'What I Made Instead' Jacket

For Samuel, who is feeling under the weather and is under age 2, I made this lil' jacket, similar to the one his dad goes to work in every day. It was from scraps I had around (you'll notice the patterned fabric from other projects), and I love how it came out.

I put a label in the lapel, just like they do on real jackets. I toyed around with the idea of an inside pocket, with a tiny golf pencil or mini pen, though not really age appropriate for a toddler...

I'm in love with the vintage pattern.It highlights another look I think all children should be sporting. Mr. Jones, who has a history of figure drawing, points out that many of the children's legs are too long for their babyish heads. Supermodel babies of the 1970s!

You Got It, Dude

I made this Oliver & S jumpsuit for a friend around here, but realized she probably wouldn't dress her son in it. Maybe it's too feminine, or maybe it looks too much like a clown outfit. This is the kind of friend who wears jeans and conservative sweaters, who loves sending her husband off in a suit everyday, and appreciates me for being really "artsy". Excellent!

So I've made her son something else (stay tuned) and saved this outfit for another friend. But I've realized in making it, how much I like kids in funny clothing - something unexpected, something ironic, and without brands or gender specifics. I like myself in the same things, actually!

Today's Style Icon: Michelle Tanner.

Archive Dress

I'm sewing again! It had been a long time, but my machine and I are reunited. It took us some acquainted again, since the first 3 projects I tried went straight to the trash. This dress (Simplicity 2724) was in a bag since Fall. I finally got it out again, and my machine and I lept toward the finish line.

The fabric for the top is Liberty of London, which I lined with 100% cotton. The bottom is a linen blend, that I bought at Fabric Depot in Portland about a year and a half ago. I made the belt for the dress with the fabric I cut from the hem, which was way too long. I'm excited by the fact that I may be crafting ahead of season with this one. A Spring/Summer collection. Imagine!

Heartigan

I've finished my second sweater of the season! The knitting is going so well this year, and after finishing all the small Christmas gifts, I needed something long term to work on in front of the winter (reality) TV. Have I mentioned that I have a really hard time watching fictional TV anymore? My ability to suspend the disbelief is over. This, from an Animator.

Anyway, the sweater is the Heart Yoke Cardigan from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009 (Ravelry link, if you like). There was something strange in the pattern as to where the instructions for the yoke end; I might have done an extra row of hearts. After trying the sweater on, I decided I needed the extra row and carried on, and felt good about it.

The yarn is Rowan Felted Tweed, which is my favorite yarn to date. I've dreamed of a new knitting blog called "A Year of Felted Tweed", as I could use this yarn constantly and never get bored. I'm so happy to own this cardigan, and will be wearing it out before the winter weather ends (when is that??).

Speaking of hats...

It's snowing every other day here, and absolutely freezing. I know it's probably like that where you are, but I like England because it's usually temperate. So I spent one quick morning knitting myself a new hat, to lift the spirits.

It's the Meathead Hat, from the Knitalong book. It's in a bulky yarn called Andy's Merinos from Farmhouse Yarns that I picked up at Flying Fingers, near a friend's house in New York . I thought this hat would be amazing in silver, where you could attach a paper banner and make it into a Hershey's Kiss hat! I just might have to do it. I love pinks and oranges together though, and if there's one thing I love most about knitting, it's getting to know the sheep whose wool I'm knitting with. This is the adorable label from Andy:

Besides thinking about knitting and the weather, I'm thinking about Haiti a lot, and wondering how I can be of assistance. I've already made a donation to the International Red Cross, but am looking for a way to use my skills more specifically. I'll keep you posted if I find one.

My Bread, indeed!

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to learn to bake bread. So I picked up this bread book while in the States. I saw the author on TV, and was impressed by his technique where you do no kneading, and bake the bread in a pot in the oven. So we tried it around here, and in only our second attempt, we're eating homemade bread (and enjoying watching the dough rise). I love it!

I have already learned that bread baking, as a friend put it, "is an endless abyss where you can spend your whole life". In a good way, though. Like knitting. There's just never enough you can do to satisfy your need (knead) for a challenge. When I'm done with all the recipes in my current book, I'd like to try this one, which I hear is legendary. The dough hook on my kitchen-aid mixer is aching for it.

In the meantime, we're enjoying REAL sandwiches on artisan bread - like mozzarella, basil, and pesto, or homemade egg salad with rocket with lots of paprika (above). The cold weather, between-jobs lunch just got cozier! Do you have any favorite bread baking resources?

Mr. Furly's Bear Hats: Pattern and Tutorial

When Mr. Furly (who is a beaver) wants to disguise himself, he uses one of my homemade bear hats! I'veknitted so many of them for friends of all ages, and have finally put together a step-by-step picturial tutorial so any Beginner Knitter can make one for their winter hibernation. I hope you'll try it, and enjoy!

Materials: 1 skein aran/worsted weight yarn (for these hats I used Malabrigo Worsted in chestnut and natural) in any bear color you like (I always make a mixture of Brown, Grizzly, Polar bears). A small amount of the same weight yarn in a constrasting color. One 4.5mm (US size 7) 60 cm (24 inch) circular knitting needle. One set of 4.5 (US size 7) double pointed knitting needles. 4 stitch holders OR 4 extra double pointed needles. One stitch marker.

Guage: 18 stitches to 4 inches on 4.5mm needles with single-held yarn in stockinette stitch.

Size: Adult One Size fits Most, Child Size Age 2-10 (in brackets)

Skills needed: Casting on, Casting off, Knitting in the round, Knitting on double pointed needles, 3 needle bind-off.

Instructions:

Wind your skein of yarn into two balls, roughly the same size. You will be using one strand from each ball, held together, to make the bear hat. It should look like this:

Make hat rim:

Cast on 82 (74) stitches onto the circular needle holding 2 strand together for each stitch cast on. Join the ends, being careful not to twist, and place marker at the join. Knit 2 rows, Purl 2 rows. Your knitting should look like this:

Knit body of hat: Continue knitting in the round, replacing marker when you come to it, until your knitting measures 4 inches from the cast-on edge. Your knitting should look like this:

Split hat for ears:

Starting at marker, Knit 40 (36), slip next two stitches on SEPERATE stitch holders or double-pointed needles, Knit 39 (35), slip the next two stitches on SEPERATE stitch holders or double pointed needles.

Note: When you slip the stitches on dpns or stitch holders, slip the first one purlwise and the second one knitwise. That way the stitches will face each other and not get twisted.

Your knitting should look like this:

Continue the body of the hat:

Knit in the round, slipping 4 stitches onto stitch holders (1 on each) every time you complete a round. Once again, the stiches you slip to should be connected to, and facing each other on the holders, and you'll continue knitting in the round the stitches you do not slip. Like this:

Continue knitting in the round and slipping stiches until you have a total of 16 (14) stitches on each holder/dpn and 9 (6) stitches in the middle. End your round when your reach the stitch holder.
Your knitting should look like this:

Knit the middle of the hat:

At this point, if you're using stitch holders, put the stitches on the closest ear onto double pointed needles. Also, put your circular stitches onto double pointed needles. They'll be much easier to work with.

Slip 2 stitches from EACH ear (8 total) back onto the double pointed needles that hold your middle stitches. Pull your yarn through these stitches to the end. Like this:

Bind off middle stitches:

Now knit across the middle stitches by knitting 2 stiches together - one from the back, one from the front, and binding off as you go. This is called the 3 needle bind-off, and HERE is a good video if you're confused. You should now have one stitch left on the middle needle, and 14 (12) on each ear.

Your knitting should look like this:

Start the first ear:

Bind off the stitch on your middle needle with the first stitch on the ear, then knit around the ear with main color - 1 row, 16 stitches each side. Row 2 of ear: Knit 4 (3) of main color, Knit 6 stitches of contrasting color, Knit 4 (3) of main color. Repeat on 2nd side of ear.
Row 3 & 4 of ear: Same as Row 2

Row 5 of ear: Knit 5 (4) of main color, Knit 4 stitches of contrasting color, Knit 5 (4) of main color.

Your knitting should look like this:

Row 6 of ear: Break off contrasting colour with 4 inches left, pull contrasting yarn through ear to main body of hat. With main color, continue to work around ear, binding off one stitch on each side of each ear (4 stitches per round) until 4 stitches remain on side. Bind off stitches as you did for the middle stitches using a 3 needle bind off. When one stitch remains on the needle, cut yarn with 6 inches left, pull the remaining yarn taught through the last stitch through the ear to the main body of the hat.

Reconnect yarn for second year: Pull yarn through hole between first and second stitch in middle section. Like this:

Pull stitch taught to first stitch on second ear and work ear same as first. Once complete, pull extra yarn through ear to body of hat. Turn hat inside out and tie off all loose ends from ears on the inside. Like this:

Tie off the first stitch, and weave in the ends on the inside of your hat. Turn hat right side out, and ENJOY! You've done it! If you've found any mistakes in the pattern, please email Holly@HollyKlein.com. Send me a photo of your bear hats, I'd love to see them. Could they be as cute as this one?

36 hours in New York City

I lived in this city for 10 years, and when I go back I really, really miss it. It's kind of like Heaven and Hell existing next to or within each other, and when you turn a corner you never know which one you'll get.

January Giveaway: Meg!

It's a new year, and Meg wants to fly the coop. She'd like to travel, and so I'm putting her up for the January Giveaway. I hope you'll want to give her a good home! Meg is a 18 inch handmade doll that I crafted from scratch, using my own patterns.


Meg's body is 100% percent linen, as are her pants. Her shoes are made of boiled wool felt. She has a liberty print shirt, with real working buttons, and she holds her own frog hand puppet. She's a vantriloquist by trade! She has a hand-embroidered face, and hair made of Japanese Habu yarn. She would be a great addition to your doll collection, your child's room, or your mantle, where she's seen the goings-on at my house for the past few months.

To win Meg, simply leave one comment on this post. I'll choose a winner by the end of January, and ship her out to you soon after. Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed, and the lucky winner has been contacted. Thanks so much for playing!