together, loved spending time with them!

I'm always so excited to get away but then so happy to be back home to my own routine. Also, I’ve been busy getting Zoe ready for her spa vacation. She is headed to stay with a talented customizer this summer for a bit of rejuvenation, lucky girl! She needs sleepy eyes, new pull strings, eyelashes and maybe a surprise or two! 

Zoe is pictured here wearing a cozy little outfit that I knit up for her. The top is knit with lace weight and sparkly yarn held together. Her pants are made with Swan Island finger weight, and they are the softest, I want a pair! Perfect for travel. I will write out the pattern for the pants soon and post over on ravelry.

I want to wish all of you sweet ladies a Happy Mothers day!

Hugs and Flowers to you all…

Frothy mohair dress for Libby - Blythe doll

What is small, fun, and a quick knit?  Why doll clothes of course!

I found this really cute dress pattern by designer Natalie Scrimshire on ravelry and made modifications to suit my girl. See my ravelry page here or below.

I have to admit I’m over the moon smitten with my little Blythe doll, Libby.

She has the sweetest smile, the prettiest hair color and those eyelids are amazing!  Who wouldn’t want to make a few custom outfits for her to wear? She especially likes hanging out with her bff’s, who are also in need of some new things to wear.  More later…

Sweet Libby

Frothy Dress - my modified version

Supplies;

4 stitch markers

Yarn; Rowan kidsilk haze

Needles; size 1 and 4 - 12” circulars

Darning needle

Abbreviations;

Sm; slip marker

Kfb; knit front and back of stitch

M1; make one

Co; cast on, backward loop method

Using size 1 needle cast on 24 stitches

Row 1; k6, pm, k2, pm, k8, pm, k2, pm, k 6

Row 2; purl

Row 3; knit to one stitch before maker kfb, sm, kfb, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end (32 stitches)

Row 4; purl

Row 5; knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end (40 stitches)

Row 6; purl

Row 7; knit, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, knit to marker, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, knit to end (44 stitches)

Row 8, decrease row - purl to marker, drop marker, bind of in knit to next marker, drop marker, purl to next marker, drop marker, bind off in knit to next marker, drop marker , purl to end  (28 stitches)

Row 9; k2, m1, repeat to bind off, co 2, k2, m1, repeat to bind off, co 2, k2, m1 to last 2 stitches, k2 (46 stitches)

Row 10; purl

Row 11; *k 2, yo* repeat to last to stitches, k2 (68 stitches)

Row 12; purl

Row 13; change to size 4 needles and knit all stitches

Row 14; place marker and join for in the round and knit (can use double points if not using 12" circular)

Continue knitting in the round to desired length (Libby's is 4" from shoulder to hem)

Bind off in purl and weave in ends

Slip ribbon thru yarn over holes created in row 11 and tie a bow as desired

Sew in small snap closure at rear neck opening.

Ok, yes, I am having way too much fun!

Love her!

Hofsos Mitts - Westys-besties KAL

Designer Stephen West of West Knits

Yarn; Brooklyn Tweed Loft in fossil, woodsmoke and barn owl

Knit holding two strands together thru-out

Size eight needles, I used both double points and straight for this project

What I love about working with Stephens’s patterns, is their diversity.

What I like about this pattern in particular is that it has six distinctive parts,

which is interesting and rewarding in and of it self.  Each time I’d finish

a section, I’d feel a sense of accomplishment.  (Take a mini break for a cuppa tea, etc. ohh plus a scone or two!) Its diversity lies in that each section is made using a different stitch pattern. So once again I learned a few things along the way.  The forth section consists of knitting one thru the back loop and purling one and I really like how the knit stitch stands out and uniquely away from the purl stitch.  

These mitts are cozy warm and after their bath, the yarn puffed up to perfection.  Now, I’ll tuck them away till next winter to wear along with my Kvosin hat.

(Iceland anybody?)

Front section

Back side

crochet for my girls

Hi, say hello to Abbey, Zoe and Libby, my sweet little Blythe girls.

I have to tell you that making things for them to wear is so much fun!

With the weather here in sunny So. Cal so fine, I thought they each could use

a new dress, so I headed over to ravelry and found a versatile pattern that I really like. Amanda Carey wrote the pattern and it is available for free, with my modifications here.  Enjoy your weekend! 

the payoff...

photo by LynneaY13 on Flickr.

Remember the middy sweater?

Well, dear little Charlotte is now old enough to wear and model hers
Her mama, Lynnea, took a photo of her for me to share.
Isn’t Charlotte the cutest model ever?

I can’t think of anything more rewarding than seeing something I’ve made being worn. This just made my day…

Honey Cowl the 3rd

There is something quite therapeutic about this pattern and yes, I’m in love with it.  (Free on the Madelinetosh site or on Ravelry) It continues to captivate and hold my attention. Even though I’ve completed three versions of this project, I will probably make another.  This particular incarnation is intended for my dear mothers birthday.  She recently moved to Northern California, where it can get a bit chilly during the winter. I thought she might like to have a Honey Cowl of her very own to snuggle in. I used about 2-1/2 skeins of Madelinetosh worsted in the color way Isadora. This yarn is so soft, squishy and warm! The slipstitch honeycomb style stitch pattern is hypnotic and really easy to remember for great TV viewing-type knitting.

Hope mama likes her gift this year…

I love blogging!

I was recently nominated for the Liebster award. Thank you Terri of Cache-mire for this honor…

I was asked a bit about myself and the answers are below.

I thought it would be fun to pass this award along to blogs I recently

found and now follow via Vicki's Grow your blog tour party.

I’m asking the same questions asked of me to:

Carolabartz

Carola

Comptonia

Quinn

Goplacidly

Rachel

1. What has been your favorite book to read?

-Great expectations is my all time favorite book, I pull it off the bookshelf and reread it every couple of years.  I just love all the characters and how Dickens weaves their stories and lives together.

  

2.If you could go back and meet your 20-year-old self, what one piece of advice would you give her? 

-I would tell her to just eat healthy and be active on a daily basis.

3.  Have you ever traveled outside the United States? If so, where?

-Yes, I’ve been to France, Monte Carlo and Italy.  Loved them all and would go back in a heartbeat.

4.  How do you spend your quiet time?

-With my yarn and needles.  Such a great way for me to get back to center.

5.  What is your favorite activity and how do you feel when you are doing it?

-Walking along the beach.  Love the beauty, scent of the ocean and the wind blowing gently on my face.

6.  What is your greatest accomplishment?

-I would say raising my children.  I have a lovely daughter soon to be 25 and a son that just turned 20.  They are both such lovely young adults.

7.  What has been your greatest adventure?

-Taking a ride up in a hot air balloon with my girlfriends.  I was terrified, but once up above the ground, I loved every minute of it!

8.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?  Why?

-The island of Maui.  I just love the ever changing beauty and the pace of life there.  Plus the spirit of Aloha is forever calling me back.

9.  Name one thing still on your bucket list.

-Taking a road trip across America.

10. What do you most want to be remembered for?

-Always trying my best to be a good daughter, sister, wife, mother and auntie.

11. Why do you blog?

-I love blogging! I’ve met so many wonderful like-minded creative artists via blog-land.  It is so much fun to share what projects I’m working on receiving feedback and visa versa.  It is the best!