a knitted apple a day

Well. After frogging my knitted socks about 14 times, I figured maybe I set my sights a little too high with those pointy needles and a sock pattern that is geared for experienced knitters.

So, I downsized my expectations and started an easier knitting project.

A knitted apple cloth which can be found here. And I don't know if it was this gorgeous-ly soft cotton yarn that I used -- or this ultra-easy (but still manages to look stunning) pattern or a mind-set that I finally hit upon:
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This is not crochet. It does not involve the same tools. It does not involve the same stitches.

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So ---> stop comparing it to crochet!

And just enjoy this for what it is:

a relaxing, soothing way to create cloth with just yarn & needles.

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'take a spin' finish

My Take a Spin doily is now finished.

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The delicate lacework is so simple, but yet so beautiful in its simplicity.

I couldn't wait to properly block it, but merely ran a steamy iron inches away from the stitches to smooth out the wrinkles.

And I realize that for some -- doilies conjur up musty, old, out-dated, relics stashed away in a trunk, in the attic, surrounded by mothballs. In other words ----> doilies are not *uber-cool in this high-tech, contemporary society......

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Ha.

They are more than uber-cool in my world.

*(Did you know? The urban dictionary defines uber-cool as supremely chique.)

yes, you can 'blame' my weekend

Okay. You can 'blame' my weekend because I am going to attempt to do something that I have never been able to do. Ever.
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I was surrounded by beautiful things this weekend. A lovely long weekend spent with friends & family --outdoors, with the beauty of vibrant pink begonias & shabby, painted window frames.


....and surrounded by a beautiful pic of the most gorgeous sweater. Which I found here.

In the Fall '09 issue of Interweave Knits.

Huge, huge gulp. Because this issue has so many eye-catching patterns.

And my, oh, my. Then my eyes fell on these:

People actually make these? By hand?

They are Bandelier socks. Yes, more than gorgeous. More than yummy. And drat! they are not crocheted. They are cast on knitting needles.

Something that I can not do.

Or, maybe I can.

Hands down, I believe those Bandelier Socks are more than beautiful & I have yet to see a crochet sock that looks as lovely as those.

So, using some left-over yarn from some frogged crochet socks....




....I have knitted 10 actual rows of my first ever sock.
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Yup. Even I can't believe it.
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A loooong way to go before I ever knit a Bandelier Sock, but hey-- I gotta start somewhere.

lacework in progress

I started to crochet 10 years ago because I desperately wanted to know how to make doilies. I was fascinated by them -- still am -- and want (okay. need!) to actually feel the delicate & intricate stitches form right in my hands.

Here is the latest delicate lacework forming in my hands. The pattern is called Take a Spin and it is from Decorative CROCHET magazine, March 2001 -- number 80. And I am using this luscious, drapey crochet thread:

It is bamboo crochet thread and wow! it is not stiff or unyielding which is my slight complaint with regular crochet thread. This just feels so incredibly soft and works up even softer.

I have 10 more rows to crochet before it is finished and when done -- it will yield some beautiful pineapples. Which I am especially fond of.

caffe latte potholder

Yum. Coffee in any of its flavors or varieties is a liquid love in my every day life.

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A mystery wrapped in brown,

A fragile enigma,

Enveloping the senses,

With the earthy steam

Of a bean.

The mind wrapped in warmth,

The essence of dark roast,

Heating from within,

The senses thrill,

With every lingering

Sniff of the aroma

In the mug.

--by Drew K

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So I got busy with my mocha colored yarn and added milk white and bright aqua to complement the rich hue of coffee.



And I have seen this lovely potholder pattern that have seen pop up all over the web. Seeing it the first time I would have never believed that it is crocheted as individual blocks and then crocheted in a line with simple border of single crochet. (This is where my daughter wrapped it around her hips and determined it would make the cutest of belts.....hmmm.)

Then a gathering stitch is made through the center of each block and the flower begins to form.

But the real beauty is seen when the corners of each block is finger-pressed to form these caffe latte petals.

It reminds me of the foamy goodness in a steamy cup of caffe latte.

shades of gray

Gray is a neutral, balanced color. It is a cool, conservative color. Gray carries with it some of the strengh and mystery of black. It is a sophisticated color and all shades of gray can be good background colors. --from the meaning of the color gray

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I am beginning to enjoy the color of gray. It seems to be found in subtle places. Vintage cubby holes of shelves & drawers. The siding on a country house. And socks.

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Socks? You know my obsession with socks.....

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.....and now with the ecstatic discovery of Patons Stretch Sock Yarn, I have finally crocheted a sock that easily slips onto the foot. Yes, I did say -- 'easily'. No tugging. No pretending to be one of Cinderella's step-sisters trying to squish a big foot into a teeny, tiny shoe. This went on so effortlessly.

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And this licorice colored yarn is so, so yummy. And here is the key ----> the yarn stretches. And that is huge here in my little crochet world.
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It means that when using this Origami Turkish sock pattern; my new favorite crunch stitch crocheted in the back loop only; a size E hook and this miracle-of-all-sock-yarn; I can actually crochet a sock that is wearable.

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Oh, the possibilities & oh, the yarn choices!

sunburst potholder & bursts of beauty

A burst of sun is an almost every day occurrence for us here in the summertime. And when we drive around, we see bursts of sunflowers in gardens everywhere!
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Using this book Kitchen Basics in Cotton -- which I have used before -- I crocheted another potholder. This time using colors that remind me of sunbursts & sunflowers.
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Young Girl Crocheting by Bouguereau--1889
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And then I found this gorgeous painting, Young Girl Crocheting and it instantly took my breath away. Ahhh. The colors. And she appears so content & satisfied with just thread & hook in hand.
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I used a G hook and Sugar 'n Cream from Lily.
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And then this, I must share!

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I received a email from Bia from Sew You Can Fiber Arts Center. Her poignant email struck such a chord in me because she is passionate -- and I mean passionate with a capital P! -- about sharing her love for sewing with the youth of today. One of the groups that she works with made the fabric flowers that I shared here on my blog -- oh, my GrAnna would just be amazed at the desire to make these flowers that were named after her.
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A Girl Sewing in an Orchard by Edmund Charles Tarbell 1891 -- purses & hats made by the SEW YOU CAN girls

So when I picture my grandma & young girls sewing (and yes, I found another painting--A Girl Sewing in an Orchard -- that depicts this simple love of handwork) I realize that yes, indeed! this profound love of needlework is being passed down to further generations....and that is truly a burst of beauty, isn't it?

Thanks, Bia. For knowing that & sharing that.