Mean Mr. Mustard Seed Scarf

Fourteen long months ago, I wrote about designing a stick shift cozy for my Beetle. I was able to use the leftover red and black yarn to make my first ever granny square lap-ghan.

Kitties love blankets... especially ones used by their doggies.

"What am I going to do with this interesting mustard-yellow yarn?" I asked myself.

My first instinct was to just crochet it into a scarf which I could then gift or donate. Then I remembered a desire I had once to knit the Mustard Scarf by Jane Richmond. This pattern can be found various places (such as ravelry.com) as a free download.

Having frogged the sad little scarf that will never be -- don't feel too sad -- I will cast on the mustard scarf.

To Make Up For Not Posting...

I am reposting this quilt tutorial courtesy of Fancy Tiger Crafts. I am very interested in quilting, and I may take it up, one day... for now, here is Jaime's Feather Quilt.

A Very Socky Xmas

Many moons have risen and fallen without a post on this blog. One can hope that where will be more time next year.

Last night, my knitting group (Long Beach Stitch N Beach) had our annual holiday party. There was much food and drink and merriment and knitting. And of course gifts.

The gift I received was a beautiful blue skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in Caribeno (474). Having never knitted with anything smaller than worsted weight, my first stop this morning was ravelry.com to search for the right sock pattern. After several near hits and total misses, I visited knitty.com, but couldn't find anything that tickled my fancy.

The next and last stop: TheAntiCraft.com. There, I found the sock pattern for the newly acquired Malabrigo. Los Pequenos Relojes de Arena (the little hourglasses).

This lovely sock pattern had been sitting in my Ravelry favorites for longer than I care to admit. While I am excited to start these little sweeties, I must get through my final finals, a 1250-mile road trip, and finish three Minion hats for my nephews in time for Christmas.

What a wonderful project to look forward to in the new year. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

A Short And Sweet Try

I've knit many scarves, hats, baby blankets and booties, even a skirt. This will be my first sweater, so I decided to try a new technique. After seven years of knitting adventures, from cables to double pointed needles, yarn overs and dropped stitches, I decided to give short rows a try. I was gifted four skeins of Rauma Finullgarn in a lush green. After searching through the many pages of sweaters listed on ravelry -- mostly cardigans or pullovers -- I came across a charming littly pattern from PurlBee.com called the Short Row Sweater. Stay tuned for further developments, and any tips to clarify misunderstandings in terminology.

Nalebinding - The Ancient Craft

For those following up on the post on the nalbinding research, there were not many resources to be found. The paper turned out to be a study in the history of Northern European knitting. What this means, anyone could say.

With an impending cross-country move, posts with be scarce, but there will be more to follow. Tune in around 10 June for a trial in the ancient art of nalbinding!

Stay crafty.

Nalebinding

I am researching nalebinding for a paper for an anthropology class. I have come across some interesting things. For example, this "one needle knitting" practice still exists in parts of the world outside the hippest of Western circles. Come back 16 May for the whole story.

Knitting for Spring

The Vernal Equinox occurs this Wednesday. The day and the night will be equal lengths in time, and Winter is no more.

An icon of the season – the Easter Bunny – can be found in a myriad of forms. There are two options for the transitioning knitter/crocheter… Easter Bunny (Osterhasen) by Christine Manitz and Best Bunny from Lion Brand Yarn.

Lion Brand’s bunny is the more traditional, floppy-eared rabbit associated with the American Easter Bunny. Crocheted in the amigurumi style, Best Bunny will be a fun addition to any Easter basket.

The Best Bunny as made by Ravelry member doremush

Manitz’s German-language pattern – fear not, Google will offer to translate – is more whimsical than the Lion Brand bunny. By creating this tall and slender rabbit, novice knitters can move to the next step of using double-pointed needles.

Påskeharer - Two Osterhasen by ravelry user "Pritt"

For crafty celebrators of the Jewish holiday of Passover, a hand-made crochet yarmulke can be worn for many high holy days and Sabbath dinners for years to come. The Passover Yarmulke from PurlBee.com is a meaningful way to learn to crochet in the round.

PurlBee.com

For those simply looking for a way to protect themselves against chilly spring mornings, a simple shawl should suffice. Clapotis by Kate Gilbert was published nearly a decade ago, and is still considered a fun intro to intermediate knitting, and a great project to learn about dropping stitches.

Clapotis by Kate Gilbert - knitty.com

Whatever type of project is next on your knit list, it is sure to become a treasured staple in your collection.