Christmas Knot Dress

I have finally got little miss Katie's Christmas knot dress done... just in time for the anticipated photo with Santa that I am planning early next week. For this dress, I used a combination of three different knot dress patterns. Basically, I just picked what I liked best from each one and it became this combination:

The fabric for most of the dress is Christmas Groove by Caleb Gray available from Fabric Shoppe on Etsy. The cute little print that makes up the apron is from the Colorful Christmas Collection for Riley Blake and is also available from Fabric Shoppe. It was the 1.00 fat quarter special the week I ordered the Caleb Gray fabric for this dress and for the knot overalls I did for my cousin's girls. Jodi at Fabric Shoppe always has a 1.00 fat quarter special with any purchase every week and it is always super cute. I did the monogram using the Storybook Alphabet from Bunnycup Embroidery which was a steal at only 5.00 for the whole set! I used a combination of knot dress patterns from Whimsy Couture, Little Lizard King, and Lori Lynn Designs.

I knitting news, check out this tiny sweater ornament I made for an ornament exchange I am going to tomorrow night. The pattern is the Mini Einstein Coat by Sally Melville and is published in her book,  Warm Knits, Cool Gifts. The yarn is Plymouth Encore Worsted. Isn't is the cutest!

I Actually Knit a Gauge Swatch... Two, Really

What's this?

Gasp... it's two gauge swatches for this Sally Melville vest from her book Warm Knits Cool Gifts

 

 Sally wore the vest version of the green colorway during the class I took a couple of weeks ago and I just knew I had to knit one. These pics from the book do not do it justice. It is so cute and made to be very flattering to the female form. I decided to go with a vest because I am very hot natured and with Memphis having a relatively short winter season, I figured I would get more wear out of a vest. This is my first fitted garment attempt for myself in years. I have done a cardigan and a vest and they both were miserable failures. However, after taking Sally's class, I have a new found confidence that I can make a garment that fits and is flattering to my feminine shape.

My Hands are Occupied

If you're like me, and you love to read but feel that you can't because you're hands are occupied with crafty projects, these links are great for free audiobooks.
Right now, as I currently work on Caleb's A Cardigan for Merry, I am listening to The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on Craft Lit. (Perfect for Halloween time) Craft Lit is a podcast done by Heather, and English teacher, who has a very nice relaxing voice and a lot of knowledge about the work she is reading. She is a knitter and started doing her podcasting with knitters in mind. However, she is great to listen to when working on many different craft projects.
Another favourite site of mine is Librivox, which is a project geared toward publishing all of the books in the public domain in free audio format. Librivox is amazing! It has every genre including, but not limited to, literature, poetry, non-fiction, government documents, and religious texts. Most recordings are done in a group format, but there are several that have been done by individuals with incredibly expressive and clear reading voices.
I also enjoy Learn Out Loud, which publishes both free and not so free podcasts over many different genres from literature to history to politics. Right now, for the month of October, they are offering Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, for free download. I am planning this one next because, it too, is perfect for Halloween time.
If you are a fan of mysteries and old-time radio shows, I recommend Old Time Radio's recording of Agatha Christie's mysteries. I listened to all of the podcasts over the weekend, and they are wonderful!

Christmas Socks #2

I just finished Christmas socks #2! Only a couple more pairs to go and I'll be done with my sock gifts. That will only leave a couple of smaller things like scarves, hats, arm warmers, and mittens. These socks are knit in Knit Picks Stroll Firecracker Heather. The pattern is called Rosebud Socks from Wendy Johnson's book Toe Up Socks for Everybody.

I attended the Sally Melville workshop this afternoon for the pattern drafting class and it was awesome! Sally is such a great instructor. I got to sit front and center with some of my knitting friends from the local guild and soak it all in. We had a great time. She is such a sweet lady and she loved the pumpkin bread I made for snack time. I know I'm a major dork, but I was totally star-struck!

Me posing with my signed copy of Warm Knits Cool Gifts

Sally Mellville Love

Knitwear designer and author, Sally Melville, will be in Memphis this weekend for a series of workshops and I'm taking one. I can't tell you how excited I am!!!!! Yay!!! Anyway, so I headed out to Barnes and Noble this morning while the kids were at Mothers Day Out to pick up a copy of her new book, Warm Knits Cool Gifts, and I can't wait to have it signed on Saturday. This book is perfect for holiday knitting. It has a little something for everyone on your list and includes projects from easy to experienced and quick afternoon knits to long-term commitment knits. This book has it all.