Free Pattern - Vineland Mittens

I have an early holiday gift for you! A new free pattern!

May I present my Vineland Mittens:



Stats:
Pattern: Vineland Mittens by Jody Scofield

Free downloads:
Ravelry users: click here
Non Ravelry users: click here

Yarn: Orange and blue = Berocco Ultra Alpaca
Pink and brown = Cascade 220
Needles: Both samples were knit using size 5 needles - gauge is important!!
Notes: Special thanks to Sarah for test knitting this pattern - she knit the pink and brown one!!


This pattern was inspired by a visit to Shenandoah valley. You may remember my weekend at Bryce Mountain blogged here.

We visited several vineyards while there and I just couldn't get those curling whirling grapevines out my head.









I hope you enjoy the new pattern!

Just Jesting

The only thing my husband has ever asked me to knit for him is this hat:



Stats:
Pattern: Shadow Hat #119 by Maureen Mason-Jamieson
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos
Alterations: No pompoms (per hubby's request - Thank God!) Pompoms are cute on kids - not adults!

This hat's construction is very unique. It was knit in a long strip - then closed into a tube - then you add the brim and bind off the top. So I was hoping it would fit him at the end of all that because you can't really try it on as you go!


It's also my first time doing shadow knitting. Not sure if you see it in these pictures, but there are triangles on the sides...



I think it looks like a jester hat!

Hope is Real

Enough said

Did you Vote?

Did you?




Here is the line I waited in (sorry for the crappy cell phone shot)

I am so happy to see such a great voter turnout!

Everyone was happy to wait too - I had some lovely conversations with the people in line next to me.

Go vote! We can make a difference!

Sketch'n Part III

I thought I'd share a few drawings from the latest edition of the Sketchbook Exchange I am participating in.






PS - this is NOT a political statement - I just felt like drawing a circus elephant :)





Thanks for stopping by!

Rhinebeck Loot

At long last I am finally ready to show you what I got at Rhinebeck!

Here's the loot!



Rovings:
1. 2 braids (one merino silk and one corriedale)from the Sheep Shack at Mountain View Farms (no website that I could find)

2. Corriedale roving from Grafton Fibers

3. Alpaca mittens (These were my first purcahse as soon as I walked in the first barn - it was cold!)

4. Merino Silk lace weight from A Touch of Twist

5. Majacraft bobbins and 2 cones of cotton thread. This was my deal of the day! I was so excited to find two bobbins for a STEAL! They still have yarn on them too - hehe. The lady selling these was trying to clean out her supply of random things and I saw an amazing deal on a Lendrum speedy flier. Larissa ended up getting it for her new wheel for over half off retail price! I was just happy to find bobbins for half price and she threw in the cotton yarn for free!

6. A Rhinebeck long sleeve t-shirt

7. A Silk scarf

8. 1 skein of green merino yarn - from Shepherds Mill Farm - maybe for a Koolhaas hat?

9. A Silk cap - I have never tried spinning from a silk hanky or silk cap. I got this to try out the technique.

10. 5 different colors of fingering weight yarn from Shelridge Farms - for Fiddlehead mittens

11. 8 skeins of oatmeal merino yarn from Shepherds Mill Farm - for a sweater to be determined.

12. This gorgeous hand sewn Needle case!



It holds both circular and DPNs - wow!



13. I also was lucky enough to get the signature of Ann and Kay of Mason Dixon fame.


They have the coolest stamps of their pictures too!



14. I also got 2 signed copies of

Steaphanie Pearl McPhee's latest NY Times Best Seller! (one for me and one for Sarah)




And finally the most important thing we did at Rhinebeck was handout these buttons...



Jolene's yarn shop - Cloverhill - is going online!! Now all of you that don't live in Maryland can get the same awesome yarn that I can. Her shop will be open for business starting in November, but you can sign up to receive news and information now!

Baby Love

I whipped up a few baby onsies for my friend Lisa's baby shower this weekend...



There were definitely a hit! I highly recommend making these for a quick and inexpensive handmade gift!

All you need is:
- Onesies
- Cute baby appropriate fabric
- Iron-on tear away stabalizer like Pellon Wonder Under Fusible Web



Directions:
1. Cut out your fabric




2. Cut out your stabilizer to the same shape as your fabric. I usually cut this a bit smaller than the fabric - otherwise the sticky stuff will get on your iron... ask me how I know this :)



3. With the paper side of stabilizer down and fusible side up - place your fabric face up and iron them together.



4. Peel off the paper backing - leaving the sticky fusible part attached to your fabric.





5. Place the fabric with the sticky stablizer on the onsie and iron it down. This helps keep the fabric from shifting when you sew on the decorative border.



6. Pick a complimentory thread, and using a zigzag stitch, sew around the border of the fabric. Make sure you catch at least one side of the zigzag stitch in the fabric. Be careful to sew only on the front of the onsie! (It's easy to accidentally catch the other side!)




7. Once you make it all the way around, backstitch for a few stitches to secure and then trim the excess thread on the inside and outside of the onsie.



And you're done!



I'm sure a baby near you will love their new outfit!!

Vanderbilt built a mansion

When you make the turn into the driveway towards Vanderbilt mansion - this is the view you are greeted with. It's like you are entering heaven!



The leaves were just glowing with golden and orange light.







The backyard had these amazing views of the Hudson River. Across the way was an equally gorgeous mansion. Anyone know what this one is?



I wouldn't mind having a backyard like this!






The house itself was massive! I love the collumns and wrought iron details.


The details aren't appreciated until you get up close and personal...




It was such a gorgeous day - we layed in the grass in the front yard for a while just soaking in the sunshine.














When we headed to the parking lot to leave - one more shiny object caught my eye - a vintage jaguar. I just love how the leaves reflected in the glossy black paint.


If you ever have a chance to visit this place I highly recommend it!