Tag Archives: dress

Inspiration: Early Summer

It’s weird outside, guys. And it’s starting to freak me out.

We’ve been having ridiculously good weather here for the last month or so. It’s been sunny. The sky has been cloudless, and we haven’t had more than a sprinkle of rain in the last few weeks. It’s even gotten over 80 degrees. That’s August weather for Seattle, and it’s only the beginning of May.

If it wasn’t 8 in the morning, I’d want to be sitting outside sipping on a can of my favorite IPA and a reading good book.

Like I said, it’s weird.

But, as a former resident of Austin, Texas, I know how to knit for warm weather. So at least I’ve got that going for me.

First, focus on light, flowy layers knit in thin-gauge wool, like this lovely summery cardigan with beautiful openwork detailing.

Summer Festival by Georgie NicolsonOr if you were determined to go big, instead of a chunky pullover, think about an adorable sundress, like this one.

Summer Sundress by Mari Lynn PatrickBut, sometimes, even the thought of knitting up something bigger than a handkerchief is too much in hot (OK- 70 isn’t actually hot, it’s just Seattle hot) weather. In that case make something tiny and fun, like this ridiculously adorable floral headband. (If only I could pull this off… sigh.)

Summer Girl- crocheted headband by Monika SirnaWhat do you knit when it’s too hot for sweaters and blankets?

Pattern Spotlight: Itty Bitty and Teeny Tiny

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I love tiny things, it’s true. Especially really tiny things. Especially especially teeny tiny adorable things. It’s one of my weird quirks. When I’m feeling down, stressed, or just in need of a quick pick-me-up, one sure-fire way to raise my spirits is to make something cute, pointless, and tiny.

I’ve been keeping this pattern in my back pocket for years, waiting for a day when I would need a tiny, adorable, pick-me-up.

Well, that day came, and instead of moping around the house, I broke out my fingering-weight yarn and my US0 DPNs and these two little bears just about flew off my needles.

They are tiny.

Seriously. Tiny.They measure just under 2 inches tall from the tips of their toes to the tops of their ears. And the best part? Their dresses are removable- look at the teeny bare naked (naked bear) adorableness!And the best part? The pattern is well-written, clear and free!

Teeny tiny knitted toys by Julie Williams itty bitty dress by Julie WilliamsNext time you need a quick, fiddly and adorable project, remember to keep these little guys in mind!

(And, don’t worry about me. I just had a long day, but it was noting my tiny bears couldn’t handle!)

What do you like to make when you’re feeling blue?

(And don’t forget to order your Mother Bear Pattern for the first annual On the Needles Charity Knitalong!)

Speedy Sweater

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Whee! That went way faster than I thought it would! I guess when you make a cropped, short-sleeved sweater in bulky yarn, it goes really fast! Who would have thought?

This sweater, from casting on to binding off, probably took about a week! I should make all my sweaters like that–size 10s forever!

Like I said before, I worked this sweater as a top-down raglan with a V-neck, based on Ann Budd’s book, so I didn’t have to do any math. (Even math nerds like me enjoy a break from time to time.) And, as I went, I added cables and lace from my Japanese pattern book.

Meanwhile, I added a little k2p2 ribbing to make the sweater a little more fitted without having to worry about doing actual shaping. It’s a trick I picked up years ago. K2p2 ribbing is the stretchiest/most elastic stitch pattern, so it can act as elastic, pulling the sweater tight, when you work it in panels on the sides of your sweater. I also added a nice wide ribbed waistband and cuffs.

I’m so happy with how it turned out! I have a bunch of high-waisted, summery dresses, and now I can wear them with this sweater and a pair of tights all the way through winter!

Ollie likes it, too!

Have you ever made a project in less time than you expected?

Inspiration: Marriage Equality!

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I do my best to keep this blog as politics- and opinion- free as possible (except my opinions on socks, which are varied and many). But, sometimes, something happens in the news that is so amazing, so life-changing, so fantastic that you can’t help but celebrate it!

The Supreme Court, just this morning, ruled that same-sex marriage is a right covered by the constitution! That means that same-sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states! It makes me so happy that I’m literally tearing up writing this. It’s an amazing day, and, in my opinion 100% the right decision.

Read this paragraph from their decision (it’s the last paragraph on page 28, if you’re interested):

No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.

It is so ordered

Oh my god. It’s so beautiful and moving. Let me go find a Kleenex.

I have friends and relatives in the LGBT community, and I couldn’t be happier for them. And, frankly, even if I didn’t know anyone in that community, I would still remember this day as a great day for human rights in our country.

(And it’s Seattle Pride this weekend! What a great week!)

I want to celebrate this historic decision by breaking out the happiest, most Pride-y projects I could find!

Rainbow Dress by Georgie Hallam

Does this come in my size?

Rainbow Child by Rebecca Newman