Category Archives: Inspiration

Inspiration: Off to College

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My brother-in law is right in the middle of his first month at college, and I’m so excited for him!  He’s going to SIU, Carbondale (in Illinois), and working for a degree in Aviation. How impressive is that!   He already has his private pilot’s liscense, and he’s well on his way to becoming a commercial airplane pilot.  He’s been into planes since I met him when he was little-more than 10 years ago, and now he’s turning his passion into a career.  It’s so impressive!

As you know, when I get excited about something, I think about what I can knit to celebrate it.  And in this case,  here’s what I’m thinking:

My brother-in-law is a guy of simple tastes and if I were to make him a sweater, it would definitely look something like this.  Simple, utilitarian, and nice and warm for those Illinois winters.

# 1212 Zipper Hoodie for Men by Diane Soucylo_res_hoodie_medium2[1]But that would be pretty boring to knit.  So maybe I should making something a little goofier.  Like this airplane-themed hat.

The Airplane Beanie by North Star KnitsPlane_Hat_1_medium2[1]I suppose that hat is a little juvenile for a 18-year-old college student, though.  I guess I should go classic and make my brother-in-law a SIUC scarf and call it a day.  I’d just have to change the colors from blue and orange to burgundy and black, and I’d be good to go.

Clemson College Scarf by Molly Mattersoct8_019_medium2[1]Congrats to my brother-in-law!  I can’t wait to see where you go!

Inspiration: Sick Day

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Ugh…  I am feeling super under the weather today.  I’ll spare you the details (because ew), but suffice it to say that I kind of want to go back to bed and curl up with a cup of tea and a handful of Rolaids.  Blergh.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m feeling poorly, nothing sounds better than snuggling up under a literal pile of knitting.

Let’s start with a simple, cozy pullover.  I kind of super want to make this sweater.

Undone by Jen GeigleyDSC_7173_medium2[1]Then pile on a big old cabled scarf- the kind that is so fluffy just your eyes peek out over top.

Celtic Cable Scarf by Martin Storeyceltic_20cable_20web_20cov_medium2[1]And finish this sick-day ensemble with a simple textured blanket.  This would be great wrapped around your shoulders while you heated up water for a third cup of peppermint tea, or tucked around your legs while sitting on the couch.  Delightful!

Chloe Blanket by Libby Summers

chloebeige_medium[1]Well, I’m about ready to go back to sleep.  What do you do on your sick days?

Inspiration: Shark Attack!

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Remember a couple months ago when I was mildly obsessed with these mermaid tails?

1962699_10153195383503330_642696267624178778_n[1]Well, I’ve gotten a new obsession, and I think it’s even cooler.

SHARK ATTACK BLANKETS!

Bulky & Quick Shark Blanket by MJ’s Off The Hook Designs003_medium2[1]So fun, right?

Someone posted this to my Facebook wall a while ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them for weeks.

Fast and Easy Shark Tail Blanket by Sheila Hunt11781678_10153449629468632_5745988423847236629_n_medium2[1]They’re essentially the same as the mermaid tail blankets, but much more bad-ass.   (Just look at those sharp, sharp teeth!)

Can I justify spending the time and money on something as silly as a shark attack blanket and still conciser myself a grown-up?

Maybe.

Inspiration: Lopez Island

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This weekend, my husband, my pup and I went on an impromptu trip up to the islands, and it was amazing!

We visited Lopez Island, which sounds like it should be in the Carribean, off the coast of Mexico, but is actually a tiny farming and fishing community in the Straight of Juan de Fuca, north of the Olympic Peninsula and just south of Canada.

11855703_10105373881011190_512339032138616691_n[1]We took the ferry early Saturday morning and got thoroughly windblown.

11892211_10105373886694800_5031709288030769796_n[1]But I think Ollie enjoyed himself.  So many new smells for him to sniff!  He’s actually still recovering.

11899871_10105373918605850_8950944109210116740_n[1]We hiked along beaches and clambered over rocks.  We saw seals and schools of tiny silver fish and jumping Pink Salmon.

It was a lovely break from the city.  Cool, overcast and perfect PNW weather.

It makes me want to get out my needles and make some island-appropriate gear for when I move up to the islands.   Which definitely is going to happen.  Someday.

Island Wools Swirl Hat by Julie Packard

swirlhat_medium2[1]Bandana Cowl by Purl Soho6235518543_46ba4d5d58_z[1]Fiona Coat by Justyna Lorkowska

Swans Island yarn Fair Isle hand knits

Where is your favorite place to visit on a day trip?

Inspiration: Twin Trouble

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One of my dear friends just gave birth to not one, but two adorable little baby boys!  So, let’s all say a big warm welcome to the twins!  (And congratulations to their amazing (and probably exhausted) parents!)

In honor of the boys, let’s take a look at some double-trouble patterns!

This lovely afghan features entwined twin trees is so beautiful, a real heirloom in the making… but you’d have to make two, one for each of the boys… and that’s a lot of work.

Twin Trees Afghan by Shirley Rhyne

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These fraternal twin hats are completely darling!

Twin Baby Hats by Shayna Bright

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These sweaters are freaking fantastic!  Twin Power!

Twin Power Sweaters by Sarah E. White05.01_medium[1]Welcome to the world, baby boys!  I can’t wait to hang out with you and teach you how to knit (you know, once you master the language, sitting up, and all those little skills).

Inspiration: Bates Motel

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I’ve been churning through several feet of stockinette over the last couple weeks, and you know what that means: binge-watching Netflix.

I had finished most of the shows I had been working on, so I had to find a new show to watch.  Preferably one with sweaters.  Lots of sweaters.

Enter: Bates Motel.  A show from A&E, it’s a sort-of prequel/reboot/bizarro version of Psycho (the Hitchcock movie).  It’s actually really good, or at least I enjoyed it.  Lots of twists and turns and intrigue (and murder… and drugs… and taxidermy).

It’s based in modern-day, but the costumes have a very fifties-feel.  Which, for Norman Bates, means sweaters.

Bates-Motel-season-2[1]Lots of sweaters.

5423d7f957094809d841b0040b7755ad[1]Norman’s sweater game is on point.

13-emma-and-norman-study-the-manga[1]Even though he is a (maybe) insane murderer, and definitely creepy weirdo, I kind of want to copy his sweater action.

Want to make yourself a Norman Bates sweater, too? Try one of these vintage-y Fair Isle creations:

Fair Isle V-necked Jumper by Shetland Museum Textile Archives

8245318946_605ef2271e_z[1]Ovaltinie by Patricia Roberts

My_homemade_sweaters_037_medium2[1]South Atlantic by Rita C Taylor_SMM3462_cover_medium2[1](And, don’t forget to enter your name for a free copy of Twist & Tweed!)

Inspiration: Ziggy Stardust

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I think it’s time we talked about David Bowie.

Specifically Ziggy-Stardust-era David Bowie.

Specifically his knit onesies (jumpsuits?).

Have you seen these?  And if, so did you realize they were knit?

tumblr_m6slctzmex1qh1g19o1_400[1] 9c8beedd3dd227fafffc073743173e49[1] david-bowie-ziggy-stardust-02[1]Amazing, right?!  Maybe this is due to my age, but I only just recently realized that these outfits existed, much less that they were knit.

(Also, can you imagine performing a big rock show like that covered head-to-toe in wool?  I love my sweaters, but that’s just crazy.  Though, I guess no one ever accused David Bowie of being a practical person.)

I’m kind of obsessed with these outfits, designed in the 70s by avant-garde fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto.  I only wish there was a socially acceptable place for people to wear knit one-arm-one-leg-colorworked onesies in public.

You could make a plain one for yourself with this pattern:

Salwar Jumpsuit by Margery Winter

33_39_jump_window_medium[1]Or you could try making up a pattern yourself by combining these two patterns (minus one leg and one arm):

Nether Garments – Adult (September) by Elizabeth Zimmermann

1551948317_b5dccd83bd_z[1]Polar Dip by Amy Miller

ABU-PolarDip_148_medium2[1]Now I’m wondering if I can justify making a jumpsuit… Maybe?

Help me! I think I have a problem!

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And that problem is that I’m now obsessed with lace shawls.  I can’t stop looking at patterns.  I’ve even gone digging through my stash and found a bunch of yarn I could use .

Sock yarn!

I’ve been collecting sock yarn over the years, and I have a big box of it next to my desk.  Sometimes I open it up and dig around in it just for fun.  But now I think I want to make a lace shawl with some of my sock yarn (despite having absolutely zero time for “fun” knitting right now.)

So here’s your task: talk me out of knitting one of these shawls.

I love the garter stitch body on this one, with the big openwork edge and the chunky braided cable.  Gorgeous and elegant!  Look at those huge eyelets along the edge!  So pretty!

French Cancan by Mademoiselle C

DSC_8833_medium2[1]I love this one, too.  It’s not exactly lace-y, but it is completely beautiful.  And I could use up a bunch of little skeins of leftover yarn to make the gradient stripes!

Song of the Sea by Louise Zass-Bangham

DSC_6050_-_Version_2_medium[1]And how great would this one look with a soft gray garter stitch panel and deep burgundy or forest green for the lace edging?  *Drool.*

Henslowe by Beth Kling

IMG_1366Or, of course, I could (should) just keep on working on the projects I’ve already committed to.  But where’s the fun in that?

Inspiration: Lace Shawls

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All this talk about lace (and blocking lace) has gotten me itching for a new project (despite the fact that I have a million other projects I need to be working on, and I’m working more than 40 hours a week for the summer- Wheee!).

I usually am not terribly girly with my clothes. You can find me more often in flannel and jeans than dresses and lace.  But, I admit- I’m a sucker for a gorgeous lace shawl.

There’s something fantastically satisfying about knitting up something beautiful and complicated- especially with beads.  Lace shawls drape amazingly and are simply gorgeous.  I don’t even wear most of the ones I’ve made over the years.  I have several hanging on my walls as art.

And when I’ve had a bad day, I love ogling lace shawl patterns, and lusting after skeins of luxury lace yarn at my local yarn shop.

Sigh…

Rainshine by Boo Knits

rain3_zpsrsexz0oo_medium2[1]Out of Darkness by Boo Knitsdarkness6_medium2[1]Snow Angel by Boo KnitsIMG_7621_medium2[1]Do you have a guilty knitting pleasure?

Inspiration: Knitted Food

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This post is inspired by a friend of mine, Wendy.  Wendy is a fantastic knitter, but she has a little quirk.  She almost exclusively knits toy food.

I know!  How fantastic is that?

She makes big picnic baskets of food, cornucopias of food, full Thanksgiving dinners, and an array of “fresh” fruits and vegetables that would make a greengrocer (ahem) green with envy.

Let’s spend today talking about knit food, in Wendy’s honor.  (And because knit food is ridiculously cute!)

You could always go the healthy route, and knit up some lovely produce:

Pears…

Pear-fecto! by Susan B. Anderson5334391790_5a3c048656_z[1]Mushrooms…

Knitted ‘Shrooms by Abby Kroken

mushrooms_medium[1]Carrots…

Heirloom Carrot by Sara Hills

carrots3_medium2[1]And peas.

Peas in a Pod by Hansi Singh3937321083_af8cc2990c_z[1]But sometimes you’re in the mood for something a little fancier.  A nice plate of sushi perhaps?

Sushi by Joanna Rankin

group1_medium2[1]And, of course, there’s always room for milk and cookies after a delicious (knit) meal.

Milk and Cookie by Raynor Gellatly

2668565040_c301b7640c_z[1]Have you ever knit food?  Are you going to now?  (I might- these projects are just too cute to ignore.)