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.)

Happy May Day

My "Cameo" Shawl

"April showers bring May flowers"!

Today is May Day.

On this day of celebrating spring...
I always think of beautiful flowers, ribbons and dancing around a Maypole.

Pretty Flowers & Sari Ribbon

Since it's May Day,
I felt it befitting to share with you, my flower embellished "Cameo" shawl.

The Cameo shawl by Louisa Harding graces the cover of Pretty Knits by Susan Cropper (from Loop in London).  The moment I saw that cover, I knew I had to knit it!  Louisa's Cameo shawl is my all-time favorite piece I have ever knit.  It's description in Pretty Knits sums it up perfectly:

"This lace stitch shawl in colors inspired by a "cameo" brooch is the height of divine knitting.  The drape and the attention to detail will make you feel gorgeous as soon as you put it on.  The flower corsage closure, replete with ribbons and buttons, makes it even more exquisite."

I changed the colorway of my Cameo shawl version to more resemble the colors of a Wedgwood blue cameo.  It made it's debut appearance a few years back when I wore it to afternoon tea at the Pump Room Restaurant while on holiday in Bath, England.  I like to think that both Louisa Harding and Jane Austen would approve of my wardrobe choice!

For your Wellies...

Back then

and Now 

One of my favorite 

"last minute Christmas gifts"

I knit this year were these 

 Hunter Boot toppers.  

The adorable "Cali girl" recipient loves them!

You can find the pattern here on Ravelry: 

 #21 Boot Toppers

Stylish Storage

Ceramic Cables

Vases aren't just for flowers!

I'm storing my straight needles now in an adorable "wintery white" ceramic cabled vase.  

I found my cabled vase in the holiday section at Target.  As you can see, the 8" vase is perfect for holding straights.  They also have a larger 10" vase and photo frames in this "wintery white" cable design perfect for knitters who love cables!  They are selling out fast in stores but are still currently available at Target online.  

Happy Holidays! 

I'm Knitting a Mini Jubilee Bunting!

Tea & Jubilee 

The May issues of the British knitting magazines

 have finally landed in the States.

I've been watching for them since I knew they would be filled with Jubilee goodies

and sure enough they are!

Mini Jubilee Bunting

I was so inspired by the magazines 

that I'm now (last minute) knitting a mini-bunting 

to adorn my Diamond Jubilee tea party table. 

I hated to miss out on all the Jubilee knitting 

so this little project is one I can tackle 

as my hand and fingers continue to heal.

I'm knitting my bunting with a Jubilee Celebration Yarn kit

that came as a "free gift" with the  Let's Knit magazine, issue 54.

There are patriotic projects for the yarn in the magazine but after seeing the adorable 

 mini-buntings by Nicole at Nicole and the bee, 

I opted to use my yarn kit for a mini-bunting like hers. 

You can find the pattern on Ravelry called Knitted Bunting

and modify it to a mini size, like Nicole did.

I also love Jane Brocket's knit Bunting 

and borrowed her style idea

 by putting my knit bunts on red rick-rack 

for a vintage1950's look.  

Quite fitting I think, since after all, 

Queen Elizabeth was crowned Queen in 1952 

and had her Coronation in 1953. 

 Jubilee Knits

All three British magazines are filled with brilliant

Jubilee projects including:

 Union Jack flag and cushion, several crown hats, corgi hat, a crochet picnic throw, several buntings, pom pom tea cosy, Jubilee coin purse, egg cosy and a placemat just to name a few.

 And all the magazines came with free gifts.

I love that about British magazines! 

Cool Knitannia

The Simply Knitting magazine came with a free pattern book called

"Cool Knitannia".

I can't wait to knit that adorable tea cosy on its cover 

with crowns and hearts 

to use with my Emma Bridgewater pottery.

Gotta run for now though...

I'm off to knit more bunts. 

(In the photos:  Emma Bridgewater Pottery and Betty and Barclay Union Jack Bunting.)

Happy Mother's Day

Hand-made Cards

When you care to send the very best...

there's nothing like a hand-made card.  

I've been making my mom 

hand-made cards for years.

This year her Mother's Day card
is made with upcycled
Emma Bridgewater catalog photos.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter 

Happy Spring

Happy Everything!

 Tea cosies are not just for keeping teapots warm!

I love my Rosey Posy tea cosy on a teapot used as a vase.

You can find the tea cosy pattern here by 

the Queen of tea cosies,
Australian Designer,
Loani Prior.

Bonne Annee!

Bonne Annee!

(That's Happy New Year in French!)

I snapped this happy photograph at a Paris Flea Market last year. 

The French yarn dolls just made me smile!

Knitting and yarn fill my life with such creativity and joy!

As I reflect on the past year,

I am grateful for all the friendships I have made all over the world

thanks to yarn and knitting.  

Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas!


(Photo taken at my favorite knit shop, Knitique.)

Happy Winter!

Now, that's a wool coat!

Happy First Day of Winter!

Brixton Plaid Coat

Now this is a wool coat to love! 

Today is also my birthday,
so I'm off to shop...
maybe even for a new wool coat!

(photo credit:  Brixton Plaid Coat: Sundance Catalog)

Bring on Fall

"Yes, my Mother...loves to knit!"

Happy First Day of Autumn!

How cute is this photograph? 

I love this photograph of my father-in-law all "bundled up" in his little knit outfit. 

Bring on fall.  I'm ready for sweater weather only...

it will be awhile 'till it gets here in California. 

Happy May Day!

It's May Day...

Pretty flowers are everywhere!

Hand Knit Flowers

I love flowers and my favorite flowers to knit are Louisa Harding's fabulous Rosette pattern. 

I learned how to make Louisa's Rosette from Louisa herself in a 2009 workshop.  She has designed such a clever flower and Louisa herself says "it looks like crochet but it's all knit". 

Louisa uses variations of her signature Rosette in many of her designs.  The design always knits up beautifully and it's fun to watch it transform using Louisa's many different yarns. 

I love how Louisa's Rosette pattern "pops up" in her books as an embellishment.  My favorite Rosettes can be found in these Louisa Harding books:

Knitting Little Luxuries

Gathering Roses The Accessories Collection

Venezia Felice Mai Dopo

Dauphine

Pretty Knits

Fade to Grey

Violet Sky

Knitting in the Details

I not only love these Rosettes to embellish my knits but now I'm attaching a brooch back with a pin and an alligator clip so I can wear them in my hair, too.

Thanks to Louisa Harding and Knitting Daily, you can find her Rosette and Juliet scarf pattern here and her Poppy Rosette pattern here. 

So since it's May Day...

Knit a pretty Rosette

and wear it in your hair!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

Thank you to all the Mothers,

Grandmothers

and Great Grandmothers who have taught us to knit!

My G.G. taught me to knit!

Knitting Tool Kit Bags

My Great Grandmother's pretty rose 1950's knitting tool kit

along side my modern day version by Cath Kidston.

My First Knit

This is the first piece that I knit with the help of my G.G. at 8 years old. Based on the snaps, I believe this little garment was intended for my Barbie doll!

My Great Grandmother

taught me to knit when I was 8 years old!

My G.G. (Great Grandmother) taught me to knit when I was 8 years old. I only knit with her for a few years because she passed away when I was ten.

I did not really knit again until in my forties. I know understand what an influence she had on me and my love for knitting. As a young girl of ten, I saved her knitting scraps, supplies, Boye metal needles and her crochet hooks and packed them away.

Awhile back I unpacked that box of my G.G's needlework supplies. I had forgotten about her pretty rose knitting tool kit filled with her tiny crochet hooks, tape measure and markers. What a coincidence that today I use a pretty rose bag for my tool kit, too. In my tool kit is my G.G.'s #00 Boye crochet hook...I use it whenever I need to pick up a dropped knit stitch.

I am so grateful that my G.G. taught me to knit.

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

&

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.

Happy Hearts Week at Knitique

Valentine Heart Cookies

In honor of Valentine's Day, it was a heart-theme week at Knitique (my local yarn store) this week.

Fellow knitter Diane made these adorable heart sugar cookies and brought them in to share. They were as impressive of cookies that I have admired in Martha Stewart Living magazine!

Diane's cookies not only looked great but they tasted great, too. I asked her if she used a silpat on her cookie sheet and surprisingly she said "no". I thought for sure she did since they were baked so perfectly! Thanks for sharing your delicious cookies with us Diane!

Knit Heart Pillow

Diane not only bakes hearts, she collects them and knits them, too. She also brought in her cute heart pillow to show us. She knit the pillow in a lofty red yarn and seamed it in a pink blanket stitch along with a pink tassel. I am not sure which book the pattern is from???

Heart Sachet

I took the Heart Sachet class at Knitique this week. This was the first time I have ever knit with sock yarn and small needles (#3's). I also learned how to knit a mitered square for the first time, too.

I was challenged at first by the small needles and the small squares. As always, Danielle (owner/teacher) makes a pattern much easier to understand. Before I knew it, I was on my way to finishing this adorable heart just in time for Valentine's Day.

I filled my heart with drived lavender buds from my garden. I added an i-cord and made it into a hanging sachet for our French armoire. I am so glad I took this class!

I hope you had a happy hearts week, too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!

Vintage French Post Card

Bonne Annee

(Happy New Year)

A New Year begins....

Wishing you a year filled with,

health, happiness

yummy yarns

and many knitting projects!

Happy Holidays!

Anthropolgie "City Girl" Knit Ornament

(As crafty as she is cute,

this colorful yarn doll knits her own scarf!)

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all of my knitting friends in town and to all my Ravelry knitting friends all over the world. Thanks to Ravelry and the Internet we now live in a close-knit world!

I am so excited about by starting a knitting blog. I was actually bit by the "blog-bug" by a fellow knitter Jane at Knitique in Elk Grove, CA. About nine months ago at "late-night knitting" Jane filled me in on blogging and encouraged me to start one. So I did. Tete-a-Tete. I have loved blogging and reading blogs ever since. There is so much talent and creativity out there in the blog world. I encourage you to explore it. You will be inspired!

I want to officially begin my knitting blog with my knitting story. I hope to make this happen by the first of the year. If you are a knitter, you have a knitting story and you know what I mean and why I want to begin there.

If you are wondering about my knitting blog's name The Flitter Knitter, I just thought it was catchy. It also reminds me of butterflies because I think they flit around a lot ,too. And, when it comes to knitting, I think I am a flitter knitter. I get bored easily and like to flit about on ,too, many knitting ideas and ,too, many projects. There you have it.

More to come!