Thursday, December 15, 2011

Pink Kerchief Scarves!

These kerchiefs were so easy to knit.  The pattern is from a great book, Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by, Joelle Hoverson.  You can use any soft wool or cotton.  The kerchief is triangular so that you can tie around neck, with the tie off to one side of the neck.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Knitted Hats For My Students!


I finally finished knitting 17 wool hats for all of my students!  I used a variety of wools, different colors and 3 different patterns.  I decided not to felt as I was worried about the shrinkage!  Afterwards I wrapped each hat in a colorful piece of paper, tied the ends with leftover yarn and then printed colored cards!  Each card is a photograph I took on one of our field trips in the fall.  On the back of each card I wrote,"What do you notice?"  This is something we do a lot of in and out of the classroom.  I thought that the kids would think it was neat/interesting........  We'll see.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Fruit & Vegetable Market Bag







I had a lot of fun knitting this market bag for a new friend, beginning her new teaching job. I have always thought that teachers are always carrying bags around! Some teachers have 1 or 2 bags, while others seem to keep finding them in closets, thrift shops, hand me downs from family or friends or some of us even make them!
I hope my friend Jenny enjoys her bag and finds it useful whether it be for organic goodies to cook with or to carry her teacher essentials!

Jenny loved her bag and goodies for the kitchen. We look forward to collaborating in the fall and of course Jenny is teaching me all about a mac!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Knitting With Friends On Lake Champlain




It is really hard to believe that summer is slipping away. One of my favorite things to do is to knit with friends. I always get so inspired and re-fueled with new ideas and challenges. Beth is working on some tricky mittens and Cindy is finishing up a shawl she started. I am knitting a market bag in pink cotton for a friend who is beginning her first teaching job in the fall. The pattern is from Yarndance and called, "Fruit and Vegetable Market Bag". For me the handles are a bit tricky, but will seek out knitting help for this!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

New Baby! New House!



I had a lot of fun creating this dish towel for the kitchen using a seed stitch, along with a matching dish cloth. Both are a house warming gift for a young couple. The cotton cap and booties are knit with a baby soft cotton to celebrate the welcoming of a new baby boy.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Dish Towel Using The Seed Stitch!


I loved making this dish towel! All you have to do is cast on 67 stitches. Then knit 1, pearl 1 for the entire dish towel! You decide on the length! I used 100% Saucy Yarn. I am sure any cotton yarn would work. This makes a great gift!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Knitting Needles, Notions and Goodies For The Kitchen!



One of the things I love about knitting is how generous other knitters are and their willingness to provide endless support and share resources! This past week one of my dear friends left a box of knitting goodies for me! In the box was an abundance of needles, different sizes and shapes, some of which were new to me! I love it! Something new to learn here. So I have been focusing on things for the kitchen. I have been knitting dish cloths and dish towels like crazy! I have many people that I want to thank in regards to my work, so I thought this might be a great gift.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Saucy Yarn!



I was so thrilled to have found saucy yarn locally! My usual knitting spot does not carry anymore so I visited Northeast Fiber Arts Center and not only did they have the 100% cotton yarn, but it was on sale! So I have stocked up!

I am knitting numerous dish cloths and dish towels as well as some cotton caps! The NFAC also had saucy sport cotton yarn on sale too! I had to buy a bunch s I am in the middle of knitting market bags for friends to put their fruit and veggies in while they shop!

Now I have to get back to mowing grass and planting my new strawberry plants! So glad that the sun is out!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Basketweave Dishcloth


I could not help but knit 1 more child's cap! I used left over wool yarn. My spring flowers are up so spring is here, really! Even though it just seems to rain, rain, rain!


This is a basic and easy to kit pattern. The yarn is 100% cotton which makes for a great durable and absorbent cloth.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Felting!




Yes, I also created a small bowl out of scrap yarn as well. This is for holding markers in my busy classroom. I think the kids will love the texture!
I had no idea of how important the idea/process of felting is. Thanks to my teacher/friend, Janine I was able to felt 6 clutches this afternoon! Wow! I look forward to sewing some decals of sorts on them to 'spruce them up a bit". I have the privilege of working with a few universities who place young people in Kindergarten who are interested in teaching in a public school. I have had many this year and look forward to giving them one of my felted bags as a big Thank You for helping out in Kindergarten!



This afternoon I was able to get some great felting lessons from my friend Janine. She is an expert knitter, sewer, etc. During each spin cycle we were able to chat and work on our current knitting projects. Janine is working on a market bag and I am working on a Flapper! This is a great felted handbag!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Spring Is Here, Despite All The Snow, Really!

Of course I can not forget my furry little friend and helper with creating balls of yarn for this project.




I hear the robins singing, but the temperature is still a little nippy and the snow, yikes! I wish it would just disappear! I finished a pair of spring booties for a little baby boy along with a cotton watch cap to match! This is my second attempt! My first knitted creation was a bit too small. The little bundle of joy is growing so fast! I am delivering the goods this week before he has another growth spurt!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Cotton Knit Dishtowel!





I just finished my first dishtowel. This pattern is easy, simple and so useful! The pattern is by Cristina B. Shiffman. All you need is 100% cotton yarn worsted weight and size 7 needles with a stitch marker. It knits up quickly and beautifully! I am beginning to make some more in bright spring colors; peach, lemon and baby green! I also made a simple, but elegant dish cloth. The pattern is simple and quick. You decide how large you want it to be. I have displayed the pattern for you to see how I whipped this up!
I made this dish towel and matching washcloth for a bride to be! I was so excited to be a winner of a small vase of fresh flowers from the bridal shower I attended! Spring is here!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Hats That Are Warm and Snug!



I just finished 2 hats this afternoon. The design is inspired by knitting pure and simple. I used Lambs Pride 100% wool from Mitchell, Nebraska along with a 100% cotton rim on the hat with the rolled edge. I love the warmth of a wool hat, but the cotton band near my skin prevents unnecessary itching! The wool is easy to knit with. I used size 7 double points along with a 16" circular needle for the hat with the multi colored rolled edge and size 10 circular needle and double points for the other hat. The hats will be great for snowshoeing in our snowy, woodland property!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Pink and Flashy!








I just finished a couple of children's hats based on the pattern Knitting Pure and Simple. I made a couple of changes to the ribbed cap. The yarn is a wiry, pink yarn that has multiple variations of pink and other bright colors. I thought that it might be a nice way to dress off the cap.

In the background you see a sample of a bed quilt that my great grandmother made with her sisters, really wonderful. The case in the photograph is a design created and made by my dear friend, Cindy known as the fussycutter! Go to her website to see more of her designs and creations.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Hats, Caps and Mittens!



The idea for the photograph was based on a story called, "Caps For Sale" by, Esphyr Slobodkina. In the story a group of clever monkeys take the merchants caps, wear them and then hang out high in a tree. Since I have no monkeys, I improvised and used the branches! Only 8 more to go!
My original goal was to have 18 knit hats for my 18 Kindergarten children for the holidays, then I changed my goal to Valentine's Day! However, I have yet to reach my goal! So I have 9 more hats to go! I hope to have them for my students before spring! I am using variety of patterns and styles. Some of the hats have a slight rolled edge, while others are ribbed. One of my favorite styles is the pink hat as it is Knit 2 ,Purl 2 for the entire hat. The pattern is simple and easy to fit.







Special thanks to my husband extraordinaire! He is my photographer!

What do you do to keep all your hair out of your face?


I have very thick, natural curly hair. As a child and teenager I always hated my hair as I felt it wasn't "like everybody else". Long, shiny, smooth, etc. Little did I know how lucky I was to have such great hair! Besides being so easy to care for, I have been designing and creating headbands lately. This one is easy to make and just tie off!