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!

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

a knitting bag

after lugging my knitting in basically any old tote i could get my hands on whilst running out the door, or more frequently alongside all the kid stuff in my moop bag, i decided i needed + deserved a dedicated knitting bag.  so i turned to my Granny pattern because A) i know it by heart, meaning little to no thinking is involved; and B) i've made what seems like a bazillion of them over the years and have always been thrilled with the results.

there were a few slight modifications to lengthen + widen the base, plus i added an extra skein of the main color to create the generous size i was after.  then there was the improvised yardage of kureyon during the BO, woopsie.  and what do you know, in a few days i had knit + felted myself a new knitting bag.

i love that i can fit an entire project in there, along with the other necessary bits that are always anywhere except where i need them to be - i can just grab it and go.  even if going is only into the next room.  xoxo

*with a twist

Neighborly is a simple vest sized for a child, intended to keep them warm at their core while not overheating them during all the running about that kiddos do.  but you know that already...

this variation - Neighborly *with a twist - is complemented by cables wrapping around the wide banded boatneck collar which appear to connect to more cables coiling down the front.  the shaping on this version is narrower than the original and would work well for a boy or girl.  click here to view some notes comparing the two.

Neighborly *with a twist will fit a child 4-6 years old when knit as written using 2 skeins of Peace Fleece Worsted (details are in my Ravelry notebook - JChandmade).  that said, you could easily resize it accordingly by knitting it in a heavier/lighter weight yarn using larger/smaller needles.  and like many of you, i'd kinda like one for myself - so that's probably not too far off in the future, ahem.

the pattern is available as a free PDF - just click here to download.  and as with the original, please consider being neighborly and make one to donate to your favorite charity.  how ever you make it, i hope you and the little ones in your world enjoy Neighborly! xoxo.

a neighborly giveaway!

thank you thank you for the warm reception you've given Neighborly - not only to the pattern, but more importantly for embracing the spirit of doing something neighborly as was my intention.  i love reading your emails/comments here and on ravelry and look forward to seeing where this leg of our journey leads us.

as a token of my appreciation for all the luminosity the craft-blog community has brought into my world these past 4+ years, i am giving away a chocolate brown Neighborly Kit:

yep, i popped into my lys and picked up everything you need to make your very own Neighborly - one skein each of Noro Kureyon and Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in the most delicious colors i could find.  seriously, how amazing are those browns and blues.

TO WIN this wooly bundle, just leave a comment on this post.  comments will be closed and a winner will be announced by 10am eastern - Monday, October 5, 2009.
enjoy your weekend!

::  edited to add - the winner is LARISSA!

i love it! do we get to chose whether we knit this neighborly or the cable version? decisions, decisions. 02 October 2009 at 10:33 PM

congratulations larissa - email me your address as soon as you can and i'll have the wooly goodness in the mail to you straight away. and thank you to everyone for participating! xoxo

being neighborly

we are blessed on so many levels, and i have been wanting to find a way to use the success of my pattern writing thing to help others.  i thought about selling a pattern and donating the proceeds to a charity, but then it becomes about money and the charity i choose and my shop... and that is so not what i am about.  what i've come up with is doing something i love, that then enables others to do something they love, that ultimately helps others.
say hello to Neighborly ::

Neighborly is a simple vest sized for a child, intended to keep them warm at their core while not overheating them during all the running about that kiddos do. interest is created by the wide boatneck collar knit in a contrasting yarn which is further accented by a large button. stitches are picked up around the collar’s edge and the piece is knit in the round from the top-down — there is no seaming whatsoever and only a bit of additional stitching at the hemline and weaving in the ends. this is a satisfying quick knit that is perfect for layering throughout the seasons.

the pattern is a free PDF download - just click here.  in return, i ask that you think about being Neighborly with it - here are a few ideas:

• if you would have been willing to spend a couple bucks for this pattern, use them to make a donation to the charity of your choice.  there's a lot happening in the world these days and everyone from the international red cross to your local foodbank would appreciate any penny you have to give!
• if you do not have a penny to spare, use your stash yarn to make one and then donate it to a local charity - having a new + handmade sweater will mean the world to someone in need!
• knit one, making modifications to the pattern - then post the mods on ravelry and share your creativity, continuing this cycle of giving for the sake of giving.
• link to this post from your own site with images of your finished pieces and your story, so that you may inspire others to be Neighborly as well!

what ever you do - and how ever you do it - i want you to enjoy this pattern as much as i have enjoyed creating it.  and please post images of your finished pieces to the flickr group so that you can inspire others!  xoxo

field day!

it's here : make it!

i love love love the look of vintage cheerleader uniforms and field hockey kilts – in fact, i think i loved wearing my field hockey skirt to junior high on game day even more than actually playing - all those pleats take me back to a simpler time. Field Day is a great little pleated skirt with an updated take on this design, featuring inverted box pleats in contrasting fabric and constructed with French seams for a clean tailored finish. **now don't go getting all "French Seams? I can't do that!" on me - this pattern will have Frenchy becoming your new best friend. the pleats drape and twirl – and everybody loves to twirl – while the top band of the skirt gathers with an elasticized waistband to fit your girly for years and years.

Field Day is available for purchase in my shop as a PDF which is sent to you via email, so you could be making something she'll wear tomorrow (like i did, the night before pre-K)! and it is totally do-able, even for beginners, with 5 pages of easy to follow step-by-step instructions, full color images to demonstrate pattern specifics, and complete sewing instructions for sizes 2-12!

if you have ever followed one of my patterns/tutorials, you know that they are non-traditional in their format, a sort of hybrid combining what i love about both knitting and sewing patterns. there aren’t pattern pieces, per se - just directions for cutting and sewing straight lines, simplifying the process as much as possible.

and if you think this design looks familiar... you're right!

like many people, i sew and i knit.  and add to the mix that i design and write patterns... it's been a natural evolution.  i dream up something - an accessory or garment or whatever - and then i think about whether to knit it or sew it.  and when i can figure out a way to do both that really truly works and isn't just whimsical, well then i am over the moon!  Field Day is the sewn version of old skool - so for those of you who like old skool but don't knit, here you go.  and for those of you who both knit + sew... well it looks like girly has a new wardrobe coming.

i hope you + yours enjoy field day as much as we do.  xoxo

old skool

yippee skippy!

i am excited to share that i have a knitting pattern in the Fall 2009 issue of Petite Purls.  the piece i designed is old skool, a pleated skirt inspired by vintage cheerleader uniforms and kilts.  it is a deceptively simple knit, juxtaposing the direction of the knitting to not only create visual interest, but make life easier on the knitter.  i knit the two you see pictured above less than a week, really!  if you are a knitter with a girly who likes to twirl, this project is the for you - imagine the possibilities for color combinations... how about a white one with different colors inside each pleat!

this project has been a true pleasure, from submitting my original design to feverishly working up two finished garments, to the photoshoot with my girlys at an old schoolhouse in town, and even the tech-editing.  and it is so nice to finally share one of the things i've been so tight-lipped about lately.

 

you can read the entire issue here, and do check out their archives - a lovely group of mamas each put their heart and soul into creating a magazine specializing in knitting patterns for babies + children and i wish them all the very best!  xoxo

make it : 5-minute hairkerchief

hair can get in the way sometimes - which is why you'll find pony elastics on practically every doorknob in our house.  but sometimes you need more - perhaps you're headed out for a bike ride, or there's just been one too many blobs of yogurt in the little one's locks, or you'd simply like to ensure a clear sightline for climbing.  i needed a solution - and PRONTO.  like any good mama + maker, i took a look at the hairbands we had on hand and determined they needed a little pick-me-up.  i dug out a pattern i made a few years back and for a moment considered making a few of those for the girls, until i remembered that each one of them took about 1/2 an hour.  um, no.

enter the 5-minute hairkerchief :: fully reversible and as supercute as the people who will wear them.  and because we're using a full elastic hairband, it can fit children as well as adults.

ready, steady?  first you will need to make a pattern - mine is a triangle made by cutting a 7.5" square in half, but you can make it larger or smaller depending on the size of the intended's noggin.  i wrote "FOLD" on one of the short sides, so i can line up any desired motif on the fold before cutting ::

now gather your materials ::

• your pattern

• 2 fabrics the intended wearer will especially love
• one elastic hairband

use the pattern to cut out two triangles of fabric for the hairkerchief - remember, you are cutting a double layer of each fabric with the folded edge where the pattern indicates.  this is fully reversible, so try to make them complimentary ::

put the triangles RS together and using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch all the way around the perimeter of the triangle - but leaving a 2"-3" opening along the long side.  (backstitch at both the beginning and end.)

trim the corners ::

now reach up inside that 2"-3" opening and turn the piece RS out.

find something interesting - such as a bone folder, chopstick, or hair stick - to push into the corners ::

once you have the triangle in its proper shape, press it with a hot iron.

using the hot iron again to press the bottom edge upwards about 5/8".

as i said, this hairkerchief is fully reversible, so when you do this step, consider which side you would like to have plain, and which you'd like the edge of fabric from the other side peeking over.

get the elastic hairband and head to the sewing machine to finish up ::

start at the one end with the elastic hairband tucked under that fold.  push the presser foot on top of the folded edge and against the hairband as close as possible, then move your needle as far to that side as possible for stitching.  backstitch at the beginning and then slowly stitch down that folded edge.

i did not pin this in place, because i didn't want the bunched up pins + fabric poking me while i was sewing.  just work slowly - you will gently tuck the hairband inside that fold as you go, and also stitch shut that opening you used to turn the whole thing RS out.   pretty cool  ::

once you get to the end, backstitch and you're done.  easy peasy, right?

all that in just 5 minutes - good stuff.  if you make some, please show off your hairkerchiefs by adding your images to the flickr pool - ENJOY!
xoxo

*** PERSONAL USE ONLY ***
make them for as many people as you like, but please do not sell these hairkerchiefs.  let's all just have fun and play fair. fair is good.