Mid February News from the Farm

More Knitting Inspiration

Hello Colorful Friends,

Here I am back in your inbox for the second Sunday in a row. The Superbowl is a mere memory (it was an excellent game - I watch exactly one game a year and that was it). We are heading towards spring. The days are getting longer and in the morning, the bird song is different than a few weeks ago.

I hope your week was excellent. I am starting to get out again after what it seems has been a very long three years. On Thursday, I did a presentation at a (sort of) local art group. I’m not sure why I said yes. I suppose it was a weak moment. I was up until 2:30 a.m. Wednesday sifting through old photos on my computer to create the Powerpoint presentation. Then I spent five hours the next day putting it all together. It was a good trip down memory lane though so I’m glad I put it together. BTW, does anyone know any easier alternatives to Powerpoint? It is so slow and clunky — there must be something better. I’m wondering if there is a way I can re-use this presentation and put it on the internet. Maybe Zoom? Any advice gladly accepted.

I don’t travel or teach much anymore. I’m totally fine with staying here at our farm, making my ceramics, helping with the sheep and lamb biz, and keeping my little on-line business manageable so it fits into my life. I feel incredibly grateful for my life and family although not all days are rosy. This past week, the artist and author Lisa Congdon, wrote an Instagram post about Loud Quitting. I had never heard of it but I guess it is a thing as is Quiet Quitting. I personally think it is an age thing. Many years ago, my brother-in-law’s mom Charlotte said to me at a family function when she was up in her 80’s (I think I was in my 40’s) “I wish I knew as much as I know now when I was your age.” Her words have always stayed with me. I hope I am becoming as wise as Charlotte was the older I get.

Here is a sweet set of twins born earlier this lambing season. Lambing has slowed down although there are still many more to come, we hope.

Thank you so much for all the PDF pattern orders last week. I really appreciate your support. If you missed last week’s newsletter, you can find it here. So now on with the show, as they say. Below are four new additions to my PDF Knitting Patterns. This group of designs are for women.

Southwest Style Sleeved Wrap

This design is a clever one, if I do say so myself. The Southwest Style Sleeve Wrap is knit in the round on circular needles with a steek at the beginning and end of the round. The cast on and cast off edges will become the side seams. Halfway through the piece, the front opening is made by working half the stitches with scrap yarn which will become the front opening. After knitting is finished, the steek is cut and the steeks are fringed back to create the bottom edge. The fringe is tied in an overhand knot to keep the stitches secure. The scrap yarn is ripped out and the live stitches are picked up and a garter stitch edge is knit to become front opening. The sleeves are knit in the round and sewn into the side seams. Sounds complicated but it works!

To order from my website, click here. To order from Ravelry, click here.

Bloomsbury Gauntlets

The Bloomsbury Gauntlet Gloves look incredibly difficult but they aren’t. The only Fair Isle aka stranded knitting is for a few rounds at the cuff to create the floral border. The rest of the gloves are knit with one color. When completed, some simple embroidery stitches add detail and fun.

To order from my website, click here. To order from Ravelry, click here.

Hen Party Pullover

The first sweater I ever knit was a knit in the round yoke sweater so I had to include a new version in this collection. The sweater features cuff and border in a multi-color garter stitch check pattern. The colorful yoke design finishes with a corrugated ribbing.

To order from my website, click here. To order from Ravelry, click here.

Norwegian Dreams Pullover

Remember last week’s introduction to the Best Friends Pullovers shown on Julia and Bridget? The Norwegian Dreams Pullover is the same sweater but sized for adults. It features a diamond motif border and a pointed edging. The overall pattern reminds me of a cable design only translated into stranded knitting. Completely knit in the round, the armholes and neckline are worked as steeks.

To order from my website, click here. To order from Ravelry, click here.

Like the Best Friends Pullovers, you can personalize your Norwegian Dreams Pullover by choosing a different edging treatment or different charts with the purchase of my Color By Kristin eBook. Purchase on my website here or on Ravelry here.

This Week’s Fun LInks

• Flashdance is 40 years old. Watch this for a bit of a Flashdance Flashback.

• Here is an Interesting use of old quilts and crocheted afghans.

• The Visible Mending trend continues to grow. Here’s a good article about Flora Collingwood-Norris who does gorgeous visible mending. She also has on-line classes on her website so you can learn too.

• Sarah Campbell has a new book called Hand-Painted Textiles coming out in the US in April. Read about her book process here. Sarah and her late sister Susan Collier were very successful textile designers working in London in the 60’s and 70’s and on. I still have a set of sheets featuring their Cote D’Azure print which is in the textile collection of the V&A. You might too. Recently Sarah has had many products at one of my favorite retailers Anthropologie.

• Check out this antique dealer’s showroom in Uzbekistan. It is so full of color and pattern and amazing textiles. I would be in heaven living there.

• I enjoyed this podcast interview with Terry Crews. He has had a remarkable life and his story is incredibly inspiring. Most folks know him as a NFL linebacker, actor and current host of America’s Got Talent but he’s got an incredibly inspiring story about art and design.

That’s it for this week. I wish you a good one. Thanks for reading and I’ll be back next Sunday.

Colorfully yours,