Another KP IDP ....

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

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

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

Enjoy shopping!

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knit Picks: now this is kinda cool ...

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

 

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

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knit Picks: another design is up!

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

Knit Picks: a two-fer!

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

Knit Picks: another design is up!

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: Phoebe's Sweater

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

Knit Picks: another of my designs

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

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Knit Picks: Independent Designer's Program

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

Small projects ... keeping me out of trouble

 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 ...

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

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