Happy Knits!

Jessa at Happy Knits

I recently returned from a trip to Portland, so you know what that means...I did some yarn shopping! I've written before what a great city Portland is for knitters. On this trip, I discovered a new yarn store to tell you about. It's called Happy Knits.

Happy Knits is my new favorite yarn store in Portland!

New Louisa Harding Yarn Range

I ventured in to Happy Knits and was greeted by the adorable Jessa (photo above). She was super friendly and gave me a fabulous tour of the shop.

I must say that Happy Knits is the most state-of-the-art yarn shop I have ever seen. They have a room just for hanging out and knitting set up with a computer for customers to use for Ravlery, etc.. There's even a wood burning stove for those cooler Portland temps. There's also a playroom for the kiddies and a separate (sound-proof) classroom.

Jessa told me that the shop just opened in February. There are so many yarn shops in Portland I was wondering how another one would survive. Happy Knits will survive for sure and probably give some of the older (out of date) shops a run for their money! I loved it's modern yet warm interior and friendly vibe. It's a well organized store and easy to shop.

Loads of Louisa Harding Yarn!
Well, another obvious reason why I loved Happy Knits is that they carry Louisa Harding yarns! The shop is well stocked with an array of Louisa's newer yarns.

I even got a raving yarn review while I was there. Jessa showed me a shop sample of her recently knit pretty summer top called Buttercup. She knit her version in Louisa's new Aimee yarn. Jessa told me that she really liked knitting with this yarn! Good to know since I haven't had a chance to try this yarn yet.

Louisa Harding Yarns at
Close Knit
I can't do a Portland review without mentioning my other two favorite stores in Portland:

Close Knit in the Alberta Arts District
and
Knit Purl in the Pearl District.

I always manage to snag a few great finds at both stores and love the friendly, expert service at both stores.

If you get a chance to visit Portland, I hope you visit my favorite shops and
be sure to tell them that Lisette in California sent you!

Inspired by the Sea

Newport Oregon

I'm a "true blue" California girl so... I love the ocean! The ocean's beautiful blues are often my color choice for my knitting projects.

My husband and I are "westcoastin' " vacationing on the Oregon coast. We are staying right on the beach in Newport, Oregon so I am inspired by the sea as ever!

Sea Waves Shawl

We spent the afternoon yesterday beachcombing. What a photo opportunity the beach provided for my Sea Waves Shawl. You can certainly see why I named it that...doesn't it look just like the color of the ocean waves?

My Sea Waves Shawl is Louisa Harding's design called Periwinkle. It is from her Beachcomber Bay book. Louisa grew up beachcombing so she loves the ocean and the beach just like me. In fact, quite a few of Louisa's books are photographed at the beach including her new summer books.

I Love 2 KNIT

We're at the beach for a few more days...

then we're off to the great yarn city of Portland!

You know what I'll be doing...don't you?

Summer Shawls!

New Summer books by Louisa Harding

My pashmina shawls are packed away now until next winter. I am ready now for summer shawls. I recently picked up three new Louisa Harding pattern books with stunning shawls that I can't wait to knit this summer!

It's easy to see why Louisa Harding is my favorite knitting designer. Her designs are always pretty and feminine with fashion flair! All three of her new books: Bijoux, Chinoiserie and Belle are all filled with beautiful designs, sure to please all knitters!

Here's a sneak peak at a few of the summer shawls inside Louisa's new books:

Amber

I fell in love with the Amber wrap the moment I saw it on the cover of the Bijoux book. The Bijoux book features 12 projects knit in Louisa Harding yarns Merletto and Jasmine. Amber can be knit as a summer wrap or as a smaller scarf as shown in the photo above.

Amber is at the top of my list for new summer projects!

Osprey

Next we have Osprey from the beautiful Belle book. Belle features 12 projects in Louisa Harding's Mulberry Silk yarn. Osprey can also be knit as a wrap or a long scarf. I love that Louisa gives us this versatility with her designs.

There is a beautiful blue peacock color in Mulberrry silk. Now I just have to decide which Osprey to make...the wrap or the scarf?

Dragon

Last we have a preview of Dragon from Louisa's Chinoiserie book. Chinoiserie features 25 projects in Louisa's new Aimee and Fleuris yarns. As the book title suggests, Louisa's inspiration for Chinoiserie came from design influences and her fascination with the Orient.

The lacey summer Dragon scarf is knit in Fleuris...and isn't it perfect for an enchanted evening?

Keeping up with Louisa!

I hope to begin knitting one of these new designs soon. For now I am having a hard time keeping up with Louisa. I am still enjoying knitting projects from her early books including her first books Gathering Roses.

It is my wish (and hope) to knit something in every Louisa Harding yarn (both current and discontinued). One thing I have learned as a flitter knitter with a few years of experience now....Louisa Harding never disappoints. Her patterns are always spot on, well written and turn out beautiful boutique results for intermediate knitters like me. Thank you Louisa!

***Images are from Louisa Harding books. Photography by her husband, Stephen Jessup.

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.

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day!

Did you have a Happy May Day?

Did you wear a flower in your hair?

If you're a knitter I have the perfect flowers for your hair! They are called "Doll Ups Flowers" by Maggie Pace of Pick Up Sticks. These adorable felted flowers will "doll up" anything including your hair!

Doll Ups Flowers

I met Maggie Pace at Stitches West this year and purchased her adorable Doll Ups pattern and Small Balls yarn to make flower clips for my hair. (Maggie even took the time and hand selected my yarn colors for me!)

I love Maggie's style... and her "doll up" flowers. Don't they look like something cool you would find while shopping at a store like Anthropologie? I can't wait to make mine soon!

(Doll Ups Flowers Photo Credit Pick Up Sticks)

Knitting "Green"!

You Can Make A Difference!

~~Reduce~~Reuse~~Recycle~~

We all can make a difference today on Earth Day and Everyday!

If you're a knitter...you can even knit "green"! Just check out Ravelry for "Green" knitting projects. I love all the hand-knit market bag patterns perfect for the grocery store or farmers market.

I enjoy making "Coffee Cuffs" either hand-knit or recycled from a thrift store wool sweater.

Hand-Knit Coffee Cuff

The Coffee Cuff Knit Six Ways pattern can be found for free here on Ravelry. I knit mine in JoJoland Rhythm, a variegated worsted weight yarn. You can probably make three cuffs from one skein of yarn!

How about you...do you have a favorite way of knitting "green"!

Poetry in Stitches

Poetry in Stitches

The long awaited reprint of Norway's Solveig Hisdal's Poetry in Stitches has arrived. If you're a knitter in love with Solveig Hisdal's stunning colorwork...this book is a must for your knitting library!

Fans of Poetry in Stitches are so grateful for this reprint. Last year I checked online and the original hard back edition was selling for around $400.00. The new soft back reprint is a steal at only $45.00!

A Colorful Cardigan

I discovered the beautiful work of Solveig Hisdal at the hip yarn store Knit Purl in Portland last year. Knit Purl carries pattern/yarn kits from Solveig and Oleana which is the Norwegian knitwear line that Solvieg is the designer for.

Solveig's inspiration for her designs in the book came from visiting Norwegian museums and studying textiles and costumes. She has translated textile history into art with her beautiful designs in Poetry in Stitches.

Oleana

Scarf & Wristlets

I'm a huge fan of Solveig's floral and brocade designs. I am not sure if I will ever get up the courage to knit one of her colorful sweaters. I can tell you though, that I am happy just to look at the beautiful photos in her book. They are so inspiring!

Solveig was the photographer for her book and photographs the Oleana knit-wear line.

Last year I splurged and treated myself to an Oleana scarf and wristlets set mail-ordered from Knit Purl. Turns out First Lady Michelle Obama became an Oleana fan last year, too. She brought home four Oleana sweaters from her trip to Norway last year. I read her favorite Oleana color was green, too!

Oleana at Knit Purl

The reprint of Poetry in Stitches is already selling out. I highly recommend purchasing the book from a local yarn store verses a big online company. If you can't find the book locally...I think Knit Purl may have a few copies left!