One-Skein Wonders for Babies

I am most excited to be a part of the new One-Skein Wonders Book!

Author and knitter Judith Durant's new One-Skein Wonders book is a collection of 101 original knitting projects for babies and toddlers. Each design uses ONLY one skein of yarn. From mittens and hats to tees, sweaters, hoodies, pants, dresses, socks and booties, you will find the perfect wearable for every child and every occasion.  All your baby and toddler knit patterns are in one book!

The Perfect Baby Bib and Lizzy Janes are my two original designs included in the new One-Skein Wonders book.  

Even though this is the 3rd One-Skein Wonders book that I am honored to have patterns in, I have never considered myself a designer.  That ability kicks in only when I can't find the perfect pattern for that special someone.  Sometimes a design just happens, like The Perfect Baby Bib!  It's an easy knit and it was easy to write the pattern.  Other times, it's a long process and the writing of the pattern is a long and arduous journey.  I thought you might like to know the inspiration and beginnings of these two patterns.

Lizzy Janes - a cute little pair of Mary Janes that has no seaming.  Truly, there is no seam. You can even use the tail end of the yarn to sew the button on!  This pattern came about thanks to sweet Evie!

We have a beautiful new granddaughter named Evelyn Grace.

I wanted to knit several pairs of Mary Janes for Evie as any grandmother who knits would want to do!  I looked at many, many patterns.  All of them had at least one seam to finish - down the middle of the bottom of the foot or up the back of the heel.  Seaming is a task no knitter wants to do for a handknit item.  Having crocheted many pairs of Mary Janes and understanding the construction, I knew there had to be a way to knit them that didn't have to be seamed.  I could see it in my mind.  I was on a mission to figure out a way to design them without a seam. It didn't take long before the pattern was a reality and Lizzy Janes were born.  The pattern is sized for newborns but can easily be adjusted.

Lizzy Janes

The Perfect Baby Bib

In 2007, Joe and I were in the middle of a major move.  We had experienced 

Hurricane Rita and lost our home along with pretty much everything inside.  We rebuilt the house and promptly sold it.  Joe retired and we decided to move to Texas, my home state.  We were in that in-between place of having moved out of the old house but the new house wasn't ready for another 6 weeks.  So in August, in Texas, we were in an efficiency hotel/motel passing the time until we could move into the new house.  There was one chair in our hotel room, so we would take turns between the chair and sitting on the bed.  We would get out in the mornings for shopping and entertainment (the museums were a favorite place) since it would get so hot later in the day.  In the afternoons, we were back at the hotel staying cool.  I had brought knitting to help me pass the time, of course, but Joe was not a happy camper.  Luckily, our grandson, Jayden and his teething came to our (my) rescue.  My daughter called with a request for teething bibs as he was drooling on all his shirts.  After purchasing several colors of cotton yarn, I got Joe interested in knitting bibs in the afternoons.  Joe is a good knitter when he has a project to hold his interest.  He thought it was cool to knit some bibs.

Joe was very creative with his bibs, knitting different stitch patterns and cables.  Sometimes his "colorful" exclamations at cables that didn't want to cooperate were quite entertaining for me!  I enjoyed stockinette bibs with a garter edge in different colors.  After about 4 bibs, I grew tired of knitting the ties and wondered why a bib couldn't just slip over the head?  It would be simple to knit a simple pullover design in ribbing and then bind off stitches to knit just the bib.  The idea worked well and knit up quickly and easily.  Pam loved them!  An original design was born!

Happy Knitting to all.  I know you will enjoy this new One-Skein Wonders for Babies!

Debbie

iPurl LLC

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The Woodlands, Texas 

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Little One - Skein Wonders Book

I am excited to announce that I have received confirmation that two of my original designs will be included in the next One Skein Wonder book.  The book is Little One - Skein Wonders - all patterns will be for babies/toddlers.  

All the of the very few original designs of mine have been created as a matter of necessity.  Wanting a certain pattern and not finding it anywhere!

The Perfect Baby Bib came about when grandson Jayden was teething.  Pam emailed and said MOM, I need bibs for a drooling baby!  Joe and I were holed up in an extended stay hotel on FM 1960 and I45 in August waiting for the builder to finish our house so we could move in.  It was hotter than Hell to get out and move around during the day.  So, we knitted.  There was only one chair in the hotel room so I sat in the middle of the bed and Joe sat in the chair and we knitted bibs.  I didn't like knitting the ties, so I decided a ribbed over the head version might work!  It worked very well and I have knitted many of them!  It is a pattern that is displayed and available in iPurl. 

Lizzie Janes is a pattern for Mary Janes that is knit in one piece with absolutely no seaming!  Over several days, I searched for a seamless version of Mary Janes - did not fine ONE!  You begin with a Turkish Cast On on the bottom of the foot and finish by sewing a button on the appropriate side.  You can add a crocheted or purchased flower to the toe if you choose. 

Blue Heron Yarns Anybody?

I have always been a Blue Heron Yarns fanatic! 

I received a call from Demien, Owner and Dyer Extraordinaire, of Blue Heron Yarns.  He is traveling in the Houston area.  He suggested bringing yarn to the shop for a trunk show/sale!  We are so excited to be able to announce this to our shoppers.

Here's the details -

Beginning tomorrow - Friday 10AM to 5PM thru Saturday 10AM to 4PM

We will have approximately 100 hanks of Blue Heron Rayon Metallic hand picked by Damien to offer to our customers. 

We hope you come and shop with us!

Enjoying an Ocean Breeze

No, I am not at the beach. It would be nice though! I am at home preparing to start Ocean Breeze.

iPurl is hosting a Boo Knits Mystery KAL beginning tomorrow. The mystery project is a shawl called Ocean Breeze. I am working on mine today so I will be able to help knitters tomorrow if needed. Here is the link if you want to see.

Ravelry: Ocean Breeze - Midsummer MKAL pattern by Boo Knits

 

I am setting Echo Beach aside, although not out of sight, as it is my enjoyable knitting currently. I plan to work on Ocean Breeze very early in the morning before going to the shop, when my my mind is fresh, so I can stay on pace with the KAL. At the end of the day, I will want something easy to work on while watching baseball with Joe - that will be Echo Beach. At the very best, I will be finishing TWO projects!

On the home front -

Joe and I drove out to our lot yesterday. Everything looks ready to pour concrete! We were very surprised! It is a good thing as today may be the only day this week they will be able to do it.

 

 

Our brick is also on site.

Rain and thunderstorms are predicted the rest of the week! I LOVE thunderstorm days! I am not talking about bad weather, just rain, a bit of lightning and thunder rolling in the background.

 

Sitting by the window with Bella, I have my yarn balled, my supplies gathered in a rice basket, a freshly brewed glass of Harney & Sons Paris black tea, I am ready to knit for a few hours.

 

 

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Enjoying Monday

It's a good day to be at the apartment - warm, cloudy, very humid with thunderstorms all around. I put a nice roast in the crockpot to have in the fridge for the coming week. A line of thunderstorms is moving thru. I'm having a hard time knowing when it's thundering or if the German Shepherd upstairs is romping about! We have a nice small porch, full of tropical plants, where Bella and I can sit and watch the rain! Bella loves the porch!

Yesterday, while watching baseball with Joe, I worked on Echo Beach completing a whole repeat! The Taiyo Lace color I am using is unveiling colors I didn't see right away! NORO is always an enjoyable yarn to knit! I love the weight and cottony feel of Taiyo Lace. It is quickly becoming a personal favorite. After all these years, I am still amazed at what can be done with knitting needles/crochet hook and beautiful string!

 

 

Our house pad is complete. They will start forming up to pour cement tomorrow. The rain stopped work today. Joe says the slab will be poured by the end of next week. I will be glad when the roof is on and they are working inside. At that point, the weather can't cause delays! You can see the lumber to the left in the photo below.

Tonight we tried a Pinterest recipe. Bourbon glazed, smoked Ham and Colby Jack cheese wrapped in a Crescent rolls with honey mustard dressing. They were a hit with Joe! Good job Pinterest!

 

 

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My Monday Morning

It's really Wednesday though. IPurl is closed on Mondays and Nancy works on Tuesdays. Today is the first day of my work week in the shop. Mondays are my real day off. I try not to do ANY shop related work at all - not even checking email. Tuesdays are currently designated for working on the new website.

The website is coming along. I think I made a breakthrough on the drop down categories/collections yesterday. FINALLY! Now, products are added in a certain way to be pulled into the right categories. Hooray! When it all works right, it a great thing! That had to be figured out to work as we needed it to before continuing with adding products. I am hoping syncing Checkout software at the end of each business day, before going home, will update product inventory levels accurately so I can work from home.

Up at 5AM this morning to get a few things done before work. Laundry and tidying up the apartment. After getting everything going, I knit a few rows on my Echo Beach. I am really liking the look of it but I realize it will be a long term project for me! It will be set aside when the Boo Knits Mystery KAL STARTS IN 3 weeks.

Sweet Bella napping with several of her toys - she really likes Froggie

Make it a great day today!

 

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Sunday Afternoon

The smells swirling around our little apartment are intoxicating - jasmine rice, Cajun smoked sausage, pinto beans, roux, onions and bell pepper are heavenly! Joe is cooking lunch today. Surely it must be time to eat lunch?

 

The Astros game starts just after 1pm. Bella is napping on the love seat.

 

The weather is gorgeous. It could not be a more perfect day!

 

I am almost finished knitting the Yaz Cowl in Juniper Moon's Zooey! I will launder it before bringing it to the shop for display. It is really pretty and a fun knit!

The rice is done! It's time to eat!

 

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A Rainy Week Ahead

I am happy to see the rain! Many areas of Texas desperately need rain. Looks like it is going to be with us throughout the week too!

Joe and I are still settling into our apartment. It's small and cozy. Efficient is a good description.

I am doing some laundry this AM. We don't do laundry in the evenings as it is practically in the living area and very loud. A load or two in he mornings keeps it all done.

The rain is delaying the clearing of our lot this week I am sure! Joe walked the lot with the Construction Foreman last Thursday looking for any trees that could be saved.

This is our corner lot

 

 

Today is granddaughter Alexis' birthday! I am hoping she is having a fabulous day!

 

 

Apartment Life

(It's cloudy and rainy today so it looks a bit dark)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Echo Beach

I am progressing slowly on my Echo Beach. Sometimes, for a couple of hour of quiet knitting time, I get up at 5am and knit. I am really loving Taiyo Lace.

 

 

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Echo Beach

Happily, I am at the apartment today, doing laundry and planning dinner for Joe and I. It's a cloudy very humid day. I woke up thinking about geraniums! I wanted geraniums on our little porch. I ran out to Lowes, sadly, geraniums are all gone. I did come home with a few of my favorite plants - a palm, an orange hibiscus, orchid and a few others. A few plants from home are out there also. It will make sitting on the small patio over the Summer and early Fall a little more enjoyable! The view out the patio door is certainly much nicer!

I FINALLY got Echo Beach started! I am using NORO Taiyo Lace. The Taiyo Lace reminds me of working with bedspread cotton.

Several years ago, I crocheted a lot with #10 bedspread cotton making lots of lace centerpieces, doilies, table runners and even a table cloth. Our children were in grade school and every dollar was needed somewhere on the family budget. As a stay at home Mom, days seemed endless amid housework, laundry and raising children. I found that I could buy a couple of balls of crochet cotton for about $10 and I could not only entertain myself but make really nice lace pieces for my home. That's when I learned to read crochet charts and really perfected my crochet skills. The lace pieces remind me of both my grandmothers as that was the type of handwork they both enjoyed. It's amazing to me how working with Taiyo Lace brings back the the peaceful feelings and memories of long afternoons from years ago!

Back to Echo Beach, I added 2 repeats to the width of my scarf/shawl, wanting it to be more substantial so I can use it as a shawl if I want to. I love the feel of the cotton in Taiyo Lace. I imagine it as a large scarf that will feel wonderful wound around my neck in the cooler months also!

 

 

Lots of markers keeping me on track

Hoping to get a couple hours of knitting in tonight -

 

P.S. Debra Harkness posted a link to the first chapter of The Book of Life on her Facebook page. I have loved this series! I will be reading it early in the AM when it is quiet!

 

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