An Accessory Shawl and Halloween Prims

Ready or not it is time to wrap up in something fabulous for Fall!  By October even here in Southern California the mornings are starting to turn brisk and what better way to keep the chill away than with a new accessory shawl.

Over the years I have knit many of these accessory shawls and I suppose some might wonder why anyone needs to have that many.  Aside from the obvious that I enjoy knitting them, it is also a truism that one shawl simply does not work with every outfit.  As much and as hard as I have tried to knit that one perfect accessory that goes with everything it simply hasn't happened. It's a mystery to me why.  I'll confess that on more than one occasion I've knit a shawl thinking that it will go with absolutely everything only to finish it and find that it goes with hardly anything at all.

Of course the logical solution is to knit a shawl in black.  But where's the fun in that? Truthfully I use shawls as a way to give a pop of color to my outfits and, in addition, I have found that as I've gotten older having color next to my face helps give me a youthful vibrance. And I need all of that I can get. So don't expect to see me knitting a black shawl anytime soon.  If anyone has knit a shawl that they have found is particularly wearable I would love for you to share what it is. Whether or not I find my perfect accessory I plan on knitting more shawls.

Particulars:  Vintage Bouquet Rav Link by Dani Sunshine (blogs as LionessArt); US 5 needles; 2 skeins Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (colorways: Moss and Paper).  I like the Madelinetosh sock yarn for a shawl because it's has a great loft and makes a nice squishy shawl.  Finished "lightly blocked" dimensions (small size): 56" x 18"

American folk Art ~ Halloween Primitives ~

My favorite post of the year is my October post because it marks the end (hopefully) of the hot long days of summer and the official start of fall and the holiday season.  To kick off the start of  holidays and what I consider "the great crafting season" I choose to make some Halloween Prims.  Primitives or "Prims" are a quintessentially American form of folk art that brings to mind the simple pleasures of home, hearth and family values as experienced by the frontier families that settled the great american west.  They are very easy to make and you can find many e-patterns sold on Etsy.  These little Scaredy Cats (pictured below) were fun and easy to make and as a bonus I find they make me smile whenever I walk past them.  I used the e-pattern "5 Primitive Whimsical Kats of Halloween" sold on Etsy by CountryGirlPrims.

Until next time be well and love well and may you thoroughly enjoy fall whether or not you throw yourself with abandon into "the great crafting season" as I do.

A Baby Sweater ~

When Hilary (The Yarniad) announced she was having her first baby I was so happy for her I just had to knit the baby a sweater.  And in the process of knitting the sweater I thought about the things that I was given as a child that I have kept through the years. 

I thought about some of the toys, but mainly I thought about the gift that my mother received that had the following poem written inside the card:

To welcome the wee cherub sent from heaven to you ~
may angels stand guard over Claudia Jean Bugh*.
With a heart sweet and pure from the good Lord above ~
she enters your home to be loved and to love.
Her hours are all yours to guide day by day ~
he's lent her to you ~ keep her close in his way.
Heavens minus an angel, she's down here with you ~
your own little daughter ~ Claudia Bugh.   By Fay Angus 

         * Name pronounced phonetically as "Bew."

I'm no angel but perhaps I'm better than I would have been but for the prayers of some wonderfully caring people.  Not all babies are so fortunate to have the support and welcome of an extended community but all deserve that and more.  It is with a warm heart that I welcome Hilary's baby and hope that he may always know that many care about his well being.

But you want to hear about the sweater.  Isn't it cute?  Now I know it's not a traditional style for a baby but I just love the bright colors!  And think how handy this will be for watching the toddler.  Hilary will be able to pick her baby out of a crowd with no difficulty at all.  Practical.  That's me.

The buttons are vintage Le Chic that came from a pound of buttons that I purchased in a destash sale on Etsy by Lil Fish Extras.  Pictured below are just some of the many other buttons included in that pound along with a clever broach made using buttons, felt and crafting wire.  It's amazing how many cute ways something as common as old buttons can be used in crafts and if you are not already familiar with Lil Fish Studios you will find many project ideas on her blog for buttons and beyond that are sure to inspire you!

Particulars: Classy Baby Jacket (a Morehouse Farm kit); US5 and US6 needles; 3 skeins Morehouse Merino 3-strand worsted yarn.  I found this to be a straight forward pattern and easy to knit project.  I used US 5 needles for all trim (areas knit in orange) and US 6 needles for the body of the sweater; size 4 month to 1 year. The Grumperina sells a similar baby sweater but with a zipper closure called Budgie Baby Sweater that is also very cute.  I enjoy knitting with Morehouse Merino yarns which are a nice combination of sturdy and rustic but still soft and warm.  I used this yarn to knit the Lily Chapeau Hat a few years back and it has held up very well.

Updated!!!!  I was absolutely thrilled to receive some pictures of the small child wearing this sweater and I'd like to share one with you ~

I can't tell you the joy it brought to me to see him wearing his sweater!

The Misadventures of Simcha

And for those of you wondering how dear little Simcha is doing..... here he is busy digging a hole in the backyard.

Until next time, be well and love well and never forget that it is the gift of caring for each other that is the most precious and lasting gift of all.