Shawl with the little ruffle

I worked this up in a big hurry after casting on. It has been done for about two weeks (finished in plenty of time for the Fall Show and Tell).
I am deeply in love with this color combination, mustard and turquoise. I had my hand on a different color for the ruffle, but in my mind's eye I really had my heart set on this color of Berroco Ultra Alpaca. The knitter whose shawl I am emulating had a much larger ruffle, probably 4 inches deep, but I only had about 80 g of yarn at my disposal. I have a strong feeling that the bigger ruffle may take as much yarn as the body of the shawl.

Wanna buy a pattern on sale?

Very Exciting Arrivals

Shortly after I made my entry yesterday, some exciting things arrived.

My first (not-self published) crochet and knit patterns have been put into glossy print! The hat and scarf combo (top) is in the upcoming issue of Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010. Such a thrill to see my work in their publication.

The red cardigan (bottom) is in Creative Knitting November 2010. Let's just say that the contents of the box with my complimentary copies make me feel very motivated to lose weight till I am closer to the sample size (and to submit more often to this magazine).

Not only am I jazzed and re-energized about the submission process, but I am also armed with two issues filled with really great patterns that are making my fingers itch to cast on or chain for.

The special issue of Interweave Crochet Accessories is hitting LYS and newsstands on Oct. 26. The Creative Knitting is currently on sale.

Seen the Sale yet?

Finished Hooter (As in an Owl)

I successfully acquired my shopping list shortly after I posted last week and completed the lining process on Wednesday evening.

I found the perfect owl fabric by Robert Kaufman, the perfect ribbon to line the handles, and decently priced buttons for handle attachement and pupils.

I would have showed you earlier but I was suddenly crazy busy making amigurumi toys to send in to the Crochet Me Calendar contest. I don't think that I will show you those items until they announce their decision for the winners on Nov. 1. It is quite a relief that the wait is finite and not too far off. I have so much to look forward to that weekend!

Remember to take advantage of the October Coupon! Also, please be sure to make the purchase through the ravelry.com link so that it qualifies.

Emphasis on Pink All Over

What is Black and White and Pink all over? My new owl bag. The pattern is from Crochet Today Sept/Oct 2010 and has been calling me to make it since I first flipped through the pages. Intended to be a child's book bag, I am looking at it as a new project bag.
Since, I was assembling it from the hat leftovers, I changed the striping pattern and the color arrangement. I am very happy with its current status.
What remains is the lining portion of the project. Yesterday, I picked up most of the necessary items, the perfect lining fabric, awesome ribbon to line the handles, and buttons to sew on the handles. I just cannot decide how to do the beak. It will come to me - color and technique.
Hopefully, today, I will be motivated to do the lining work so that I can enjoy this fun bag.

Check out the October Discount on my patterns.

Handsome Reward

In between checking on 10 year olds who were in sleepover/video game heaven, I quickly whipped up these three crocheted caps. They are to be sent off express with the work of three other hookers for a corporate presentation. As they were a rush job, the person who hired us has been quite generous in many ways; one being that I was allowed to keep the yarn (Red Heart Super Saver). Perhaps, not a dream fiber, but it has allowed me to whip up a few fun things from the Sept/Oct. 2010 Crochet Today. Those projects will be shown in the days to come.

Please remember that there is an October sale going. You do need to make your purchases through ravelry.com for the sale to apply.

New COUPON!!!

I have a new sale this month to reward my new and old customers. When you have purchased one pattern from me in the past or present, you will receive $2 off your next pattern purchase. So, if you have ever bought a pattern from me through Ravelry, then you will automatically receive this discount during October on all of your future purchases, unlimited. If you haven't gotten a chance to make your first purchase, then you will need to buy one at regular price and then all the rest will be discounted.

My Ravelry Pattern Store

Thanks for looking and Happy Needling,
Anne

New Pattern: Still Waters

Color pooling and not enough yardage for a whole scarf from the single ball provided; these are often encountered problems, as we have all coveted some stunning handpainted yarn and, either prohibited by cost or by lacking immediate project ideas, have ended up with a single ball of that fiber art. This scarf cuts the cost and extends precious yardage by bringing in a solid color, stash busts, and provides a speedy gift or personal indulgence. It is cast on long ways as I have always been more enticed by a finite number of very long rows than by an infinite number of short rows to complete a cervical warmth device.

Sizes: Long (Longer, Longest);or S (M, L); or Fingering (Light Worsted, Chunky) Shown in Navy (Medium Blue, Light Blue)
Finished Measurements: Width: 5 inches and Length: 56(59, 66) inches
Gauges: For Fingering Weight: 24 sts/32 rows = 4" in stockinette st.
For (light) Worsted Weight: 18 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette st.
For Chunky Weight: 14 sts/16 rows = 4" in stockinette st.
Yarns: 164(150, 108)yds of fingering(light worsted, chunky) yarn in each of two colors; As shown:
For Fingering Weight (Navy):[MC]Claudia Handpaint Fingering [100% wool; 175yd/ 156m per 50g skein]; :Walk in the Woods; 1
skein, [CC] Classic Elite Fresco [60% wool, 30% baby alpaca, 10% angora; 164yd/147m per 50g skein]; 5310: Regatta; 1 skein
For (Light) Worsted Weight (Meduim Blue): [MC]Manos del Uraguay Silk Blend [70% merino wool, 30% silk; 150yds/135m per
50g skein]; 7105:Eclipse; 1 skein, [CC]Manos del Uraguay Silk Blend [70% merino wool, 30% silk; 150yds/135m per 50g skein];
300A: Midnight ; 1 skein
For Chunky Weight (Light Blue): [MC] Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint [100% baby Alpaca; 108yds/100m per 100g skein]; CP12:
Jazz ; 1 skein, [CC] Misti Alpaca Chunky [100% baby Alpaca; 108yds/100m per 100g skein]; VR3317: Aquamarine; 1 skein
Needles: For Fingering Weight: 1 29 inch or longer US 5/3.75mm circular needle; For (light) Worsted Weight: 1 29 inch or longer
US 8/5.00mm circular needle; For Chunky Weight: 1 29 inch or longer US 10.5/6.5mm circular needle
Tools: Stitch markers (to help you keep count while casting on); Crochet hook - For Fingering Weight: F/3.75mm, For (light)
Worsted Weight: H/5.0mm, For Chunky Weight: K/6.5mm

New Pattern: Heart Marks the Spot - Fingerless Mitts

Did you see the Knitting Daily email today? It was like the editor was reading my mind as I planned to release this pattern today. It is a perfect little place to try out intarsia without a big project commitment.

These simple fingerless mittens are a great way to explore intarsia, a colorwork technique that allows you to put a graphic design in the middle of a field of color without adding any bulk to the fabric.. Your choice of a heart or a circle motif, you will
be learning a valuable skill that will open new worlds for playing with delicious colors.
Yarn: 108 yards of worsted weight in each of two colors; yarn used in the sample is Misti Alpaca Worsted
Tools: Us 6 needles, Us 8 needles, 5 bobbins, tapestry needle
Gauge: 4.5 sts/in in larger needles
Sizes: 7"(8"), (measured across the palm at the base of the fingers)

Imagine all of the great color combinations that you could create. Also, I like to gift these mitts over a pair of those very inexpensive gloves that you can get in 2-packs at Target.