Easy as 1, 2, 3, Simple as do-re-mi!

I bought this sweet little alphabet sampler from Miniature Rhino last summer at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn. It's a nice, quick project for beginners - and a good chance to practice my wonky backstitch.

The kit includes a hoop, screenprinted alphabet pattern, floss, a needle and a little baby clothespin to wind your floss. 

I turned my little sampler into a zipped pouch, a pretty place to stash my embroidery floss and scissors. 

i heart... i just want to knit and eat a cronut please

:: I recently read a book in which the main character knit herself a pair of mittens (isn't that nice when that happens? Immediately my mind travels to what colour yarn did she use and what do they look like?) Happily for me, when I came to the end of the book there was a link to some further reading including the inspiration and pattern for the mittens in this set of vintage knitting patterns at the Victoria & Albert. 

:: Knitted hearts garland. Would be so pretty for a party.

:: Maroo mittens!

:: I've gotten out of the habit of knitting scarves (somehow, cowls are in a different tier, aren't they?) -- but this wheat scarf really appeals.

:: And fine, this isn't knitting related but everyone is talking about cronuts (croissant + donut). 

:: Have a wonderful weekend friends!

J & M

A while back my friend Viv gave me this lovely gift  -- it's precisely the kind of book that makes you want to invite all of your friends over and embroider a chicken on an apron and set a big fancy table for dinner. 

I've had my eye on the pattern for monogrammed napkins for a good long time. And every few months, I would open up the book and look at the instructions. I would then choose my floss and iron the napkins. And then, of course, I would totally chicken out. 

But I finally pulled myself together and made these for my friend's birthday. I winged the first one (J) and then after it was finished, I decided it might be a good idea to watch some online videos that show how to do the satin stitch. Heh. Ah well. All good in the end :)

I heart..

:: The Simple Collection - a free (and gorgeous) pattern series coming soon from Tin Can Knits

:: So this is how you keep lipstick off your wine glass!

:: I love totes. And I love yarn. And I love pompoms. So this tote is a good thing indeed.

:: When I was in Vancouver, I went to a fancy grocery store and was tempted by this kettle chip chocolate bar. I saved it until I came home and tried it today. Good grief, it's so delish, I can't even.

:: My Canadian friends might appreciate this book trailer for David Rakoff's last book due this summer - lots of famous Canucks take a turn telling the tale that includes this gem, "A life that is good is a life that's forgiving."

>> - - - - - - - - >

Happy weekend 

Waffles and coffee

I wish I had the patience to rib my socks from cuff to toe but the best I can do is this compromise of knitting two rows, followed by 2 rows of knit 2, purl 2.

This yarn was a wee bit scratchy which I'm hoping means they will be good and durable.  I spilled my travel mug full of coffee on the skein as I was knitting (seriously travel mug, this is the game you want to play with me?) and strangely the portion that was doused in coffee became super soft. The other part, not so much. Does coffee have some hidden fabric softening properties?

The details:

Yarn - Online

Needles - Good ole 2.5 mm

Pattern - Blueberry Waffle socks (free)