Ready for a Close-up

Horton for a Horton is finished! I absolutely love, love, love the way this hat turned out. This colorway is wonderful and even more so knitted up. The colors complement each other so well and it's just such a sweet combination of blue and berry. Apparently Maddie Cat loves it too. She's definitely a diva and she loves to have her picture taken. She was sleeping peacefully on the back of the couch but the moment she heard the camera shutter open, she made her way over and plopped right on top of the hat. I appeased her and snapped a few pictures of her sitting happily atop the hat. Kenzie, I sure hope you don't mind a cat hair or two in your hat!

Next Must Have

Alright so I will admit, I have an obsession (ok maybe a few but...). I absolutely love knitted toys. The more vintage looking, the better. Animals of all shapes and sizes, finger puppets, little monsters, you name it, I love it. A few of the books I have include a pattern or two of little knitted critters. However, I want to start putting together a collection of books that dedicate themselves to knitted toys. The Itty-Bitty Toys book by Susan B. Anderson is now on the top of my list of must haves. Ever single pattern that I've seen knitted up from that book makes my heart melt. I have this future goal that when we do decide to start a family and I get pregnant, I am going to knit a toy a month for the baby. I figure that is a sure way to make sure that he or she has a good start to a handmade toy collection (and a way to pass the time). I don't have to wait to start making some now right?

Both of the above photographs: Alana of Never Not Knitting

Who Doesn't Love a Lamb?

As I scrolled through the blogs that I frequent, I learned that this adorable knitted lamb pattern from Susan B. Anderson's Itty-Bitty Toys book is available on the Petite Purls website. I just love love love it! Since the Columbus City limits will not allow me my own live flock, perhaps I could knit up an entire herd of these sheep. I believe a trip to a LYS to find the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan yarn to for the sheep's knobby wool is in order...

Image from ITTY-BITTY TOYS by Susan B. Anderson (Artisan Books).
Copyright 2009. Liz Banfield photographer.

And even if you aren't interested in the lamb pattern, you should definitely check out Petite Purls. So many cute patterns and fun things to browse.

Anne Geddes Cute

My wonderful photographer friend Ashley (Ashley Horton Photography) asked me if I could knit up a cocoon and hat for her to use when doing newborn photoshoots. She had sent me a picture of something she had in mind so I set out to find the perfect neutral color yarn to knit up. After much searching (4 local yarn shops later) I found the most perfect yarn at Wonder Knit. Only problem was that it was all dyed into fun colors, nothing quite neutral enough. Somewhat defeated, I was getting ready to go home and start searching online. Then, the girl who was working the shop had a brilliant idea- the woman who spins and dyes the yarn had just moved all her supplies to the shop to start spinning and dying from there. She went searching in the back and found a full skein of undyed beautiful yarn. She called the woman who gladly sold the undyed skein. I was so excited! This yarn was absolutely perfect. The extreme thick and thin spun yarn, its incredible soft touch, and the complete natural color, it was just what I needed. I knit up a cocoon and modified a hat pattern I found to create the items. Ashley loved them and has used them in a handful of her newborn shoots. She has sent me a few pictures of the items in action and I hope you'll agree, these shots are so cute. Anne Geddes cute.

Horton for a Horton

A new project is on the needles and I am rather excited about it. I told a dear friend of mine to pick out a few yarn colorways I have in my stash and that I would make her kiddos some hats. One of the colorways she selected for her daughter happens to be just perfect. Their last name is Horton and I just so happen to have a colorway titled, "An Amusing Elephant, Horton!" by BugSnuggler. The yarn base is aran BFL and it's so squishy and soft. I love the colors and it's knitting up so lovely. I cannot wait to finish it and send it off to her.

Valentine's Day Love

I made these Valentine's cards for my nieces and nephews. I had extra supplies so I sent a couple out to friends and family. You never get too old to send out Valentine's right?

Brown Owls Longies

The Brown Owls longies are finished!!! Cannot wait to see Nicholas wear these this coming weekend. Pictures of him sporting them will get posted soon. The longies were made using Julibeans "Brown Owls" on BFL Aran yarn. It knit up like a dream and is so incredibly soft!