Handknit Prezzie Idea for Valentine's Day, MORE Lambs

We interrupt the birth of the lambs for a little bit of knitting. I might as well join in with all the crazy Valentine's Day hype. Can't get away from it, can you? I've just knit up a new version of my Knit It - Felt It - Zip It Bag.

It's a Valentine's Day gift for Julia. We need a way to reign in all those markers that fall on the floor of the car all the time! In pink, of course - her favorite color. You can find the pattern available for PDF download on my Shop Page and read a little more about my project on my Julia Yarn Page here. The triangle pattern is included with the pattern (even though it isn't photographed on the pattern page). In fact, I have added 3 bonus charts for you to try. They are all photographed before and after felting. There is also a section a "how-to" section on choosing colors for working with two colors. I think this pattern is a real bargain at $6.

One little trick I'd love to share.... if you look close at the triangle motifs, you'll see that there is a difference in the rows of darker triangle colors.


I was running out of my Velvet Moss Julia and I wanted the triangles to be dark. I striped the triangle motifs using both the Velvet Moss color and Steel Grey shade. Each triangle row is a different color. Look close! It is barely noticeable but got me through the project.

Here's a second photo showing a different color variation on the triangle motif.

This pattern is really versatile because it is sized in 4 different sizes - these are the small and medium bags. There are also smaller and larger bags included too! It really is an easy project to whip up if you are familiar with two color knitting. Instant PDF downloads really do make this possible! See the idea on the web, grab your odds and ends and you can begin this evening! I love it! If you have trouble understanding the rectangular pick-up at the beginning of the bag, see this post.

And since farming never stops, have a look at what The Farmer brought home the other night.

What is it you ask? It is a bucket of cow colostrum. His brother is a dairy farmer and had a cow that freshened (calved). When his cows have babies, he machine-milks the mothers separately so that the colostrum is saved and fed to the calves. (Most dairy cattle do not raise their young - the babies are taken off them immediately and a farmer hand feeds them with a bottle.) David was kind enough to share the "colostrum wealth." It is going in the freezer in yogurt containers and we'll use it to feed bottle lambs whose Mamas aren't able to give them colostrum. All this talk about colostrum...... maybe some of you don't know what it is..... It is the first milk that comes from a mammal mother - sheep, goat, cow, human..... It is thick, sweet and full of nutrients. When a lamb is born, it is really important for it to drink this first milk as it also helps guard them against disease.

Here are some photos of this weekend's new arrivals.


This baby is so darn cute.


And this one --- aaaaawwwww!


One week til Valentine's Day - get knitting. I am!

Swirl and Twirl!

Today, after literally months in the making, I've finally got a new pattern for you. What could take so long you say? Especially when you see how cute and fun this one is.... I guess you could say life gets in the way - and Farmers Markets and sheep and all kinds of other stuff.

This one is called Swirly Twirlies. It is quick, easy, and really fun to knit. In fact, these things are so addicting, I couldn't stop and I kept adding sizes.

What are they you say? They are stashbusting super fun projects for your house, your daughter's house, your friend's house. You get it. I knit mine out of my Julia Yarn but of course you can use any feltable wool in your stash. They make great on-the-go projects. I also like them for miniature color studies. Once you start, you won't be able to stop. Here's what I made..... From little to big.

Coasters - perfect for newlyweds with a nice bottle of wine or set of wine glasses. Oldyweds would like them too.


Potholders - If you don't know already - felted wool makes the absolute best potholder in the world. Another great small holiday gift for anyone on your list.


A bit bigger and they become trivets for your table.


And then a super cute wooly chair pad. I got this idea from a summer visit to Ikea. They had these flat pieces of leather and cowhides all over the place. I thought it was a cool idea for knitters to dress their seats in wool. I've sized it in two sizes - for small chairs.....

and larger chairs.....


and then there is the funky pillow. Just right to plop down on your couch this winter.


The Swirly Twirly Pattern is available on my website here on the shop page. If you want to read about the pattern specifics, check out the Julia Yarn page - which by the way has had a re-design and features a new Julia Color Card and a great new PDF download printable Julia Color Card. (Don't forget to hit re-fresh.)

The Swirly Twirly Pattern is now also available in my BRAND-NEW RAVELRY PATTERN STORE. Check it out! It doesn't matter to me where you buy it.

The pattern is $5.00 and gives specific yardages for each project. There are 8 project photos and 3 extra technique photos.

As always, my family and I sincerely thank you for your support of our sheep farm and creative endeavours. Get knitting - the holidays are not too far away! Yikes.

A Winner, My New Knit It/Felt It/Zip It Bag & Stitches East/Hartford

And the winner of October Giveaway #2 is...... Drumroll please! Sally who said..... "I knit and sew as many gifts as I can. I'm so excited to be attending the Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival near Asheville this weekend, where I hope to find the perfect yarn for a cardigan for daughter #2." I have contacted her and am waiting for her post office address. Thank you all for entering! Wow - It was a great contest. Remember, there is still time to enter October Giveaway #2. Here's the link - the deadline is October 31st.

There will be another Giveaway next week, so pop back in to see what I've got for you. I loved reading all your comments about knitting for the holidays (or not knitting for the holidays, which is totally fine by me!) You've given me lots of ideas of patterns you might like me to design.

I just finished a new version of the Knit It, Felt It, Zip It Bag - a really popular pattern from my PDF series of knitting patterns that is available on my Shop Page. This version (scroll down for it) is made in a favorite color combination of mine - green and purple. Here are some flower photos that show different shades of purple and green together. The first two are of a favorite flower of mine - verbena bonariensis. It grows quite tall and is rather spindly but it dances above most other flowers in my garden. It looks great in bouquets. You can see the Black Eyed Susans in the background, adding a third color to make a really pretty and knittable combination.


Here is the same flower in different light.


Here are some irises blooming in the spring in front of our farmhouse. The sheep are grazing the lawn.


These light purple asters grow wild on the sides of the roads in New England. They make a nice color combination of light purple, yellow, green and the brown background of the fallen leaves.


This is a purple and green combo but the purple leans more towards magenta. It is a plant called Globe Amaranth and it dries nicely, holding its color even when dry.


Here is a really dark purply brown leaf which is very reminiscent of the purple and chartreuse combination in the Knit It, Felt It, Zip It Bag which follows....


My new Knit It, Felt It, Zip It Bag.... This is a great project - it comes in four sizes, doesn't take long to knit, uses up odds and ends of worsted weight yarn, and is a nice learning project for those just beginning to knit with two colors. Because it is felted, uneven tension disappears into the fabric. Anyone can appreciate a little bag as a gift and it doesn't have to fit anyone! I think it is a great solution to holiday knitting.


This shot shows the detail of the zipper that is handsewn in. I lined my bag with a scrap of silk but it isn't necessary. The pattern is available for instant download on my Shop Page here.


Stitches East is coming up soon -- next weekend in fact. I'll be in the Marketplace hanging around on Saturday and Sunday. Not sure the booth numbers I'll be in yet but for sure, you will be able to see me at the Westminster Fibers Booth. Here's a link to The Knitting Universe Newsletter which gives a run-down on some of the "famous knitters" who will be there.

Check out Kieren Dutcher's illustration on her blog, inspired by photos I took of our sheep. Lovely! And found this incredible blog via Kieren called They Draw and Cook. Love it!

Beautiful Flowers on Fabric, on a Dog, on a Gift, and for the Weekend

There are only two weeks left in this Summer of 2010. I can't believe where the time has gone. It's always like this. Where have those lazy days of summer gone when I was a kid and summer seemed to last forever?

I thought I would share some of my felted flowers with you today as modeled by my sister Jenn's English Bulldog Oscar. Oscar is 8 years old and has turned into the loveliest dog. He is a real lovable guy. When I was working on my Felted Flowers Pattern, I thought it would be fun to show the lei on some other creatures besides Olympia. Oscar is a great model and sits well for the camera!


Looking over the shoulder....

Hoping the heat will cool off...


Waiting for his moment in the spotlight to end....


If you are looking for an "end of the summer" knitting project, check out Olympia's Felted Flowers Pattern on my webpage here. There are all kinds of fun uses for them including decorating gifts. Don't you love the background fabric I found for this photo? It is actually a "bedspread" from Urban Outfitters. Great flowers and motifs and makes a fabulous tablecloth.


This weekend we'll be sharing our farm with the guests at my second "Getting Stitched on the Farm" class in 2010. It is a floral themed venue which will be full of colorful inspiration, beautiful flower inspired ideas, and knitting and crochet. I can't wait to meet all the guests.

The Weekend is Almost Here and Nicki the Great Dane Puppy!

It is Friday morning here at Leyden Glen Farm and the last day to do anything on the three page list I have made. Yikes. Not a prayer it will all get done. But whatever..... Here's the scene out the porch windows with the fog lifting and the light filtering through it.


The students will be arriving tomorrow morning and we'll be spending two days together knitting away. I hope they all have a nice time and I look forward to meeting all of them. There is still some room in the August 14/15th class if you are interested.

I'll leave you with this awesome photo of our neighbor Patty's Great Dane PUPPY Nicki. Isn't she beautiful? I asked Patty if she would mind me photographing Nicki with a floral lei around her neck. Nicki is so incredibly well-behaved and trained. I can't believe how BIG she is getting. Thanks Patty!

You can purchase the pattern for Olympia's Knit + Crochet Felted Floral Lei here on my shop page.

Faina from The Designer's Studio just posted an interview with me here. Do you know her blog? It has all kinds of fun interviews with many knitting and crochet designers. Check it out.

Good weekend everyone. I know I will be having a fun one.

A B-Day Tomorrow and My New Model Lorelei

My sweet daughter Julia is turning 12 tomorrow. As I was painting, painting, and painting the new studio space, I spent a long time thinking back to her arrival in the world and the years her Dad and I have spent with her since. The last days of July always make this happen. I'll save those thoughts for another day though. As any mother knows, the life of a child goes so fast when you look back on it. I will admit, when I was going through those early years, I wondered how I would ever get through it all - the different phases of baby, toddler, and childhood. But now it is almost over and we are on to other phases like summer crushes, lip gloss and the like.

To top it all off, my little girl doesn't want to model for me anymore! I have to beg and beg and I've got to face it, Julia is just too old to be darn adorable. I was lamenting this about a month ago to my friend Diane and she said she would love to have her daughter be a model for me. Yay! Early one morning in July, Lorelei and Diane arrived at the farm. We hopped in the truck and headed up the road to a field that I thought might make a nice setting for the shoot for Olympia's Felted Flowers.

Lorelei was such a trooper. She listened with intent, taking her modeling job very serious. I knew I was getting some lovely photos and that it would be hard to pick just one for the new pattern. When I downloaded the photos later in the day, I called Diane to let her know she would be getting some awesome photos of her little girl.

So today I am sharing some out-takes of that beautiful summer day in the field of grasses and wildflowers.


Lorelei is showing off the flowers she picked that day.


Then she climbed up the hill.


And walked down our dirt road.


I think the Felted Flowers on a basket would be the perfect choice for a knitter who needs a special basket for her Flower Girl, don't you?

This one is my favorite. I love her little smile....


Thank you Lorelei for doing such a great job! And thank you Diane and John) for bringing your beautiful little daughter into the world and sharing her with all my readers.

You can buy the PDF downloadable pattern for "Olympia's Knit + Crochet Felted Flowers" here on my website. Thanks to all of you who have already ordered it. I hope you are having fun making the flowers and leaves!

p.s. I have added Olympia's Knit + Crochet Flowers to Ravelry. Here's the link if you want to "favorite" it. Thanks.

FINALLY Available - Olympia's Knit + Crochet Felted Flowers and Leaves for PDF Download NOW!

Back a few months ago, I went a bit nutty knitting, crocheting and felting flowers and leaves out of my Julia Yarn. Then I dressed up last winter's bottle lamb Olympia in a Floral Lei made of the flowers and took some photos. I guess it was a long winter! Lots and lots of you ordered the postcards I printed up for which I was very thankful. But I also got a whole bunch of requests for the pattern for Olympia's Floral Lei. Never did I think that would happen. You guys always surprise me......


I have finally gotten it together to finish the pattern called Olympia's Knit + Crochet Felted Flowers. This one is a great pattern (if I do say so myself!). You will have hours of knitting and crocheting fun. I have included both knit and crochet flower and leaf patterns. You see, when I began the project I made the flowers in crochet. Knowing my customer base (mainly knitters), I knew I also had to work up several different knitted flowers. These flowers are not hard to knit. There are several fun, if a bit odd, knitting techniques to try. (I know how you all like to try something new!)

Best of all, Olympia's Flowers are great for summer "take along" knitting and crochet. Small, portable, and you'll be able to knit them even in the heat. In the pattern I have given you oodles of photographed ideas for how to use the flowers. Is 16 oodles? I think so. Sure took me a long time to make and photograph them. I will try to preview more of the ideas as we go along this week. Here's Julia wearing a flower in her hair.


Isn't she getting old? Oh my - twelve in 2 short weeks!!! Where has the time gone?

The pattern costs $6.00 and includes 42 photos (WOW - no wonder it took me so long to prepare this pattern) including 16 finished product shots. It is available here on my Shop Page. Here's one of the ideas for a flower corsage to wear on your winter coat when the depths of winter arrive again (and that time will roll around before you know it!). Holiday knitting too, don't you agree?


If you have never ordered things by PDF download it is such a great way for some instant gratification. Order via my website, pay via Paypal, and your pattern will be automatically sent to you no matter what time of the day or night, no matter if you live in the States or Overseas. It is just the coolest concept, don't you think? No waiting, no shipping, and you can print out only the pages you need.

If you "don't do Paypal" I will be happy to take an order via US Mail. Just print out my "printable order form" and write down the name of the pattern. When I get your check, I will email you the pattern. That's easy!

As always, I appreciate your support of my work. I have tried to price the pattern reasonably so it sells well. Less than two cups of cappucino and just a bit more than those fluffy coffee drinks I see people ordering at Starbucks. (I have never succumbed to one of them - I'm afraid it would be a slippery slope to addiction.)

If you like the pattern, please pass the word around. I'd love to see an "Olympia Flower Trend" happen. How do you I/we do that?

You can order the pattern on my SHOP PAGE HERE and learn all about the specifics of the pattern here. As always, my family and I thank you very much. And finally, if you really want to learn how to knit flowers (plus lots and lots more fun), come to my August 14/15 "Get Stitched on the Farm" class. You can read about that here.

A New Knit It Felt It Zip It Bag Inspired by the Garden

It has taken me forever to finish this bag I have been working on. It is the largest version of the Knit It Felt It Zip It Bag.

I haven't been able to find the time for sewing in the zipper and lining. That's what is good about slow traffic at farmers markets - I have plenty of time to finish up odds and ends. I lined the bag with an odd scrap of gold colored silk. It is good to put light colored linings in bags so that it is easy to find things in your bag.


Lots of my designs are inspired by colors I see around me in nature. Many times, I will put one of nature's color combinations in my memory bank and then knit it later. I must have done that with this bag that I made back in March. I stumbled upon this lovely shrub blooming in our garden in May and it reminded me of the color combination of the bag I had recently knit.


The shrub is some kind of Spirea which was here when we bought the house. If anyone knows the name, please leave it in the comments. I love the colors of the charteuse leaves and the little dark maroon budding blossoms.


After the buds blossom, they turn a beautiful pink. They look great in a vase.


You can buy my Knit It Felt It Zip It Bag on my shop page. The pattern comes in four sizes. The bag pictured is the largest size.

I've had a few people tell me they have had trouble understanding how to pick up around the base of the bag on the circular needles. I will admit, on the smaller bags, it is tricky. Here is a photo (not so good, sorry) of how I sometimes use four needles - here a wacky combo of circulars and double pointed. I thumbtacked the rectangle to a cork board - that is what the red and blue bits are to make it easier for you to see. You can see that you will pick up at both short sides and at the cast on edge. After working around the rectangle in garter stitch for a few rounds, you should be able to drop the extra needles and continue on with a circular. Sounds confusing but you'll work your way through it.

The Knit It Felt It Zip It Bag is a great small project for summer knitting. Good weekend everyone.

Olympia the Lamb as Art

Just when you had thought you have seen it all...... Kristin presents.....
Olympia The Lamb bedecked in her very own Floral Felted Wool Knit and Crochet Lei.

Olympia the Lamb with a Handmade Felted Wool Lei

Olympia the Lamb looking Sideways with a Wool Floral Lei

Olympia The Lamb with Wool Floral Lei Baaaaahhhing

These images are also available over on my website for sale as postcards on my shop page. The Lamb in a Wool Lei Series comes packed 12 of one design or assorted 4 each of the 3 designs in the shop now.

Sheep as Art? What do you think? Hop on over to my store to support the Sheep As Art Project just in time for the arrival of spring. A pattern for your very own Lamb Lei coming soon.

p.s. The ©2010 Kristin Nicholas isn't on the images on the postcards.

Fair Isling - The Verb ..... and THE KNIT IT FELT IT ZIP IT BAG - Kristin's newest downloadable pattern

I'm still in my Fair Isle Rut, as I call it. Let me explain.....

Webster's definition for a rut is:
1 a : a track worn by a wheel or by habitual passage b : a groove in which something runs c : channel, furrow
2 : a usual or fixed practice; especially : a monotonous routine

Upon looking the word "rut" up on-line, I discovered that both of the definitions would be approriate for my current, several year long fascination with Fair Isle knitting. When I use the term "Fair Isle Rut", I was thinking of the second definition - a monotonous routine. Upon reading the first definition though, I realized that this description would also be appropriate for Fair Isle knitting - when you knit Fair Isle, following the little charts - you certainly are getting into a groove.

And that's exactly what I love about "Fair Isling" - the rhythm and repetition that is repeated over and over and over. Knitting in this way, following the little charts and watching the pattern grown before my eyes, is just darn mesmerizing. And when I combine Fair Isling with my love of experimenting with colors, I am a happy knitter.

My life, like yours, is pretty busy. Besides writing books and designing, helping out The Farmer with the sheep, raising a kid and doing a bit of teaching, I have about zero time to actually knit. I have to fit it in somehow though, otherwise there will be no money dribbling in. Usually I knit at night, late into the evening after everyone has gone to bed. I also carry my projects everywhere, in case I have a free moment - stuck waiting for an appointment. You know, you're probably just like me. I hate to be stuck anywhere without my knitting.

Today, I'm introducing the newest addition to my on-line store - The Knit It Felt It Zip It Bag knit in my Julia Yarn, of course. This is a great project for beginning Fair Isle knitters. It is small (although it comes sized in four sizes) and quick to knit. Because the projects are felted, any irregularity and beginning knitter's tension disappears into the fabric after it is felted in a washing machine. The bags are worked on circular needles which makes the Fair Isling easy to work. Here's what the cover looks like....


There is a bonus section of how-tos including Knitting in the Fair Isle Way and Choosing Colors Successfully. I've even included extra charts for when you finish knitting the 3 designs photographed and you need to keep going to feed your new Fair Isle passion. Lori (my fabulous tech editor) has deemed the project suitable for beginners! And what a fun beginners colorwork project this is. There are 27 project photographs, including a detailed zipper tutorial. All for $6.00 - which I liken to less than two cappucinos. What a deal. Besides, you'll learn something along the way. (Coffee for beginners might be needed although not a pre-requisite.) You can purchase the pattern in my shop here. More pattern information here on my Julia Yarn page.

You'll find all kinds of uses for the bags including pencils, pens and art supplies.....


Knitting stuff - A knitted bag to carry your knitting stuff - how fun......


Or game pieces if you travel with your entertainment. Or lipstick, or change.... the list goes on and on.....


Make a bunch of them - they make lovely gifts!


Available in my on-line shop here.

Good weekend, everyone!