One Gorgeous Shawl

Being one who is not big on wearing or making Shawls, it was tough for me to pass this one by...

There is a blog I am absolutely in love with...and the designer is awesome. It's everything magical, nature related, full of knitting patterns, and wonderful photography. Tiny Owl Knits is a blog I follow, have purchased many patterns, and even her book. I am aw struck at her talent. This one I am saving for a winter knit project when I am all snowed in...wow...that's not far off. It's nearly winter already...hey were did summer go? How time flies...so they say...and it's so true.

Get the hooks or needles ready hibernating is near...I wanna say... Yippy...okay so I did!

Free Shawl Pattern

Growing lavender the last 4 years, I do a lot of research on the internet. Lavender in area's that is not conducive to ones zone can be a challenge. I stumbled across Clear Creek Lavender who did a excellent job explaining the trials and tribulations of growing the plants. It truly is a test as you go and for me like Clear Creek my lavender took a beating to, this past winter.

Denise who runs Clear Creek recently took a new venture in life and brought her past roots into the present. She has pretty much given up lavender and now dyes and sells her own yarns. She also has patterns she creates on her own, above is one called, Confidence, is free and easy for beginners and experience alike. The yarn is also from her new venture Lost City Knits in Oklahoma. She also has video tutorials to help those who are just beginning or still working on there skill. Pop over and take a look it's a lovely site to visit.

One Gorgeous Crocheted Hooded Cape

Hello lovely readers...I found this shawl with a hood, on a Dutch blog, did the translation thing and all, yet there was no pattern and no link. So....

I thought, okay, if I study it enough I can figure it out and that is what I plan on doing. The only tough part might be figuring out the hood. I plan on the same color combination, oh gosh, so many things I am finding to make. Isn't it just too cool?

Oh, and if you know where the pattern can be found, by all means, let us all know.

Crocheted Nordic Shawl Pattern

I am not a big fan of crocheted garments that are worn, maybe it's due to the era I was raised. It seemed as a young girl, every mother, grandmother I knew was crocheting. Mostly the dolls that turned upside down, lots of wash clothes, pot holders, and especially lace dollies which I am not a fan of at all. I was turned off by crocheting anything, with the exception of blankets, and even back then they didn't thrill me. The holes left in a lot of crocheting was another thing that bothered me, it seemed the cool air found it's way through those little places. 

As I have grown, and especially since the Internet, (which I like and don't for varies reasons) I've seen garments crocheted in a different way. Sadly, I am still not really fond of many, not that they aren't beautiful, often I find myself in a tiny way feeling like my daughter, it seems to be an elderly thing to do. Now, don't get snappy I said, in a tiny way. Here in America, most of us do not decorate with crocheted items as they do in European Countries. It was simply the potholder here and there or the lace dollies under a lamp, or on a table. And in my personal opinion only, I believe in many Countries in Europe they don't follow decorating trends, they love the handmade home.

As you know I crocheted a V shawl myself last fall, put it on walked outside and whee did the cool wind go through the holes. Maybe I have the wrong idea of what a shawl is or how to wear one, who knows. I do know when I found this one I feel in love with the colors the somewhat closed stitching, the all around look was so appealing. This Nordic Shawl is from My Rose Valley, a blog I pop in and out of during the week and must add the brilliant green grass in the background is so making me want spring. Yet the shawl is one I know I am going to make for sure, only in these colors, truly love the colors and will go with more of my clothing collection, which is not fancy or colorful. I don't know how they do it in Europe, using all colors seem to coordinate beautifully in there handmade homes.

Have a great weekend!

UPDATE - there is a really good button band tutorial here for knitters.

Love Miles Away...Stitch After Stitch

 

When I first started crocheting this half double shawl I knew for sure it was something I was going to find lots of use in wearing this fall...

 

 

Then one night nearly 2 months ago I was watching the News and saw something that hit me harder than anything has in a long time.

 

 

I am a humanitarian by nature...most go through life wondering what it is they are suppose to be doing, why they are here, what is there purpose. For me it's always been easy to understand but not as easy to apply. Through the years of marriage and raising children I was preoccupied with life doing what everyone said to do...get married, buy the house, the cars, and have the kids. It wasn't until it was always over that my personal cause emerged.

 

 

The beginning of being human with a real self purpose knew what she wanted to do but not where...I had seen all the commericals, sponsor a child, feed the world, etc....but none struck me quite like this story I just knew just like when you birth a child and meet them for the first time, you just knew it was a love of a life time. That human baby you never meant but carried 9 months you just knew...the power of love. It's how it felt the night I just happened to change the channel and see a group of children of all ages, homeless, no parents, only a teacher who was once a doctor, quit his job in the U.S. and headed to Soweto, South Africa, to help these children he himself had heard about.

In Soweto these children go to school, his school, his name Jose. Everyday he teaches children of all ages, hungry, children wearing dirty clothes and not feed wondering the streets. Children who lost both parents to Aids. Amazed at every second I watched, small children getting one meal a day never ask for another when finished, knowing there were others waiting behind them.

I knew the why I crocheted this shawl..with every stitch I had a tug of heart, somehow I knew it just belonged somewhere else I just didn't know where...until that night.

 

 

Nearly finished the shawl will make it's way to Soweto, South Africa on a cold night I will feel a connect to the soul it warms. In Soweto, temperatures in the winter months reach as low as 35 degrees most children, and young teens have nothing to wear to keep themselves warm, hat's, gloves are also needed. For anyone who reads this post please join me in making hats, gloves, shawls as I will be sending boxes twice a month to Soweto directly to Jose. Send this post or link it I would like to get as many as possible to join in and help. If you're interested please leave a comment along with your email so I can contact you and offer more information. I plan to visit Soweto as soon as I can get away sometime within the next year. In the meantime say hello to the newest addition to my family, and he's all my guy....Soweto.

Pinks and Crocheting Shawl

 

 

 

 

 

I've noticed it's been a few since I have posted, so I thought I would pop in with a bit of pink.

It's been a busy week for me with a little of this and that going here and there....finally on this lovely Friday I am able to enjoy the quite and crochet. I manage to find more yarn for the shawl I was working on...much to my surprise it was just discontinued at the store I purchased and indeed is still for sale. The yarn is Bernet Mosaic 1207-311120 it says it's worsted weight but does feel more like a DK. I've added one more skein and working on the last. If it's not as long as I like I will add more although I am working on a different ending to the shawl. Hopefully I will be done soon and will be posting the finishing shawl.

Have a great weekend.

Knitting, Crocheting and A New Surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

Well it's been cool here all week, so cool one has to wear a light weight sweater. Like most who are blogging it's all that's mentioned is this crazy season. I took a walk Wednesday morning to the mall and spent some time at the book store browsing magazines and knitting/crocheting books. It was nice to get out for awhile..since it was cool. A lovely walk listening to my I-Pod the music, II Volo, a young group of Italian Singers... something I needed a nice walk in the cool breeze. I've

 also been crocheting, and knitting keeping myself busy. Three projects going at once...actually four if you remember this one, which is a year long project. I started the half double shawl yesterday after a late night cleaning and organizing my closet. I found some old yarn it appears to be worsted weight not sure what brand as the labels were missing. I do know I bought it a couple years ago on sale it was the last two skeins, since I haven't done a shawl and wanted to try the half double, I thought this would be a good start. If I like the finished shawl I will make another only using a nice merino light weight yarn. The yarn I am using is not the best but the colors are nice. I am going to add a nice lace border at the bottom and as fast as it's going it should be done in just a day or two. The granny square blanket if you remember,I am doing for the entire year, is still in progress adding two squares a day it's coming along nicely. It's been really a good way to do a project keeps me from getting bored by juggling so many. I just love the brown log cabin blanket the square is done, and I am just about to begin the green then adding white. I just hope it's as easy as the tutorials I've read have shown. I'm

 one when doing a new project the second time is always the best and so on.....are you the same way? It's like the first is the practice project. Then there is a pattern I started awhile back which came out of the closet as well...I will post the pattern on how I made what I call a Pinafore as soon as I put the notes together. It's done with sock yarn out of yarn so old I can't tell you what brand anymore. I can only tell you it's from Germany is 100% wool. It's very light weight and oh so dainty all I have to do is decide whether to add a different stitching to the bottom or leave it as is...and bind off. The back has three pearl buttons it was actually started for my daughter was when she was a baby...way back when?? Let's just say it wouldn't come close to fitting her now! Which brings me to the surprise....my daughter is pregnant due in November. She''s been married 7 years now this is her first child,
 not sure what gender yet, she's having a revealing baby shower. Although it would be nice for a grand daughter which I don't have so far just grand son's, who are absolutely adorable...Something tells me that it's a boy, despite I will still be extremely happy. This baby will make three grand babies for me. Not bad for a grandma...who absolutely loves to spoil them.

 



Knitted Shawl, Wrap, Caplet and Scarf Pattern

 

 

In my continual browsing on the Internet I stumbled across this pattern it captured my attention in an instant. How beautiful is this...and so many ways to wear it. I was immediately in aw of the designer and had to purchase. I don't know when I will begin... all I can say is I wish it was already done and especially those colors!  You must go check it out there are so many photographs you will be knit struck in an instant. Check out her baby hat pattern too.