Beachcomber Bay & Summer Knitting

Beachcomber Bay

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Summer Knitting

It's time for summer knitting!

Summer is arriving early in California. We are supposed to reach temperatures in the 90's this weekend! So this week, I put my wool knitting projects aside. I have made the switch over to summer knitting. I currently have two summer knit projects on my needles and both are from Louisa Harding's Beachcomber Bay The Accessories Collection.

Mermaid Purse

by Louisa Harding

Being a California girl, I grew up going up to the beach at Santa Cruz for fun (at the Boardwalk) and beach combing. The beaches south of Santa Cruz were always scattered with sand dollars and sea shells. I loved collecting them. I still love beach combing.

Another knitter grew up loving beach combing, too, only in completely different part of the world. That knitter is Britain's knitwear designer, Louisa Harding. Louisa's Beachcomber Bay The Accessories Collection is filled with inspiration from the seaside and her own memories of beach combing. I believe this is Louisa's fourth book for her Louisa Harding yarn line.

Yesterday I cast on for the Mermaid purse. It is knit in Louisa's Flotsam yarn. In her book, Louisa describes this yarn as "reminiscent of washed up ropes and fishing lines." I agree and like it's lofty and slubby texture. I lucked out and found my yarn in a discontinued ocean blue colorway (No. 2) at my LYS.

I am knitting my purse for our summer vacation on the Oregon Coast. I can't wait to beach comb on vacation and embellish my Mermaid purse with shells and bits from the Oregon beaches.

Periwinkle Wrap

I am also knitting Louisa's Perwinkle wrap pattern. The Periwinkle wrap is the reason I bought this book. It is the gorgeous wrap featured on the books' cover!

The Periwinkle wrap is knit in a feather and fan pattern. It is knit in four Louisa Harding ribbon yarns: Sari Ribbon, Kimono Ribbon, Fauve and Glisten. (I modified my wrap size and cast on 76 stitches instead of 40.) I love this gorgeous color combination of yarns! They certainly do remind me of sea waves.

Beachcomber Bay

Accessories Collection

by

Louisa Harding

I highly recommend the Beachcomber Bay Accessories Collection book. It is one of Louisa's early spring/summer collection books from 2006. You are sure to love the "beachy" purses, hats and beach cover ups which are all timeless summer designs.

Louisa says it best in her book's introduction, "I hope the ideas and patterns are a starting point to inspire your knitting this summer". "Next time you look at the beach, look really close and see what you can find to inspire you".

I've been inspired. How about you?

Bunnies & Beatrix Potter

Flopsy Bunnies

"Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits and their names were, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter". And, so begins the story The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Beatrix Potter

(1866-1943)

Easter time makes me think of cute little bunnies and the charming children's stories of Beatrix Potter.

To many, Beatrix Potter is known and remembered by Peter Rabbit and her children's books. She was so much more than a children's book author. She was truly a Victorian woman ahead of her time. She was also a conservationist, botanical illustrator, respected farmer and sheep breeder.

Beatrix Potter was born in London, England in 1866. As a child she was home schooled and encouraged to paint and draw. As a child she would smuggle mice, rabbits and hedgehogs into the house. She also had a pet rabbit, named Peter. (Now we know the inspiration for all her adorable animal characters in her books!)

Every year her family spent holidays away from London in the countryside. Beatrix drew and painted everything she could. She loved animals and being in the country.

Hilltop Farm, Cumbria, England
17th Century Stonehouse

In 1905, Beatrix left London and moved to Cumbria, and English county in the Lake District. Thanks to royalties from her first few books, she purchased a working farm called Hill Top Farm. This was the start of her deep interest in farming and preserving the land.

In the 1930's and 40's she and her husband were sheep farmers and breeders. Their Herdwick Sheep won many prizes at county shows. Herdwick sheep are a breed native to the Lake District. Beatrix was also the first woman elected President of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association. She also helped save the breed from extinction.

Herdwick sheep are a dual breed who produce a thick, coarse grey fleece due to their harsh environment. Sorry knitters since their wool does not dye easily it is mostly used for carpet wool. There is a co-operative of women farmers, dyers, spinners, weavers and knitters though in Cumbria today called The Wool Clip .

Beatrix passed away in 1943 at the age of seventy-seven. To ensure the conservation of her beloved Lake District, she willed to the National Trust, 15 farms, over 4,000 acres of land and her Herdwick sheep flocks. One provision was that her Hill Top Farm had to remain exactly as she left it, complete with her furniture, art and china. It remains open today for the public to enjoy.

My husband and I love travelling to England. We visited the Lake District in 2003. We made the special journey to Cumbria to visit Hill Top Farm.

So in honor of Beatrix Potter, I would like to share a few photos from a knitting book called The Beatrix Potter Knitting book. All the patterns were inspired by the art and life of Beatrix Potter. Since it is Easter, I selected the cute little bunny ones to share today.

Benjamin Bunny

Sweater, Pull-Ups

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Tam-O-Shanter

Benjamin Bunny
Sleeping Bag

Flopsy Bunnies
Baby's Jumper (Sweater)

The Beatix Potter Knitting Book

The Beatrix Potter Knitting Book by Pat Menchini was first published in 1987. It features more than 50 delightful handknits for all ages. Many of the book's photographs were taken on location in Beatrix Potter's own English, Lake District.

If you ever find yourself in the beautiful Lake District, I encourage you visit Hill Top Farm. You might also enjoy the movie Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger as Beatrix Potter, which was filmed in the Lake District.

While visiting the Lake District, I also highly recommend having Sticky Toffee Pudding and afternoon tea at the nearby Sharrow Bay Hotel.

Vintage Crochet Mini Dresses

Vintage Crochet Mini Dresses

My Mom's 1970's crochet mini dress got a lot of attention. Thanks for all the nice comments here and on Ravelry.

Besides knitting I have an obsession for collecting vintage knitting and crochet patterns. I knew I had some "mod" patterns from the 60's and 70's so I went looking through them today. Can you believe I had this pattern which is pretty darn close to my Mom's dress?

The vintage pattern is Big & Little Crochets, Leaflet # 2519, by Columbia-Minerva. (Original price, 35 cents.) I can not find a date on it but it appears to be from the same era, the early 1970's. The hot pink dress is pattern # V-15 and the turquoise dress is # V-16.

The pattern for the pink dress can be found on Ravelry or at Vintage Creations for free.

My Mom's 1970's Crochet Mini Dress!

My Mom's 1970's

Crochet Mini Dress

Today just happens to be my Mom's birthday. In honor of my Mom, I thought it would be fun to share her 1970's crochet mini dress with you.

Now keep in mind, my Mother did not save this dress. I did. I love the fact that I did not knit or crochet since I was a young girl yet I saved everything we had in our house associated with the needle arts my entire life. Even though I did not knit again until I was in my mid 40's, I know that knitting and crochet were dear to my heart or I would not have saved everything that I have saved all these years.

1970's era mini dress!

Today I asked my Mom where she bought this dress. My Mom said she received it from her mother for Christmas back in the early 1970's. My Mom said "she probably bought it at Goldman's or Joseph Magnin's back then!" My Mom loved the dress but wasn't sure when she would ever wear it. Then the perfect event presented itself, her high school class reunion.

My Mom and Dad

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the Chartreuse Mini Dress

I've always loved vintage so I am thrilled that I saved this dress. I think my Mom wore this around 1970 - 1971. It is in remarkable great shape for being stored in a plastic dry cleaner's bag (in a box) out in the garage all these years. I just love it's 1970's chartreuse green color!

Vintage Tarrri Dress Label

The designer dress label says Tarrri (I think). It is 100% wool. It was made in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. It must have been hand made. The crochet work is beautiful. The mini dress is 33" in length. And yes...my Mom was quite "foxy" in it back in the day!

Crochet Shell Pattern?

I hope you have enjoyed this look back at 1970's fashion and my Mom's mini dress. I am so glad I saved it! Someday I hope to become a better crocheter. I would love to crochet a scarf in this crochet shell pattern in a chartreuse for my Mom to wear and me to borrow!

Maybe an avid crocheter can help me to identify it's shell pattern? I would love any tips or comments!

The Knitter Issue Three

The Knitter Issue Three

I am a lucky knitter!

This week has been a good knitting week.

On Tuesday I had morning coffee, lunch and knitting with my new knitting friends Lorna, Sheila and Michele. On Wednesday I went to my class at Knitique and Danielle (owner/teacher) told me that I am a really good knitter. That praise just made my day since I have been taking knitting classes from Danielle for over a year now!

And, then I lucked out and found Issue Three of The Knitter!

Urchin Sweater

by Kim Hargreaves

This issue's theme is Coastline Designs. It is filled with lots of wonderful patterns inspired by the waves, shells and ripples of the seaside and perfect for this time of year, springtime!

Here is a sneak peak at Issue Three if you haven't' been lucky enough to see it yet. Every issue has sold out both in the UK and US. Hmm...perhaps I should just subscribe to The Knitter?

Starfish Shawl

by Norah Gaughan

Norah Gaughan is an American Knitwear Designer and Creative Director for Berroco.

On Ravelry, I have a British (Yorkshire Gal) knitter friend, Melanie who is lives in Australia currently. We met over our love of Yorkshire Tea and Tea Cozies! Melanie knows how much I love British designers like, Louisa Harding and she loves American Designers, like Norah Gaughan. I thought of Melanie when I saw this issue so I hope she can find Issue Three! She says it is pretty tough to find in Australia. Good luck Mel!

Beachcomber Bag

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Wristwarmers

by Amanda Crawford

What fun accessories for a summer outing or beachcombing at the beach! The Beachcomber bag and coordinating wristwarmers are knit in Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK in Spring Bouquet and Crystal Blue colorways. I have never heard of this yarn, have you? It must be popular in the UK?

Mason-Dixon Knitting

Even though The Knitter is a British magazine there is a regular feature each month with good 'ole USA gals Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne. They have the popular following Mason-Dixon Knitting. This month's feature is about too many scarves? I love scarves so I am loving this article. I am known on Ravelry and wherever I go knitting as I Love Scarves!

Louisa Harding

My favorite British Knitwear Designer!

Well, it's no secret that Louisa Harding is my favorite knitwear designer. I loved this issue's article Best of British, the ultimate guide to the UK's top knitwear designers. In my book, Louisa Harding tops that list!

Issue 4 has already hit the news stands in the UK on March 31st. I can't wait to find my copy here in the states. I read that there is a Louisa Harding capelet pattern in it!

PS: Issue 3 has errata for both Issue 1 and 2!

Close-Knit Friendships

Designer Lorna Miser

Today marked the second book signing and trunk show on Lorna's book tour for Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting. It was held at my other LYS Babetta's Yarn & Gifts.

This morning I started reading Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting. I was so touched by Lorna's stories about knitting and her knitting friendships. Then my telephone rang. It was Lorna's good friend Sheila asking me if I would like to go see Lorna today at Babetta's Yarn and Gifts. Of course, I said "yes"!

I met Lorna when I joined the Cameilla Stockinettes, my local knitting guild chapter of TKGA last January. She is also the president. When Lorna found out that I live in Folsom (like her and Sheila) she immediately introduced me to Sheila and said "you've got to knit with us"!

Lorna and Sheila's friendship story is in the book. They met knitting about five years ago at a local coffee shop. Sheila was knitting mittens and having some difficulty. Lorna offered her help and advice. So yes, there is a pattern in the book called Helping Hand Mittens along with the story of how they met.

Today at the book signing, I purchased a book for my knitting friend Ruth. I met Ruth on Ravelry, the online knitting community. I admired one of her projects and we have been emailing ever since. Ruth lives in Oklahoma. I live in California. We do plan on meeting one day. We hope to meet on a special knitting tour maybe even in London or Paris!

As Lorna was signing Ruth's book, I was telling her the story about my friendship with Ruth. Lorna shared that she had a similar knitting friendship with a friend in Mississippi. They eventually did meet and Lorna then realized that her knitting friend had a very Southern accent. Hmmm...

I bet my friend Ruth has an accent, too?

Lorna signing a book

for my special knitting friend Ruth

I love stories about knitting and friendships. Every knitter you meet has a story. Every knitter I know has made wonderful friendships through knitting.

I love the resurgence of knitting. Knitting group get-togethers today are like the quilting bees of my grandmother's era. Now I know why the ladies all gathered around the quilt at quilting bees. It was much more than just quilting. It was about celebrating womens creativity, kinship and friendship.

Thank you for your knitting friendship Ruth! Enjoy your book. It's in the post!

"Congratulations Lorna" Cupcake!

" Congratulations Lorna" cupcake!

Awhile back I lucked out and caught a Martha Stewart segment on how to make marzipan knits for cupcakes with Blogger artist Lauren Ulm. They were adorable! I printed out the directions and tucked them away for a special occasion.

Well that special occasion arrived last week when I found out the Lorna Miser was the special guest at Knitique my LYS for the release of her first book Faith, Love, Hope, Knitting.

Well, let me just say, that Lauren Ulm made it look pretty easy to make little yarn balls out of colored marzipan. I should have known when Martha was having a bit of difficulty making them that I would, too! Nonetheless, I persevered and did make three little marzipan yarn balls in purple (Lorna's favorite color) for her special celebratory cupcake.

I had never worked with marzipan before. Perhaps the next time I try it, I will achieve better results. I will try it again...sometime.

Designer Lorna Miser

Lorna was touched that I made a special "Congratulations Lorna" cupcake for her to celebrate her first book. That was all that mattered!

Please let me know if you attempt any knit marzipan decorations. I would love to know how yours turn out!