Inspiration...from groups to hashtags

There is not one day that I let go without checking Instagram and/or Flickr.  When & how I use Flickr vs Instagram?

• Flickr for organization of my own photos (albums, sets, groups)
• Instagram for the on the go inspiration (mobile / tablet)
• Flickr for history as I find it easier to check prior activity than on Instagram
• Instagram to connect with others

Favorite Flickr Groups

• Spin or Knit
• Handknitting
• Crazy for Knitting
• Hello Yarn!
• Tour de Fleece
• Sock Knitters Unite
• Spin or Knit

Favorite Instagram Hashtags

• Spinning: #handspun, #igspinners, #spunday, #handspuntagram, #howispin
• Knitting: #knitting, #sockdrawer, #operationsockdrawer, #knittersofinstragram

Can you recommend any other group or hashtag? And, if you are curious, the yarn above is my first Malabrigo ever. It is deep, deep stash. One day it will become an FO. Hopefully.

Graceful and Beautiful

I am super excited to spread the word about a noble fundraiser. The talented Maria Yarley, from Elegant Economy, will donate 100% of the post-pay pal/printing proceeds of "Graceful Pullover" pattern to a family in need. You can read about Maria's inspiration and the cause in the pattern page (here).

Photos credits (left to right): Graceful Pullover from pattern page (copyright Misi Photo); Copper Corgi "Pirouette" fingering yarn (from Copper Corgi Etsy Shop); Graceful Pullover from pattern page (copyright Misi Photo)

The pattern comes in girls sizes ranging from 2-10. The pullover is constructed flat, button up. I adore the yarn on the sample; it is fingering weight from Copper Corgi in "Pirouette" - a color way specifically designed for this pattern.

Please consider supporting this cause. Perhaps is the perfect opportunity to try out Copper Corgi's  yarns. Her yarns and fiber are pretty darn beautiful!

Hope you are having a great week!

Knitting Channels

I'll put it in a silver plate - making it shamefully easy for everyone to tease me: I did not know about the YouTube channels!! My bubble just exploded, apparently. Call me nerdy, but I am thinking of how to divide and conquer.  I want to read, listen and watch everything. But I still want a life outside the web. And, I need to keep my day job and my family attended.

My new plan is to organize blogs with Google Reader, listen to podcasts while knitting or commuting and watch one or two videos a day. I am trying to be my own mother - limiting the candy at the house.

Here are channels that I have subscribed to:

• Jimmy Beans Wool
• Knitting Daily As Seen in PBS
• Knitting Help
• Knit Picks
• Paradise Fibers
• Very Pink Knits
• Vogue Knitting
• Webs

 Are you following any knitting or craft channel? How do you keep up with all the content?

Pollen has nothing to do with yarn bombing

Atlanta is covered in a lovely shade of yellow. Yesterday’s pollen count set a record high. Given the choice, I would rather cover myself with Malabrigo than with pollen.

What else is going on? Well, knitting or crocheting with balloons is “in”. Did you know about a knitter that has been yarn bombing the Big Apple? Look no more and please meet Agata Olek. Mrs. Olek is a Polish knitting and crochet artist with a bulky resume. She exhibits her art in New York City, where she lives.

All images above are from agataolek.com

Need more? Check her website or her “Synthetic Nature” exhibition at the Krause Gallery in NYC. Her latest work is about crocheting with balloons. Pretty cool!

I know my limitations. I need to master knitting with yarn before moving into something else. And, I am shy…so yarn bombing is not for me unless I can remain anonymous. What do you think?

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

What are you doing to celebrate St. Patrick’s? You can find me here during the day and at this pub later at night. The Mr. and I are taking a much needed weekend away from all responsibilities. He has been traveling a lot. I have been behaving for more than a week. Is time for a change and some time together. The grandmother will spent quality time with our toddler. We all win!

I would love to be knitting any of these patterns with the exact same yarns. Don’t you like them? Some say that green represents tranquility, good luck and health. I would add Saint Patrick’s.

 Images /credits / projects:

1 - Leafy Greens by Shannon Squire

2 - Big Green Cowl by Shannon Squire

3 - Sagano Shawl by Laura Chau 

Enjoy the weekend!

Really? December 27th

I really miss blogging frequently. But December has been a really busy month at work. Knitting and blogging have taken the back seat. Things are settling down now.

We had a very relax Christmas at home. Family, friends, good food and some laughs were more than enough to keep my heart happy. 

I have not knitted much but have kept yarn very close. This year I’ve decided to use yarn for gift wrapping. It is a good alternative to the so popular bakers twine.

Yarn LilySugar'n Cream Twists - Barnboard and Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids - Country Read

Alphabet: MarthaStewart Clip Art Craft Festive Garland

Classic Elite Princess

I have to admit that I was looking for yarn deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday when I found the well praised Classic Elite Princess Yarn on close out. There are 753 projects  and 215 ratings in raverly for this yarn. The possibilities are endless. I would love to create the ombre effect in a baby blanket! Sweet colors and sale prices are a dangerous combination.

Images via yarn.com





Cast on date

Chocolate, pattern, yarn and needles: checked! I have a date with myself tonight. Is not football night; is cast on night. I cannot wait to start knitting this cowl. I have been admiring finished cowls in raverly for a long time. Now is my turn to try this pattern.

Image via Madelinetosh

Pattern: Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh

Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman Wool

Chocolate: Fanny May Fudge Brownies

Which one is your hat?

I am not a fan walking billboards. The only outfits that I pick with wording are size 24 months. And I have to admit most of them have the word "mommy" not "princess". But these Kate Spade hats made me smile.  I am not sure if their price matches the fun of wearing them...

All images from katespade.com

Okay, let's put on hat no. 2 and get ready for the week. Happy Sunday.

Not your average sweater

Is there anything that would not look better covered with some yarn? Okay, you don't have to answer. I guess is a tricky question.

Size two needles are way small than my preferred needle size but for this "bobby pin sweater" I would give them a chance. I love how playful and femenine these look. The pattern was created by Pamela W Allen and can be found in her blog.

Bobby pin sweater via tangled

For you with love

If everything goes according to the plan, this would be my first year knitting gifts for the holidays. I am bit anxious about it. Will I have time to finish? Will they like it? Will the gifts survive a wash? But since one must remain calm (or fake it until you get it) I am already looking for inspiration on how to wrap the gifts (the finished / lovely gifts). I will definitely download the most beautiful "knitting tags" that I ever seen. I found them on laylok. If you love knitting you have to visit this site. It is awesome!

Aren't these way too cute?

Image via laylock

A picture is worth a thousand words

Flickr is one of those websites that I check everyday - just as much as my email. Why I love Flickr so much? Because I feel connected to the world with the images found there. And because is a great source of inspiration. And because I have discovered some of my favorite blogs and knitters in that site. Yes, I'm a proud Flickr addict. These are some groups that I check constantly (like, every two hours):

• Crazy for knitting
• Hand knitting
• The knitting club

Do you have any other Flickr groups to suggest?

So happy to find Quinton Chadwick

I have never seen myself as a business owner. I need to be employed by someone else or I would fire myself. But I love stories about art and entrepreneurship. Take Quinton Chadwick, a knitwear company from UK, as an example. Business partners Jessica Quinton and Jane Chadwick collected formal education in art and textiles and work experience, with some big names as Missoni, before embarking on their own adventure. The end result has been twelve years of successful creating and trading. Check their story here and their designs at their online store.

Image from 2011 Autumn / Winter Collection from Quinton Chadwick

Black & White

"In the early days I had a very black-and-white view of everything."
-Cat Stevens

Image from Jones and Vandermeer

Love this Quinn pattern from Jones and Vandermeer. Is well beyond my current skill and patience levels. But I cannot stop dreaming that someday I will be able to knit something like this.

Think pink

October is pink as December is red. October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I like the free patterns that the Classic Elite team created for this cause last year. On my queue is this beauty called Grace. The pattern can be found here.

Grace Scarf via ClassicElite.com

Think pink. Get educated. Become an advocate. Visit the Susan G. Komen website for a list of activities that will take place in October.

Weekend update

Was your weekend too short? Mine was. Somehow, I managed a visit to the playground with my daugther, a nice lunch at a Cuban restaurant, an ALTA tennis match and some knitting.

I finished another scarf. It is the Easy Eyelet Scarf pattern by Susan Druding; a.k.a. "Aperture" in my house. Pictures to follow in another post. Again, my weekend was too short.

It's time to wrap up with this idea. Find more uses for recycled jars here.

Image from Home Made Simple via Denise in Bloom