Flora

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Hi, Knitters,

First things first, the winner of the Little Skein project bag is..... mwbbas (rav username)! Congratulations. I have contacted the winner and Anne Vally to get in touch via pm. I'm hosting another fantastic giveaway next week so stay tuned.

Second things second, I am teaching at the Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia, from May 19-21, 2016. I am teaching 5 workshops and there are still a few openings in a few classes, some are sold out. I would love to see you at the shop! I am teaching Build a Toy, Shawl Shapes, Egg to Owl, Seamless Dolls (Mary, Millie, & Morgan), and Fair Isle Fingerless Mitts. 

Click here to see all of the classes I am teaching and for more information!

Third things third, I am excited to announce that I will be teaching at Knit City in Vancouver, Oct. 1-2, 2016! The teacher line-up has just been announced, click here for more information in the Knit City Ravelry group. The teachers include Clara Parkes, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Andrea Rangel, Ysolda Teague, Lucy Neatby, Kate Atherley, me, and many more! The classes are being announced in May and the registration is in July. Click here for the knitsocial website for more information. 

Now for some Flora! Quite a long time ago Carrie Bostick Hoge contacted me about a new magazine idea she was working on. She asked if I would contribute projects to the first two issues. The theme of the first issue is Flora. Carrie basically left it open but wanted something with flowers from me for her magazine pages. Well, I couldn't say no to Carrie as I am an admirer of her beautiful work. I loved being involved in her premier Making issue.

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Click here for the Flower Fairy & Leaf Sprite page on Ravelry!

Click here for Making Magazine! Carrie is offering a 20% discount for subscribers through May 10th. The first print issue is coming out in May and the second issue is coming out next fall 2016!

Click here to see all of the knit projects from Making Issue 1/Flora! The magazine includes handwork, embroidery, needle-felting, journaling, recipes, sewing, beautiful photography, inspiring text and more!

I came up with this sweet little set. I am so pleased with how it turned out. Here is the introduction I wrote about my inspiration and a little about the construction of the little flower & leaf set:

When I hear the word flora my mind goes straight to flowers and leaves and my youngest daughter, some of my most favorite things. When my daughter was a little girl she began her love affair with flowers and fairies. We collected fairies of all sorts, made handcrafted fairies, had fairy gardens in our yard and there were even fairy houses behind the couches and chairs in our living room. She and her neighbor friend had collected bark, moss, sticks and rocks to make elaborate and clever miniature fairy furniture. It was such a sweet and imaginative time and I loved every minute of it.

With the flora theme in mind I decided to pay homage to the Flower Fairies and Leaf Sprites that my daughter played with in her childhood. The knitted flower and leaf pockets or little beds, and the fairy and sprite are all worked entirely in one piece, no seaming to be found. The flower and leaf become the perfect places to tuck in the little knitted characters for sleep or for the perfect hiding places.

I hope this sweet pattern sparks the imagination of fairy-lovers everywhere!

This knitting pattern is from the first issue of the print publication Making.

The individual pattern will be available in my Ravelry pattern shop six months after the release of the magazine. 

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Flower Fairy & Leaf Sprite set is knit in Quince & Co. Chickadee which is a sport weight yarn. I knit on US size 4 double-pointed needles. Every piece is knit completely seamlessly and in the round. It is an enjoyable knit.

The pattern will be released as an individual download in my Ravelry pattern shop six months after the release of the magazine.

Here is some pattern information:

Finished measurements 

Flower: 41⁄2" [11.5 cm] wide and 6" [15 cm] tall Leaf: 31⁄4" [9 cm] wide and 4 1⁄2" [11.5 cm] tall, without stem
Sprite and Fairy: 3" [7.5 cm] tall

Yarn
Chickadee by Quince & Co. (100% American Wool; 50 grams / 181 yards [166 meters])
One skein in each:
Flower: Pomegranate (for center color) and Shell (for petals)

Fairy: Split Pea (for body and stem), Petal (for head), Frank’s Plum (for hat), and Egret (for wings) 
Leaf: Split Pea (for leaf) and Twig (for stem) Sprite: Aleutian (for body), Chanterelle (for head), Honey (for hat), and Egret (for wings)
OR
25 yards [23 meters] or less of each color in sport weight yarn
Needles
• One set double-pointed needles (dpns) in
US size 4 [3.5 mm]
Or size to obtain gauge
Notions
• Locking stitch markers • Tapestry needle
• Fiber ll
Gauge
24 sts and 40 rnds = 4" [10 cm] in stockinette stitch, after blocking. 

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The little hats are removable. They look like little acorns.

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

 The Leaf Sprite is so sweet in the lovely Chickadee colors.

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Flower Fairy and Leaf Sprite both have little tiny wings on their backs.

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

I hope you'll take advantage of Carrie's 20% off for the first two print issues of Making that is good through May 10, 2016! Click here to find out more. I have seen the first issue and I promise that you won't be disappointed. I want to make everything in the issue! The sweaters and cardigans, hat, shawl, cowl, baby bonnet, the embroidery and sewing and recipes are all so well done. The entire issue is inspiring.

Carrie Bostick Hoge is a creative force in our industry with so many talents. Her photography style and design style is one of the best I have ever experienced. It draws you in and makes you want to stay.

Photo from Making by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Branches and Buds Pullover by Carrie Bostick Hoge is jumping on my needles! I can't wait to get started on this gorgeous, clever design. Carrie knows how to make a simple design with just a bit of detail to make it stand out. The Branches and Buds Pullover is a perfect example of simplicity with a little twist. The pullover is worked in Quince & Co. Chickadee as well. Maybe use the Chickadee for the Flower Fairy & Leaf Sprite for the buds on this sweater ~ the perfect yarn combination. 

I'll be back soon with more! Have a great weekend, friends.

xo ~ susan