Baby alpaca is oh so soft!

I’ve decided that my first new project for the year will be the beautiful “Sanderling” lacy summer vest designed by Asami Kawa.

Photo © Asami Kawa

I just think it’s an adorable little vest/tank top and can’t wait to cast on this afternoon.

HOWEVER, you can still order PDF plushy knitting patterns and the PDF version of “The Secret Lives of Letters” through Ravelry or the links here on my knitting blog.  You’ll receive the patterns or book automatically as downloads. 

If you need physical paperback copies of the book for knitters on your holiday shopping list, you can get them through Amazon while I’m gone.

Relax and enjoy the holidays!  Happy Knitting!!!

~dani

Money’s tight for a lot of people this year, so I’m offering 15% off all patterns and pattern books through midnight, November 25th. Just use the Coupon Code KNITTERGIFTS when checking out at my Etsy shop. No coupon necessary when shopping at my Ravelry store or through my purchase links on this site. 

A single pattern gift-bagged with a skein of yarn from your Local Yarn Shop makes an excellent — and economical! — gift for a knitter. 

Surprise each person in your knitting group with a pattern for her first initial tucked into a holiday card. 

If you’re shopping for more of a keepsake, delight them with ”The Secret Lives of Letters” book which includes all 26 alphabet plushy patterns as well as 6 soap-opera style stories.

Happy Turkey Day & Happy Knitting!!   ~dani

Cascade yarns

It’s kind of like Charlie Brown joined the circus. Not typical colors, but I was trying to do something totally different. And that it certainly is…different! 

Although the knitting pattern would have me repeat the edging color (orange) at the neck, I think I’ll substitute yellow in its place to try to keep the clown factor to a minimum.

I think I would’ve been happier making the main yarn color blue, with yellow and orange accents. Perhaps once I’ve finished knitting the yoke, the beauty of this sweater will reveal itself to me. If not, I’ll have a lovingly hand-made  Christmas gift for the person who irritated me most over the past year. : )

The birth of a sleeve...

I’ve ordered a sample of REAL Icelandic wool to try, and hopefully will be able to make a more traditionally-colored lopapeysa sweater in the near future.

Happy Knitting!

~dani

Photo courtesy of Iceland Tourism since I couldn't find my disk of photos

I absolutely LOVE Iceland and everything about it. I visited there several years ago and am dying to go back…maybe next year! But for now I’ll settle for knitting a classic Icelandic sweater, my very own lopapeysa.

Knitting Iceland's Óðinn Lopapeysa

I’ve been reading about these beautiful sweaters and drooling over the incredible patterns. Then to totally set me off, I stumbled across Franklin Habit’s account of his recent visit to Iceland. The fever has struck! I must have my own lopapeysa!  

Unfortunately, though, I have a bit of a wool allergy depending on how raw the wool is. So I’ll wait to invest in the Lopi wool until I’ve had a chance to get a sample and try working with it. In the meantime, I’ll make one out of a soft-spun wool that I picked up at one of my favorite local yarn shops, The Kitschy Stitch, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I was just there this past weekend. When I wasn’t knitting at the ocean’s edge, I was pawing through their lovely mountains of yarns, selecting colors for my new sweater. 

Cascade Soft Spun & 220 Heathers

What do you think of these colors? Yellow for the main color, the blue and rust for the yoke. I’ll be using the lovely Óðinn pattern from Knitting Iceland (see photo above).  If you go to their site, you can get the pattern, order authentic Icelandic yarn and even get a DVD to help you through the knitting process.

Okay, enough blogging…I have yarn to wrap and some casting-on to do!

Happy Knitting!

~dani

I love, love, love these cute little pumpkin knits by Jenny Pie Productions!

Kitnit Fine Yarns - knitting for charity!

The knitting gang at Kitnit Fine Yarns in Lancaster, PA have knitted the entire plushy alphabet from my book, “The Secret Lives of Letters” as a charity project.

Finished alphabet plushies...

They chose a wonderful variety of colors and did some fun creative things! 

...waiting to go off to school!

Their full collection of  alphabet plushies will be donated to an elementary school in Lancaster.  Isn’t that sweet? 

If your knitting group has plans to knit the entire alphabet or do a charity project with them, please let me know!  I’d love to feature your finished stuffed alphabet people and your story on my blog. 

Notice those teeth on the R! So cute!

Beautiful Live Oaks

Just got back from a visit to the sunshine state, Florida! 

I always need a simple knitting project to keep my hands busy while traveling.  So I grabbed a skein of yarn out of my stash and started a simple scarf while waiting to board the plane.  Here’s what I got completed during my five-day trip.

Nubby Neckwarmer Scarf

I’m pleased with how it’s turning out.  I just sort of did my own thing.  Let’s call it the Textured Eyelet Scarf.  Or is that too boring?  How about Nubby Neckwarmer Scarf?

Instructions for Nubby Neckwarmer:

• Cast on 45 sts
• Rows 1 – 4: K (to make a garter st edge)
• Row 5 – 9: stockinette stitch (alternating K & P)
• Row 10: K2, YO – repeat to last 3 sts; K last 3 sts
• Row 11: P
• Row 12: K2, K2TOG to last 2 sts; K2
• Repeat Rows 5 – 9 for as long as you want the scarf, then bind off.

While in Florida, I was visiting my dear friend, Sheryl Emmett, owner of Vivo Tours.  We had a wonderful time exploring and spending quality time together.  I was just sorry I couldn’t stay longer and go on her Vivo Tours day trip to Jacksonville.  They were going to Sally Corporation, a place that makes animatronics and dark rides for theme parks.  That would’ve been fascinating to see!

If you’re traveling to the Orlando area in central Florida and want to experience something other than main tourist attractions like Disney, Vivo Tours is the answer.  Seriously.  And I’m not just saying that because Sheryl’s my friend.  Take a look at the testimonials!  She organizes the most fascinating, unique bus trips…both day and multi-day trips.  While I was visiting, she took me to see venom extraction performed at the Reptile Discovery Center…it was absolutely fascinating!!  

Sheryl guides each trip herself, providing educational insights and fun information.  She treats her customers like family, PLUS Vivo Tours sponsors an ongoing food drive program as a part of each and every one of their trips to give back to the local community.  Check out Sheryl’s website and give her a call if you’ll be in the central Florida area!   

So, where are you heading this summer?  If you’re taking a knitting project along, write and tell me about it!

Happy Knitting,

dani

The weaving hugs the gourd!

Today, my friend Robin sent me some photos of a beautiful decorative art gourd that she created.  She used yarn and sea grass in the weaving.  Very cool!!!

Robin's Art Gourd

 If you’re feeling creative, give it a go!  There are a couple of books to help get you started: Weaving on Gourds and Gourds + Fiber.

And every size or shape of gourd you could possibly imagine is available at AmishGourds.com.

I just love one-of-a-kind art pieces like this!  Hmmm…I think I see a use for my yarn scrap stash….

Xavier is x-cited!!

What?    A reception and book signing event. Stop in to meet the plushies in person and browse some fabulous yarns!

Where? 
Kitnit Fine Yarns

713 Olde Hickory Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 569-3951

When?
Saturday, April 2
12 noon – 3:00 p.m.

Why?
1. Why not?…It’ll be FUN!
2. We can meet in person and chat a bit.
3. My book will be available at a juicy discount.
4. I can sign the book for you while we chat.
5. You can browse all the gorgeous, new specialty yarns that just arrived.
6. There will be refreshments…yum!

Sounds like a great day out to me! Looking forward to relaxing in a lovely yarn shop and meeting people who are as crazy about knitting as I am.

I hope to see you there!

dani