Bloom

Maybe it's the approaching spring season or the want to have my own yard to plant flowers. Regardless, When I saw this beautiful wall hanging, I just had to buy it. The wall hanging is by Mimi of the Smiling Octopus. I cannot wait to get it in the mail and hang it up to brighten up the place.

New Needles+New Yarn=Bliss

Last year for my birthday, my mom bought me the most beautiful pair of knitting needles. They are Rosewood wooden needles made from Cocobolo, a rosewood, in size 7. The makers of the needles, Turn of the Century, were at the Art in the Park show in Medina, and when my mom came across their booth, she said she just had to get me a pair- and I am so glad she did! They are so beautiful! The wood turning on the tops is so intricate. I find myself just staring at them when knitting! If you have a knitter in your life and you need to get something for them, I totally recommend you look into them (and get a pair for yourself too). I just started a new project on them with Spud & Chloë sweater yarn in "Firecracker." I was so excited to finally find a LYS that sells this yarn. The color is so rich and it is knitting up lovely!

Treetops Earflap Hat

Finished an earflap hat for my godson Nicholas. The main yarn is Laines Magnifiques "Treetops" on Rayonnant Organic Merino. The trim yarn is a wonderful yarn I purchased at the Upper Valley Fiber Fest, 50% Merino, 50% Alpaca from Mount Ampato Alpacas. This hat matches the pair of longies I made him before. Luckily they still fit him (for now!) and he can sport his matching set and get more awwwws from the ladies at his daycare.

"Splash Monkey" Hat

I finished this hat the other day for my dear friend's son Jayce. This was an experimental hat. I wrote up my own pattern as I couldn't find one that was exactly what I wanted to do. So I am hoping xxxcrossing fingersxxx that it will fit him! The yarn is Alligator Knits "Splash Monkey" and it's such a cute colorway. I am glad that I still have quite a bit of this left to knit up something else wonderful with it!

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.