Fashion Trend- girlie-girl headbands

Sweatchop of Love's Bow Headband

Bow Headband pattern from Sweatshop of Love

It seems everywhere I look right now, I find another sweet, clever headband (Or maybe I have them on the brain because I’m growing my hair out.).  These are easy accessories to make with a bit of scrap yarn and a small amount of knit or crochet time, and they’re lovely and flattering with almost all hairstyles, from buzz-cuts to Rapunzel locks.

Allyson Dykhuizen of Sweatshop of Love has just released a sweet, beginner-friendly bow headband that uses scrap sock yarn and would whip up quickly on size 5 needles as gifts or a last minute finishing touch for your wardrobe.  The one above was knit in Luxe Merino Fine in Trafford.

feather headband from Mimi Boutique

Feather headband from Mimi Boutique (want!)

These gorgeous feather headbands are also an inspiration.  Maybe try a simple knit or crocheted rosette with a few strategically hot-glued feathers?

Travel Headwear has a fun selection, some for free, of crocheted headband patterns, both skinny and wide, with a fun bohemian style.

flower headband from broken hallelujah

And, if you love the look and want to treat yourself to some handcrafted love, check out Broken Hallelujah’s etsy shop for some lovely flower headbands (and cute mary jane slippers, too!).

  • Share/Bookmark
January 29, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments

Fair isle knitting

fair isle swatch

So last week when I posted about traditional knitting gone modern, I had no idea where it would end up. I swatched a bit and played around, and had a really unexpected, funny, and useful idea!

You may look at the swatch above and think, “sock”.  So did I.  But then I thought about this-

bottletree pint glass

That would be a pint glass from my regular Friday afternoon hangout, The Bottletree.  It’s one of those deals where you buy the glass for $10 and get happy hour prices on beer forever and ever.  Which is, in my opinion, totally awesome.  But I have to make sure I can get the glass from point A to point B without breaking it.  And I’m clumsy.  And I like to knit odd cozies.  And sooooo….

This is going to be fun!  I’m probably going to rip back and start over with doubled yarn, and probably switch up the color selection a bit (those two browns are melding).  I think I’ll do a reversible “cuff” for the top to tuck in to protect the rim of the glass (stealing this idea from my friend Kristin, who crocheted a cozy for her pint glass a couple weeks back) , that way I can fold it over and out of the way for drinking.

This video shows a variation of the two-yarns-in-the-left-hand I use when I do stranded knitting, using the adjacent fingers to tuck the unused color back and out of the way while working.  I don’t tension my yarn much, so I just lay both yarns over my index finger, separated my my 2nd knuckle.

Another great resource for fair isle knitting are the great folks at Philosopher’s Wool, when I was first learning this video helped a lot (you can tell it’s been up for a while, because they warn it’s “not for dial-up connections”).  Ann Bourgeois uses a two-handed method that really clicks with a lot of knitters.  If you get a chance, check out the companion book, Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified, for more great tips and techniques.

  • Share/Bookmark
January 28, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments

Modern traditional knitting

semisolid brown and blue Kitchen Sink Dyeworks yarns

I’ve had traditional knitting on the brain this week; project ideas that revolve around updated versions of fair isle stranded knitting, richly cabled texture patterns, and modern silhouettes in gansey patterns.  A natural fit to bring these type of patterns a modern look is to use a classic but modern yarn, like a hand dyed semisolid.  Texture patterns can still “pop” with a subtler handpaint, and fair isle patterns gain a richer palette.

traditonal fair isle and gansey reference books

cable knitting without a cable needle

Currently, I’m knitting a rich cable pattern with Eco DK, a mid-weight three-ply yarn.  This pattern has non-stop cable twists on each right side row, so I’ve been using the “cabling without a needle” technique.  Having a smoothly plied yarn makes life sooo much easier while doing this, as single ply yarns and loosely plied yarns tend to collapse and separate without the structure of the needle holding them up.  I have a tutorial in the works for this technique, because it’s a lifesaver!

  • Share/Bookmark
January 25, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments

Learn to knit lace online

I’ve just opened enrollment on the Pavo Real online class, which will run from Feb. 2-22 to correspond with the Pavo knitalong next month.  I’ll show you how to knit a beautiful one-skein lace shawl from start to finish, with step-by-step instruction and support.  It’s all the fun of a group knitting class, but you can stay at home in your jammies!

Here’s the details:

What you get:

3 week class, includes PDF copy of Pavo Real pattern, video tutorials that you can refer to at your convenience any time during the duration of class, PDF handouts for you to print out and keep for your reference after class, chat and e-mail support for the three week class period, plus an additional 2 weeks of access to videos and PDFs after class.

Standard Enrollment= $65 ($59 if student has previously bought copy of the Pavo pattern)

Special Intro Price!= $45 ($39 if student has previously bought copy of the Pavo pattern)

What you’ll learn:
-lace knitting stitches, including yarnovers, decreases, and increases
-chart reading
-“reading” your stitches to tell where you are in the pattern repeat
-tips and tricks for lace knitting
-blocking

What you’ll have:
FUN!!! Oh, yeah, and a beautiful finished shawl.

Students who have previously purchased the Pavo Real pattern will receive a $6 PayPal refund on their class fee.

Questions? Contact me at mail-at-kitchensinkdyeworks-dot-com.

$45 Early-bird Enrollment


  • Share/Bookmark
January 22, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments

Knitter Neglect

I’ve been enjoying my little crochet-cation amongst the granny squares and amigurumi critters, relaxing in not having to plan the math, or figure the sizes, or stress out about directions making sense (I love all of those things in their own way, in their own time, because I like a challenge, but sometimes a girl needs a break!).  So for all of you knitters who may be wondering if this craft train will EVER stop in knitland again, the next stop is soon, thanks to my granny square holiday!

I just packed up a little gift box for a Valentine’s day swap on Ravelry, with this little nugget of a birdie inside (I’m pretty sure my swap partner doesn’t read this, and that it should be delivered by now, but if you’re reading, doll: SPOILER ALERT!!).

It measures about 2″ high, with little striped pipe cleaner chicken legs.  I modified a little bird pattern from one of my Japanese amigurumi books (isbn# 4-309-26670-3, bought from the fab Saucylouise) with scraps of Luxe Merino Fine in Peabody on a size C hook.  I love that little tail nubbin!

Now it’s time to gear up to work on some new patterns that have been clunking around in my noggin.  Fun ideas that I just can’t stop thinking about, so they must begin!  So knitters that may have been feeling neglected in this crochet lovefest, stay tuned over the next few weeks.   At least two new knitting patterns are on the way, including the full version (headband, cowl, mitts-So excited!) of the Snakehandler pattern featured back in autumn and a SWEET new embellished cardi!

  • Share/Bookmark
January 21, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments

Crochet Lovefest

There’s a lot of love for the granny square out on the internet right now, inspiration around every post, tweet, and upload.  Or maybe I just have them on the brain.  Yeah, well, there’s that.

Tara over at Blonde Chicken Boutique got sucked in a couple of weeks back (check her post on granny squares for some great links), which got me thinking about it again, which got the ball rolling on my current sock yarn scrap granny project.

Now Amy over at The Hook and I has a great post up about granny squares, including some basic charting and construction options, and a book in the works by she and Julie Holetz on granny square projects. Can’t wait to see that!

And my pile of granny squares just keeps on growin’.  I have a glut of sock yarn, so they may go on forever!  There are worse things, to be sure.  It feels like a guess the beans in the jar game, how many squares are in a basket of sock yarn scraps?

Want to start your own granny square project?  Start with this great tutorial over at the Purl Bee.

  • Share/Bookmark
January 20, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | Comments

Help for Haiti

To try to do my part to help the people of Haiti get back on their feet, I’m donating 50% of all of my Ravelry pattern store sales now through the end of January to the Red Cross.  Help me help Haiti, and get some great knit and crochet patterns for your pattern library!

Visit the Ravelry Pattern Store

  • Share/Bookmark
January 18, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Comments

New Arrivals…

Silk Linen Lace

A delicate blend of supple silk and soft linen, this yarn takes the dyes with subtle, beautiful shading. Try it in your next lace project, or knit it doubled for a soft spring garment.

Details: 65% silk 35% linen

725 yards per 4oz skein

Heavy lace/light fingering weight

Hand wash in cold water, dry flat.

Merino Silk Worsted

A buttery-soft, next to the skin touchable merino silk blend with great yardage! Try this puffy, lofty single ply worsted weight that is great for accessories. Knits and crochets beautifully.

Details: 60% merino wool 40% silk

240 yards per 4 oz skein

Worsted weight
4-5 stitches per inch on US 7-9 needles

Hand wash in cold water, dry flat.

and not exactly new, but uncommon, Silver Spoon

Try this gorgeous, subtle glittering yarn in your next lace or sock project! A sumptuous blend of soft superwash merino, silk, nylon for strength, and 2% real sterling silver fiber.

Details: 63% superwash merino wool 20% silk
15% nylon 2% real sterling silver fibers

410 yards per 100g skein

Fingering/sock weight
Needles: US 0-3

Hand wash or machine wash gentle in cold water, dry flat.

  • Share/Bookmark
January 16, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments

Wake up Woodchuck-chuckers…

“It’s Groundhog Day!”

That, friends, is the beginning of a cute amigurumi groundhog!  Using June Gilbank’s Groundhog pattern and KSD’s Merino Fine held doubled, I’m making this as part of the Groundhogalong that started from some joking around on twitter.  Turns out there are quite a few crafters that are just as crazy about the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day.

Want to join us?  There’s now a ravelry group, a flickr group, and a cute badge!  Just grab a hook and complete your groundhog by Feb 2nd.  In Casa de Clark, we have a screening of Groundhog Day every year, so I’ll be camped out on the sofa with my g’hog and husband.

Progress has paused while I hunt through my super-disorganized stash for a bag of polyfill stuffing and some appropriate buttons for eyes.  And I’m naming my g’hog Desmond.  You can’t name yours Ned Ryerson, Kim already called dibs!

  • Share/Bookmark
January 15, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program..

…of Colorplay Thursday to bring you the Granny Square extravaganza:

As a breather between some freelance projects, I decided to shop my stash of KSD scraps and start a nice basic granny square afghan.  What a soothing project!  I love easy-to-memorize, no-brainer projects as comfort craft.  This one is made from my KSD sock yarn scraps (Merino Fine, Luxe, Seacell, Superwash Sock) on a size E hook.  Small, but repetitive and great for TV crochet.

This afghan fits with my little household theme this week of “pantry shopping”, using what you have on hand with little to no additions to create something pretty/tasty/useful/clever.  The same night it was started, I made a great “pantry shopping” dinner with soba noodles in sesame lime sauce, and used up the leftover lime juice to make a great cocktail.

Despite the fact that we were in the middle of freakishly cold temperatures for Alabama; I had been staying up watching The Travel Channel for a couple of nights watching shows on Puerto Rico, Peru, and other warm and sunny places, so I had a craving for a fresh, citrusy drink.  The following was born from ingredients on hand:

British Tropic

In a rocks glass:

1 shot good quality gin (I used Bombay Sapphire)

1 T Rose’s Lime (or more, for sweetness.  I like mine pretty dry.)

juice of 1/2 lime

Add ice, fill to top with club soda.  Pretend you’re on a beach, even if you’re wrapped in wool and avoiding frostbite.

Is this a “real” drink?  A variation on an existing classic I’m just clueless about?  Let me know!

  • Share/Bookmark
January 14, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | Comments
« Older Entries