all you need is warmth

this chickadee stumbled upon a heartfelt happening yesterday in dc, just off dupont circle. a small group with a grateful conscious gathered at the gandhi statue on 21st and massachussets ave to remember the life and celebrate the legacy of the peaceful leader....and to warm him up a bit!

they placed pom-pon garland at the base of the monument and laid crochet chains around his feet. he got a scarf for his neck and a hat to keep his head cozy. there was a sweet serenade by a few flautists and soft greetings and giggles from those who gathered.

there was also a spot to make a donation of hand knitted items to help those who are left out in the cold this winter. here's hoping that they made their way to cover cold hands and heads and keep out at least some of the chill.

for more information or to stay in the loop for next year, visit the gandhiwarmer page.

and to read a nice write-up on the event, click over to the 42.

how does your garden grow?

with super chunky yarn and great big needles, the modern garden cardigan grows faster than you can say 'sugar snap.' the pattern, another lovely one from designer veera välimäki, is worked from bottom hem to collar all in one piece. sleeves are first worked separately and then added along to the body. the shaping of the sweater comes from the curved lines of the leaves.

no increasing or decreasing. no seams. no sweat. a quick and happy knit that will call fibre space home for a while. it was knit as a shop sample to show off some spectacular yarn. mirasol ushya is perfect for this project and all sorts of other winter accessories. it is a big and bulky yarn that somehow manages to stay lightweight and still be warm.

more to adore

a little bird told me that fibre space has a nice little stash of spaciously-sized chickadee project bags. 13" x 14". lined. with pockets! and a drawstring up top to keep that unruly yarn from rolling away.

pass, punt and purl

the nfl playoffs kick off this afternoon. the outcome of today's games sets the stage for the super bowl in two weeks. gridiron fans are giddy with excitement, and knitters out there are putting their game plans together to pass the time between touchdowns.

if you have something special to tote between playoff parties and the super bowl showdown look no further than the chickadee large project bags. at 13" x 14" they can tackle shrugs and sweaters and catch just about anything that you can throw their way.

find them now at fibre space! can't make it to the commonwealth? you can special order one and have it shipped directly to your end-zone.

holy cowl!

meet the chickadee interpretation of polar bear wear. super soft and snuggly like the furry coat of the arctic animal, it manages to be warm without being overwhelming and functionally fit for the elements. the pattern is idlewood (ravelry download) from cecily glowik macdonald and it jumped to the top of my knitting queue the moment it came out.

of course, it had to wait a bit before it was actually cast-on. and in the meantime there was plenty of wandering the worsted yarn section at work to find an appropriate yarn. berroco vintage chunky hit the shelves at just the right time and worked out perfectly for the pattern. it is 50% acrylic/40% wool/10% nylon which makes it machine wash and dry. certainly a factor for a white sweater. and forget what you know about acrylic yarns, this stuff is soft and super easy to work with.


does that cowl look gigantic? that's because it is. it is almost the entire length of the body of the sweater! but it drapes beautifully below the neck when you need it to be out of the way. and when you get suited up to brave the winter winds, just wrap it around your neck and you don't need to bring along a scarf. it is built in!

this was a quick, fun knit that has gotten a lot of wear this season. it makes the winter bearable. polar bearable.

a toast to totes!

welcome the first fibre space tote of 2011!

they are the same old two handle style that you know and love. this one is just tied up at the top to keep all of the yarn from spilling out onto the sofa. stashes seem to have somehow grown over the interim...santa must love knitters.

back in the saddle

howdy partners! it has been a little while. that winter break turned into quite a blogcation. nary a seam was pressed or a stitch sewn in the interim...although travel time did allow for some serious knitting sessions. you'll be caught up on all of that soon.

in the meantime, here's a work-in-progress shot to keep me honest. now stand back! the iron is getting hot and the machine is about to get fired up for a new year.

hope that you turned a lovely hem on 2010 and that your 2011 will be filled with all glorious things fiber and stitch.