Designs by KN blog

I must have been busy the past week or so. Where has the time gone? Rain & snow are on the way and soon the Splendor described in the last post will be gone.  We took a quick weekend getaway trip to the mountains for some late-fall photo opps before all is covered in the white stuff:

My car-travel project this time around was another pair of C.O.O.S.  For some reason, socks are my fave travel project. It’s easy to pack a set of dpns and a ball of lively colored sock yarn (in this case a ball of Wisdom Yarns Marathon Socks-Twin Cities discovered all by its lonesome at a local Tuesday Morning store) before hitting the road.

On the Designs by KN Facebook page this week I’m featuring some other car-travel projects from the past (by the way, thanks everyone for those “likes” — 876 at the moment, can’t believe it!) So far the car-travel projects shared are:

Chunky Cap, originally pub’d in Crochet Today!  This version was quickly crocheted in the car on the first leg of a trip to Steamboat Springs, CO:

#2 Cloche, originally pub’d in Knit.1. This one was crocheted in the car on a trip to Yellowstone National Park:

Ballet-style Slippers, knit in the car on a winter trip to Steamboat Springs:

A carload of My Fave Dishcloths, on a long road trip to California for a family wedding:

C.O.O.S. on a vacation trip that took us through Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and back home to Colorado:

Whenever I know I’ll be a passenger in a car, it’s generally true:  “Have Knitting Bag, Will Travel!”

Provence Summer String Bag

It may be a little while before the next post, as I have been in idea mode lately and consequently cranking out design submissions in quantity, while waiting for the public release of some projects already completed.  Tomorrow will see the arrival of supplies for another one, so will be concentrating on that and probably exclaiming again:  “Where does the time go?”

The World Series starts tonight but hopefully they will avoid getting rained or snowed on. If your weather forecast calls for snow or rain, put on some warm hand-knit socks, cuddle up under a hand-crocheted afghan and start a new project to ease the transition from fall to winter.

Until later — stitch on.

I took a nature walk this weekend to enjoy the fall splendor that is showing itself everywhere in our neck of the woods along the Front Range of Colorado.  As posted on the Designs by KN Facebook page, the colors in the leaves and shrubs outside are reflected in these squares made for donation to the  WarmUp America! project:

Free patterns for knit and crochet squares are available on the  Craft Yarn Council site.

People were out walking their dogs and enjoying the spectacular views all around the neighborhood.  I was able to capture some pictures of the horses and a burro that hang out together in the open space meadows nearby. Sometimes the herd is seen up on the hillsides among the scrub oak but for the past few days have been down near the residential areas and roadside so we can enjoy their gentle beauty close up:

The fall colors on this nature walk were “splendiferous”:

Continuing with the autumn color theme, I thought it would be apropos to do a photoblog of some Designs by KN patterns that coordinate with the season:

Knit Hat (for anyone!)

Provence Summer String Bag (photo copyright Classic Elite Yarns)

Kathy’s Cross-Stitch Hats

Recedere Hat (photo copyright Knitscene/Interweave Press)

“Go Green” Lacy Shells Bag

Lacy Gaiter (pub’d in the book “Knit Noro” by Sixth & Spring)

Drop of Color Shawl

Cozy Comfort Shawl

Pet Turtle Toy

C.O.O.S.

And probably the most “famous” one for the fall season, the #13 Tasseled Earflap Hat from the cover of Knit Simple, Fall 2007:

Photo by Rose Callahan, copyright Knit Simple/SoHo Publishing

For this week’s FO, I finished the Hooded Soft Scarf, which is similar in tones to the purple shrub leaves and blue-purple mountain scene beyond:

Today is just as splendid weatherwise as yesterday, so it’s time to grab the camera and head out to enjoy more of my favorite season of the year.  Work on some new knit and crochet projects can wait until evening.

Hope you’re enjoying the seasonal changes as well.  Stitch on!

It’s MLB playoff time, and we enjoy watching the excitement of teams and players ramping it up to try to win the NLDS/ALDS in order to move on to the next level (NLCS/ALCS) and then the World Series.  A few years ago when the Colorado Rockies were part of a playoff scenario, we attended two games to cheer them on (in sub-freezing cold) and were given rally towels.  I remember when the games were broadcast on TV, the scoreboards at Coors Field lit up with the words “Wave those towels!”  We did so frantically, just as fans in the current playoff series are doing.  It’s fun to watch the sea of white, yellow, red and orange as thousands of fans wave towels to cheer on their favorite teams.

“I Love Yarn“ Day is here, so we should all be waving our knitting needles and crochet hooks frantically! I think I’m ready with my yarn corner set for some action:

Over the past week, the needles and hooks have been waving in my hands while completing a couple of baby blankets for charity:

Rippling Waves Baby Blanket

Simplicity (from the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans“, designed by Donna Yacino)

After completing those, I’ve moved on to starting another Hooded Soft Scarf:

The knitting needles have been waving about as I tote this portable project around the house, from room to room in between chores, laundry, dishes and finding time to sit a bit to watch another playoff game. If you’re a baseball fan, you probably enjoy this time of year too, with so many games to watch.  I still have my rally towel from a few years ago (a purple/white one.)  Even though the Rockies are far from being part of the fun, I may grab it anyway and give it a wave for old times sake, depending on which teams make it to the World Series.

The other day I was waving my hands in the air and shouting “woo hoo!” (yes, my family thinks I’m crazy) after receiving notice that three more design submissions were accepted for future publication.  The pattern writing has begun and I await the arrival of yarn that has been matched to the submissions.  The knitting needles and crochet hooks will continue waving throughout the next few weeks as these projects are completed and dispatched to the publishers who will eventually make them available for public view and use.

Have fun on “I Love Yarn“ Day!  I’m “knitting like the wind” to complete the hooded scarf on the needles right now, before the next sub-freezing cold snap arrives.

It happens every year, and yet each time it’s always a surprise and a delight, as if it were the first time we’d ever seen it.  When I turned on the back deck light this morning at 5:00 am to let the cat out, we both looked up and thought “What’s this white stuff falling from the sky?”  It was the first snow flurries of the season!

As is typical for Colorado weather, there was a dramatic temperature swing of 40 degrees, from summer heat of 83 degrees Wednesday to a winter freeze overnight.  This eerie sunset was caused by a windy cold front that blew along the Front Range late in the afternoon, stirring up a dust storm that turned the sun red:

But the next day dawned sunny, bright and yellow, with the trees all over town ablaze with color:

Now that the landscape is sporting a beautiful cloak of fresh snow flurries, I decided to sport my fave sweater and some wool socks today.  This is “The Big Easy” (designed by Michele Maks), a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarns that is very true to its name … it was easy to crochet and is so easy to wear that it has become a classic in my wardrobe. Although it’s at least ten years old by now, it’s still the sweater I reach for the most when the weather is chilly:

The socks worn today are a pair of my C.O.O.S. in Froelich ”Special Blauband“:

Yesterday I completed the latest in a series of afghan projects I have been working up in yarns from stash, using some of the interesting patterns in the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans.”  This is Trapper (designed by Margery Winter), which was easy and enjoyable to stitch:

I just so happened to have some yarns sitting around for, oh, about ten years (just like my Big Easy sweater!) that matched the colors of the afghan pictured in the book, so again this was another great stash-busting project.  Patches helped along the way, and is mostly likely curled up on it right now to keep warm on this cold morning:

I’m pleased to report that several new design submissions were accepted for future publication, so those will be the next projects to accomplish, that is, after my next travel adventure (I don’t think I’ve ever traveled this much in my life !… Steamboat, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, Glenwood Springs, San Diego, Maroon Bells, Dana Point, Hawaii, now heading south.)  My mom and I are taking an impromptu road trip down to Santa Fe, New Mexico for three days, with a side trip to Taos, so that should be fun.  I’m looking forward to dinner at Gabriel’s and breakfast at the Santa Fe Baking Company!

Of course, I’ll be packing some knitting and crocheting projects to work on in the car on the six hour drive, and for relaxing hours sitting around the condo or the pool.  It might be more socks (my fave travel project) …

C.O.O.S. on the road

… or hats

Pinky’s Wings Beanie

… or mitts

Men’s Fingerless Mitts

… or maybe another blanket.  After all, winter has shown its face today so we better get prepared for the big chill!

Thinking of You Lapghan

Wherever you are, enjoy the change of seasons!

… there is time to crochet & knit

Vintage Wheel Square (thread version table mat made of 4 squares)

Rippling Waves Baby Blanket 

… time to give

Donations to 2012 Crochet & Knit-a-Thon Snug Hugs for Kids charity drive

… time to teach

… time to travel

C.O.O.S. on the road

#2 Cloche on the road

… time to play

… time to read

60 More Quick Knits from Sixth & Spring Books (includes DBKN’s Basketweave Pocket Scarf)

Knit Noro from Sixth & Spring Books (includes DBKN’s Lacy Gaiter)

… time to discover inspiration in architecture

Sidewalk flower at Coors Field in Denver, CO

Historic Union Station, Denver, CO

… time to imagine

Designs by KN sketchbook

… time to work

… time to publish

Diaphanous Shawl pub’d in CEY Web-letter, Issue 252

… time to participate in community

DBKN booths at local craft fairs

… and sometimes …  there is time to do nothing but enjoy the changing seasons …

skies …

and squirrels  (this one just leaped out of a nearby tree onto our deck rail searching for pine cones)

Guess there’s no time like the present to get started on a new project:

Trapper afghan from Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans” (designed by Margery Winter)

Stitch on!