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Inspiration Station

May 13th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
3 comments

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Look-ee what arrived in the mail today! 

I had been scouting round for a second hand copy of Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns for a while now and was super excited to find one on Ebay.    When it arrived today, I couldn’t wait to start flipping through the pages.  There are just so many interesting stitches and techniques that I want to try from this book!  From the quick glance I took through it, I’ve got some fun ideas brewing already.  I know for certain that I am going to get a ton of use out of this book and you can bet that I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the other treasuries as well.

Do you have certain books or stitch dictionaries that inspire you?  Do tell!

WIP Wednesday – Barndom

Dec 19th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
8 comments

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Well, it is official … I’m hooked on Stephen West’s designs.  I just can’t seem to get enough of them!  Enter Barndom …

I started on a handspun version of this shawl (because if there is anything more fun than knitting one of Stephen’s designs, it is knitting it in handspun!) but I just couldn’t get the yarns I had chosen to play nicely together.  After trying multiple times to get a stashed handspun yarn to go with the handspun I had chosen for my main color, I said “To Heck With It!!!” and grabbed some really lovely Belfast Mini Mills Specialty sock and cast on with that instead.  I’m super happy with how it is progressing so far and it is knitting up really quickly. I started knitting this yesterday :-D

So what crafting do you have on the go now?  Are you in Holiday Crafting Crisis mode or are you kicking back and having some fun?  Me?  I’m having FUN!

WIP Wednesday – Handspun Daybreak II

Nov 28th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
12 comments

Long time no see everyone!  November has turned out to be an even crazier month than I had originally anticipated.  I’ve decided that this is the year to step out and actually participate in some of the craft fairs around here so I have been busy dying wool, spinning yarn, and printing patterns to stock my table.  I spent a very enjoyable day last Sunday at MachPhail Homestead in Orwell and I’m looking forward to the craft sale this Friday and Saturday at the Wellness Center in Montague.

With all the preparations for the sales, I’ve still managed to get in some of my own spinning and knitting.  This week I’ve started on a second handspun Daybreak (and I feel another one in the near future as well!).  This shawl is for a kettlebell buddy :-)

I chose 6oz of lovely natural BFL that I had in my stash and dyed it up in shades of green, hints of gold, and brown.  Then I decided that it needed to be spun up into a plump and bouncy fingering weight singles.  I’m really pleased with how the yarn turned out.

I paired it up with some plain white handspun that I had in my stash and got right to knitting.  I’m on stripe 12 of 16 now so I’m really cruising along.  I’m hoping to give the finished shawl to my friend next week.

How had your November been so far?  Are you getting lots of crafting in?  Do you sell in craft fairs?  I’d love to hear all about your month so far!

FO Friday – Handspun Stripe Study Shawl

Sep 28th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
10 comments

After almost two months, I’m finished knitting my stripe study shawl.   This project was so many firsts for me and I’m really in love with it.  Actually, I’m wearing my new shawl right now and it is incredibly cozy.

The fiber that I chose for this project was June’s club shipment of 4oz of Shetland wool in “Field Of Dreams” colorway by Spunky Eclectic and some lovely natural colored BFL.   Both skeins were spun up during Tour De Fleece.

The pattern for this shawl is Stripe Study Shawl  by Veera Välimäki and it features an asymmetrical shape worked with short rows and it knit entirely in garter stitch.

One of the new techniques that I tried out with this particular project was spinning woolen style with a long draw.  It was an interesting experience and I was fairly satisfied with the yarn that I produced but I do need to practice this draw more as my yarn was a bit uneven in places.

I found the Stripe Study to be a very easy and satisfying knit.  It works up quickly and the short row strips are very fun.  Add in rainbow colors and it gives the shawl even more pop.

The most difficult part of the project was taking the photos.  It is REALLY had to take photos of a shawl that you are wearing!  lol

Now that I’m finished this project, I’m hoping to spend some more time on my Rockefeller shawl as I am very eager to finish that up and wear it as well.  The evenings are getting a little cooler all the time here so I need lots of handspun shawls (and handspun socks) to snuggle up in.

Happy crafting all!

FO Friday – Handspun Top Down Mittens

Aug 17th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
2 comments

 

 

I’ve been working on a new, top down mitten pattern and we did our photo shoot with them today.  Many thanks to my super awesome husband for modeling them for me :-)

These mittens were a really fun knit.  They start at the fingertips and are worked down to the wrist.  AND they’re knit up in yummy handspun yarn.  The fiber I used my mittens was 4oz of Gotland in “Robin Red Breast” by Spunky Eclectic.

I’m hoping to release my new free pattern for these fun mittens by the end of August so be sure to stay tuned!

WIP Wednesday – Stripe Study Shawl

Aug 8th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
4 comments

After finishing my Akimbo for the Ravellenic Games, I was eager to start on another handspun shawl.  I’ve had my Field Of Dreams handspun sitting in the basket by my desk since I have finished spinning  it and I decided that now is definitely the time to start on my Stripe Study Shawl.

The shawl pattern creates an asymmetrical, triangular shawl and is worked completely in garter stitch with stripes that increase in thickness as you knit along.  It is a wonderfully simple pattern to knit and the finished projects on Ravelry are very classy and elegant.  It also knits up quite quickly.  Pictured above is my first evening’s knitting.  I am really loving the way this pattern shows off handspun.

Stripe Study Shawl is a perfect summer project … relaxing and fun with beautiful results.

 

And The Winner Is …

Apr 13th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
3 comments

… comment poster #7, Linda Daley!  Congrats on winning the advance copy of the pattern.  I hope that you enjoy knitting it!

And a huge thank you to all of you lovely comment posters.  I love hearing your spring plans, dreams, and routines.  You’ve got me all inspired!

My hat pattern will be released on Monday and for all of you who commented, I’d love to send you a Ravelry coupon for 50% off the pattern price.  I don’t want to be spammy though (’cause spam is SO NOT COOL!), so if you’re interested in receiving the coupon code, leave a comment below with your Ravelry name or you can use the contact form to email me and let me know you’re interested.

Also, be sure to stay tuned to my blog over the next week as I will have another awesome giveaway happening.

Want a hint now?

I know you do but you’ll need to wait until early next week for the knitty gritty.  :-)

Happy knitting everyone and happy spring!

 

 

Herringbone Trim Tutorial

Nov 3rd, 2011
by SandAndSkyCreations.
3 comments

 

I want to share with you a tutorial I made for knitting herringbone trim. This is my favorite way to start hats and mittens and it even works well for socks too! I love the smooth, yet defined edge it gives. I hope you give it a try!

My Vega

Oct 7th, 2011
by SandAndSkyCreations.
No comments yet

Vega Watchcap

I am such a Brooklyn Tweed junkie and when I saw he was curating a design series I was so excited!

Wool People is loaded with amazing designs from some of my very favorite knitwear designers … it is pure magic!  I want to knit them all but Vega REALLY called out to me and I absolutely was not disappointed.

Vega Watchcap

The pattern as it is written is beautiful but I wanted a snug and toasty hat that will keep me nice and cozy while I run the the cooler (and soon to be just plain cold) weather so I did make a few mods.

  • Used two strands of sock yarn doubled up for the dominant color.
  • I wanted more of a watch cap shaping for this hat so I went with 4.0mm needles and CO 120 sts.
  • Worked a twisted herring bone brim instead of ribbing.
  • Worked two full repeats of the Vega chart before moving on to the crown chart.

Let me tell you, I FLEW through this project!  It only took approximately 2 hours for me to knit and I loved the finished hat so much that I’m in the process of knitting a second one!

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Wool People yet, please do!  The projects are all so tempting that it is really difficult to decide which one to start with.

This was also my October project for Care of Magical Creatures in the HPKCHC.  Hopefully it will earn a few points for Gryffindor.  Go Lions!  ROAR!

Vega Watchcap

Let The Skeleton Key KAL Begin!

Sep 1st, 2011
by SandAndSkyCreations.
No comments yet

Skeleton Key Slouchie Tam

 

Today is  kick off day for the Skeleton Key KAL!    Grab your favorite worsted weight yarn and 5mm needles and head on over to the KAL thread on Ravelry to join in the fun.

And remember, if you post your FO pics to the KAL thread on or before October 1st, you’ll be entered to win a Sand And Sky pattern of your choosing.

Happy knitting!

 

 

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