Spring Stitches

Contemporary Irish Knits by Carol Feller

Evin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:45:21 +0000

This past October, I had the pleasure of talking with Carol Feller while she was at Vibes & Scribes in Cork City to show knitted work from her book, Contemporary Irish Knits. We discussed her designs as well as the importance of appreciating Irish yarn dyers, such as those she featured in her book. Here are some of the photos I snapped while there. You can read all about Carol’s day, her take on contemporary Irish knitwear, and more in her blog post about the trunk show event.

Contemporary Irish Knits by Carol Feller is available from amazon.com and .amazon.co.uk as well as locally from Vibes & Scribes and other discerning booksellers.

Posting this was delayed because at the time I was entering my eighth month of pregnancy and life has kept me quite busy since that day.

Filed under: Knitting

Admiring Free Quilt Patterns

Evin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:45:00 +0000

Ro Gregg’s Rose Garden Tea Quilt and Lisa Christensen’s Make Mine Pink, Please! Quilt.

I’ll post more lovely free patterns in the future (aiming for Fridays to inspire weekend projects!). So please come back often to see what new free pattern I’ve found to drool over!

This feature is carried over from my other blog which was focused on the one-off Pink Auction fundraiser for Action Breast Cancer.

Filed under: How To | Projects | Patterns, Sewing

Best Baby Projects to Knit or Sew

Evin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:31:45 +0000

As a new mother, I have a new perspective on knitting and sewing projects. With that in mind, I am writing up a quick post with links to the best projects for a new baby. I wish I had known this before because I would have just made these for my friends who were expecting instead of buying pairs of cashmere booties or silver cups. Sure, those are nice gifts, but if you have a friend who is willing to knit or sew something for you, forget store-bought because handmade trumps all! Here are my top picks for most practical handmade baby gifts linking to the related blog post or pattern (photos included!):

Burp Cloths

Classic Baby Hats or a Fair Isle one like the whale watch or the R2D2 one I made for my nephew

Kanoko Pants – the smallest size of these fit my baby from birth through nine weeks (11 lbs)

Baby blanket – I’ve made a few, like one for Kate, one for Daniel, and the very well-loved one I made for Miller. I also sewed a quilt for Sophie but haven’t written a post about it yet.

Cardigan – So many patterns but for something classic, go with the Iceling by Carol Feller for something classic and gender neutral. Of course, if you want a challenge, opt for Carol Feller’s Rossbeg Cardigan (Shown below. It has cabling!) or Baby Surprise by Elizabeth Zimmerman for a challenge. The Rossbeg Pattern is from Carol Feller’s book, Contemporary Irish Knits, which is available from: www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk.

Appliquéd bib and/or onesie, like this fishy-themed set or separate fish bibs I made for Charley and Coy.

Of course, here are posts I wrote about baby gifts you may also find helpful or interesting (instead of copying and pasting them here, I’m just including the links):

Handmade Baby Gifts (January 2011)

Gift Ideas to Give Baby & New Parents (October 2011)

Filed under: How To | Projects | Patterns, Knitting, Lists | Letters, Sewing

Art Exhibition by Martha Cashman, Miranda Daly & Angie Shanahan

Evin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:04:18 +0000

You may remember Martha Cashman’s name from her donation to last year’s successful Pink Cork auction for Action Breast Cancer. Well, if you like her ceramics, you’ll be thrilled to know that she and two other Irish artists are having an exhibit in Skib!

West Cork Arts Centre is pleased to invite you to the opening of an exhibition by Martha Cashman, Miranda Daly & Angie Shanahan. The exhibit is titled A Different Dimension and will be opened on Saturday 26 November at 3.00pm by John Minihan, photographer.

Martha Cashman, ceramic artist; Miranda Daly, film-maker and Angie Shanahan, painter present an exhibition exploring a narrative of the former Wolfe’s Bakery in Skibbereen, West Cork. The artists are interested in the transition from one state of being to another and in conveying a sense of past human activity and industrial output associated with this building. Wolfe’s Bakery is the site for the planned new building for West Cork Arts Centre.

The artists will present a Talk in the Gallery on Thursday 12 January 2012 at 1.30pm.

Inma Pavon, dancer, will present a performance in response to the work in the gallery on Saturday 14 January at 3.00pm

The exhibition continues to 5.00pm Saturday 14 January 2012.

Martha Cashman is on Twitter: @marthacashman
To refresh your memory, here is Martha Cashman’s donation to Pink Auction:

Filed under: Where to Buy

Hand Knit Baby Pants from the Kanoko Pattern

Evin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:24:26 +0000

On Friday night, I finished knitting a pair of baby pants for my child-to-be. Yes, I knit a pair of pants. Insane! Well, not really. The yarn (Lion Brand Cotton Ease) is durable and washable, plus warmer than the thin knit pants available in stores. The pattern was one shown to me by my friend Gina when I was in DC this Spring.

To Gina’s credit, she followed the pattern and I diverted from the seed stitch rows (knit stockinette instead) a bit to save time. The big difference is that she was knitting her pair as a gift, which we all know is taken more seriously than something we knit for ourselves. And as much as I know my baby will be wonderful, I can’t fathom the wee one caring how many rows of seed stitch I knitted on something so much as how well it repels stains and absorbs diaper overflow. Yeah, I went there. It’s a baby, I’m realistic.

I intend to knit this pattern in the two larger sizes as well – in different colors, of course. I found the Lion Brand Cotton Ease a dream to knit with. There is a sturdiness and consistency I found ideal for baby projects, plus I’ve heard good things about how well it washes and wears.

To look at the project on Ravelry, click here (I created a special link so anyone clicking through this link can see it, even non-members). This is one of many baby-focused sewing and knitting projects I’ll be profiling in an upcoming nice big happy blog post on my new blog, EvinOK.net.

Of course, the project details are not enthralling so if you just want to see more photos of the pants in all their hand-knit glory, here you go:

Oh, did I mention, I crocheted the drawstring? Yeah, considering I don’t know how to properly crochet, I’m thrilled with the outcome. As I’m sure my child will be too. Comfy, cosy, washable, and versatile!

Filed under: Knitting

Enjoying Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn Club – with Photos

Evin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:57:26 +0000

This summer, I wanted to treat myself to a little decadence and indulgence – and a splash of color. A friend of mine agreed and gave me the fab gift of a three-month membership in the Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn Club. Don’t you love when that happens?

The sock club truly is the gift that keeps on giving. For three months in a row, members receive two skeins of lovingly dyed Hedgehog Fibres sock yarn, each in an exclusive sock club colorway.

Now, you’ve heard me mention Hedgehog Fibres before and it’s no secret I know the creative powerhouse behind one of Ireland’s favorite craft dyers, but that’s not why I buy, love, and knit with the yarn (plus give it as gifts). It’s GREAT fibre with unique and vibrant colorways.

Nothing sickeningly sweet, generic, or wall flowery about Hedgehog Fibres colorways. And they don’t pool or stripe so, the sock and lace weights in particular, are ideal for shawls and a broad range of projects. The colorways have depth and the names do too. You won’t find names like kisses or sunshine, but honest hues from reality like Lobster, Mozambique, Opalite, Petals, Petrol, Pollen, Sour Cherry, and Spell.

Here are the sock club selections from this summer that I’ve received so far. Try not to drool on your computer screen.

June brought Oileán (Irish for Island) and Potion

July brought Phoenix and Ondine

This is one of those wonderful things that is a thoughtful gift for a knitter or crocheter. Pair with a few shawl or fingering weight patterns and you have an amazing gift that will be remembered for a long time. Oh, be sure you or your recipient has access to a ball winder (or the patience to ball by hand) because the yarn comes in delicious hanks. If you need a ball winder, KnitPicks sells them for $20 each or they’re available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Previous mentions of Hedgehog Fibres by me:

Admiring Hand-Dyed Yarn
Putting Together the Perfect Care Package for a Crafty Friend
Delicious Hand-Dyed Yarn Treats
Mmm, New Yarn
Where To Buy Yarn in Cork City
Virtual Yarn Stash
Cork-based Spinning & Dyeing

DISCLOSURE: Hedgehog Fibres is a Cork-based craft dyer and I know her personally. She has given my two skeins as a gift over the course of our three-year friendship. And just to be clear, two (or even 20) skeins of yarn is not enough to make me write nice things without meaning them. All my thoughts and feelings are my own and completely sincere. Read about the FTC Regulation that sparked this disclosure.

Filed under: Where to Buy, Yarn

Sewing Custom Oversized Burp Cloths

Evin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:42:46 +0000

After reading a tutorial by Made by Rae, I was thinking it would be fun to make custom burp cloths from old (but clean) tee shirts and lightweight woven cotton. The result? Lovely, affordable, cheerful, and unique! Check out the process and my photos in a post on my new blog, EvinOK.net

Filed under: Renew | Upcycle, Sewing

My Favorite Knitting, Sewing & Craft Blogs

Evin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:23:46 +0000

I am often asked as a blogger what blogs I read and often rattle off one or two that I can’t live without, but thought it was high time I put together a list of those about knitting and sewing (and general awesome craftiness) to share with you. I also compiled a massive list of all the blogs I like to read, in all topics.

Those in bold are ones I read on a daily or weekly basis or written by people I know and admire in the ‘real world’.

If you know I read your blog or if you have a fabulous blog, please tell me so I can add it here.

2knit or not 2knit?

200 Shawl Project

American Quilter in Ireland

Amy Butler Inspiration

b r o o k l y n t w e e d

Checkout Girl

Cork’s Pink Auction 2010 - I co-write this blog

The Crafty Alley Shop Blog

crazy mom quilts

Cut Out + Keep | Blog

Design*Sponge Projects

Devon Fine Fibres

Diary of a Crafty Chica

Diary of a Sewing Fanatic

Dyed in the Wool – Crafting in North-West England

fly along by the fabulously talented Beata Jezek of Hedgehog Fibres

Grace Violet

Grand Revival Designs

Hook’s Law

hot pads! and potholders – the swap

In The Loop – Skein Lane

Irish Knitting Blogs

Irish Knitting & Crochet

림’s 하우스 :: 네이버 블로그 (Lim’s Blog)

Lit’l Brown Bird’s Passion

Knitting with Sandra Singh

Maru Designs

needled

Never Not Knitting

Organic Growing Pains

Peaceful Threads by Fiona

petit main sauvage

Phat Fiber Sample Box

Pretty Knitty Jewelry

She Knit Up That Ball

shescrafty handknits

smaller

SouleMama

Spring Stitches - My blog

Springwools Blog

State of Bliss

Sticks & String

Stuff I make, bake and love

tentenknits

TYWKIWDBI

waldorf mama

westknits — Stephen West

whip up

Woolly Way in Ireland

Yarn on the House

Filed under: Life, Lists | Letters

Making Your Own Stitch Markers

Evin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:18:47 +0000

Stitch markers are one of those things you don’t realize you’re missing until you need them for a project and such is the case with me. I’ve never bought stitch markers. I’ve had four friends give me different kinds and I cherish each one. Four friends, five different stitch marker styles – a chance to figure out what I like. Of course, now I am casting on a larger project and thinking stitch markers might be nice to keep track of the number of stitches on my needle so I don’t need to recount until I finally get to 297 (yes, it’s a shawl). And a friend who recently made her own inspired me to consider making them too, so here are a list of links that look very helpful – I’ll let you know how I get on.

Simple Stitch Markers

How to Make Stitch Markers

Make a Beaded Stitch Marker

Stitch Marker Tutorial

Filed under: Crochet, How To | Projects | Patterns, Knitting

Cork City’s World Wide Knit [or Crochet] In Public Day: Sat, 11 June at Bishop Lucey Park

Evin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:49:55 +0000

Cork City’s World Wide Knit [or Crochet] In Public event on 11 June! Event Details on Facebook!!!

On Saturday, 11 June, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., local knitters and crocheters will gather at Bishop Lucey Park for some public displays of craftiness. Tell your friends.

This event is open to all, especially knit, crochet, and fiber craft enthusiasts. There is no cost to attend as this is just a casual but coordinated meeting of local knitters and crocheters to celebrate a world wide event.

Consider your needs when attending and bring your own bottle of water, picnic blanket, or folding chair. But also keep in mind this is a public park and we must leave it as we found it so any empty water bottles must be responsibly discarded when you leave and you should keep your valuables with you.

This event is coordinated by the Cork SnB group.

Filed under: Crochet, Knitting, Life