Perfect Day

I have no plans for today! I am so happy! It's been a week of endless softball for my daughter. After five games in three days....and at one point a series of wrong turns which led me to the bridge to Canada...I am happy to just knit and knit today....and maybe whip up this yummy looking pizza.

I'm a big fan of rosemary and caramelized onion. This looks so fresh and flavorful. I came across this amazing recipe originally on Pinterest.  You can get all the details right here....it's from the great site Cookin Canuck.

I'm in the middle of a grey ribbed scarf that I just love. I'm using three yarns and the combination is working perfectly. I'm only a day in but the texture and gauge is exactly what I wanted. Photos soon!

At the top of my knitting wish list...I love the Puffin yarn from Quince & Co. The quality looks exceptional and the colors are beautiful. I'm thinking of ordering this week for a cowl project....

Puffin by Quince & Co. I completely love this bulky yarn...

One For All

Having way too challenging of a week so I'm concentrating on project ideas to keep my mood positive. Maybe I should be concentrating on going to the gym but knitting has won out. And coffee...that too. 

I love this recent scarf I came across on Etsy. I love the clean lines, the pairing of colors and that it's perfect for women or men. Done in a wool blend...it's chunky but not overpowering. Handmade in Turkey....take a peek at this amazing shop! This artist's work is so inspiring! xo

So Talented

I look online for knitting ideas all the time. I stalk Ravelry and Pinterest. When I go into a yarn store I literally cannot decide what to buy first....the textures and colors are all so amazing. But nothing inspires me as much as seeing a project a friend is working on. I have such creative, talented girlfriends. I mentioned that one friend is doing a cowl in linen stitch. Here's her work using Berroco Brio yarn...isn't it just fantastic?!

Love how this thick/thin yarn is infused with a shimmery metallic thread.

Fascinated

I love looking at hand spun yarn. Knitting possibilities seem so endless and magical when you look at the work of these artists. There is so much time and thought put into color and texture...it amazes me. I came across this yarn recently on Etsy. This skein...called "Moss Garden"...is 100 yards. Aren't the gold, cream, brown and green tones just so pretty? I love the variation throughout. The yardage would be perfect for a chunky cowl. Happy Knitting! xo

Weekend Storm

The weather is forecast to get blustery here tomorrow making for a stormy weekend ahead. I am in the mood for new yarn and I love this pattern I just found on Ravelry. By Ester Puente, this cowl is so lovely! There is a $5.00 charge for this pattern but it looks like a great project idea. I would love to do this in a soft yarn with a bit of cashmere or angora and maybe a bit of sheen. Keep warm & happy knitting! xo

Shades of Grey

I love grey for scarves and cowls...they are the ideal neutral. They look amazing with black, navy, chocolate brown or layered with more grey. I couldn't find an artist credit for the following cowl but I love it....completely perfect for a chilly, windy day.

Came across this amazing Icelandic wool on Etsy in the shop PeterPaulandLarry. Processed in Kansas, this bulky grey yarn looks so soft...

This yarn is created in Germany....available on Etsy in the shop DyeForYarn. Amazing steel color and brilliant luster! Happy Knitting...xo

Burst of color

There's an Etsy shop that I recently stumbled across that I am completely taken with. ZandZKnits offers amazing scarves and cowls...drapey, chunky...all perfectly cozy. This orange is my absolute favorite. Love this color against chocolate brown...

Winter White

Winter is one of my favorite times of year. I love the blustery snow, cozy fires and a soft, perfectly drapey sweater. And scarves.....I love the simplicity of a creamy white scarf. It's the ideal winter item. I love the look of this cowl scarf that I saw on Etsy.

I could wear this cowl every day....from a luxurious Etsy shop with so many cozy treasures!

Long & wrappy....I just love these tones & textures....

Simple Monday

It's freezing here today and I'm so thrilled! Bought a great pumpkin spice candle, gathered some wood for the fireplace and went to the market for a huge bunch of basil to toss with pasta tonight. I'm making this Garlic Herbed Pasta that I found on this wonderful food blog  Pinch of Yum.  Delicious recipes for chilly evenings!

I'm in the middle of knitting the Ombre Cowl still...loving the colors. Working with both Rowan and Cascade yarns currently. My favorite is Black Currant from Rowan...such a rich autumn color!

Found this image on Pinterest, but sadly no source for it....I love the inspiring simplicity. Happy Knitting! xo

Autumn Loves

I am currently....blissfully....in the middle of a great knitting project. I'm working on the Ombre Cowl from Ravelry that I posted earlier this week. My only change to the original plan....I switched out the black mohair for an inky, deep eggplant. Love the depth of the color!

I just found an amazing pattern on Etsy for this "Genevieve" cowl/snood. Available for purchase, from the beautiful shop AtelierTPK, in PDF form....this is one of the prettiest patterns I've come across and it's ideal for both beginners and advanced knitters! Worn loose or cozily wrapped....I simply love this....just a stunning project idea! Happy Knitting! xo

Love this cowl? Purchase the pattern at this great Etsy shop....AtelierTPK

Ombre Obsession

I cannot say enough how much I love this Ombre Cowl....it simply stunning, the colors are amazing....so perfect for autumn! Most exciting...this fabulous pattern by Hilary Carr is available for free on Ravelry!  Love the selected colors chosen by Espace Tricot for this cowl. 

One of my very favorite yarns is used throughout....this cowl is knit with a variety of shades of  Rowan Kidsilk Haze. So, grab your favorite hues....it's the perfect project to put your own personal spin on! Happy Knitting! xoxo

Autumn Knitting Perfection....love!

Tiny details

The last two weeks have been crazy busy and in an attempt to get the big things done it's easy to overlook the small details of everyday. Yesterday I took time to do the hardwood floors and polish the woodwork. Not because I didn't have zillions of other places to be but I needed to slow down and stop rushing and concentrate on something simple and immediately gratifying. 

I did go to Tesori the other day & bought the prettiest Susan Zulauf earthenware dishes. They are a bold floral...perfect for when I host book club and for serving appetizers. I'll photograph them this weekend. I also found this tassel for the front foyer door.  I love tiny details and this tassel is a bit oversized and I love the material....kind'of a mix of twine, wool & hemp. 

If you're looking for a great free pattern for a quick weekend project....I love this cowl from Ravelry. Contributed by Nina: A Well-Knit Shop. Knit with Misti Alpaca on a size 17 US needle,  I love that it's bulky and cozy. This cowl is hip & fun and yet has the perfect vintage inspired vibe to it. With a fitted tee and jeans.... this would be super cute!

A Spring Project

As you can tell from my blog, I'm a scarf and cowl girl. I can wear them every single day when it's blustery out. What I'm not....a coat person. Which is not always my wisest attribute considering our winters here in New York State. But...I much prefer leggings, boots and a fitted sweater with a perfectly wrappy, drapey scarf. So, even now in spring, I'm always on the hunt for the perfect cowl.

I saw this great free pattern on Ravelry and it's originally from Purl Soho. This Herringbone Cowl is stunning. The texture is amazing and I love Blue Sky Alpaca yarn. It's knit in the round and seamless. The cream color it's shown in is exactly what I'd want to knit this up with. Completely perfect! Happy Knitting! xo

I completely love both the color and the stitch chosen....perfect!

Jackson Five

I cannot tell you how many times I ripped out my latest project but I think I finally got it right! After four or five times of changing gauge and then switching stitches, I'm well into an oversized bulky cowl that will be super soft and drapey. I'm knitting with Tahki Jackson yarn. I've never used this yarn before. I found it at a yarn store I seldom have a chance to drop into it. It's a great bulky wool, made in Romania, that knits up quickly. I bought it in "silver" and it's a soft grey with slubs of white running through. At about $10 a skein, for 131 yards, I thought this yarn was a great price for such nice quality. I'm using two skeins for my cowl and combining it with a dove grey kid mohair. Happy Knitting! xo

Coffee & Knitting

There are days when I want to clear my schedule and just sink into a cozy corner, with an endless cup of coffee & knit. There were thunderstorms here last night & this afternoon is looking to be overcast....and I am just starting a new project with Cascade Magnum yarn. This super bulky is absolutely one of my favorites. A super soft Peruvian Highland Wool...I picked out a great warm, spicy orange color. I'm making a chunky, over sized ribbed cowl on 19US/15mm wooden circular needles from Knitters Pride. I think it will be great with jeans and ballet flats. What are you knitting? xo

Keurig K-Cup 18-Pk. Gloria Jean's Butter Toffee Coffee (Google Affiliate Ad)

Unraveled

I'm trying to break my addiction to Ravelry but with little success! No sooner do I start a project....I find a new project to do next. I just finished this "Gaptastic" cowl that I did on size 13 circular needles. Knitting in the round is by far the most relaxing for me. I love it. This pattern called for just over 300 yards and it took me a solid week to complete. I'm not the fastest knitter but I love the process and don't really think much of how quickly I'm completing a project. I used a deep purple yarn called "Jacks Plum" from the Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride (bulky) collection. It's 85% wool combined with 25% mohair. I'm currently knitting a second cowl for my daughter in the same yarn but using the color "Oregano"....a great nearly lichen toned green. Happy Knitting! xo

Sense of Community

I love the sense of community and positive inspiration you find amongst people who share the same passion. Whether it be knitting or cooking or whatever craft you may hold dear....if it involves taking the time to make it yourself and sharing it with others...there seems to be a common bond. I love the way people encourage each other...offering their own tales of both successes and errors...and sharing what they have learned and come across.

I see the work of other knitters and I'm constantly awed by their endless creativity. A continual example of that is the beautiful creations in the Etsy shop "Fringe". All the work in her collection is amazing and this over sized cowl especially caught my attention. It's from the Urban Decay line and incorporates two lighter weight wool yarns with various vintage fabrics. As someone who lives in skinny jeans, a long sleeved tee and riding boots...I could simply wear this cowl all spring (footnote: please see previous posts this week pertaining to the fact it's still snowing here!!)  Happy Friday! xo

Frye Paige Tall Riding Boots (Tan Leather) - Women's Boots - 5.5 M (Google Affiliate Ad)

Knitting Class Nights

Hooray.....tonight is knitting! What I love most about teaching knitting one evening a week is that so many project ideas for beginners are not difficult and yet amazingly beautiful. I have people who have only been knitting since the New Year turning out stunning cowls and fingerless gloves! 

The women I teach have now been introduced to lines like Cascade Magnum or Berroco Sundae that they can buy locally....and it's exciting to see people working with such fabulous yarns! In class we talk a lot about the new found appreciation they have for artists who knit. Etsy is a treasure of talent and many students are now opting to purchase their yarn there. It's great to see the different fibers, hues and textures available. We talk a lot of the creativity and time that goes into a single scarf or wrap...and how much fun it is to support other knitters. I love the complete sense of community that comes with knitting. One of my favorite artists on Etsy, Denizgunes, produced the beautiful wrap shown. I love the color and contrasting stitches. Chunky knits are my new found obsession!

As the weather will be warming shortly, I look forward to knitting lighter weight wraps that look fabulous year round. Inspiration can be found in this whisper light wrap from Etsy designer callmemimi.

 Susan Bates 11193 Silvalume 10 in. Knitting Needles Gift Set-3 Pair (Google Affiliate Ad)

Obsessed with cowl neck scarves...

So Pretty! Saw this soft,  heavenly cowl recently on The Purl Bee and just fell in love.  The site offers so many really unique knitting ideas. Perfect with leggings and a sweater. www.purlbee.com