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GAL Fantasy vs. Reality Day 3
Left: Ballyronan by Michelle Stead, Right: Chasing Waterfalls by Michelle Stead, photos copyright Michelle Stead.

Left: Ballyronan by Michelle Stead, Right: Chasing Waterfalls by Michelle Stead, photos copyright Michelle Stead.

Today's fantasy knitting is Ballyronan by Michelle Stead, (Crafty Flutterby on Ravelry).

Ballyronan is a cowl with lace and textured stitches that make for a pretty pattern, one that is perfect for variegated or semi-solid sock yarns (and who doesn't have plenty of those).  I think I would to knit it with a yarn that has a little halo, maybe an bit of alpaca or cashmere blended with wool.  A light and airy cowl that is cozy and warm too.

If you want to knit lace, but need a quick project, maybe a last minute gift, take a look at Chasing Waterfalls.  This is a beaded bracelet that only requires 30 yards of leftover sock yarn.  These knit up so quickly you will be able to fill a lot of stockings.  I like the idea of using one as a coffee cup cozy.

Check out the rest of Michelle's pretty Gift-A-Long designs on Ravelry, and her lovely shawl pins on Etsy.

 

GAL Fantasy vs. Reality Day 2
Left: Folklore by Faye Kennington,  Right: 2 Hour Smoked Toque by Faye Kennington, photos copyright Ukeeknits, used with permission.

Left: Folklore by Faye Kennington,  Right: 2 Hour Smoked Toque by Faye Kennington, photos copyright Ukeeknits, used with permission.

Today's fantasy knitting is Folklore by Faye Kennington.

This is a really sweet colorwork hat that is a little bit traditional and a little bit modern.  Its folksy motif is updated with a cool color palette and a slouchy fit.  I think this is the perfect cheery hat for a hike in the woods or a play date in the snow.

If you have way to much holiday knitting to tackle a stranded project right now, I would suggest Faye's 2 Hour Smocked Toque.  This hat is knit in a super bulky yarn, so even though the stitch pattern looks complicated, it is sure to be a quick knit.  Who doesn't have time for a two hour project?  In fact, she says that it can be completed in as little as one hour for a fast knitter.  This is beginning to sound like a challenge.  Now, I'm not sure if I would be considered a fast knitter, but I am shooting for 55 minutes.

You can find the rest of Faye's Gift-A-Long sale patterns on Ravelry.  I am especially excited about a pretty little scarf called Waverleaf and an interesting cowl called Whitefish Ripples, be sure to check them out too.

Indie Design Gift-A-Long

The Indie Designer Gift-A-Long is in full swing on Ravelry.  I have been meaning to write up a post about the designs I have included in the sale (they 25% off until November 27th), but I have been sidetracked by all of the beautiful patterns I want to knit.  There are many.  Yes, I know it is a fantasy to think I can knit them all.  Time for a reality check.

Left: Ribbon Weed by Kate Bostwick, Right: Kicking Horse Mittens by Kate Bostwick, photos copyright Kate Bostwick, used with permission.

Left: Ribbon Weed by Kate Bostwick, Right: Kicking Horse Mittens by Kate Bostwick, photos copyright Kate Bostwick, used with permission.

My pick today is Ribbon Weed by Kate Bostwick of Cowtown Knits.

I love the whole fantasy of this, a cozy super bulky blanket, striking geometric cables, thick squishy wool, long winter evenings with this blanket in my lap as I work on it…

In reality, I should focus on something I know I have the time to finish, like a pair of Kicking Horse Mittens, also by Kate Bostwick.  It still works - warm hands, fun cables, and cozy merino wool.  With the added bonus of slipped stitches over a striped background, this pattern is perfect for me!

Check out the rest of Kate's amazing GAL designs on Ravelry and on her blog, Cowtown Knits.

3 Fun Ways to Use Jul Closures
The Latch Leather Closure from Jul Designs

The Latch Leather Closure from Jul Designs

I love these leather closures from Jul Designs, have you seen them? I just finished a sweater design that uses the Latch Closure (more about that next spring), and I can't stop thinking of ways to use other products from Jul. 

These screw in closures are quite versatile.  They have a post on the back side of the leather that slides through the knit fabric, between the stitches.  A small screw and washer on the back hold the post in place. This means you can position, or reposition, it after the sweater is completed - no buttonholes necessarry. Since they are not permanently attached, you can use them on different sweaters.  I have found that the knitting does not have to be at a large gauge to use them.  The design I just completed was knit on size 5 needles, and the posts fit just fine. When I had to reposition it several times, the stitches bounced right back into place after removing the closures.

There are a multitude of uses on shawls and cowls, take a look at this page for lots of inspiration. However, these are the ways I would use them on sweaters:

1.  Use it to cinch closed your favorite open front cardi when you need a bit of extra warmth.

2. Place one at the base of a shawl collar on a pullover sweater for a boutique designer look.

3. Add a latch on each side for a fun addition to a notched hem sweater.

So, what would you do with Jul closures?

Favorites

These are few of my favorite things:

Mini-skein set from Seven Sisters Arts

Mini-Skeins - They are little, cute, and colorful. What's not to love? They are even better when they come in a range of gradient colors, like this Ultraviolet color shift set from Seven Sisters Arts. I had the pleasure of meeting Karen, the dyer of these beautiful yarns, at her Fiber Frolic booth last weekend.  It was fun to learn a little about her process in creating a cohesive color collection. 

The While She Naps Podcast - I first learned about Abby Glassenberg from the Craft Sanity podcast. I recently discovered that she has her own podcast - and it is great. She interviews crafters and creative entrepreneurs. You get to hear their inspiring stories, and as a bonus, they give lots of recommendations for fun things like tools, books, and web finds.

Stitch patterns on Pinterest - I love stitch dictionaries, and have plenty on my bookshelf. But lately, I have been using Pinterest it as a place to collect stitch patterns.  Be warned that many of them come from foreign language sites (so you may have to work at translating) and some of them look like questionable copies of pages from books. Still, you can find a lot of inspiring stitches there.

Victorinox SwissCard - This is a credit card sized swiss army knife, and it is one of my favorite knitting notions.  With scissors, a knife, a pen, a straight pin, a small magnifying glass, tweezers, a light, and a 3 inch ruler, I use this tool every day.