Your (yarn color) Opinion Please! ;<)
As any of my regular readers already know, I love to knit.
In recent years, I’ve been “stretching” my knitting skills a bit, trying some more difficult patterns, stitches and techniques, including Fair Isle knitting.
This cardigan is my first (and to date, only) 
Fair Isle project I’ve completed:
I love this sweater and have had so many compliments about it already; I want to make another one, this time in a spring/summer cotton yarn.
I’m considering using Willow Yarn Cub .
If you haven’t checked out Willow Yarns yet, you’re in for a treat. They have some beautiful, natural fiber yarns available at prices that are hard to beat.
I’ve already knitted a swatch of this yarn and it looks great, with a the stitches showing up in a very defined way. I also love the soft colors this yarn comes in and the price is great too at $2.49 CDN/50 grams.
Here are the colors I am planning to use for this next cardigan:
This soft yellow for the main color.
And these three colors for the patternworks sections.
I like all 4 of these colors but can’t decide if yellow should be the main color or the mauve or green instead.
Your yarn color opinion please…what do you think?
PS: If you’re considering trying Fair Isle yourself or already have, you might want to check out my latest review over at My Real Life Reviews for : The Very Easy Guide to Fair Isle Knitting by Lynne Watterson. It’s a wonderful book!
Last Chance to Enter the Spring Yarn Lover’s Contest!
If you haven’t entered already there’s still time, contest closes April 30th!
Click to read the details and enter to win a fab yarn-lover’s package valued at over $75.
Good luck and Happy Crafting! 
A New Spring Contest at My Real Life Reviews!
Stop by to enter to win a Yarn-Lover’s prize package valued at over $75. at My Real Life Reviews!
Click here to read the details and see the great prizes up for grabs.
Good luck everyone and happy crafting!
Knit (Seed Stitch) Kindle Cover
I recently got my first ereader, a Kindle Paperwhite as an early birthday gift. I’m an April baby!
I am so loving my Kindle!
In spite of not wanting any kind of ereader for a looooong time, the Kindle Paperwhite has changed my mind about ereaders and in a big way.
You can read my full review of the Kindle Paperwhite here.
I also knit a cover for my new ereader, using a pattern I found over at Ravelry.
Laura, the designer has graciously provided a PDF of the pattern: Kindle_Cover
Just seed/moss stitch throughout, knitting in the round (p the k and k the p) to form this lovely, textural yarn fabric.
I used some wool from my stash. This yarn color is Fire Tweed by Lopi.
The only thing I should have changed is to make it an inch shorter than the pattern. If you decide to make one of these, measure your own ereader and make the cover (up to flap) just 1/2″ more than the length of your ereader so it fits snugly. It will stretch a bit too, with repeated use.
Another tip, if using a wool yarn for this project, DO give it a soak in a wool/delicate wash detergent after making the cover and before using it, to soften up the yarn. I use Eucalan (click to read my review of that great product) and it softened up this yarn beautifully.
Wool yarns can be a bit rough and you wouldn’t want to scratch the screen of your ereader.
Now my Kindle is not only fun to use, it’s also protected in it’s own unique cover, when not in use.
Who needs to spend $20. + for one of the generic covers that are for sale, for ereaders?
Happy Knitting!
A Knitting Resource Book You Won’t Want to Miss!
If you’ve been looking for a knitting resource book to help with “going beyond the basics” check out my recent review of Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘N Bitch, Superstar Knitting over at My Real Life Reviews.
Thanks to the tips in this wonderful book, I finally tackled (and succeeded) at making a Fair Isle Sweater.
Read all the details and see photos here.
Happy Crafting!
Mum Market Bag
I’ve wanted to make a crochet market bag for a long time.
Found this beautiful pattern over at Ravelry, created by Emily of Lab Coat Crochet (click to view her blog and pattern post).
I loved the “fancy” bottom/base on this bag that not only looks so pretty, it’s also practical too. Many crochet market bags are just two straight sides with no actual base for strength and durability.
An easy pattern to make but I wouldn’t suggest it if you dislike the CHAIN stitch. There’s a lot of repetitious chaining throughout. But the results IMO are worth it.
I made this bag in Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Grass (click to read my review of this yarn). It’s a blend of cotton and model fibers and not too stretchy, perfect for this kind of project. I used 3 skeins of stash yarn I had and was a bit short to complete the pattern as written so I cut down on the top border by two rows. Pattern as written is made in Peaches and Cream Cotton Yarn (2 skeins).
Happy Hooking!
Another Pair of Knit Handwarmers Complete!
I recently finished another pair of handwarmers, this time in a nice bright gold yarn.
I love wearing these over thin black gloves for outside wear. Kind of snazzy, don’t ya think?
These are the same pattern as the ones featured here (includes link to pattern).
This time I was a lot happier with the results, due to the different type of yarn I used.
I used some stash yarn I had in Wool Ease in Gold from Lion Brand for this pair.
The pattern stitches show up so much better than in the ones shown below, which look kind of fuzzy (and not in a good way) LOL :
If you’re looking for an easy pair of handwarmers to knit (and on regular straight needles, not DPN’s) you might want to give these a try.
Happy Crafting!
Knit Handwarmers from CreativeYarn
These are the first pair of handwarmers that I’ve ever made.
I really had fun making these and I love wearing them when it’s a chilly morning and I’m typing a lot at the computer. They keep my hands and wrists nice and toasty!
I think they’re rather cute too. I see a lot of women wearing these now, thought it was high time I had a pair too LOL.
I’m making another pair right now that I plan to wear over thin black gloves for outdoor use. These are going to be in bright gold yarn. I’ll share a pic when I’ve got these completed too.
You can find this pattern and lots of other easy, fun (and many free) patterns over at the CreativeYarn blog. Here’s the link for this free pattern: Emerald Green Handwarmers. The woman who hosts this blog is based in Rome so that’s kind of interesting too. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been posting recently but there are a lot of great archive posts and patterns to enjoy over there.
The yarn I used was:
Caron Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) in Gunmetal Grey:
Here’s my review of this yarn, over at My Real Life Reviews.
♥ the pattern but NOT a yarn that I’ll be using again. 
Happy Crafting!
Guilty Pleasures Socks
I’m still knitting up a storm!
Finished these Guilty Pleasures Socks a couple of weeks ago. They were fun to knit and not too difficult either.
I made them in Patons Stretch Socks yarn in Mineral shade and they took approximately 1.5 skeins to make (this was not the yarn called for in the pattern, that used just one skein in keeping with the theme of this book). They were one size pattern, fit great.
These socks are featured in the book: 101 Designer One Skein Wonders.
Actually a lot nicer in reality than the photos are!
Now that I’ve “aced” the art of sock-knitting, I’m working on my first pair of knit gloves now. Kind of challenge but fun. I’ll share some photos when those are completed too.
Happy Crafting !
Knitted Cable Footies
My knitting “storm” continues.
I just finished a couple more pairs of socks. Also, a large, easy knit throw I’ve been working on for a long time (it’s shown in the background here).
Now I have a shawl to complete next, for a gift; if I ever can find the right beads to finish the edge!!! So many choices but too many with holes too small to accommodate the sport yarn this shawl is crochet in.
Oh well, will have to keep looking. Ideally, I’m hoping to find a necklace I can re-purpose for this project in black glass beads as I need about a 100 beads for the scalloped crochet edge. A shawl pattern I designed myself!
Back to this project:
These Cable Footies are featured in the book: One Skein by Leigh Radford.
Click here to read my review of this excellent knitting book.
And what a great book it is! Unlike a lot of the smaller-type (rather boring!!!) project books, using small amounts/one skeins of yarn, this book is filled with a variety of lovely and diverse projects, including these easy to make knit “footies”. I really enjoyed making these and plan to make a couple more pairs.
If you are looking for a great knit book for small projects (and a great way to use up stash yarns!) this one is definitely worth a look.
I made these in Lion Brand Wool Ease Worsted Weight in Gold and for the small size I used about 180 yds. of this yarn. I wear Size 8.5-9 shoes but I don’t like baggy socks or knit slippers so I tried the smallest size and it fits perfectly.
Happy Knitting!
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