Quick Holiday Projects

Just in time for the holiday season...

Louisa Harding's Quick Holiday Projects!

My favorite designer, Louisa Harding has just released Quick Holiday Projects which contains three stunning patterns:  Spiced Punch, Frosted Leaves and The Holly & The Ivy.  Louisa designed these patterns to be quick knits and they are perfect for yourself or as a last minute holiday gift.  All three designs use just one ball of Louisa's new Amitola Grande yarn which is part of her new autumn/winter collection.  

Louisa has made theses patterns available as a free download however you can (and, I hope you will) make a donation for them which goes directly to cancer research on her Just Giving page.  Why cancer research?  Well it was just five years ago that Louisa's dear husband Steve (also her photographer) was diagnosed with lymphoma.  She raised funds back then for Macmillan Cancer Support with her Himalayan Hiking Hat patterns. These new patterns will raise funds now for Cancer Research UK who pioneer life-saving cancer research.

 I've selected Spiced Punch to knit for myself and for some last minute Christmas gifts.  Which pattern will you choose?


(Photography credit:  Stephen Jessup, Louisa's husband.)

Fit for a Princess!

HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Welcome to the world Princess Charlotte!  

I love Princess Charlotte's beautiful baby shawl.  Since I'm a knitter, I had to do some research on it.  The shawl is made of super-fine merino wool and hand finished with a traditional Shetland scalloped edge.  It is made by G. H. Hurt & Son in their shawl factory in Nottingham, England.  

G.H. Hurt & Son began in 1912 and is still family run today.  They are the sole survivor of the lace shawl industry in Nottingham.  

If Princess Charlotte's lovely baby shawl has sparked your interest to knit your own, just search on Raverly for Shetland shawls.  There are over 700 patterns to choose from.  I am partial to the Shetland shawls by Sharon Miller and Elizabeth Zimmerman.

 I also love  Hansel by Gudrun Johnston of The Shetland Trader which is a traditional Shetland Hap shawl perfect for swaddling a new baby in.  Gudrun even has a Cratsy class The Shetland Hap Shawl to help you knit your own version!   I'm pretty certain I will knit Hansel one day for a future family heirloom.  

(Photo credit:  Press Association)

Noema Knit Along!

 Delilah Cowl

Have you heard,

there's a Noema Knit Along just starting in the  Louisa Harding Lovers Group in Ravelry?

I'm so excited about the Noema Knit Along!  Knit alongs are so much fun and are often just the nudge I need to get a project started and completed in a timely manner.  I also love the interaction with knitters from all around the world.  We draw inspiration from one another and share tips and ideas.  And, not to mention,  the lovely Louisa Harding herself frequently pops in the group offering with help and advice!

For my knit along project, I'm knitting Louisa's Delilah Small Cowl for a birthday gift.  I'm knitting it just as shown on the cover of the Noema pattern booklet in Noema color 5 Cocktail.  I couldn't resist this yarn or pattern for myself  so I also purchased Noema color 9 Jive for a bright blue summer cowl for me!

I had the pleasure of seeing a shop sample of the Delilah cowl in person and even got to try it on.  I can tell you that this is the perfect fashion accessory for any one and any age!  After I finish mine, I'm going to knit one for my mom, too.  If you're looking for boutique-style knit projects or even Christmas gifts, this is a perfect pattern and yarn to use!

Here are the Noema Knit Along details:  

The Dates

Noema Knit Along

April 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015.

The Details

You may knit any Louisa Harding Noema pattern from her Noema pattern booklet or new individual Noema leaflet patterns.  You must use Lousia's Noema yarn.  

The Prizes

Lousia's distributor Knitting Fever is generously providing prizes for the knit along.  Check out these fabulous prizes!!!

 First prize;  10 balls of Noema 

Second prize:  6 balls of Noema

Third prize:  4 balls of Noema

To be eligible for the prize drawing, you will need to post your finished Noema project in the Noema Knit Along thread with a photo of it in the Louisa Harding Lovers Ravelry Group.

For more details see the dedicated thread in the Louisa Harding Lovers Group on Ravelry.  Hope to see you there! 

Some Cloudy Day

The big reveal....

These leg warmers were my favorite knit project during the holiday season.  I knit them for a University of Nevada, Reno grad student.  She wanted Anthropologie legwarmers which were sold out.  How did I know that?  I saw that she pinned them on Pinterest!  So I whipped these out for her on Addi Turbo 12" circs as a last minute Christmas gift.

And, she loves them!

Legwarmers are back!

The pattern for the legwarmers is Some Cloudy Day 

by Tiny Owl Knits and it's a free pattern!

I knit mine in Rowan's Felted Tweed DK in color 165 Scree.  The color looks blue sometimes and in other light, appears more gray.  Hmm, kind of just like a cloudy day.  

Happy Hearts Day!

Yarn Love 

How cute is this...

a huge heart shaped candy box full of yarn
for Valentine's Day!

Such a clever idea!

Spotted at: 

Monarch Knitting 

529 Central Avenue

Pacific Grove, CA  93950

(831)647-9276

Resolutions

Bloomsbury Gauntlets

2015 Knitting Resolution:

To finish up my unfinished projects like these beautiful Bloomsbury Gauntlets that I nearly finished way back in January 2010!

Even the designer herself, Kristin Nicholas, commented on my project in Ravelry back in January 2011.  Kristen commented:   

"Love these - keep going. Wait til you see how fun the embroidery is! 
And thanks for using my yarn!"
Best, 
Kristin Nicholas

If that wasn't encouragement enough to get them finished.  I believe the reason these have been tucked away in a project bin for so long is that we just don't have really cold winter weather here in Northern California where I live.  

This month though as part of my knitting resolution,  I am going to dig the gloves out of hibernation and finish them.  Then I am going to ask my husband to take me to Lake Tahoe so I can wear my pretty Moksha wool scarf and my Bloomsbury Gauntlets that I made to go with it.  The weather should be cold enough up there!

It's Christmastime!

Fair Isle Gift Tags

My hand knit Christmas gifts are being adorned this year with these adorable Fair Isle Christmas cards. 

 Inside Message:

With warm and cozy thoughts of you.

Happy Holidays

I think these red mitten cards (and their message) are perfect for giving Starbucks gift cards, too!

Inside Message:

It's Christmastime

celebrate in style!

The boxed holiday cards (with glitter) are by Carlton Cards.  The cards are small so I'm going to add a hole-punch, thread through some red yarn and turn them into gift tags.  

I found them at Target!