ttwcreative

Summer Container Gardens.....Keep Em Coming

2011-06-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

The last week has brought temperatures from 100 degrees to 50 degrees. Crazy Chicago weather!

Somehow, we have managed several installations, including.....

A single family in Bucktown/Wicker Park.........

A high rise right off Michigan Avenue......

A single family in Lincoln Park......

And my hair salon, Avieve.......

There are many more to come, including my own decks, which I finally have gotten installed.

Historic Michigan Avenue Terrace

2011-06-05T08:58:00.000-05:00

My crew and I were busy this week, installing a gorgeous container garden at an historic Michigan Avenue building. We were blessed with great weather and the sounds from a concert at nearby Northerly Island wafted over as we finished up our work. The design? A true collaboration. This client has a great eye for design. She had started off her design with several large white pots and evergreens last year. We took her original idea to the next level, turning this......

And this....

Into this......

And this.....

The goal was to frame the views and keep the children from the edges of the building. We moved existing pots, ordered more in larger and different shapes. Then this......

Became this......

The view - intact. We avoided tall trees or waving grasses so common in roof deck design. Keeping the plantings low lets the view shine through.

The view before.....

The view after......

Lincoln Park Roof Deck - Tailored and Colorful

2011-06-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Last week, we turned this:

and this......

Into this:

The client didn't want vines and other trailing plants to encroach her deck space. We shot for a more tailored look using gorgeous skyrocket junipers as anchor points to take the eye upward. The little bowling ball shaped evergreens add whimsy and another evergreen anchor point for the design. The many colors and textures are provided by - dahlias, coleus, salvia, blue fescue and sedge. This design will grow up and will mound, but will not invade personal space. A nice place to enjoy a glass of vino, no?

Transforming a West Loop Porch

2011-06-02T06:08:00.000-05:00

It always amazes me how huge some outdoor spaces in the city can be. This client, a co-worker of my husband, has a gorgeous space in Chicago's West Loop that is 28 feet wide and about 10 feet deep. Yup, bigger than most apartments in New York:) It has great skyline views and exposure on the south, west and east. The client also looks out at this view year-round so I wanted to create a space with evergreen anchor points, and we used quite a few perennials that we hope will come back next year.

Here are a few before shots:

View to the west

Look at that skyline view to the east!

When clients are starting from scratch with containers, I find it helpful to give them a sketch of what their space will look like when it's done. I'm no artist, but I think this rendering comes close to the final product.

And....voila!

My crew and I hauled 18 bags of soil and a complete SUV full of plant material up the elevator and onto the client's porch during a break in a massive thunderstorm.

The client has a comfy sectional that will be placed out there soon so she and her significant other can enjoy the view. I'm so excited for her to enjoy her porch area.

West Loop Townhome Window Boxes

2011-05-16T20:12:00.000-05:00

My friend Vanessa lives in the coolest West Loop neighborhood and I was so happy to freshen up their window boxes!

Fall Containers

2011-04-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm getting set to launch a real website for this hobby-turned business of mine, so I thought I'd share some photos that didn't make it to the blog last fall. One thing I learned is I need to get a jump on fall planting way earlier than I did. I just fall in love with my summer planters and then before I know it the selection at my wholesaler is YUCK.

I can't wait to dig in for this coming fall, though. It's so nice to change out the planters for a fresh look!

Around the tree in a shady courtyard:

High rise balcony in downtown Chicago:

Avieve - my salon:

A single family in Lincoln Park:

Knit 1 - my favorite hangout:

Spring is (Finally!) Springing in Chicago: Latest Installations

2011-04-26T15:29:00.000-05:00

It has been so darn grey and chilly here in Chicago, it's been tough to muster up energy or enthusiasm to do much of anything. Hopefully this overview of my lovely spring installations will help my clients at least pretend we have a spring in Chicago!

Here are the spring containers for Knit 1 - my favorite knitting shop!

High rise balconies in downtown Chicago:

Yes, that's a little lettuce garden!

A fresh spring look for a front porch:

My hair salon, Avieve. Sadly, the hydrangeas died a sad death in a snowstorm last week. Ugh!

Now I get a chance to plant my own window boxes and planters, so more on that later this week. I am putting clients on the docket for summer planting - our longest growing season in Chicago. Be sure to contact me if you are interested in some beautiful containers for summer!

River North Townhome Roof Deck

2010-08-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

This whole container gardening gig I have going on actually started at a dinner party on Cinco de Mayo. My husband begged my friend Angela to let me have my way with her roof deck so I would be able to scratch my gardening itch without further digging into our household budget. (I tend to go a bit overboard on our 4, count em, 4 decks. It does get a little pricey....)

We started out by looking at lots of pictures to settle on our inspirations:

Loved the grass!

Loved the texture!

Loved the evergreens!

This was a garden coaching project. Angela was with me every step of the way. First, we made a trek to Jayson Home & Garden for containers and Gethsemane and Home Depot for plants. Note: I usually steer clear of Home Depot for plants, but they had such a good deal on the evergreen spiral topiaries we couldn't resist. Note: Angela is forever a deal-maker, and she got 20% off two big pots at Jayson because they didn't have any in the size she wanted without dings. Go Angela!

Here's what it looked like on planting day, after we hauled everything up four stories and got it into place. Boy did we earn that grits and sausage casserole we ate after. God bless you, Paula Deen!

Planting day

Here's what it looks like now:

When I talk about what garden coaching, this is what I mean.....with the knowledge obtained during our trip to the garden center, Angela actually added two more containers to her space and planted them herself. I couldn't be more proud!

The good news is that not only did Angela and I grow a garden, we turned an acquaintance into a friendship. The bad news is that Angela is now moving. Yup, she up and got herself a fantastic new job in Sin City. So this roof deck is actually no longer. I pulled a few plants for my house (see a post next week on this....) and some others are taking plants as well. She did find a good home for the topiaries, thank heavens.

I plan to visit her in her new digs early next year and see what we can do with those containers in a desert setting. I can't wait to check out the garden centers in the desert!

30% Off Pots at Jayson Home and Garden

2010-08-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite (but not least expensive) sources for great planter pots is Jayson Home & Garden. They are having a huge sale - check it out:

This window box is wonderful, and a steal at $87.50, down from $125. I have these boxes in another design on my decks all year round in Chicago and they look as good as the day I bought them, almost 5 years ago.

I'm also a fan of these egg pots, which come in several sizes. Here's the largest one, on sale for about $100, down from $145. (These are also frost-proof!)

Last, this extra-large terrazzolite frost-proof cube is only $157, down from $225.

I used a pair of these on a River North roof deck to hold gorgeous evergreen spirals:

What about you....what pots are you craving right now? Any end-of-season sales I oughtta know about?

Avieve Entryway Transformed

2010-07-28T08:50:00.000-05:00

Last week I went to Avieve to have Jana freshen up my locks with her hair genious. The front entryway looked like this:

Well, you know me. I have to put containers everywhere! A few days after talking to Genevieve Andres, the cool salon owner (she does brows like nobody's business, people!) - the front entryway has been transformed:

Genevieve scored these containers at Home Goods. And while I wouldn't put ceramic containers on an exposed balcony, I think they'll weather in this sheltered entryway just fine. I lined them with insulation and put Packing Pearls from Sprout Home in the bottom.

This is my third business installation, and I'm thrilled with the results!

(BTW.... for my regular readers, Wednesday walkabout has been on hiatus because my camera drowned in my handbag. Fortunately, my new Panasonic Lumix is here! I'll be returning with lots of great photos and other projects soon!)

Wednesday Walkabout: Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood

2010-07-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

Time for another Wednesday Walkabout....And don't forget to check out some of my previous Walkabouts: Lincoln Park, Chicago Loop and Old Town.

I just love Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood and lived there when DH and I met. My gym is still in the hood and I love running the same routes I ran when I was 21 and still new to Chicago. Even then, I remember admiring all the lovely homes and containers, wondering how people got their plants to look so great......

My life then? Martinis and marathons.

My life now? Carpools and container gardens.

While my regular sitter took the twins to the beach on this sweltering day, I wandered around the old neighborhood and saw these gorgeous containers. I love them because they are substantial enough to stand up the seriousness of the architecture and because they are big enough to be part of the house and not seen as cheapie add-on. They are planted perfectly and simply:

And around the corner is this surprise. As they said on the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together......this is a simply gorgeous use of repetition, which is my favorite design trick to pull together a space.

Look how this Chicago greystone owner makes the second floor balcony pop off of all that ivy. Again with the repetition...three simple evergreens underplanted with pink petunias.

Here's a view from across the street. Note the two low rectangular containers in the same grey color, which visually connect the space.....very pretty.

This neighborhood is filled with proud gardeners. One nice man saw me taking pictures and asked if I wanted to see what he had done with the planters on his house......

A lot of Chicago neighborhoods have business associations that install and plant up gorgeous planter boxes. I plan a post on all of them at the end of the summer. Aren't these pretty?

Last, the Days Inn on Clark Street, which has seriously upped the ante from the old smoking stand I used to cross the street to avoid while jogging down the street......

I mean, when's the last time you pulled up to a Day's Inn entryway that looked this good? Gotta love Lakeview......

As much as I wish the Chicago summer would go on forever and ever, I wonder if we would be such show-offs with our container gardens if they weren't such a short-lived experience each year, if we didn't live through 5 months of grey and cold to get to this point every year........

I Got A Shout Out!

2010-07-07T06:47:00.001-05:00

The other day I signed up for Blotanical, a cool blog all about gardening blogs. (Yes, I'm officially a garden geek.) It's a truly global community of bloggers wrangled by Stuart Robinson, a passionate gardener from Western Australia. I definitely encourage you to check it out!

It was through Blotanical the fabulous Canadian gardening blogger, photographer and writer Nancy Bond of Leaping Greenly, Notes from the Front Deck found me. And guess what - she is featuring my blog on her sidebar!

Thanks, Nancy, for your excellent blog and for the shout out!

Stay tuned later today for a Wednesday Walkabout featuring Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.

Printer's Row Balcony Boxes

2010-07-05T10:28:00.006-05:00

In my last post, I showed you the preliminary design for window boxes in Printer's Row. My client's request: planter boxes rivaling those of Venice! This was our inspiration:

Here's a before shot, with empty balcony boxes, which we sourced here:

And the after.....the view from the client's kitchen sink. I love how the boxes bring a human scale to the high rises surrounding the view.

Basically, I toughened up the inspiration design (street level, east-facing) with plants more suited to the 28th floor, north-facing, windy balcony site.

Looking to recreate this design? Here's your recipe:

Lush Balcony Box Materials

2010-07-02T10:40:00.000-05:00

These were my carts yesterday as I laid out a balcony box design for a Printer's Row high rise. The pair of planter boxes I'll be filling are 36" long, as are these carts. Perfect for lining up a design so you can visualize it in your space. Once I lay out the design I like, I make a planting schematic and take a digital picture. That way, once I get the plants out of the car at the site it's easy to remember my plan.

Tomorrow: All the details about this installation, and before and after shots!

Wednesday Walkabout: Lincoln Park

2010-06-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

Today's Wednesday Walkabout took place in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, just north of Armitage. You can read about previous walks in the Chicago Loop and in Old Town. This neighborhood, just north of Charlie Trotter's famous restaurant and Lori's famous shoe store, is jam-packed with amazing container gardens!

Notice how the white urns contrast nicely against the black door and red brick. Wonder what it might look like if the urns were skinnier and taller? Or do the squat urns give the tall entry some human proportion that's necessary?

This pair of copper window boxes plays up the existing dark trim and metal at the entryway. Too bad the sun got in the way of a perfect picture.......

This parkway design is probably the best one I've ever seen! A container was literally created out of pavers and filled with a good mix of perennials. Usually people just stick a bunch of hostas in and call it a day.

These clean-lined planters, planted with a very formal topiary are not the expected urn. It works because the plantings are true to the style of the house. Nice.

Another built-in container that should be called "An Ode to the Coleus:"

I'm digging the repetition and symmetry here:

A quintessential Chicago greystone. I do hope the builder thought to include a water source, but it looks to me like the owners have to water this from the inside and clean up the drips. But it's so pretty!

Repeating plants in various planters, creating uniformity and definition.....love it!

Here's a better shot of the front door:

And here's a close-up of the window box design:

Another solution to the parkway dilemma, just park some containers there! A little creeping jenny in the surrounding soil adds the perfect counterpoint to the black containers.

Another set of white urns planted out with begonias. Gardening ideas can be contagious - I saw many more versions of this design on the same block!

Another set of window boxes on the front. I prefer the all-black to the hayrack style on this house, it gives the plants something more to contrast against. I might have added creeping jenny rather than ivy to really play off these containers.....

Your turn, which is your favorite?

Lincoln Park Residence Complete

2010-06-26T12:32:00.002-05:00

When I posted a picture of my friend Angela's town home rooftop container garden on Facebook. I expected people like my mom and sister-in-law to make nice comments. I didn't expect my very first job, but that's what I got! An old book club friend messaged me asking if I could add some color her ivy- and boxwood-filled front yard with container gardens. Of course I said yes!

The first step was having my client look at some container gardening books and magazines, which I brought over to her house. Based on her reactions to different colors and textures, we came up with this amazing Deborah Silver design as our inspiration. Deborah is a Detroit-based master landscaper and my personal gardening idol.

Next, we took closer look at her yard and decided where it made sense to add containers:

We decided to add two 18" diameter hanging baskets to the front porch. (In my opinion, that is the absolute smallest size anyone should plant. Otherwise they dry out too quickly and the plants die.) I recommended a tall container on the front porch and some small containers on the stairs. When the client pointed out a hole in the ivy-covered front yard where a bush had been removed, it seemed to make sense to put a huge container there. Adding color and covering up an ugly spot? I love two birds, one stone kinds of projects!

After waiting a while for our perfect containers to arrive, this is what the yard looks like now:

Th container in the front yard will get even more beautiful and massive as the cannas flower in red and extend to their full height. The petunias and scaevolas will really begin to knock out lots of flowers, trailing over the sides. Bye bye all-green front yard! We sourced the container here.

The front door planter is my client's favorite. She loves to sit on the porch swing with her gorgeous little baby girl and see this planter, which we sourced here.

I got out my hand-dandy drill, climbed a ladder and installed screw eyes rated to 350 lbs. before hanging up these giant hanging planters. I chose to plant these in my garage and transport them to the house. What I sort of neglected to think about was how little 5' 2" me was going to get these suckers up a ladder. Thank heavens my friend Rebecca was with me that day. I don't know what I would have done without her!

While I was planting, I found these cute little urns collecting dust on the side of the house. I potted them up with some geraniums and petunias for a wonderful welcome to the front porch. Note to self: always bring extra plants to the job site.

I'm so excited about this garden! Look for some planting recipes for the two large containers later this week.

Wednesday Walkabout: Chicago Loop

2010-06-23T14:02:00.000-05:00

I was down in the Loop today for an appointment and thought I'd use the opportunity for Wednesday Walkabout. If you missed this new feature, the first one is right here. Mother Nature did not cooperate with me. It rained buckets and buckets and I was wearing inappropriate footwear - 3 inch wedges?! - what was I thinking?!

We'll start with photos on Wacker Drive. A hotel on this street was, for one week, my first home in Chicago. I came here for a Chicago Semester my senior year of college. We lived here while we oriented ourselves, interviewed for jobs and found apartments. For the record, I got a job at a big PR firm where I promoted the Butterball Turkey Talk Line. Now, let's talk turkey about these pots......

First up, the Corner Bakery.......

I noticed while driving home that all the Corner Bakeries (it's a chain) used the exact same plantings in their outdoor space! Smart cookies. Here's a close up:

The contrast of black window boxes with the the croton foliage and the lime green sweet potato vine - divine. Love it!

Next up, a cute row of pots outlining the seating area of an upscale eatery with a view of the Chicago River. Don't you just want to sit right down and order a glass of wine? Once it stops raining, that is.

These two pots smartened up the entrance of the hotel adjacent the restaurant. I'm not so keen on the white color, but I love the placement and symmetry of the planters.

Next we have a pretty square pot, also framing the seating area of that restaurant. I'm not sure why the empty pots. It would be natural to put something tropical and lush in there, like a canna surrounded by lots of calibrachoa.

Here we have a another tasteful restaurant outdoor area....those lucky little Loop workers. When I worked downtown, this place was a huge, tacky Chinese place with the greasiest food ever!

Closeups of the containers....

Flanking the front doors of a British pub were these urns, planted out very appropriately in a formal manner. Very British indeed!

Last up, this city planter outside a bank and near the Chicago Cultural Center.

Does your city, town or neighborhood do municipal pots or planters? Or do any of your favorite watering holes or restaurants have a beautiful garden area? Do share! I'd love to see pictures?

One of My Favorite Designs

2010-06-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

One of my dearest friends gave me this glazed ceramic pot several years ago and I'm deeply sentimental about it. I've placed it in a variety of spots in our four story town home. With four decks, plus a front stoop, I've got plenty of spaces for containers.....

Here's what I did last year, on a deck with eastern exposure and plenty of afternoon sun. I used one purple fountain grass in the center - it grew tall enough to help screen the not-so-nice view of an auto repair shop next door. I filled the legs of the plant with coleus - two lime greens on each side and a red one with green edges in the middle. Finally, I added three gorgeous spillers. From left to right they are.....burgundy wedding train coleus, a creeping jenny and a (slightly spent-looking) lobelia.

Two years ago, I placed the pot on our front stoop. The conditions there aren't favorable....there is no water source nearby and the south-facing stoop is on a very busy street. You could literally fry an egg out there most summer days. And with so many other decks and containers to water - only one of which has a water source - there was no way I was going to make it out there every day to carefully maintain the pot. My solution was this symmetrical desert design. It looked great when I planted it up (picture below) and it was super tolerant of the conditions...probably too tolerant. The three filler plants overtook the yucca and became quite unruly. I wish my hard drive hadn't crashed so I could show you that little lovely.....but as all gardeners know - live and learn. The beauty of containers is that if something isn't working, you can just pull out a plant or two and put something else in.

Next week, I'll be sharing some photos of my other decks/containers throughout the years. In the meantime, does anyone have ideas for how to take good pictures of window boxes from the inside?

Taking Care of Business

2010-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! My business cards have arrived! This "I'm doing some container gardening on the side" thing is a little more official! I think the cards look amazing - they are printed on a beautiful linen paper. The texture and design say - I hope - you can trust me to make your containers tastefully beautiful.

I'd like you all to hear from the creative genius behind my gorgeous new cards....Ben Clark of the Etsy shop Designer Aged. If you need new business cards, contact him. He is creative, fast and a great communicator! I'm a fan, for sure!

Ben, you have an Etsy shop...how did that come about?

My wife, a stay-at-home mom to our two children, had the idea to earn a little extra-income from home by designing custom birth announcements and party invitations. As I helped to get her side-business, Crocogator Prints, off the ground, we found that opening an Etsy shop might be nice platform for reaching her target market. It was then that I realized the vast potential of the Etsy marketplace. On a whim, I opened my own little shop, Designer Aged, for custom business card printing and design. I am delighted by the response I am receiving!

I'm fascinated by the journeys that bring people where they are in life. For me, I've gone from detassling Nebraska cheerleader to a high-powered PR career to mom of twins to container gardener......what's your story?

I'd say an important turning point in my journey started with a fateful visit from a college recruiter to my high school art class. I didn't have a lot of direction in high school, but I found myself thriving in my art classes. This recruiter, from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA, opened a new door for me. I applied, was accepted, and enrolled there for an undergraduate degree in their Computer Graphics program. I soon focused my studies on motion graphics and graphic design. My first industry job was with the local Savannah, GA Fox/ABC news station as their promotions editor. It was a great entry-level position but I was ready to return home to southern California with my wife.

In California, I switched gears from video to print media as the senior designer for a weekly newspaper in Valley Center, CA. On the side, I instructed graphic design courses at a local technical college. In 2002, I started and ran a full-service graphic design and printing company that I later sold in 2007. It was a very rewarding experience to see the fruit of my labor grow into a viable business, but it was a ton of work as I had to perform many roles in the company; from boss to salesman to artist to accountant. I often spent after-business hours to keep up with my demanding workload. I realized, after the birth of our first child, that a 9-5 job would better suit my family's needs. We sold the business and moved to New England, to be near my wife's family, where I now find myself enjoying a challenging and exciting career as an art director for a national retail chain. On the side, I opened Designer Aged on Etsy, which more than satisfies my entrepreneurial interests.

Where do you get ideas for your designs?

I'm inspired by many different artists and medias and I do a lot of research to stay on top of the current trends. I study artists whose work I love by picking apart each piece of their overall look. How do they use depth, color, etc? While studying them over the years, I have created my own style.

What are some tips for people seeking your assistance with business cards and other design projects?

Have a good idea of what you like and don't like. Submit your likes to the designer and ask him/her to be creative and build it into his/her style. Be open to letting your designer take creative liberties with your project. A good designer is going to be thoughtful in their creative approach and give you a look that best portrays your business. Like a good photographer knows how to pose and style you for your best angle, a good graphic designer knows how to similarly complement your business' advertising.

I have to ask, do you have any container gardens?

Not yet! I don't think I have ever put any thought into them before but after reading your blog, a couple sure would look nice out on my deck.

Anytime you need help, let me know, Ben!

Wednesday Walkabout: Chicago's Old Town Neighborhood

2010-06-16T12:41:00.006-05:00

Introducing a new feature here at ttwcreative.....Wednesday Walkabout, which is where I walk around a neighborhood in Chicago and capture some of my favorite container designs. Today I'm featuring some designs from a two block radius around Chicago's famous Second City. Yup, folks, I captured all these images within a two block radius in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.

We Chicagoans just love our containers! And we're good at making them look absolutely gorgeous....and now, on with the show!

Feeling inspired? Which is your favorite?

Mirror Image Planting: Recipe for Knit 1 Window Boxes

2010-06-11T17:51:00.008-05:00

For the Knit 1 window boxes, I used a technique called mirror image planting. Basically, you just plant the second window box as a mirror image of the first. You want your trailing plants to be on the outsides of each box to soften the outside edges - as the ponytail fern and licorice root do here.

Give this technique a try when planting a pair of window boxes that are placed close together - two front windows, a storefront or on a small deck railing. Mirroring visually connects the design and can be more pleasing to the eye than two identically done boxes in this instance. Don't try it if your boxes are too far apart, though.

Here is my mirror image planting plan for the boxes. No fancy computer work here, I sketch out all my designs by hand at the garden center. That's after I set all the plants on my cart in a pleasing design. I use my often dirt and water-stained plan as a record when I get to the job and start planting. Note that these resin boxes are each about two and half feet in length and 12 inches wide. The planting recipe calls for 12 4" pots per container, but I could have easily squeezed in quite a few more. Because the boxes are quite deep - more than 14 inches - I know these plants will have a lot of room for root growth so I crowded the plants in, but not as much as I might normally do in a smaller container.

Planting Plan: All plants 4" pots
Light: Part sun/part shade

Pink upright penta - 1 per box
Salvia (annual) - 2 per box
Ponytail fern - 1 per box
Caladium - 2 per box
Persian shield- 1 per box
Lime green coleus - 2 per box
Licorice root - 1 per box (watch out - these like to take over - don't be afraid to trim!)

Pink and yellow calibrachoa - 2 per box

How do you approach window box planting?

Knit 1 Planter Boxes: Before and After

2010-06-09T13:11:00.008-05:00

For all my knitting readers, my beloved Knit 1 has reopened! My dear friend Lynn, who worked at the shop for years, is the new owner. The shop is the same in all the ways that matter.....still cozy, inviting and a place to hang out, knit and make friends. Lynn put a ton of work into giving the interior a facelift. However, I felt the outside didn't quite match up......

Knit 1 Storefront Before.....

I took matters into my own hands and got to work planting........and here are the results! If they could talk, these window boxes would say...."Come on in, we're open and ready to knit with you!" What do you think?

Knit 1 Storefront After

Announcement: ttwcreative 2.0

2010-06-08T13:38:00.005-05:00

Life has transitions and mine is no exception. For those of you who've been reading this blog, you know it has been focused on knitting. And I'm still a passionate knitter.....

Another of my passions in life is container gardening. Living in an urban environment like Chicago with four outdoor decks has really inspired me to get creative with containers and plants. This year, several of my friends have asked for my help in putting together their rooftops, storefronts, balconies and street containers. I've been happy to oblige!

While working on my friend's gardens, people stopped to admire my work and ask for a business card. You know what they say, give the people what they want.....

Starting today, ttwcreative the container gardening business is open! I plan to offer a variety of services, including:

Residential container garden design and installation, just for summer or seasonal displays. For clients who are remote or just like to DIY, I can offer a container garden plan completely customized to your space and you can execute the plan yourself.
Commercial container design to help business spruce up their curb appeal and draw in customers.
Home sale staging to help homeowners present their home in the best possible light while it is on the market.

This blog and a companion website are in the works, as well.

Look for some great before and after shots coming this week. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a cute little container I did for my friend Angela's front stoop at her River North townhome......the container is one she scored for $50 Crate and Barrel click here for a link. FYI, Crate and Barrel has some pretty great containers this year, so do check them out.

Throw Me Down Week - Day Two: Ugly Afghan Contest

2010-02-21T20:20:00.007-06:00

Yes, my dears, it's true. Many of you currently own a really Ugly Afghan. It might be so ugly it's pretty. Kind of like this blanket my daughter is pictured with up there. She's six now, and full of opinions about what's ugly and what's not. For the record, she loves this picture.

Side Story: I Have No Ugly Afghan

None of my grandmothers knit. There was, however, my Great Aunt Eva. She was married to Uncle Elmer and they lived on a farm in rural Nebraska. Weighing in at 90 pounds, with an iron will and a perm to match, old Aunt Eva was a crafting machine! The blanket you see here was made squares of her old saved polyester pants suits. The other side was made with squares cut from Uncle Elmer's old work overalls. The thing weighs a ton and is about 50% cute and 50% ugly and 100% one of my favorite things.

Yesterday's post asked The Afghan Question. Now it's time to answer that question. Let's find the world's ugliest afghan!

Ugly Afghan Contest Rules:

Enter by e-mailing me a picture of an Ugly Afghan you own, along with a few words about it. Who made it for you? Why do you keep it? What memories do you have associated with it? My e-mail is trisha@ttwcreative.com. Deadline for e-mail submissions if Friday, February 25.
On Saturday, February 27, I will post pictures of the top five finalists.
All five finalists will receive a custom-designed button for their blog saying "I was an Ugly Afghan Finalist." If you don't have a blog you can put the button on your Facebook page.
The winner, as voted upon by my readers, will receive enough non-acrylic yarn to make a really lovely throw. As we all know, a throw is always more tasteful than an afghan. (See Immutable Knitting Law #2.)

Throw Me Down Week: Day One - The Afghan Question

2010-02-20T15:59:00.009-06:00

This week I'm focusing on hand knit throws. The good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

The Ugly

Growing up in the 70s in rural Nebraska, they were known as afghans. You know, those tacky orange and brown creations everybody had on the back of their sofas. I didn't question why they were named after a foreign country. I did know I thought they were ugly then. And I pretty much always think they are ugly when I come across them now.

Immutable Knitting Law #1

Most afghans are hideous, but made with love.

Where the Term Afghan Came From

Surprise, surprise! This term actually did come from Afghanistan and not some long-ago knitting circle with good intentions but bad taste. Turns out the term "afkin" means throw blanket or just plain "throw" in Pashtun. They called them "throws" because the materials used to knit them would decay and the items would be thrown away. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the millions of acrylic afghans out there.

Immutable Knitting Law #2

If you call an afghan a "throw" it might be better looking.

I used to work in PR. This is why I know smart people who want their knit blanket to be perceived as tasteful will always call it a throw.

Here's the proof, and it's even orange: Happy Birthday Throw by Emily Ivey, knit by by Kelly over at Sketching Life.

Coming up this week: more great throw knitting patterns, designer inspiration for great throws, and an Ugly Afghan Contest.

Handmade Valentines

2010-02-13T09:41:00.009-06:00

Inspired by this post over at Design Mom, I floated the idea of making our own Valentine's Day cards. My twin six-year-olds (Thing 1 and Thing 2) thought it would be a great way for us to spend time in our new art studio. (Look for a later post on this.) We started by checking out our favorite art project website...Art Projects for Kids for a cool idea. They both liked this one:

I bought a 50-pack of cards and envelopes for $10 at Michael's, scooped some tissue paper out of the gift wrap cabinet and, viola! After the first few were completed, it became clear that there was no way each of them was going to complete 18 of these bad boys. I had them each pick their favorite one, which was then photocopied and glued them to the front of each card. Tissue paper looks pretty cool when photocopied.

Here are their cards!

The Things surprised me by deciding not to give away candy with their Valentines. Instead, they each gave a swirly straw like this:

Girl Thing added a Valentine pencil like this:

Boy Thing added fake tatoos like these:

Thoughts:

I'm so proud of the kids for making their own cards. I think they look pretty good!
Not gonna lie to you....I outsourced supervision of writing in each card to my weekly babysitter/miracle worker, Rachel.
Plan ahead for homemade cards and projects. I wish I could have ordered some cool pencils or other doo dads from Etsy rather than hitting the local Party City.
We spent $30 for 36 cards, including the straws, pencils and tatoos - that's about 83 cents each. This is probably more expensive than the Disney princes or Spiderman box sets they would have chosen. However, I think the lesson of handmade is a good one and definitely worth the few extra bucks we spent.

What do you think? Did you make something for Valentine's Day?

We Have a Winner!

2010-02-12T12:00:00.006-06:00

ttwcreative's f irst giveaway - a pattern from new designer Karen Clements - has a winner! Julia, Your pattern will be on the way shortly, Julia. Here's the pattern Julia chose:

Julia said....

"I like Wilhelmina's baby sweater, friends are expecting in the fall, and it would make a perfect gift!"

If you would like to see more of Karen's patterns, click here. Thanks to all of you who entered and who have subscribed to the blog. I can't tell you how motivated it makes me to blog even more! Stay tuned for another contest coming soon!

Non-Knitting Related but Homespun

2010-02-05T19:28:00.003-06:00

For a bunch of reasons, I am now renting books from Bookswim. It works like Netflix, but for books. I have always believed that books choose you for a particular reason at a particular time, so it was hard for me to consciously order up specific titles. Where's the fate, the kismet, the hours wandering around book shops waiting for something to grab you and say "Read me!"? (What can I say, I was an English Literature major and maintain my romantic sensibilities.)

While reading my latest book rental I realized something amazing - this is the doctor whose name is on my birth certificate. He delivered me - all 5 lbs. of me - in 1970!

Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys. - Emma Bull

Do you have any stories like this one about books you've chosen, or that have chosen you?

New Designer: Karen Clements + Wonderful Pattern Giveaway

2010-02-04T13:05:00.011-06:00

UPDATE: Some meany sent Karen an anonymous and threatening e-mail regarding her $500 giveaway. That's mean-spirited and toxic - especially to bully someone anonymously. As someone who has been bullied online before, I can tell you it really stinks! But my giveaway of her pattern still stands, so comment away! But Karen has pulled the contest in case this meany is for real. If you'd like to support her, she could use it! Go over here and give her a nice comment about her patterns, would you?

Hey, I'm doing my very first blog giveaway - a free pattern and a chance to win $500 in yarny goodness! Do you feel like knitting or crocheting any of these lovely pieces?

As I mentioned earlier, my friend Karen is closing her LYS. To launch her new foray into knitwear design, she is selling a variety of knitting and crochet patterns for $10 each here and on Ravelry. With each pattern purchase you also get a chance to win $500 worth of merchandise from the store's handpicked inventory. We're talking Malabrigo, Misti Alpaca, Addi Clicks, Jordana Paige knitting bags....the best of the best!

Here's how to enter.....

1) Go here and check out all of Karen's patterns.

2) Let me know which pattern is your favorite by commenting on this post by Thursday, February 11.

You can garner additional entries by doing any of the following:

Subscribe to this blog via the feeder or e-mail - in the upper right hand corner.
Blog about this giveaway - just send me a link via e-mail at trisha@ttwcreative.com.
Link to this blog.

Winners will be announced here on Friday, February 12.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

2010-01-19T14:18:00.005-06:00

I've blogged about Knit 1 here and here, but really, almost all of my posts about FOs or designs have been about this amazingly chic and friendly LYS in some way. For the last four years, Karen Clements and her shop have informed and inspired my creations.

As to the title of this post, it's true, Knit 1 is closing. But....while the store is ending, Karen has launched her career as an indie knitting designer. Finally, finally....she's sharing the secrets of her famous window designs.

But....(as they say on TV) THERE'S MORE. Buy one of her patterns on Ravelry or from her website and you will get a chance to win $500 worth of her store stock. Check out these designs!

What do you think of her designs? Isn't this a great way to close an LYS in an honorable manner, without having the sale vultures descend upon your stock?

Knitting Paradise: Make Your Own Vogue Knitting Book!

2009-05-13T13:55:00.004-05:00

What an amazing idea! You pick your favorite patterns from all the ones available at Vogue Knitting. And then you can have a book printed that contains just those patterns. You can even customize the cover and the dedication page.

Vogue Knitting has been pretty far behind Interweave Knits in developing an online presence. This should definitely help them play catch up.

What patterns would you put in your book?

BTW....I've been obsessing over a pattern design and getting my urban garden squared away. I should be back more regularly now that I've gotten a good start on that stuff.....I'm really psyched about my garden and can't wait to show you!

Picking a Flattering Summer Sweater to Knit

2009-04-25T04:00:00.000-05:00

After yesterday's little rant about all the ill-fitting knits I see, here's an example of how I would go about finding a figure-flattering summer sweater to knit:

Step One: I log onto my personal shop at myshape.com and figure out what types of sweaters might look good on me. For example, this linen cardigan seems like something I could really wear a lot this summer:

Step Two: Go to trusty Google or Ravelry and search for similar patterns. I used "ruffle cardigan." My search turned up Wendy Bernard's Lion Neck Cardigan from her book, Custom Knits.

Step Three: Check out all the FOs you can, especially ones made by knitters with YOUR body type. I liked Weezalana's version. She blogged about it over at KnittyWhipped.

Step 5: Pick a color, type and weight of yarn before you hit the LYS. Stay focused when you get there. In Weezalana's case she used a worsted weight rather than the chunky yarn called for in the pattern.

Step 6: Cast on and don't be afraid to make adjustments to fit your frame. This is easy if you pick a top-down pattern you can try on as you knit.

What about you? How do you pick your flattering knit patterns? Any great successes to share?

Make it Work - Knitting for Figure Flattery

2009-04-24T11:49:00.008-05:00

Am I the only one who looks through FOs (finished objects) on Ravelry and wonders why talented and beautiful knitters are making items that simply do not flatter their bodies? Over and over again I've seen chunky knits that make petites look like kids playing dress up and shrugs that look more like boulder holders on the well-endowed. You've seen it too, right?

I don't even know what to say about this one. Probably hand-knit by Old Aunt Min who went blind from doing the intarsia and weaving in the ends. Hmmmmm.....

I say if you are going to spend hours and hours making a hand-knit piece, you should be able to wear it. And look damn good doing so. The Problem Ladies over at Twist Collective think so too.

As you begin selecting spring and summer projects, you might want to consult:

- Inside Out Style: Style consultant Imogen Lamport's most excellent style blog can help you determine what your body type is and how to best dress it.

- Of a Certain Age: Karen is a stylish woman who encourages all of us to dump the frump. Yeah, Karen! My only regret is that Karen lives in a very warm climate and cannot wear sweaters.

- Myshape.com: At this cool online shop you can enter your detailed measurements and get a body shape diagnosis. You answer some personal style questions and then, voila! the software somehow creates a shop within a shop with just stuff that will look good on your body type.

- You Look Fab: Fashion pro Angie blogs here about all things fashion. She had a great blog post this winter about How to Find the Right Sweater Dress.

Do NOT consult this blog post. What was I thinking?

How to Make a Lutz and Patmos $595 Chunky Sweater for $55

2009-04-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

This blog entry is part of a series on knitwear design inspirations. Check out the posts on Missoni and Pt. 1 of Lutz and Patmos.

These days everyone is trying to save a little cashola, and if you're a clever kitty-cat knitter you really can create your own version of designer knits. This post is about how one knitter took inspiration from both a published knitting pattern and a designer piece to create a $595 sweater for a mere $55. Here's the story....

Thumbing through the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Knit 1, I noticed Cropped Cardi - a vest-like item that's a direct descendant of this Lutz and Patmos chunky sweater (the purple one in the foreground of this picture):

Fellow Raveler Judy was nice enough to share her FO (finished object) of the Cropped Cardi. See the similarities in the mitered body construction?

I had been semi-obsessed with the original Lutz and Patmos design and thought, "Aha! This pattern shows me how to construct the body of that sweater...I wonder if anyone else thought of adding sleeves and a different collar to this piece to make it look like the Chunky Cardigan?"

Yup, someone had thought of it. Looking through all the Ravelry FOs of this piece turned up fellow Raveler aileenjo's version. She used about 6 skeins of Stonehedge Fiber Mill ($9.00 US for a 250 yarn skein) in the Midnight Lake colorway, to recreate the $595 Lutz and Patmos chunky cardigan. Note: She held the yarn triple to get gauge.

If you love this sweater, the only way to get one is to knit it yourself because it's no longer available at retail. If you're interested in how to do it, check out aileenjo's detailed notes on Ravelry. Maybe if enough of us ask, she might publish a pattern.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your stories about using designer pieces as inspiration.....

Feel the Blogger Love

2009-03-27T13:24:00.004-05:00

Canary Knits featured My Kind of Cowl in her regular series on indie designers today. She says some pretty nice things. I'm blushing.

BTW, Canary Knits is the designer of such pieces as this Sexy Vestie:

What a great start to a good weekend. One of my dearest friends is coming into town to run the Shamrock Shuffle. It's supposed to snow. Get out your cowls........

Redesigning the Blog

2009-03-26T11:43:00.007-05:00

Hey, my blog has an updated look! I just love it and I hope you do, too.

One day I was reading one of my favorite non-knitting blogs, Steph Modo, which is a Martha Stewart meets Cookie Magazine sort of blog. I really admire her clean, uncluttered design and was inspired to update my blog.

Up to this point, I've been relying on the kindness of my already very busy friends for blog design help. But you can only mooch for so long, you know? I did some investigating and discovered Jo-Lynne of DCR Design. Her tagline is "beautifying the blogosphere" and I think she's done just that.

I asked Jo-Lynn to give me a few tips for working with a designer on your blog. She says:

Be ready to go to work when you contact. Be available for quick answers so the process can move along.
Be prepared to pay for extra revisions if you request a lot of extra work.
Find a designer whose style you really love. And then trust his/her advice.

I echo this point and would add something I once learned in the old days of my PR career:

Think: What do you want people to think about your blog?
Feel: What do you want people to feel about you and your blog?
Do: What do you want people to do when visiting your blog?

So....what do YOU think about the redesign? Does the design of a blog you visit impact your inclination to visit again? What design features do you love/hate about blogs?

Spring has Sprung: A New Knit 1 Window

2009-03-24T14:07:00.006-05:00

Back in December, I blogged about the winter window at Knit 1, my local yarn boutique.

Karen Schmidt, the shop owner and knitwear designer extraordinaire, is ushering in spring with three new brightly-colored designs in her window. What makes all of this even more amazing is that Karen just had a baby! Yup, Karen's wiggly toddler girl now has a snuggly little sister.

Check out the pieces!

I talked to Karen recently and here's what she had to say about the new designs:

What was your design inspiration for the window? I like to change up the window about every 3 months and the last window was about to expire so I guess you could say my inspiration was to get it changed before the baby came.

Tell me about your design process and how long it takes to whip these up. In my mind I gave myself less than a week to make them and the go-to yarn for that is Cascade Magnum and some trusty #19 Addi Turbo's (except the yellow piece I used #15's). The three pieces are just variation on themes I've done in the past. The frame work is the same, I just changed elements to make them different enough to stand on their own but still relate to the others. That allowed me to knock them out quicky. The purple capelet and the pink sleeveless (sort of cap sleeve) pullover I did in a day and a half. The yellow one took maybe 3 days... can't quite remember. Luckily I have a new baby that sleeps continuously and a supportive husband who kept the 18 month old busy so I could concentrate on my knitting.

After my last post about the window designs, I got a few questions about the availability of patterns for Karen's designs. The short answer is that she does not make patterns available. Her desire is to inspire knitters to create their own pieces. She definitely has inspired me! However, if you are an experienced knitter I'll bet Karen could sit down with you for a few classes and teach you how to make your very own version of what's in the window.

Which one is your favorite?

I Drew This!

2009-03-24T13:39:00.006-05:00

That's right. I drew the above picture! I have begun a class based on Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. One of the big exercises in class this week was copying Picasso's sketch of Igor Stravinsky. So you know, the original looks like this:

Even though I messed up the face and the hands, I am so excited as I begin to add this skill to my design arsenal. The main reason I started the class to learn to sketch my ideas for knitwear designs. This is a really big part of submissions for knitting magazines and I want to make my sketches really, really good. Isaac Mizrahi good. I was inspired by his sketch in Women's Wear Daily of inauguration dresses for the First Lady and her girls:

What about you? What new things are you learning to do?

This is Not a Sweater

2009-03-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

Does this look like a sweater to you? Me neither. Hot mess, more like. As my 5-year-old would say, "It's really and truly going to be a sweater, just not right now."

It's Rowan Cocoon, a blend of 80% wool and 20% mohair, which is a dream knit up. Not so much on the ripping out, though. Mohair sticks like a mother.

Has anyone else out there discovered the problems with frogging this yarn? Any suggestions?

In the meantime, I'm taking suggestions on what to do with this yarn pile.

Char's Cowl

2009-03-18T12:00:00.005-05:00

Remember when I sent my friend Char a My Kind of Cowl for her birthday?

Check her out! I love the way she's wearing it cuffed over like a large turtleneck with that puffy coat and movie-star sunglasses. And I can almost guarantee there's not a stitch of makeup on her face, nor has she been anywhere near a Botox injection! You won't want to hear this, either, but she's a really talented photographer who took this shot with her iPhone! She's also tall and thin and.....but don't get me started.....just focus on how great this cowl looks on her.

Designer Knitspiration: Lutz and Patmos

2009-03-17T15:30:00.008-05:00

This is the second in a series of pieces about knitwear designers who inspire.

I first came across Lutz and Patmos in an article in the September 2008 issue of O magazine. The article featured a chunky knit jacket (below in lilac) that made generous use of my beloved textural garter stitch.

It was this piece that inspired me to enter the contest to design pieces for the window mannequins at my LYS, Knit 1. For more on that, see my very first post.

Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos, the genius partnership behind this brand, started their brand in 2000. Nine years later, they have a full line of basics as well as seasonal collections. My favorite from the spring collection is the beach shell cardigan. It makes me want to learn to crochet.

They have also collaborated with many national retailers, including household accessories at West Elm.

Another thing I just love about Lutz and Patmos is that they are truly knitterly designers. What do I mean by that? Several things. First off, knitters genuinely and passionately care where their fiber is sourced. Lutz and Patmos supports the local economy in Uruguay, where the yarn is sourced and hand-knit, hand-loomed or crochet by a group of local artisans.

Lutz and Patmos design not for seasons, but for years. Doesn't that ring true? When you go to all the trouble to knit a sweater you want to be able to wear it for a long, long time. Last, and this is a biggie for me, hand-drawn schematics of each piece appear next to the photos on their site. Remember that lovely beach shell cardigan? Here's the schematic posted next to the piece.
I just love that! That schematic gives you an idea of how the piece is constructed, which is helpful for design inspiration as well as for customers.

The only thing Lutz and Patmos hasn't done is write a book of knitting patterns. So, to them I say, "Pretty please write a pattern book. I promise I'll buy it."

Shall I Knit You a A Hat?

2009-02-26T13:46:00.005-06:00

I just got the loveliest box from my dear friend Char and I had to share....

She sent this lovely book, a story about a mother mouse who knits special creations for her little rabbit and all their friends. It's just so adorable!

And this great surprise folio.....

With some of her just gorgeous photos of Thing 1 and Thing 2.....

I have the greatest friends!

A grey version of the My Kind of Cowl is on it's way to her house right now, joining the lovely cream-colored cashmere cable-knit hat she got for Christmas. Because she's such a good friend, she's often the recipient of my knit creations, including this and this.

What about you? What's the last knitting-related gift you've given? Is there one person who gets a lot more of your knitting than anyone else? Why?

Blogger Love

2009-02-25T10:02:00.003-06:00

I am a lucky little blogger!

Terry over at sknitter featured this blog and My Kind of Cowl!

Curated by Los Angeles-based design journalist Terry Lee Stone, sknitter has daily posts about knitting blogs and knitting-related news. We all know that even the best of us can't blog daily, or even three times a week. Terry fills the news gap by finding great blogs and knitting news daily. I loved this post on New York Fashion Week.

Sknitter is going on my Bloglines roll right now! If you don't know about Bloglines, it's a FREE online service that helps you subscribe to and manage lots of web information, such as news feeds, blogs and audio. Basically, if it has an RSS feed you can add it to your very own personal Bloglines page. You can even organize your subscriptions into file folders. Try it, it's cool.

Even better, add this blog to your Bloglines list! You'll never miss a new post again.

Got the Blues Berini: New Free Hat Pattern

2009-02-10T13:44:00.014-06:00

Update: If you're new here, welcome! I have a great pattern giveaway at this post! Oh, and good luck with your hat. I'd love a comment or photo of yours!

Here's the second in my Chicago Winter design series: Got the Blues Berini.

This hat is a cross between a snug beanie and a beret: "berini". It's knit from the top down in Cascade's Cash Vero, a really soft and luxurious cashmere blend yarn. The stitch pattern involves dropping stitches, and that’s just plain old fun. And....

It's Reversible!

Finished Measurements
Circumference (unstretched): 19 inches
Will comfortably fit heads from 21 – 23 inches

Materials

2 skeins of Cascade Cash Vero [55% Merino extra fine wool, 33% Microfiber, 12% Cashmere]; 98 yd/90 m per 50g skein]; Color: 028
1 set US #10/6 mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #8/5 mm circular needle length-circular needle
Tapestry needle
Stitch marker

Gauge
16 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

Wrong Side Out

Drop Stitch Pattern
Multiple of 3 stitches:
Rows 1 – 3: Knit all stitches
Row 4: *K2, drop next st off needle and unravel it 3 rows down, so that there are 3 loose strands behind st; then insert right-hand needle from front into 4th st down and also under the 3 loose strands, and knit, drawing the stitch up and catching the strands behind it; rep from *

Right Side Out

Knitting Instructions
Using double-point needle, CO 4 sts, leaving an 8-inch tail.

Row 1: Without turning the work, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle. Pull the yarn around the back. KFB of all stitches = 8 stitches total. This type of beginning will help close the hole at the top of the hat neatly.

Divide sts evenly between 3 needles: 3 sts each on 2 needles, 2 sts on the third needle.

Crown Increases
PM*, join to begin working in the round.
Row 2: kfb each stitch all around = 16 stitches
Row 3: kfb each stitch all around = 32 stitches
Row 4: kfb each stitch all around = 64 stitches (if you have a small head or would like a more fitted hat, stop crown increases here and proceed to the hat body directions)
Row 5: *K7, KFB* rep from * all around* = 72 stitches

Hat Body
Switch to size 8/5mm circular needle.
Rows 6 – 9: Knit Drop Stitch pattern.
Remaining rows: Repeat patt stitch 10 more times.

Hat Brim
Knit in K1, P2 ribbing for 6 rounds.
Bind off loosely

Use tail at CO end to sew up small hole in top of hat. Weave in ends. No need to block. The lace pattern will open up slightly when the hat is worn.

Many, many thanks to Caymus the dog and my dear friend and photographer: Chartier Lukacs.

Momentum

2009-02-09T13:20:00.005-06:00

I checked my visitor stats this weekend and was STUNNED to see that more than 2,300 people have visited the site in the month of February. And even better, several hundred people actually came back and visited me again. Wow! That's so cool.

Much of the thanks for this increase goes to Rachel at Knitting Pattern Central for including My Kind of Cowl. Knitting Pattern Central, for those not in the know, is an online directory of free knitting patterns. It's an excellent resource.

This is a big boost, especially considering the two patterns I submitted to Knitty were not accepted (via the nicest note from the editor Amy Singer). All is not lost, though, the patterns are being re-submitted elsewhere. Cross your fingers!

Also....I'm working on the patterns for more items in the Chicago Winter series (My Kind of Cowl was the first). Look for two more items to be up this week!

And thank you for visiting!

Designer Knitspiration: Missoni

2009-02-07T08:55:00.015-06:00

Marvelous Missoni - by ttwcreative on Polyvore.com

This post is the first of an occasional series about my favorite knitwear designers.

I have many knit scarves, of course. I even designed a pretty cool one last year. (See Sporty Scarf on my main page.) But, if the house was burning down I'd wrap my Missoni scarf around my children and hightail it outta there. I just love the jewel-toned colors, the unmistakable wavy Missoni design and the cool orange Missoni tag. Here's a close-up of my wonderful little scarf:

It's actually pretty easy to create a Missoni feel in a hand-knit item, sans the big price tag. Once upon a time, Missoni even had it's own yarn line. Here are some examples to inspire you.

Bits and Bobbins created this lovely one using a feather and fan design. I just love the colors she chose - so springy and lively!

Knit Lit created these amazing opera gloves using a chevron pattern:

Amon Design Lab made this pretty little shruggie, doesn't she look so like she's a French girl out for a walk in Provence?

Crafty Brooklyn made this awesome version of the Chevron Sweater by Erika Knight using Noro Silk Garden sock yarn.

Kary Jared created this gorgeous scarf using a chevron pattern and two different colorways of variegated sock yarn.

And if you're extra-Missoni-crazy you could try this dress pattern by Drops:

Have you created any Missoni-inspired pieces? Please share!

Tips for Garter Stitch Grafting

2009-02-04T10:39:00.008-06:00

My first few tries grafting My Kind of Cowl were a hot mess.

Here are a few tips that made it a lot easier for me:

Make sure that a knit row is on the top and a purl row is on the bottom before you begin grafting.
Do an "unofficial" graft first with a thin, contrasting-color cotton yarn. Then, all you have to do is follow your stitches with the "official" yarn to complete the graft.

Do you have other tricks up your sleeve to make this easier?

A New, Free Cowl Pattern

2009-02-02T21:58:00.011-06:00

Photo from Red Eye/Chicago Tribune

Update: If you're new here, welcome! I have a great pattern giveaway at this post! Oh, and good luck with your cowl. I'd love a comment or photo of yours!

The average temperature last month in Chicago was a whopping 15 degrees. So, in homage to all who trudge in the wind, snow and ice this winter I am creating a Chicago Winter series of warm knitted accessories. The first in this series is......

My Kind of Cowl

Materials:

1 skein Cascade Magnum (9341)

Thin waste yarn in contrasting color, preferably cotton

US 17 Needle

1: Provisionally cast on 26 stitches. See this tutorial from Knit and Tonic.

2: Knit in garter stitch until you have 44 ridges

3: Graft the two edges together. This is tricky. Magnum is soft and wonderful but it sticks to itself like nobody's business when you try to graft. I got the best tip from Karen at Knit 1: first graft the piece with contrasting thin cotton waste yarn. That way, when you do your "official" graft all you have to do is sew it together following the path of the contrasting-colored stitches.

The result will be a giant tube that looks like this:

Wear your My Kind of Town Cowl under your jacket like this:

You can squish it up to your face while walking and then let it down in a pretty cowl when you get on the hot train or bus.

Wear it like this over your coat for unexpected warmth.

Wear it at home when watching TV.

Or in bed while reading a book.

Even wear it as an accessory over a gray cashmere sweater. Accompany outfit with jeans or skirt and you will be warm and cozy.

There will be more patterns coming in the Chicago Winter series. Stay tuned!

Vestuary

2009-02-01T12:13:00.010-06:00

Jenny and Nicole of the fabulous Stash and Burn podcast have put out a challenge to their listeners: Vestuary. Make a vest in February. I'm a big fan of vest-type items, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite patterns. And for those who aren't up to knitting a vest this month...I've included a few great-looking ones you can buy.

Sue of eco-tricot created this lovely ribwarmer. This pattern, created by the legendary Elizabeth Zimmerman, goes back to 1956. It looks modern and fresh here, doesn't it? I see wearing something like this on Saturday mornings over a cream cable-knit cowl-neck sweater and with very dark jeans and high black boots.

This Free People fair isle vest could fit a similar place in your wardrobe. It's available at Revolve Clothing for $122.

The sassy Diva Tunic would look awesome if you are one of those people who look great in leggings. This one was created by Krista of Knitting Jedi.

If you want to go cozy, long and cabled try Wenlan Chia's Bar Harbor Vest. I love the blue color shown here. I could do without the pockets, though. Who needs a horizontal line in the middle of your thighs?

Not in the mood to pick up the pointy sticks? Pick up this Joie Long Chunky Sweater vest at Bloomingdales, on sale for $208.80. I am still not so much a fan of the horizontal pocket...but it's cute. And it's not a Snuggie.

First You Have to Find the Yarn....

2009-01-29T13:24:00.009-06:00

When my kids started going to school all day, I thought I had it made. I thought I'd have all this time to tackle big household projects, knit up a storm, work out and pursue getting patterns published. Additionally, there would be healthy food in the fridge always and when you opened a random drawer or cupboard nothing would fall out and cause brain damage. How am I doing? Not good. I need a game plan.

I tried Flylady and found it to be just too much information overload. And also the graphic design was a bit too kitchy for me. The three great things I kept from that experience were: 1) Clean your kitchen sink before you go to bed and 2) Get dressed to the shoes every morning. 3) House Fairy rocks!

I was browsing blogland the other day and came upon this mommy blog, which recommended the Motivated Moms Planner. It's a downloadable PDF file calendar with household chore lists for each day. Finally, someone telling me what to do each day! Just like those lists Mom used to leave for us in her perfect Palmer penmanship.

I can't believe I actually find this freeing, but I'm weird like that. Each day has a list of everyday chores with a box for checking off. It also has a list of chores specific to that day. For example, today I cleaned the microwave and oven and changed my dish towel and dish cloth. I still have to de-clutter my desk. Easy. There is a spot for notes, a daily appointment list and a place for today's menu.

I got a nice new binder from the great folks at Russel + Hazel for my planner pages, a note pad and my go-to recipe collection. They have free gift wrap so I gifted myself the freedom to be organized and get my act together. Isn't the gift wrap pretty? Someone even hand-wrote the note I typed in for the gift card. Sweet.

I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm optimistic this will be a plan that will free me to do even more knitting and designing! How about you? What organizational principles do you follow for your household or for your knitting?

A Fantastic New Knitting Bag

2009-01-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

While perusing one of my favorite design blogs, I got goosebumps when I read about Halsea a fantastic luggage designer. This little number should definitely be on any knitter's wish list for a summer knitting bag. It stands on it's own, has lots of internal pockets, holds a ton, looks cute and it's waterproof! This little number would be a great Valentine's gift....hint, hint....

The One About the Lard-Ass Quilt

2009-01-23T21:34:00.005-06:00

Who are the 4 million people who have bought this Snuggie number I see advertised all over the place? You know, the one that enables you to change channels and eat vast quantities of food without ever having to take your hand from under the blanket. The one Jay Leno recently referred to as the "Lard-Ass Quilt."

Knitters and people with taste unite! Let's combat this ridiculous Snuggie trend. Check out my Polyvore set below to see what you ought to wear around the house when it's cold. Start with a warm shawl-collared cardigan (I've shown Twinkle's Nantucket Cardigan from her new Town and Country Knits or pick up Wendy Bernard's wonderful Custom Knits and make a quick top-down Lion's Neck cardigan. I just love this version by Stitchy Witch.

Layer that wonderful hand-knit cardigan over a cute camisole. Pop on some cashmere yoga pants, Ugg slippers and Classic Elite's wonderful Chunky Lacy Throw. Add a warm cup of tea and your favorite warm snuggly animal or person and you'll be warm for sure. You'll also look great.

We can do better than snuggie - by ttwcreative on Polyvore.com

Where to Get the Patent Knitting Bag

2008-12-14T09:04:00.004-06:00

I have received lots of e-mails asking me where I got my Franco Sarto patent "knitting" bag. Since I got it at TJ Maxx, I wasn't able to provide an online shopping resource. However, stumbling around the internet revealed my tote at Online Shoes for $49.99.

It comes in black and a lovely nude color called carmel.

If you get it, let me know how it works out for you! Now I'm getting back to the Christmas shopping I was doing online.......

Flower Flop: I'm Charlotte Channeling Nothing

2008-12-11T19:22:00.009-06:00

Every year I know the holiday season is starting when we attend the Vital Bridges holiday brunch. Not only is it a chance to raise serious bucks for a wonderful organization, but it is an opportunity to gawk and be gawked at by nearly every high-end gay man in the city. You know how it is....look good and bring your checkbook.

My friend Karen, who writes the best anti-Slumpadinka blog out there (Of A Certain Age), responded immediately to my urgent request for fashion assistance. She told me to "look like a snowflake" and created the idea for this fantastic outfit. Vintage bag, off-white Ann Taylor pants, sparkly tank top from Nordstrom, amazing Claudia Cuti red platforms from Piperlime and a huge red mohair knit flower pin by moi. I was set to dazzle.

Like so many other things in life, my flower looked better lying down that it did standing up:

Don't worry. The outfit itself, sans flower, looked great. And I was upstaged by DH in a velvet jacket. Everyone wanted to pet him.

If you're a knitter, you are cringing right now and saying, "Why didn't she felt it?" I was worried that I would lose the fluffy airiness of the Kidsilk Aura yarn. (Colorway: 760 Quarry Tile.) I probably should have knit a million more petals and then felted it. I think more petals would really add to the fluffy factor even if the flower were felted.

If you're not a knitter, felting is like putting your favorite sweater through a hot wash. On purpose.

The Funky Felter has solved the problem - needle felting! If I had done my flower using this technique, I would have had a gorgeous big, non-floppy flower! Imaging something like this...but red, more petals and rounded petals. Perfect. I think I just may try again.

The Yoda Hat

2008-12-11T13:28:00.005-06:00

Here it is in all it's glory, Thing 1's Yoda Hat. He loves it!

It immediately inspired a little fake light saber action:

Here's the view from the top:

Knitterly Details: Yarn: Malabrigo worsted weight yarn. Needles size: 9. I modified the pattern by starting from the top down using this wonderful pattern from Small Knits. I highly recommend this pattern for anyone knitting top-down hats, as it has many handy features. These include:

A detailed chart showing how many stitches you increase to for each size of hat based on your yarn gauge
A chart with sizing directions for knit hats for heads from baby to adult large.

I also made the ears a little bit smaller. The size is right, but I think they should actually stand out like Yoda's ears do. I'm sure I could have used a smaller size needle, doubled the yarn or used short rows to make them stand out from his head....but I got it done and that's what counts. Right?

Want more Yoda hat goodness? Check out Geeks with Pointy Sticks, Why Would You Knit That?, or Fandomania for the Top 10 Cozy Star Wars Knit Hats.

Silly, Warm and Smart Hats

2008-12-09T18:58:00.007-06:00

As I write this, a foot of snow is coming down on Chicago, a menacing wind is blowing, and our governor has just been arrested. Cold weather and corrupt politicians? What a surprise for Chi-town.

When it's this cold, I think the only thing you can do is pop on a ridiculous winter hat. In fact, a collection of them is essential for winter weather.

You can either go downtown chic with something like this one is from the Burberry Prorsum Fall 2008 collection. It says, "I'm so cute I don't care if I have a potato sack on my head."

Or, you could go for something like this.....which very clearly states, "Hey, there really IS a personality under all these layers!"

If you're one of my non-knitting friends, contact this lovely Irish lass. She makes silly hats for people.

Do you have a silly hat you love? Let me know!

Red Light Special for DH

2008-12-05T10:23:00.005-06:00

Check out DH is his adorable new Red Light Special hat! I just loved making this for him - it was my first Faire Isle project and I simply loved it once I got the hang of it. Over the years, I've made him many hats, which he wears dutifully. This is the first one he truly loves. I know this because he came home from work and said, "I kept waiting for someone to ask me where I got my hat so I could tell them you made it for me!"

Here's an action shot - he's helping get the kids in the car before school....

I changed the top of the design a bit because I ran out of the grey yarn. I think it looks pretty great:

I learned an important lesson with this project.....let the recipient pick the pattern. I gave him a selection of 3 patterns to choose from once he identified exactly what he was looking for in a hat.

This pattern was well-written and the charts were clear. Additionally, Brooklyntweed (the designer) added in a lovely little feature.....a knitted liner. You can't see it here, but this hat has a red cashmere lining. Super-yum. The pattern has you knit a tube out of liner yarn with a provisional cast-on. Next, you switch to your hat yarn with a garter stitch row, which turns the bottom row of the hat. Then, you pick up the top edge stitches of the liner's provisional cast-on on the row in which the body of the hat reaches the same height as the liner. I'm not sure that's the best description, but it yields an incredibly professional-looking liner with no finishing!

Now that I've learnt the lesson of letting the person pick the pattern....here's what Thing 1 picked for his winter hat:

Yup, a Yoda hat. Enough said.

This Ain't Your Grandma's Sweater

2008-12-05T10:04:00.005-06:00

This new window greeted me as I walked up to Knit 1, my local yarn shop, this week.

Yup, this is a knitting shop. Looks more like a boutique, doesn't it? Karen, the owner and my dear friend, designs and knits three new pieces for the window each season. She's so talented and brilliant it amazes me. My pictures aren't the best, but I wanted you to see the pieces as they appear in the window. I swear, everyone who enters this magical store is inspired to make similar creations.

They are, in order:

Kimono Sleeve Sweater in Misti Super Chunky Alpaca:

Nehru Collar Cardigan in Cascade Magnum:

This is the Cable Collar Sweater - made of Cascade's Eco Wool.

If you live in Chicago, you have to check these out for real. Karen is a dedicated top-down all-in-one piece knitter and these pieces were constructed in that manner.

If you are a fashionista thinking about knitting - look what's possible! You could do this, for real!

I'm Charlotte Channeling Carrie

2008-12-02T21:58:00.006-06:00

Ever taken one of those Sex in the City tests to find out which woman you are most like? I don't even have to do that, because all my friends tell me I'm Charlotte. And I am. Totally Charlotte right down to my pencil skirt and cashmere sweater set.

But I have an important fundraising brunch - a fancy brunch with tons of fashion-forward folks in attendance. I was stuck on an outfit idea and needed some advice. So I asked my new blogger friend Karen from Of A Certain Age. (A tip to the wise, go visit her ASAP!)

The result is an idea I'm working on -- something big, something cool, something I think you might really like. But, I'm too chicken to really tell you what I'm up to quite yet. Just think mohair yarn and take a look at my inspiration photos:

Holiday 2008: Top Gift Knits

2008-11-30T15:42:00.014-06:00

You've digested your turkey. You've made peace with the extra lbs, for now at least. Now you're ready to spend the next few weeks hunkering down and knitting for the loved ones in your life. This year, especially, it seems right to make our gifts instead of buying things we don't need. Here are my top recommended gift knits for Holiday 2008.

Before you pick up the pointy sticks....remember the cardinal rule of holiday knitting:

Thou shalt not knit for anyone who won't truly appreciate the time and effort you made.

The Commuter: They'll thank you every morning when they pop on Stitchy Mama's Mistake Rib Neck Warmer. It's just easier to store a neck warmer in your bag when the train gets hot. This lovely version is by Bumps and Loops.

Dog Walking Friend: A quick knit and so practical when you want warm hands but finger dexterity for putting on a collar and picking up the poo: 75 yard fingerless Malabrigo mitts.

Best Friend: Show her how much you love her with a cashmere Cable Knit Hat by Louise Pyle. The version featured here is by PhD Knitter.

Teen Niece/Nephew: Brimster by Vickie Howell. Cool hat, cool construction. They will think you're cool, too. Why are only 10 versions on Ravelry?

Organic Baby: Everything old is new again and it seems more new moms are using cloth diapers. They will appreciate this Old Timey Soaker. The gorgeous version featured here is by Petunia Honeysuckle.

Nice Neighbor: Thank them for watching your kitty cat and taking in your mail with this wonderful everyday, everyone Spiral Hat by Laura Kolarik.

Something to whip out when someone gives you a gift and you didn't plan on giving them one: It looks like you spent a lot more time than it will take. Pull up a chair and whip out a few of these while watching your favorite holiday specials. Daria Bracelet.

Sporty Friend: Okay, it's my blog so I can feature my Sporty Scarf pattern, right? Upgrade the puffy coat look of your sporty friend with a version of this scarf in colors he/she loves. It would look great for a guy in greys, blacks and blues.

Fancy Friend: Even if she prefers the ballet, she'll love the silk and alpaca Opera Scarf by Deb Peterson.

Mom and Dad: Misti Alpaca Ruffles and Ridges Scarf by Nancy Kleiber skip the ruffles for Dad's version for a masculine version. As much as I love Misti, I recommend using a super-soft wool like Malabrigo Chunky for this project. Misti sheds a bit much for a scarf, in my opinion.

Enjoy your holiday knitting! Let me know, what are you making this year?

Never Give Up

2008-11-23T23:40:00.005-06:00

True story. I have been struggling for the last two weeks on my first Knitty submission. After pulling out my 20th start, I sat down this afternoon to write a post about why giving up is okay. Sometimes, it's good to let it go when things aren't working, right? Walk away and don't worry yourself. As I often do when I'm stuck, I sat down to write out this funny post poking fun at why I'm a nincompoop quitter.

For inspiration I Googled quotes about giving up. This one topped the list:

Never give up. And never, under any circumstances, face the facts. - Ruth Gordon

Gosh darn it! I was hoping for a witticism, not that. The funny kind of quote that makes you feel like a loser if you give up. And wait, I'm most definitely not a loser. I mean, I breastfed twins for a year. I've run two marathons. My kids have never, ever been late for school. And sometimes they even have both their shoes on by drop off.

It was a sign. And I believe in signs. (Just not the stop kind, which is why I spent part of Tuesday in traffic court, but that's another story entirely.)

So I ripped it out again....and struck paydirt. I'm thrilled with it. Only a few more rows to go and this sucker is finished. Now I can only hope to read the scribbles I wrote whilst doing it.

Thank you, each and every one of you reading this right now. If it weren't for you, I would've given in to my inner voice, who some of you may know sounds a lot like Ari Gold. Can we even imagine what Ari would've said to me???

More later, plane takes off tomorrow and Thing 1 and Thing 2 are on it, so I guess I'd better be too!

Sweater Dresses and the Average Ass

2008-11-21T22:14:00.000-06:00

To quote my irreverent and plain-spoken father, "it's colder than a witch's tit." (Imagine the surprise on my WASPy East-Coast husband's face when I peeled off that little phrase for the first time....)

But back to the point. Which was, exactly? Oh, yeah. It's cold. It's time to wear sweater dresses, thick tights and tall boots.

This is a post about how to wear sweater dresses and not look like your body was once stretched beyond recognition whilst gestating twins. Like you didn't eat all those wings, drink all that beer and skip the gym for a few weeks straight. Like the only sweating you've been doing is when you hump it to the fridge for that second glass of white wine.

My love of sweater dresses knows no bounds, but I've never even attempted to knit one. I don't even have one on my Ravelry favorites list. Personally, I think sweater dresses are best when knit at a fine gauge. By a machine. In stockinette. And I would rather not knit a whole dress on No. 3 or smaller needles. For my non-knitting readers, picture knitting a dress on needles that fit into this circle: 0. Enough said.

But...I'm a knitter. I love knitwear. Especially when it's done right - even if you didn't knit it yourself. And for the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner there's a sweater dress that will look good on you. (Banana Republic's are all 30% off right now in stores.) This little Banana Republic number is my No. 1 pick for looking good on Turkey Day. Style it dressy casual with, Spanx black tights, tall black boots, a fancy scarf or bold black belt at the waist, and a really funky bold necklace and you've got the feast outfit. IMPORTANT NOTES: Make sure the dress hits you just above the knee if you have less-than-perfect legs, and honey, who doesn't? This may mean getting the "tall" version....don't be afraid to experiment. And DO cut off those little strings that hold the belt in place. They are there to hold the self belt in place at retail. Not on you. Please. Spread the word.

But, please, please, please do not be tempted to wear cables on your ass.

Do not add bulk in places where you shouldn't have any. Even if you have a flat toushie, this will NOT make you look more in proportion. Even if you weigh 90 lbs. soaking wet, this dress ain't gonna look good (even with a belt) because it all those cables mess up your nice clean lines. Keep your lines in proportion by limiting the cables to the upper part of your sweater dress. What color? Not black. Dark jewel tones or a grey that flatters your skin tone work best. Open necklines like cowls or v-necks that draw attention to your face are great.

As another example, dive into dinner with a bang wearing fantastic sweater coat (or something like it that you DID knit). If your sweater doesn't have a belt, be sure your dress does.

And a brightly colored cowl-neck dress:

With black tights and black boots or shooties, natch.

Those are my thoughts. Tell me, what are my readers and fellow knitters wearing for the big feast?

My Friend Was Attacked, Help Send Good Vibes Her Way Please

2008-11-20T15:33:00.004-06:00

My dear friend, crime writer Laura Caldwell (seen in my last post wearing that lovely neck-warmer) was attacked recently while jogging in Chicago. All the thieves got was an ipod. She, on the other hand, had to get four new front teeth. This is a woman who has demonstrated nothing but moxie her whole life, so I know this won't get her down - instead she has made certain to get the word out through media outlets and her website.

Laura was one of my first friends when I moved to Chicago and for the past umpteen years has been my source of calm and cool. She's always perfectly dressed and knows exactly what kind of comebacks to give irritating people. She's funny. She's talented. She appreciates my knitted gifts and supports my fledgling design career. She's my friend.

Please could you send your good vibes her way? I would appreciate it, a lot, dear readers.

Am I Going to Knitting Hell?

2008-11-17T06:51:00.011-06:00

All of a sudden I realized that Christmas is just around the corner. As of today, I have no plans to knit any holiday gifts. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I've been too busy designing to even think about making things. Am I going to go to knitting hell for this?

I'll just have to re-live the happy memories of last Christmas, when each of my dearest friends received a little something to keep them warm:

MIL got a version of this formal boot bag by Laura Irwin from Bag Style:

And SIL got a version of the Wobbly Circles Tote by Leigh Radford:

You can kind of see it in the lower left-hand side of this photo.....where it sort of looks like I'm knitting but I'm really trying to remove the tag from something.

I've never been a particularly organized knitter - you know, the kind with spreadsheets detailing every planned project and a timeline for completion of each. If I end up feeling guilty, I might cast on a few pairs of these little fingerless mitts from Wendy of Knit and Tonic fame......so cute!

New Knitting Bag - Just Plummy

2008-11-16T16:36:00.001-06:00

Remember my extensive search for an everyday tote that could also hold my knitting? Check here, here and and here to catch up on the quest.

Well...I had a birthday a while back and I finally used a gift card to get this B. Makowski beauty!

I've been wanting a plum tote for quite a while now, and this leather one fits the bill. The leather is so soft and buttery....but of course it's not waterproof. I tried like the dickens to find a patent one in plum that was at least the size and shape I wanted. But all my options came in weird shades of purple that looked cheap. Since my other tote is patent I didn't want to be the "shiny tote girl." (Who'm I kidding, ain't nobody gonna call me a girl....don't get me started on the times I've been called ma'm this week....)

Next up, I search for a dark blue tote that fits my needs....any suggestions?

Sporty Scarf Versions 1.0 and 2.0

2008-11-15T18:37:00.001-06:00

Well, well, well, you didn't think I was sitting around on my duff all week, didja? I hope not, because I've been working my little fingers to the bone.....getting the pattern for Sporty Scarf ready to go AND making a version 2.0 in a different colorway.

Sport Scarf, Version 1.0: Same scarf, much better picture thanks to my friend Karen, owner of Knit 1. She lets me use her amazing store as a clubhouse, photo studio, therapist office and snack shop. And she makes me laugh so hard!

Sporty Scarf, Version 2.0: I love this version, too. I used a website called Color Lovers to experiment with color palette ideas. Then, I headed to the stash and found these yarns. I used five colors of worsted weight yarn - same as Version 1.0. But I made some of the color repeats longer and switched the order of colors around a bit. I don't understand a ton about color use - I just like what I like. And I definitely like this.

Because I've run into a few glitches getting HTML code from Ravelry, I will post a link to the free pattern ASAP. For now, if you like pretty little Sporty Scarf and want to cast on one of your own.....just leave a comment and I'll e-mail you a copy.

Also, I've been making noises out loud to myself and DH about submitting something to Knitty. The deadline for the spring 2009 issue is December 1. I'm a little anxious because the idea I have is for something they haven't done in a Spring issue before. Please send me some good juju!

Styling Lynn's Shrug

2008-11-11T14:14:00.001-06:00

It's true, it's happened! More than 130 people have downloaded the free pattern for Lynn's Shrug. I can't tell you how excited I am to see the FOs (finished objects for my non-knitting readers). If you've knit it up or are in process, please do leave me a comment here or in Ravelry - or better yet send a photo.

For further inspiration.....here's how I'd style Lynn's Shrug to go shopping......

Shopping in Chi-Town by ttwcreative

Keep Calm and Carry On

2008-11-06T22:05:00.000-06:00

My personal motto and what I will need especially today....spending a lot of time in Thing 1 and Thing 2's classroom. Makes me more jittery than the stock market does. I hope I'm in one piece at the end of it!

My Favorite Hat Pattern for Kids

2008-11-06T14:27:00.000-06:00

I'm kind of obsessed with hats right now. I thought I'd share my favorite hat pattern for kids: the earflap hat by Susan B. Anderson. It's from her book Itty Bitty Hats.

Here is a version I made for Thing 2 to match her winter coat. Made from Malabrigo (two discontinued colors), it has a square top. I skipped the decreases and just knit straight ending with a 3 needle bind off. I'm really proud of the freestyle embroidered design that matches the snowflakes on her coat. The hat ended up a little big, so I added a turquoise fleece lining. I love it and now I incorporate some sort of lining in most hats I knit.

I like this pattern because of it's clever construction: you knit the earflaps first and then cast on stitches in between them to make the bottom of the hat. Very clever, Ms. Anderson!

The version from her book is this one:

Another earflap hat pattern I've used with great success is this one from Yarnsticks.

It calls for knitting the hat bottom up, folding the hat in half and picking up and knitting the earflaps on. I like this pattern because she includes instructions for both chunky and worsted yarns.

Are you knitting earflap hats? What are your favorite designs?

Head's Up: The Best Men's Hat Knitting Patterns

2008-11-05T10:43:00.002-06:00

Update: If you're new here, welcome! This is one of my most popular posts so I don't want new readers to miss the fact that I have a great giveaway right here! Oh, and good luck with your men's hat knitting project. I'd love a comment or photo of yours!

I don't know much, but I know it feels so good if you can knit a hat that a man in your life really, truly loves. The kind he is wearing when you run into him accidentally. If that's your goal, I'm here to help. Here are my top go-to hat patterns that men actually will wear:

WW II Watch Cap: This pattern was originally published in 1940 by the American Red Cross. Women would sit in groups and knit these warm hats for our boys in uniform. The decreases produce a flat top guaranteed not to be pointy. (I hate that.)

Here's the original version in a light worsted weight yarn:

Here's a chunkier one I made for DH out of Malabrigo. He doesn't like to cuff his hats so I made it shorter. He wasn't around when I was taking photos, so I'm the stand-in. We have the same size head, if you can believe that!

Jacques Couseau Hat by Typy: Okay, it's another stretchy ribbed hat. But the top is so cool and it's by a Finnish designer! They know from warm hats. After observing the photos on Ravelry, I would say you are better off knitting this with a true DK-weight yarn. It looks too bulky in anything bigger. Also, be sure you knit the cuff long enough. You want it to look just like this version:

Lina by Johanna of Joko Knits: Also by a Finnish designer, with great cabled detail.

Herringbone Tweed Hat: Sophie T. O'Donnell is a really talented designer. This is one cool hat!

Brooklytweed's Red Light Special: A wonderful Fair Isle hat that looks great in many color combinations. I especially like his addition of a knitted liner!

If you're looking for a top-down pattern, the kind he can try on as you knit...here are some great ones!

Top Down Timothy Cap by Splinderella: This one has a really cool top design.

Corrugated Rib Hat by Steven Miller: Also a top-down. Steven is a new designer and this is his first pattern. I like the idea of stripes in this hat. I think it would look great in Noro!

Long post, but I hope you enjoy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of these patterns. Did I miss one you really love?

What to Wear with Sporty Scarf

2008-11-04T12:52:00.000-06:00

We knitters are a funny breed. Most of us have a stack of scarves we've made but will never wear. The reasons for this are myriad and include:

Doesn't match my coat
Can't find hat and gloves to go with
Too itchy
Not long enough
Too bulky
Just plain ugly

To avoid spending hours making accessories that don't work with your wardrobe, try creating an outfit set on Polyvore before you cast on. Try to use items that closely match things currently in your wardrobe. Here's how I'll wear my new Sporty Scarf:

Sporty Scarf Outfit No. 1 by ttwcreative

Give it a try and let me know how it works out!

Sporty Scarf

2008-11-03T18:54:00.001-06:00

Everyone please welcome Sporty Scarf to the stable of my original designs!

When you live in Chicago, you're wearing a scarf at least 6 months of the year. From November until the end of May, women and men around town are wearing the three winter staples - the puffy vest, the puffy coat and the long black wool coat. To keep your outfits from looking completely generic, you must own a collection of interesting, colorful and very warm scarves. I generally wear a patterned scarf and then add a solid hat and gloves to ensure the scarf can steal the show.

Isn't it amazing that this

Can turn into this!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

Beware those with pointy sticks this All Hallows Eve

Knitters especially know no reprieve

We try and we try to hide from our stash

UFOs lurk and FOs laugh

Ignore it all and doom shall await

Christmas is only 54 days away

Paper Clip Man

2008-10-30T21:39:00.000-05:00

As you can tell from my lack of posts, I've been busy. The two worst words in the English language are "Fall Break." I ask you, did we get fall break when we were kids? No sirree, we just plugged away until the inevitable Christmas break when we would terrorize our mothers for a whole month while they quietly drank coffee, smoked cigarettes and terrorized us right back with massive house cleaning projects.

With all the talk about the bad economy, I decided to skip paying for camps and classes and spend lots and lots of quality time with the kids this week. Good think, because a terrible illness fell over the house. Any money spent on those classes would have been wasted. Note to self: Always believe a 5-year-old when he says he's going to throw up. How do I put the whole couch in the washing machine? When he was on the mend, Thing 1 cooked up Paper Clip Man while I was swatching and knitting for my latest creation.

About the economy, it's not going to stop me buying yarn. Not by a long shot. Yet, at least. But with a little recessionista ferver I gathered up these yarns from my stash. Tune in next week to see what became of this:

I also finished up this Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts - in a gorgeous hand-painted silk I picked up at Knit 1. So beautiful and soft!

That's it for the update. Next week, the new pattern my top go-to hat patterns, thoughts on flattering sweater dresses (do they exist?)....and more.

Happy Anniversary to my Favorite Hat Model

2008-10-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

Shown here wearing the trapper hat from Vogue 2005/2006 Winter is the best darn hat model in Chi-town. He's available at 12:30 a.m. the night before Christmas to try on hats for last-minute fit adjustments. He makes me laugh hard almost every day. He is the smartest, nicest, kindest person I know. And he's mine all mine! I'm so lucky! Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

Knitterly Details: The crown was a lovely celery green and the brim and tie were in a cotton-candy pink color - both were Cascade Magnum. Couldn't publish the color photo or he would have to turn in his man card.

I'm Back

2008-10-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

What have I been up to? Well, there were 5 days of this with girlfriends, ahhhhhh!

Then, making these masterpieces for Thing 1 (boy twin) and Thing 2 (girl twin), who had 5th birthday parties on Saturday. Yes, two days after getting back we threw two parties in one day at my house. And yes, I need to get my meds checked :)

I did do some swatching for a scarf idea I had. Remember I promised to post pictures? Well, they are true cringers. I had this idea for a ruffly-type scarf that had bold purl bands in a chunky yarn. I looked and looked and no one had ever done a scarf like that. Know why? Cuz it's a bad idea. Really, really bad.

Off to pick up the pointy sticks.....I have many new ideas and I'm sure one of them won't suck.

The New Perfect-for-Me Knitting Tote

2008-10-09T18:03:00.000-05:00

Here she is, the new sophisticated everyday tote....perfect for carrying around knitting and my life. The one I obsessed about here and here. And it was under budget! By a lot. Two snaps for me...such the little recessionista shopper.

When I spotted this bag, it was one of those moments in life when the perfect thing is right in front of you. You hear a little voice. The one that says, "Snap this sucker up right now, B#@ch." (My little voice sounds a lot like Ari Gold.)

I digress......

Like a proud parent I just have to show you how well she's working.....

And she will soon be joined by Fifi, a nifty little replacement for the tacky-looking Ziploc bag currently housing my latest creation. I mean, my new baby needs better accessories than something you put sandwiches in, right? Rebecca Danger created this very necessary item - it's kind of like a "Knitloc." It has been written about in Knitty and here. I'm hardly the first one to your party Rebecca, but I wish you the very best of luck in your venture.

If you're still reading this, you may wonder if I'm every going to actually knit anything. Yes. Eye candy on my latest design promised for tomorrow's post.

Getting the Mojo Back

2008-10-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

It's a gray day, I'm working on a pattern that isn't going well, and I just want to push the easy button, you know? Where do you go when you can't find inspiration? How can I get my knitting mojo back?

Leave me a comment and let me know.

Most Figure-Flattering Knit From Vogue Holiday 2008

2008-10-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Saturday afternoon I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I opened the mailbox....both Vogue Knitting and Lucky were sitting in their pristine plastic wrappers waiting to entertain, delight and inspire.

And....SIL was coming over to babysit. I could read undistracted in a coffee shop while DH did his thing. Could life get any better? (Just so you don't think I'm a total loser, we did actually go out to dinner in a hip neighborhood after the coffee shop time.)

As a follow up to my little rant about figure-flattering knits, I thought I'd point out the most universally figure-flattering pattern in the Holiday 2008 issue of VK.

The winner is this lovely cardigan designed by Deborah Newton:

This piece features tons of figure-flattering details like an empire waist, vertical lines provided by ribbing, a U-shaped neckline and those pretty buttons -- all of which direct the eye up, up and away from typical problem areas. The diamond lace pattern from the empire waist down skims over the bits many of us would like hidden, but doesn't add bulk. Last, those 3/4 length sleeves hide any hint of "Bingo Arms" and actually make arms look smaller because they flare out at the end.

The only complaint I have is that the cardigan isn't knit in one piece from the top down. The body is knit in one piece flat and the sleeves are knit separately. The shoulders are seamed and the sleeves are set in and seamed.

For correct fit of this garment, it's imperative that:

The empire waist hit under the bust (Honestly, if I see any more people wearing empire details that hit them mid-bust I'm going to scream. People, we all have our bad fashion moments - just please don't make this one of them.)
The 3/4 length sleeves really hit you at 3/4 length of your very own arm
The bottom hits you right where you start to go in from the widest part of your hips

If you can't try it on as you go, how will you avoid a cringer?

Avoiding the Cringer

2008-10-05T08:26:00.000-05:00

We've all done it. You fall in love with the pattern, spend hours picking just the right yarn and....you end up with a cringer like this one here.....

My apologies to Cathy Carron, who had this beautiful "Cal" hat pattern in Hip Knit Hats. The model looked very chic. Me? Not so much.

I was hanging out in the LYS on Friday when people started commenting about how many unflattering knits they've noticed lately on Ravelry. We've all seen those photos of the woman with the huge chest who made a shrug that looks like a boob-holder. Or the tiny person who made a chunky cardigan that makes her look like a 10-year-old wearing mommy's sweater. A requisite photographic self-portrait of the wearer in her dressing mirror accompanies a comment that they are pleased with the result. All you keep thinking is "Do they really plan to wear that in public?"

I must admit I have worn this hat in public. Multiple times. I also had bear claw bangs in the 80s. It happens to everyone.

One of my main objectives for this blog is to bridge the world of knitting and personal style. As knitters we deserve to make beautiful things that will flatter our bodies. So let's band together and make beautiful things with yarn.

Here are my two go-to resources to help knitters evaluate knits before casting on....

Myshape.com

This site lets you enter all your measurements and then it creates your own shop with clothes that will fit your body and your style. Knitters can use this as a great reference point for what might look good on their bodies. I've ordered several pieces from this site and I've been very pleased. Why? The site actually tells you which size of something will look good on you. No ordering 2 - 3 sizes of something and wondering what will fit. To my surprise this actually worked. Even with pants.

You Look Fab

Angie is a style consultant who posts every day about something related to style. Her site has forums as well as an "Ask Angie" button so you can ask a specific fashion question. I wonder what she would say I should do with that hat? You can browse her past entries for tips on knitwear. This site is a gold mine of information about what to wear.

Put some Knitting in Your Ears

2008-10-01T14:30:00.001-05:00

335/365 Knitting: not just for nerds anymore
Originally uploaded by spring_peeper

Put Some Knitting in Your Ears - My Favorite Podcasts

2008-10-01T13:40:00.000-05:00

I love, just love, knitting podcasts. They are the perfect thing to listen to when you're knitting. If you're all alone clicking away, you feel a sort of solidarity with your podcaster friend. You really aren't the only one staying up until all hours to complete the latest creation. My heart always goes pitter pat when I see that little blue dot next to my two favorites on iTunes: Stash and Burn and Cast On.

I've been with Nicole and Jenny of Stash and Burn since the beginning of their podcast in January of 2007. Their podcast, about "life under the weight of the stash," is like listening to two best friends chat away about knitting. And you are overhearing it in the next room, enjoying it so much you can't help but eavesdrop. The podcast usually features Jenny and Nicole chatting away about their latest projects in a detail that knitters can appreciate. Once, they even did a podcast based on a suggestion I had about "wildfire" knits, aka Clapotis. (If you need a link for that, I can't believe you are even reading this blog!) I highly recommend this podcast - you'll love it!

Brenda Dayne's Cast-On podcast is like NPR's "Fresh Air" for knitters. The production values of her podcasts are equal to anything I've ever heard on the radio. She mixes reader essays with awesome music, along with interviews and her own interesting commentary on life as a knitter in Wales. I'm not the only one who loves Cast-On, as evidenced by the fact that it recently reached the 1 million downloads on iTunes. And I'm probably not the only one who gets a little sad upon hearing Brenda's signature ending..."If you're cold, put on a sweater. That's what they're for."

Check these podcasts out if you can....and I'm always open to ideas for new ones I might enjoy. Any suggestions?

Stolen Moments, Yes Indeedy!

2008-09-29T11:20:00.000-05:00

This just came off the needles, my Stolen Moments Wrap . The name really fit the bill, because I did use stolen moments to knit it. I pretty much kept it in the car and knit rows in school pick-up line. It's amazing what you can accomplish in just a few minutes a day.

The stitch pattern Amy Swenson used in this pattern is really textural and lovely. I used Cascade's Cash Vero in Shade 030, with two strands held together. It took 8 balls of yarn and I have enough left over to do a baby hat, I think. I wish Cascade made this in a chunky version.....This shade of light grey is so great - it'll go with everything. It'll probably replace my Clapotis, which has definitely seen better days. I usually don't knit patterns twice, but I might actually make this again as a gift.

Don't you love the posed reading photo? BTW, if you are looking for a really good thriller, check out the book I'm holding here - The Good Liar by my friend Laura Caldwell.

I couldn't resist adding this kitty photo. Lilly Tomlin just loves hanging out on my FOs....doesn't she look content?

Now I'm so screwed because I don't have a mindles project for the car. All the other WIPs have charts, etc. that demand too much attention.....off I go to Ravelry to find something to make.....

Help Me Decide - Which is the Perfect Everyday Tote for Knitters

2008-09-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Remember the other day when I wondered aloud if the perfect everyday knitting bag exists? You know, a bag you can wear with all your outfits. It holds all your regular stuff and has a separate space to keep your on-the-go knitting projects? It doesn't scream "knitting bag," and instead says "what a lovely, elegant woman." After exhaustive research on behalf of my readers, (okay, I admit I would've done this anyway - I'm obsessed) I've found 3 contenders. And you, dear readers, get to vote on the one I should get. Leave a comment regarding your favorite by Sunday night and I'll post the results on Monday.

Initially, I found two bags marketed for knitters that were okay - by Namaste and Jordana Paige. I haven't ordered them yet because I got obsessed with all the shiny patent totes out there this fall. What can I say, I'm like a crow - I like shiny things. Plus, patent is waterproof.

I focused my search on structured patent totes with magnetic closures and two internal sections. There are plenty this year - 56 pages on shopstyle.com alone. I set my price cap at $200.

Here are my three contenders.....

No. 1: The Calvin Klein Glow Tote - reg. price $289, on sale for $149 at Dillard's.

No. 2: The Nine West Double Delight Tote: $110. The description says it has two sections, but no photo on the site. :(

3. The Rio by Jordana Paige: $89 (I would order plum.) This is brand new and wasn't on Jordana's site when I did my last post about knitting bags. It's way cool and comes in a plum color I just love.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts....

Lynn's Fabulous Shrug: New Pattern Up

2008-09-25T21:04:00.000-05:00

I was completely overwhelmed by the interest in Lynn's Shrug. I accidentally posted the description and photo a few days ago on Ravelry without the pattern attached - and I got favorited by people right away. How cool is that?

I'm so pleased to present the new and improved Lynn's Shrug. She's a little cap-sleeved shrug made of super chunky Cascade Magnum. I cooked up the original idea with my friend, Lynn, so I just had to name it after her. The pattern is knit in one piece - no seams, just a 3-needle bind-off.

Isn't she a beaut?

And she looks even better from the back:

And the side view, to die for, right?

The pattern is over there in the right hand column. One caveat.....the schematic is a little wonky, but generally will help you get the idea of how the piece fits together.

If you cast on, I'd love to hear from you. Comments are appreciated.

People Want to Knit My Patterns!

2008-09-23T12:38:00.000-05:00

Big news - I've had my first pattern sale at Knit 1! Someone bought the pattern for the Jersey Shore Cardigan. Hooray! I'm hoping to have the pattern for sale on Ravelry very soon.

And... the customers at Knit 1 have been trying on Lynn's Shrug and giving tons of great feedback. I spent all week modifying the design and knitting up this sample. I'm in a rush because several people have told me they want to cast on. (I just turn inside out with excitement when I hear that!) I used a different yarn, Cascade Magnum, which gives the piece more body. I'm hoping to have the pattern available as a free Ravelry download this weekend. What do you think of it? (Brooch left to me by Grandma Alexander.)

And.....last but not least, check out my fantastic new header! I have such talented friends. Char created this for me. She's an amazingly talented photographer (if you live in the Westport, CT area you simply must have her photograph your children.) It's Brooklyn Tweed's Noro Scarf . I lost the ball bands so I can't tell you what colors I used (whoopsie!) It was such a pleasure to knit, although I wish I'd used invisible cast-on and bind-offs. Next time, right? This is one of those scarves you should always have on the needles - it's just so fun to knit with Noro.

I'm also blazing through Amy Swenson's Stolen Moments wrap, which I'm making out of a lovely light grey Cascade Cash Vero with two strands held together. Photos tomorrow, plus a taste of a new scarf design I have up my sleeve.......

Does the Perfect Knitting Bag Exist?

2008-09-18T19:19:00.000-05:00

My mom had a cool little bowling tote. It had a special place for a monogrammed ball and, I guess, various other items one needs while bowling. She also had a snap-top coin purse type thingie to hold her cigarettes, which was perfectly designed for the job. (Hey, it was the 70s.) I understand and admire bags perfectly designed for the job, like tennis, hockey and golf. The questions is, do we really need specialized knitting bags, or are there perfect bags in the real world that will do the trick just fine?

I take my knitting everywhere. I knit in Cubs traffic jams, at stop lights, in the school pick-up line, at the gym waiting for my workout buddies, waiting for the kids at swim lessons, etc. I need an everyday tote - not one special bag that holds only knitting. Although how cool would it be if they made monogrammed knitting bags like my mom's bowling one?

I've come to the realization that the perfect bag for a knitter is an open-top tote with magnetic snaps and two shoulder handles.

My perfect bag also:

Can also hold my MacBook
Is lightweight
Is neutral enough to go with almost everything - no Sally Sunshine prints, please
Is waterproof (duh!)
Has two distinct sections - one for knitting, one for regular life stuff like calendar, cell phone, a petrified sandwich and part of a Transformer toy (how does that always happen to me?)
Has NO zippers - expensive cashmere yarn, meet the zipper that mangled you......
Looks cool (natch)
Stands up by itself
Knits 10 inches of K1P1 for you while you sleep (a girl can dream)

Lately, my around-the-town tote is this bag.

It is big enough for my needs, but not so big that it overpowers my frame. And...it looks WAY better in person - really, really cool. What's not to love about a bag you can clean with Windex? Unfortunately, it doesn't have separate sections and it can't stand up by itself. But, it's good for now.

While researching this post, I came across two potential new bags that actually are marketed for knitters. First, this one from Jordana Paige.

Second, this one from Namaste:

I'm going to order both of these and see if either will do the trick. They look a little on the plastic side in the photos. But, I've had other faux leather bags that look beautiful in person so I'm willing to give them a try.

When I was organizing the stash, I discovered I have two Della Q bags. They are pretty, but they are not waterproof or durable enough to be that everyday bag. I have an EGD purl pod bag, which my wonderful SIL got me for Christmas. I just love it and I use it for those big sweater projects that I work on at home or LYS only. It isn't the right shape for an everyday bag, even though it is waterproof.

I saw something in a recent knitting magazine about Dorothy Turk totes.

While I like their design, I'm not thrilled about the fabrics, as they are not neutral enough to carry with a wide variety of outfits. They sort of scream, "I'm a knitting bag." They also are not waterproof. Bummer. But...I'd like to encourage them to keep going. The design is cool and could be executed in a really awesome dark brown or black patent leather or even waxed cotton. It should look more like this Tory Burch tote (not big enough - I checked) in terms of design aesthetic.

So, dear readers, I will check back with you on the bags I'm ordering. In the meantime, if you know of any other bags (knitting oriented or not) that fit my checklist....please leave a comment and let me know.