Scarf Necklace

Here is a little post on how to make this:

Ozark Handspun's "Light Natural"

What you Need:

• 2 double pointed needles, size 15
• one skein of Ozark Handspun, your choice
• antique broach

Cast on 4 stitches.  Knit an i-cord until you have about 6 inches left, bind off.  If you are unfamiliar with how to make an i-cord click here.  I couldn't explain it better than her in person :)  Wrap twice or three times around your neck, fasten with broach and enjoy!  You now have a warm necklace.  

Mention this blog post and get 15% off one skein of Ozark Handspun until October 31st.  

Add one antique broach 

On being creative

I love fabric & yarn.  And if you're reading this, you probably do too.  Something as simple as a combination of color and texture can be so pleasing to the eye.  I don't think my house would be the same if I didn't spend lots of thought and time into making sure there are at least three knitting projects lying around and a dozen quilts spread throughout the house.  I'm a stay at home mom and I feel as if I've had a successful day if I've effectively balanced child rearing and my fiber obsession.  I wasn't always like that.  In fact, when I was in college I was sure I was going to be a lawyer and work out of an office the rest of my life.  Sewing and knitting were not even a thought in the back of my head.  The thought of that now makes me cringe a little.  Not because I don't think that would be a terrific life, but not for me.  I want to create every second I am not diapering boys or cooking meals.  It's funny how the little choices in life we make can make such a huge impact on what brings us joy.  But even if I were a lawyer or manager somewhere, I think I would have discovered this joy and make time for it in the evening or on weekends.  A lot of my dear friends who are either grad students, paralegals or even doctors find time to forget about spreadsheets and enjoy something more "hands on" and timeless, like knitting or sewing.  I love that.  One of my good friends is a vet student, but she still loves to come over and quilt.  So, in a nutshell I guess I'm saying that being creative is for everyone.  No matter if it is a full time obsession or a part time hobby.

I love this color combination.  Simple & elegant.

Ozark Handspun's "Light Natural" wool.  It's not even been knitted and it is beautiful.

I bought these Czech glass beads at the Nashville Flea Market, and will knit them into a cowl.

Something New

Something new is coming to the shop this November/December.  A beautiful new line of yarn.  It's a secret, but I'll give you a preview.  I'm doing some beadwork with the sock yarn, and it is true love.  Something about the twist and texture of the yarn is so soothing.  Doesn't it almost look like a pile of whipped cream?  I think if I look quickly at it, it looks like the top of a latte.  There are so many beautiful colors of this yarn we're getting in.  But as my palette obsession is whites, greys, pinks and creams, I of course stuck with the neutrals here.  I'm knitting with my Nutmeg & Spice candle burning and the windows open, since a nice fall breeze is coming in.  Ohhh what would we do without knitting to sooth us?

..& then it was the middle of September..

Can someone tell me how September is already more than half over?  I've been counting down the days until I officially call it fall (September) since June, and somehow it's almost October?  Anyway, with the weather nice and dreary lately (I'll take that any day compared to 104 degree heat), it's getting me in the mood for fall.  I'm working on a beautiful sweater (yep, I'm tooting my own horn, it's beautiful) with Manos Silk Blend Wool.   It's a warm, teal color and is really knitting up nice and fast with my addi  turbo clicks.  Here's a preview:

I really can't wait to wear this over a heather grey cami when it gets chili out.  It's the Nicole pattern my Manos by the way.  If you want to get the most out of your knitting experience, I suggest you do this:
1.) Light your favorite candle
2.) Make sure all munchkins (also known as kids) are asleep
3.) Cut a piece of the most delicious pumpkin cake in the world that you made using this recipe
4.) Get in your favorite chair & put on your favorite show.  Mine is Bones.
Again, here is the link to the pumpkin bread recipe http://nancycreative.com/2011/12/06/pumpkin-bread-with-pumpkin-buttercream/, and I made the following changes:
I only used 1 egg
I didn't add nuts
I didn't add orange zest or lemon zest
Thank you pinterest!
**I am constantly stealing pieces of the iced pumpkin bread when these two aren't looking, I don' want them to follow my bad example of eating sweets...all...the...time! :-)

Knitting & Quilting keeping me sane

As the mom of two little boys, and the wife of a husband that seems to work around the clock lately while in command of 110+ soldiers, I feel like my time for knitting and quilting is constantly being juggled with poopy diapers, sippy cup refills, doctor appointments, macaroni and cheese, crying, temper tantrums and play time.  While I love the chaos a house of boys and toys creates, it can be easy to get sucked into the feeling that the whole point of your life is switching the laundry and planning a grocery list.  

Every day I make it a point to fit in at least two hours of knitting and quilting- because I have to.  I have to have that new project to look forward to, with all the skeins of yarn looking so delicious and inviting, and that freshly ironed fabric ready to cut into a beautiful quilt.  Why?  Because it is my release.  It truly makes me feel and remember that life is also about taking time for yourself to enjoy hobbies that make you happy.  Knitting is cathartic and relaxing for me.  I feel like I am a better mom and wife by forcing myself to take time for my creative outlets.  Hobbies give me new energy and make me excited to face the day's tasks.  There is something soothing and gratifying in creating something beautiful for the family or home, be it a new knitted blanket, pieced quilt or paper wreath. 

a new quilt

a new wreath for the home

on shaping lace

Vogue Knitted Hoodie-Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece Yarn


The Spring/Summer issue of Vogue Knitting features several beautiful lace pieces.  I (Lydia) am working on "The Hooded Cardigan" on page 73 of the Spring/Summer 2012 issue.  I'm 27 and have been knitting for about 2 years now.  While I really picked up the craft and ran with it, I still have lots to learn about knitting.  Lots.  When I got to the portion of this piece where I had to shape the armholes while continuing with the lace pattern, I panicked!  I mean, if it is an 8 stitch repeat on the lace pattern consisting of yarn overs (increases) and k2tog (decreases) and you bind off your required stitches and end up in the middle of the lace sequence (say you only have to bind off 3 stitches thus are on stitch 4 of the lace pattern), you may have ended up binding off the portion of the sequence where you would have otherwise increased the stitch or decreased the stitch.  So essentially, your stitch count is all out of whack.  So, I emailed Vogue Knitting and they directed me to this article on shaping lace.  They also told me I had to draw out my own chart and figure out, based on the size I selected, how to shape the piece by making it seem as if a portion of the fabric was removed, in other words, not shift the lace repeat even though your binding off may have altered the starting position of your lace sequence.  I still was confused after I read it, so if you are too don't be alarmed!  I am definitely a hands on person so I needed to just do it and make mistakes, so I did.  And a many mistakes I did make.  Luckily my mom was visiting, so we sat down together.  I was protesting the chart making, because I felt like I should be able to figure it out without it.  But, my mom, the perfectionist, made the chart for me.  It started to make sense.  Using the chart, once you remove those stitches that disappear after the bind off, you can adjust your stitches accordingly and make sure that after that first 8 stitch portion of the pattern that is near the armhole edge, you are back on track.  What she also did is use stitch counters to space out each repeat of the lace sequence, so even if your armhole binding wasn't perfect, you know that by the time you get to that first stitch counter, you just continue your sequence as normal before the armhole binding begun.  So, here's to learning something new, and sticking with it!

heirloom pieces

Natural Nursery's Heirloom Blanket

We've had a lot of requests about this blanket after I (Lydia) posted a photo of it on our facebook page. Some people were hoping to see it in person at the store, but, alas, it is here in Clarksville, TN where I reside with my husband and two boys.  My mom was hoping to smuggle it home with her when she was here visiting after boy #2 was born last month, but here it is.  Anyway, what I love the most about this blanket is that it is composed of 10 knitted squares and 10 squares of vintage linen.  I am an avid quilter, to say the least, and I loved that this blanket let me integrate my two loves-knitting + quilting.  The 10 knitted squares knit up pretty fast.  The one above is the diamond lace square.  After you knit the 10 square of 5 different lace patterns (2 each) you then proceed to the more quilt-like process of the piece.  Cutting your linen squares, piecing the blanket, applying a border, etc.  This blanket requires some good knowledge on sewing, and it is tricky at parts but I just love, love love the finished product. I love the integration of yarn and fabric.  Something you can't get from a strictly knitted or quilted blanket.  Also, I had a blast collecting the pieces of vintage linen from the Nashville Flea Market.  It is my absolute favorite place to go for collecting amazing treasures--an entire fairground filled with the greatest collectibles. It is worth a weekend trip for any of you antique or junk collectors like myself.  Just make sure you check the schedule first-it's only a once a month deal!