turtle dove

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Have you seen this pattern?  I'm truly and utterly in love.
I'm not a turtleneck person at all.  I just don't like anything permanent around my neck.  I can do a scarf or a cowl because I know I can remove it if I get too confined.  I just don't go for a turtleneck.
That is until I saw Turtle Dove.  It's just so beautiful.  And the yarn is to die for.  It's knit top down, and I'm about to separate for the sleeves.
Turtle dove + morning Celery Juice = A beautiful way to start a day!

november knitcrate

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I can't even begin to tell you what a treat it is to open my mailbox and see this lovely blue box.  And then when the beauty drops out, I fall in love each and every time.
November's knitcrate was such a beauty. Jewel toned colorways sprinkled with a bit of sparkle.  Oh ya! I instantly wanted to knit a sweater out of this yummy yarn.  However it is a Superwash Merino so I think I will stick to the pattern included.  Superwash Merino is best for those lovely accessories!
The November Crate included not one but three patterns for this lovely yarn.  
Yarn:  Uru.yarn  Sugared Worsted  2 skeins.  70% Merino, 20% Nylon, and 10% Stellina.  4 different colorways.  I received Wolves colorway.  Also available in Roses, Gilded and Twilight.  
Pattern:  Well, like I said, there just happens to be three knit patterns.  Mitts, a cowl and a hat.  As always, there is one crochet pattern.  
I'm not sure the photos show the beautiful sparkle in these yarns but it's there, I promise!  Twinkle toes ahead with this sock crate!  A sparklying, Stellina-laden yarn for a new pair of socks.

Yarn:  Uru.yarn  Sugared sock.  Available in two exclusive colorways.  I received the Apple, but Amber was lovely as well.
Pattern:  A sweet ankle sock.  Ribbons of Gratitude.

I had a friend to knit with contact me and tell me she was ordering her friend a year subscription of the sockcrate.  Every other month.  What a lovely gift.

As always, your first crate is 20% off by using code FKW20 at checkout.

Happy December, Friends!

hipster shawl

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I truly couldn't be happier with my latest finished piece; the Hipster Shawl.  It was so much fun to make, I ALWAYS wanted to be working on it.  I searched high and low for a yarn that I would be happy with and would want to wear a lot.  And since this was going to be close to my neck it needed to fit the non scratchy criteria.  I ended up going with the Baby Yak Medium by Myak yarn that the pattern calls for.  Especially after reading all of the wonderful reviews.  And, I honestly can't be happier.   It is a bit pricey, but I decided this was an investment I was willing to take.  And, I seriously have had it on at some point in my day, EVERYday, since I finished it.  Now, that's what I call a great knit!
The only issue I had with the yarn is that I ran low!  Seriously I used all but about 2 yards!  
I ended up having to space my tassels a little more resulting in fewer tassels, but I'm okay with it.   This was the first time I ever did the Indian Cross Stitch.  (That stitch up there with the crossovers and holes.)  I found a helpful YouTube video here.

Pattern: Hipster Shawl
Yarn:  Baby Yak Medium by Myak, Desert.  5 skeins.  (100% Yak)
Needle Size:  US 8

barbie lou

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It's been really fun/busy around here lately. My kids are home for Thanksgiving Break!  Nothing better than having all of your babies under one roof!  Speaking of babies, I made a Barbie Lou for the sweetest little new gift to the world!  She is a friends baby and is only 4 months old.  Holy Cow.  I wish my babies were 4 months old again!
The pattern calls for Classic Elite's Liberty.   Did I ever mention that Classic Elite went out of business?  Yes. I fell in love with Classic Elite years ago.  A true love affair.  Whenever I found a new pattern, I always hunted for a Classic Elite yarn.  And many times I used a Classic Elite Pattern.   I am just heartbroken that soon I will no longer be able to get their yummy yarn.  It was always that yarn company that was rock solid in my mind producing quality yarn that would always result in a beautiful finished piece.  I did manage to find Liberty on a closeout sale here.  I really need to order some for my stash as this really makes a great Barbie Lou.  

Pattern:  Barbie Lou
Yarn:  Classic Elite Liberty.  3 balls MC, 1 ball CC, 1 ball CC
Size:  Large (1+ year)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

hipster

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My newest obsession. And I mean obsession.  The Hipster Shawl.
I'm in one of those phases where one of the first things I think about when I wake is my knitting.  They Hipster might be to blame. I truly can't wait to get to it.  Simple, interesting and on size 8 needles, it shows progress!  Love a project like this.  This wasn't my first color choice for this project, however, upon looking EVERYWHERE for this MYAK yarn, I pretty much took what I could get.  And to be honest, it is totally growing on me.  I think it is a nice neutral that will blend with most things in my wardrobe.
I made a mistake yesterday, and had to rip out a couple of inches.  It didn't really bother me though... more time to knit!

Happy weekend, friends!

the oak pullover by quince and co

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I started Oak back in July and buzzed right through it, all except for seaming in that cute little pocket.  And finally a couple of weeks ago I seamed in the pocket.  And yesterday, I wore Oak!  
This is the first sweater I made out of Plain & Simple, and it won't be the last.  In fact, I would like another Oak maybe in a darker color.  It's a great knit and an even better wear.  
I must admit, however, I do have a few things I would do differently if I would ever make this again.  Things that I would tailor to my body type.
The first is the length.  I guess I must be a little longer waisted then the model.  So... if I made this again I would add a couple of inches to the body.  Don't know why I didn't check that as I went... I usually do.
The second thing I would do would be to add more length from the underarm to the shoulder.  I would prefer it to be a bit roomier through the arm since this is a dropped shoulder.
The only modification I did make was to add a couple of inches to the length of the arms.

Pattern:  Oak
Yarn:  Owl by Quince & Co color Elf, 8 skeins
Needle size:  US 8
Size: S

october knitcrate

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Well,  my travel schedule kept me from getting to this space much in October.  Now that I have some time to hunker in, I plan on spending more time here.  Although it is November, I still want to share with you October's knitcrate.  It's one of those things I feel that I can't move on until I do!
This months theme is Verdigris.  The patina of time, faded, peeling and rubbed-down boards; pastel-soft matte finished, ceramic smoothness, and the play of shadow and light on everyday surfaces.

I'll be casting on using this month's crate as soon as I finish a couple of things on my needles. (More on that later.)
The October membership crate had me pretty excited.  The yarn and the knit pattern!  (You remember you always get a crochet pattern too if that is your passion.)
Yarn:  2 skeins of Audine Wools.  50% peruvian alpaca, 30% merino wool, 20% nylon.  It's pure yumminess and I can't wait to see the drape that will be achieved using this yarn.  
Pattern:  Huerta.  It's a triangle shawl worked flat from the narrow point to one of the edges, combining two different pattern motifs.  
The sock artisan crate has me equally excited.  A superfine fingering weight yarn double stranded for this months sock pattern.
Yarn:  Artistic Ewe Yarns in Celery Stalk  75% Superwash Merino, 25% nylon
Pattern:  Doubledown  a quick ankle sock that uses the yarn double-stranded for a quick effect!  (Super excited as I love ankle socks!)
Extra:  Chiaogoo 40"  US size 2 needles to make the socks extra quick using the magic loop method.

If you haven't tried a Knitcrate and are interested in making mail days exciting, you can get 20% off your first crate by entering code FKW20 at checkout!