JCasa *handmade

wannabe cozy?

a few weeks back, and after an admirable while of controlling my spending, i gave into woolly handspun temptation and purchased this most lovely skein of organic merino 2-ply yarn made by the talented amanda, a.k.a. wannabe.

it took me exactly no time to wind it up and cast on, knowing full well i wanted to make a cowl - because i love a good cowl - to show off the twists and feel that ever so cozy merino next to my skin.

it's a simple 2x1 seeded rib and i love it.  and i'm not the only one.  you see, the best thing is that it doubles as a cozy fitted little shrug/capelet thing for the girls. never ever did i think we'd share a garment!

and...
since i know you'll ask...
because you know i'll share...
here you go : a little freebie pattern you'll have committed to memory faster than it will take you to run to your yarn stash.

MAKE IT : easy peasy!

you need : about 200 yds of your chosen yarn + circular needles in whatever size is approriate for your yarn - i used 6s for this DK weight handspun

:: first, figure out your gauge (i was getting about 4.5 sts/1")

:: next you need to figure out how big around you'd like it (i wanted it loose but not too loose, and ended up figuring that a 25" circumference would be right for me)

:: do the math + cast on, but it needs to be a multiple of 3 for this 2x1 seeded rib (for me that translated into 114 sts)

:: PM and join to work in the round

:: this is a 2 round repeat (how easy is that?!)  ready. set. memorize.

round 1 = knit 2, purl 1 (repeat to end of round)
round 2 = knit

:: now just keep going with these 2 rounds over and over until it is the desired size OR you run out of yarn, leaving just enough to BO in patt.

enjoy!  i'll link to the pattern on ravelry, too.  and if you knit one, go on + add it to the flickr pool.  xoxo

p.s.  if you have a better name than "cozy fitted little shrug/capelet thing", be sure to let me know!

winter + white

ever since i saw this, i haven't been able to get pompoms off my mind.  enter a mama + two littles who love to craft and you can guess what we were doing this past weekend.

since we have a dark front door, i wanted it white - and every kind of white, from snow to sparkly to creamy - and white it is.  and looking especially lovely, if i do say so myself. although the tutorial is fabulous - as is her blog, oh my - we just kind of winged it using a wire wreath form + about 6 balls of misc. acrylic blend white yarns (including one of the vanna sparkly stuff - say no more). it was a bit time consuming, but so worth it - about 3 days each with several hours snipping time to give you a ballpark. i think i even have an official pompom callous.

best of all, it was SO much fun for my girlys + me.  and all winter long, as they see our front door, they'll know we made it : together.  - xoxo

and so the decking begins

for a few years, i have been one of those people who had the tree up the very day after thanksgiving.  this year, i've decided the tree can wait - until the first of december.  in the meantime, we've been decorating a wee bit each day.  i had bought a bundle of michael miller funky Christmas fat quarters last year (ahem) and FINALLY got around to playing with them.  we've hung up two flag garlands - a small one above the front window and another between the dining + living rooms.  i love the double-sided thing so no matter where you are, you get a peek of holiday cheer.

as clear as memories of lawrence welk, the charleston and butterscotch candies, i could hear my nana's voice calling "waste not want not".  she was green before green was the new black.  who knew?  so i took the leftover notches cut from those flags and whipped up some mini garland and currently have a long strand of it running around an inspiration board in my wee studio.  i confess, we've never been garland/bunting people, but ever since i made the ones in the girls' room i am smitten, i tell you!

and there are even a few more projects in various stages of completion - will they make the december 1st deadline?  doubtful.  do they make me happy nonetheless?  indeed!

and guess what... i made a few extra of both the flag garlands + mini-garlands.  if it makes you happy and you'd like to deck your own halls a bit, hop on over to the shop and have a look.

happy monday, friends!  xoxo
 

happy thanks

snapshots taken throughout this most lovely day, from some early morning alone time through all the makings and happy good things, and ending with yet a few more quiet moments alone.

from me to you + from our home to yours, sending warm wishes for a most happy day of thanks.  life is good.  celebrate.  where ever + when ever + how ever you feel like it.  enjoy it.  xoxo

pre + school crafting

with 10 minutes to spare and hair that needed a little love, the girls and i made a few pompom ponies.

one word : addictive.  translation?  i'll be adding some to the shop tomorrow - seriously, how cute are these going to be tucked inside a stocking, or as a special gift for little friends.  xoxo

a giveaway to dye for!

i am fairly certain that i was first introduced to the amazing Malka via her Flickrstream a year or so back.  seriously, how could you not be drawn in by the graphic designs and saturated colors of her fabrics - and then to see all that she creates using her original fabrics is beyond inspiring.  last winter while she was in town to film several segments for Quilting Arts TV, i was lucky enough to spend an evening with her talking fiber and fabric and quilting and kids and swimming and blogging and cameras and all that fun stuff over a seriously yummy dinner.  she told me all about her book, the writing process, the photography, and how much she learned throughout the journey - and now it's here, Color Your Cloth!

looking through the pages of Malka's book is a dream - i have never dyed fabric, yet she has me both inspired and excited about diving right in.  seriously swoonworthy.

i mean really, just the image of those brushes makes my heart pitter patter.  her instructions throughout the book are clearly written and so completely approachable.  add to that she complements all the dyeing lessons with a series of projects designed to encourage your own creativity - let's just say it's a home run of a book.

i have worked with Malka's fabrics before and can say they are so completely rich in tone and texture, and more deeply saturated than words can describe - you just need to see and feel for yourself.  at first i ordered a small bundle from her shop which i simply played with day after day, seeing new hues and lines appear right before my eyes every time.  and then i ordered some yardage of her gingko fabric last spring and kept it in full view for months awaiting just the right project, eventually using it to create the field day skirt [shown left].

so when Malka approached me about a month ago about having a look at her book and playing with her fabrics once again, you can bet i jumped at the chance!  the most recent issue of Stitch magazine featured a design of hers for a cloth baby book, and i took my inspiration from there as well as from her fabrics themselves to create a fun little project to share with you - soft counting cubes!

simply click to follow the free tutorial!

and it gets better -
i did say this is a giveaway to dye for, after all...

i am thrilled to offer THREE of my lovely blog readers some very special goodies.  winners will be chosen at random - prizes include one copy of Malka's book, Color Your Cloth, as well as two 12-piece bundles of her fabrics (which just so happens to be exactly what you need to make the soft counting cubes).  and everybody of course can follow my free tutorial as well, so i think it's your lucky day.

TO ENTER : leave a comment on this post (just one per person, please). comments will closed and the three lucky winners announced around 9am EST on Thursday, 12-November.

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

** a copy of Malka's book goes to : ALISON!

alison said...

It's been a long while since I've dyed my own fabric. This book looks so vibrant and inspiring...a must have, definitely. Can't wait to dig in to it and your tutorial! Thanks for sharing the love!

Reply 10 November 2009 at 10:48 AM

 

** 12 of Malka's hand-dyed fabric squares go to : MELANIE!

Melanie said...

Those blocks are adorable! I'll definitely be trying them out.

Reply 10 November 2009 at 12:05 PM

** 12 of Malka's hand-dyed fabric squares go to : BRYNNE!

Brynne said...

I already have the counting book on my list, but no bright fabrics. Those colors are so sweet!

Reply 10 November 2009 at 03:30 PM

thanks to everyone for participating - what a fun giveaway!  and a special thank you to Malka for this opportunity, continued inspiration and kindness.  xoxo

a few good things

her sense of style

her sense of humor

their bond

daddy's influence on proper supergirl flying moves

other good (and great) things ::
all the neighborly love these past few weeks, my space being featured on modish, and my work featured on sewmamasew twice in the past week, and a few new + very exciting opportunities (and that's all i'll say about that).

also loving this scarf, all things tortillagirl, la fuji mama's nutella cookies, stefanie japel making t-shirt yarn, lucy and her gorgeous new design, gretelie's oh so pretty wool wristwarmers, wisecraft's brilliant removable quilt design wall, and halloween candy.  oh yes, let's share a piece with mama, please.

what's making you happy on this gorgeous first day of november?  xoxo

i love you, Fall.

crisp air.  endless skies.  blazing hues.  pumpkin goop.  hay-filled playgrounds.  corn mazes.  apple everything.  horse-drawn wagons.

togetherness.  xoxo

tidy

i couldn't help myself, everything looked so pretty.

reframing and arranging favorite prints, photos, textiles and ceramics. and placing much needed tools at my fingertips.

a new configuration of inspiration boards in the form of ikea cutting boards + a shimandsons pinstrip.  inspired by rachel to use something non-traditional.

removing completed projects from my bulletin board, in turn creating space for what is yet to come.  me thinks cleaning out a creative space is a good thing.

:

i have a few things to wrap up this month - that quilt up there tops the list - so i'll be popping in and out with photos of our days along the way. and of course, a good recipe or two. and maybe a craft project here and there. and some very cool news. wait a minute, how is that stepping back from blogging for a short while?
enjoy your days!  xoxo

hello, Fall.

oh, Autumn.  you are my favorite and my best.  singing songs about the colors turning at every corner, telling tales and endless giggles under piles of quilts, falling in love with puzzles again and again, the baking for baking's sake, and the wool.

i hope you are finding special ways to welcome the turn of the season into your world.  xoxo