three more for the cause....

Araucania hand spun II ...

This beret is made of Araucania Magallanes, Nature Wool is 100% wool yarn. The fiber is kettle dyed which creates the beautiful blend of colors along the length of the skein. It's thin/thick spinning has the look of hand-spun technique and gives a beautiful texture for a pleasing look. I added rows of Sirdar Click chunky in light blue, and also couple of rows in dark blue using Plymouth Encore. These two colors are in the ribbing, to create an easy transition from the Araucania fiber.

Design Ella

This is adorable Ella, the daisy beret needed a matching jumper. Ella is Meghan's sweet little treasure.

bye bye little craft tables .....

I am having my friend Karin from Germany here and we both thought my knitting area is in desperate need of a remodeling. So we did, and here is the proof that it looks so much better and I am having much more space to store all my yarn and machine accessories I can't do without. We bought two shelf's by Ikea, matching to the book cases I already had, and at Home Depot, two large pine boards. I sanded the boards on both sites and stained them with a red color wood stain oil. Mike, our very handy neighbor down the street, came and mounted  both boards, on the shelf's. I really am loving the way my work area is presenting itself now. Before I had a little crafts table where the standard knitter was mounted on, and a camping table for the bulky knitter. Now I am having matching tables and the  red is a very nice contrast to the dark brown bookshelf wall.

Ella's Jumper....

Finally after almost two month with many interruptions, Ella's jumper is ready to be mailed. Instead of stitching little daisies, I thought daisy buttons look just as cute, if not cuter. The rat in the pocket is adorable, so Ella will get a kick out of it, I think. Ella is five ...... so rats are still adorable creatures when you're that age....

Designer: Veronika Delvaux 
Strickstuben Design
Fiber: Wool/Acyclic mix

Lena's New Socks....

I am working on socks.... lot's of socks.....  Anna got a pair, Paul got two pairs, Tom's (Angela's husband) socks are almost done, my husband will get the next pair, and here are Lena's new socks. other sock pictures will follow....

Shadow Dance

Not about knitting... about art in another dimension....

this is so incredibly amazing... shadow dancing... you never seen before...

 

Sawtooth Scarf

Having digital subscriptions of your favorite magazines is really paying off in the realm that the new editions are available approximately two weeks before they hit the news stand. This scarf is from the April 2013 edition of Knit Simple, pictured on the front page of the magazine. Whereas the designer used Kersti Merino Crepe by Koigu Wool Designs in #K903 wintergreen multicolor (4 hanks 114 yards each), I went with Jelli Beenz from Plymouth Color 1256 a multicolor blue. The fiber is a mix of wool and Acrylic, I used a total of 4.1/4 skeins = 107 yards each. The scarf is rather long, a little too long for my likes. But that's me.... The pattern is easy to knit and easy to remember. Naturally having 360 stitches on a circular needle the needle should be long enough to hold all stitches. I used a 120cm addi circular needle in size 4.5 mm (7).

Sawtooth Scarf Knit Simple April 2013 issue Cover Pattern

 

CRAZY for Cowls

Check this out…. 

by: Kathleen Cubley, the editor of Knitting Daily

I think I've knit four cowls this winter. One was a slip-stitch pattern, one a lace pattern, one a linen-stitch pattern, and one a plain stockinette pattern.

Oddly, I think the stockinette cowl is my favorite. Probably because it's knit from a 100-percent cashmere yarn that I got for Christmas. It's a case of letting the yarn do the talking; it's so soft and beautiful that it doesn't need a stitch pattern to make it shine. And it's bright orange, which I love! There's one more cowl on the needles, and it's a good one: feather and fan pattern knit with Qiviuk yarn, which is muskox fur. It's the softest yarn I've ever felt, except for pure angora. I am truly blessed with beautiful yarn.

There are lots of reasons to knit cowls like crazy:

1. They're usually quick projects.
2. They're great for using up those special, single skeins of yarn.
3. They're a fun way to try new stitch patterns.
4. They're great gifts.
5. They're really useful!

So, since I only have one cowl on the needles, I need to cast on another one! I'm not sure which one to do, so I'm putting the decision in your hands. Here are the choices:

		Inishbofin Cowl by Heidi Todd Kozar Working cables in the round is fun and fast! The Inishbofin is knit from a merino/alpaca blend—yum—on size 8 needles. You know my love affair with cables is never-ending, right?
		Orbs Cowl by Robin Ulrich This cutie uses a welted chevron stitch to add a lot of texture and drape. It's a pretty pattern, but I would knit it in a different color. Yellow is not my friend!
		Destiny Cowl by Denise Twum I kind of love this. It's knit from super bulky yarn on size 13 needles, in a simple rib/garter stitch combo that makes the ruching. I love how it poofs out in the ribbed sections!
		Maryse Cowl by Amy Christoffers This is a long cowl, knitted from a beautiful, lofty, wool/mohair blend. It's knit on size 8s in an easy-to-memorize lace pattern. It just looks so cozy wrapped a couple of times around the neck! Love the color, but not on me. Maybe red.

Striped Baby Beanie

This basic, easy to knit striped beanie with ear-flaps was originally designed by someone else. I found the picture on a knitting site. I liked it so much that I copied the pattern. I made two identical beanies for a very dear to my heart friend in Germany. She is expecting her second baby boy. I thought if the new baby is getting a beanie big brother Zeno would be thrilled to have one just like his baby brother.  The beanie pictured is the larger of the two.

Easter Daisies...

Crochet Design: Easter Daisies

Designer: Veronika Delvaux for Strickstuben Design 

Fiber: :

Katia Caribe Color # 5 - Green, Yellow

Fiber: 40% Cotton, 40% Acrylic, 20% Polyester Yardage: 114 Stitches: 5.5 Needle size: 6

Daisies are made with Ella Ray Amity in white and yellow;

Beanie made with Fil Katia, a delightful Spanish collection of beautiful novelty yarns;

Who doesn't like free pattern?

Who doesn't love knitting baby projects?  They're quick, adorable and perfect for using up yarn scraps.  If you haven't tried this Faceted Lace and Cables Baby Hat, you need to.  In this pattern sized for preemies to toddlers, cables and lace join forces to create a unique, one-of-a-kind design.  I hope you enjoy making your own!  For those of us (myself included) who can't get enough of tiny baby knits, I've included even more baby hats below.  

 More Adorable Baby Hats
1. Snuggle Baby Hat
2. Easy Bell Top Baby Hat
3. Baby Bear Newborn Hat - So Cute!
4. Baby Bunny Newborn Hat
5. Very Violet Newborn Hat - NEW!
6. Candy Twist Ribbed Hat
7. Easy Beginner Hat
8. Knit One Below Baby Hat
9. Panda Hat
10. Pink Lemonade Hats
11. Reversible Baby Hat
12. Simple Lines Baby Hat
 
13. Baby Knits Hats & Booties
14. Beehive Baby Sport Yarn - Ombres-Hush-A-Bye Ombre
15. Boye Baby Hat Loom Set
16. Softee Baby Ombre Yarn - Baby Spring
17. Baby Beanies

Top Baby Patterns

1. Simple Lines Baby Blanket
2. Hot Air Balloon Hats 

3. 22 Free Baby Knitting Patterns
4. 6 Knit Baby Blankets 

5. Summer Baby Cardigan
6. Easy Baby Kit 

7. Little Baby Mitts
8. Darling Dress 

 9. Baby Snuggler
10. 4 Easy Newborn Hats

Beret

Design: Ella
Designer: Veronika Delvaux for Strickstuben Design

Childrens Beret

Design Ella is a beret made of 100% wool in the IT color grass green with little daisies and a pompom. The beret isn't finished yet, it still needs a few more blossoms and a yellow dot in the center of each flower.

Design: Ella...
Designer: Veronika Delvaux for Strickstuben Design

Sirdar Peru Naturals - 555 Picco

Design: Zeno

Designer: Veronika Delvaux for Strickstuben Design

 Peru Naturals from Sirdar - 555 Picco

64% Wool,31% Acrylic,5% Alpaca machine washable as per label 50g approx.98yds 14sts/19rows on 6.5mm (USA 10)

Debbie Bliss Rialto #23021

A simple yet sporty beanie for all seasons. The rim a so called MOCK CABLE has been knitting in the length and closed into the round with a three needle bind-off.
This pattern is for skill level: Intermediate .
Rim pattern:
cast on 14 stitches
1 st row (RS) Slip the first stitch as to knit, knit 13.
2nd, 4th, and 6th rows: Slip the first stitch as to knit, k 2, p 8, k 3.
3rd and 5th row AS FIRST ROW
7th row, Slip the first stitch as to knit, k 2, [insert needle in next stitch and wrap yarn 4 times around the needle, complete the knit st leaving all wraps on the needle] 8 times, k 3.
8th row Slip the first stitch as to knit, k 2, with yarn at the front sl 8 stitches dropping the extra wraps to form long stitches, insert left-hand needle into first 4 of these stitches and pass them over the second 4, return all stitches to the left-hand needle and p all 8 stitches in this order, k 3.
9th and 11th rows, AS FIRST ROW
10th and 12th row, AS SECOND ROW
Repeat rows 1 to 12 as many times as it takes to reach the length  needed to wrap around head. Using a three needle bind-off bind off all stitches as they appear.

Lower edge: With right side facing pick up and knit into every space between the garter stitches, (94 stitches depending on how many repeats of the mock cable you knitted to reach desired circumvent (length) stitches knit 3 rows and bind off. 

Body of beanie. With right side facing pick up and knit into every space between the garter stitches, 94 stitches, (depending on how many repeats of the mock cable you knitted to reach desired circumvent (length).  close round and purl first row. Row 2 and all other knit until desired length of the beanie. 
1t decrease row: knit two together throughout.
2nd row knit
3rd row, knit two together throughout (changing to double pointed needles)
4th row knit
5th row knit two together throughout
6th row knit two together throughout
when there are 8 or 10 stitches left, cut yarn and pull end of yarn through all stitches. Weave in ends.

Do you like my sweater?

I was going to say "I wish I could grow my own sweater" but then I thought about it for a moment, and decided, I DO NOT wish that. 

Araucania hand spun....

Design: MaryK is a beret made of Araucania Magallanes, Nature Wool is 100% wool yarn. It is kettle dyed which creates the beautiful blend of colors along the length of the skein. It's thin/thick spinning has the look of hand-spun technique and gives a beautiful texture for a pleasing look. The yarn is hand dyed by a women's cooperative in Chile using only vegetable dyes.

Magallanes Yarn 310 Green Mix

Fiber Content:	100% Wool.
Yardage:	Approx. 242 yds./ per 100gr.
Weight:	Worsted
Gauge:	20 st. = 10cm/ 4"
Needle Size:	6 US. / 4 mm
Washing:	Hand wash cold and lay flat to dry.

Designer: Veronika Delvaux for Strickstuben Design