Enchanted Garden

Over the past months I've been giving you a few insider shots into the design process of my newest patterns. Talk about a huge weight off my shoulders, because at long last it is time to show off the Enchanted Garden.

The ebook contains 6 patterns that are all inspired by an Irish garden with a Gaelic theme. This enchanted garden entices you to enter where soft clovers dapple the diamond-shaped walkway. An elaborately curled wrought iron gate is left exposed by the climbing ivy that ascends an ancient stone wall. Time-honored memories seem to resonate here among the flowers.

Cosan is the Gaelic word for path. The diamond clover stranded colorwork pattern evokes a feeling of walking through a garden path surrounded by wild flowers..

Trean is the Gaelic word for strong. The wrought iron gate stranded colorwork pattern gives a sense of majestic strength and yet has a classic beauty all it’s own.

Dreap is the Gaelic word for climb. The ivy trellis stranded colorwork pattern is fun and playful. As the ivy climbs along one side, the trellis climbs the other.

And if your interested, but don't want to splurge for the whole ebook? You can buy each pattern separately. I would pay special attention to the pattern notes that talks about yardage, because if you want to make the matching piece you might not need to buy more of the secondary colors.

FO: October Frost

To say that I'm excited to have this sweater done...is an understatement. The pieces to this sweater stayed locked away blocked and folded while I was busy designing my own stuff. I waited patiently for the right buttons and in the end, grosgrain ribbon. I knew I wanted this to be done just right.

Pattern: October Frost by Lisa Lloyd

Yarn: Chuckanut Bay Yarns

Needles: US 6 and 8 needle

Started: January 21, 2012

Finished: October 16, 2014

Did I change anything? Nope. At the time, I was happy to just do what was instructed.



The yarn was originally for a tunic cabled jacket and hood...Faery Ring, but the designer never did finish the sizing options for the larger sizes. It was also at this point that I knew that the shape of the jacket would not be flattering to my body shape. The stars were then aligned for me to make one of the many beautiful sweaters from the book: A Fine Fleece.



I also knew I had to find the perfect buttons and just to really finish this sweater off, I wanted ribbon. So, If your ever in Chicago and need buttons and ribbon... head to Soutache. The lady there is adorable and was very knowledgeable with her stock and selection.



Back when I had time to listen to Podcasts, I remember the Knitmore Girls talking about a video they had created that demonstrated the technique of adding ribbon to the button band. It's long. But very helpful in understanding the process. Go check it out here.

What the video doesn't show you is the technique used for adding ribbon over the button holes. This part was a little more tricky. Knowing what I know now, I would have made button holes to the ribbon from my sewing machine prior to attaching the ribbon to the sweater. What did happen was I had attached the ribbon over the holes. Sniped slits where the holes where and then the ribbon began to fray. Oh-Joy. So yeah... I then looked up techniques on securing button holes. I found this video helpful. You'll also need to add Fray Check to the ribbon before doing this buttonhole stitch. If you don't it will just cause your ribbon to fray more. I also added more Fray Check afterwards to double secure it.

Yes, it took a full day to add the ribbon...and another full day to stitch all 7 button holes, but in the end it was worth it.

The whole process has me feeling very empowered. So here I give you my Powerful Pose:

FO: WendyKnits Summer Mystery Shawl 2013

Pattern: Summer Mystery Shawl 2013 KAL by Wendy Knits

Yarn: 1 skein of Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in gold

Needle: US 7 circular

Started: July 31, 2013

Finished: September 11, 2013

Notes: Didn't change a thing. It was a perfect knit. There are three sizes available and I went for the largest one. With over a 1000 yds, I knew I wanted to use as much as I could. I still have plenty of leftovers!! The final blocked size was 80 inches wide and 40 inches in height.




These shots where taken at the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville. I'm so in love with this location. It is on the short list for future photo shoots.

FO: Jacob's Woobie Monkey

It's been a long time coming, but I've finally put a face on the lingering project for an online sweetheart who had an adorable baby boy named Jacob.




I personalize the blanket with the initial J using a stem stitch embroidery technique. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I'm shipping this in the mail in hopes that Jacob adores it as much as I do.

The only downside to making something so cute...getting asked by everyone if I can make them one too! I love each and everyone of you out there, but there is no way that will happen.

Want to make one? Sure, go here to buy the pattern for the monkey!

FO: Color Affection

Pattern: Color Affection by Veera Välimäki

Yarn: 3 skeins Miss Babs Yet Lace Weight color combo

Needles: US 5

Started: August 12, 2012

Finished: December 3, 2012

Talk about the hottest knitting pattern around. If you are ever around a bunch of knitters, yarn store or perhaps Stitches... you're going to see one and want one. AND if your me... totally cast one on the minute you hit the Miss Babs booth. WHY? because they have the colors already selected for you. Super easy, just grab and go. No thinking involved.



The minute I saw the green I was in love. Wear this all the time and it wasn't until I just finished my last project that I totally realized I hadn't blogged about this one.

FO: Wingspan

Pattern: Wingspan by Maylin Tri'Coterie Designs

Yarn: 1 skein of Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball

Needles: US 5 circular

Started: January 11, 2013

Finished: March 24, 2013

Notes: The final depth is shallow, measuring from bind-off edge to a point at 9 inches.

My gauge measures 6sts per inch, which to be honest I didn’t even check. Wanted something mindless to work on. I love it. Just wish I had an extra ball so I could make it longer. It’s barely long enough to keep my neck warm. Made it to 10 points and bound off with only 1 gram to spare.

I’d totally make this again. Would adjust it to allow for deeper points and have plenty of yarn to make this go further.



If you ever get a chance, check out the long list of finished objects on this project list. Some very awe-inspiring projects that make you drool.

FO: Done With Thrums

This will complete the third pair of thrummed mittens. I'm done. The fiber prep is killer. I don't plan to make another pair... like ever. Well, I guess I shouldn't say ever, but as least not for another year.

I had to get these done for Miss Mac. This winter has been mild, but has decided to show up...so just in time to keep her fingers warm.



The one great thing about this kind of project is it only takes one skein of Cascaded 220 and 2 oz of fiber. It all comes together quite nicely, but be aware that if your thrums are thick you could run out of fiber.

Parade of Finished Objects...

Over the holidays it was seriously intense around here. Not only was I working on launching the new blanket pattern but I had plans to Knit. All. The. Things. The original plan was to knit something small for most of the little people in my life. And to be honest, I had done a fair job. More things got added to the list, while others fell away.

Monsters for each of my SIL boys. They are at that perfect age (4 and 2), where a stuffie is still kinda cool and then add the "monster" bit in and we are talking winner-winner-chicken-dinner!




My son then saw these little guys and... well, lets say things got weird. My 6 foot 4 inch, 17-year old son... reverted back to his 3-year-old self. He said in the most sweetest voice, "I want one." Which just took me by surprise. I was planning on knitting him a hat, but since he was requesting, I just couldn't say no.

Thus, there was the red and black monster



New slippers for Mac because she grew out of her last pair.



Then there was this moment in late November that my husband wore out his slipper, so that got added to the list and now he has warm toes.



I purchased a thrummed kit from a vendor at Vogue Live Chicago and finished them pretty quickly:



I was then hooked. A quick jaunt to The Fold and was now making more mittens... a pair for Grandma in blue.



Then there was the Lined Beanie for Grandpa Larry made out of some left over gray Berroco Vintage yarn and some green/black Noro yarn for the stripes.



There is more to talk about, but *sigh*, I'm done for now. Perhaps I will pick up blogging more often. I miss it.

FO: SSMS

I had just realized that I never showed my finished project for the Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl Knit-along!

I finished so quickly that I almost forgot I actually knit the thing.

Here are the spec's from the project:

Pattern: Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl Knit-along! by Wendy Johnson

Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino in Lime Green or other wise known as Color 3

Needles: US 7 circular needle

Started: June 20, 2012

Finished: July 22, 2012

The pattern had called for a US 5 needle, but since I've had experience with Wendy's shawl patterns before I knew I'd have to increase that size. It turned out perfectly. The piece definitely needs a closure as it seems like it wanted to fly away, so that was easily fixed by attaching a button to one end. I use a yarn-over hole as a way to secure it.



I did do some modifications...added all the extra repeats suggested except for the last set in part E of the pattern. I was running out of yarn fast and knew I had to make a choice. The skein has 460 yards and the pattern calls for 420-450 in order to make the smallest size. I knew I wanted length, so I went for it. I ended up with only 5g of yarn left. Enough to add another mitered square to my Left Over Sock Yarn Blanket. Talk about using every inch!!

Woobie Pattern Collection Series #2

I'm really excited to announce that the Woobie Pattern Collection Series #2 is now live and ready to download. The ebook contains 8 Woobie patterns filled with whimsy and delight.



Completing this second ebook series was like being 42 weeks pregnant. Just ready to be done. Love the end product, even if my schedule was off by 4 weeks. That's alright. It turned out awesome anyway!!

Going For Gold

When last we left off I was showing you the blanket and it looked something like this:




It then grew...




And grew a little bit more...



And it kept growing and growing...




And then when all the pieces were laid out it looked like this:



And then came the seaming. Oh the seaming... and then what happened? It turned into one of the most amazing knits I've ever accomplished.



Its permanent home is now The Knit Zone. Just makes you want to curl up on loveseat and catch a few zzz's huh?

Just to give you an idea of how many hours this undertaking took...I've calculated the time.
It look me roughly 101 hours to completely finish this project. Knitting on the train to work and back. Knitting and seaming during lunch breaks. Then once home I would make dinner and knit from 7pm-12 if not till 1am. Get up and do it all over again. Labor or love is and understatement. I then wore it all day Sunday at Stitches Midwest. It was like a badge of honor to wear that sucker. It was my flag. My Olympics. And I won Gold.

My Latest FO and Contest Winners!

In my latest Finished Object... I took some of this:



Turned into this:



What is that you ask? A Swiffer Re-Usable Cloth of course.



Knitters, seriously... I've got 371g of this cone left. That means I can knit another 10 covers out of this cone. Whoo-hoo!!


Enough of that...
You came for the winner of these two lovely skeins of Simpliworsed.



So, lets get to it...
There were 15 comments on the post and because I like to do this the old fashioned way...



I then had Miss Mac pick a number out of hat. She got a kick out of this.



And the Winner is number 12.



The 12th comment was from SameOldKnit! Congratulations! Thanks everyone for all your comments, it was great to read them all and to see that some people still read this little blog of mine:P

Don't forget you can still get the Gannon pattern for just one dollar until the end of May.

Woobie Pattern Collection - Series 1

It's hard to believe that I'm even writing this.

I'm proud to announce that The Woobie Pattern Collection - Series 1 is complete. It's a downloadable ebook collection of all 8 Woobies.

I hired the most adorable baby to model the Woobies ~ Joey is his name. He was wonderful and I love this shot!

I also hired an awesome tech editor, Katherine Vaughan who helped me every step of the way...especially keeping me consistent. Highly recommend her services.

I also could not have done it without those Awesome Testers! Which you can see listed here on the Ravelry board. Come join us!