NKBN: Miniscule Shawlette

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry



I want to share with you Pure Craft Miniscule Shawlette, which might actually be the most perfect spring time shawl I have ever seen!    Picture it.   White long sleeve tshirt, jeans, nude suede wedges, aviator glasses, hair in a loose bun and this Shawlette casually thrown on.   Told ya.  Perfect accessory.   

Go over to Ravelry and check out the pattern!

NKBN: Little Flower Pixie Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry

When it comes right down to it, it's the little details that sets a knit apart, doesn't it?  Ana's  stripey hat in pinks and purples is quite cute on its own, but when paired with a tassel adorned with tiny crochet flowers?  Now that is something special.  Coming from experience, those little flowers will be having your little girl's eyes aglow!

Check out Ana's pattern on Ravelry here!

Liebster Award

Rules:

*List 11 facts about yourself

* Answer 11 questions about yourself 

* Choose 11 blogs that have less than 100 followers, name them in the post and inform them

* Follow the blog of the person which awarded ​​you 

* Visit at least three blogs awarded by that person

Ana from Days of Yarning has graciously nominated me for a Liebster Award.   

Thank you for the honour! 

I will try my best to follow all the rules.

11 weird and wonderful barely known facts about me:

1. My graduating class voted me "most likely to shock the world with my fashion statements".    I think I've let them down.

2. I really want to learn how to sew a quilt.

3. I get cold sores.  A lot.

4. I have 3 brothers.   Yes, I was a tom boy.

5. I met my husband on a trading desk when I was 21, but we didn't start dating until many years later.  He proposed 5 months after that.

6. I have the world's cutest, laziest cat named Frankie Blue Eyes.

7. I'm a pretty good tennis player.

8. I was a vegetarian from age 14-20.

9. I'm a shoe-a-holic.   I drink office coffee instead of buying it to justify my shoe habit.

10.  I wish I could ski, but everytime I try something catastrophic happens.

11.  Pastina (tiny pasta) is my comfort food.

Answers to Ana's 11 questions:

1. Why did you start blogging?

     I was inspired by the amazing blogs out there and the sense of community amongst crafters.   I wanted to be part of that!  It is amazing to be able to connect with people around the blog world.

2. What is your favourite season and why?

    Definitely SUMMER.  I love the heat, the long days, being outside.   You will never hear the words "It's too hot out!" coming from my mouth!

3.  What is your favourite dessert?

     Butter tarts rank high on the list!

4.  Do you usually buy yarn for a specific project, or do you usually think of a project after buying the yarn?

     Lately I've been buying the yarn first and let it inspire me.

5.  Which item do you like to crochet (knit) the most?

     Hats for my kids.   They get the most use out of any handknit I make and the (usually) are so excited by what I create for them.

6.  Where else would you like to live?

    Jupiter, Florida.  I have been going there on family vacations my whole life and it really feels like home.  Only with better weather.

7.  What are your favourite colours?

     Purples and Earth tones

8.  What do you regret you never did?

     Travel!  I started working full time right out of university.   I should have hit the road for a bit first!

9.  What is the place that you would like to visit the most?

    Portugal (and not just because Ana sent this to me!).   I would love to see where my husband was born.

10.  What is your favourite flower?

      Gerbers.  They make me happy whenever I see them.

11.  Name a historical figure with whom you would like to have a conversation with, and why.

     Jane Austen, just know what she was really like.

Now my nominations.  11 seem like a lot, but the Not Knit by Nat series has allowed me to be in contact with so many amazing, talented bloggers. 

Here are my nominations:

1. Meg Roke Knits

2. Woolen Diversions

3. SpiderKate Knits

4. Is as if

5. Hand me down hobby

6. JTELLIER AN ARTISAN'S VIEW

7. Amy Andersen Designs

8. Optimistic by Nature

9. Seamstress by Night

10. Mairlynd

11. Knitwear by Unneva

And my 11 questions for you:

1. Would you rather take 3 hour flight or 25 hour road trip?

2. What is your favourite blog post you've done?

3. What is your idea of a perfect Sunday morning?

4. What do you wish you knew how to do better?

5. Coffee or Tea?

6. If you had enough room for one project in your luggage to bring on a trip, what would it be?

7.  What time of day are you most creative?

8. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?

9. Chips or Chocolate?

10. In a room full of strangers, do you stand on the side lines, mingle politely, or become the life of the party?

11. If you got a dozen roses for your birthday, what colour would you want them to be?

      

    

No pressure at all to any nominees, just happy to spread some blog lovin'.

NKBN: Newborn Peep/Chic Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry

I had originally intended to post about Mary's adorable Baby Sock Monkey Hat but when I spotted her precious little Newborn Peep/Chick Hat I knew I just had to show this to you.     With Easter in the air and a dear cousin's little baby moments away from making its debut into the world, well,  it's obvious I have to get my hands on some mellow yellow yarn STAT!!

Check out all of Mary's simply adorable baby hat patterns on Ravelry here!

Raving over Roving: Free Pattern!

My affection for Bernat Roving started this winter when I was searching through Winners' inventory of snowsuits and winter gear that was picked over because, again, I am way too late buying winter duds for my kids that I meticulously selected for Ella.    I saw this adorable white hat with multi-coloured yarn braids and a matching pom-pom.   I had to have it, but I looked at the price tag and gasped.   Surely, it was a mistake (this is Winners after all).    Luckily, I kinda know how to knit.    I walked straight through the mall and into Michaels (yes, we're talking Dixie Outlet Mall, to all you Torontonian sleuths out there) and picked up a hank of winter white Bernat Roving because it was uber soft and bulky weight.   I had this little hat whipped up by the end of the night (no pattern I'm afraid, I made it up on the fly).   The embroidery and button selection was carefully orchestrated by the fashionista herself.   The entire process was very satisfying, especially when Ella declared it "her favourite hat EVER".   Success!

So when my dear husband showed be a picture and asked me a knitter's favourite question "Can you knit this?" (read: permission to go out and buy new yarn).  I said "Yes! Of course I can!" and before I knew it I had bought another couple balls of this cheap and cheerful yarn and hammered off a fully ribbed super stretchy hat with a plastic canvas brim and topped it off with a pom-pom that was juuuuuust right for a man.  

And what to do with the leftovers?   Well, a quick little turban was in my sights.    So fast, I call it "Turbo Turban"  You can wear it twisted a la Grace Kelly, or simply wrapped around twice for a little less flair, but still a lot of style.    Give it a try.   With or without the Roving (although you know my feelings about it). 

Click here for the free pattern on Ravelry!

NKBN: Go-Girl Knitting Needles

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry

I came across something really cool last week on Rav and I had to share with you all.   Almost all of you will look at this adorable rug and say "ooh! I want to knit that!". 



Those giant stitches are awesome.   My mind is seriously racing right now on how many places in my house I can cover with these rugs.  And I need a basket made of this giant stitch.   And a foot stool.   And can I make a vase out of this stitch?  And, and, and, and........

Now as cool as that rug is, what about knitting an entire lap blanket in 2 HOURS.    Even me, with my blanket knitting ADD, would commit to that!   That is speedy!




But how does one make such a giant, speedy stitch you ask?   Well, with GIANT knitting needles, naturally!  And when I say GIANT, I mean GIANT!



Tammy from Go-Girl Knitting has designed this amazing line of GIANT knitting needles.   They come in 2 lengths, the GIANT for knitting blankets, rugs, etc and BABY GIANTS for scarves and smaller projects.  And you can customize the topper to the colour of your choice.




Is this not the perfect gift for the knitter who has everything?  Heck, for any knitter, really!   I want them just to display in my knitting nook!

Check out Tammy's collection of needles and project ideas at www.gogirlknitting.com and be as amazed as I was!

To see Tammy's patterns on Ravelry click here!

NKBN: Child Crocodile Stitch Skirt

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry

If you've been reading for a while, you've heard me lament about my lacklustre crochet skills.   I get by - barely.   Seeing Jenny's Crocodile Stitch Skirt pattern sums up all the reasons why I want to be a better crocheter!   Great pattern! Any little girly girl would LOVE to wear this!

Check out Jenny's Pattern on Ravelry here!