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

 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

Small projects I've been working on ...

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

Hats: Do you love to knit 'em?

Well, if you do and you design your own knitted hats or get inspired by another's designs, have I got a cool project for you!

Annie Modesitt and Quarry Books have teamed up to publish a book called 1000 Fabulous Knit Hats (with an estimated publication date of July 2010). From now until July 1, 2009, you can submit images of knitted hats you've made ... the top 3 original designs will win $500, $300, and $200 while the next top seven original designs will get copies of the book and page credit ... and the number of different hats you may submit is UNLIMITED!

Not a bad deal and hats are so fun to make as the temp goes up ... why don't you try it out? But don't forget to have fun ... that's what knitting is about ... creating while enjoying the journey!

I'm back ...

... and BOY did I get some knitting done!

We were on a family road-trip to the east coast -- visits to family and friends in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and pits stops at all the states from Colorado there and back again! DH did all the driving and since the littles were pretty well occupied, I actually got tons of knitting done!

First, I was able to complete the knitted armor set -- a custom-fitted scabbard with a cord belt. Here's Bam-Bam showing it in action:

Next, I knitted a cozy warm stocking cap for String Bean; when you're driving in an airconditioned van, this doesn't seem so crazy!
Then, since I was on a hat kick, I made an ear-flapped hat for DH's walk thru the potential snow and wind of Front-Range winters. This hat really brings out his beautiful blue eyes!
After last winter, I realized we can NEVER have too many mittens. These are super warm and will work for either dh or me ... That was the knitting during the road-trip east and some of the visiting times too.

Once we headed back west again, I decided I could handle a larger project. Here's a 3-buttoned wool cloak for String Bean -- she's a tall 7yo, so this cape hits her about knee-length. The mindless knitting was getting to me somewhere in Kansas, so I decided to add an eyelet pattern at the bottom hem to get me the last few inches. I literally broke the yarn as we pulled off the interestate! Talk about perfect timing....