Dreamscape Reviewed in Spin-Off Magazine!!!

OMG - found out from my friend, knitting and spinning guru, Vicki (who taught me how to spin!), last night that she'd opened up her newest Spin-Off Magazine (Summer 2010) and saw a full page (page 18) review on my Dreamscape book!

How friggin' awesome is that??



I think the review was pretty great and the constructive criticism was definitely helpful concerning the photography. I mean, Ian and I aren't professional photographers (it's just a hobby, really) and I was going more for a certain artistic, vintage style and look...rather than close-ups of the stitches.

I thought we did have some stitch definition with the photos (especially since Ian tried to keep only the knitted item in color, with the rest of the photo "aged"), but I'm sure I could've added extra pictures with more focused details of the knitting - if I'd had the time and extra money, of course.

All in all, I was thrilled with the review and I want to thank Jean Lampe for taking the time to look at my book. Thanks so much!!

I was also super happy to find my Fireball Horseshoe Cap in this issue as well (must.buy.more.copies!) on page 88. Another full page description of the hat that I knitted out of my handspun, using Ivy Brambles' corriedale fiber in "Fireball" colorway (love it!). That was a quick, fun and adorable knit.



Whew - what a day!

I also wanted to share with you some pics of my Liquorice Shrug by Megan Marshall.

I needed a shrug to wear with my sleeveless black dress for a friend's wedding a couple of weekends ago and found this pattern - which I loved. You pretty much knit two of the same pieces (well, one goes the opposite way) and sew the seams. Great pattern and pretty easy to knit. The only thing I had trouble with was with trying to knit this in 2 weeks (just made it - finished it on the DAY of the wedding!) with size US 3 needles. I'd give it a little more time next time, I think. LOL!

Here are the details:

Yarn: Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace (used a little over 2 balls)
Color: Black
Needle: US 3, 24" circ
Weight: Fingering (I doubled the lace yarn)
Changes: I made my shrug with longer sleeves. Instead of the sleeves being 16" long, mine were 22" (8" of the sleeve actually goes over the back of your shoulders, so my sleeves were actually only 14" long) and I omitted the crochet trim. I liked the more "flowing" look of the ends of the sleeves - made them look more like bell sleeves that way.

Here's me in the shrug (in the hotel bathroom, of all places...jeez!):



and me with my sexy, handsome hubby, Ian in the reception hall at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH: (Ian was one of the groomsmen...oh, the tux...the tux!)



I think that's all the news I have so far. Oh, Ian bought me an adorable Hello Kitty (Janome) sewing machine for my birthday on the 23rd (turned 37!!) and all of my friends got me the most amazing gift cards and sewing things so I can splurge on fabrics and such. I have the BEST and most thoughtful friends ever!!! : D

If any of you are looking for my Dreamscape book, please look on the right sidebar to my homepage (http://sleepyeyesknitting.blogspot.com) for 3 online shops to buy my book: My Etsy shop, The Yarn and Fiber Company and Willowgate Yarns. You can also download the pdf of Dreamscape off of my blog (sidebar, using Paypal) and/or on Ravelry.com here.

Would love it if you'd pass the word on! Hugs to you all and Happy Knitting!! xoxxo

Happy Almost Halloween!!

Happy-Almost-Halloween everyone!!! I wish I had some other amazing and scary knits to show you, but this Spider is pretty much all I've got ; P

I feel like it's been very difficult to keep up with my blog now that I have my Ravelry account, you know. Are there still readers keeping up with me on here or are they all over THERE? It's hard to tell, you know? Plus, it's almost like you're sharing information twice and typing it all up over and over again. Mostly, I'll just link over to my Ravelry page so you can see more pictures and get more details, if you're interested. Because, man, my hands are tired of typing sometimes! LOL!

These are the things I have been up to since I wrote last:

1. Working on finishing up my book (which I hope to the Knitting Goddess will be done -and awesome- in the next 2 weeks)

2. Designing new patterns...it's funny...I seem to get MUCH more accomplished when I'm close to a deadline. Anyone else like that?

3. Trying not to overeat so I can lose weight - near the end here on Weight Watchers and finding it MUCH more difficult. (I seem to like the word "much" too much today.)

4. Getting myself (and my patterns/samples) ready for my trunk show/book signing/(and hopefully!) premier of my new book at Fresh Purls yarn store in Providence, RI on Dec. 5th and 6th. You can check out their awesome website HERE (it is SUCH a pretty website and store!) and their blog HERE. You can also read more about it on the Ravelry Event page that I made up HERE. If you're interested or think you can attend, make sure to check the box! I love to check it and see who might be coming to visit me!

(I'll post more on this when it gets closer...)

Now, on to the GOOD STUFF - Finished Objects!!!!

Elijah the Elephant



This was a very cute, quick and enjoyable knit. It's for a gift for a high school friend of mine who is having her very first baby -it's a boy! I'm planning on sending this to her with a quilt I'm making, which I hope to be finished before the year 2020.

Click HERE for more details and pics of this on Ravelry.

Hoot



I found this at the very last minute on Ysolda's blog...it's a tiny little owl that you can make into a barrette. Didn't look so good in my short hair, but I loved knitting it (it took like 5 minutes) and it's such a cute idea.

More about this HERE.

Octopus



Another addictive and super fun amigurumi animal from Hansi Singh's book, Amigurumi Knits...I love that book!! This one was my favorite of the ones I've made so far, I think. I have plans to make everything from this book. It's THAT much fun, really.

More about this project (and great pictures) HERE.

HorseShoe Cap



Everytime I get a new Spin-Off Magazine, I am inspired to knit something from it using my handspun (which I'm sure is one of the main objectives of the magazine...lol!). This one was particularly fun and quick to knit and I loved spinning the yarn as well. I used Ivy Brambles fiber (in Corriedale) in "Fireball" and it's one of my all time fav colorways of IB. So bright and so cheerful. I think I liked this cap so much that I'm going to make another one with my leftover fiber (I only used half of the 4 oz roving). I also submitted this cap to the Spin-Off Magazine gallery, so we'll see if they include it. Cross your fingers!

More details and pics HERE.

Spider!! (as also seen above)



This was one of the more difficult knits (but not horrible, just more pieces to worry about), but I'm very happy with the way he came out. Ben loves, loves him and wanted to make a Halloween movie with Spider as the lead character. Using black pipe cleaners is a MUST for this project!

It's worth it to look at the other pictures I have HERE on Ravelry.

Sea Star



A third amigurumi knit (I told you I liked this book!) that was very, very quick. I've also made an all pink sea star and have been asked by Ben to make him clothes so that he "looks like Patrick" from Spongebob Squarepants. So far, the pink sea star is nude. He might be clothed at some point. This yellow and green one is very pretty and soft.

More details and pics HERE.

Tea Mitten



This is one of my most recent knits (other than my new designs I'm working on) and it was more enjoyable that I thought it would be. Not that it didn't look awesome, but I thought it might be a little boring with just the ribbing in the round. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was interesting, fun and truly a great design. It fits my teapot perfectly and I was happy that I got the chance to use up my custom dyed, Sereknity sportweight yarn in "SleepyEyes" colorway. Thanks, Heather!!

More pics (cute ones!) HERE.

So...I guess that's it for now. I have knit about 10 other projects (as well as these) and I hope to share them with you on my next post!! My book should be out in late November, early December, so please keep your eye out for it and spread the news. I'll be offering hard copies for purchase right away here on the blog and probably Ravelry and then pdf copies soon after that.

I hope you're all doing well and I'd love to hear more from you! (oh, and join up to the SleepyHeads group on Ravelry if you haven't already!)

Happy Knitting!!!