by candlelight

the chickadee central coffers aren't terribly choosy. in fact, chickadee accounts are often paid off with various forms of currency...yarn being but one example. a skein of yarn like the one my friend annobananos (ravelry link) tendered is worth way more than its weight in gold in these parts.

this skein of squoosh fiber arts silky sock (50% merino, 50% silk) was socked away in a safe place for a while, waiting for just the right project to come along. enter the candlelight shawl pattern (ravelry link only) by saccade elyse and then enter your moth to flame references here. this knit was made even sweeter knowing that proceeds from the sale of her pattern go directly to the epilepsy foundation of northern california.

a great pattern for a great cause made with a great yarn given by a great friend.

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.

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! **

a clean slate

here's to good old fashioned summer knitting! simplicity that allows the mind to unwind but still yields delightful results. with the heat bearing down on you and your needles, it is sometimes sublime to relax with stockinette stitch. those complex cables can come back in the fall.

the boneyard shawl from westknits was just the thing to weather the latest heat wave. it is a small, portable project that won't take up too much room in your tote. and its straightforward construction was easy to follow without getting lost. sections of stockinette are offset with a tidy purl ridge that keep things interesting without having to maintain strict attention.

another great part of the pattern is that almost any yarn will do. this one is made from the super squishy, soft and luxurious neighborhood fiber co. capitol luxury sock (merino/cashmere/nylon). you can easily customize the size of the shawl to fit your yarn or your pretty little neck. the chickadee version has nine purl ridges and is finished off with an inch and a half of garter stitch. that used up almost all 375 yards and made a cute little kerchief. it is the grooviest slate grey and goes well with most everything.

chickadee: 1 cute kerchief / heat wave: 101º

a spicy little sweater

and now back to our regularly scheduled sweater knitting!

what do we have here? a finished sweater? amazingly yes! this is the chickadee version of yellowcosmo's sage blouse (a free ravelry download). it is a sweet little sweater that she dedicated to the memory of her beloved canine companion who would return home from walks smelling like the sage that was growing along the trail. she's made this pattern available for free! all that she asks in return is that you take the time to care for or show some love to a little creature that you meet along the way. a great idea, and a great pattern to boot!


this particular version is more turmeric than sage thanks to the pretty pumpkin pigment of the unique sheep's pima petite. cotton yarns can be rather tricky to work with. there's usually little give to them which makes knitting a bit of a chore. but the pima petite was prima! the best cotton yarn experience to date. makes me want to knit more soft summer sweaters in the myriad of color options it comes in...all of them with lovely hand-dyed hues.

pretty much followed the pattern just as written. you can find more notes here on my ravelry page. and you can find me wearing this one when the thermometer decides to slip into something more comfortable.

the birds

remember these guys? they've undergone a stunning transformation with the help of some stuffing and stick-on googly eyes.

to save them from being grounded, my coworker kel (yep, i said coworker) built this magical mobile and they now spend their days happily in faux-flight in the front window of fibre space. you (yes you!) can make your own bird mobile with some scrap yarn and the (free!) flock pattern from knitty.


probably a good time to share that i've gone from dreaming of one day working in a local yarn store, to actually working in one. the business of this chickadee has slowed down a bit as more time squishing yarn and stocking shelves means less time in front of the sewing machine. but never fear, this chickadee will be here...and there...so if you stop in fibre space be sure to say hi. and keep an eye out for chickadee activities around town too.

smock it to me

here's a project completed with the help of sharpie style pattern preservation. a lovely little smock that any 80's elementary art teacher would be proud to wear. there's plenty of protection from finger paint and pockets for macaroni, crayons and chalk. all from a lovely little thrifted pattern that will now stand the test of time.

we are the vintage pattern preservation society

ah, thrift stores. where would we be without you? certainly at a loss for treasures of days gone by. you are a ripe hunting ground for the forgotten but not yet gone to the trash. a place to find what has been misplaced, to take what is old and make it new again. an excellent place for thrifty threads and the stuff to stitch them together.

here's a favorite find from a recent adventure:

this pattern, circa 1985, was just begging for some new life. but 20+ year old pattern paper is a fragile creature that needs a lot of tlc. thankfully, there's a way to preserve this by-gone charm for all time. for the chickadee method of pattern preservation, you just need a sharpie and a bit of muslin or other fabric to trace on.

start by cutting around the pattern pieces that you are interested in. don't cut right on the line, leave a bit of a border. you'll be tracing the pattern and you want the original lines to be intact. then gently press the pattern paper with a warm iron (no steam!) to remove the wrinkles.

pin the pattern piece to muslin or other appropriate scrap fabric. instead of snipping around the shape, take your trusty sharpie and trace the lines of the pattern. a fresh sharpie is best for this sort of thing, one with lots of ink. but be mindful, the angled tip can sometimes snag the thin paper. go slow and let the ink sink into the fabric below. be sure to recreate all of the appropriate markings like notches and grain lines. if your fabric is thin (like muslin) you might want to consider protecting the surface underneath as the marker will bleed through.

once you are finished tracing, remove the paper. marvel at the miraculous power of the sharpie. your pattern should now appear on the fabric. cut out the fabric pieces along the border lines and they are ready to be placed on the actual fabric that you'll be making your garment out of. pin them in place, cut, transfer markings and reuse as many times as you want. no need to worry about the paper disintegrating or ripping. this is also a great way to make several pattern sizes without interfering with the integrity of the pattern.

note: don't trace directly on to the fabric that you plan to sew, these marks are permanent and permeate! so they'll definitely show up on the finished product.

bluegrass

this shawl pattern, la cumparsita, was named after a spanish dance. inspired by my week at common ground, the chickadee version sings its own little tune in a blend of blues and greens. my first time working with malabrigo sock yarn certainly won't be the last. it is quite a pleasurable ply with the same subtle and sublime color changes of its worsted weight sibling.


the little bud lace pattern was a pleasure to knit but the border tripped me up just a bit. thankfully, the designer marnie maclean was a dear and easily diagnosed my dilemma. worked with size five circulars, it worked out pretty much to the suggested gauge. there was just one little modification made on the cast-off edge. this one is just plain purled instead of embelished as the pattern is written.

melonball

the world of lace knitting is completely new and completely captivating this chickadee right now. the book scarf style has been sitting on the shelves for a while. one of the patterns, ene's scarf, (ravelry link) immediately caught my eye but i never thought that i'd even attempt it...much less finish it!

knit with one and a half skeins of the lovely knit picks gloss lace and size 6 needles. it took several attempts to get started, but finally something clicked and from there it flew right on by. it is super lightweight and soft and feels sublime around the shoulders. i'd make another one right away if there weren't so many other intriguing patterns out there.

la bandita

are you there spring? it's me, this chickadee. we've all been waiting patiently for you and your pretty little blossoms. the birds in the trees seem to think that you've arrived. the squirrels are saying that it is finally safe to pack up the winter woolens. that means lighter, airier knits are now on the needles...like this one done up in shades of pink, mimicking the cherry trees right outside the window.



the pattern is courtesy of the creative ladies over at kelbourne woolens. their springtime bandit is a breeze to knit and available for free! a lace triangle made with worsted weight yarn, it is light and warm at the same time. any worsted weight will do, but the subtle variegation of malibrigo merino was a complement to the charted pattern. working with a chart seemed daunting at first, but it was easy to get used to and fun. viva la bandita! viva spring!

brown baggin' it

here's a special request from some friends who are expecting the arrival of a wee one any day now. hopefully this will make it to them on time, so they can stuff it full of diapers, bottles, blankets, and spare onesies in case of accidents. babies do make mistakes...

this is another lightly modified version of lotta jansdotter's all-day tote from her simple sewing book. the first one was gifted to a friend and her lovely little girl last year (here's the link). since they have had great success with their bag, many of the alterations were made again for number two. the interior pockets are similar, with one inset zip and several slip pockets on the opposite side. the exterior pocket line-up also remained the same...with a bit of contrast fabric peeking through at the tips and snaps to keep things secure.

new this time were the dimensions; one inch of added height so that the bag now measures about 14" wide x 12" high x 6" deep. and because this one was made with two cotton fabrics, interfacing was sewn in to make it stiffer.

knit 2, purl 2, sip 1

knitting lends itself well to both the solitary and the social. you can certainly relax at home with nothing but cables for company or take the show on the road and share stitches with a few friends. being such a versatile craft, knitting attracts all kinds of people with all sorts of interests. that's why you'll see knitting groups popping up just about everywhere. for the literati, there are knit-lit nights where you can loop-the-loop and discuss the latest bestseller. the sports minded bind-off in the bleachers of baseball games at area stitch and pitch events. ravelry is overrun with groups of knitters whose common thread ranges from favorite fiber to tonight's television watching.


but it isn't always about the theme, sometimes it is just the "togetherness." and there is nothing that brings people together like a little tipple. mix together a love of knitting and a double-hop i.p.a. or a crisp california white wine and you get this new book: pints and purls: portable projects for the social knitter. co-authored by karida collins and libby bruce, it is full to the brim with cute, creative projects that are perfect for a knit night out. this chickadee got a little taste of what is inside at the homespun yarn party, where karida had an advanced copy on display at her neighborhood fiber co. booth. many of her yummy yarns were used in the book and if you haven't yet checked them out, you owe yourself the pleasure.

want to find out what's on tap? here's what the editors had to say:

Recipes for tasty cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres are not the only things that you’ll find in Pints and Purls. For the social knitter who likes to have one drink (or a few!), there are a variety of portable projects such as drink cozies and soft scarves that feature simple-to-follow patterns, plus tips and tricks for fixing mistakes should you have a bit too much while knitting. The pocket size and quick-to-knit projects are perfect for the knitter on the go.

if the "happy hour cappy" or the "barfly pullover" sound like your sort of projects, you can meet up with other like-minded knitters at a tangled skein in hyattsville, md on april 4th for a 5pm book launch/signing/sampling. click here for more details about the event.

if you miss out on this one, be on the look out for another potable purling party at knit happens in alexandria, va.

birth and taxes

benjamin franklin must have been a bit of a pessimist. sure, death is certain too...but from this chickadee's perch it looks like the birds and the bees are getting along just fine. maybe my friends are just looking for a way to get some sweet little handknits? the pitter-patter of tiny feet around their homes means the clicking and clacking of knitting needles around here.

this is the pinwheel sweater pattern from shirley mackie. available in a child and adult version, it is knit almost completely in the round, starting from the center back. the yarn used, universal classic worsted tapestry, complemented the circular construction by changing colors and making stripes all on its own. it took about a skein and half to complete the chickadee version of the child size, with a little left over that could be used to make booties (this one differs a bit from the original, the loopy edge was omitted and a little liberty was taken with the sleeves). the trickiest part of the otherwise straightforward pattern was the sleeve join. a link from ravlery lead me to this post, which is a must read if you are thinking of casting on.

now it is time to take care of those taxes...

so happy together

friend, blogger and fellow knitter christy of knitting pretty in dc has had a big week. not only did she study for and successfully complete the GREs, she also managed to publish a new knitting pattern. the "it all comes together" beret is her stellar sophomore effort.

you might remember her first foray into pattern writing, the perfectly delightful prettybird neckwarmer. not long after its release, it joined the chickadee cast-on club and the results were pretty indeed.

for the beret, this chickadee got a jump on the competition and gladly accepted an offer to be a test knitter. it look less than one skein of the alpaca yarn company's glimmer to make this jaunty cap. the sprinkle stitch that makes up the body of the beret sparkled with flecks of gold that were spun right into the yarn. the chapeau's crowning glory are the rows of reverse stockinette that make up the very middle. a joy to knit and a pleasure to wear, you'll want to add "it all comes together" to your knitting queue too.





way to go christy! can't wait for lots more lovely knits and purls from knitting pretty in dc.

sweet painted lady

after two months and multiple trips to local stores in search of more yarn to match, the chickadee version of the lady eleanor stole (from the interweave press book scarf style) is finally finished! just in time for warmer weather (sigh) but no matter. even if it can't be worn out, it still looks lovely draped over the back of the sofa. and drape it does. the original thought was to make something a bit smaller than the original pattern, but in the end the entrelac was too rapturous to resist.

it measures 20"x75" (before blocking) which is slightly skinnier and a little longer than the pattern projected. but there were some liberties taken with gauge. i liked the way that it looked on size 9 needles so much better than the 10 1/2 needles it called for. so size 9 it was. worked with noro kureyon worsted weight yarn, the 9's created a warm, dense fabric with lots of depth. and the colors! like a mixed berry pie, bursting with brilliant purples and pinks. yum.

butter bean

if you've not guessed, the theme of l'enfant ensemble is eyelets. a little while back, this chickadee had another knit commission and chose to use a pattern for a baby bonnet, sweater and booties from an eighties knitting book (you can see that finished project here). it was such fun to knit and seemed suited for this project as well.

this time, instead of the ribbon closure, one carefully chosen vintage button adorns the front of the cardigan. the ribbons weren't used for the booties either. it isn't pictured above but the yarn used the knit the project was twisted into cord and threaded through the eyelets to help keep the booties where they belong.

and, instead of following the bonnet pattern, this chickadee came up with her very own quick knit pattern for a rolled-brim, striped baby hat.

voila! one cozy and comfortable baby set complete.

good day sunshine

not much in the way of posts lately, but plenty going on here at chickadee central. for the past couple of weeks, the assembled crew has been working their needles (knitting and sewing) to the bone on some special projects for some special people. first up, the knitting project that kept this chickadee up late! a friend commissioned little me to make a knit baby set that she could then give as a gift. she gave me the colors and then sent me to work on a plan for a blanket, sweater, hat and bootie set that would be cuddly and cute for the little newborn.

my casual planning and constructing turned constant when the due date for the bundle of joy was bumped up! so for a few days, there was nothing going on here but the constant click and clack of needles, a few "ughs" and the occasional frog.

today let's talk about the blanket. once again, ravelry came to the rescue. already armed with ideas for the sweater from a previous project, i searched through ravelry's never-ending database of patterns to find something that would look similar. the oh so soft baby blanket by jennifer jackson was oh so right. the chickadee version is knit holding two strands of bernat cottontots together throughout. to make the striping a bit more symmetrical, the middle row of yellow had eyelets added at the beginning and end of the row. other than that little twist and total ignorance of gauge, it was knit according to the pattern which was clear and easy to follow. and jennifer does not tell a lie, the blanket is indeed oh so soft.

icy hot

the calorimetry pattern from knitty has been making the rounds on ravelry since its release in the winter 2006 issue. seems like it is reaching its peak of popularity right now, and while this chickadee isn't much for band wagons, she sure is one for warmth in the winter. the calorimetry covers up the ears and keeps them cozy. thanks to the button in the back, it can go on and off without disturbing a perfectly placed ponytail.

it took some doing to get this headband done. the first time through with worsted weight yarn it came out too big and bulky. the second knit-through with dk weight yarn and smaller needles (6 us) turned out just how goldilocks would have wished...just right.

the manos silk blend yarn is also enough to make goldilocks pass on the porridge. another yarn out of uruguay that is hand spun and hand dyed by a women's cooperative, it is as smooth as its name suggests and a wonder to work with. the icy cool of the wildflower colorway caught my eye did not disappoint. you'll be seeing more of it soon...

malibrigo man

(the goose would like a word with the bearded gentleman)

my husband is often the muscle and the mover for chickadee craft show operations. time to treat him for lending a hand throughout this first year. he put in a request for a cowl that was soft and snug with a modest pattern and muted color scheme that was still manly. after searching through copious cowl options on ravelry, this aptly named one was the winner.

the guy next door cowl is available as a free download for ravlery members (if you aren't a member yet, don't worry...that's free too!). there's a subtle herringbone-like pattern that was perfectly accented by a slight color change in the yarn that wasn't apparent until the after-knit photo session. the hidden hues were an added bonus to an already awesome yarn that is a favorite of fellow ravelers. malabrigo worsted is a hand dyed, super soft merino made in uruguay by a woman's cooperative. a perfect pairing of conscious and cuddly crafting.