My mother’s Christmas dinner table – silver birds and amaryllis lily

Christmas came and went so quickly this year – but during the actual celebration, it was quite lovely to look up and see the faces of my loved ones all around me.  It was a nice holiday.  I hope you had a great holiday too!

Up until Christmas Eve, I was finishing up the knitting project that kept me busy for the last few weeks… Backstory: I got a phone call from my sister’s new mother-in-law (remember her wedding in October?) after Thanksgiving about the possibility of knitting my sister (the newest member of their family) a stocking to match the family’s handknit stockings – ca. 1980s.  I agreed.  She gave me a model – Andrew’s stocking – to follow for style, dimensions and colors, and I was off to figure it out.  I stopped by the LYS to check out the yarn selection.  I came across a stocking kit with a generic colorwork pattern that was similar style, so I decided to take the plunge…

The template stocking had duplicate stitch colorwork on it, and I decided to do traditional stranding for Sarah’s stocking.  So, it was not the same exact style, but definitely inspired by the template…

"Christmas Miracle Stocking"

…and on Christmas Eve, I bound off, embroidered her name on the cuff, and added a braided hanger for the mantle… just in time for her mother-in-law to pick it up and take it away.  (It was still a little damp from the blocking!)  If I had had more time, I would have done a second blocking because some of the stranded areas – particularly on the instep of the foot – were still puckering slightly.  However, I am sure that once the stocking was filled with candies and goodies, the puckering would be the last thing on anyone’s mind!  Sarah’s stocking came out slightly longer than Andrew’s.  Andrew just laughed when I showed it to him on Christmas Eve and said that he was happy that Sarah’s was a little bigger – maybe so he could steal some of the candy from hers?

Andrew + Stockings

The Brown Sheep Lambs’ Pride yarn was true to its nature as a hardy and sturdy yarn.  I liked working with it.  To add a little something special, I also picked up a skein of Berroco Metallic FX in silver to hold with the white wool and to add sparkle to the cuff, heel, and toe of the stocking.  It created a little more bulk with the two yarns held together, and gave me an easy canvas to embroider Sarah’s name on it.

Since the stocking was a surprise for Sarah, she did not see it until Christmas morning when she celebrated with her in-laws.  She called me on Christmas morning and was excited to tell me that she had received it and that it was great.  I was just so happy that I was able to finish it – and that I was able to find a way to follow a template, yet still have some fun and add a little of my own style into it as well! 

I got a little frustrated. I read the directions thoroughly, and I just could not figure out why it was not working.

My first toe-up socks. The pattern called for a provisional cast-on, and while I had the idea down in my head, I just couldn’t get it to work on the needles.

Over-the-Knee Stockings, Vogue Knitting, Fall 2006

I wanted a special project for the start of the Summer of Socks. I cast on for my tweedy Whitby socks the other night, but I was hoping to cast on for these too, as I have admired the pattern since I got the magazine. Seeing Robin’s gorgeous stockings last month solidified the deal. Siri cast on for her own version of the pattern, and she is already finished with sock one (she sure moves on socks!), I hope my progress is as fast!

So… the cast on… It helps when you have a friend who knows (nearly) everything about knitting…

Eunny set me up with the cast on, and agreed that it was wonky (it made me feel better to have that validation!) It all made sense to me. Now to recreate the work! I am pretty confident that I will get it right this time, and these beautiful stockings will be mine!

…and once all that knitting is done, I can figure out how in the world to do all of the embroidery! …

Is there any chance of a winter on the East Coast this year? The temperatures outside don't suggest that a snowstorm or cold spell is anywhere near… I am still holding out for a massive blizzard snow storm in February, but I just don't know if that will happen.

With the temperatures peaking, the trees budding in our neighborhood, and our windows open for the breeze, my mind is already thinking about spring-time knits. With Project Spectrum colors as my guide, I did a little stash diving and found some very nice matches for some tops that I have had my eye on…

For the first two-month span (February / March) we will be exploring the possibilities with blue, white, and gray. There is so much to do with these colors, and I can't wait to see how you will use them.

This is the "Sirocco" camisole, from the June 2004 issue of Knitting magazine, a UK-based magazine. I picked it up when I first started knitting, and this tank caught my eye. It calls for a cotton yarn, and I just so happen to have some lovely Rowan 4-ply cotton in the "Night Sky" colorway (pictured) that fits the bill. The color is a favorite of mine – sort of a dark periwinkle. So, it could really fit in blue or purple… I decided to call it blue so that I could start it sooner. Plus, if I start it in February, I will actually be able to wear it during the warm months! (Small needles and lace details translate to slow knitting for Lolly – I am just being realistic).

It will probably require some tweaking, because I do not have the "build" of this wispy little model, but I think I am up for the challenge. Probably will start this one in the first few weeks of February.

Also of note, the lovely "Acorn Camisole" from Interweave Knits, Summer 2005. I have a great clearance-bin find: a soft green mercerized cotton, very similar to the color of the yarn used in the sample, in fact. I considered the color to be gray when I first saw it, but after looking at it under natural light, it was clearly green, and therefore, perfect for April / May time frame (green, pink, yellow).

Do you have some projects in mind for Project Spectrum? Are you "thinking outside of the box"? I am obviously thinking about the ways to explore color with my trusty needles and yarn, but I encourage you all to think about what else you can create in the colors of the month. Project Spectrum is not just another knitalong, so we have eight months – EIGHT MONTHS! – why not try something new?

We have over 700 participants in Project Spectrum so far: a wonderfully diverse group of crafters and artisans. We have hundreds of textile artists – spinners, crocheters, knitters, hug hookers, dyers, weavers – and dozens of needlework afficianados – embroiderers, sewers, quilters – a great number of photographers, beaders and jewelry makers, glass artisans, and basket makers. So much diversity! So many colorful prospects!

In addition to all of the knitting I have planned, I am also planning several other crafts. I have long enjoyed needle crafts like embroidery and cross-stitch. Last year, I found this beautiful silk scarf kit at the craft store.

I love the two-toned silk scarf, and the embroidery is simple and sweet. The kit is a Linea Blue Silk Scarf/Shawl – there are different patterns that use the same blue silk base.

I am planning some quilting for April and May, using Denyse Schmidt's Quilt-It Kit.

That pillow on the front cover seems like a good introduction – and the fabric colors are perfect!

And outside of the textile/needle work world, I am also planning some paper crafts…

The Origami Page-A-Day Calendar 2007 was a fun addition to my [alread] large calendar collection. Who can pass up cute paper pigs?

I would love to hear what things you are planning to create during Project Spectrum! Let me know!

My mom says "cute as a button" a lot; or the corollary "cute as a bug's ear" (you know, weird "Southern-isms"… I don't even think that bugs have ears, do they?)  So these little sayings stick out in my head.  But really, it is true.  Buttons are cute.  I love them. 

I saw this tutorial a few months ago and wanted to try it with some black and gray buttons I found last year at the thrift store.  The directions were a little ambiguous, so I "winged" it.  The final result: 

Alternate View

Unlike the tutorial, I used buttons of different shapes and sizes, so it looks different.  I used beading string (from the craft store) a crimp bead, and a regular clasp closure to secure all of it together.  It jingles when I walk, so you can hear me coming!  I like this one, but I see room for improvement.  I have some plans for some other button jewelry…  I met a crafter on Flickr who puts together the coolest button art and jewelry – I love .tomate's work! (see more of her wearable button art set here)

I have quite a button collection; I have inherited some from my grandmother's old button tin, as well as purchased many of them second-hand at thrift shops and yard sales.  I have purchased a few of them new, most specifically for knit projects, or more button jewelry. I arranged these in bags according to color – and I just used my whole black and gray stash for the necklace, so I will have to replenish those.

My favorites among the thrifted and inherited buttons

Simple and round, fancy and shiny – buttons always catch my eye!

I have also been inspired by another Flickr friend, Cosette of Cosymakes, who uses buttons and embroidery in her handknitting.  Much of the yarn that Cosette uses is repurposed from old garments, and she makes the knits beautiful again with simple stitching and button embellishments – I am particularly fond of her hats!

Inspired by the lovely colors for this month's Project Spectrum, I started an embroidery kit that I got on clearance at a craft store last year.  The colors are a light cream color, with a slight pink tint, and dark chocolate brown DMC floss. 

This is the DMC Linea Embroidery kit, which included this silk scarf with a light fringe and pre-printed lines for the stitcher to follow.  This is particularly helpful to me, as I have not embroidered or stitched in several years, and needed a good reminder of what goes into it.  I enjoyed doing this simple running stitch, and may need to pull out some of the books I bought a few months ago to re-inspire me for embroidery and crewel work! (Remember Colorful Stitchery and The New Crewel? Not to mention the Stitch-It Kit that I got last Christmas… all are sitting patiently on my craft bookshelf!)

I am waiting for that day when Kris encourages me to quit work and school, because he wants me to have more time to craft