Using up the stash projects

Oh my have I had a busy last couple of weeks. I missed doing a couple of blogs but I did get some knitting done between running family here and there. Knitting is still more portable than my laptop.
One of my more recent projects includes a baby sweater for a family's first little baby. I wanted a quick and basic pattern that could work for a boy or girl so I chose one from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (p.72) by Joelle Hoverson.

The pattern called for a merino wool crepe but I used a neutral fisherman's wool. The lanolin content should keep the yarn soft enough for the baby's skin. The colorful beads used in the book were traded for plain metal buttons.

Since part of my goal is to use up my stash, this is where I got the fisherman's wool. I also had a bright blue merino sitting in there. Sadly, it never had a purpose. I bought 4 balls of it because they were the last in a dye

lot and marked way down. A camisole pattern, also in Last Minute Knitted Gifts (p.96), seemed a good way to use this yarn but it was too low cut for me to actually get any use out of it so I decided to alter it. The lace pattern at the bottom stayed because it is one of my favorite but it got a new top half. The neck was brought all the way up with a little cable twist added for interest. The armholes were made smaller to fit my petite frame and I crocheted the picot edge rather than knitting it. Since I knew that my yarn would not have the same drape as the silk yarn used in the book I knit it to a looser gauge. It is very, very blue and that is taking some getting use to but overall I am very pleased. The yarn is incredibly soft and the whole thing is light as a feather. And, there's almost a whole ball of yarn left!

What to work on now? Well my daughter is next in line for a sweater and she picked out a pattern from Garnstudio (see pic to left). Since I couldn't talk her into a very interesting patchwork sweater of my own design there was no way I could knit her something from my stash so I had to purchase yarn for it. I ended up with linen- colored CotLin from Knitpicks. Of course I will need to alter it a little -the gauge is a bit loose for me. Should be fun. I'll let you know how it goes!

Get outside and have a great Memorial Day!

Fog Linen Dresses and Wedding Hairpieces

Have you been privileged to browse the pages of Selvedge mag? I think I ran across it online somewhere and still do not have a prescription, subscription I mean. The dry goods section of the website is my favorite and I always want to buy something, especially from Fog Linen. They make exactly the sort of clothes and linens that I have envisioned for my home. Simple, rustic and natural.

I visited them online again today and it seems that they have updated their website. It's hard for me to tell since I don't read Japanese. Very frustrating. All I want are a couple of simple linen dresses to wear to wedding parties this summer in DC. I don't get crazy about fashion so when I come across something to wear or put in my home that looks like it's been there for a century and could go another, then I get excited. The Fog Linen line meets criteria.

Fog Linen's house linens may be purchased through a few US retailers if you're interested. Maybe a unique gift for newlyweds?

Speaking of weddings... thought I'd share a couple of hair pieces I made last spring. They're made of hand felted merino wool, silk yarn, pearl beads and little flowery wedding doodads. I like the way that the leaves on the larger piece sticks out in crazy directions.

By the way, Happy May Day.