It's a Blissful Life!

Couldn't we all use a Hamptons Weekend?

In the midst of winter...doesn't a summer Hamptons Weekend sound like the perfect getaway?

Well, the new Debbie Bliss magazine has just arrived and gives knitters a glimpse of sunnier days ahead. The Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2010 issue is filled with relaxed coastal knits actually inspired by British designer Debbie Bliss' own holiday in the Hamptons, on Long Island, New York.

Here's a little glimpse inside:

A Hamptons Home

The magazine's Hamptons Home theme is filled with classic navy and white nautical knits. There is a lovely "Nautical Throw" cable blanket and a neat nautical "Anchor Floor Cushion" pillow. Both are knit in Eco Aran, a 100% organic fair trade yarn. Both patterns are perfect for any Hamptons vacation home!

The Draped Cardigan

The Creme de la Creme section features designs knit in neutral shades of creme de la creme, cafe au lait, ecru and stone. The "Draped Cardigan" above is knit in Rialto yarn color # 6 Stone. I normally don't knit sweaters but I could see myself knitting this summery cardigan...someday!

Debbie's Inspiration

This is Debbie's fourth magazine issue. Perhaps what I love most about the Debbie Bliss magazine is that it is just not all about knitting. Each issue features a British recipe from Debbie or her daughter Nell. I loved her Cream Tea Scone recipe in her premier issue 2008!

Each issue also allows us to get to know Debbie better along with her Knitting Friends feature (which included designer Louisa Harding in issue two).

At the back of each issue is Debbie's Inspiration page. I like to think of it as an inspiration board of sorts. The adorable child's Smock Dress in the premier issue caused quite a stir on Ravelry. All the Debbie Bliss fans wanted to know where to find that pattern. The pattern was eventually published in Debbie's Design It, Knit It book.

Fair Isle Cardigan

The Inspiration Page in this issue is all about color! Debbie tells us how to play with color and how to select the perfect colorway for Fair Isle knitting. Love that!

The pretty Fair Isle Cardigan (photo above) is from Debbie's latest book Design It, Knit It and the pattern is included in this issue. I am not sure but I think it could be an updated version of Debbie's Fair Isle cardigan Nell from Rowan Magazine # 28?

If you're lucky you may be able to find Debbie's latest issue early on your local yarn store's shelf. The magazine's official date to hit the stores is February 2, 2010.

My knitting pen pal Ruth keeps me "in the loop" with Debbie Bliss. Ruth wrote me on Ravlery and said "the new magazine is in and flying off the shelves" at her LYS Loops in Tulsa, OK.

I hope you find your very own copy soon and enjoy an escape to summer knitting...

Hamptons style!

Wishing you, Faith, Hope, Love & Knitting!

Faith Love Hope Knitting

by Lorna Miser

What a way to end the year...running into Lorna Miser at Borders Books on the afternoon of News Year's Eve.

Lorna was at Borders cafe working on her second book edit which features hand dyed yarns. She even gave me a sneak peak at the photo proofs for the book which were fabulous. Her new book should hit the book shelves sometime late in 2010.

Lorna was a big part of my knitting story for 2009. I asked Lorna for a photo so I could use it here in my last post of the year. Here goes...

Looking back on 2009

In reflecting on the past year, one of the best things I did in 2009 was to join my area's local knitting guild The Camellia City Stockinettes. A member of the guild Nina urged me to join after I met her at an event at my LYS Knitique. Nina sent me friendly reminders every month for guild meetings. (She never gave up on me joining the guild.) I finally went to a guild meeting and joined the Stockinettes last January and now I knit more than ever and even write a blog for the guild!

Joining my local knitting guild is how I met Lorna (she was the 2009 Guild President) and all my new knitting friends! I am so thankful for all the new friendships that knitting has brought into my life.

I also found out this year that if you hang out with knitters...you knit. Imagine that! Well, I should say that you knit a lot. I now knit more than ever with friends at local yarn stores and cute cafes. I am a better knitter now thanks to joining the Stockinettes and their wonderful workshops. The best advice I can give any knitter is to join your local knitting guild!

In 2009, I even met knitting superstars! I met Lucy Neatby and Stephanie Pearl McPhee through knitting guild events. My dream came true last January when I met my knitting idol Louisa Harding on her California visit. Louisa's fashion forward knit-wear designs and beautiful pattern books are what really drew me into knitting. It's been quite a year!

So as the year comes to a close, I would like to say thank you to all the knitters in my life. Thank you to my knitting teacher Danielle at Knitique for giving me the confidence and skills to knit beautifully on my own now. Thank you to Ruth in Tulsa OK for being the best knitting pen pal a girl could have!

Thank you to all the knitters who pass on their knowledge and keep our craft alive. Thank you to all the talented designers who continue to inspire us with their beautiful designs, year after year.

So how appropriate that I would bump into Lorna today on the last day of the year. I had already been thinking of her today, reflecting on what a great year it has been. I think Lorna's book title really says it all...Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting. I wish you all of these and more in 2010!

And, thank you for reading my blog!

Merry Christmas!

'Twas the night before Christmas...

Anthropologie Fair Isle Christmas Stocking

and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

Merry Christmas to all my knitting friends

and readers all over the world.

Skater Scarf & Frost Hat

Skater Scarf & Frost Hat

Just in time for winter....we have Louisa Harding's Skater Scarf & Frost Hat. This exclusive pattern is on the cover of the UK's December issue of Knitting. It just hit the US newsstands this week.

Louisa's lacey Skater Scarf is knit in Louisa's new Willow Tweed yarn in colors Stone and Aqua. Her Frost Hat is knit in her other new yarn Thistle in color Stone.

The Frost Hat is similar to one of my favorite hats in Louisa's Little Cake book called Featherbed which is also knit in Thistle. I already have Thistle in the gorgeous green Holly color. Now which pattern shall I knit?

So many lovely Louisa patterns and not enough time to knit them all in time for this winter season.

If you pick up the magazine, you can also join the fun with the Skater Scarf & Frost Hat KAL in the Louisa Harding group on Ravelry. Be sure to read the errata for the Frost Hat in the KAL group pages, too.

Knitting December 2009

Wrap in Style!

Red Sweater Wrapping Paper

Looking for a creative way to wrap up your holiday knit gifts this season?

Well, look no further than Target. I found this adorable red sweater gift wrap the other night at Target in the holiday department. Isn't it the perfect Christmas wrap for hand-knit gifts?

The adorable gift tag is by Knitterella...another perfect touch for any hand-knit gift.

Once the word gets out amongst knitters, I bet this red sweater gift wrap will sell out quickly.

Will you be dashing out to buy some?

My Vintage Fair Isle Vest

Esprit Fair Isle Vest

Ta-da...here it is my vintage 1980's Esprit Fair Isle vest!

My vest is still in practically new condition today. I think I only wore it a few times back in my college days. I must have really loved it since I saved it and packed it safely with my special scarves. Who knew I was a Fair Isle fan back then and didn't even know it!

I am definitely a Fair Isle Fan today. I am getting ready to embark on my first Fair Isle projects out of the latest Rowan Magazine # 46. I am nervous to knit Fair Isle, since I am a tight knitter and knit English throw style. I will be knitting my Fair Isle in the one-hand method.

If you have the new Fall/Winter 2009 Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine there is a great article and step by step instructions for both one-hand and two-hand methods for Fair Isle knitting. The article called Fall for Fair Isle says "this colorwork technique is not difficult to master, requiring the use of only two hues in each row. After just a little practice, you'll be enchanted with the exquisite results." Sounds encouraging to me!

Esprit Label

Do you remember the Esprit label back in the 1970's and 80's? At my recent knitting guild's retreat in South Lake Tahoe, I brought up Fair Isle and my Esprit vest. My knitting friend Beth and I reminisced about how much fun it was back in the day shopping at the Esprit outlet in San Francisco. You could always count on a long line to get in the Esprit outlet. Those were the days!

And, just so you know, the moths can't get to my Fair Isle vest...it is 100% acrylic. I still love it though and hope to knit a classic British wool Fair Isle vest someday! For now, I will keep to my small Fair Isle projects though...my mitts and a beret. Of course, I will let you know how I fair!

The Knitter Issue 9

The Knitter Issue 9

Cover Sweater Lochalsh by Amanda Crawford

Have you snagged Issue 9 of The Knitter yet? I lucked out and found a copy a couple weeks ago. I am a big fan of The Knitter for it's classic British style.

I must say that Issue 9 of The Knitter shakes things up a bit with a more modern Bohemian theme. Since I was raised as a San Francisco Bay Area girl...I have a bit of a BoHo side, too. I found this issue to be fun, colorful and filled with modern takes on Tartan, Paisley and Fair Isle classics.

Enough said...let me give you a look inside:

Glade by Marie Wallin

Glade by Marie Wallin is a Rowan exclusive for this issue and will not appear in any Rowan publications. This colorful Fair Isle wrap with it's embroidery details is probably my favorite pattern in the issue. The wrap was inspired by North European folk art and knit in Rowan's Felted Tweed.

Hmm...I am about ready to tackle my first Fair Isle projects, Janice Anderson's mitts and beret in Rowan's Felted Tweed from Rowan Magazine # 46. We shall see how I do with my Fair Isle knitting. Would I ever be up for tackling the Glade Fair Isle wrap? I do hope so!

I adore Fair Isle. I have photographed this issue of The Knitter on my colorful vintage 1980's Esprit Fair Isle vest (100% acrylic/machine knit). It's funny that I never really saved much from the wardrobe of my youth except this Fair Isle vest and a few other hand knit things. I guess that says there was always a love for knits in me...even during my 30 year knitting hiatus!

Carinthia Coat

Another beauty in this issue is the Carinthia Coat by Sasha Kagan. I recently discovered fashion designer Sasha Kagan when I lucked out and found a 1985 copy of The Sasha Kagan Sweater Book (her first book) filled with her fantastic Fair Isle designs!

Sasha's Carinthia Coat takes it's influence from different folk designs from around the world. The pattern can be knit with the black background as shown or with an alternative cream background. It is knit in UK Alpaca yarn and is knit in both Fair Isle and Intarsia techniques. I think it is stunning!

Romany Tunic

The Romany Tunic by Brandon Mably says "hippie chick" to me! It is knit in Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed with it's colorwork achieved in the Fair Isle technique. This folk design tunic can be worn many different ways. How would you wear it?

Besides 12 collectable patterns the magazine has an interview with Alice Starmore, one of hand knittings most iconic designers. A few years back I found a vintage copy of Alice Starmore's Fair Isle Knititng and sold it on Ebay. It fetched a pretty penny but I later regretted selling it once I discovered who Alice Starmore is. Lucky for me, that book is now in reprint and I've ordered a copy.

The Knitter Magazine has proven to be very popular with it's US audience. Issues are often difficult to find. If you have missed out on an issue, you can always give shopping on Ebay or Ravelry a try.

For now, I am anxiously awaiting the next issue of The Knitter Issue 10 which is filled with British Classics and British Wool...my kind of knitting! After all...part of my English ancestry were wool merchants in wool towns in Yorkshire and Norfolk England.