I have been enjoying creating using different types of needlearts lately and I have a few projects to share this week! First up is a project I worked on for the nursery room wall, above the baby’s crib.

I had seen a similar project in I think either a Better Homes & Garden or Martha Stewart magazine probably 4+ years ago and I’ve always wanted to do it.  Then Pinterest came along and I’ve seen it pop up several times in my feed and decided this was the right time, right occasion and right room for the project.

If I had known how easy it was, I probably would have done it much sooner.  I picked up the fabrics, embroidery thread, some embroidery hoops and got to work.  Total project time was just a couple of hours including hand embroidering the B.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and I might start monogramming anything I can get my hands on. I can imagine having fun with lots of different fonts too…my husband better hide his dress shirts!

Bloomsbury.  A beautiful pattern by Svetlana Volkova.  Knit in Malabrigo sock held double.  When I saw this pattern I was hooked.  The top down construction is brilliant.  I highly recommend this knit.  I am wishing and hoping to have this complete by Saturday.  

It took me awhile to grab pictures and get this posted, but I am happy to report that I was able to finish Girasole within 24 hours of Christmas…it was 24 hours AFTER Christmas but that’s OK, it is being loved all the same.

I ended up using 6 skeins of Madelinetosh Pashmina Worsted to make this but I did make a few modifications:

• Charts A-D were followed as instructed
• Chart E was repeated 2 times instead of 3 times
• Chart F was repeated as instructed
• Chart G was repeated just once instead of twice.

One of my favorite things about this pattern/yarn combo is that the yarn is incredibly soft and lightweight so it sort of molds to your body – but don’t let that fool you because it’s still incredibly warm and cozy.

This is top 5 favorite knit and I would definitely spend time making this again!

So, I never sent out our Christmas card.  Everyday I tell myself that I have to send it out today. I still have not – my printer jammed all the envelopes were printed incorrectly.  So I am posting my Christmas card to all of you today, my guilt will be appeased and I can stop bothering myself over it.   Have the best year ever!

My Squishy love Cowl is complete.  I knit the largest child size, which fits perfect.  I did add additional rows for length.  The cowl can be worn around your shoulders or bunched around your neck.  Quick, quick rewarding knit.

After finishing Girasole (yes, I finished it – pictures coming soon), I got to thinking that I haven’t found many patterns that I enjoy knitting more than those done by Brooklyn Tweed.  This lead me to realize I don’t make nearly enough of their patterns, so I started Topiary.  I had purchased the yarn for this project back in September when The Plucky Knitter was doing a shop update*. I am really happy with the yarn and color choice, it should be versatile enough to wear with a lot of different things, including my Contemporary Hat. I wish I had the yarn and the patience to make the large stole version of the topiary pattern because it is so beautiful -  but I don’t, so I am working on the smallest version which is a standard scarf size.

You’ll need to know how to read a knitting chart for this pattern and pay attention because, it’s 27 rows and a 35 stitches across -  not exactly one that you can easily memorize.  You’ll also want to be proficient at cabling, yarn overs, ssk, and k2tog – a great combo of cabling and lace work.

What’s your favorite Brooklyn Tweed Pattern?  I find it really hard to chose, they’re all so beautiful!

*The plucky knitter has a shop update today too! Both Katie and I have worked with their yarn and really love it. But be prepared to wait a few weeks to receive your yarn.  The yarn is dyed to your order so once your order is placed it has to be dyed, dried and then shipped….but it’s worth the wait!

A month or two back, I had seen this beautiful Bloomsbury pattern for adults.  I really loved it but with the growing condition of my belly, I was in no mood to consider knitting it. Then, just last week during a lost battle to insomnia I was trolling Ravelry and found it’s also available in kid sizes 6 months – 8 years! I was very excited, because I had 1 skein of Madelinetosh Vintage in Rainwater left over from finishing Girasole – just perfect number of yards, yarn weight and color.

Front:

Back:

Front detail:

The pattern was really fabulous so if you have someone in your life from age 6 months – 8 years I’d recommend this knit.  I started it on Thursday 12/27 and had it done by Friday evening 12/28. I was able to memorize the lace chart about 1/2 way through which helped it move along quickly. This will definitely be a knit that I revisit as Baby Stanley grows!

I love starting new projects, in all areas of my life – not just knitting.  Finishing feels even better, and this year I hope to finish so many things.  Instead of new resolutions I am setting goals to complete old projects.  

More importantly, I hope this year is filled with happiness, love and all the good things of life for all of you!

Happy New Year!  After taking a week off of work and a week off from blogging I’m ready for 2013. One of my projects I plan to complete in 2013 is a monthly calendar made from some of my (and Katie’s) yarn photos.  We’ll provide each month as a high resolution download for you to print off and enjoy as well.   I’ll do my best to post them before the month itself begins! So let’s introduce January 2013!

I’ll be pinning each month to my office/craft room wall. I printed this off using my photo printer and some nice matte paper, it turned out just as I wanted.
There are 2 options in the file below, one with a lovely quote about winter and one without. Enjoy!

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” — Edith Sitwell