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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 – Its A Hoot!

May 8th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
6 comments

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I was browsing through Ravelry recently and came across Little Owls Blanket Charts by huizeStinesen and fell in love.  The owls are just so cute!    I would love to knit the blanket eventually but knew that I definitely wanted to knit the little owls into a fun, instant gratification project now.  So I started planning for a hat.  Using my trusty 4.5mm needles and some worsted weight yarn, I whipped up a little owls hat in no time flat.  This baby is my second and I’m hooked!

So what are you working on at the moment?  I’d love to hear all about it!

WIP Wednesday – Something Lacy This Way Comes

Apr 17th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
10 comments

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I’ve been working on a new pattern and have decided to give you a little sneak peek of what is going on.  I’m being extra tricky too, because you can only see a teensy little piece but I will give you a few hints:

  • it is a shawl
  • some garter stitch love is involved
  • geometric lace
  • nupps
  • it is modular

That, and I’m knitting it is Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze … one of my favorite yarns.  I always feel incredibly spoiled when I get to play with this particular yarn.

So that is all I’m going to share about this project for the moment, but do check back as I plan to post more spoiled pics as I go along.

Happy WIP Wednesday everyone!

 

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!

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.

 

Textiles Giveaway

Jun 26th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
5 comments


Photo © Kate Davies. Used with permission.

I’ve been a little bit slack with the blogging lately as spring/summer is a busy time for us … planting our veggie patch, weeding flower beds, raising new little chicks, soccer practice, and some spinning and knitting, of course … but I do have something wonderful to share with you all.

 I’m doing a giveaway of Textiles Issue 2 by Kate Davies!

Kate is one of my favorite indie designers and bloggers.  For those of you who may not have come across her blog yet, you can find her at http://katedaviesdesigns.com/ where she writes and shares photos about knitting, Scotland, and much more.  Her blog is a delight!

Textiles Issue 2 features interesting articles on the history of bathing suits (and photos of their evolution), an amazing story of perseverance and survival, and two of Kate’s original designs:

Betty Mouat Sweater


Photo © Kate Davies. Used with permission.

and BMC (Betty Mouat Cowl)


Photo © Kate Davies. Used with permission.

To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post and be sure to include your Ravelry ID.  Deadline for entry is Tuesday, July 3rd at 5 PM Atlantic Daylight Time.  One lucky reader will be chosen using random.org on Wednesday, July 4th and will receive their copy of Textiles Issue 2 as a Ravlery Gift.

Happy knitting everyone!

 

Flukra Winner Is …

May 16th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
2 comments

…  #4, Tina of Peacefully Knitting!  Congratulations and  I know you’re going to really enjoy Flukra.  I can’t wait to see what yarn you pick for your shawl!

If you’d love to knit the pattern and wish for some comradery, there is a Flukra KAL going on in The Shetland Trader group on Ravlery.  Grab your favorite laceweight yarn and head on over!

Have a wonderful day and happy lace knitting everyone!

 

A Lacy Giveaway

May 9th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
12 comments

Photo © Gudrun Johnston. Used with permission

I LOVE knitting lace.  The ethereal beauty of  an intricate lace shawl, the luxurious laceweight yarns to dream about and plan with, the magic that happens when you block …  I find it all so inviting and I know that many of you do as well.

One of my favorite designers is Gudrun Johnston of The Shetland Trader and today I would like to share with you one of her gorgeous designs … Flukra.

According to John J. Graham’s Shetland Dictionary, flukra means “snow falling gently in large flakes”  in the Shetland dialect.  Don’t you envision a quite winter scene when you look at the lovely lace pattern in the shawl?

Here are her comments on the construction of the shawl:

This shawl begins with a Shetland construction method to create the center triangle. Stitches are then easily picked up from the yarn over loops that are formed down two sides and the border is worked outwards from the triangle. The shawl is finished with an edging that is knitted sideways and attached to the live sts of the border as it is being worked. Lace is worked on both sides of the knitting, however there is no right or wrong side to the knitting. – Gudrun Johnston

Photo © Gudrun Johnston. Used with permission

This shawl is going to be my next lace project and I am so excited about knitting it!  Got my yarn ordered and on its way (Malabrigo Lace.  Yay!) and now all I have to do is wait patiently until the yarn arrives.

And here is the very BEST news …  I will be giving away a copy of this pattern to one lucky blog reader!

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post and be sure to include your Ravlery ID.  The deadline to enter is May 15th by 5:00 PM Atlantic Time.  On May 16th, the winner will be selected using random.org and will receive their pattern as a Ravelry Gift Download.

I know you want to knit a Flukra too!

 

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