Old Friends

Hi Knitters,

The new pair of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn (color # S182) socks I just finished are sure to become an old friend of mine. I already love them to death. They are comfy and beautiful and warm just like an old friend should be. 

I casted on 64 stitches, worked on US size 2 dpns, ribbed in k2, p2 for eight rounds and completed the rest of the sock in stockinette stitch. Plain stockinette stitch socks like these are still my favorite to wear but they aren't always the most fun to knit. It can get a little, well, plain. They are a fast knit though so that is good. The yarn is spectacular.
Speaking of old friends I want to tell you about a couple of friends of mine who have started blogs. The first is a dear, sweet friend of mine, Laura Mueller. Her story is a compelling one. Please check out her blog to follow her life story, it will inspire you. I want to direct you here now because she has just begun writing her story and you may want to follow it from the starting point. She is smart and funny and as you read her blog you will understand why I love her so much. By the way, she taught three out of four of my children for the first and second grades. Her talents abound.

The second old friend I want to direct you to is someone I have mentioned somewhat frequently on my blog for the past couple of years, Jaime Harder. Jaime, who I nicknamed my publicist extraordinaire, is also a woman of many talents. She is a knitter, chef and a certified dietitian and kind of a jack of all trades. Her blog is as smart as she is and you will enjoy reading her take on food and life in general. My sweet Jaime is getting married to her fiance David, who is in his first year of law school at Harvard. Their wedding is in a couple of months. She will be the most beautiful bride put on this earth! Can't wait! Please check out Jaime's new blog. I know you will love keeping up with her. She has a big, beautiful life ahead of her and she will do great things and hopefully we'll get to taste a little bite of it on her new blog.

This is one of the cutest photo series I have ever seen. Old friends, indeed. Someone sent me this link and I had to share it with you all.

Last but not least, here are some beautiful handcrafted bags I am eyeing up. Maybe someday...

I have so much to tell you and to share with you so I will be back soon with another post.

Have a beautiful Wednesday, Knitters. It is in the 60's and sunny in the Mad-City today. 

That's pretty good for my old friend, Madison.

best, susie

Over

Hi Knitters,

Well, it's over and we're home. Before I leave on a trip I try my best to pick up the house, make beds, get the laundry done, wipe down the counters and generally make things look good. It makes coming home from a beautiful sunny beach a little easier when your house is clean (I am being generous with the word clean). We came today from upper 80's and sunny to rainy and 40 degrees. Yuck. Still I look around my little old house and think it looks pretty good. It does feel good to be home regardless of the weather.

Anyway, this is just a quick check in tonight to say hello. I did some knitting while on vacation and I will share soon. I finished a couple of things and made up few new little things and did some fun stitching but mainly I relaxed and spent time with my family. On Wednesday of this week I get the second pass of my book to edit, I thought it was going to be waiting at my door when we got home today but it wasn't ready yet. Plus I am going on a field trip with The Collector's class on Wednesday, busy week ahead. So much to accomplish, so little time, right?

My family is a fun(ny) group. The kids made a surprise dvd with video clips and pictures and little interviews and it was all set to music. I can't get over the stuff they can pull together at the drop of a hat. They showed it to my husband and me on the last night. It made me tear up something fierce. Those darn kids are getting so old and I want it to stop. Amazing how that happens. Amazing.

Hope you all had a good week. I dug through hundreds of emails in the inbox this afternoon. I sent out pattern orders, too. I think I got them all, if not be sure to let me know, there was a lot of stuff to get through. Thanks for your patience while I was gone. Tomorrow I am back to work as usual.

Every girl needs a week off now and then. 

best, susie

Happy Spring Chickens!

Hi Knitters,

From my chickens to your chickens, have a good and springy week! I am taking a break from it all next week for some good old family time. I guess that's called a vacation, right?

Let's talk on Monday, April 13th or there abouts.

best, susie

Hop Along

Hi Knitters,

To thank my baby model I decided to whip up a Bunny hat for her last night. The pattern is in my first book. You know, I made up this pattern probably 5-6 years ago or longer at this point and there have been so many patterns in between, I had to pull out my book to remember what I had done.

Last night I watched the movie Night at the Museum with my girls and my husband while I knitted. That is a great movie! My favorite in the movie is Dick Van Dyke. I love him always. If you are watching Night at the Museum you have to see Dick Van Dyke dance during the credits. It is the absolute best thing ever. It reminds you of him in his younger years and how completely magnetic he is. Whoever let him dance like that and snuck it into the movie is a true genius. Awesome. (I love the word snuck.)
I was reminded as I worked that, as always, knitting a quick baby hat is one of the best projects ever, if not the best. There is literally nothing better in my eyes. In a few hours you have created something adorable, usable, easy, fun and in the end it will be appreciated by the recipient. Baby hats are sooo good.

There are 399 versions of the Bunny Tail hat posted on ravelry at this point. Check it out here if you are interested.
Knitting the bunny hat makes me long to come up with a new baby hat book or something along those lines. I am going down a different path for my next project already but I am promising myself that I will return to the baby hat at some point in the near future. I think it would be so fun to come up with a new collection after all of these years. Maybe another baby hat collection and then an older child hat collection. Hmmm....
Okay, I used Blue Sky Cotton in Shell #606 and I found some chocolatey brown silk ribbon to tie around the ears.  I have no idea what that ribbon is or where it came from. This hat is a perfect beginner project in that it uses the exact same skills for making a simple baby hat, nothing new at all.

One more quick note, the ravelry group Itty-Bitty Knits is having an Itty-Bitty Hats knitalong, which is brilliant. Every month they are knitting one to two hats out of the book until every hat in the book has been completed. There is a schedule posted to look at and there are quite a few people knitting hats already. This Itty-Bitty Knits group is a truly nice group of supportive knitters. I really mean that. The group organizes monthly charity knitting sponsored by one member per month for their choice for a charity organization. This is an incredible part of the group. 

The Itty-Bitty Hats knitalong (KAL) is really open to your own interpretation and you can jump in or out whenever need be, it's flexible. If you are interested you should check it out. If you are not interested in the knitalong, it is only a small part of the group, so if you aren't a member I hope you join in general. I check out the forum every day to answer any questions that pop up and to join in the fun. 

I had to laugh when someone first brought up the Itty-Bitty Hats knitalong because I felt like I wanted to join in. They were asking if anyone had ever knit all of the hats in the book. Then I had to stop and realize that I had already knit all of the hats in the book. Too funny. It's strange how removed you can feel from your own work at some point. 

Anyway, have a wonderful Saturday. Hopefully you will all get a chance to knit today.

best, susie

p.s. I am taking a vacation next week from the blog for some family time. If you place a pattern order I may get a chance to send your pattern next week. If not, I will get it out right away as soon as I am back on my trusty computer. Fear not!

I Gotta Baby Model!

Hi Knitters,

Guess who was at my door wearing a really cute dress? That's right, a baby stopped by who is just the right size to wear the Baby Slouch Hat. I love a baby in a dress, always. My neighbor popped over with her gorgeous, sweet daughter to try on the Baby Slouch. 

I had to shoot fast and furiously, she has a lot of bouncy energy. I wish the camera had been at a straighter angle for the shot, that's the photographer's (me) fault. She is a real beauty and those big blue eyes? Dreamy.
This adorable little sweetheart is 5 1/2 months old and the hat I made is for 0-6 months. I think the sizing is right on the money. The hat looks super-duper cute on her.
These shots are better than the doll shots any day. Thanks to the little sweetheart and her sweet mom for coming on by!

Have a good day, Knitters. Off into the weekend we go!

best, susie

Coudre

Hi Knitters,

Coudre, French for, to sew or put stitches into. I feel a new obsession coming on.
The daisy covered tape measure is my second stitched creation of this sort. I used wool felt and embroidery floss. I traced around the actual tape measure to make a pattern for the center. Then I traced around the tape measure again and used the end of a large-scale paper clip to trace petals around the circle for the flower pattern. It's all very scientific. I free-handed the leaves.
The two wool felt covered tape measures are a particularly big hit with my kids. What is it with tape measures and kids? They love them. I think instead of a new toy every child should get a couple of tape measures of their own. Mine disappear from my studio on a regular basis. 

Anyway, I have a lot more of these in my head and I'll share along the way as they come to fruition.
Now onto two Alans and two excellent books. The Collector and I read this book this morning before school. It is truly adorable and the illustrations are exquisite. The version we have is from the school library, thus the plastic cover and the red tape. The title is, Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly, in case the glare prevented you from reading it. The author's name is Alan Madison and the illustrator is, Kevin Hawkes. I highly recommend this story of the sisters Gratch. It is a way sweet tale. Way.

The other Alan is Alan Dart. I love Alan Dart and his toy designs. He is the creator of the yuletide gnome dolls that are so hugely popular. The pattern for the gnome and many other fantastic toys are in this book, Irresistible Gifts to Knit by Alan Dart. It is an irresistible book. The reason I am writing about this is that yesterday I saw a big stack of Irresistible Gifts at Joann's on the magazine rack. I know awhile ago I brought up Alan's toy book and people had a hard time finding copies. It has been reprinted! So there you go if you are still on the look out. You can order it online, too.

Okay, now I am off to knit, knit and more knit. I am working on knitting some way cool projects for something new that I am way psyched about. I love to start something new, all of the excitement and unknown ahead of you...

Have a way cool Thursday, Knitters.

best, susie

Stitch

Hi Knitters,

I love to stitch. I would like to find the time to do a lot more of it. Quite awhile ago I bought a bunch of wool felt bundles from here. I haven't had time to dive into this beautiful felt until this morning. I wanted to make a simple cover for one of my tape measures just for the pure fun of it.
I used the bottom of my Yoplait yogurt as a pattern to cut out the circles. I cut a 3/4 inch strip to run along the side of the tape measure, leaving an opening for the tape measure to pull out. I grabbed a few colors of embroidery floss. With no plan in mind I just started stitching. Circles flew off my needle.
I whipstitched around the edges to hold the pieces together. I used a button that recently fell off of my peacoat for a pattern for the felt button on the end of the tape measure. I used backstitch to make the circles. Backstitch is so good.

That's that! What a fun little, simple project to start my day. Sometimes I need a quick break-y break to rejuvenate my knitting. I always feel refreshed after making something that's not knitting for a bit.

You should make one or two of these. I am definitely making a few more and giving them away as gifts. 

Happy Tuesday! It's raining and cold here but I am determined to get the most out of this day anyway. It will all have to be from the in-of-doors:)

best, susie

My Baby's Baby Doll

Hi Knitters,

Good Monday morning to you all. I have had some requests to see the Baby Slouch on a baby. Unfortunately, I don't have a real baby around to be my model. I wish. I do have a neighbor with a 6 month old baby and I'll see if I can get a quick photo with the hat on her at some point. In the meantime, The Collector has this very realistic newborn baby doll. I don't usually like it when people photo their hats on dolls but this one actually looked pretty cute so I thought I'd share.
I made my hat in the 0-6 month size and it it a generous hat on this teeny tiny newborn-sized head. It would easily fit for many months to come on a real baby. It's even cuter on a baby head than I had imagined.
The Collector is a baby lover extraordinaire. She simply loves babies and everything about babies. She has quite a collection of baby dolls. This one is particularly cute. The doll's name is Madison and she is looking pretty hip in the ol' slouch hat.
So there you go, there's the slouch hat on an "actual baby."
This is The Collector's fourth completed hat. She went to a knitting club on Saturday at the church by our house. I didn't know she was doing this but she took her other 3 hats and donated them to the group which then distributes hats and blankets to various charities and hospitals in the area. I thought that was so great, she just quietly took her work and gave it away. I only wish I had taken a few pictures of her first knitted baby hat ever before it was gone. Oh, well.

This hat was knit in the round on US size 8 sixteen inch circulars and then I did a quick 3-needle bind off across the top for her. She used the pom-tree to make the tassels. The yarn is Encore Colorspun and she thinks it looks like a sunset.

Okay, Knitters, let's all have a great week! I'll be back soon with a bunch of fun links to share with you.

best, susie

Baby Slouch Pattern

Hi Knitters,

Added later: look at these posts to see the hat on a newborn size doll and a real live baby!

Baby Slouch...because every baby needs to be hip! is here for the taking. Here is some information you may like to know:

Yarn: Crystal Palace Mini Mochi (sample is knit in color #101) 1 ball, 195 yards.

Mini Mochi is a sock/fingering weight yarn. 

Any sock weight yarn will work great. Use up your extra sock yarn with this project.

Note about the yarn amount: I made the sample in the smallest size and I had a generous amount of yarn leftover. I am assuming one ball will be enough for all sizes, however, the largest size might possibly need 2 balls. When someone knits up a Baby Slouch in the largest size, please let me know if you made it with one or two balls. I think it will be close either way.

Sizes: 0-6 mths (6-12 mths, toddler, child)

This is a stretchy, snug fitting hat with up to and even a little over 2 inches of negative ease. The sizes in inches are as follows: 13.5 (14.75, 16, 17.25).

Needles: US size 3 sixteen-inch and a set of 4 double-pointed needles or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 6.5 stitches per inch in stockinette
Skill level: easy, easy!

Skills needed:

working in the round with circular and double-pointed needles (or magic loop if you prefer)

cast on

knit stitch

purl stitch

k2tog (knit 2 stitches together)

m1 (make one)

Although the gauge is on the finer side this hat is so simple in construction that it is a total no-brainer, so easy and relatively quick. This is a good beginner project using only a few easy techniques.

If you are interested in purchasing the pattern please click on the "Buy Now" button below. The pattern is $4.50 and will come your way via email with an attached pdf. Please allow a bit of time for me to email you the pattern.

Thanks, Knitters, and I can't wait to see your Baby Slouches. 

Slouch away!

best, susie

Sketch & Slouch

Hi Knitters,

The Collector painted this egg for the season. I love the over-sized egg, the metallic paint stripes and the one lonely egg.
Well, here it is. That's my next book, right there, held in those two sketchbooks. There are over 40 projects with the patterns completely written out on the pages inside. That's over 2 years worth of work handwritten onto those pages.
I have such a love for sketchbooks. Through the years I have become somewhat particular about the types of sketchbooks I use. I have a new one going but I am not happy with it so I have been on the look-out for something new. Two weeks ago The Collector and I went down to State Street to bum around and look in the shops. We had to pop into one of our favorites, Anthology. We spent a lot of time in this shop. It is one of those stores where the more you dig, the more you find. We love that. The Collector's egg and paints were purchased at Anthology.

Way in the back of the store, kind of tucked away, I discovered these:
These are the coolest sketchbooks I have ever owned. Let me tell you about them. They are vintage 1968 books that have been altered into sketchbooks. The binding has been cut off and replaced with a spiral, which I love in a sketchbook. Then some of the pages from the original book are left intact but are interspersed with blank pages for your own writing, sketching, etc. There were about 6 different books to choose from and I had a tough time making a decision about which I would like to buy.
Being the self-titled Queen of Chicken and a forever fan of old cookbooks, the Family Circle Great Chicken Recipes seemed a good choice. How can you resist the chicken recipe photos with the weirdest coloration ever. Fluorescent chicken, anyone?
Then I decided the book for "beginning beginners" had to be my second choice. The insert about the journal has some interesting information. The journals are handmade, all from recycled books. Each journal has 75 sheets of acid free blank paper and are made by "artists and book lovers who believe in sustainable business practices."
The books are a little banged up which makes it even more fun. Can't wait to fill up the blank pages with my next knitting ideas, patterns, sketches, watercolors, tear sheets, lengths of yarn and yarn labels. A fresh sketchbook is a pretty good thing in my book.
I finally found the chance to finish up a new design. Here's introducing Baby Slouch. I have had so much fun this winter knitting adult slouch hats, I think I made at least four or five different versions. Awhile ago I started thinking how fun it would be to have a baby/child version of the slouch hat. And here it is!

I made mine in Mini Mochi, color #101, which is a fingering weight/sock weight yarn. You can use any sock weight yarn to make Baby Slouch. You need 1 skein, 195 yards. I worked on US size 3 needles at 6.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch. 

The pattern for Baby Slouch will be available in a few days if you are interested. It is sized for newborn to child. More details coming soon.

Off to pack lunches and brush hair for school. Got to make sure everyone is slicked up and packed up before heading out the door.

Have a good Tuesday, sweet Knitters.

best, susie

Girl Scout Knitting Part 3

Hi Knitters,

Well, I had my last group of girl scouts over yesterday. They were a wonderful group of girls eager to knit and learn.
The Collector is well into her fourth hat and she is proud of her knitting accomplishments. Her adorable friend has knitted before but not in the round so I helped her just a little with that concept. She caught on really fast.

She is very excited to make her first hat.
This girl is a returning knitter from the first meeting. Boy, is she doing well. She is almost ready to decide what type of hat top she would like. It is fun to see her enthusiasm and her ability to carry on with her knitting when she gets home.
This scout did a great job and was patient with her learning. Each stitch took some thought but she kept plugging away until it became much easier.
You can't tell from the photos but this group spent much of their time singing, some solos, some group songs. They were so funny. Some of their songs were even made up from scratch. They were up and down a bit and did some coloring in the big sketchbook on the table. They had a good time together, silly fun with a little knitting thrown in the mix. All's good.

Now on to planning a large group meeting, I am thinking maybe at Lakeside Fibers. I'll have to call over there and see what they think about that. We'll see.

Have a good weekend, Knitters. It is beautiful weather here in Madison, very spring-like indeed!

best, susie

A Few Good Knit Mags

Hi Knitters,

Have you seen this new-ish knit magazine? It is of special interest to me because it is a Madison-based production and it is quite impressive. Knit Circus is now in its 5th issue, which is the one pictured above. I love the cover, I'm assuming it is shot in Madison because where else do people eat and enjoy ice cream like that in the dead of winter? The sweater is called the Kate Cardigan and it is designed by Elizabeth Morrison. It's very cute.
Elizabeth also designed this vest. There is a good mix of patterns offered in Knitcircus, something for just about everyone, along with product reviews, book reviews and even a couple of recipes for ham sandwiches and blonde brownies. I think the recipes are kind of fun.
There are accessory patterns, too. These beautiful handwarmers are designed by Jaala Spiro, who is the publisher and editor in chief of Knitcircus. She also had a clever pattern in Knitty recently, take a look at Tatiana. Those are some pretty cool mitts.
These sweet Baby Janes are a cute baby gift.
There are lots of hat patterns. I like all of these patterns and I think I might make a couple of these sometime soon. The upper left hat has one big cable and is made in Malabrigo. This one is first on my list.

Knitcircus is a great small-sized magazine that is packed with loads of patterns and information. Plus it is fun to see all of the local advertising.
Vogue Knitting's latest cover simply takes my breath away. I think it is stunning. The bulky weight wrap is designed by Tanis Gray and the yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas bulky. What a perfect combination, pattern and yarn. Gorgeous. This one pattern makes the issue. I will make some form of the cover wrap.
Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine has a new issue out. It is a wonderful magazine, big and beautiful. The patterns are really good. There is a section on white with many household accessories included. I love seeing loads of white. It always looks fresh and clean.
There is a red, white and blue section that includes this little stripey dress. This is one of my favorite patterns in the magazine. The best part is the red piping around the edges. It is perfect Debbie Bliss and there is so much more.
Here are three good mags with lots to offer. I am happy there are magazines to have and to hold these days. It would be a sad day without print copies of knitting magazines, I think. It seems like I keep hearing about various magazines folding and it makes me worry. One of our local newspapers went out of daily print as of late and now our other daily paper has shrunk the size of the pages so they are skinnier. It feels and looks strange but it is clearly a sign of the times. 

Print media is so important to me and maybe to you, too.

Have a good Thursday, Knitters.

best, susie