Just in case you want to do some knitting ...

I've uploaded some more designs into my Ravelry store ... the designs include those on Knit Picks (which I hear are a hassle for you non-North American knitters to obtain) ....  check it out and let me know what you think .... all designs in the Ravelry store are pdf downloads -- so they're available immediately!  Some are free and all are less than $5.00. 

Enjoy shopping!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Knit Picks: this is my favorite to-date ...

Knit Picks just posted the 7th (!) of my designs ...

This is probably my favorite sweater I’ve designed to-date! I love the way the cable is the focal point while the tweedy yarn in reverse stockinette adds a subtle, and delightful, texture. The cable is based on one in Elsebeth Lavold’s Viking Patterns for Knitting; my version includes a buttonhole in the center of each cable motif. The double-breasted look of the leather buttoned closure adds just the right bit of sophistication to this fun sweater. The cables outlining the armholes add a bit more texture and the sleeves are knit from the armhole down, with a hidden "storm cuff" under the sleeve.

Knitting level is advanced, with the ability to read/knit from a chart a must.

To purchase this pattern ... or any of my other KP-IDP designs, check out this link!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Knit Picks: now this is kinda cool ...

I use Google Reader to keep up with all the different blogs -- knitting, writing, homeschooling, Catholic and family -- with which I try to keep up.  Well today, Stacey at Knit Picks wrote up a post about how they've just entered the 500th design into the program. 

 

No, the 500th wasn't MINE, but it is a cute knitted hat.  But the cool thing is that since I currently have SIX of the 500, that means I have 1.2% of those designs ... out of 230 designers, that's not bad. 

AND, Stacey just emailed to say they'd like another of mine ... Celtic Closure which is a BEAUTIFUL woman's sweater (if I do say so myself) and which should be up by the end of the month.  Here's a sneak peek ----->

For my other designs in KP IDP:  here's the link.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Knitting as Art: Behold Thy Mother, Knitting

A dear friend (whom I don't see often enough .... I think it's been 3 or 4 years at this point!) recently emailed me to direct me to a lovely blog titled, In Haught Pursuit. The Catholic mom who writes this blog wrote a LOVELY piece on Knitting Madonnas.

Check it out! Behold Thy Mother, Knitting

September in Colorado ... in ...

... in the latest KnitCircus ... cool eh?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Review: Norwegian Sweater Techniques for Today's Knitter

I love reading knitting books.   I love to write reviews of the best of these books.  Here's the latest I just finished reading.

Therese Chynoweth's first book, Norwegian Sweater Techniques for Today's Knitter, is a great example of my favorite kind of book!  You know the kind of book I mean:  packed with great techniques, great eye-candy designs, and filled with the author's passion for the art.  Chynoweth, famous for her Norwegian-inspired knitwear designs (and former designer and educator for Dale of Norway USA) has created a book that explains, step-by-step, how to work the various traditional Norwegian knitting techniques and further, how to incorporate these techniques into chic, contemporary designs.

When most folks think of Norwegian sweaters ... we instantly visualize ski sweaters from the Olympic teams, bright color-work on staid backgrounds and simple shaping to minimize distraction from the gorgeous snowflakes and other intricate color-work.  Knit in the round, with sew-and-slash to add bands or sleeves, these sweaters have stood the test of time both fashion-wise and durability-wise.  Chynoweth delves into the intricacies of these techniques, breaking them down and explaining multiple methods of obtaining the results, so that any knitter can apply these techniques to the standard Norwegian sweater.

But more than that ... the second half of the book is devoted to 20 designs that incorporate these techniques into beautiful sweaters that use color-work, cables, lace and knit-purl stitches to make gorgeous sweaters for today (these are for women, men and kids). 

This is one of those books that will stay in my personal library for reference ... design inspiration ... and just to enjoy how beautiful the knitting art truly is!

Well done, Therese!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com