Can you feel it?  The chilly mornings, the crispness in the air, the smell of the leaves?  It's coming.  And it is my favorite time of the year.  FALL!  I absolutely adore this time of year.  And the prospect of donning the hand knits once again.

 Well, hello friend!  It's been a while.  

What an interesting first quarter it has been.  Not only for the world but for myself personally.

If you follow me on Instagram or watch my YouTube channel you will know that I broke my wrist while skiing at the end of January.  10 days later, on February 4th I had surgery.  Everything went well, however, because of the way my wrist was broken,  I was not allowed to use my fingers for the next 5 weeks.  No typing, no knitting.  

So, knitting did not happen and this space became a little dusty. 
I am over the moon happy that I am able to knit again.  It was a little slow going but things are almost back to normal in my knitting world.  Full movement will take some time, but I am thrilled that I can knit. 
As I dreamt of knitting, I dreamt of what my wardrobe needed.  

Like I said... I am crazy about this yarn.
And, I feel like I get extra bonus points for lining up the stripes!  (Always the hardest part for me!)

Yarn:  Trench Coat by turtle purl  approximately 225 yards.  The yarn is shipped in two skeins of approximately 225 yards with a total of 450 yards.  One pair of mitts uses one skein.  Therefore, you are able to get two pairs out of one order.  (Two skeins.)
Pattern: Beatrice Mitts
Needle:  US 2

After trying multiple necklines, I settled for a simple neckline picking up stitches, knitting one row and binding off.  I quite like it.

The Woolfolk Luft yarn is so dreamy.  And I'm not sure this color shows in photos very well.  Sometimes it looks brown and sometimes it looks like a deep dark eggplant.  Or a raisin.  But the true color is Aubergine, L9.

I may consider writing this pattern up.  However, I will probably have to knit another one as my notes aren't that great.  😜 They are full of numbers that I wrote, crossed off, erased, etc.  Which was fine with me because I have always been a numbers person!

Enjoy!

Meet Motive.  A new pattern named after my hair salon.  Because my hair stylist, who owns the salon, requested a pair of mitts as long as Toast but with more of a shape of Those Mitts.
Long enough to pull down over your fingers on those super cold days.  And can easily cuffed to free your fingers when you need to use them!
I added a heart to one mitt and like to wear it in the palm of my hand.  But since they are reversible can also be worn on the top of your hand.  Or you can add a heart to both mitts if you like.  Totally up to YOU!
The pattern is intended for a worsted weight yarn on size 6 needles.  I like to use Lion Brand Wool Ease because it can be thrown in the washer and dryer and wears amazingly well.  I also like the price point for a project like this.
The heart motif is written in a chart and row by row in case you don't like to follow charts.

The color combinations are endless!  I can't wait to try more combinations.  And, as my sweet friend Kristyn just mentioned, she is getting an early start on Christmas knitting with these!

 Meet toast with purls.

I think of these arm warmers as being a slightly dressier version of toast.  (My mind suddenly goes to making toast and wearing pearls.)😉

The pattern is over on ravelry and you can download your free copy using the code "merryandbright".     (Available until Midnight on Thursday.) I bet you can whip a pair out in time for a gift.  OR you can save the pattern and knit a pair for yourself over your holiday break.  Yes, a pair for yourself sounds lovely.

Enjoy!

xx, leslie

Hey Friends!

Barbie Lou is finally written up.  I  apologize for those who were waiting and for it taking me so long.  I had a lovely knitter test it, and I think it's all correct.  Thank you, Sarah!  (Sarah was really fast, it was I who was slow!)

This is the pattern my sweet mom wrote. (We call my mom Barbie Lou.)  All of my children, my sisters children and friends children have worn a Barbie Lou.  This has always been our go to baby sweater.  Great for both sweet baby boys and baby girls.  It is written in two sizes, 3-6 months and 6-12 months.

The pattern for Barbie Lou is available here.

Happy Friday!

So, I have been wanting a pair of toast in a Camel color for a while.  I seriously have been stalking yarn stores and combing the internet in search of the a Camel color yarn.  Not caramel.  But, camel.  You know, like a Camel color jacket.  Or, a Camel color bag.  Or... our beloved CAMELS!
Well, I ended up finding a yarn that I loved that was discontinued on Amazon.  Ya, I know, Amazon!? Not sure if it was exactly what I was looking for, but it was the yarn I loved...  in a color I loved.   So, I snatched it!
Toast are seriously my all time favorite.  Sure, I love a fingerless glove.  But toast are completely fingerless.  Not even a space for your beloved thumb.  Which makes them perfect for those times when you need to use your fingers. (Just push them up.) Or, when you need to cover your cold fingers. (Just pull them down.)  All the while, adding that extra warmth needed.

Pattern:  Toast.
Yarn:  Rowan Cashsoft.
Needles: Size US 7 dpn.

 I could not be more pleased with results.  It was designed after the cashmere wraps that are sold where I work on Fridays and Saturdays.  Man, do I love those wraps.  I decided I could make one, but it would have to have the same sort of drape as cashmere.  This yummy yarn is pretty close.
While making it, I told Libby it was for her.  I've now told her maybe we should share.
It reminds me of the yoga shawl I made last summer.  However, I can honestly say it has much more drape.  It's a simple, easy pattern that requires minimal thought.


Pattern:  Twig
Yarn: 4 skeins Fyberspates scruptious DK/Worsted
Needles:  US size 8
Crochet hook: size G
Gauge: 18 st = 4"

Have a great weekend, friends!

It's SO cold here!
I remember when my kids were babies and I made little hand covers for them.  Just a little cover for that little fist they keep so tight.  No thumb required.
I recently made a few for a friend's baby and thought you might like to, too!  Super quick and easy.
You can find the pattern here.

I just wanted to let you know that I finally wrote up the Bella pattern in a pdf to make it easier for you to print.   It's over in the sidebar for now. (I'm trying to get all of the patterns on one page.)  Megan in New Zealand (Hi Megan!) told me she found the pattern written up here. I giggled at the description.

I seem to have quite a few emails regarding this stitch and the problems with it. For some reason our brain likes to challenge us and play tricks on us with this one.  Try to keep in mind that you will always have the same number of stitches on your needle.  And, as always, feel free to shoot me an email with any questions.