Look at this...

I received this letter yesterday and was overwhelmed by the inspiring words.  I have so many requests from googlers who find the golf club covers, and do not knit, and just ask ME to knit for them..... "how much would your charge? " or, "please send me a set in purple and black..."  !!!!  I respond with a form letter that declines knitting for them (you could not afford me) and suggests they find someone who knits, and who LOVES them, buy them the yarn, print out the pattern, and THANK them for the hours of work!
Not only has Mary Ellen learned to knit, just for this pattern, she now knits them for everyone she knows.  You are amazing Mary Ellen.  Truly the soul of a knitter, selfless, creative, and inspiring.

I share with you her letter.....

Dear Chris,

In November 2012 I got a new golf bag and wanted headcovers so I searched the web. I saw yours and thought they were darling, and wanted to make them right away. Oh! A small pesky problem....I don't know how to knit!

My mother tried to teach me 50 years ago (I am 59) but she was left-handed and I simply could not follow her. Over the years I became an advanced quilter and needle worker, but never attempted knitting until I saw your headcovers because they are so darn cute. Mom is gone, so I jumped onto YouTube and searched knitting. I hit pause/rewind about a hundred times, but I "got it" enough to try.

Well, the rest is history. I have made myself and now seven friends full sets of your headcovers and have requests for more rolling in. I live in Florida and played all winter with snowbirdie friends from all over the north, including your Canada. Now the requests are coming in from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Ontario!

I even knit while I play golf! When it is slow, I do a row to keep relaxed rather than getting annoyed at the slow pace. I can't thank you enough for your wonderful pattern and many hours of enjoyment.

Mary Ellen

One and a Half MILLION ... wow

I have an awful lot on my plate these days.  I am altering wedding dresses, and prom dresses ('tis the season), as well as refashioning many of my friends' spring clothes.  I am also painting a large sofa size house portrait.  Golf is up and running, and I am out there four times a week, whacking the little white ball around the big green park.
I have a new pattern almost finished, but it is slow with all the extra things occupying my time!
And, sometime last week, my views surpassed one and a half million!  So thank you again!  I have been receiving lots of emails, mostly about attaching pattern notes, but lots are wonderful letters thanking me for the patterns, and discussing patterns and gauges, and yarn choices.  I love them all, so keep up the emails and comments.

 My sister dropped in for lunch on Mother's Day (what a treat, as she lives in Winnipeg, but fit me into a quick work related trip... thanks Kim).  She was wearing a beautiful knitted coat, that she knit this year.  She does wonderful work, and I wish I took a photo.
More patterns to come soon, more felting to show soon, more nice weather to golf in soon.... I love spring.

Birdhouses, Soap and Wine

What a great week. I was invited to join the knitting group in Niagara-on-the-Lake, for an afternoon of knitting and chats.  I met so many new knitters, and had so much fun, we are going to do a repeat.  A home and away visit with my knitting group and the N.O.T'y knitters! 
I also just wrapped up the felting workshop, and we made birdhouses and felt soaps.  Lot of different looks with the birdhouses, as you can see.  You can also notice some soaps, and the wine.  I only bring the wine out AFTER the hard work is done, and it is a nice finish to the afternoon.

 From the other angle...

Always fun, because knitters and felters and crafters in general are a special breed.  I love them all.

Sheer Summer Fun

 Sheer Summer Fun

This is a light, sheer summer top, with a slight cowl front drape, and a back with slits and buttons for an interesting detail. I like simple things that look a bit more difficult.  This pattern is just a bit more than beginner, and the trickiest part is working with very fine yarn.  The effort is worth it, for a light top that can be worn year round, with a tank in the summer, and a cardigan or jacket added in the winter.

Sizes:  x-small[small, med, large, x-large}  finished measurements: 34”[36”, 38”, 40”, 43”]  Suggestion, best worn a bit loose, to allow the back to drape at the cut-outs.

Yarn: Americo Abrazos, (45% Pima Cotton,55%  Bamboo) 100 grams skein (940 mts)… 1[1,1,2,2] skeins.  Shown in J239, dark teal.

Needles: 3mm or other to achieve correct gauge

Buttons for back detailing. ( or beads , ribbons, decorative yarn… your choice)

2 Stitch markers.

Gauge: 30 sts = 4 “ on 3mm needles*  intentionally knit on larger than suggested needle to make a bit more of a lace effect. Only knitting a swatch and checking the gauge will assure a proper fit.  Please take the time to do this.

BACK:

Cast on 128[136, 144, 150, 162]. Work in stocking stitch for 6 inches. 

Back detail Row 1:    With right side facing,  knit 20, cast off  88[96, 104, 110, 122] .  Knit last 20 sts.

Row 2: Purl 20.  Turn and cast on 88[96, 104, 110, 122].  Purl last 20 sts.

Work in stocking stitch for 5 more inches (total measurement is 11 inches.).

Repeat Back detail rows 1 and 2.

Continue to work even until total measurement is 15”[16, 16, 17, 18]” .

Armhole shaping: Cast off 7 sts at the start of next 2 rows.

Work even in stocking stitch until total length is 16 inches.

Upper Back Detail Row 1:  Right side: Knit 15, cast off 84[92, 100, 106, 118] , knit 15.

Row 2: purl 15, cast on 84[92, 100, 106, 118], purl 15.

Continue to work in stocking stitch until total length is 25”[26, 26, 27, 28]”.  Cast off all stitches.

FRONT:

Work same as back until armhole shaping is done. 114[122, 130, 136, 148] stitches on your needle.

Next row:  Knit 56[60, 64, 67, 73], place marker, knit2, place marker, knit 56[60, 64, 67, 73]

Wrong side rows for rest of front: purl all stitches.

Increase row (right side):   knit to first marker, slip marker, increase in next stitch (I knit in the front and back to increase), work to stitch BEFORE next marker, increase in this stitch.  Slip marker and knit to end of row.

Work this increase row every right side, until you have 38 stitches between the markers.  Then work even until your total length of the front is the same as the back.  Cast off all stitches.

Your extra front stitches will create a bit of a cowl neckline.

Finish by carefully sewing two shoulder seams about 5 inches starting at the shoulder.  Sew side seams.  Allow the arm edges , neck edges and bottom edge to curl organically.

Back opening details:  I joined the slits at three spots with Abrazos yarn and buttons.  You could use beads, or decorative yarn or thread.  You could close more or less,

OR you could ignore the slits completely and knit the back without the cast off rows and make a lovely simple shell.  (I won’t be offended!)

Spring is finally here in Canada.  Enjoy!

 

Here is THE coat.

I am pleased to debut my newest nuno-felt coat.  It is sheer printed silk (vintage sari silk) embellished with merino wool, yarn and other silks, to make a dramatic softly draped spring coat.

 And for you knitters, the teal shell I have on under this wonder, is my next pattern... to be posted by the weekend (I hope).  I need some time with my calculator, to create the pattern in lots of sizes.  :)

 You can see how sheer some of the coat is.  The upper back and front is a bit less sheer, but the front opening is mostly a sheer scarf effect, and the whole lower half is more silk than wool, creating a flowing edge to the coat.

 I have posted it on ETSY, with an offer to custom make one for YOU.  Your colours, your size, truly one of a kind if we work together!

New pattern sizes!

I had such a flood of requests for this one.... It was a quick and easy re-write.  I have a lot more on my list to do, but I am also felting, sewing, knitting and golfing, so I hope you will be patient for more.  They take me about 2 - 3 hours of calculating, writing and posting to re-post the multi-sizes. Thank you for your patience.

Click HERE to jump to the Citron Shell!




Check tomorrow for amazing new nuno felt photos...  I have been busy!

Learn to felt!

I am having another felting workshop!  If you are near Niagara and want to learn to make luxurious felt covered soap and a felt birdhouse, please email me to reserve a spot.
Saturday May 4, 1:30 - 4:30pm.  More details by email, but all materials involved are included and you go home with two finished pieces!  This one would be good for teenagers and parents (grandparents) to do together.

 The soap is amazing, lathers up when wet and rubbed. Shrinks as the soap shrinks.  Does not leave soap film on the soap dish (love that part)

 The bird house can be almost any size and gives you a chance to do a small vessel project.  It is worked all in one piece, with the hole cut after felting.

 I have not had any birdy tenants as of yet, but there are no leaves for privacy.