Destash Sock Yarn and Save a Life

Save the Children and Warm Up America! are asking knitters and crocheters
across the U.S. to pick up their needles and hooks to help save
the lives of nearly four million newborn babies in the developing world.

The Caps for Good grassroots initiative will run through February, 2011. People of all ages are encouraged to join in by making one or more caps; writing to policymakers; and, if possible, donating money (a little or a lot) to provide newborn care in developing countries.

At the end of the program, all of the collected caps will be distributed to pregnant women and new moms and their babies in Save the Children's programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

For more information--and to download a Caps for Good Action Kit with free patterns and more ways to get involved--visit Save the Children's website: www.goodgoes.org/caps

(Note: I designed the little hat shown above to send to Afghans for Afghans a couple of years ago. If enough knitters show interest, I can write it up and post it for download on Ravelry. Just let me know!)

Destash Sock Yarn and Save a Life

Violetta: My pattern -- on the cover!

It's my own pattern...on the cover of Yarn Forward magazine! Yipee!!!

Violetta is a tailored little jacket that I designed to see you through these transitional seasons. Knit up in Rowan Belle Organic DK (color: Peony), a lovely blend of 50 percent organic wool and 50 percent organic cotton, this sweater offers just the right amount of warmth without adding bulk.

With a broad range of sizes, visible "Princess seams," cool stitch pattern, optional pockets, and enough ease for layering, Violetta just might become your go-to sweater this year!

If your bookstore carries Yarn Forward, check it out -- it's a great magazine (thus why I submitted patterns to them). And if you have problems finding it, you can always pick up an electronic copy at Yudu.

Happy knitting!

Violetta: My pattern -- on the cover!

Exciting news!!!

My new pattern, Flower Child, available now in Yarn Forward magazine (No. 29)!

Image: Yarn Forward Magazine

Yarn Forward magazine #29 (October 2010) is out -- and I have a pattern in it! (I'm also one of the featured designers, with bio on the Editor's Letter page.)

Flower Child, my pattern, is a fresh take on 60s-inspired garments. A sleeveless top/tank top/vest (depending on where in the world you live AND how you deign to wear it), it sports an A-line skirt and bust darts. At the ever-flattering Empire waist and square neckline, brightly-colored, crocheted grannies spice things up.

Details: Bust darts, seed stitch edging, side shaping, slight gathering at waistband

Flower Child looks great on its own, but really shines when layered over a long-sleeved tee. I'm checking into professional photos/copyright permissions etc., and will put up some photos of the finished garment as soon as possible.

(Model: Kristi Johnson)

Meanwhile, I am working on some new designs -- a couple of sweaters, some cool (warm) accessories -- which will be available soon. Please drop me a line if you have an idea or suggestion...I want to make sure I'm giving you what you want, so feedback is always welcome :)

Also, my website, http://www.HannahSixDesigns.com, will be functional within the next couple of months. At that time, I'll make sure my designs are available for you to peruse on the site. As always, you can purchase many of them via Ravelry.

For now, though, check out Yarn Forward. I think it's a great magazine (or I would never have submitted my designs to them), so even if you can't get Issue 29 yet, you're sure to find inspiration in its pages. And when you do get YF29, be sure to let me know if you're knitting up the Flower Child top. I'd love to see your photos!!!

Exciting news!!!

Tea, anyone?

Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy on 8-cup teapot

Oh, teapot cozies, how I love them! Quick to knit as a hat, but with ample opportunities for delightful camp- and quirkiness.

This is my favorite yet: The Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy (Ravelry link). Plump little cherries burst forth against their background of robin's egg blue, edged with chocolate brown. And the grassy green of the leaves is echoed by the vine-like, I-cord, drawstring closure. What fun!


I was inspired to design this little cozy almost two years ago, when we moved into our current home -- a little cottage in Western Maryland. The three big windows in the kitchen let in the afternoon sun, and provide excellent squirrel watching opportunities for the kitties (see top photo).

The pale aqua on the walls just cried out for bright red (my favorite kitchen color). And I've always loved cherry motifs. It was only a matter of time before these ideas took physical form -- and a matter of, well, more time before I charted and test knit the pattern.

The Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy is a quick knit -- you don't have to work the chart on the back. In fact, you could skip the intarsia altogether, and embroider the cherries, stems, and leaves in duplicate stitch. How you approach the colorwork is up to you. Remember, knitting is fun, right?

Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy on 4-cup teapot

I'll be finalizing this pattern over the weekend, and will post it for sale on Ravelry in the next few days. You can purchase it directly from me (knitsix@gmail.com).

Just in time for that piping-hot, freshly brewed cup of relaxation we often crave during the holiday season. Or perhaps for gift-giving, for a very special person -- the kind you'd drink tea with while chatting about this and that.

Meanwhile, happy knitting and baking and shopping and merry-making and, well, you know...

Tea, anyone?

Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy (a new pattern & preliminary photos)

Finally! A tea cozy cute enough to display on your tea pot year-round...

Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy, drying after a very light fulling

My favorite kitchen designs come from Scandinavia, which often feature ruby red, snowy white, and robin's egg blue. I also happen to like cherries -- always have.

So when we moved into our cottage with its pale aqua-blue walls, there was only one thing to do: Hunt down yards of retro cherry fabric, a perfect-red throw rug, a bunch of yarn (of course!) and get creative.

The result (well, one of them), you see before you... A lovely tea cozy with a draw-string top, juicy intarsia cherries, and chocolate-brown trim. Makes me hungry just thinking about it!

Another view of Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy, sans tripod

Cheery Cherry comes in two sizes to fit classic tea pots. The sample above was made with Ella Rae Classic Wool in light blue and dark brown, a few yards of red and green from my stash, and US#7/4.5 mm circular needles.

The intarsia pattern is straightforward, and you have the choice of knitting cherries on both sides, or only on the front. You could also work the cherry chart on one side and a stranded or embroidered pattern on the other. The options are limited only by your imagination.

Want some Cheery Cherries of your own? The pattern will be available for purchase and immediate download on Ravelry no later than Wednesday, 2 December.

Just in time for last-minute holiday gift knitting (yes, it's that quick and easy).

Meanwhile, to my US (and expat) readers, and to everyone else who celebrates tomorrow's holiday: I wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day. May it include some quiet time for relaxing with your knitting, crochet, or other artistic endeavor. Enjoy!


(BTW: Sorry for the poor photo quality...I can't find my tripod, and my camera is having issues dealing with reds. I'll post some better photos when the cozy is dry and I can put it on my tea pot.)

Cheery Cherry Tea Cozy (a new pattern & preliminary photos)

Villette Fingerless Gloves: A new pattern (Also: A Noro Vienna Shrug)

My newest pattern--well, actually, a couple of new patterns--will debut at Sock Summit, at the Shalimar Yarns booth: The Villette Fingerless Gloves are today's pattern-of-the-day...


Sweet and just a bit nostalgic, these little gloves are just the right weight for autumn and spring. They're also the perfect size to wear in a chilly office (I've worked in places where the A/C was so cold I couldn't even type!) or in a drafty, older home. The Villette Fingerless Gloves were a natural extension of my Villette Socks pattern (which will also be available at Sock Summit).

The gloves begin with a knotted picot cast on, which incorporates a "nupp-like" stitch, then flow into the simple-yet-effortlessly-lovely Villette Lace. Yarn-over increases shape the thumb gusset, mirroring the openwork pattern. The result is a delicate floral scallop at the wrist, and a stretchy lace fabric that moves with your hand.

Charley says: These Villette Fingerless Gloves are the cat's meow!

Certainly, you could do a picot bind off, too, but I chose instead to use a pretty twisted rib, which won't get in the way of busy fingers. You can customize the Villette Fingerless Gloves so easily: make the arms longer, incorporate beads into the cast on edge...these possibilities are just part of the pattern's charm.

To see the Villette gloves--as well as my other sock-yarn-based patterns--head on over to the Shalimar Yarns booth at Sock Summit.

A Silk Garden shrug, Vienna-style
You remember Vienna, right? Here's a little reminder, modeled by the lovely Kristi...

On the past two Sundays, I've led a workshop (one of Eleganza Yarns' Sunday Sojourns) based on my Vienna Shrug pattern. Kristi loves this lacy little piece of knitting (which I made sure to offer in a wide range of sizes!), and writes on her blog:

This is possibly the most perfect shrug...Totally customizable for any season, the Vienna Shrug is a great entrée into lace knitting, picking up stitches, provisional cast on, and seaming. Besides being lovely, the Vienna Shrug doesn't use much yarn...

Customize the Vienna Shrug by increasing the ribbing to cover more ribcage and produce a lovely foldover collar. Currently a three-season shrug, the ribbing on the three-quarter length sleeves can be extended to the wrist, making a wonderfully cozy garment for chilly midwinter days.

Having already knit a sample in the luscious Damson color (above), I decided to see what magic would result from combining Noro Silk Garden with this simple side-to-side garment. Here's a peek at my project, which I hope to finish in time for my trip to Sacramento later this month:

I do think it's going to be a very pretty little sweater. Not that I'll need one in the 100+ degree weather with which Sac is blessed this time of year. But airplanes and restaurants are always chilly, so I think I'll be glad of a silky little shoulder warmer.

Coming up, I have a new sock pattern to show you, named Kamille (Norwegian for Chamomile). It's chock-a-block with twisted stitches that loop their way from tip to toe. And it's ready just in time for Sock Summit!

I'll also have a bit of yarn porn for you. We all love looking at other people's stashes, right? So c'mon back and check it out later this week. Till then: Happy knitting!


P.S.
Do plan to spend some time at the Shalimar booth if you're heading to the big gathering in Portland, Oreg. Kristi and Paul will have a slew of gorgeous yarn, some sock-needle-sized "Needle Bangles" (stitch markers, mady by moi, for this special occasion), and other great items.

Not going to Sock Summit? (Neither am I, sadly...) That's OK! You can also purchase my patterns directly from Shalimar Yarns at: ShalimarYarns@aol.com

Villette Fingerless Gloves: A new pattern (Also: A Noro Vienna Shrug)

One of those moments...

This morning, while working at my tiny little 1950's kitchen table, I looked up and saw this...

Do you notice anything? I hadn't, until my eyes really opened and I saw, with a little thrill of pleasure, that all of the colors in this little tableau echoed and complemented each other.

All are colors I happen to love, too. It was one of those serendipitous moments -- the kind you want to capture -- that can inspire designs, new colorways, paintings, poems...

And speaking of inspiration and design, take a look at Madeline Tosh's gorgeous Web site. Her home page alone is enough to make me want to pull out my needles and start creating something beautiful. I haven't yet worked with her yarn...But that may change in the near future!

Here's another photo of Vienna, the little shrug I featured in my last post. Simple, enjoyable lace with short, meditative repeats. Garter stitch borders, to make the minimal seaming as easy as possible, followed by a bit of ribbing that lets your mind wander freely.

And all the while, your hands and needles are singing because of the incredibly soft, lofty, gorgeously colored yarn. More good news? The yardage required is ridiculously low!

You can buy Vienna and Honey Worsted (shown in Damson, above) directly from Shalimar Yarns. If you do, please send me photos of your finished objects -- I'd love to see what you do with this pattern!

One of those moments...

Craic: New socks for spring

Craic, pronounced “crack,” is a Gaelic word that roughly translates to “great fun,” as in: “Knitting these socks is great craic.”

I designed these Celtic-spring-inspired socks for Three Irish Girls, using Kells Sport, a densely-spun, 100-percent superwash Merino with a plump structure that makes cables pop. And as you knit, Kells works up into a wonderfully soft and squeezable fabric - I could hardly keep my hands off these socks!

Craic's pattern begins at the cuff, where pattern-specific ribbing flows effortlessly into ripples and twintings of deeply-textured cables. At the ankle, one panel splits, following the instep stitches to the toe.

Then there's my favorite part: The large cable panel on the back of the sock continues all the way down the heel flap, making these socks a perfect match for cute clogs and other slip-on shoes...

Full charts are included in the pattern, so you'll always be able to see where you are and what comes next. I've also added instructions for the various stitch patterns - so, even if you're a novice cable-knitter, you'll be able to knit these impressive-looking socks. (And I'm always happy to answer your questions!)


While Craic was first released to the Sock Yarnista Club, the pattern is now available for anyone to purchase via PDF download from the Three Irish Girls Web site. Just click here for more information - after all, what sock knitter doesn't enjoy a little craic from time to time?

Click here to see Craic Socks on Ravelry!


(Note: The above photos of Craic Socks were provided by Three Irish Girls.)

Craic: New socks for spring

Freesia Socks: Update about a favorite pattern

Remember the Freesia Socks?

Last year, explaining the inspiration for these socks, I wrote about a little cloister-like courtyard in my high school (in Marin Co., Calif.), where planters were filled with freesias. When the sun shone down mid-day, the entire courtyard would be thick as honey with their intoxicating fragrance. This colorway, Iris, reminds me of those flowers…

Simple as it is, this is one of my favorite designs. The colors in the yarn, the texture of the fiber, and the stitch pattern all came together to create something wonderful. They're scrunchy and squeezable (for those of us who do such things to our socks/yarns).
And they look pretty "on the foot."

I wrote the actual pattern for these socks last fall, for Shalimar Yarns. It takes only one skein of fingering-weight yarn and some US# 1.5/2.5 mm needles to knit up a pair. You can include the ribbon of your choice or opt to leave the picot hem otherwise unadorned.

I say: Enough already with the cold, snow, and ice -- It's time for spring!
So grab your favorite yarn and needles, and let's knit up a little flower power.
Happy stitching!

For more information about this pattern, you can contact Shalimar Yarns or Eleganza Yarns. Currently -- and perhaps for a limited time only -- the pattern is free when you purchase a skein of Shalimar's Zoe Sock or Superwash Sock. You can also check out the Freesia Socks pattern on Ravelry.

Freesia Socks: Update about a favorite pattern

Hat's Off! (New pattern coming soon!)

In case you're wondering, there really is a reason I put an apostrophe before the "s"in the title: My hat is off the needles! And just in the nick of time. We're headed toward a real Winter Wonderland this year, I think...It's only Dec. 5, and we've slid down into the low 20s at night more often than I care to remember.

I cast on for this hat on Thanksgiving Day and finished it up on Black Friday (which is called Frosty Friday in this region...something I'd never heard before). It was a super-quick knit, and it was nice to do a little colorwork for a change. It's been a while!
So here I am, looking a little geeky in my new hat, but who doesn't look geeky when taking self-portraits intended to show knitwear to its best advantage ;-)

Here are the vital statistics:

• Pattern: Of my own making...
  
• Yarn: Cottage Craft 2-ply Wool in Plum (272 yd /4 oz skein); Peace Fleece Worsted Weight in Antarctica White (200 yd/4 oz skein)
• Needles: US# 6 & 7 circular needles (Addi Turbos)
• Gauge: About 5 sts/inch in st st

I think I may write this pattern up. The hat is cute, in a reminds-me-of-my-childhood sort of way. (Remember all those long, long, rainbow-colored stocking caps we wore in the 70s?) Plus, it's woolly and warm. Who could resist such a combination?

PS. For those of us who love knitting, but don't care for cold weather in which to wear our creations: Spring's only a little more than three months away!!!

Hat's Off! (New pattern coming soon!)

Take it Easy

Now and then you just need some mindless knitting. A project you don't have to think about at all. One that you don't have to rush to finish, because it's for you.

I find this to be especially true during mid-winter and mid-summer, when you're often "trapped" in one place because you're traveling, or because it's freakin' freezing or bloody boiling outside.

Enter the humble sock. This isn't a fabulous look-at-me lace sock. It's not a startling crazy-colored sock. It's modest, yet warm. Comfortable, like your favorite jeans. And oh-so-easy on a tired brain...

Yarn: Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock; needles from KnitPicks

The stitch pattern is a double-garter rib (you'll find it in most stitch dictionaries and in the fun Blueberry Waffle pattern). It's stretchy and allows some air to be trapped in the little "pockets," keeping your feet nice and toasty.

This sock has no secrets. It's a plain old cast-on-64-stitches-and-knit pattern, allowing your hands to fall into the rhythm and your mind to wander. No need to urge yourself to relax, to focus, to hurry, to do anything. No need. Just hang out with your knitting. Just take it, as The Eagles advised, easy.

Why not grab a skein and give it a try -- use plain old stockinette stitch or K2 P2 ribbing, if you want. All I'm saying is, give yourself permission to cast on something easy once in a while. Like now. Go with it. See where it takes you.

Take it Easy

More Coming Attractions: New Pattern Sneak Peeks

Coral Reef Cuff

I know. One of these days I need to actually transfer my patterns from notes to nice, clean PDF files--complete with photos and helpful how-tos. Until then, though, I think its fair to offer you a sneak peek of a few things I've been working on...

Barn-Door Socks

First, the Barn-Door Socks, knitted in Noro Kureyon Sock on US#1 needles. I love the way the subtle lace pattern looks in the rugged, slubby Noro yarn. I also love the woolly feel of the yarn when I knit with it...Is it just me, or does it leave a soft lanolin-type feel on your fingers?

The colors are simply beautiful. I've never spent a summer on the shores of Maine, but these colors evoke what I imagine it would be like: a silvery-brownish tone, like weathered-wood shingles; pale muted purple, like the twilight sky and the mist that rises over the ocean; aqua and turquoise, with flecks of white, like clear waves crashing on jagged rocks.

A surprise is in store for the heel and toe shaping--they'll be fun to make! The fit is great, the yarn isn't rough on your feet (despite the slightly scratchy feel as you knit it), and the colors and quiet stitch pattern could make for a unisex sock--depending on tastes, of course.


Next is a currently-nameless tea cozy. I knitted this swatch in Peace Fleece worsted-weight, a wool and mohair yarn with a decidedly sheepy feel. I absolutely adore this yarn and am entranced by the Peace Fleece story.

Tea cozies have enjoyed a renaissance during the past couple of years, and it's easy to see why...Sure, we enjoy our coffee--really enjoy it!--in the U.S. But most people I know also enjoy a cozy cup of tea from time to time.

In fact, during the colder months, when the air seems to crackle and snap and make the inside of your nose burn, knitters and crocheters dream of settling in on a deep, cushiony sofa with a hot cuppa and their current project (fireplace optional). For non-needleworkers, the scenario is the same, but usually includes a much-beloved book instead of a scarf-, sweater-, or sock-in-progress.

Either way, once you settle in on the sofa, the last thing you want to do is get up for more hot tea every half hour. Thus, the tea cozy. This pattern will be an easy, quick knit, with an eclectic twist, making it a great idea for Christmas and other holiday gifts.

Freesia Socks

Finally, more information about this sweet pair of socks knitted in Shalimar Sock Yarn. Shalimar is hand-dyed by Kristi, who owns Eleganza Yarns in Frederick. This pattern's name, "Freesia," was inspired by the azure blues and creamy yellows in the ultra-soft merino yarn.

In my sophomore year we moved to Marin County, and I had to change to a new high school (Tamalpais H.S., in Mill Valley, CA). Tam has a gorgeous campus, built on a hill, with lots of grass and trees. One building encompassed a courtyard, with four tree-planters surrounded by a sort of colonade.

Beneath the trees, the planters were filled with Freesias. When the sun shone down mid-day, the entire courtyard would be thick as honey with their scent. Though I didn't know what the flowers' name at the time, I fell in love with their dizzying perfume. I can almost smell them when I look at this yarn…

The heel and toe in this pattern are a bit unusual, as I've been feeling a little bored with the ubiquitous short-row heel and wedge toe. The details will make for a feminine sock that looks pretty from every angle.

I know you'll just put them in shoes and probably hide them under a pair of blue jeans, but that's OK. Think of these socks like delicate Parisian underwear--even though no one else sees them, you'll know they're there!

More Coming Attractions: New Pattern Sneak Peeks

Scarf Knitting: Peach Blossom & Lace Ribbon

I've been into scarves lately...

The Peach Blossom Scarf (my own design) is made of soft wool and vintage fabric strips. It's warm and lacy at the same time. And I love the color combination. But that's just me...and I want to know what other people think. After all, some designs turn out well and others just don't cut it in the light of day. I can't make up my mind on this one...

So, I need some feedback, from people of all age groups. My question is: Would you wear this scarf? Would your friends/daughter/sister?

Thanks for letting me know!




Meanwhile, I've been knitting sporadically on Veronik Avery's Lace Ribbon pattern from Knitty. The pattern is well written, and it's relaxing and fun to knit once you get into it.

The Malabrigo Lace, by the way, is absolutely luscious -- every time I touch it I feel like I've gone to Yarn Heaven!

Scarf Knitting: Peach Blossom & Lace Ribbon

Destressed, Distressed Neck Warmer: New Knitting Pattern

Now available for download on Ravelry!

This is a simple lacy little cowl that you can pull over your head when there's a chill in the air. And the lovely colors available in laceweight yarns these days means everyone can find a flattering hue! I love this neck warmer/smoke ring/scarf/wimple/what-have-you: It's nostalgic and sweet, yet it imparts an air of intrigue and mystery...

I hope you like it, too!



DESTRESSED, DISTRESSED NECK WARMER
Difficulty level: Easy

Finished measurements: Approx. 17 inches long; 35 inches around.

Yarn: One skein Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% mohair/30% silk, 229 yds/25g)

Needles: One set 24” US#8 and one set 24” US#10 circular needles

Notions: Yarn/tapestry needle

Gauge: 24 sts x 30 rows = 4 inches (Gauge is not crucial for this project.)

COST: $5.00

You can use PayPal (my account: KnitSix@gmail.com) or send me a check. Once your payment's complete, I'll send you a PDF file. If you don't have means to print the pattern, I will be happy to mail you a paper copy. Thank you!

Destressed, Distressed Neck Warmer: New Knitting Pattern

Bohemian Mama: A Scarf for Bonnie

My mom is an artist. I don't mean she dabbles in watercolors or quilting...She's never dabbled in her life! She's also quite Bohemian...but not BoBo (Bourgeois Bohemian). We've never had enough money to merit THAT unfortunate title, thank God. Nope. Just honest to goodness, old-fashioned Bohemian. She's also beautiful. See?(Bonnie and Hannah at Cafe Italia, May 2006)

When I was a little girl, she used to play the piano and the flute; she'd studied music and voice at Eastman School of Music, and played beautifully. My favorite was Moonlight Sonata. She'd sometimes play it downstairs after my sister and I went to bed...To this day, that haunting melody takes be back to the little townhouse the three of us shared in Hillsdale, Ca.

Around the same time, she was also producing a LOT of paintings. Her canvases could be found around the house in varying states of completion and dryness...I can still see, in my mind, a rather abstract painting of a tree, layers of dark and light paint spread like frosting, sitting on the kitchen counter with its top leaning against the cabinets. That particular work hung in my grandparents' home until they passed away.

About 15 years ago (or more!) she started working with clay. It didn't take long for pots to turn into sculptures. Winning aclaim from all who saw them, her gorgeous sculptures simply "fly off the shelves" whenever they're exhibited. Now she's working on a commission for the museum store at the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, in her spare time (ha!) she writes poetry, which has appeared in several journals over the past couple of years. Most recently, her wonderful poem "To a Daughter" appeared in Manzanita: Poetry & Prose of the Mother Lode and Sierra (2006, Vol. 5). She said I was her muse--and I immediately knew the moment she had in mind :-) Its notoriously difficult to gain acceptance to Manzanita. But then again, my mom's an ARTIST. Did I mention that?

So when she mentioned a friend's Himalayan recycled silk scarf right before the holidays, I immediately decided to create something for her with the wonderfully soft skeins (from www.kpixie.com) in my stash. The rich, dark colors glow quietly, sparked here and there with a painterly dash of bright sari pink, yellow, or turquoise. Perfect for my mom. And an idea for a pattern (of sorts) blossomed in my mind...
After casting on three stitches--I used Brittany birch straight US#7 needles--I worked in garter stitch, increasing until I had about 18 stitches total. The body of the scarf is corrugated in random stripes of stockinette and reverse stockinette stitch. I like the rough texture in the glossy silk, and it has the added benefit of not rolling up into a tube. At the other end, I decreased back down to three stitches, and for the grand finale I added the tassels. (Not a great photo, but I like the way it shows the texture.)

The tassels worried me a bit, because they happened to sit on my chest like a stripper's pasties--you know, those little nipple tasssels? But I'm taller, broader, and much bustier than my mother. She's tiny, like her mother was, and NOT "chesty." In fact, sometimes when my shoulders and upper back ache, I yearn to be built like her. Alas.

So I wrapped the scarf and shipped it out to her in January. She loved it, and wore it to the Art Museum the next day to show it off--she IS a mom, after all! Thankfully she didn't have tassels at boob level...they were just right.

Though, knowing my mom, I'm sure there must have been at least a LITTLE tassel twirling at some point during the day. There certainly was when I tried it on! Could any decent bohemian artist-woman resist?

Bohemian Mama: A Scarf for Bonnie

Pink

I'm not particularly girlish (and despise the word "girly"). But I've always loved pink. My favorite is the tender pink of ballet slippers. I can still smell the leather and remember the simple pleasure of sitting in the dusty dressing room with my friends, sewing the straps on our new shoes before practice...
Then there's the yummy rose pink my grandmother always called "Bon Bon." And I love pink that's so pale it's almost white...like early spring blossoms. Not keen on "hot pink," though. I prefer subtlety and complex tones to vivid brights.

So is it any wonder that I chose a lovely salmon-rose (very close to Bon Bon pink!) for these sweet little slipper-socks?
They're a gift for my sister, who's been dealing with a particularly painful problem since December.

Feeling helpless because I live 3,000 miles away, I felt compelled to send her a knitted hug--something warm, pretty, and cozy. Here's what I decided on:

Twisted Slipper Socks
(my own design)
Yarn: 2 balls Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (color 602)
Needles: Addi Turbo 32" US#4 Circulars (magic loop method)

I really love these socks, and hope my sister does, too. They'll hug her feet with soft pink tenderness and warmth when I'm not there to give her a real hug.

PS. I love this photo, and have no idea where I got it. If you know the photographer, please let me know. I don't like to use anyone's work without permission!

Pink

THIS is Love...or "What I Knitted on Christmas Vacation"

Remember this? (Last week's Eye Candy Friday photo)...
If you didn't guess, it's Tom Baker's famous scarf from Doctor Who! Chris is a big fan of The Doctor, and asked me, one fine fall day, if I'd make him a copy of The Scarf. Being the adorable, wonderful husband he is, how could I refuse him? Plus, it meant I got to buy lots of yarn without the guilt (it wasn't for ME, after all). All good.

It HAD to be authentic, or what's the point? So we did some research and found http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/, where you can read the history of the scarf favored by the fourth Doctor (for those familiar with the show -- if you're not, I can't really help, since I've never been that much into it myself), learn about its different iterations, AND find patterns for each one (every season featured a different scarf). You can also buy Doctor Who scarves there, but Chris wanted one knitted with my own little paws. And, of course, it has plenty of Maggie and Katja knitted in for good luck.

SO, I searched again to find just the right yarn at a good price, and finally settled on KnitPicks' Telemark. I have to say, here, that I really do love this yarn. It's a sportweight 100 percent wool yarn with a crisp feel -- not too itchy, just the right amount of wooliness. And the color range is fab.

When the package came, I dove excitedly into the project. Sixty stitches on US#6 needles. Lots of color changes. Lots of rows. All in garter stitch. ALLLLLL in garter stitch.... My God, what a long stretch of knitting that was! It actually took me about two-and-a-half months because: (A) I needed to take breaks from the tedium, and (B) I finished several other projects during the same period.

Don't get me wrong...it wasn't unpleasant knitting. Sometimes it was boring, but it was the PERFECT project to work on while watching DVDs in the evenings. That scarf saw many, many Poirots, Rumpoles, Jeeves & Woosters, and other fantastic BBC productions.

For us, since we chose not to give Comcast any more money than absolutely necessary, Netflix has become a continual source of pleasure: Our own line-up of British television. Exquisitely funny (at times), beautifully filmed (mostly), bitterly sarcastic (which we both love). TV as ONLY the British can make it. I despair of US television programming, with only a few exceptions.

ANYWAYZZZ....Come January, the end was in sight. I had knitted about 13 feet of garter stitch. Working harder, knitting faster -- then, one night I wove in the final end. There were TONS of ends to weave in. While I finished the last few rows and final end weaving, Chris cut and organized the yarn for the fringe (honestly, has there ever been a better husband???), which I applied late that evening.

The next day, Friday, was the coldest day (so far) of the winter. Like a little boy on Christmas morning, Chris pulled out the vintage men's Harris Tweed coat I bought in college (for $5!!!) and wrestled with the scarf for a few minutes (hey, this thing is HEAVY). He donned his hat and the fingerless gloves I made for him last year. Ready for work, he paused for a few minutes so I could snap this:
Now, is he the cutest thing ever, or what???

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Pattern: Season 12 Doctor Who Scarf from www.doctorwhoscarf.com
Needles: US#6 Addi Turbo circular (24")
Yarn: KnitPicks Telemark in Burlap, Grey Wolf, Aubergine, Lichen, Chestnut, Bayberry, and Pesto (approx. 4 balls of each)
Final measurements: I was simply too exhausted to bother. But here's a visual aid (this is a double bed--the scarf is spread from the foot to the pillows and back again without any stretching at all):
Yep. This is love. And I LOVE it!

THIS is Love...or "What I Knitted on Christmas Vacation"