NaKniSweMo: I made it!

I did it ... amidst everything else going on, I made a sweater, start to finish in the month of November.  "My Favorite Sweatshirt" is done ... the stitch count is less than 50K (more like 35K) but since I ripped and re-knit and did other knitting, I figure I did pretty darn well.

I'm not sure if I like it or not.  I love the split hem cable and the cable along the armholes.  I also did a cable on the hood and I'm not sure if it needs it?  I'm also thinking maybe the sleeves need a cuff -- the cable?  The sleeves fall about halfway between my elbow and wrist and are just reverse-SS.  The body is a comfortable fit with drop shoulders which aren't really too floppy ... which is good.

The sweater needs blocking; the Simply Cotton, an organic cotton from KP, should soften after that first bath which will occur tomorrow. 

So what do you think of this original design?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

NaKniSweMo: progress report

This month, I've been quite busy with the cashmere designs using Spring Gate Farm's cashmere.  That said, I haven't been neglecting my NaKniSweMo project -- it's great knitting for fencing practices or meetings or just for a change from the 9/10 sts per inch on the cashmere (this one gets about 4 to the inch!).    With SIX full days to go, I have started the second sleeve ... and then just need to do the hood ... on "My Favorite Sweatshirt" .... an original design that I can't wait to post! 

I'm knitting this in KP's organic worsted weight cotton and it is knitting up beautifully ... the finished sleeve looks narrow but that's because it's pure SS and so is curling ... it is actually a 20" sleeve that goes down to about 10 inches once it's blocked -- it will end about mid-arm and should roll nicely for a very casual look ....
I'm quite excited about this design.
Here's my design sketch (which so far has only deviated by having the cable done on the sweater body armholes rather than on the hem of the sleeves ....):

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Spring Gate Farm Hand-knits: Snow on the Mountains Scarf

Snow drifting gently down on the mountain peaks ... mimicked here in a lace-eyelet design that is as fun to knit as it's beautiful to wear.  Snow on the Mountains is knit in 100% cashmere; this scarf is flowy and floaty and luscious ... seriously!  This design is a great one for practicing knitting lace ... and a wonderful gift for loved ones.

Snow on the Mountains Scarf is available for immediate download from my Ravelry site for $5.00.  If you'd like to knit this up in the gorgeous cashmere from Jane McKinney's Spring Gate Farm (and get this design free with yarn purchase), check out her site and contact her for current cashmere fiber pricing.

Psssst:  I'm currently working on a coordinating fingerless mitts design with plans for a snood and vest using this same eyelet lace pattern.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Spring Gate Farm Hand-knits: Wall Street Scarf

 

The "Wall Street Scarf" ... as sophisticated as New York City … as up and down as the Stock Market … as classically conservative as the investment banking industry … made in 100% cashmere … you'll love knitting this one!  The stitch-pattern is a two-row, easy-to-memorize garter-stitch pattern that knits up into a lovely, sophisticated, classic scarf for the men (or women ... up to you!).

The pattenr for Wall Street Scarf is available for immediate download on my Ravelry site for $5.00.  If you'd like to buy the cashmere fiber shown, head to Jane McKinney's Spring Gate Farm site and order the fiber directly from her ... the pattern is free with yarn purchase.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Spring Gate Farm Hand-knits: Grand Central Station Cap

 

Grand Central Station, NYC ... where all train tracks originate! As do the ribs in this cap made in pure cashmere ... knit from the center top out. This pattern is given in two sizes: medium adult and large adult. This was designed for men (there are so FEW hand-knit designs for men ... that a man would actually wear!) but there's certainly no reason why a woman couldn't wear this hat. [And for those women in the crowd with large heads ... this fits me and will look lovely on you, too!]

Grand Central Station Cap is available on Ravelry for immediate download for $4.00. If you buy the cashmere fiber directly from Jane McKinney at Spring Gate Farms (which I highly recommend), the pattern is free!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Ravelry ... I'm a member, are you

Ravelry reached 1,000,000 members on Nov 13, 2010 at 5:39 AM Eastern!  Can you believe it?  Ravelry has been around for a few years now (and I've been on there since 2007)but I have really been active this past year, posting designs for sale and free, and enjoying the comraderie available there (as well as the many professional opportunities and chances to reach an audience willing to buy my ideas)!  It is a wonderful community of fiber-nuts who build each other up, encourage and remonstrate (when needed) and just generally are a great batch of old and young ... male and female ... married ... single ... and just about everyone from all over the world!

It's a blast to be there ... so, have you joined yet?  It's free!  And if you join (or are already a member), please remember to "friend" me so that I know you're out there ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knitters -- 25 years and going strong!

Knitters just published their 100th issue ... and it's a huge, double-issue packed with amazing designs by some of the best in the biz. It's a glorious expression of knitting as art ... and you can get a free copy!  Yep, Knitters, to thank their subscribers/patrons for the 25years of readership, is allowing free download of this double-issue!  You do have to download the Zinio Reader software ... which is free and allows you to read many publications (including National Geographic!) online or from a downloaded copy on your iPad, Mac or PC through a purchased subscription.  Bottom-line, with this offer from Knitters, you not only get a free copy of the magazine but also the chance to try out Zinio!  A win-win ...

I've been subscribing/reading Knitters for 20+ years, having first found a copy on my honeymoon in Florida.  It's a great magazine that has stood the test of time and really created a wonderful resource for beginner knitters through to expert! 

Now, if I could just get Rick Mondragon to publish one of my designs in Knitters -- altho, come to think of it, I did get a baby sweater in there years back (which actually made it into the Knitter's Dozen: Babies & Toddler!).

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

The Greatest Raffle of all time EVER!

The Greatest Raffle of all time EVER! -- check out this cool idea for a fund-raiser for a highschool band ... the farm is about an hour from me so if you buy some tickets and win ... I'd sacrifice and stay at the farm for you (or with you!).

NaKniSweMo has started!

Gentlefolk, start ... your ... needles: 

NaKniSweMo (a Ravelry KAL) starts today and runs till Nov 30th.

In the spirit of the NaNoWriMo (50,000 words written during the month of November .... a project I participated in a few years ago, resulting in the publication of In His Image: Nurturing Creativity in the Heart of Your Home), you try to finish 50,000 stitches (basically, a sweater's worth) in the month.

I'm in!

Here's the design I'm doing:

This is my own design and I'm knitting it up in KP's Simply Cotton Organic (in Malted Milk)

So, are YOU in?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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