Herringbone Handkerchiefs

Recently I found a handkerchief that belonged to my grandmother. I was going through my sewing box, and I found all this stuff that I made with my grandmother, Maw-Maw.

I decided that I wanted to make a hankie of my own. Very classic, lace trimmed maybe, and not too frou-frou.

I knit 40" of lace edging, and I'm going to go and get some fabric for it tomorrow.




I have a cousin who is getting married in August, so if this hankie looks halfway decent then I may make one for her as a gift.

I'm an instant gratification type of person. I hate waiting. Even though I know that spoiling surprises is bad, I can't help but look up the endings of movies and books before I finish them.

I need a friend to help me sew the lace on the fabric. (I am horrible at sewing. See the potholders I made for my mom for her birthday last year and you would understand)

I started searching for other patterns that I might use for other handkerchiefs, and I found this one. It looked easy enough, so I got some fabric and embroidery thread.

When I was walking through the fabric store I remembered looking for embroidery floss with my Maw-Maw, her teaching me how to cross-stitch, and how she taught me how to sew. It has been so long that I don't remember much of the sewing, but I do remember the cross-stitch.

Here is my first attempt:



The stitches are really uneven, and I haven't sewed since I was in middle school. I got better as I went on, and I think other attempts will be more even.

I made a second hankie today out of a small piece of leftover fabric. The piece wasn't big enough to be a regular hankie, so I made a mini one for my niece.



This time my stitches are smaller and more uniform. Not quite like the one in the example. I will try harder next time.

My Maw-Maw was so good to me. She loved me so much, and would have done anything for me. She taught me how to sew, how to garden, how to make muffins and pancakes, and how to play dominoes. It has been several years since she died, and more than 13 since she had the stroke that debilitated her. It is times like these that I miss her so much, and I makes me want kids of my own so that someday I will be somebody's "Maw-Maw."

Preemie Hat

My colleague Emily had a baby three weeks early. I made a Preemie hat for him. I'm planning on making a more substantial hat for the winter, maybe a pair of matching mittens too. And ear flaps. :-)





I used Austermann Barkarole in light blue for the hat.

Reversible Brioche Scarf

I'm making a scarf for my friend Fish. I've always been fascinated by the Brioche stitch, and how you can make really cool two color garments with it.

I was planning on making it out of Lambs Pride Bulky, but ended up buying two hanks of Malabidgo Worsted Merino from The Loop in Philadelphia while on a business trip. (Yes, I buy yarn while on business trips. There is nothing wrong with me?!?!?!?!?!) Oh. My. If this yarn were a man, I would marry it. So soft, and the colors are amazing. I'm using Roanoke and Pearl. The Loop also provided a free scarf pattern to go with buying the yarn, and it was reversible brioche. Perfect!

Then I actually tried to do the brioche stitch. I tried for three days. I kept casting on, frogging, casting on. I was very frustrated. I found several sites about Brioche stitch, but it just wasn't clicking. Finally I found a video on YouTube and it saved me. I've had to frog the scarf a couple of times, but I finally got it1 I'm about half way through.

Here is the Roanoke side:



The Pearl side:



Lots of pain and suffering, but worth it in the end. I just want to bury my face in this scarf and inhale deeply. :-)

FOs: I'm really going to try and use up more of my stash this year. That way I won't feel so guilty about buying yarn. :-)

So far I've failed massively! I have made a few FOs, but most of them came from yarn I bought recently to make these specific projects. Oh well, baby steps.

To make matters worse (or should I say better?) I won a yarn contest where I will get a free skein of yarn a month for a year. That isn't helping! ;-)

FO #1 Christmas lace scarf:



It is made out of 2 balls of Plymouth Suri Merino, which I have discovered to be a very nice yarn for $5. I originally bought this yarn to make a hat for my cousin, and instead bought her a cookbook. I was left with two balls of yarn, and no project! So, after browsing Ravelry's pattern finder (best. thing. ever) I saw this easy lace pattern. I made it for my friend in Seattle.

After some thought, I've decided I don't like the way alpaca yarn feels in my hand. I don't now why, but it doesn't feel as good knitting it as other yarns.

Fo #2: Spice Headband




Made out of half a ball of Karabella Aurora 8. I got it out of an odds and ends basket in Charleston, SC for $0.50. It was a very good investment!


FO #3: Ribbed Hat



Made out of 1 ball of Elann Peruvian Luxury Merino Superwash (try saying that three times fast). I made this hat for my brother after his wife accidentally shrunk that one I gave him for Christmas last year. It now fits my 7 year old niece!

FO 4, 5, &6: I made three Nakiskas for my SIL, my oldest niece, and my friend Amy. I've done so many of them I could work the pattern in my sleep! :-)

FO: Baby Ear flap Hat

I finished my niece's ear flap hat. It is a little snug, so I'm going to make a larger size.

Christmas Knitting!

Not nearly as bad as last year. So far I've made three hats and one scarf.

The first: A Nakiska for a dear friend of mine.

The second and third, the Marsan Watchcap, which I made two of. I made them out of Karabella Aurora 8 in navy.



Lastly, I made the Kid Earflap Hat for Mary Grace out of Merino Style from Knit Picks in Pine with Pink Fair Isle accents.


I have one more hat to make, Santa Cruz from Magknits, which I am making out of Knit Picks Memories sock yarn in Rocky Mountain Dusk. Unfortunately, they have discontinued this yarn. I am sad, because it is so nice to work with and the variegated colors were so pretty.

I would like to make a lace cowl out of this yarn (Knit Picks Shadow in Sunset) for my friend Lianne, in Seattle after I finish my other WIPs.

Stash busting continues!

I made a hat and booties for a guy at work who's wife just had a baby. They are Georgia Red, of course!

They are so cute.


I have officially started the Christmas knitting. I'm making the Marsan Watchcap right now.



I'm using Karabella Aurora 8 in Navy that I bought in Charleston. I love this yarn. It is so soft.