Kelpie Hat From Quince & Co

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 26 Comments

I finished my first hat of the season! It’s been raining here non-stop for the past four days—perfect for getting a head start on fall knitting! The pattern and yarn are from a new company in Maine called Quince & Co. Miss Chelsea over at Frolic! tipped me off—I think her sister is making her the same hat!

Below the hat I made. I love that it covers my ears. How cute is the garter stitch on the bottom? For some reason mine isn’t as pointy on the top as the photo above suggests. I did screw up the decrease so maybe that’s why? I’m making another one with navy on the bottom and gray on the top. Maybe for Greg?

I learned a few new knitting techniques like long tail cast on and adding stitches in the middle of a pattern. Super big thanks to Jean over at A Yarn Over Marblehead for helping me. Have you gotten started on any fall knitting projects?

Related Posts:
Cable Knit Hat
My First Knit Hat

Category: diy

Getting Ready For Canning

Posted on | June 9, 2010 | 15 Comments

Did you miss me? I was outside enjoying summer and trying to slowly break myself of my internet habit. I promise to keep blogging but I need a summer break. Expect informal pop-ins from me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hopefully less about the internet world and more about my everyday life in New England.

Last night, I started pulling together my canning supplies. If you remember last summer canning season was a bust. We had that horrible rainstorm that lasted till August? Strawberries were horrible and tomatoes were mostly ruined by the blight.

This season I am taking full advantage of the great weather. I would like to get some canning jars in different sizes and maybe try out Weck’s jars too! In years past I’ve used a lobster pot for boiling the jars which was sufficient but difficult to use because it was so narrow and I got burnt about a zillion times. I ordered a Canning pot on Amazon which comes with a jar rack. Could be useful?

I’m hoping to do a lot more preserving this season. Till now strawberry and blueberry jam are the only recipes I have conquered. I picked up Ashley English’s new book, Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving. Hopefully some good pickle recipes? Check out her blog too: small measure. I found this blog all about preserving on Ashley’s blog: tigress in a jam. She has great round up of recipes using rhubarb, yum!

Stay tuned for more. I’m hoping to go strawberry picking this weekend or early next week depending on the weather. Do you have a favorite fruit you love to jam?

51pDj7P4G+L. SS500 Getting Ready For Canning

51 kKM45zjL. SS500 Getting Ready For Canning

Category: books, cooking, diy

Book: Scandinavian Needlecraft

Posted on | April 5, 2010 | 10 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about handwork ever since I spotted these gorgeous sheets over at Toast. The sheets are pretty outstanding and I think it would probably take me years to create something that beautiful.

I came across Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs (CICO Books) a book containing 35 step-by-step sewing projects. How freakin cute are those pillow, stockings, slippers? The book contains 33 more that will have you ordering embroidery supplies as soon you finish flipping through the book. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to embroider all the knots are outlined in the back of the book with detailed illustrations. Seriously how great would any of these projects be as holiday gifts?

Maybe once I make a few of the projects I can embroider a pair of sheets or maybe just pillows? The heart pillows are sooo cute. Purchase the book now through amazon.com for $19.95.

Heart Pillow From Scandinavian Needlecraft Book: Scandinavian Needlecraft

christmas stockings from Scandinavian Needlecraft Book: Scandinavian Needlecraft

Slippers from Scandinavian Needlecraft Book: Scandinavian Needlecraft

Disclaimer: CICO Books did send me this book for free. But I honestly do love the book and I honestly couldn’t wait to share it with my readers.

Category: books, diy

Hand Knit Pillows, Blodwen, and Spring Soundtrack

Posted on | March 19, 2010 | 7 Comments

Picture 40 Hand Knit Pillows, Blodwen, and Spring Soundtrack

After I finish my next two hat projects and fingerless gloves, I’m moving on to hand knit pillows for my bed. Above a few I spotted on my favorite new home goods website Blodwen (thanks jane!). Go right now and check out their site. Amazing plaid throws, quilts, and these really great heart-carved spoons from Wales.

Back to the pillows. I’m thinking about making two euro size pillows for my bed in variegated cables like Ruth Cross’s version below. I’m on the search for the perfect cable pattern book. I’m a visual person so I prefer a book with lots of photos. Designing my own pattern once I figure out the repeat will be easy, right?

As I side note…I honestly can’t believe how far I’ve come in just a few months with my knitting. Me? Making cable knit pillows. After all this knitting craziness I’m going back to tackling those Liberty dresses and tops I started and never finished last summer. If I start in April maybe I will have them done in time for sandal weather?

p.s. Chelsea discovered a great new album on NPR with Zooey and Ward. You can listen for free until the album goes on sale March 23rd. It’s a great soundtrack for spring.

alpcabcush51 718726 Hand Knit Pillows, Blodwen, and Spring Soundtrack

alpcabcush38 718620 Hand Knit Pillows, Blodwen, and Spring Soundtrack

Category: diy

Cable Knit Hat

Posted on | March 15, 2010 | 12 Comments

I’m so proud of my new cable hat. I keep showing it off to Greg, “Touch it, isn’t so soft and amazing?” Conquering cables is a lot like mastering brioche. Once you get the hang of the process, it’s easy. When I first started knitting the cable hat I was really frustrated and had to go to my yarn shop multiple times for help. I kept loosing count or making knits into purls or vice versa.

I have my eye on trying a larger cable knit hat next. The cables are much larger and only have 4 or 5 twists in the whole hat. Above and below my hat and garter stitch scarf I made for my sister out of beautiful Baby Alpaca from Cascade Yarns.

p.s I know I look goofy and depressed in my hat photo but it hasn’t stopped raining here for three days.