Sarah Mouritsen is having fun knitting and looking good doing it!  She knit this back-tied tunic from the Spring/Summer 2012 Vogue Knitting out of Elsbeth Lavold Bambool -  silk/merino blend.

LOVELY

Three fashion trends in one!  Color blocking – pop of color – lace.  This is a fun, easy shawl to knit.  I used Manos Lace weight yarn – the color saturation is to die for.  A center triangle with a leaf motif is knitted first and the lace border is knit on to it.  The weight is dreamy – like a big, puffy, summer cloud.  We like wearing our triangle shawls bandana style, but it is large enough to wear over your shoulders in a traditional manner. 

Congratulations to Cassy (Cassandra Dominick) – she was featured in CEY (Classic Elite Yarns) Indie Designs for her Unexpected Hat design.  This goes out internationally.  Cassy joins fellow Handheld Knitting designers, Sarah Jo Burch (Vogue Knitting and Deep South Knitting) and Cynthia Parker (CEY Indie) in having her designs picked up and published.  Patterns are available at Handheld Knitting or on Ravelry.com. Check out Cassy’s blog knitthehellout.com and check out this talented designer!

Leo Hapeman has graciously donated this gorgeous, cherry wood, yarn bowl to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  You can purchase 2 tickets for $5 at Hand Held Knitting.  The drawing will be held Thursday, February 2, at 7 pm at the shop. 

The Ruched Skirt Pattern is finished and is available on Ravelry or in the store for $4.00. The ruching at the bottom makes for an elegant, but flirty skirt.

The pattern is simple enough for an advanced beginner or someone at the intermediate level. Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool has a wonderful soft hand when knit.

Come in and see us or buy the pattern directly on Ravelry.

Are you starting to think about holiday knits? Some of you are probably superstars that have been working on things since July. Some of you might still be pondering whether or not you can really crank out all of that knitting for your cherished ones. Fear not. We have some simple and quick projects at the ready for you. This Kidsilk Creation Scarf from Rowan takes one skein of Kidsilk Creation and can be easily finished in an hour and a half. The pattern comes with the yarn.

The Wasabi Cowl also takes just one skein. It uses Colinette Point 5, and knits very quickly on size 17 or 19 needles. Both of these projects are stylish and great for knitters. Impress your loved ones and friends with little effort.

Cynthia is designing, designing, designing. If you haven’t checked out her Ravelry design page you’re missing out. She has several lovely and free patterns available on that page to download, including two sweaters, a wrap, lace arm warmers, and a skirt. Check it out. Here is a preview of her coming pattern, a ruched skirt. The pattern should be available next week in the shop or on Ravelry.

We have been having lots of fun lately. The Creature Comforts Cardi has been a popular knit with an engaging cable pattern. Here is a shot of Cassy and Lucy wearing them.

West Side Story is running at the Walton Arts Center right now. We had a couple of actresses stop in yesterday to learn how to knit.

We continue to get new and lovely yarns in all of the time. We also received the new Rowan Lace and Vogue Holiday Knits 2011 today. Come on in and check them out.

The air is just beginning to be brisk, and that makes us think about getting snuggly and pulling out the wool accessories. While it might not quite be time for thick sweaters and knitted coats, it is the perfect time to wrap ourselves in shawls and caplets.

This stunning grey shawl is knit out of Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight. It is from the Fall 2011 Vogue Knitting, and is by Candace Eisner Strick. It works well as a shawl across the shoulders, or wrapped around more as a bandana for an extra cozy accessory. This elegant wrap is a fun challenge for the advanced knitter.

This red cabled caplet is the cover project from the premiere issue of Knit Wear. It is called Shaped Caplet with Braided Cables by Erica Patberg. We knit it out of Kathmandu Chunky, a woolly tweed that deserves much praise for its lovely hand and bright burst of colors. This project is perfect for an advanced beginner to intermediate knitter.

We are continually getting in new yarns and new colors in our favorite staples. Come in and see us!

Cynthia Christie teaches Molli Merriweather and Kris Epright the “Constrast Brioche” technique.  The end result will be a really cool headband.

Check out our new pattern for a beautiful wrap called Les Miserables. It’s knit out of Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace, and is felted slightly. The piece has a soft and elegant drape, and will make you the prettiest French pauper around.

We have a variety of new colors in the Silky Alpaca Lace and many more new yarns for fall. New colors in Madeline Tosh DK have just come in, as well as a new colors in Koigu, Manos Maxima and Silk Blend, Colinette Jitterbug and Point 5, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Lima, Felted Tweed, Cocoon, Big Wool, and Drift. Madeline Tosh sock yarn is new to the store and has the same gorgeous hand dyed effects as it’s big sister, DK. You will swoon over Artyarns Ensemble, a silk and cashmere blend that is simply luminescent. Mountain Colors sock yarn is also on the way. Come check them out!

Just got White Lies Patterns in. They are romantic and feminine. I just happened to find myself inbetween projects, so I picked out a lace cardigan pattern – two different lace panels with a leaf theme. THEN I picked out some Arucania cashmere – kettle dyed in tones of denim. The pattern body is knit all in one piece – 430 stitches to start, little gussets with lace leaves tucked into them – it takes 30-40 minutes to do one row. I am in HEAVEN. Every other task and responsibility falls away. It beckons like a siren song and I go to it.