By Hand, With Heart ... hand-knit designs

moving again ...

2011-05-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

.... before you faint, no we're not moving physical abodes ... we REALLY like Virginia.

But we are moving to a full website with blog and other stuff that I think you'll enjoy. So re-set your favorite to:

www.marygildersleeve.com

Thank you for reading this note and heading on over ... click around and let me know what you think (remembering of course that it is a work in progress and may still need a little bit of tweaking)!Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

THREE new designs posted today!

2011-04-28T17:24:00.000-04:00

I love Easter ... not just cuz now I can eat candy or because Jesus rose to conquer sin and death ... or even because dh has Easter week for Spring Break. I love Easter because I usually get lots of projects done. This week has been no exception .... here are THREE new designs I just posted in my Ravelry store:

Lapis Lazuli Lace Scarf (approx. 5" x 54") -- pdf download is $4.00

Royal Red Butterfly Shawl (approx. 33" x 15") -- pdf download is $5.00
NOTE: you must be able to knit from a chart for this design!

The Long and Winding Road Scarf (approx. 5" x 40") -- pdf download is $4.00

AND, I'm about two-thirds done with a cable sampler jacket! Cool, huh?

All three items above were knit with Spring Gate Farm's Cashmere(50%)/Silk(25%)/Merino(25%) blend in jewel tones. BTW, for those in the area ... I'll be at Graves Mountain Lodge's Fiber Festival on Saturday (9-4, free) with the lovely lady who breeds the cashmere goats that give us this beautiful yarn! Please stop by and say howdy ... these and other designs I've done for Spring Gate will be available as well as skeins and skeins of her lovely fiber!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Look what I received in the mail today ...

2011-04-18T19:46:00.001-04:00

It's BEAUTIFUL! More Knitting in the Sun: 32 Patterns to knit for kids is packed with wonderful knits (of all kinds) to make for kids for those hot, summer months! The designs are separated into: accessories, bottoms, sleeveless, short sleeves, long sleeves,and cardigans. My design is in the center of the cover ... Pippi's Lacy-collared top (pg 71-73) ... and the sleeveless section. Check it out ... you'll love all the designs in there!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Spring is blooming ... and so is this baby blanket!

2011-04-15T12:14:00.003-04:00

Just finished this beautiful baby blanket for a dear friend who just gave birth last week to a gorgeous baby girl.

Spring is Blooming is knit with Dale of Norway's Falk (a washable, sport-weight wool) but could also be done in a sport weight cotton! The design starts in the center with eight stitches and you keep working in circles, increasing as you go (and some of those increases are cleverly hidden within the lace panels) until you end up with 280sts and a 30" diamater baby blanket.

Spring is indeed Blooming!

NOTE: You must be able to knit from charts for this bounteous bloom.

If you'd like to download the pdf of this design, here's the link:

Spring is Blooming ($7.50)

or check out all my designs at my Ravelry store ....

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

New Design and review of the knitting retreat yesterday ....

2011-04-10T17:45:00.000-04:00

Here's a design that has just come off the blocking board, photographed and posted in my Ravelry store:

Spring Garden Wrap, done in a cashmere/bamboo blend, and a fun lace pattern. This design was so reminscent of a freshly planted garden, with it's furrows, that I just had to photograph it in front of our just-blooming dogwood!

The design, knit with Spring Gate Farm's medium weight cashmere (80%)/bamboo (20%) in a gorgeous springy sage green is perfect for all-year wear: it's got the warmth of wool with the cooling/evaporative properties of bamboo so it will be comfortable all year-round. The ends are tied and then buttoned (don't you love that button?) for keeping it closed. The construction keeps the shawlette on your shoulders, too!

$6.00 for immediate download.

Yesterday's knitting retreat hosted by Dog House Yarns out at Graves Mountain was glorious! I drove out with a dear knitting friend, chatting the whole way (which was excellent as by the time I got there, I wasn't nervous or anxious at'all!), and although the day was overcast and a bit misty, it was gorgeous! This was the first time I'd been to Graves Mountain, but it definitely won't be my last ... especially since they are having their 1st Annual "Let's Get Naked: From Toes to Clothes" fiber festival on Saturday, April 30th.

The retreat itself was well attended -- almost 50 ladies of all ages knitting away while listening to me tell them all the wonderful facts about fiber (and NOT the breakfast kind). We then had an all-you-can-eat, traditional family-food lunch (meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables au gratin, spinach salad with fresh strawberries, homemade apple cake with ice cream, etc) .... what a feast! The afternoon sessions included a few break-out/small group sessions: I facilitated a "tips and tricks" session where ladies asked me how to fix this or that which of course led to more questions and more answers; I then did an overview of short-rows: when to use them and how to do them! It was great fun.

The best part: after spending a day with wonderful folks talking about one of my most favorite subjects .... I came home to a ready dinner, a clean house and a family who missed me! What more could I want?

Next weekend, it's off to the Olde Liberty Fibre Faire in Bedford!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Support creativity and get some bang for your buck!

2011-04-04T13:19:00.001-04:00

Last week, I found out about the coolest thing ... a way to support creative efforts, fledgling artists, published designers do even more. Shannon Okey (the brains behind the phenomenal publishing house of Cooperative Press, hand-knits designer and all round amazingly creative woman) has started a month-long campaign to do even more for indie knitting designers, using a program called Kickstarter.

Here's a video that shows some of the designs that are going into the new series Shannon is publishing:

I have some designs in these upcoming books -- a set of knitted dolls for Fresh Designs: Toys and a set of southwest-inspired sofa pillows in Fresh Designs: Home.

Now, these books will be published this summer regardless of Shannon matching (or even better, beating) her goal of $5000. The important thing here ... and why I've already pledged a bit ... is that this is a chance to help an indie publisher, indie hand-knits designers, and a host of other folks do something very cool ... very creative. Any pledge, large or small (even $1) will help. There are some cool incentives for different pledge points -- including copies of the 10-book Fresh Design books!

So what are you waiting for? Go make a pledge, would ya? And thanks .... from one of many independent hand-knits designers!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

New "old" design ... September in Colorado

2011-04-02T20:01:00.000-04:00

Here's a design that was published in the online magazine, KnitCircus (Fall 2010). After six months, the design reverted to me, so I've posted it for sale in my Ravelry store.

The artist modeling September in Colorado!

Close-up of the yoke design

the full sweater

September in Colorado (sizes XS-XL) is a great exercise in colorwork/stranded knitting. An original charted yoke design contains all the colors of Colorado in September -- the green on some trees, the yellow aspen leaves, the shades of brown, and of course, the white of the "surprise" snow falls!

This design is available for immediate download for $4.99 from my Ravelry store (the link below works whether or not you're a member of Ravelry)

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

KP IDP: another design for your knitting pleasure ....

2011-03-31T14:50:00.001-04:00

... and just in time for the warmer weather:

Victoria's Tee (XS - 5X):

Paired with a close-fitting undertop or all by itself, this year-round top is sure to please. A flattering fit is obtained by the unique construction of this top: the body is knit sideways in a traditional Victorian-era lace-edging pattern and then the bodice is knit in the round, finishing off with the slight capping on the shoulder and a wide, squared-off neckline. As fun to wear as it is beautiful to look at, this design is knit with an easy care cotton-blend yarn that looks and feels wonderful to wear.

The design is $4.99 for download

from Knit Picks' site (where you can order the yarn and the design at the same time!)

order from my Ravelry store (buy now).

NOTE: This makes a nice round one-dozen designs for Knit Picks!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

Here's where I'll be in the next few weeks ...

2011-03-31T07:58:00.000-04:00

... why don't you join me?

First, on April 9th, I'll be the main speaker at Dog House Yarns 1st Annual Knitter's Retreat out at Graves Mountain. My morning talk will be on "The Ins and Outs of Using This for That" ... in other words I'll be talking about substituting yarns and how to avoid making expensive (both monetary and time) mistakes. For all of you who want to sub non-wool for a wool pattern ... or don't have the $$$ to knit up a musk-ox sweater ... this is the talk for you! We'll talk about fiber, blends, why designers use certain yarns, and generally have a wonderful time talking knitting all morning. After an all-you-can-eat luncheon, I'll be leading two break-out sessions: "short-rows" and "tips & tricks".

Then, on April 16th, I'll be heading down to Bedford, VA to participate in the Olde Liberty Fibre Faire, where all the proceeds go to Bedford Hospice House. I'll be available at two times during the day (more specific details coming) to explain short-rows and discuss substituting yarns. Stop on by and I'll be happy to talk about whatever problem, question, or issue you're having with your knitting. One of the time-slots, I'll be with Jane in the Spring Gate Farm's booth -- she'll have my cashmere patterns for sale as well as her luscious Virginia-grown/raised cashmere fiber. The other time, I'll be hosted by Leslie of Greenberry House ... she's got amazing stuff, too. Note: there will be no food available on-site at the OLFF - the organizers, in their infinite wisdom, opted to avoid having food vendors. Which means, BYOL and save the money for shopping (or there are tons of places right outside the location).

Don't you need a fiber fix? Mark your calendars, grab your needles and knitting and be sure to stop by and say hi if you are able to attend either (or both) of these fiber-rich events! Fiber -- more than a breakfast option!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

By Hand, With Heart -- hand-knit designs

bhwh.mary@gmail.com

I'm back ...

2011-03-01T06:02:00.000-05:00

... after my two-week, self-imposed internet hiatus (did you miss me?)....

I'm not sure about whether I'll get the miracle (I'm just going to leave it in God's hands), but I do know that I had a very productive two weeks -- lots of changes ahead, some book reviews to post and two new designs ready for your knitting pleasure:

"Victoria's Tee" is available for immediate download ($4.99) and is sized from XS-5X. Knit in a fingering-weight, cotton-acrylic blend, this is a great year-round top -- looks wonderful over something or alone!

Malcolum's Cluthar (very rough Gaelic translation for Malcolm's Cozy) with cap and toy cube is available for immediate download (4.99). The blanket is knit in worsted weight, organic cotton and the cap will fit a baby 0-6mo. The cube is a large, 7-inch toy with bells buried deep inside for the baby's amusement. A lovely set for a dear friend's first baby.

Oh, and for those of you in the area (or want to come visit): I'll be the morning speaker (as well as doing a couple of afternoon sessions) at Dog House Yarns' knitting retreat on April 9th out at Graves Mountain. Stop by and say hi if you're able to come out and join us!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Prayer, fasting and abstinence for a special intention ...

2011-02-13T17:41:00.001-05:00

will mean this blog will be on hiatus for the next 14 days.

We have seen a house that is available for sale ... an 1838 house that is in a perfect spot, cutting dh's commute 30 minutes EACH way, near all the friends we have down here, and more than 1.5 acres around the house (so LOTS of play area for the kids). I SOOO want to move to this house ...

BUT

we'd need a major miracle to have all things come together. In asking God's divine providence to "kick in", I am planning to fast (drinking only tea/water/coffee and not eating any sweets), to pray more (by going to daily Mass and carving an hour out of each day for prayer time), and to (and this is a BIGGIE for me) abstain from the Internet (by only checking email twice a day and not doing anything else online).

We are asking for a clear sign from God whether or not to pursue this house ...

So I will update you all on this intention on March 1st (which is also String Bean's 11th birthday). Will you please add your prayer to my self-imposed sacrifices while I'm away?

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

KP IDP: my tenth design just went up!

2011-02-11T07:11:00.000-05:00

I now have a total of 10 designs available on Knit Picks' website, the latest being the Cabled Cottage Cozies. Here are quick links to these designs (both available on the KP site and in my Ravelry store) for immediate download:

Cabled Cottage Cozies (KP - $3.99) or Ravelry $4.00

Celtic Closure in sizes XS-4X (KP - $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

Completely Cozy & Reversible Scarf for Him - (KP - $2.99) or Ravelry $3.00

Elegant Eliza Ballerina Bunny - (KP - $2.99) or Ravelry -$5.00 (the Ravelry design has Exquisite Edgar Bunny included)

Season-Spanning Cardi in sizes XS-1X - (KP $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

Fun Felted Saddlebag with matching accessories case - (KP $2.99) or Ravelry $3.00

Memories of Eire vest in sizes XS - 1X - (KP $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

My Favorite Sweatshirt and Mitts in sizes XS-5X (KP - $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

Patrick: An Irish Lad's Jacket in sizes 2T to 10 - (KP $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

Rib Tickler Hoodie in sizes XS-1X - (KP $4.99) or Ravelry $5.00

My Ravelry store has lots of other patterns for immediate download ....
check it out and let me know what you think!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

More Easter knitting ... Eliza and Edgar Bunnies!

2011-02-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a great addition to the Fabric Baskets I posted on Sunday ... Elegant Eliza and Exquisite Edgar!

These knitted bunnies are 13" and 15" inches in height and are easy for little hands to hold. Since they're made in one-piece with removable clothes, little ones can pull and play and chew and play and not tear these dolls. Knit in worsted-weight, washable cotton (the samples shown were knit using KP's Comfy Worsted), the dolls are easy-care, too!

Wouldn't your little ones love these in their Easter baskets? For $5.00 you can download this lovely pattern for both bunnies ... just click the button!

You can check out this and my other knitting designs on my Ravelry site ...

Enjoy the journey

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

Easter knitting .... a fun set of nested baskets

2011-01-30T17:13:00.003-05:00

... that are "green", too!

I just finished writing the handcrafts column for the Spring issue 2001 of mater et magistra, an issue with lots of editorial space dedicated to celebrating Easter. And what better way to celebrate than to make a set of nested basket knitted using a re-purposed sheet?

If you don't want to wait for the Spring issue (altho, if you are Catholic and have kids -- even if you DON'T homeschool them -- you probably WANT to subscribe) ... this pattern is available for immediate download from my Ravelry store
($4.00 for the pattern which includes tips on working with fabric "yarn" and other info).

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Birds in Flight ... a cowl ... a headband ... a classic!

2011-01-24T08:34:00.000-05:00

Birds in Flight cowl/headband knit in Spring Gate Farm's Lace-Fingering Weight Cashmere .... available for instant download for $5.00. This 27-stitch lace pattern is easy to memorize ... making the knitting a joy to do, especially since the yarn is 2-ply 100% cashmere ...

When only the best will do .... CASHMERE!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Latest Design: I "heart" Austria .... a vest and matching cap

2011-01-23T15:10:00.001-05:00

I "heart" Austria vest and cap is a labor of love: ten years ago, we were blessed to move to a small village an hour south of Vienna, Austria. My husband was earning a Masters degree and we lived in the shadow of an ancient Carthusian monastery, homeschooling our (then) four children. We were only able to stay two years but Austria got into our hearts, and remains there to this day.

We took home a lifetime of memories and our yougest son, born during our sojourn in Niederoesterich. Now, almost eight years later, I have finally created a design worthy of our memories.

I Heart Austria ... a vest reminiscent of the Austrian knitting -- garter stitch insulation with cable panels of lots of diamonds. The knit-in pockets and simple collar are pure Austrian. The cuffed watch cap will keep you warm even in on the Austrian slopes ... the turn-up cuff recreates the six diamond variations with a 3x3rib underneath to hold the cap close to the head and also increase insulation. The vest is sized for Sm, Med, Large, 1X and 2X; the cap is a one-size fits most adults.

Knit in a washable all wool ... this design is classic with a twist!

Enjoy ... you can purchase this pattern for immediate download from my Ravelry store (even if you're not a Ravelry member ... altho I don't know why you wouldn't be) for $5.00. You can check out my other designs if you just go ahead and join Ravelry (it's free and a treasure-trove of all things knitterly or even crocheterly)

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Blue Ridge Sunset: Simple elegance that's practical too ...

2011-01-18T06:18:00.000-05:00

Blue Ridge Sunset Hat and Scarf ... a bit of colorwork, the softness of cashmere, an elegant design ...

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Browsing Amazon's upcoming knitting titles ...

2011-01-16T05:54:00.000-05:00

I came across this one that is ready for pre-order and scheduled to be published in April/May.

More Knitting in the Sun: 24 Patterns to Knit for Kids, edited by Kristi Porter. The designs are all knit in summer-type yarns (cottons, linen, etc) for kids to wear in the summer-time. So the knitting is summer-able and so is the wearing.

Don't you love this cover .... don't you love the sweater in the middle?

That would be mine! Cool, huh?

I knew the book would be coming out this spring from Wiley but that's all I'd heard. Browsing Amazon's knitting books (ALWAYS looking for more to add to my library) ... I came across this. Was I thrilled! I also like the other designs on the cover and can't wait to see the whole book ...

I'll be posting more details as the book nears publication, but so far this is all I can share!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knitting around the world .... see what happens when ...

2011-01-12T09:21:00.001-05:00

... a bunch of knitters get together to celebrate Cardigan, Wales' 900th birthday. Isn't it wonderful? 200 knitters came together to make this wonderful visual history of Cardigan that measures 10ft x 3ft. Even the school children got involved.

I love this quote from the article:

We have used cable stitch throughout and the many threads twisted together become strong, representing our community.

Gotta love knitting!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: Debbie Bliss' Design It, Knit It: Babies ....

2011-01-07T19:47:00.000-05:00

... is definitely getting added to my rather eclectic (and large!) knitting book library. Definitely!

I love designing for babies ... some of my best-loved, most successful designs are those for babies:

Exquisite Edgar and Elegant Eliza dolls -- really easy for little hands to hold (and since they're made of washable cotton-blend, they can be wet-loved to death and still wash up well)

Hearts a Poppin' blanket -- a beautiful blanket with just a bit of lace (so it works nicely for the boys!)

Me and My Doll -- Irish Sweaters -- matching sweaters for little girls and their 18" dolls

Patrick: An Irish Lad's Jacket -- want to try an Irish sweater ... this one is down-sized to knit quickly and warm the hearts of all the boys

Jillian's Jacket and Blanket Set -- easy enough for a beginner, this set is all garter!

So I was thrilled to find out that my public library had finally gotten a copy of Debbie Bliss' new baby book. Today, I picked up Design It, Knit It: Babies from the library and have already ordered my own copy from Amazon. Yep, it's that good.

First, a disclaimer: I LOVE Debbie Bliss style -- classic, clean, gorgeous colorways. Her books are well done and sincere ... it really sounds like she knows what she's writing about (not always true with the plethora of knitting books currently available). Further, she always has a nice variety of designs -- sweaters, hats, blankets, leggings. But additionally, her Design It, Knit It books (her first, Design It, Knit It, has been well-used around here!) share her thought processes when she's designing -- and designing for babies is quite different than designing for kids or adults. As she quickly explains (the first sentence in the first paragraph): "Babies are basically tube-shaped ..." points out the difference from the get-go. Babies need comfortable ... non-fussy ... easy-on/easy-off styles that adults don't. Babies need to have diapers included in measurements as well as chubby legs!

Bliss covers it all in this volume:

sizes and shapes
soft and gentle is necessary
color
small and perfect (for preemies and newborns)
rough and tumble (once they're toddlers)
specialty dressings
embellishments
accessories -- heads, hands and toes

She then caps her book with a chapter "design workbook" which suggests options for different necklines and styles, samples of knitters' graph paper (after all sts don't usually equal rows ... thus graphing on square paper doesn't really work, does it?), charts for alphabets and intarsia work.

This really is a book worth adding to your library -- whether you have babies in the house ... due any day ... or just love to design for these wee ones. Bliss does it again!

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

The one problem with knitting ....

2011-01-04T19:49:00.001-05:00

... early on in my knitting journey (I've been knitting for over 40 years!), I vowed that I would never start the next project until the current one was done. Boy, is this tough ... I often start thinking about my next project about three-quarters of the way thru the current one so that after about 90% of a project, I'm ready to move on!

This is not a good thing. I get frustrated and want to just finish the darn thing. I know I could put it aside ... but then I know I'd NEVER finish it. So, I plug away.

This is all to say that I'm just about done with my vest (and will post the pattern soon) ... and ready to get started on my cashmere headband for Spring Gate ... here's the chart I've created to begin ...

who knows what it will look like when I'm done (it definitely won't be green and white .. altho I LOVE green!)

I'll keep you posted ....

Enjoy the journey

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

New Year's Resolution: to post more on here!

2011-01-03T06:47:00.000-05:00

So, 2011 is on its third day and I have a resolution to post more on this lovely knitting blog! The upside is I was so busy knitting the last few days that I haven't had TIME to post ... but that begs the question of posting more a bit doesn't it?

On my knitting needles: finishing a vest (originally planned to be a cardigan, but the yarn told me to stop already!) and planning my next Spring Gate Farm cashmere project -- a two-color headband.

On my reading table: re-reading for the umpteenth time Maggie Righetti's classic, Sweater Design in Plain English. This really is a must-read for anyone wanting to make sweaters that truly fit. It's a bit dated (she doesn't even mention blogs or Ravelry or much internet-y stuff) but well-worth the read. St. Martin's Press is coming out with a "second edition" in April 2011 -- I'm trying to get a review copy (and maybe a copy or two to giveaway) so I can see just what they've added (some 100 pages to the original count)! Will keep you posted.

Happy 2011 and may all your knitting time be frutiful ... may you felt when you want to (and not by accident) ... and may you show thru your love of knitting just how cool and fun it is!

Enjoy the journey!

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

KP IDP: My Favorite Sweatshirt

2010-12-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

Knit Picks just posted another of my designs .... My Favorite Sweatshirt and Mitts! This is done using KP's organic Simply Cotton worsted yarn ... which knits up like a dream and looks and feels so wonderful to wear. [This is the same sweatshirt that I completed for my NaKniSweMo project! and is also available thru my Ravelry store.]

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Merry Christmas from our house to yours ....

2010-12-24T23:06:00.001-05:00

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Designs: another in cashmere ...

2010-12-10T07:46:00.000-05:00

I just finished the fingerless mitts that coordinate with the Snow on the Mountains Scarf ... introducing the Snow on the Mountains Mitts ...

Cool, huh? You can buy the pattern from my Ravelry store or directly from Spring Gate Farm. Remember, if you buy the cashmere directly from Spring Gate, you can get the pattern free!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Designs: lots of fun to knit this one!

2010-12-09T09:18:00.000-05:00

Thanks to NaKniSweMo, I have another design ready for your knitting pleasure:

Ready to go play!

"Hoods up!"

Back of sweater is 1-1/2" lower than front ... and the cables at the top of the hood match!

My Favorite Sweatshirt and Mitts design is a fun knit ... and a comfy sweater, to boot! The sweater is knit by first making a cable panel, turning it on its side, knitting in the round and adding a sqaured-neckline, a hood and 3/4 sleeves (knit from the armhole down to mid-arm. Because so much of the sweater is knit in the round, there is VERY little finishing work (I'm lazy, what can I say?). I made a pair of matching fingerless mitts -- which are fun to knit and fun to wear!

I've sized this design for XS - 5X, so you can make one for all the ladies you know! You can purchase this design or others of mine from my Ravelry Store . Check 'em out and let me know what you think! And if you have any suggestions for designs you'd like me to do, please let me know!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Charity Knitting: Scarves for Special Olympics

2010-12-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

A good friend sent me a link to this VERY cool project organized by Red Heart and the Winter Special Olympics -- scarves for all the participants! I know this is a VERY hectic time of year for us knitters ... we're busy finishing gift-knitting for family and friends. I know this is a VERY hectic time of year for us designers ... we're busy finishing commissioned designs and drafting new submissions and generally up to our ears in work.

But a scarf doesn't take that long ... and if each one of us makes just one ... that will be many more than they would have had! So won't you take a minute ... look up your state and the requirements ... and make a scarf for one of the athletes, families or volunteers who annually make the Special Olympics a reality?

My state of Virginia needs the scarves by January 6th (mailing by December 30th) ... wouldn't that be perfect for post-Christmas dinner knitting? And it only needs to be 6" x 54" or 60".

Please let me know if you decide to participate ... and what state you're in. If you'll send me a picture of the finished scarf (or SCARVES!), I'll be happy to post 'em on here ... THANK YOU for your help in this project of love and perseverance!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

NaKniSweMo: I made it!

2010-11-30T21:21:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-24T22:52:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-24T19:35:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-24T19:28:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-24T19:13:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-11-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-11-02T16:19:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-11-01T20:18:00.002-04:00

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

Freebie .... thought you'd enjoy seeing

2010-10-19T17:57:00.000-04:00

Here's a design I just uploaded to my Ravelry pattern store:

The pattern is on as a free download .... and should be available soon through Shokay's Design Circle ... this sample is knit in Shokay's gorgeous Yak/Bamboo blend called "Orient" ...

Check out this and my other patterns (some free, some for sale) on Ravelry!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Another KP IDP ....

2010-10-14T19:13:00.001-04:00

Wow! Looking back at my records, it's been almost TWO MONTHS since I've had a design up on Knit Picks ... you all must have been wondering! Well, all is well .... I was in the midst of working on some big projects for a couple of books that will be published this next year as well as working on projects to donate for a charity fund-raiser next weekend.

That all said, I have a new pattern up in KP's IDP -- Fun Felted Saddlebag. This is a quick knit in bulky yarn on #10s, knit in the round for the body and then switching to flat knitting for the slip-stitch flap. The strap is knit right in and I even designed a mini-bag that coordinates (and hooks to the strap to avoid losing it!) Here are some pictures to whet your knitting-appetite:

I'm using mine as a knitting bag! A place for everything and everything in its place!

Please check out this and my other designs on Knit Picks or directly from my Ravelry Shop!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: Worldwide History of Dress

2010-10-09T09:57:00.000-04:00

Throughout many posts on this blog, as well as whenever ANYONE asks my opinion, I will say that my favorite kind of knitting is "ethnic" or "folk" knitting. I love the traditional styles, colors and shapes of these classic designs. Using modern yarns, with the spectrum of available colors and fibers, allows for a very nice ability to design traditional knits with a modern twist!

Where do I get ideas for designs?

Well, I've got all the books in Interweave Press's "folk knitting" series:

Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle
Folk Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski
Folk Socks by Nancy Bush
Folk Style by Mags Kandis
Folk Vests by Cheryl Oberle
Folk Bags by Vicki Square
Folk Hats by Vicki Square
Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush

as well as many others about specific country's/ethnic group's knitting styles: Fair Isle, Aran, Andean, etc and inspirational titles such as Cut My Cote and The Folkwear Book of Ethnic Clothing. And these are all great for getting the creative juices flowing or for learning traditional techniques and special stitch manipulation, but sometimes I just needed more ... more color ... more detail ... more something.

And the answer came yesterday. I just got a book (thanks to birthday gift money and Amazon credits) that far surpasses any of these books for sheer inspiration and education in all things worn to adorn. The Worldwide History of Dress by Patricia Anawalt is a huge volume (600+ pages) with drool-inducing pictures of traditional and modern wear for just about every culture in the world. The book sections are split out geographically:

Middle East
Europe
Central Asis
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Oceania
North America
South America
Africa

Published by quality book publishers, Thames & Hudson, the book has over 1000 illustrations (with about 900 in full color) with the details necessary to really see what is being worn, how it's being worn and the text tells us why it's being worn (religious, climate, spiritual and traditional). Anawalt, the founding director of the Center for the Study of Regional Dress at the Fowler Museum (on UCLA's campus), includes information such as dimensions of the garments as well as details on other adornments -- jewelry, hair styles, etc.

Talk about inspirational: the color-combinations, the shapes, the design elements ... it's just hard to imagine all this packed in this one, albeit huge, book.

The only problem: it's too fat and heavy to read in bed! So, clear the table, warm the teapot and I'll be busy the rest of the afternoon.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Fall, Fiber and Fun ... a winning combination

2010-10-04T09:56:00.002-04:00

Fall is (finally) in the air ... and this weekend proved the benefit of Fall weather. Under glorious blue skies and low-70s, Maggie and I spent the weekend out at Montpelier and the Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia. I was there to demonstrate knitting (with Maggie knitting away by my side) on both days (on the second we were treated to wonderful mountain music from a hammered dulcimer).

We also took time to make the rounds of the amazing vendors: raw wool, carded roving, hand-dyed yarns, weavings, knitted items, hooked rugs, etc! What a chance to buy bits and pieces, chat with the vendors and drool over the more expensive (at $70/skein for cashmere, that's about all I could do!). The colors of the yarns ... commercially and hand-dyed ... was almost (note, ALMOST!) overwhelming. Glorious fibers and creative dye-lots ... wow.

There were folks demonstrating drop-spindling, wheel-spinning, weaving, knitting, rug braiding and all manner of other fiber-related talents. These are some of the nicest folks I'll ever meet all in one place. In addition to swapping stories and tips, I was able to chat with a few potential clients for my knitting-design services -- a win-win for both the small producer and the designer!

On our way out on Sunday, I picked up a sweatshirt to remember this glorious fiber-filled weekend and got Maggie a needle-felting kit to try out that cool craft.

Oh, and we got the guys a large bag of so-fresh-kettle-popcorn, it was still warm! A sweet ending, no?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Brown Sheep giveaway

2010-09-27T07:30:00.000-04:00

Olof is having a Brown Sheep giveaway over on her blog.

You have until Sunday, Oct 3rd to enter ... you pick your favorite Brown Sheep yarn and color and you could win 4 skeins of the luscious stuff.

Cool, huh?

Oh, and she's giving you up to four chances to win ... so what are you waiting for?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Check this out ....

2010-09-18T16:35:00.001-04:00

... and watch this to the end ... well worth the time!

Gotta love Aardman Studios (from when we get Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep!)
HT: Boomtisca on Ravelry

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knitting Tools can come from the playroom, too ....

2010-09-07T06:58:00.001-04:00

I posted a six weeks back about some knitting tools that are worth spending the bit of extra for to ensure long-lasting quality. I have since upgraded my yarn-swift to a lovely wooden one from KnitPicks ... it was on sale and does a spectacular job while also looking lovely (a win-win, yes?)

But there are times when there are less expensive alternatives than buying the official, knitting-company made tools. Case in point: blocking mats. For $20, I can get nine 12-inch square "blocking mats" that are 3/8" thick and white. This would give me a 3x3 square of block-ability. Sounds great and not a bad plan. For another $3, I can get 60 t-pins to use with the blocking mats. Not too bad a deal and KnitPicks is always a good resource for these tools.

That said, I did an Amazon search (my go-to spot for online shopping) and found that I could get a set of four 24-inch square playmats that are 3/4" thick and blue. This gives me a 4x4 square of blockability (with an individual size of 2x2) for $23. I can also get 100 t-pins for $3. So, economically and usefulness dictated that I go with the Amazon one. And the mats/pins work like a charm:

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

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

2010-08-25T16:49:00.000-04:00

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 ...

2010-08-19T20:44:00.001-04:00

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 ...

2010-08-12T19:32:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-11T07:11:00.000-04:00

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 ...

2010-08-04T09:47:00.001-04:00

... 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

2010-08-01T15:45:00.000-04:00

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

Knit Picks: another design is up!

2010-07-29T13:06:00.001-04:00

If it's Thursday, it must be time for another Knit Picks upload of new patterns to their Independent Designers Program ... this week's crop includes my salute to the Emerald Isles: Memories of Eire vest.

The waistband is knit in one long strip, turned on its side, and then the body of the vest is picked up .... there are lots of cables, knit-purl texture stitches, and even a knit-purl celtic knot, to test your knitting skills. This vest is sized for Misses' XS, S, M, L, and XL. The sample is knit using KP's City Tweed HW ... which is lovely to work with and is a blend of merino, alpaca and Donegal tweed.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Tips & Techniques: Yarn Balls

2010-07-27T19:12:00.000-04:00

Many folks I know like to make balls of yarn from the skeins they've purchased in the store. Even if the skein is a "pull skein", they'll often be found winding .... and winding .... and winding.

Me? If it's a pull-skein, I just get right to the fun of the knitting ... but if it's a loop of yarn, than I too like to make them into perfectly shaped yarn balls. Although, my balls are not round, but rather pancake or straight-lined donut shaped. This allows for pulling the yarn from the center ... the yarn donut doesn't roll about the floor picking up dust-bunnies in it's wake ... and I have a pretty display of yarn for inspiration!

Aren't they beautiful ... and it took only 20 minutes to wind over 1000 yards of yarn!

I use an umbrella swift and ball-winder set that I've had for years. An umbrella swift is just what it's name implies: an umbrella like construction (that telescopes out or in) and spins around to quickly wind yarn. Here's one of the skeins on my swift:

The kids LOVE to watch this thing spin (I'm still trying to figure out why!) and it holds a large skein of yarn. The one I have is plastic and metal and does a great, fast job.

I'm saving my design funds for a wooden swift like this one .... which is gorgeous and not too awfully expensive as far as a knitting tool I'll use for years (sound believable? I've already started working on dh about this one ...). The ball-winder I have and have used with NO problems for at least 11 years is this one and there are many out there very similar (Knit Picks and Lion Brand both carry similar ones in their catalogs).

Now, you may be wondering why ANYONE would spend almost $100 for tools like this (especially when yarn could be purchased with that money). Well, sometimes good tools are worth their weight in gold ... and this is one of those occasions. As my design work has increased, so has the quality and cost of my yarn. I want to treat it the best way I can. Winding a center-pull skein is the best way to handle wool or other natural-fiber yarns because the yarn is under the least amount of tension this way ... this is why you NEVER want to wind a "hard ball". That wool or cotton will be stretched ... knit in a stretched and stressed condition ... and will ultimately relax and go into it's natural position, and you're hand-knit will never measure right! Trust me ... treat your yarn right and you'll have a beautiful product at the end.

So altho the initial outlay is amazing ... the tools last a LONG time and more than pay for themselves. My almost $100 investment some 11 or 12 years ago has allowed me to quickly wind yarn (without having to have someone hold a skein on their hands and fuss the whole time!) the correct way for all those years (and in MANY different localities). A win-win!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knit Picks: a two-fer!

2010-07-08T13:34:00.002-04:00

How cool is this? Just got word that TWO of my designs are now up at Knit Picks for your knitting pleasure:

Rib-tickler Hoodie (yep, that's yours truly wearing it) ... here are some more shots of the really fun and comfy hoodie

Patrick: An Irish Lad's Jacket (sized from 2T - 10) ... here are more pictures of that little cutie!

Let me know what you think ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

New Pattern Uploaded: Tiffany's Topper

2010-06-29T17:14:00.000-04:00

Tiffany's Topper is a perfect knit for the summer-time ... knit with Lion Brand's Cotton-ease (cotton/acrylic blend), this is knit from the top down. The pattern describes how to make this from a small to XXL for all the women in your life!

Check out my pattern store at Ravelry or on Etsy for this and other great designs that embrace knitting traditions with a modern twist!

Enjoy the adventure!

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design (How to Keep Your Knits About You)

2010-06-26T21:36:00.000-04:00

Very few things please me more than a well-written book about knitting ... when the book is also about knit design, and being a "professional" at that, well I just devour a book like that! And Shannon Okey's latest didn't let me down at'all!

The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design is one of those absolutely unassuming books ... some might even pass it by due to its dull and text-booky look. But don't! Okey's siganture-style wit and wisdom emanates from every page in this book!

First off, this is not a book about designing -- there are lots of great books about designing your own knitwear (some I often recommend include Deborah Newton's Designing Knitwear, ANY of Elizabeth Zimmermann's books especially Knitting Without Tears or Knitting Around, Shirley Paden's Knitwear Design Workshop: The Comprehensive Guide to Handknits, Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook, and the eternal classic Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (quite a justifiable claim in my mind!) cover every aspect of designing great hand-knits.

No, Okey's book is purely about putting the "professional" into knitting design. She starts out with defining what "professional design" is all about ... mentioning a few names of real pros (and the last chapter is pure interviews with some of the best knitting designers and support folks in the business!). She then goes on to describe social media and their many benefits to running a design business -- going way beyond the social, time-wasting and delving into this new-age way of marketing. [On a side note ... I'm now twittering as MaryGKnits ...!]

The next few chapters discuss the knitty-gritty, business side of things including accounting, writing proposals, finding professionals for help (yes, we all need to pay a pro occasionally!) and copyright and contract issues. Other chapters develop how to write patterns (including suggestions about design software), making sales (and who should do this for you!), advertising, where to get truly educated, professional organizations (including the Association of Knitwear Designers, a grand group of folks I've been pleased to be a member of since before the millenial-change when it was still called the Professional Knitwear Designers' Guild!). The last third of the book is devoted to interviews with some 32 (!) of the best and the brightest in the professional-side of knitting design work: designers, publishers, editors, tech-editors, etc. Some of these folks you may never "meet" ... and yet they all have valuable advice and wisdom to share with the reader.

As you can see, I really like this book -- I've already implemented a few of her suggestions, have pages marked for further research and plan on pulling out this book at least on an annual basis to re-vamp my work. That said, I wish she had done a few things:

the book is very techy -- there are NO graphics except the cover. It is loaded with text and wisdom and advice ... but it's definitely got more of a feel of a text book than a coffee-table, eye-candy look
there is no index! I can't stand books without indices -- I'm willing to put up with it for this particular book ... but it means my copy of this particular book will be dogeared, pencil-marked, sticky-noted so I can find the right quote, reference or advice I need.
because Shannon is young and caters to the young X-gen (maybe Y-gen ... who knows) batch of knitters, she tended to talk with the newer designers. I wish she had interviewed some of the "old school" ... the contemps of Elizabeth Zimmermann who paved the way for those of us who grew up in the 70s, drooling over their wool sweaters, and tried to imitate them ...

Definitely give this book a "two-thumbs up" for being informative and well-worth the cover price, the time to read and the shelf-space to keep it nearby. Enjoy!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: In Praise of the Needlewoman: Embroiderers, Knitters, Lacemakers and Weavers in Art

2010-06-21T21:01:00.000-04:00

I found a GREAT book the other day that proves that knitting truly is an art-form; proof of such is that this simple, domestic act is celebrated in true art -- paintings by some of the best! Don't believe me? Check out In Praise of the Needlewoman: Embroiders, Knitters, Lacemakers and Weavers in Art by Gail Carolyn Sirna proves this much better than I can ... with over 80 paintings depicting women stitching, knitting, lace-making, weaving or doing just about any other needle-plying activity! These are gorgeous paintings and I'm already planning to use this book as a spine for our homeschool next fall: picture study using the artists portrayed in this book .. a different artist each 3-4 weeks ... and analyzing their styles and picture sources and messages. Cool, huh????

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knit Picks: another design is up!

2010-06-17T17:03:00.000-04:00

This Season Spanning Cardi is one of my favorite sweaters!

Above is the knitted sample I made using Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worsted in Wavy Heather. This yarn knits up like a dream and the colors are gorgeously soft ... just the kind of palette I really enjoy.

Here's the original knitted with Lion Brand's Cotton-ease ... which many have seen me wearing and which always gets rave reviews when I wear it ...

Lovely, eh?????

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: library finds worth buying!

2010-06-11T07:55:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about having a blog is that I can give my opinions an airing. Case in point: knitting books! Knitting is "hot" right now ... as evidenced by the plethora of knitting books on the market. Separating the wheat from the proverbial (and ubiquitous) chaff can be tough. I've found some really poorly executed, many over-priced, and others just BLECH! But some of the crop are really well-done and worth adding to a personal knitting library.

When browsing at the public library the other day, I discovered two books that fall into this latter category:

Knitting New Scarves: 27 Distinctly Modern Designs by Lynne Barr.
Knitted Toy Tales: Irresistible characters for all ages by Laura Long

Let's start with the scarf book. I'm normally not one much for scarf books. What's the point? How tough is it to make a strip of knitted fabric that will fit around one's neck???? But this book is a "sleeper". This book is much more than a book of typical, ordinary, blah scarves. Barr does an amazing job of bringing her reading public to a new level -- the stitch techniques rival Unexpected Knitting's uniqueness and artistry. These scarves are true pieces of art. To be honest ... I would probably never make these scarves as scarves. They're a bit too funky and outre for me. BUT, I would use Barr's various unique techniques in hand-knit designs -- purse embellishments, sweater designs or even for large afghans. The ideas abound when browsing through this little gem. Barr opens knitting to new horizons with her twists and turns and needle/yarn interplay. Sensational!

I'm a sucker for knitted toys -- I think it's a great way to share the art of knitting with kids of all ages and to make something unique and memorable for the recipient. Laura Long's book, Knitted Toy Tales, is a sight to behold and one of the best I've seen. And I know what of I speak: I've designed knitted toys which often get compliments: Elegant Eliza the Ballerina Bunny, Pinocchio, Tully Greyshanks. I've done bunnies and bears and penguins and even a cow or two (with matching binkies, of course!). But Long's book has wonderfully creative toys ... each different than the last (some knitted toys books are just the same design dressed differently 8-< !). Long has bunnies, bird, frogs, Matroyshka dolls, bears, pigs, snakes, mice, elephants, fish, penguins, and even Eward Lear's owl and the pussycat in their very own knitted boat! Very cool stuff that again gets my designer mind working overtime! Long uses unique construction to make the toys look right (adding fabric and other embellishments to really make these heirloom gifts). Highly recommend this one!

Check back periodically for other knitting book reviews ... I'll try to post at least a couple each month ... the good, the bad and the ugly!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

It's coming ....

2010-06-09T12:32:00.001-04:00

... where will you be June 12th thru June 20th? Wherever you are, join knitters the world over and go ahead, knit in public! I always knit in public (for instance, last night at fencing practice and today while waiting for my son to finish serving a funeral) .... and occasionally get the proverbial "fish eye" but usually it becomes a chance to "evangelize" about the joys of knitting!

I love the slogan for WWKiPD ....

Better living through stitching together.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Designs: some of my patterns for sale ...

2010-06-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

... over at my Ravlery store.

I'm SLOWLY (I mean, slowly) getting some of my designs up on my Ravelry page. As of today, I have 11 patterns listed -- some for sale and some freebies. I've planned the month of June to get at least three new designs up a week ... maybe more! So check back often.

Oh, and let me know what you think!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet AND Book of Wool

2010-05-29T14:34:00.000-04:00

As I get older, the knitting books that interest me are pretty much of the technique variety -- the kind of book that speaks to the art of knitting through creative construction, distinctive details, or unique yarns. Often, I'll check-out the book from the library to make sure I truly want to spend the ever-increasing amount for a printed copy ... and more often than not, I end up not quite excited about the book and put it aside.

But, this week's "library lode" was a different story: two books really stand out from the pack and will be added to my personal library as soon as I can get the bucks to buy 'em.
First, we have 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet: a collection of beautiful blooms for embellishing garments, accessories and more by Lesley Stanfield. Let me mention at the outset that of the 100 flowers (Stanfield's definition of "flowers" includes leaves, fruits and vegetables as well as flowers), only 40 are knitted. But the crocheted items could certainly be knit -- just fiddled with a bit to get the same idea as the crocheted version. This book is definitely "eye candy" for the fiber artist -- lots of beautiful blooms in gorgeous yarns! Stanfield (and her publisher) did a great job on the layout and design of the book (but why can't book publishers make this style book spiral- or comb-binding to allow for the book to lay flat????). The directions are clear and quite easy to follow while the beginning technical details (choosing yarns, needle sizes, etc) are quite well-written. While going through this book I could come up with at least a dozen projects where these embellishments would add so much: holiday place-settings (set of placemats, napkin rings and place-card holders), little girl sweaters, fun hats, etc, etc. The designs are done in close-to-realistic shades, but there is certainly no reason why a designer couldn't play with nature and use the flower designs to make white-on-white snowflakes, golden bells from the tulip-shaped flowers, etc. The creative mind thrives on this kind of book!

The second book I received for this week's library run sounds super dull -- even the cover is a bit ho-hum. But the content ... WOW! The Knitter's Book of Wool: the ultimate guide to understanding, using and loving this most fabulous fiber by Clara Parkes is definitely my next book purchase! This book, beautifully published by Potter Craft, covers every aspect of wool: anatomy of the fiber, turning wool into yarn (and each step along the way), specific information about each of the sheep breeds and their characteristics, what blends well (and not so well) with wools, patterns which show wool to their best advantage (some are designed by Parkes but most are other designers' patterns), and a wonderful resource section that includes breeders, processors, recommended further reading and "care and feeding" of wool. I really like this book -- a great reference for even this veteran knitter who loves different types of wool and now has a better understanding of WHY! A personal thank you to Potter Craft -- I love how they produce their books on thick, matte paper so that the book is easy to read (no glare), the pictures can be seen in great detail and the overall feel of the book is that Potter Craft, too, believes that this book will become a classic on the shelves of fiber artists! [BTW, Parkes mentions a book that Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson are working on for Storey: an "encyclopedic fiber reference book"! Cool huh?]

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: Phoebe's Sweater

2010-04-21T07:52:00.000-04:00

I just posted this on my family/learning blog, but wanted to add it here so that my knit-only readers could see this beautiful new book ...

I have a new favorite picture book ... this one combines beautiful, gentle illustrations, with a beautiful gentle story with beautiful knitting patterns at the end ... hmmmm, wonder why I like it so much!

Phoebe's Sweater, the first book from hand-knits designer Joanna Johnson, is a book that raises the bar of what a good picture book could and should be. The story is a sweet story of Phoebe Mouse. Her mom can't play with her so much now as Phoebe is soon to get a sibling. But her mom can knit for her! And her mom knits her a beautiful hooded sweater that keeps Phoebe cozy all through the Fall. A lovely story of family and playing and being outside and loving life.

But, wait, there's more ...

Phoebe and her family are drawn in lovely soft colors by the author's husband, a graphic artist, in his first attempt at book illustrations. He has talent. The illustrations would delight any child ... and have mine trying to imitate the artwork! If you click on Phoebe's Sweater, you can see inside the book and gaze at the illustrations yourself (if you don't believe me).

But, wait, there's more ...

The author didn't stop at the end of the book ... she gave the readers a wonderful gift: knitting directions to make child-sized versions of Phoebe's sweater, knitting directions for making a doll-sized version of the sweater, AND knitting directions for making Phoebe mouse! How cool is that????? String Bean is not going to wait for me to make her a Phoebe ... she is going to attempt the pattern on her own.

What more could I want from a picture book ... knitting, great illustrations, a lovely story ... Oh, and in case you get this book and like this story ... Joanna Johnson has set up a blog so you can follow Phoebe on the Road!

Doesn't that sound like a wonderful book? The knitted sweater, a hoodie that is nice and long, is designed for sizes 2,4 and 6 ... altho it looks like it is roomy enough to fit a little bit older child. The Phoebe Mouse toy stands 16" and comes with her own knit-from-the-top down dress. A very cute design!

I'm thinking Phoebe needs to become friends with my own Elegant Eliza ... the adventures they would have!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Designs: baby stuff ...

2010-03-29T15:25:00.000-04:00

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

Knitting Books: de-stashing ... part 2

2010-03-26T08:37:00.000-04:00

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

Meet my new assistant Duffy ...

2010-03-24T13:03:00.000-04:00

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

Knit Picks: another of my designs

2010-03-18T13:55:00.001-04:00

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

Yarn post ....

2010-03-17T08:20:00.000-04:00

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 ....

2010-03-17T07:35:00.002-04:00

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

Knitting Books: de-stashing ...

2010-03-14T18:21:00.000-04:00

... 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

Knit Picks: Independent Designer's Program

2010-03-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

Completely Cozy & Reversible Scarf for Him!

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

KAL: my first finished KAL on Ravelry

2010-03-07T17:15:00.001-05:00

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

Snow makes for GREAT designing/knitting time!

2010-02-10T12:37:00.002-05:00

We are having some wonderful snow days .... starting on Friday, the 5th, we are now on our 5th day of lots of snow on the ground. We were only off-power for about 24hours (when we high-tailed it to Raleigh to stay with dear, dear friends) ... so now all is good. The kids are building an igloo and a "luge" run in the back while dh shovels the latest snow-fall.

Me?

I'm doing what any self-respecting mom/wife would do -- baking bread, cookies and cakes; keeping the house cozy warm; and, of course ... knitting. Knitting up a storm, as it were!

Our last snow-filled weekend, (January 30-31), I designed and knitted a few things for a niece's first baby.

Introducing, the "Eliza Collection" ...

A bevy of booties! These five pair of booties ... in graduated sizes ... are all knit in Dale of Norway's Falk - a washable 100% wool that knits up beautifully and will hold up nicely to lots of washing.

Ruffles

Heart sox

Baby-tears

Lavender and Lace

Ballet Flats

But the piece de resistance ... the real glory of the "Eliza Collection" is

Miss Bellissima Bunny the Ballerina. Inspired by a design by Lucinda Guy in her book, And So to Bed, mine is knit all in one piece (except for the removable circle skirt).

Wearing a knitted-in pink leotard, Bellissima is 15-inches long. She is a very cuddly bunny with her stuffed belly and her flat appendages.

Her full-circle dancing skirt is fun to knit -- all garter, short-row shaping making the circle with eyelets for a drawstring waist.

A sweet face, embroidered before stuffing, completes are little ballerina. She is knit in a washable cotton-blend yarn and is made to withstand anything Miss Eliza does to her.

So what do you think of the "Eliza Collection"?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Small projects ... keeping me out of trouble

2010-01-29T06:26:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of the small projects I've just finished up:

This is a baby set for the latest arrival to our dear friends ... this is their 8th baby and I always like to do something special when the family is large to remind myself just how precious each gift-from-God is! These are knit with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes ... so they're 100% wool but are soooooo cozy.

Ballet Hair Snoods for two little friends who love ballet but hate having their hair put up. I'm hoping these help their mom with getting the girls ready for class. These are knit in a Dale of Norway Falk (a washable wool) which is a dream to use for knitting.

Lest you think I'm just doing little projects ... I just sent off a submission to Vogue for "Memories of Eire" vest made in washable worsted-weight wool. It's a beautiful sage green color that my lovely MIL gave me for Christmas. I also submitted Patrick the Leprechaun as a sample for a Santa Doll for the Holiday 2010 issue of Knit Simple .... we'll see if they like either design.

Right now I'm knitting for my niece's first child ... a girl who is due on 2/15/10. I just wish I could knit faster (or more) as everytime I'm about half-way thru with one thing for this bundle of joy, I think of something else I want to add ....

What fun designing and knitting for wee ones!

Hope you're knitting muse is keeping you busy ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Small projects I've been working on ...

2010-01-19T07:55:00.000-05:00

These were made for Christmas gifts this past season (but I couldn't post them till everyone had rec'd them!). These jar cozies really make a neat, unusual gift. I got a cute snowman fabric -- that serendipitously was designed with circles that just fit the lids -- and glued fabric to the tops of these small mason jars. The cozies are made with wool and a quick-to-memorize lace pattern. The larger jar is filled with potpurri while the smaller jar contains a votive candle. Here's how the candle looks lit ...

2010 looks to be a very productive knitting year. Here are some of the projects I've finished already and we just passed the half-way point for January:

Twinkletoes -- toe-up, two-at-a-time socks in Dale of Norway's washable wool (Falk). String Bean loves these socks as her new pink is purple (if you know what I mean ;-' ). Since she has such an odd foot (long, skinny toes, high arch, narrow foot), it looks like I might need to make a lot of these -- they're the first that really fit her.

This is a hat I finished for LegoManiac on Sunday. I made him an earlier version that just didn't fit right -- it would slip side-ways to cover one ear and just wasn't right. So ... that is relegated to the let's-remember-the-mistakes pile ... and I started a new hat while watching the Saints cream the Cardinals. Productive game and very productive knitting ... and Lego Maniac loves the new chapeau. It's a 3x3 rib that slowly decreases (every 8 rows after the initial 4 inches or so, at the rate of k3togs in 5-multiples) up to the knotted blip at the top to create a bit of a bull's eye pattern. The yarn is double-stranded Knit Picks "Essentials" (renamed "Stroll") which has a lovely feel and is a washable wool.

I'm also putting the finishing touches on an aran-inspired vest for me made of gorgeous pale green washable wool my dear MIL gave me for Christmas. I'll post pictures as soon as I tuck in ends, sew on buttons and fix it up nicely!

Enjoy the journey with your knitting muse ... now off to enjoy mine ....

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Roadtrip Sox: Last knitting of 2009

2010-01-01T11:15:00.000-05:00

Here are my Roadtrip Socks ... I started them just before leaving South Carolina (after a fabulous post-Christmas visit), continued them on the road to North Carolina .... worked on them while visiting with dear friends in Raleigh ... and then finished them up as we headed north back to the Old Dominion!

I made toe-up, two-at-a-time, short-row heel and then a loose bo (by doubling the yarn for the last round of ribbing and then bo). I used 2 skeins of Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes in "evergreen" -- a rich, dark forest-green and knit them on US#2 needles (so it's a pretty firm sock -- perfect for winter or hiking boots during the summer).

These socks are for me ... I like to do a ribbed foot (this one is 2x2 rib) so that it hugs my high arch and fits my Fred-Flinstone-ish feet. After the short-rowed ss heel, I inc the knit portion of the ribs to 3sts and then do a twist stitch cable for the leg ... bo'ing off loosely to ensure the sock will fit well on my calf.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

GWOY: January 2010 Swatches

2009-12-31T14:12:00.000-05:00

I love knitting swatches for the GWOY at the semi-annual TNNA trade show! I have been doing these swatches for years and have included pictures of them on this blog for the past couple of years: January 2007, January 2008, January 2009, and June 2009 . This gives me such a wonderful chance to play with new fibers that I might not even hear about otherwise! I also get a chance to try out some stitch-patterns or ideas that are roaming around my head ... as there is always so much up there that never makes it to the needle or a final project -- swatches are a great solution.

This time I asked Heidi at Trendsetter Yarns (the company that organizes the GWOY) to send all fingering weight yarns ... I just didn't want to mess with novelty yarns this time. I love the classic look of even new fibers (such as POSSUM!) and how you can update them with styling and color.

Here are the swatches I did for this go-round:

I received two yarns from Zealana Yarns:

Kiwi -- 40% NW merino, 30% organic cotton, 30% possum. This yarn (this is "tussock", a sage/mustard color) knits up beautifully and really shows great stitch definition. I knit the swatch on US#3s and this would make such a great year-round sweater/top!

Rimu -- 60% NZ merino and 40% possum. Who'd a thunk possum would make such a gorgeous yarn? I received a ball of Paru Brown that just begged to be knit in a lace "tree" pattern. The yarn is soft but holds a nice stitch-definition using US#4 needles.

Origin Cachemire is a yarn distributed by Bergere de France and is lovely -- but made of 90% cashemere and 10% wool, what would you expect? I used US #4 needles and knit a small sock with a textured (knit/purl) design. The sock is knit toe-up with a short-rowed garter heel. Wouldn't you love a pair of cashemere socks? This yarn would also knit up into a nice, year-round weight sweater.

Firefly from Classic Elite is a lovely yarn made of 75% viscose and 25% linen. Stiff to the feel, it knits beautifully and once washed, the linen softens slightly but still keeps the great stitch-definition necessary when doing lace patterns. Here, knit on US#5s, I did a lace-rib pattern with slowly decreasing purl ribs (down to 1 purl between) than increasing to 7 purls between the lace columns. I can see this yarn as gorgeous summer top with a fitted waist.

Be Sweet's Cotton Candy is an 100% organic cotton yarn that is hand-dyed and balled by women in a South African co-op. This yarn is beautiful -- the color, the feel, the knittability. This colorway is called Greens-Mix and is a beautiful blend from a pale yellow-green through to a very blue-green. I did the knit-purl texture "hem" and a lace-arches above -- seeing a spring/summer top. I love the way the color-patches follow the flowing lines created by yo's and k3togs! I used US#5 needles to create this swatch and the "hand" was perfect.

Enjoy these new yarn offerings and revel in the ability we have today to create with fibers as diverse as between possum and organic cotton from South Africa! Get a ball of something unique and test-drive it by doing a swatch and seeing if you like it ... and please, let me know what cool yarns you discover!

BTW, I challenged myself to only use Lisl Fanderl's Bauerliches Stricken 1 for the stitch patterns, playing with different stitches and ideas until finding just the right one that would show off the yarns in a unique or clever way. The three volumes in this set are easy to use even though the books are written in German -- the patterns are all charted and the symbols are easy to figure out. Lots of fun, traditional patterns based on hand-knit items from the Alpine regions of Germany and Austria.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Designs: latest off the needles ...

2009-12-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

Well, I just finished off these Julenisse socks ... literally, just tucked in all the ends and they are ready to wash and block. I just couldn't wait to show 'em off, though! I do toe-up, 2-at-a-time on circs ... this allows me to change the pattern as I go. These have a striped toe (yellow and cream), a solid, smooth charcoal grey foot, short-rowed garter stitch heel, cabled leg and then a bit of two-color patterning on the cuff. The red in the cuff design remind me of the Norwegian knitting during WW2 -- to thumb their noses a bit at the occupation Nazis, the Norwegians added a bit of red to all their knitting! BTW, the name "Julenisse" is Norwegian for "Christmas elf".

One of the problems that often occurs with cables in socks and two-color knitting is the need to increase neatly so the cables fit the leg. Here, after finishing the heel, I increased from 48 to 60 sts to accomodate the 6-stitch cable pattern (4 cable twist sts + 2 purl sts). The purl sts make a "rib" that helps form to the leg.

The two-color knitting portion is started right after the 6th twist; I then do a final charcoal purl row, increasing 8 sts for a total of 68 sts for the cuff. Since these socks will come up about mid-calf, I need a bit more and the two-color knitting will pull in slightly. Note, I REALLY need to work on my round joins on the two-color portion (lower sock in the above picture) -- hopefully, when the socks are worn, no one will notice the "jog" as I'll wear it the socks so the jogs are on the inside as I walk.

A further consideration when knitting socks like these is the finish work: make sure the inside looks as neat as the outside: all ends should be tucked in, the carrying for the two-color knitting should be even and NOT tight. All bits and pieces need to be as smooth as possible to ensure a comfortable wearing.

These socks are knit with Dale of Norway's Falk -- a washable wool -- knit on #2s. 48 sts for the foot; 60 for the cabled leg; 68 for the cuff.

Here's a close-up of the knitting on the cuff ... loose but not too loose, ends tucked in and out of the carries to ensure a smooth fit.

Another project, that I had to put these aside for a bit to complete, were NINE hair-bun covers for String Bean's ballet class in co-op. I needed to finish these in time for Wednesday (12/2) dress rehearsal, with the performance on the 9th. This is our Christmas gift to these wonderful girls ... the design was fun to create and the knitting went pretty fast -- just something that I had to do at night when I could make one in about 2-hours worth of movie-watching.

They came out nicely ... I'll post pictures of the performance -- making sure to get pictures of the girls' hair! These are knit on #4 dpns using Vanna's Glamour from Lion Brand -- an acrylic yarn with a bit of sparkle twisted with the yarn.

So, what are you knitting?

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: Color by Kristin

2009-11-24T07:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received an order from Amazon (UPS loves me!) with this latest book from color-expert Kristin Nicholas. Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits is a feast for the eyes and gets my knitting thoughts going. This is the kind of book I would love to write ... where I can play with color and create gorgeous masterpieces and help others do the same.

Yep, that's what Nicholas has accomplished in this 170+ page book.

Ever since I was little, I've loved knitting with multiple colors. Even with the early, plastic-y acrylics (that were in colors not exactly from the natural world), I would knit COLOR! Partially this was due to my need to reuse/recycle from not having a lot of the "ready" to buy fresh yarn. For me, the process was the thing ... knitting or crocheting the item and then ripping to make something else were pretty standard procedure for me back then.

Now that I can afford to buy fresh yarn ... and even the natural "real" stuff ... I find that I am still using up bits from past projects, adding the spectrum to an otherwise dull design, creating beauty from the tints and tones available now. Nicholas' book and knitting philosophy fits right in with this. She loves color and rarely uses black or white as those make a design "too neutral". She embellishes her two-color-per-row designs with simple embroidery stitches (often using duplicate stitch) to give greater depth and zing to the item.

And boy, does she do it well!

The book starts out with a chapter on the "Joy of Color", giving a brief description of the color-wheel (using yarn as the colors to help the knitter link the usually flat color wheel to real yarn), where to find color combinations (nature is one of the best and cheapest ways), and finally, the importance of swatching to test the colors. This chapter gives the reader all she/he needs to begin exploring color.

Nicholas than goes on to explain two-stranded knitting in the round (many call it "Fair Isle" altho the technique transcends that small Scottish island), steeking and "dressing" (blocking and finishing treatments). Starting on something small ... like a draft-blocker or child's sampler sweater will give the knitter the confidence to do a bigger project or even design their own 2-color pattern blocks.... which is where the third chapter comes in: designing fair isle knits explains symmetry, graphing, simple to complex designs, etc. There is a "designer sourcebook" in the back of the book, broken into stitch-multiples to get your graphing skills jump-started.

Next come the projects ... 25+ projects, otherwise known as knitter's eye-candy!

I'm not a direction-follower and rarely would do a pattern exactly from another designer. That's just not in me. But Nicholas' designs have me re-thinking that philosophy a bit. Her designs are gorgeous but I can make them as described and STILL make them my own (by changing the color-stitch design ... or colorway ... or adding/deleting the embroidery embellishment). And she has tips throughout these gorgeous items to get you designing on your own.

I especially like that Nicholas' designs are not limited to knit-wear ... she has pillows, chill-stoppers, and even an ottoman cover. Photographed at her farm in Massachusetts, you can see that Nicholas designs what she loves and uses .... and that comes through in her writing, too. If you love what you do, your enthusiasm transcends the page to reach the heart of the reader!

Now, I'm off to start collecting colors ... swatching ... and first, deciding which item I'm going to try first: the over-the-top shawl ... slipper socks ... knitter's tote ... java jacket ... best friends pullovers ... laptop cozy ... southwest style sleeved wrap ... marrakesh market pillows ....

So much knitting ... so little time! But GREAT Christmas gift ideas.

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Review: New Stranded Colorwork

2009-10-30T21:38:00.001-04:00

Today, we got a few boxes from Amazon (BamBam's birthday is the end of next month ...) and one of the books was actually for me ... and about knitting. I just spent the last couple of hours since dinner reading this book ... drooling over this book ... and plotting my next project!

Mary Scott Huff's newest book, The New Stranded Colorwork: Techniques and Patterns for Vibrant Knitwear is an amazing mix of knitter's "eye candy", glorious and unique use of color and traditional/classic designs that mean that this book will be usable for a knitter for many years to come.

Personally, I bought the book because I fell in love with the pattern on the right front cover: Norwegian Blue is a gorgeous combination of blues, taupe and a blaze of red! Wow!

But as I first browsed through the book, I found many more beauties: Timberline (which is knitted for a man, but I'd make it for myself!), Kjersten (a gorgeous jacket in green and black with accents of red and orange that look great rather than gaudy), Kiss that Frog (which would be a great sweater for one of my boys), the Johnny Jump-up Leg Warmers (which would be a perfect Christmas present for my little ballerina), the Bee's Knees (which , altho it's designed for a toddler, I would make for my String Bean who LOVES bees but I would change the border from sage green to a pretty pink), and the lovely, final design which is called Wedding Belle and is meant for the Bride once she realizes that the gorgeous gown she chose is a bit nippy and needs something other than her groom's jacket! These are gorgeous.

The really cool thing about this book ... for me, who can't follow directions/rules to save my life ... is that the design motifs are charted. So, I can lift a piece from here and an element from there, with a color scheme from another and I've got a unique sweater or hat or leggings or socks or whatever!

I also love that she's got very clear and concise directions for the techniques she's used throughout. And some of these techniques are extremely unique to Ms. Huff -- she suggests making two sleeves at one time by casting on the sleeve stitches together, with steeks between and then slicing, sewing and finishing off the sleeves! Genius! She also clearly describes how to add the traditional (but optional) ribbon bands to the sliced fronts and recommends a certain kind of thread that "buries itself into the knitting without kinking" -- cool, huh?

I do have one small quibble ... the Koi Vest (that's shown on the front left cover) hasn't been finished properly ... the armhole flares out and should pull-in (either a case of the shoulder sts not being slanted properly or the facing band being too thick -- either way, a detail that should have been rectified especially as it is featured on the cover ).

Also, the felted bag that is shown on the front cover is an oddity that doesn't fit with the other designs -- a case of "which of these items doesn't go with the others"? It's a very funkey design, with its flower appliques and neon color scheme while all the others are classic styles with colorwork that, well ... works!

Hmmm ... I wonder what they were thinking?

Even those couple of designs aside ... check out this book -- it really is a great addition to my knitting library!

Happy knittin'

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

Designing: books and software resources

2009-10-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I went up to a local Catholic school and talked for a full 45-minutes (which was NOT enough time) about knitting and bending/breaking the "rules" and designing your own. I brought some of my "library" with me, but thought I'd do a full post about all the great resources out there for hand-knits design.

Software:
I didn't mention this in class ... but I should have. Software is not a necessity but a really great "nice to have". I like that the software does much of the number-crunching/drudge type stuff so I have more time to knit -- always a good thing. There is a company called Knitting Software which has some of the best, easiest to use, most versatile design software out there. Carole Wulster (and now her family, too) started this company back in 1990 ... a computer programmer and knitter, she created the first version of Sweater Wizard (now in Version 3)... than went on to create other software tools for knitters. I was blessed to be able to help beta-test some of these software programs over the years and have used them extensively in my own design work for the past 15 years or so. Here are all the software available to help knitters design so we can spend our time KNITTING!

Stitch and Motif Maker -- to chart textured or colored stitch patterns (some books STILL don't chart these and it is so much easier for us visual folks to see what the stitch should look like rather than trying to follow the words (or worse, abbreviations and symbols!)
Sock Wizard -- to design socks that fit! You can input foot length, ankle diameter, leg length, whatever to get a sock pattern that really fits
Knitting Math Wizard -- for quickly "doing the math" of placing even decreases or increases, getting the appropriate angle for sleeves, etc
Print-a-Grid -- for printing out graph-paper blanks that is exactly what your gauge is -- the right sts and rows to the inch so you can really see what the pattern will look like (especially great when graphing intarsia or picture knitting)
Swatch Wizard and Mitten Glove Wizard -- these are two new programs that I haven't used yet but look great. Swatch Wizard keeps a database of swatches so you can "remember" exactly what you got with which needles and which yarn; Mitten Wizard allows you to design mittens with directions "written" for 4 or 5 dpns, 2 or 1 circulars knitting!

Books -- Here are the books I really like for designing ...

Bliss, Debbie -- Design it, Knit it: Secrets from the Designer's Studio
Budd, Ann -- The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns and The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.
Ellen, Alison – Hand Knitting: New Directions
Epstein, Nicky – Knitting on the Edge, Knitting Over the Edge, Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments, and her Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Flowers
Fanderl, Lisl -- Bauerliches Stricken 1 , Bauerliches Stricken 2, Bauerliches Stricken 3
Newton, Deborah -- Designing Knitwear
Vogue Editors -- The Best of Vogue Knitting Magazine: 25 Years of Articles, Techniques, and Expert Advice

Many of these books should be at the public library, so you can check them out (literally!) before buying. The Fanderl books, although in German, have the stitch patterns charted so it doesn't matter if you read German or not! There are many other great stitch-ionaries out there and Ethnic/folklore pattern books are great for inspiration. I particularly like the new Interweave book by Marianne Isager, Inca Knits: Designs Inspired by South American Traditions, packed with beautiful designs inspired by the clothes, textiles and pottery of South America.

Other supplies you might like to have:

sets of knitting needles in all different sizes; I've used this Boye set for more than 20years. The Boye set is similar to the Denise Set or the Options Set from Knit Picks.
graph paper
calculator

The above should get any novice designer a great start ... post a comment or email me (bhwh.mary at gmail.com) if you have questions or would like other suggestions for books, materials, and yarn!