A Family of Four (Stockings)



And there they are- all in their place.




And because I know you are wondering...
Yarn:
Ella Rae Superwash Classic in Dell Green (side note:  I am madly in love with this one skein I picked out from a yarn table a Squam.  I love the color and the way the yarn knit up.  I thought I would buy more for a sweater, but it seems to be discontinued.  *sad face*)

Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in Mica

Lion Brand Yarn Fishermen's Wool in Natural

Pattern:
Original.  It won't be too hard to write this up, so I will make it a goal to get it out there.

Raveled:
here


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Bare Naked

Got your attention, huh?

Thought so.


Last week my dear knitting friend Erica contacted me about reviewing Anne Hanson 's yarn club, Bare Naked Knitspot.  It's not often you get asked to be a part of a knitting legend's blog tour, so of course I jumped at the chance to share this opportunity with my readers.

Let's start with the basics.  Some of you may be unfamiliar with a yarn club.  Basically, it's like having Christmas once a month.  But, in a sense, it's better than Christmas, because the gift you are receiving is from another knitter, who has chosen the perfect marriage of yarn and pattern.  All you need to do is cast on.

And more specifically, Bare Naked Knitspot features yarn in it's natural animal and/or plant state, accompanied with an exclusive Knitspot pattern (designed specifically for that yarn as part of the club).

2012 was the inaugural year for Bare Naked Knitspot and before it was even over knitters were demanding more.  The response led Anne to the conclusion that knitters do appreciate natural, raw yarn and all it has to offer.  Although I know nothing of what the 2013 club has in store, taking a look at the club from last year is a must.

Anne featured a range of patterns and fiber- from classic basics...


...to timeless heirlooms...



She even managed to design color work from all natural yarns (and we all know I'm a sucker for color work anything!):


Last year held offerings of one-of-a-kind yarns and patterns to appeal to a variety of knitters, and I know this year's club will not disappoint.  


Enough chatter- here's what you really need to know:


the club is a six month membership of fibers in their natural, undyed state where members learn about and appreciate the unique characteristics of each. yarns will be a surprise each month but will include a range of animal and/or vegetable fibers (sheep, goat, camelids, yak, silk, and cotton are some possibilities) in shades from cream to khaki to gray to chocolate—”sheepy” yarns if you will. some will be soft, some will be lustrous, some will have stout, sturdy character that softens over time with long use (like vintage blue jeans). yarn weights will vary; projects will focus on accessories, scarves, and shawls (possibly including a sock or baby item) that feature lace and openwork stitch patterns. plus, a few goodies find their way into some of the monthly packages. knitting patterns, designer notes, and beautiful photography will continue to be delivered monthly in chapter format, each one spotlighting the producer of the month with a lesson about the type of yarn and fiber included, along with the project pattern. the full set plus cover file may be compiled into a full book at the end.


Sign up's are open now and will continue until the club sells out.  Reserve our spot now- shipments will start going out in February.



To see more of BNK 2012- check out the pattern page on Ravelry, or head on over to Flickr to gawk at all the pattern and yarn combos.
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It Begins

Whenever it's time for a big change in life, it takes some adjusting to figure out what the "new normal" will look like.  Unfortunately, when attempting to find time to fit everything in, my blog is the first thing to take a hiatus.  For this, I apologize- consistency has not been the theme around here as I have found myself back at a full time job with (now) 2 kiddos.

But, here I am. Today there is time- so I today I will share with you some of the things I have been making time for.

For those of you who follow my Instagram Stream, you would know that in the knitting portion of my life, I am staying busy on a stocking for Sam.  I felt a little motivated after seeing some stockings at a friend's house, so I shot a quick phone picture so I could be inspired by copy what I saw:


So far, we've come up with this:



Since Elise's stocking was inspired by her first Christmas outfit, I decided to incorporate the extra blue yarn from some of Sam's newborn accessories:



Besides the knitting, I've been spending much cherished time with these two little squirts:


We also managed to throw in a celebration for someone's second year of life:




And everyone in the family who is capable of walking has taken up running:


And as Christmas approaches, and we look forward to more time home with family, we continue to find our "new normal"- taking each day as it comes.  Some days hold time for running, some for knitting, some just for each other.  In all the chaos, we know how blessed we are. 



Who's Afraid of the Big Bad...

Bear?!


Well, I was going for wolf, but I'm not sure this was clear.  Of course, if you saw him in context with his big-sis-little-red, it may have been a little easier to figure out.



Maybe.  Maybe not.


The best part of this "costume"?  The awesome sweater Sam's been rocking all week.  Unfortunately, at the rate this kid is growing, this sweater may not see much wear time.



Project Details:
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish dk, Squirrel Heather
Sweater Pattern: Cervide by Catherine Shields
Hat: Improvised 
Raveled: Here




Not very scary, huh?
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