Several months ago I had the very rare and unexpected blessing of visiting an LYS – Downtown Knits in Apex, North Carolina. The fuchsia pink door pops on the historical Salem Street, welcoming and enticing all who pass by. Once inside knitters and tea lovers alike are tempted with shelf after shelf of luscious yarn. If yarn and a welcoming social crafting area weren’t enough, an entire wall is devoted to locally made loose leaf tea, too. Granted, the majority of the stock was conventional, but there were a few eco offerings mixed in with the selection. Though the eco fibers were limited, Michelle did do an excellent job of creating a knitting community. From the huge sofa and chairs, …
Kanine Kap Kampaign – In Loving Memory of Beau
I took a few days off my knitting schedule to answer sweet Beau’s call for hats. Inspired by all things fur-baby, I designed “Blues Clues” hat, a simple Stockinette hat in organic cotton with cotton/ bamboo spot appliques. “Vogue Girls Beanie” with a paw print and flower is knit in Kollage’s Milky Whey (50% milk/ 50% soy) yarn. Each stripe is accented with a purl row. Join the drive and send a hat of comfort to a suffering child today. Beau’s call is posted below: Recently, Mark & Susie, owners of Kollage Yarns, had to deal with the loss of a loved one to cancer. They lost their beloved fur-baby, Beau, to cancer of the heart. Those of us who have lost pets to cancer know …
Half a Life
Today is a rather dark anniversary for me, but being the realistic optimist I am, I decided the best way to make it a positive anniversary is to share my story with a few special people – you. I’m 32 years old and 16 years ago today I suffered a biological overload from an allergic reaction to embalming fluid during the mandatory fetal pig dissection in 9th grade science class. In one day, I went from having a typical high school athletic existence, including daily soccer practice to not being able to walk or even dress without assistance. Long story short, because who likes to dwell on darkness, the illnesses kicked off by this episode left me without the physical …
Continuing the Legacy
Delight filled my heart when my two nephews and sister arrived to help me celebrate my 32nd birthday. A close-knit family, separated by hundreds of miles, we rarely get to visit face to face. With my brother-in-law on a work trip, my nephews begged to go visit “Yaya.” One of the amusements I planned for them, in addition to the adventurous climbing of Rock Dimensions’s Climbing Wall, was the stimulating task of learning to knit. Guess which nephew made it to the very top – about 40 feet high! Nathaniel (age 7) had been curious about Yaya’s job for quite some time. He was enchanted by the cool cotton lime green yarn that changed colors and the spotted knitting needles …
Ravellenic Games 2014: the road to the Fibonacci Drops Shawl
The Ravellenic 2014 challenge was simply put: Challenge yourself by starting and finishing one or more projects during the 2014 Winter Olympics. What will be a stretch for you? It could be a new technique, that first sweater or pair of socks, something massive, something delicate, or maybe finishing that monster in the closet. The goal of the Ravellenic Games is to support you in expanding your knitting/crocheting horizons. After mulling it over for a day, the challenge I took on was to “design a new pattern, something I’ve not designed before, and knit it during the 2014 Winter Olympics.” That challenge resulted in the goal of: design a triangular shawl (something new) with drop stitches (something new and scary), …
Introducing Knit Eco Chic
Knit Eco Chic, Lindsay Lewchuk’s knitwear and pattern design company, provides the highest quality hand knits and knitting patterns with a focus on organic, natural, socially responsible, sustainable, and alternative fiber yarns for the modern age. Formerly, Eco Chic Knits, Knit Eco Chic embodies the same three foundational philosophies:1. Use of eco yarns2. Knits that fit curves3. Unique and intricate patterns In addition to being a design company, Knit Eco Chic also serves as a call to action. Over the coming years, Lindsay hopes to be a source of information about eco knitting, eco knitting practices, and eco knitting resources. Follow her blog or join the Knit Eco Chic Ravelry Group to find resources for eco yarns and eco knitting. …