Blueberry Hill Crafting

Double Layer cowl

This was a project to use up some Plucky leftovers – I love the concept of knitting a cowl double-layered, because it makes it so much thicker and it bunches nicely around my neck.

Pattern: Double Layer Cowl by Purl Soho

Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Beauregard DK (60% yak / 40% cashmere) in colors Powdered Sugar, Dreamy, and Cheeky – 1 skein/ea (300 yds) held double throughout

Needles: 24″ circular US 10s

Mods: CO 92 sts, joined in the round. Knit until total length was 27″ (2.75″ per segment). Turned so that the “wrong” (purl) side was showing and seamed together.

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Boysenberry mohair wrap

This one was a labor of love – miles of stockinette stitching, but so worth it in the end!

Yarn: Purl Soho Tussock (60% superfine kid mohair / 40% silk) – 3 skeins (328 yds/ea) in Ripe Boysenberry and 3 skeins in Bright Thistle, held double

Pattern: Elementary Wrap by Purl Soho

Needles: US 6s

I think this is absolutely beautiful – warm but light as air, it could be worn in any season. It’s wide enough to wear as a shawl or wrap, but it easily compresses around my neck as a scarf. If only I had a patience, I’d knit more of these in a range of colors 🙂

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Working with Pendleton fabrics

Still on my Pendleton kick . . .

I made several quick and easy dopp kits from Pendleton fabrics at a great Klumhouse class right before Christmas – we even had a chance to do a little leather stamping. I love the leather and metal rivet details on these kits – it adds a little zing to them, and makes them seem more durable and professional.

Inspired by all things Pendleton, I took a trip to our local Pendleton fabric store and bought some yardage off the bolt. I reupholstered our living room pillow, but I left it up to the professionals to create a cover for our leather chair. I really love the look of the Pendleton fabric with the time-worn leather!

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Winter in Big Sky, Montana

A beautiful, snowy week in Montana with my oldest daughter – finally, a little cold and a lot of snow! We toured Yellowstone by snow coach, hiked the geysers on snowshoe, spotted bison, trumpeter swans, and coyotes, did a lot of nordic skiing, and spent even more time in our cozy cabin in front of the wood stove. We stayed at Lone Mountain Ranch and had a fabulous time, thanks to their friendly staff and wonderful meals. Hopefully, we’ll make this an annual trip!

Trumpeter swan on the Madison River
Steam from the geysers is visible from miles away
Mt. Hood from the air, welcoming us home
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Montana slouch

I knit this hat up for my daughter to wear on our trip to snowy Montana this winter 🙂

Yarn: Woolfolk Flette – 2 skeins (131 yds/ea) in color #27

Needles: US 6s and 4s (for ribbing) – 16″ circulars and dpns

Pattern: I improvised this pattern:

Cast on 102 sts (however, the hat was way too loose at the brim – next time, I would cast on only 92 sts)
Knit in twisted rib for 1″ (I’d like a wider brim, so next time, I’d knit 1 3/4-2″)
Stockinette stitch until hat is 8.5″, then decrease as follows:
R1: *K5, K2tog; rep from * to end
R2 and all even rnds: K to end
R3: *K4, K2tog; rep from * to end
R5: *K3, K2tog; rep from * to end
R7: *K2, K2tog; rep from * to end
R9: *K1, K2tog; rep from * to end
R11: *K2tog; rep from * to end
Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, cinch yarn to close top of hat, weave in ends.

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Winterfell Cardigan

Pattern: Winterfell Cardigan Aran
Yarn: La Bien Aimee Merino Aran – 6 skeins (181 yds/ea) in color Caramel
Size: M2
Needles: US 7s and 6s (ribbing)

I’m so glad I went with what I thought would be a larger size – M2 is supposed to be a finished bust measurement of 42.75″. However, I ended up with only a slight bit of positive ease, and I have a 37″ bust – this definitely didn’t give me almost 6″ of ease! I also knit it several inches longer – around 16″ from armhole to hem. I was hoping for a bit of an oversized cardigan, but I ended up with a nice (but close) fit.

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Winter Shades Shawl

Pattern: Kelderhouse Shawl by The Plucky Knitter

Yarn: Six and Seven Fiber Sunflower (100% non-SW merino in worsted weight) – 1 skein (220 yds/ea) in colors Penelope, Lucia, Gray Lady, and Hermitage

Needles: US 8s

I’m usually not a big fan of fringe or triangular shaped wraps, but I love it on this shawl! Gorgeous colors, perfect for this textured pattern.

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Esther Clark botanical calendar

Each Christmas, one of the requests at the top of my “wishing for” list is an Esther Clark calendar for the upcoming year. Esther’s botanical art is beautiful and delicate – to me, it captures the essence of the plants and flowers she is sketching, and I look forward to the turning of the calendar’s pages to reveal each month’s artwork.

At the end of the year, I can’t bear to recycle such wonderful art, but I don’t want it to just gather dust in a drawer, either, so what to do with it? I decided to create a rustic leather portfolio that keeps the art clean and safe, but allows me to flip through the pages. And, with the leather ties as binding, I can add calendar pages from subsequent years until I have an entire book of botanical art.

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Winter solstice hats

Every once in a while, I love a little colorwork 🙂

Pattern: Owen Hat by Knitterella

Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Beauregard DK – one skein each of colors Sockeye, Urban, Powdered Sugar, Grumpy Old Sailor, Dreamy, and Cheeky

Needles: US 5s and 3s (ribbing)

Size: I tried both small and medium adult – I really needed something in between, but I think I’d stick with small adult, because medium is just a little too loose-fitting (or maybe go with size small for the brim ribbing, then increase to size medium for the colorwork)

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Weathervane wrap

This is a wonderful, plush and generous wrap for wintertime! Nicely sized and shaped, it knits up quickly and the texture adds interest and a “squish” factor.

Pattern: Weathervane by The Plucky Knitter

Yarn: Plucky Yakpaca (worsted weight 50% yak / 50% alpaca) – 3 skeins (250 yds/ea) in color Pinstripe

Needles: US 9s

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Elusive Sun Wrap

I knit this wrap on commission as a Christmas gift, and it also gave me a chance to test knit a beautiful new pattern debuting in By Hand Serial Lookbook No. 8. I made slight modifications to the pattern and colorwork, demonstrating how easy it is to customize this stunning shawl!

Pattern: Elusive Sun Wrap by Hilary Engebretson

Yarns (I found both of these beautiful fingering weight yarns from indie dyers at Starlight Knitting Society):
* Chasing Rabbits Fiber Co. Fer (4-ply fingering, 85% merino / 15% nylon) – one skein (437 yds) each of colors Frolic and Jubilee
* Olann (80% SW merino / 20% nylon) – one skein (425m) in color Darwin

Modifications:
* Changed needle size to US 7s
* Cast on only 83 sts (which resulted in a wrap not quite as wide as provided for in the pattern)
* I used only three colors instead of four as called for in the pattern

As requested by the recipient, I knit the wrap extra long, so that it could be wrapped around your neck several times. It is so soft, silky, and lightweight, and I love the color play between the three yarns!

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Simple Plucky hat

It’s funny how a lot of the time, my favorite and most-worn knits are also the simplest patterns with the best yarns.  This pattern couldn’t be simpler, but it’s the combination (color and feel) of the Plucky yarns that makes it so special!

Pattern:  The Vite Hat by Julie Hoover

Yarn:  A partial skein each of The Plucky Knitter Groovy, Baby (fingering weight, 100% cashmere) in color Livery and Plucky Spiffy Sportweight (60% cashmere / 40% silk) in color Yodel

Needles:  US 9s and US 7s (ribbing)

Size:  Medium

The hat is designed to be worn with reverse stockinette facing out, and it really looks good either way, but I prefer the smoother stockinette stitch on the outside.

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Colors of Fall 2018

Fall 2018 along the Clackamas River

 

Aspens along the Poudre la Cache River Canyon in Fort Collins, Colorado

 

Late fall at Clackamette Cove, Oregon

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BunnyPaca

There was no way I could resist knitting something squishy and cozy to go around my neck when the yarn fibers include alpaca and angora rabbit!

Pattern:  Among the Shadows Shawl

Yarn:  Echoview Fiber Mill BunnyPaca DK (50% merino / 30% angora / 20% alpaca) – 3 skeins (150 yds/ea) in color Cedar

Needles:  US 8s

I didn’t have enough yarn to complete the pattern as written, but close enough to make the perfect size wrap to keep my neck warm 🙂

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Slabtown Rolltop backpacks

I sewed both of these backpacks at a great class I took at Klum House last weekend.  The pattern is Slabtown Rolltop Backpack, designed in-house by Ellie Lum, who is both an amazing bag designer and a gifted teacher.  Both bags are sewn from Pendleton fabrics and waxed canvas, and I love all of the details – zippered front pouch, magnetic snaps, the rolltop closure and the top hook that gives you another way to carry it.  Even the straps are leather sewn onto cotton webbing.  Each of the details contributes to the bag’s overall practicality, usefulness, and professional appearance.

 

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Blueberry Mitts

Pattern:  Hand / Wrist Warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn:  The Plucky Knitter, less than one skein each of Spiffy Lace (63% cashmere / 37% silk) in color Study Hall and Traveler DK (65% merino / 20% silk / 15% yak) in color Blueberry Sour, held doubled

Needles:  US 5s dpns

So quick to knit, a nice snug fit, and oh so soft!

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Illimani Pullover

Trying to get a 13-year-old to be serious during a photoshoot is a fruitless task . . .

I knit this sweater for me, but hated how it looked on – I should have guessed, since bat-wing cropped is not my best look 🙂  I think it’s adorable on her, though.

Pattern:  Turtle Dove

Yar:  Illimani Amelie (56% mulberry silk / 40% baby alpaca / 4% merino) – 5 skeins (164 yds/ea) in color Hunter

Needles:  US 10s and 9s (ribbing)

Size:  M (54.25″)

It’s too bad, because this yarn is so incredibly soft, I’d love to wear it next to my skin!  I bought a SQ’s worth at The Mariner’s Daughter in Nova Scotia, and then really struggled to come up with a pattern that was a good match to the yarn – I think this one is, it just isn’t my style.

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