Favorite Stitches

Happy Sunday!  

Today I'd like to share one of my favorite (and super quick and easy) knitting stitches.  I found this stitch last year in an old knitting book entitled "The Complete Book of Knitting."  This was my mom's knitting book, printed back in 1971 and scribed by Barbara Abbey.  It's been my go to resource since I began knitting, though it is super hardcore instructional.  I agree that it is in fact a complete book of knitting.

So, this stitch has a great name: the modified schiaparelli stitch, sort of like the famous designer.  The stitch however, looks like dragon scales (great for all those Friday nights staying home watching Harry Potter and knitting).  It's also a fairly warm stitch.  

Last year I made a sweater using the schiaparelli.  

Requirements: Make sure your rows are in multiples of four plus 2 extra stitches.  My swatch is 20 stitches wide.  

Alrighty, here we go!

First, cast on your chosen number of stitches

Purl one row

Row 1:  * Knit 2 st.  Yarn over.

knit 2 more sts

Pull the YO over the last knit 2

Drop the YO off the needle.  Repeat to end, beginning with *

Row 2:  Purl all sts

Row 3: *YO

knit 1 (pictured).  knit 1 more...

Pull YO over knit 2.

Drop YO off the needle.  Continue to end, beginning with *.

Row 4: Purl all stitches.

Repeat these 4 rows!

There you have it. 

Sweet Surprises

This weekend we're off to Dylan's homeland, so I arose early this morning in order to get this package in the mail and on its way.  I wanted to quick share this simple but thoughtful wrapping technique!  Take a paper lunch sack as the main wrapping agent.  Use string (or whatever you have lying around) and tie.  Use a button, or vintage key, or pom pom, and use that as your bow "centerpiece".  Draw a small icon in the area under where you will place an envelope with card (i found these great miniature envelopes from muji).  Now, when your opener moves the card, they are pleasantly surprised by what they find.  And the actual gift isn't half bad either!

Machine-nerdery

It's funny, once the cold snap hits my granny instincts automatically kick in.  It says "Hey you, more sweaters need to enter the population that is your closet."  I'm a nerd, I know.  Maybe it's because years of new school terms past tell you that new clothes need to be scored, or maybe it's because fall is so beautiful, but sadly so short.  One or two cold snaps later and it's parka season.  So, sweater weather is among us, and hopefully this little puppy will be born in time.  One new addition to the home factory is this sweet Brother knitting machine I acquired from Daisy Knits out of Columbia Heights.  Last winter a hand knit sweater took me about a month to build, now hopefully that time will be as itty bitty as a Minnesota fall.

Hardy Plantings

It's already feeling like fall up here.  I need to find a cozy place inside the house for this sweet gift Dylan's mom put together for me this summer (sigh, summer's coming to an end).  When we first received this little puppy, there were only a few blossoms, though these hen and chicks are quite something.  They reproduce constantly, creating new blossoms every week seemingly.

Also, with the close of the summer means a close to our wedding planning - we were married 8/28 after 7 years of dating.  We used these little bottles as place card holders, and I think I've found a great way to repurpose them.  A while back I ordered a few air plants from an online resource.  They sprout babies if healthy, and fit inside our tiny bottles.  It may take a while to use up the 50 bottles we have, but they will make sweet gifts in the coming months.

Crochet it up

I often become obsessed with one thing for a short while, then drop it like a hot tamale.  My most recent delve into obsession is crochet blocks.  When I was a little kid, my mom taught me how to crochet the simplest of granny squares.  I was obsessed with the idea of making a granny square blanky, but then dropped the hobby.  Well, picking it up the second time around is even more exciting than the first.  The idea of repetition, but also the flexibility to wander off and change up the design as you go is super appealing.  The look of crochet I admit is super femmy, but I love when it's given a more rustic edge in darker neutrals.  This morn I sipped on my cup of joe and finished up this little diddy; a crochet garland/wall-hanging.    

I scored an awesome resource at the local used bookstore to support this new habit.  There are so many ideas in here, and the instructions were clear and easy to follow.  For someone who just picked this up a week ago, I have to hand it to this splendid book.

Golden Thrift

Greetings!  I couldn't wait to share this oddly perfect collection of objects I scored from a local thrift store.  I feel like I hit thrifting gold with this beautiful but rustic linen table cloth.  A little big for our table, but we'll make it work.  The wall-hanging reminds me of this wonderfully curated museum we used to visit in L.A. - The Museum of Jurassic Technology.  If in the area, you must visit.  This sweet wildflower book was full of things to be learned and great illustrations.  Also, the violet print on cover is to cherish.