Marley Topper Demonstration

Hi Knitters,
I have a quick 4 minute video tutorial for the Marley Topper today. I received a few requests for this tutorial so I hope this helps. For an added bonus I am joined today by my carrot-loving helper!

This hat topper can be used on any simple hat or the multi-colored hats in the book. Another idea would be to just make an extra-long strand in one color and wind that up in one piece to put on the hat. You could also put this topper on a store-bought hat or a fleece hat or maybe you could try knitting in wool and felting it to see what you get.

Have fun with it!

best, susie

Girl of 100 Lists (oh, and yarntini!)

I am a girl of 100 lists, from what should I wear, to who I have kissed. (from my favorite go-go's song)
Hi Knitters,
Well, we can safely say my lists don't include either of those items. My lists include groceries, knitting class outlines, patterns to write, recipes, doctor appointments and knitting tips. It's not quite as exciting. However, I do have something exciting to share.
Can you make this out? Oh yeah, it says Itty-Bitty Susan. Yes, that's right, I've got my very own Yarntini color! Jessie, of Yarntini fame, outdid herself by coming up with the yummiest, happiest, stripey-est yarn I have ever seen. She took inspiration from itty-bitty things to come up with this gorgeous array of colors. It seriously looks like candy and I may just have to take a bite or at least a lick.

I special ordered just a few skeins from Jessie and she threw in the Itty-Bitty Susan skein just to be nice. I love her and I love her yarn.

There's appletini,

chocolatini,

ice,

pumpkin spice,

pomtini,

and itty-bitty susan.

I am one lucky girl! I have a feeling I am going to have a good weekend. Thank you, Jessie.

That's one list that is fun to see in pictures. One more thing about lists, when I was growing up we always used to laugh at my dad because he was a major lister. He would take a yellow lined notepad, free from the University (in fact, that is his old notepad I am using) and would write in capital letters, "THINGS TO DO." Then there would be a long list that followed. I don't think he ever finished the tasks on his list but he had good intentions. I'm afraid the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree where listing is concerned. Lists are only good if you actually do what's on them. When am I going to learn this?

I have a few quick pointers I have been listing so here they are:

1. For kfb (knit in the front and back of the same stitch), if you knit in the front of the stitch as usual then simply slip the stitch over to the right needle it makes for a slick increase without a bump. This I read from Meg Swansen in the last Vogue Knitting. Good tip!

2. On the following round after an ssk (slip, slip, knit), knit through the back loop of the ssk stitch and it will lay smoother. I love this tip and saw it this morning on the Knitty Gritty with Cat Bordhi who was knitting socks, of course. Very slick, must try.

3. Another Cat Bordhi tip (she's a sock genius if you didn't know), if you are knitting with a double strand of yarn and need to increase you simply knit in one strand of the stitch and then the second strand of the stitch, each separately. That's cool and creative.

Also, I have a great bit of information about the Pom-Tree, which is my favorite simple tool of all-time. I use this tool a ton in both itty-bitty books for making poms, tassels and fringe. Well, a friend of mine (hi Sue) actually made contact with Alice, the inventor of the pom-tree. She is an 81-year- old woman living in the south. She didn't know about me touting her invention everywhere I go and in my books. So now I know that she has her own website. Check it out and order from her if you need one. I guarantee you will love it. I am adding her site to my sidebar under favorites, too. It's all very sweet.

One last thing, my niece had her appendix out this week. She is 13 and she is very brave. She is spending the day with me today because my sister is out of town on a college visit with her one of her other daughters. She brought over this wonderful little lap quilt she received in the hospital. It is from the Project Linus group and it is beautiful. The quilt is backed with a soft flannel for extra snuggling power. Anyway, she loves and adores this quilt and I am thoroughly impressed with the craftsmanship. What a great charity project to make kids feel loved and safe.

Have a good weekend.

best, susie

p.s. Video tutorials are on the way for the Marley hat topper and picot edging! Thanks for the ideas. I will keep adding to my list. I may have 101 lists at this point.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

Hi Knitters,
You know that knock-knock joke, right?
So I'm sitting at my weekly allergy shot appointment (major bummer), and I am looking at my orange Chaco sandals. J'adore. Then I glance in my knitting bag and I see this gorgeous Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky in pumpkin. Muy bien. Then I look back at my orange Chaco sandals, then back at the pumpkin yarn, then back at....you get the picture. I love being easily entertained in color.
I went to the market with my daughter after school to pick up some fresh veggies and fruit for dinner. This girl is obsessed with carrots that are still in their natural form, not the baby carrots in the bags. I have to agree with her. It is something about their length, texturey skin and then that burst of green at the tops. It is good.

She stood right by my side while I peeled and crinkle cut them. I could feel her breath on my arm. I love that so much.

These are my favorite veggies to look at. When I see radishes all I can think about is how much I want to knit them. I haven't done it yet but this has been going on for years. That's a little strange, don't you think?

best, susie

p.s. On second thought I may be asking the wrong crowd.

Free Preview Pattern

Hi Knitters,
I am so excited to offer you a free preview pattern from Itty-Bitty Nursery! The pattern is for the flower pacifier clip. You'll find the link for the printable pattern on the sidebar. Just a note, the pdf included front and back cover shots that were used for a card-like pattern the publisher created for promotional purposes. My son didn't know how to delete those pages from the pdf. When you print the pattern out you could just print the last two pages to save paper and ink if you prefer.
Have fun! I can't wait to start seeing blooming pacifiers everywhere.
best, susie

Monsters, Cookies and a Fairy

Hi Knitters,
Last night I finished the second monster hat by Insubordiknit.
It turned out great and this time around I had just the right amount of yarn with a tiny bit left. I made the smallest size on the pattern that came with the kit using US size 11 needles. I used my own decrease sequence for the top. The handspun yarn was pure fun to knit. What a great little kit. Snatch one up if you find one available.

My sweet friend once again left a gift bag of iced apple sugar cookies on my doorstep yesterday morning. I took this picture before the kids got home from school. They were gone in a flash. It is so touching, beyond words. She quietly sets the gift on the front step with no note, no fanfare, so humble, so thoughtful. She's a rarity and I am flooded with gratitude.

In that first shot of the cookies I left out the fairy next to the plate and then I reconsidered. Isn't that cute? She is named Clarice. Drawing fairies and eating apple cookies is a good way to end any day.

Have a glorious weekend.

best, susie

Knit, Knit

Hi Knitters,
I have been knitting a ton lately. Some I can share and some I can't. I'd like to share everything I knit because I feel such accomplishment when I finish a project. There is nothing better. I lined up just a few of the projects I have going and believe me this is the tip of the iceberg! I know Stacey recently posted about the guilt she felt for having three projects going. I had to laugh at the number I have going all at once. It is a huge number that I don't really want to know. I don't mind because I always finish everything I start just not in an orderly fashion.
Starting at the left is a baby sweater I am working on. It is made in pistachio Nashua Cilantro. This is a springy, springy yarn. Next I have my second watermelon Sereknity sock. I've just got to get the second sock done for the fall. I am trudging away to complete pairs for several single socks I made over the summer. You know how that goes.

Next in line is the beautiful O-Wool Balance that I have been hearing so much about. I had to order some to try for myself. I ordered from here. Boy, oh boy, is everyone right about this yarn. It is wonderful to knit with and is an organic wool and cotton blend. It has a great texture but is light to work with. I see a sweater in my future with this beautiful yarn. It is a worsted weight with the gauge listed from 19-21 stitches per four inches, knit on a US size 5-7 needle. I am knitting a really fun toy out of that beautiful pale blue right now. I recommend this yarn. It is lovely.

Last but not least is my trusty Manos Del Uruguay which I also purchased here. This colorway is spruce which is the perfect name for this project. What could be better than the rustic stitches of this fantastic wool. I simply love this yarn and always will.

I have a couple quick updates I need to tell you about. First of all, the paypal progress to sell my patterns from this blog is not progressing well at all. We are waiting for an email that was supposed to arrive this week and I guess there is still one day to go so maybe tomorrow. After we get that go ahead things should start moving along.

Secondly, I posted my tour dates that are coming up so fast. I hope you check those out and come out to see me if you are close by. I had so much fun last year on tour and this year looks even better. I love getting out there to see all of those great knitters. Plus I get to talk about baby stuff and that's always a happy topic.

Lastly, I want to share a quick assignment my daughter, who is eight, had for homework after the first day of school. The teacher asked her to write down words that describe her and her favorite things. I loved her list so much I asked her if she would write a copy for me and here is her list:

artist, Lisa Loeb, bananas, red and purple, reading, story writing, panda and polar bears, watermelon, brownies, fairies, sparkles, colored rocks, soccer, gymnastics, piano, cray-pas, knitter, drawing dresses, starbucks frappacinos, chocolate cake, fresh from the farm carrots, sweet peas, dancing, strawberries, shrinky dinks, laughing, weeping mulberry trees, and family.

That list makes me wish I was eight. If only....

best, susie

Felted Flower from Itty-Bitty Hats

Hi Knitters,
Today I have a clip about the felted flower from Itty-Bitty Hats. It is a flower made out of Manos Del Uruguay wool that is made in layers, sewn together and then felted. Each layer is made in three rows and rows 1 and 3 are both knit all stitches. The second row is the challenging row.

I have had a few questions about row 2 for this flower and that's why I decided to do a quick demonstration. There's nothing better than seeing someone do a technique "in person" to add clarity to the task.

Hopefully this will help.

best, susie

Simple Pleasures

Hi Knitters,
The end of summer is always a bittersweet time of year for me. I have always lived on the school calendar instead of the monthly calendar. September is the start of the year in my mind. My dad was a professor and then I became a teacher and then I had children who are in school. There was never a break in that cycle. So as the summer ends and the new year begins I am taking delight in life's simple pleasures. Here are a few:
1. Two completed book projects. These are the best toys I have ever designed. I am thrilled with the way they turned out and I can't wait to share their entire story with you.

2. A stack of fabric delivered from purl.

This is the Chocolate Lollipop collection sampler from Anna Maria Horner. She is a wonderful talent and I love her blog.

3. My own version of fruit style. I made mine with a finger loop for easy carrying.

When I show this to anyone all they ask is, why? Every single time it happens and I love it. I made mine out of Rowan Handknit Cotton and it is so easy. I am thinking about cranking out a few more for my kids to give to teachers on the first day of school. You should give it a try.

4. My daughter's summer sketch book decorated with left-over ribbon.

She is filling it with fairies on each page. She has a lot of fairy ideas this summer. It is so cute and fun. It is good to be eight.

5. Rediscovered artwork from childhood. I have found a lot of surprises from my childhood that were packed away and this piece made me smile. I don't know how old I was when I made this but doesn't it resemble the shape of Elefante? I couldn't believe it.

6. Bubbles that smell like chocolate. I blow the bubbles while my daughter tries to eat them.

7. A big stack of books waiting to be read.

8. A chill in the air.

9. Pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks. J'adore.

10. My invitation to Ravelry arrived yesterday! To my delight there are a lot of knitters working on and posting photos of itty-bitty things. Yay! I am under susanbanderson if you want to look me up but I haven't even started working on that yet. It looks a bit daunting to me. I need to spend some time figuring the whole thing out. I looked up my friends peaknit and knitterella right away. As always they have great knitterly stuff to share.

I hope you are all enjoying some end of summer pleasures on this holiday weekend.

best, susie

p.s. Do you have any topics for quick tutorials you want me to put on video? I have list but I will happily add more. Let me know.

Kitchener Stitch Demo with Yarntini Love

Hi Knitters,
I am so excited to be done with these beautiful Yarntini socks. I love them and my feet love them, too. This yarn is one of my all-time favorites so if you are lucky enough to get your hands on some snatch it up quick.

I finished the second sock on video so you could enjoy the moment with me and see the kitchener stitch if you haven't done it before!
best, susie

Sprout Hat Topper Tutorial

Hi Knitters,
I have another clip for you on the sprout hat topper from Itty-Bitty Hats. I've had a few questions about this one along the way and thought it would be a good and quick video tutorial.
Enjoy!
best, susie

Chain Stitch and Wrap Stitch

Hi Knitters,
Remember this blanket I made for a baby gift awhile back? I received quite a few emails wondering how I embroidered Charlotte onto the blanket. All of a sudden I noticed yesterday that there is a new button to upload videos onto your blog. I am all about easy buttons and we are trying it out.

My son filmed me today for a tutorial on the chain stitch with wrap stitch technique. There is one brief moment that is slightly out of focus, but other than that it turned out okay. This is one of my favorite embroidery techniques to use on knitted fabric. There is so much flexibility with this technique. Take some time to practice and you will quickly see how easy it is. I hope this helps. Let me know what you think.
best, susie

Can't Wait

Hi Knitters,
There are so many great knitting books coming out this fall and winter. I simply can't wait to get my hands on some of these. Here is a list of the books I am especially anxious to get (but not in any specific order):

1. Knitting New Scarves
2. Knitting Little Luxuries
3. Kaffe Knits Again
4. Bag Style
5. Kristin Knits
6. Essential Baby
7. Yarnplay at Home
8. Felt Forward
9. Warm Fuzzies

This is just the start. I am amazed at the number of really fantastic books out there. It is such fun. For you new knitters you wouldn't believe the lack of books available when I started knitting over 20 years ago. You could maybe find 3 or 4 books at a bookstore on knitting if any at all. It is wonderful to have all of the choices now not only in the books we buy but in the yarn we have access to. I think it is one of the greatest developments in knitting over the last years. The knitting world is our oyster.

The other interesting thing I have noticed is the increase in books on knitting for men that are coming out shortly. Among other titles there is Son of a Stitch and Bitch and The Knitting Man(ual) both of which have great titles. There is always this complaint that there aren't enough patterns available for boys and men. I always find this interesting since I rarely see knitters knitting for men. That may be the whole chicken and the egg debate for knitting for men. If there are more patterns will everyone start knitting for men? We'll have to see.

This week is coming to a rapid close. I have just finished registering my four kids for school. That means there has been a lot of standing in lines, filling out forms and writing lots and lots of checks. It is not all that fun but I am done and sadly enough that gives me quite a feeling of accomplishment. If you set the bar low enough it can make life pretty easy (those are not good words to live by).
best, susie
p.s. The rainbow came yesterday during a brief reprieve from constant pouring rain this week. Rainbows are always so good!

New Attraction Coming Soon

Hi Knitters,
My son has convinced me to add a new feature to my blog. He is getting really into this stuff. I am going to start making some of my patterns available for purchase directly from my blog through paypal. I am still going to have the occasional free pattern available and I have a lot of tutorials in the works for knitting techniques that are used in Itty-Bitty Nursery. The bear sweater from page 81 in Itty-Bitty Hats is going to be the first pattern I make available. It will be sent to you in pdf form for you to print out.

I have received so many requests for this pattern that I felt I should write it up and get it out there.

I can't promise exactly when the pattern will be ready for several reasons. The first being that the pattern is currently written all over frog post-its. The other reasons are that my son and I are setting up paypal (that's not going smoothly at all) and we are figuring out how to get the pattern in the right format to send to you. As soon we get everything in place you'll find it here. If you have any tips about any of this be sure to let me know.

I have a couple more patterns in the works like a cute handbag (it is a mix of knitting and crochet) and some more knitted toys. Well, I have 8 kids running around in my house right now and there is a wild thunderstorm going on outside so it might be a wise choice for me to go.

best,

susie

There's No Place Like Home

Hi Knitters,
We're back safe and sound. Isn't is good to come home? We went to Disney World for the week. My husband thought our kids were at the perfect ages to take a fun-filled journey to the land of dreams. He was right. I am not a ride person but I got to see things like one of the original Dorothy dresses from the Wizard of Oz at Planet Hollywood. That's enough to hold me over for a long time.

When I was 8 years old I went to Disney for the first time. When I saw this castle I simply couldn't believe my eyes. It didn't seem true. I felt like magic was all around. I loved seeing my kids feel that same excitement I felt so long ago. Anyway we had fun in the hot, hot sun. It was in the upper 90's everyday and humid beyond belief. In Madison it didn't even reach 60 yesterday and it is pouring rain. Talk about contrast.

I knitted a lot for the first couple days of the trip. I made eight mini-cupcakes for my publicist, Jaime, to hand out to various people she is contacting. It was adorable to see them all stacked up together when they were done. I had three flight attendants stop to talk about the cupcakes on the flight down. They all thought they were cute. Then as I was getting off of the plane the attendants were gathered at the door and they were talking about the cupcakes as I walked by. It is a good sign that they were still thinking about them later. The pattern is in the new book. Hopefully the cupcakes will do the trick for Jaime. We had to find a Fedex/Kinkos last Monday and mail them off to New York. Good thing my kids are patient with this stuff.

After I finished the cupcakes I dove into a new project, embroidery on felt. I fell in love with this project. It is a Jennifer Pudney kit I bought quite awhile ago. I bought several of her kits online just to have on hand. They are stuffed with beautiful materials, high quality goods to say the least. There are brief instructions that were good enough for me but if you want more detail on embroidery I recommend this and this.

Isn't it fun? I kept calling it my stitching and the kids laughed about that. I kept telling them how I loved my stitching. They like to laugh at me but they are very interested too. They kept admiring it and both of my girls want to stitch now that we are home. I will have to get some simple projects going for them.

Now Jennifer Pudney's company is extra great because they offer finishing services for you. You can either get your finished piece framed or for the felt embroidery only you can get it made into a bound journal cover. I am getting this piece made into a 120-page bound journal. I am giving it to my dear friend who is going through chemo right now. What I loved most about this project is that every time I took a stitch I thought about her and the journey she is going through. Most of all I thought about how much I care for her and want her to get well. That is positive energy well spent.

Here is my other Jennifer Pudney creation. This is the Princess and the Pea, only they call it the Pea Story. I had this one framed and they do all of the blocking for you. I sent off my wrinkly, masking taped needlepoint canvas and this gorgeous artwork is what I got in return. What a great deal!

There was a prince next to the mattresses but I took him out. I liked the bed, the pea and princess alone. Who needs that old prince in there?

Here are the kits. They are tiny. The needlepoint kits are called postcards. Anyway, thought I would share with you what captured my mind on the trip. I was completely engrossed and thoroughly impressed with this kit.

When I was waiting for my family to exit the rides I pulled the second pureknits yarntini sock out and knitted away. I made some progress. I got a lot of second looks by passersby while I was knitting. I always wonder what they see. I only had one woman ask me if it was a sock but mainly kids are completely fascinated by the knitting. They are mesmerized, almost walking backwards as they are being pulled along. What do they think? I make a wish sometimes that one day someone will teach them to knit. I little wish never hurt.

One more quick thing, my friend Stacey, made a post about a pea pod topped hat she knitted. She learned this in an embellishing class I taught many years ago. I have this sweet pea hat pattern available in my online shop if anyone is interested. This pattern is the bestseller on my site by far. We keep getting it reprinted and reprinted. Stacey had so many comments about the pea hat that I thought maybe people would like to have the pattern. I haven't talked about my shop much in the blog but take a look if you like.

It's good to be home! Hope you all had a good week.

best, susie