Designs by KN blog

DH turns 65 in a few days.  While we were contemplating the passage of time, we also noted how old our cats are:  Jasmine and Andrew (top & left in photo) are 13, Bill (second from top) is 16, and Patches (at bottom) is 21.  That’s one old cat!

Sadly, Toby (second from bottom) is now an angel-cat.

In the same week as her dad’s birthday, DD is getting married.  We are Hawaii-bound for the wedding, which will be a small, intimate, low-key affair this time (second marriage for both bride and groom) but definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us, as we have never ventured to the big island.  She is ready with her “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” accessories.  The “something old” is a bracelet I have had since I was a child.  It was a gift when I was in Sunday School: a strand of pearl-like beads separated by chain links with a larger clear golden-banded bead of acrylic resin encapsulating a mustard seed, the basis of a story in the Bible.  Amazingly this bracelet has remained intact all these years and still fits both DD’s and my wrists!

A few weeks ago I had the urge to knit “something old”, as in ”retro” or “vintage”, and completed the Twisted Rib Scarf from a 1934 pattern republished in the book “Knitting in Vogue” (see previous post.)  Old cat Patches helped along the way by taking a nap on the “in-progress” scarf:

This week I started a new/old project of retro/vintage ilk: a baby sweater from the book “Retro Knits“, which was previously published in the 1940s in a booklet “Beehive for Bairns, Volume 4 (Book #96).”  In my stash I found three balls of a 20-year-old yarn purchased at the now long-gone LeeWards: Princess Eversoft Baby Yarn (the “ever soft” is rather a misnomer as the acrylic of 20 years ago is not as gentle on the hands as many acrylic blends today.)  [Side note: I miss LeeWards. They offered a huge assortment of well-organized, interesting, bargain bin yarns that were so much fun to scout through!]

I also recently acquired an assortment of old knitting needles a friend picked up for me at Goodwill.  It included a pair of 10″ long size 3 needles. With vintage pattern, vintage yarn and vintage needles, I began the project and have progressed to the point of working on the sleeves. It’s not quite an FO yet, but getting there. This sweater is worked in one piece for the lower body portion, with sleeves knit separately and sewn in (not my favorite method of working, but I’m sticking with it as written, as part of the vintage experience.)

From the old to the new:  Yesterday I had an opportunity for some car-travel-project time, so was able to complete a ripple pet pad out of scraps of Tahki “Cotton Classic” and some unidentified cotton sport weight from stash.  I chained about 100 stitches on a size H hook and just started stitching in a classic ripple pattern of *sc in 3 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in 3 sts, sk next 2 sts, rep from *.  I changed colors every two rows, keeping the cream-color constant throughout but changing the other colors as each scrap was used up.  It worked up quickly into a soft cotton mat about 20″ wide by 14″ high. The instant I set it down for a photograph, there was old cat Patches again, giving it a test drive!  She’s obviously claimed it for her own.

This week the newest DBKN design was released in the CEY Web-letter.  I’d like to thank the members of Ravelry who faved the Diaphanous Shawl – over 100 “hearts” in its first day of release.

Photo copyright Meg Myers/Classic Elite Yarns

One ambitious Raveler has already completed a shawl using this pattern, with the positive comment “Great pattern — extremely clear instructions.”  Thanks to all!

Knit or crochet “old”, knit or crochet “new”, but knit or crochet as much as you are able.  It just might help keep us young, going on and on and on like the Energizer bunny … and like Patches, the 21-year-old cat.

Today’s release of the Classic Elite Yarns Web-letter (Issue 252) features my newest design, the Diaphanous Shawl.  The Firefly yarn used to create this light and airy piece was wonderful to work with because of its soft drape with a touch of linen crispness.  I am grateful to the Classic Elite Yarns team for matching yarn to concept so well. It turned a humble idea into a fabulous, fashionable accessory.  Thanks to Meg Myers for the photography (she’s the lovely model, too!):

Photos copyright Meg Myers/Classic Elite Yarns

Life is full of joy and sadness. Not to put a damper on the joy of seeing a new pattern released, but I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to express my sincere condolences to all who have been affected by this week’s tragic event in our state (the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado.)   I share the sentiments of all who are saddened and heartbroken by the loss.  The first photo of the shawl above reminds me of angel’s wings.  Perhaps this shawl pattern can also be used as a comforting “prayer shawl” for those desiring to express their support to the victims’ families or the injured still recovering in hospital.  On the day of the candlelight vigil held to honor the victims, the sky was overcast with gray clouds.  As the vigil began, some late afternoon sun rays broke through, beaming down through the clouds.  The image was captured and appeared on the front page of Monday’s Denver Post (I also tried to record it from my deck at home, but not nearly as successfully:)

The headline above the newspaper photo read “A brighter day is going to come.”

In trying times like these, we can at least surround ourselves with the calming rhythm of knitting and crocheting.  Wrap yourself, or someone you know, in the comforting hug of a shawl like the Diaphanous.

Peace.

July. Summer. Hot. The 4th. The flag. Red, white and blue. Why not crochet a patriotic lapghan for a charitable cause when there’s triple-digit heat outside? Yes, why not (thanks to cooling A/C & ceiling fans, I did):

Thinking of You Lapghan

July. Puffy cumulus clouds building up for afternoon thunderstorms. Lightning and thunder but little rain in this drought-stricken summer.

Why not knit an ethereal, wispy, light-as-air, cloud-soft shawl when it’s 98 degrees outside? Yes, why not (thanks to A/C, ceiling fans & lots of iced tea, I did):

Easy-Knit Shawl

July. Active wildlife. Snakes, spiders, wasps observed. Squirrels on the deck rail. Hummingbirds at the feeder. Bunnies in the yard. Coyotes howling and hoot-owls hooting in the early morning darkness. Nature alive.

July. Two new Designs by KN patterns scheduled for publication in the Classic Elite Yarns Web-letter.  The first appeared on July 3 in Issue 249:

Sunscreen Stripes Cap

Photo copyright Meg Myers/Classic Elite Yarns

I finished another iteration of it this week:

The second pattern is scheduled for release next Tuesday, the 24th, so stay tuned.

It will still be July.

It’s that time of year again … mid-summer and the time for county, state and country fairs!  Here’s a reprise of an article I wrote in 2002 after entering our local fair for several years in a row:

“TIME TO ENTER THE FAIR!

It’s fair time in our small town. Time for the animals to arrive, time for the rodeo, time for canners, bakers, quilters, artists and crafters to bring in the work of their hands. If you’ve never entered a county fair competition, you might like to give it a try. It’s a good way to get involved in your community, show off your work, meet other people, and have some old-fashioned fun. Seeing your items on display, possibly winning ribbons and cash premiums for your projects, is the reward for hours of preparation in anticipation of fair time.

Every year I think “I don’t have anything to show,” but usually manage to pull together a variety of items to enter in the baking, fine arts, and needlework categories. At our local fair, exhibits are entered on a Sunday afternoon and judging takes place on Monday morning. The entries are then organized and arranged into stunning displays by fair volunteers. Excitement is in the air the day the exhibit hall opens to the public. This year was fruitful for me–16 ribbons (half of them blue) and cash premiums totalling $50. The fun really begins when you share news of your awards with family and friends. In my case, co-workers enthusiastically visited the exhibit hall in search of my winning entries, and to admire the incredible creativity of others.

Enthusiasm for entering the competition becomes contagious. Several of my friends are inspired now to begin work on projects of their own for next year’s fair. If you’re lucky enough to have a county fair site close to home, give yourself a treat–enter the work of your hands. You’ll have a great time!

Here are some tips for winning entries and exhibitor’s etiquette:

1. Make sure your handmade articles are well-made, well-finished, and clean. Entering freshly laundered/blocked articles (especially needlework) that look professionally finished will go a long way toward a favorable response from the judges.

2. Securely wrap baked goods in see-through plastic wrap and present them on sturdy disposable trays (you can cut pieces of strong cardboard to fit the size of the item, then cover with tin foil.) Placing parchment paper underneath your cake, bread or cookies enhances the presentation.

3. If entering drawings, paintings or photography, be sure to attach strong hangers. I failed to do this one year and was told the inadequate hangers fell off as staff attempted to put the pictures up for display. This year I used screw-in eyes and sturdy picture wire.

4. On entry day, arrive early to allow time to fill out and attach exhibitor’s tags to your items. Follow the instructions exactly, and double-check your tag information for accuracy. (You don’t want to lose out on a blue ribbon simply because you didn’t follow the rules.) During our county fair’s entry hours, volunteers are available to answer questions.

5. Be friendly and cheerful, but be patient as you wait in line to hand in your entries. The volunteer staff works hard to organize the fair–be considerate of the time it takes them to receive and record numerous items. The anticipation of entering a competition should be a pleasant experience for everyone.

6. At the conclusion of the fair, patience is appreciated as you join other exhibitors to reclaim your items, ribbons and cash premiums. Thank the volunteers for their hard work.

7. When you get those winning entries back home, arrange them in a grouping and take photographs as reminders of the enjoyable time you had competing at your local county fair.

Good luck!”

If you have an opportunity to enter a county or state fair, go for it.  You might go home with ribbons (& possibly cash premiums) for your knit & crochet handiwork!

This tablecloth won Best of Show, Home Arts Division: Crochet at the 1995 Douglas County, Colorado fair (crocheted by DBKN — unfortunately, pattern source unknown)

It’s “Feline Frenzy“ on the local news as they try to help find homes for over 600 cats currently sheltered at the Denver Dumb Friends League. In addition to their daily petline feature, the news station is focusing on cats this week.  Unfortunately I already have my limit otherwise I’d be taking in more. One of ours is a 22-year-old who, although deaf, is like the Energizer bunny — she just keeps going and going!

This week I made a frenzied effort to complete two special-order requests from friends: a baby blanket and some pet pads.  This is one of the Pet Beach Mats which was requested for donation to a cat shelter.  Andrew and Jasmine investigated and gave their approval:

There must be a lot of baby girls being born this year, as the last few blankets I’ve made have been requested to be in pink and white.  Here is the newly completed Bunny-Ear Blankie:

For this version, I worked in alternating stripes of four rows each color. I also substituted a basic shell border for the “bunny-ear” edging on the original. It was crocheted in Bernat “Softee Baby” on a size I hook and measures approximately 35″ square.

It must be summer.  Besides the intense heat nationwide (temps over 100 in many regions) and wildfires erupting all over our state, nearer to home we’ve encountered:

– a garter snake outside the back door which, after a few days of monsoon rain, decided to take shelter in our garage;

– a wasp nest inside a plastic bench on the deck;

– a squirrel on the roof …

I was eating breakfast in the kitchen nook, with the cats lounging outside on the deck, enjoying the early-morning coolness.  I heard the familiar chip-chipping and chattering of our local resident squirrel, who generally hangs out in the pine trees in the yard.  I looked in the treetops as the chippiness continued but didn’t see anything.  Then I looked up and discovered he was peeking at us from the roof, in a frenzy over the cats below!

Yesterday some nice surprises arrived via UPS:  the Nike flip-flops I ordered from Zappos.com for our upcoming trip to Hawaii (for DD’s destination wedding and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for DH and me) and my contributor copies of the new pattern-a-day calendars.  There are four Designs by KN patterns in the crochet version and one in the knitting version. The calendars are available for pre-order on Amazon.com now:

Knitting: 100+ patterns throughout the year: 2013 calendar

Crochet: 100+ patterns throughout the year: 2013 calendar

Carry on with your summer stitching, hopefully at a more leisurely pace than I was during this ”crochet frenzy” week.

Cotton Bam Boo Sunscreen Stripes Cap from CEY Web-letter, Issue 249

If it’s too hot to think about knitting or crocheting during the daytime, look forward to the cooler hours after sunset!

As posted on the Designs by KN Facebook page, we’re enjoying a bit of summer green around here, thanks to several days of heavy monsoonal-flow rain:

We know in a few days the welcome drink of moisture will dry up and hot summer temps will return, followed by a dried-out landscape that will soon turn golden brown, but at least for the moment we can celebrate the color green.

This Go Green! Lacy Shells Bag was the first thing I thought of when considering the subject of green. The tree it was photographed on a couple years ago is sporting those very same green leaves right now.  We love the refreshing green beauty and shade this Marshall ash provides over a corner of our deck every summer.

Yesterday I sent a submission out in response to a new design call, and it just so happened to feature a project in vivid kelly green.  A favorite saying of a friend is ”Green means go!” so hopefully this idea will go its way and end with a luck-of-the-Irish result.

Here are a few project ideas in green from the Designs by KN archives:

Pretty Little Baby Hat

#34 Wristlets

Crocodile-Tiki Cloths

#13 Tasseled Earflap Hat

Recedere Hat

Lazy Afternoon Cowl

Cell Phone Bags

Shortly after the Sunscreen Stripes Cap  (photographed in a beautiful green garden) was released in last week’s Classic Elite Yarns Web-letter  I found out that a second DBKN pattern is scheduled for release on July 24.  One thing about this project, though … it won’t be in the color green!

Stitch on … in any color you choose.

I discovered the Ravelry group Vintage Knitters this week, which coincided with my interest in re-reading some older pattern books in my personal library — books like “Retro Knits“, “Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today” and the series “Knitting in Vogue“, “More Knitting in Vogue” and “Great Knitting in Vogue.”  I knew that projects from bygone days were done in plain yarns (that’s all they had way back when) and knit at incredibly small gauges on thinner needles than we are used to now (how did they do it without the modern appliances & time-saving conveniences we enjoy today?)

While browsing through the classic Vogue patterns, I came across the Twisted Rib Sweater & Scarf Set (originally designed in 1934.)  Although shown worn as a set, fortunately the scarf and sweater are separate pieces so I decided to tackle just the scarf to fill my desire to “knit vintage.”  I had some very soft Red Heart “Symphony” in stash in the rich shade of River Blue which seemed like it would substitute well enough in this pattern.  The scarf pattern is written so that two identical pieces are worked from center back neck out to the ends, then joined with a seam.  I modified the process by working the first half, then picking up stitches from the narrow center end and working out in the opposite direction.  Although the fuzzy yarn and twisted rib stitch pattern slowed me down a bit, I persevered to complete the scarf, which measures 2″ wide at the narrow center, 5″ wide at the ends, and 41″ long.  Success!  Here is my “vintage knit” Twisted Rib Scarf, the FO for this week:

Patches decided to help at the in-progress stage by taking a nap with it:

It’s way too hot nationwide (over 100 degrees in many states) to even contemplate wearing scarves, but I tried this one on on the 4th of July just to get a photo. Come winter it will be a lightweight, cozy accessory that I look forward to using.

Fast forward to modern times …

The Sunscreen Stripes Cap was published this week in the Classic Elite Yarns Web-letter (issue 249.)  At least this is something that won’t take forever to create (like those tiny-gauge, steel-hook-with-bedspread-weight-thread-projects that my grandmother produced in her day!)

Photo copyright Meg Myers/Classic Elite Yarns

If you love vintage knitting and crocheting, check out the groups, discussions and pattern ideas on Ravelry and other sites on the web.  Stitchers who have gone before us have left a rich heritage of needlework inspiration!

Just back from a quick weekend trip out to California to attend my niece’s wedding. Left the smoky, hot, blazing state of Colorado for the (relatively) cooler southern California coastal area, although the inland wedding site was sunny and hot until sunset.  We definitely needed to wear sunscreen when we were out and about. California was ablaze in bloom from gorgeous flower displays everywhere we went …

The wedding was beautiful and it was fun to visit with family and friends that we hadn’t seen since the last wedding (my nephew’s) in December. Here’s one pic of DD (bridesmaid to left of bride) with her cousins:

Next up will be DD’s own wedding in Hawaii.  Looking forward to that experience and the tropical flower displays there!

We returned just in time to see the publication of the latest DBKN design today, the Sunscreen Stripes Cap, in the new issue of the CEY Web-letter (issue 249).  This lightweight cap in Classic Elite Yarns Cotton Bam Boo was designed with summer in mind, as a way to protect the top of the head against the blazing sun. It’s suitable for men or women. I love the photography provided by Classic Elite Yarns’ staff, especially the one where the model (Meg Myers, designer & photographer extraordinaire) is peeking into the garden plants …

Photos copyright Meg Myers/Classic Elite Yarns

Hope you enjoy this free and easy crochet project for some quick and cool summer stitching!