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

Charity Knitting: Scarves for Special Olympics

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

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

Review: library finds worth buying!

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:

1. Knitting New Scarves: 27 Distinctly Modern Designs by Lynne Barr. 
2. 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

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

So simple, and yet so elegant

This is just a simple, K1-P1 rib scarf -- yet it is reversible (as the purl stitches "hide" and allow the knit stitches to appear as if it's knit stitched on both sides) and so soft using Lion Brand's Cotton Ease. This one is for Lego-Maniac and took just over a skein each of "snow" and "charcoal" making this scarf approx. 45". For an adult version, I'd add 2 more repeats of the 15-row stripes and end with the snow, to make it about 60". No fringe so this can stay nice and elegant!