50 Projects: 52 Weeks (9. The Gardner's Bonnet)

Joy!

It deserves more than one exclamation!! I am sure that is what my friends Chad and Jen Gardner will feel when their baby girl arrives soon.

What better way to cozy up than with a classic bonnet. It's a tad on the large size. I'm hoping that they'll find a special use for it when she is big enough to wear it. Dress up. Old trunks. Attics. And a pretty peach bonnet with chocolate satin ribbon...

I learned a lot through this little gem. More cabling. Sewing knitting seams. Picot edging (the adorable little baubles along the bottom edge). The yarn was salvaged (again) but this one is special. It came from France. Imagine...the 1950's, mango-colored yarn. Delish! It's like sorbet!

The only two things left to do is to: 1. Block it and 2. Wrap it in some sort of Parisian paper with some chording or ribbon. Perhaps a small hat box. The pattern was found in a book called: Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders Edited by Judith Durant.

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (8. Softie, a Gift)

Meet Softie.

I have NO idea why I've decided to name this project softie, but it's beachy and calm and tames the wild hair. And. It's a gift for someone. I wanted to branch out a bit and make something a bit bohemian. I just love knitting. And to make it all better, this was salvaged yarn from Goodwill! 

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (7. Soft Braided Hat)

Soft Braided Hat - an Irish Fisherman's Dream

It was chilly last week in Colorado and I felt horrible that my husband was always searching for his hats that always seem to get misplaced - and to make matters worse, he has been getting up to go to work sometimes as early as midnight or 2:00 AM. Ridiculous. 

I have also had trouble sleeping, so one evening, as Steve went to bed at 6:30 PM, I started knitting him this classically warm hat. I had it almost completed by the time he had to leave (almost!). I am not sure I'd recommend this pattern again; I think I would've preferred a tighter braided/cable pattern, but for my husband's large head, this won him over! If you look closely - flecks of aqua, purple, pink and blue/gray. 

This ball of yarn came from a stash I nabbed for $3.99 at Goodwill. I've been searching thrift stores to repurpose old wool yarns, and came across a bag with some balls from as far away as Ireland (more projects to follow suit, I hope!).

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (5. Beard-clava)

I found this pattern called Incognito and it was a hit. The husband saw this pattern and immediately latched onto it. It'll be great for his snowboarding adventures. It's part functional, part whimsical and was a lot of fun to duplicate stitch the Fu Manchu onto the Beard-clava. 

Notice the top and bottom used a twisted knit stitch. This makes the knit stitch tighter and added a bit of interest near the face and bottom. 

Steve is smiling underneath. ;)

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (4. Wedded Bliss Stitch Markers)

Keishi Pearls + Wedding = Stitch Markers

Super easy! I love the outdoors. Steve and I got married at Devil's Lake State Park.

I created the jewelry I wore at my wedding and same goes for my girls. There is something stunning and so organic that made using keishi pearls a no-brainer. The copper tones and rough round shape perfectly complemented our autumnal surroundings.

The joy that we felt that day, October 10, 2009, was indescribably crazy. I married my best friend. The keishi pearls are from the pearls I bought for my wedding. I wanted to pass on the joy to someone else. Again, it's going to be another Etsy find. So, everything from the pearls to the copper-colored beads to the tiny swarovski crystals - it's a Wedded Bliss Stitch Marker (works well for up to a size 9 needle). May it bring many years of knitting happiness! 

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (3. Two Hiker Hats)

Two Hiker Hats: Moss (Left) and Meander (Right)

Tada!

I've cranked out two hats in less than a week. Both of these only took an afternoon each and it was a great way for me to use up my acrylic yarn that I've been meaning to find a project for. You'll find these at my Etsy store soon! I repurposed the yarn that would've otherwise fallen to the wayside! Cozy.

1. Oblique is Not Opaque Sweater: The Finished Back!

The Back (Finally)

This only took about 400 years...Nonetheless, the back is looking great and will probably work out just fine (one can hope) after I block the whole piece! My friend Elizabeth Royal knit a sweater with some lacework and can attest to two things: 1. knitting potty mouth and 2. plenty of "beginners mistakes." Ugh. I am pretty sure the only mistakes I made involved the decreasing raglan around the armpit areas, and I'm sure I'll be the only to notice. So, shhh...! Don't tell anyone else!

Soul Journer Studio (pre-Grand Opening)

Well!

As some of you may know, I am piecing together items for my up-and-coming Etsy store (It already has a storefront and it's called Soul Journer Studio!) I'd love to bounce ideas off of some veterans, but the whole premise of the store is to discover Purpose in Nature. Since I'm a woman of many trades, I didn't want to just splatter random items without a theme, but I also didn't want to be stuck knitting hats for the rest of my life. I have a vision in my mind and I'm going to run with it.

Sneak preview of some of the items to follow!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (1. Oblique is Not Opaque Sweater)

Meet Oblique

This is the sweater of all sweaters. I've made hats. I've crocheted beanies. And then some greater power took over my mind and I decided a sweater would be the next logical step. The original sweater pattern can be found here. 50 projects in 52 weeks. Oblique has taken me over a month thus far and I hoping to finish up the back in the next day or two. Lacework has been daunting, but so rewarding!