Monday, March 29, 2010

Designs: baby stuff ...

A good friend just had her 10th baby ... a little girl.  I happened to be playing with some yarn that "screamed" baby girl Easter ... so I designed this sleeveless top for this 10th blessing:

the body stitch is taken from an Austrian lace-knitting pattern book, and is similar to many of the "arch" style patterns.   
Here's a closeup of the collar lace (with the 3 pink-button closure).

The yarn is Bernat's Sox and knits up beautifully (and since it's acrylic, it's washable) -- perfect for busy moms.


Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Friday, March 26, 2010

Knitting Books: de-stashing ... part 2

A couple of weeks ago I posted about destashing some of my knitting books ...  these are all great books but just don't "speak" to me anymore.  In my drive to minimize and stream-line my possessions (especially at this time of year of sacrifice), I don't need as large a knitting library as I thought.  All but one of those books sold and I am now posting a few more ...

All these come from a non-smoking, pet-free home .... are in great condition ... and prices are negotiable.  I prefer non-credit card (or cash-funded) paypal.  Shipping will be figured when making the "deal" -- and you can either do these books Media Mail, 1st class or priority -- up to you. 

Note that I've also listed some knitting magazines -- these cannot go Media Mail but must go 1st/parcel or priority.

Email me (bhwh.mary@gmail.com) if you're interested in any of these and we'll go from there!




Levin, Susan – Color-sense: Creative Color Combinations for Crafters (hard-cover) – orig 19.95 – will sell for $8.00

Bliss, Debbie – How to Knit (hard-cover) – orig 29.95 -- will sell for $12.50

Bordhi, Cat – New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book 1 – orig 28.95 – will sell for $15.00

Schurch, Charlene – Sensational Knitted Socks – orig 24.95 – will sell for $12.50

Bryant, Laura and Barry Klein – A Knitter’s Template: Easy Steps to Great-Fitting Garments – orig 34.95 – will sell for $5.00

Roberts, Luise – 1000 Great Knitting Motifs (hard-cover) – orig 19.95 – will sell for $10.00

Dandanell, Birgitta and Ulla – Twined Knitting: A Swedish Folkcraft Technique – orig 16.95 (OOP) – will sell for $20.00

Fassett, Kaffe – Kaffe’s Classics: 25 Favorite Knitting Patterns for Sweaters, Jackets, Vests and More (hard-cover, oversized, dustjacket laminated to protect) – orig 29.95 -- will sell for $10.00

Fassett, Kaffe – Glorious Knits: 35 designs for sweaters, dresses, vests, and shawls (hard-cover, oversized, dust-jacket with plastic to protect) – orig 29.95 -- will sell for $10.00

Knight, Erika – Simple knits with a twist: unique projects for creative knitters – orig 19.95 – will sell for $10.00

Magazines:
IWKnits (each now $4.00 + shipping) – Summer 2005, Fall 2005, Fall 2008, Winter 2008, Holiday 2008, Summer 2009

Knitters (each now $4.00 + shipping) – Spring 2008, Summer 2008, Fall 2008, Winter 2009, Spring 2010

Cast-on (each now $3.00 + shipping) -- Winter 03/04, Spring 04, Summer 04, Winter 04, May/Jul05, Aug/Oct 05, Nov/Jan06, May/Jul06, Aug/Oct 06

INKnitters (each now $3.00 + shipping) -- Fall 03, Win 03, Spring 04, Summer 04, Fall 04, Winter 04, Spring 05, Summer 05, Fall 05 -- this magazine is no longer published.  There are articles for the hand and machine knitter in these.  Great technique articles!

Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Meet my new assistant Duffy ...

She is wonderful: she's my alter-ego, my perfect double (who is actually a "perfect" size so can wear my sweaters better than I), she works cheap, and she doesn't talk back ...
Here she's wearing one of my favorite (and oldest sweaters) -- an anniversary sweater that I designed/made for dh on our 5th wedding anniversary when we were in Austria.  It no longer fits him (ooops ... maybe I shrunk it on purpose?!) and I love it!  The vest is one of my newest designs -- "Memories of Eire" -- and will be published soon.

Where has Duffy been all my (designing) life?
Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Knit Picks: another of my designs

Introducing -- Elegant Eliza, the Ballerina Bunny.  This knitted toy is knit all in one piece (except for the removable dance skirt) and is really quite fun to make.  Knit Picks has posted the downloadable pattern if you'd like to make her in time for Easter!

BTW, this bunny was inspired by a toy in Lucinda Guy's wonderful And So to Bed ..., which has such lovely baby/toddler knitting designs. 

Look for more of my designs coming soon to Knit Picks wonderful IDP ... a program that is really helping us small, independent hand-knit designers! I've got another up, a scarf, that is not quite so seasonably appropriate but is also fun to knit.



Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Yarn post ....

What's more fun than knitting?

Getting yarn or knitting books in the mail, of course!

I've been getting rid of some of my knitting books and receiving yarn in return ... as well as some yarn from a dear friend who was buried under (and I'm always willing to help in similar situations -- I know, I'm a living saint!) ....

Anyway, the fun thing about getting bits of yarn from others is the ability to really go wild with designing.  And earlier this week, I received the perfect book for knitting on the wild side:  Anna Zilboorg's Magnificent Mittens and Socks . This book is wonderful -- fun to read and learn new techniques and the color combinations are spectacular!  I like how she explains just how much yarn you'd need (like 50 yards of each or 10 yards of bits) .... which is great, especially for stash-busting knitting like I want to do.  And I love the style of these mittens -- big cuffs that go over jackets to keep wrists and sleeves warm and dry.

Another great book for playing with "oddments" is Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits, by color-knitter extraordinaire, Kristin Nicholas.  (For a full review of this book, click here.)  Or how about some of the Fair Isle (including Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting or The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color and Pattern by Ann Feitelson) or Norwegian books (Norwegian Handknits is gorgeous and I'm anxiously awaiting the publication of Lucinda Guy's newest, Northern Knits)  that are available now? 

Color-knitting is fun to play with yarns ... especially when you get them in trades or gifting from other knitters!

Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

KAL: my bag filled ....

As mentioned in this post, I finished my first KAL ... a market bag.  Some folks asked just how much this itty bag would hold.  After all, it's only about 12" x 12" unstretched and laying flat:
Well, here it is packed for our day out yesterday -- String Bean is carrying it and it is packed with 4 water bottles, 4 large apples, 4 pb&j sandwiches, and a quart baggie filled with carrots and celery ...
and it was NOT full -- but it was heavy!  I'm so glad I changed the straps as these are wider and more comfortable to wear on the shoulder, especially if it's packed for a field-trip lunch!

So there you go ... these bags are GREAT ... I'm going to make a bunch for Fall fund-raisers ...


Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Knitting Books: de-stashing ...

... otherwise known as "clearing the shelves to buy more yarn"!  These are the knitting books in my library that I am willing to sell (seriously, in order to buy more yarn to make more stuff!) ...  They are all in like new condition and are from a pet-free, non-smoking house.

Anyway, if you're interested in any of these, I prefer non-credit card paypal and shipping will be estimated based on your zip-code ... just email me at bhwh.mary@gmail.com ....

Simple Knits with a Twist: Unique Projects for Creative Knitters by Erika Knight orig 19.95, will sell for $12.00
Knit Socks: 15 Cool Patterns for Toasty Feet by Betsy Lee McCarthy orig 14.95, will sell for $8.00
Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits by Michele Rose Orne orig 24.95, will sell for $12.00
Ethnic Knitting: Discovery -- The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and The Andes by Donna Druchunas orig 21.95, will sell for $10.00
Knit One Below: One stitch, many fabrics by Elise Duvekot orig 19.95, will sell for $10.00
Swing Swagger Drape: Knit the colors of Australia by Jane Slicer-Smith orig 24.95, will sell for $12.50
Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques and patterns for one of a kind socks by Cookie A orig 22.95, will sell for $12.00
Selbuvotter: Biography of a Knitting Tradition by Terri Shea (autographed and numbered 189/500) orig 24.95, will sell for $20.00
Bags: A Knitter's Dozen from XRX Books orig 15.95, will sell for $8.00
Gossamer Webs: the History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls by Galina Khmeleva & Carol R. Noble orig 21.95 -- but now OOP, will sell for $25.00
Vogue Knitting Stitchionary: Volume 1 - Knit and Purl by Vogue Knitting orig 29.95, will sell for $17.00; Vogue Knitting Stitchionary: Volume 2 - Cables by Vogue Knitting orig 29.95, will sell for $17.00; Vogue Knitting Stitchionary: Volume 3 - Color Knitting orig 29.95, will sell for $17.00.  Or all three stitchionaries for $45.00.

Thanks for looking and if you are interested, please remember to email me.

Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Knit Picks: Independent Designer's Program


My first, and hopefully not my last, pattern in the IDP at Knit Picks ... this is a great chance for small designers like me to get their patterns published/out there to knitters everywhere.  Check it out and let me know what you think!



Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Sunday, March 07, 2010

KAL: my first finished KAL on Ravelry

I'm on Ravelry's "over 40 knitters" and the March KAL was either something green in color or idea ... I made a green/blue market bag ... and this will be the first of many since it's such a great pattern (and it's free)!  This one is in LB Cotton-ease and took me only a couple of days (with knitting a little bit on it each evening).  Very cool project and very "green" in place of those plastic bags (that seem to have babies when I'm not looking ....)


Happy knittin'
Mary C. Gildersleeve
By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs
bhwh.mary@gmail.com