Skip to content

Category: Inspirations

Giving more than thanks

I hope everyone who is celebrating Thanksgiving today is having a wonderful day. While today is a day for giving thanks for the people in our lives and what things we might have that enrich our lives in whatever way, today should also be a day to think about people who could maybe use a little more than gratitude. {read more}

4 Comments

Designer Profile: Jeannie Cartmel

It’s no secret that I love socks, right? Before I started knitting socks, I had quite the collection of seemingly wacky store-bought socks. What’s most amazing about this is that I used to hate wearing things on my feet—shoes, socks, flip flops, whatever, just let me go barefoot. I’ve changed my stance on this quite a bit since moving to Colorado and learning to knit, obviously.

Around the time that I first started knitting socks, I noticed a new sock designer sharing designs frequently in the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry. Jeannie Cartmel’s sock designs are eye-catching and entrancing, eliciting reactions that range from “oooh neat” to “how the heck did she do that?” {read more}

2 Comments

Book Review: Mostly Mittens

Wow, I saved today’s post till the last minute, quite by accident. I got a little lost in the Department of Mysteries and before I knew it, it was 6:30 and I realized I hadn’t posted. I had wanted to come in here showing off my finished cardigan for my mom, but that Ministry of Magic is a bit of a maze…

So instead, I’m sharing with you a book review. As long-time readers will know, I’m a little… shall we say “obsessed” with mittens. Especially colorwork mittens. And I still don’t own any (but they’re on the schedule!). However, Charlene Schurch (of Sensational Knitted Socks fame) reissued her Mostly Mittens: Ethnic Knitting Designs from Russia (Martingale, 2009) last year and it’s a wonderful source of mitten inspiration. {read more}

4 Comments

Holiday crafting

Christmas is just a few weeks away, and if you’re not quite into the Christmas spirit, well I can’t blame you. We still have Thanksgiving to go, and if your job is like mine, you might be a little overwhelmed with all the stuff that has to happen before the end of the year.

That said, I’ve seen a bunch of patterns popping up lately that make me more excited about the holiday season. {read more}

2 Comments

Designer Profile: Tiny Owl Knits

Supposedly, we’re getting snow today. The first snow of Fall, and I really, really hope it comes. Aside from the fact that snow is definitely a knitter-friendly occurrence, there’s still a magical aspect to snow for me. (Yes, I have only lived in a place where snow is a frequent happening for a year and I’ve yet to have to shovel snow, but whatever, I love it.)

Snow makes me think of wistfully sipping tea while sitting on a window seat, watching the flakes pile up against the glass; bright red cardinals silhouetted against dark branches and blindingly white skies; warm, cozy sweaters and colorful galoshes. In my mind, snow equals whimsy and joy, much like the designs that come from Stephanie Dosen of tiny owl knits. {read more}

10 Comments