THREE new designs posted today!

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

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

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

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

... 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

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

 

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

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

The one problem with knitting ....

... 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

Designs: another in cashmere ...

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

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

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

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Spring Gate Farm Hand-knits: Wall Street Scarf

 

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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

Spring Gate Farm Hand-knits: Grand Central Station Cap

 

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

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

Happy knittin'

Mary C. Gildersleeve

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