go bold

big. bold. floral. project bags.
now appearing at a fibre space store near you!

masterpiece mystery

this shawl started out a troublesome mystery. aptly named agatha, it was a script that ms. christie could have written...one that might fittingly feature miss jane marple, quite the knitter herself. it took some clever detective work to decipher the chart and plenty of fits, starts and restarts before any progress was made. but it was well worth it to persevere.

with berroco pure merino dk on the case and its excellent stitch definition, the design of the shawl became clearer and easier to follow. there are whispers that this yarn might be discontinued and it would certainly be a shame. the spring and twist is like no other. it shows off cables as well as lace in lovely fashion.

with a little patience and pluck, agatha transformed from a mystery to a masterpiece!

half credit

there was a kid in my high school calculus class who would get all of the right answers to questions, but was never able to explain how he did it. the teacher would make him write out his work on the board and he could certainly transcribe the entire sequence that lead him from problem to solution. but there was always a step or two, a leap you might say, that made sense only to him. for not being able to totally prove his theory yet still coming up with the right answer, he got half credit.

in clothing construction class, i too would receive half credit. my attempt at making the amy butler anna tunic seems to be complete...but don't look too closely or you'll be able to poke many holes in the theory and there will be no explanations to offer. just the fact that it came out sort of right, but who knows how it got there.

half credit.

oh, and that kid, he's now a mathematician working for nasa.

sacked!

photos of the finished chickadee project bags:

they are just the right size for those bigger projects that get cast on this time of year like sweaters, wraps and throws. fully lined with internal slip pockets to keep needles and notions organized. kind to your knitting and to the environment because they are made from repurposed linens. landing in fibre space today!

more to love

another batch of big old project bags is currently baking in the oven. they'll be fresh and ready for delivery next week!

tying one on at work

a new apron to wear around the shop! same old style as the craft apron with a little updating so that it can better perform its function. still backed with denim for sturdiness but now sporting a contrasting fabric front. and a little length added to the pockets to accommodate the tools of the trade like pens, calculators, scissors, measuring tape, crochet hooks, etc...yarn shop employee essentials. made in a cute retro print with bright colors to match the vibe of the store. she fits right in.

bunting bundle of joy

you were warned about the baby sack addiction. there's more to tell. this time it involves super large needles, dreadlocks of yarn and ears!

meet the buga baby bunting, designed by susan b. anderson for spud and chlöe. when this pattern came into the shop, it was love at first sight. when the time to cast on finally rolled around, fibre space had just gotten a shipment the newest malabrigo yarn, rasta. the super huge, super soft single ply merino seemed to beg for substitution.

talk about warm, this is polar bear and igloo type of warm. perfect for the new baby coming to live in an old drafty house. and if we have another winter like last year, not to worry. the cub is gonna be cozy and content in its bulky bundle.

since the intended recipient is still in the incubator, here's the official pattern publicity shot:

photo from: spud & chlöe

who's your daddy?

babies beware...this chickadee has sworn off the seemingly endless stitching that is a baby blanket and has converted to the bag! why? because it is terribly cute, absolutely ridiculous and looks incredibly cuddly.

plus it is the perfect way to pamper a freshly hatchling without breaking the piggy bank. the pattern says that 150-200 yards of worsted weight wool will get you this soft and squishy owlie sleep sack designed by teresa cole.

this itsy bitty bunting bag was made with less than one skein of malabrigo worsted (colorway: emerald). it is knit in the round so none of those pesky seams to worry about. and even if you've never cabled before you are capable of constructing the feathered friends that circle round the top. after the owls, it is smooth stockinette sailing!

** owl model made by pretty little fings! **

crimson and clover

new for space!

pretty fings in the panhandle

not sure what to do this labor day weekend? why not head out to scenic western maryland for a spectacular show at the washington county arts council (hagerstown, md). our friend pang of pretty little fings and fellow plush maker katie paul of keighty crochet will have their little stuffed lovelies on display. here's a sneak peek of their set-up:

photo slurped from: pretty little fings

if you can't make the opening don't despair! the show will be up for the month of september. stop by and see their terribly cute, terrifically creative and top-notch crafted works of art.

hemp-hemp-hooray!

another sweater is off the needles and on the shelf, stashed away for cooler weather. fingers crossed that it won't be too much longer now, because this one is a triumph! the knitting was fun and interesting, the seaming was scary...and the reason why this languished unfinished for so long.

(here's where i admit that i'm shamefully afraid to seam things. but this project was a confidence builder. not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but encouraging enough to continue to practice.)

pattern: pinnate cardigan by amy christoffers (ravelry link only)
yarn: elsebeth lavold hempathy
needles: us 2 and 4

you gotta know when to hold 'em

chickadee project totes have been going over great at fibre space. they are perfect for portable projects like socks, scarves and shawls...but what about when sweater knitting strikes your fancy? or you've bought balls of yarn for a blanket?

if a knitter casts-on for a cardigan in the forest, here is proof that the chickadee hears:

weighing in at a generous 13" x 14" and able to pack quite a punch are the sweet new drawstring sweater bags. all large projects are welcome so go ahead and bring them your tired tweeds and your huddled houndstooth.

and look inside! there are plenty of pockets to pack along the essentials...a few skinny ones for needles and larger ones for notions.

these are available right now at fibre space and right here by custom order.