more kits, baby style, all free, all good

August 4, 2014, 4:00 am

Since I had so much fun organizing my stash into homemade kits, I thought I'd do the same for my wee bits of stash I'd been hanging on to. I love baby knits, they fly off the needles in record time. I also like using the last bits of leftover yarn from long-ago projects. Putting these two together with a free pattern seemed perfect. I find that the most forgiving patterns for using odd bits of yarn are top down cardigans as they stripe up easily and can look good with a tame or a wild mix of yarn.

My first step was to print out these FREE patterns:

For fingering weight or sport weight I like the

Baby's Raglan, No Seams by Carole Barenys

For DK weight yarn you can use

the Fuss Free Baby Cardigan by Louise Tilbrook

or the Basic Raglan Baby Cardigan by Keya Kuhn

With worsted weight try the

Little Coffee Bean by Elizabeth Smith

Here's one for aran weight:
Rainbow Cardigan by Clara Falk

Next is to get out all the stash, especially the small bits and even the odd bits that have no name. The last few years I have carefully labeled each leftover bit, no matter how teensy, but I unfortunately have many scraps from years past that have no label. I then have to guess at the weight but it's not too hard to get it mostly right. I make sure I only add the ones I'm fairly certain are machine washable. Making your baby garment machine washable is the only way you can guarantee it will be worn. Give something to a new mother and whisper "hand wash only" and she will carefully pack it up and put it in the deepest corner of the closet. This is also a good time to use up those one skein purchases that you just had to have so you could try out the yarn. Hmm, I seem to have quite a few of those. Toss them into the mix too, they're perfect for this!

Next step is to make your kits choosing colors that coordinate making sure the weights match. I mostly go tame with my combos, but I know mothers love the wild look for baby. Don't worry too much about making sure you have enough of one color. As long as you have coordinating colors you'll make it work as you go along. You'll need about 300 yards per project for 0-3 months and up from there for the larger sizes. Kit them up into zip lock bags and next time you need a baby gift, a quick travel project, or instant gratification, you've got a few kitted up and ready to go. And they are free. Yay for that! I now have 5 kits, 2 with pinks and 3 that can go either boy or girl. I feel so clever.

In early spring I made this for a new second cousin. I loved the colors and how it turned out. At the sleeves I ran out of gray so switched to green and it looks like it was planned that way.

Knitionary

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you are beautiful

August 6, 2014, 12:00 am

≫ Next: dainty lace in glossy mohair and a free gift

≪ Previous: more kits, baby style, all free, all good

Growing a pear in a bottle has been one of my most fun garden projects, ever! They are so beautiful! It's a little miracle each time you look at that pear. In a bottle. Right there in the bottle. There it is. I can't get over it.

It's typically not a super highly successful venture to grow a pear in a bottle. We actually started out with 3 hoping to get one. But we are now proud parents of two lovely pears snugly submerged in spirits! Early this spring, just when the blossoms were falling off the tree and the little fruit was starting to form, we set to work. Please don't be put off and think this is a big undertaking, it's not.

Select a sturdy branch and remove all but the strongest pear. Remove foliage as well.

Scrub well your prettiest clear glass bottles.

These are single malt bottles and once held 750 ml. of Balvenie.

Carefully insert the branch into the bottle placing the little pear about halfway in the middle. Support the bottle by tying or hanging from a sturdy branch. We used strips of old sheets, but twine will work just as well. It's important that the neck opening is facing downward so rain water won't get in. If your bottle is not protected from full sun by the leaf canopy, give it a sun shield by draping the bottle with a thin layer or two of cheesecloth. Now it's just watching and waiting. I rarely had a day when I didn't walk over to take a peek and see how my little guys were doing. Early on we lost one but the other two thrived.

Fast forward a few months! Pears don't ripen well on trees and it's best to pick them hard and ripen them in a paper bag. So knowing that, when the pear is ready, cut the lashings, give the bottle a slight tug, the pear should come off easily. Bring the bottle in and wash the outside with warm soapy water being careful not to get the soapy water inside. I had very little debris inside the bottle but still rinsed it well several times. To do that, fill the bottle with water, swirl, dump and repeat several times. I read about doing a citric acid wash, but they were selling their alcohol, and I'm not, and I feel perfectly safe with my method.

So now here's the part where you fill the bottles with either clear brandy or vodka. It's not likely the pear will truly flavor the liquor, it's there just for show and you need to use pear brandy in the bottle. If you were a purist you would make your own pear brandy or pear flavored vodka. There's lots of info on the internet about that, possibly next year for us. But we didn't really plan too much ahead, just doing this for fun because we had a tree and it actually worked! We went to the liquor store and bought it. The eau de vie de poire that has a pear in it is TOO EXPENSIVE and of course you don't need that because you have your own pear in a bottle. Buy the bottle without the pear of course and pour it into your pear bottle. Because it's so expensive we bought pear vodka for the second bottle, it's much cheaper. Attach pretty labels, cap it, you are done.

Now for the best part! Drinking it! I have never had pear brandy or pear vodka before now. The brandy was great on it's own but I actually preferred it on the rocks. The vodka was sublime with tonic. We've only just begun and I'm sure there's many ways to enjoy this lovely stuff. I found this recipe for a Sidecar. I'm thinking of doing something with a dessert, maybe a chicken or pork dish? But mostly I want to just look at it. Eau de vie de poire, you are beautiful!

If you have access to a pear tree or apple tree I hope you'll give this a try next year. It's really not difficult at all. I'm going to scout out some thrift store decanters and try for a few more next year.

Knitionary

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dainty lace in glossy mohair and a free gift

August 11, 2014, 12:30 am

≫ Next: that time of year again

≪ Previous: you are beautiful

I recently took an "understanding lace knitting" class from visiting Rowan designer and teacher, Sarah Hatton. To have her come from England to my lys was quite exciting and apparently others felt the same way because the house was packed. What I like about lace knitting is that it looks complicated, but it's not, or at least it doesn't have to be. Some of the most complicated looking patterns are actually simple to execute. Lace is mostly some "knit togethers" or decreases, paired with some "yarn overs" that make a new stitch and form an eyelet. There are a few tricks and once you understand them it makes lace knitting much more intuitive and less laborious. In the next few weeks I'll be sharing some tips that I learned from Sarah. The first tip is the most obvious: every time you make a decrease you must pair it with a yarn over. Take away one stitch, add another. Perhaps evident, but for the beginner this can be a real aha moment.

Something else I found out about lace knitting; I've always know knitting to be naturally calming, an anti-depressant in a way. The repetitive rhythmic motion has a soothing effect, and this is all done without drugs. Knitting, this is why I love you. With lace knitting you add memory and attention span, plus visual processing and problem solving. Lace knitting is beneficial! The brain can do all this great stuff so let's exercise it! People, we must knit lace! So to get you started I have a little gift for you. This lace purse pattern is a handout exclusive to Sarah's class, but she has sweetly offered her adorable tiny lacy purse pattern as a free download for my readers (see below). Thank you Sarah, I am thrilled.

It's just a tiny thing knit with simple lace motifs that are easy to execute and just right for the beginner.

I'm not messing with the color. It really is this pretty.

Here you can see the pretty picot bind off.

I slipped a clear plastic bowl inside. It may or may not stay, not sure.

The pattern starts center bottom and yarn over increases radiate out like a nautilus.

This is knit on two needles and seamed.

You're probably wondering about the beautiful yarn I used! I had a ball of the new Rowan Mohair Haze to sample and review and I prefer to make something useful with my skein rather than knit swatches. Knowing that night that this pattern was perfect for my sample yarn, I cast on the minute I got home. The skein itself is soft and squishy, slightly fuzzy with a delicate sheen. Mohair takes dye beautifully and my bright pink Caress is intense! Mohair Haze holds color a bit like Kidsilk Haze, but I really wouldn't want to compare the two as they are really quite different in most other ways. MH is a blend of super kid mohair and extra fine merino wool so it is extremely soft. It knits up to a fingering weight at 28 sts. per 4 inches. I'm a diehard fan of fingering weight and have always felt that Rowan does it best. They understand what the tiny-needle-knitter wants from a fine yarn. We love glamorous, but also make it easy to knit and easy care. If we are going to knit thousands of tiny stitches the fabric must have staying power. And then we want something that will look equally gorgeous in stockinette or patterned.

Knitting up Mohair Haze was easy peasy, soft on the hands with an easy glide across the needles but I think it might be too slippery for anything other than wood. I wouldn't say it has bounce exactly, but it does have give and it was very easy to maneuver the stitches into lace. The stockinette is pretty and semi-even and looks truly lush with it's glossy furry halo. MH is one special yarn that I'm convinced will be cherished for decades. A garment will be lucky to be knit in this. Yep, there's a new yarn in town and I love it.

As far as care for this yarn, it is hand wash and I think it will be similar to the care of KSH: Gentle swishing with mild soap in cool water. With KSH I roll up my wet knit in a big terrycloth towel then pat to shape to dry in the shade. After washing, mohair needs a little brushing up to fluff up the halo.

The color palette consists of pastels and jewel tones and includes a pure white and a black. I've got my eye on that turquoise Tumble and the red Kiss.

Sarah has kindly offered her Lace Project Bag exclusively to my readers
as a free download, click here. Enjoy!

I used approximately 100 yards of fingering weight yarn. My mohair left a fuzz around the stitches, and while I think this is beautiful in lace, if you want to really get the stitches to pop, you can use a merino or cotton or a blend. The pattern is really a study in lace and doesn't have gauge. When you choose a yarn, either fingering weight or possibly a sport weight (your bag will be a little bigger with sport weight) use the smallest size needle suggested on the ball band. Don't you think this would make a beautiful wedding purse?

I hope you can find Mohair Haze at your lys, but if not,
it's available online with these direct links:

Deramores
John Lewis
Black Sheep Wools
Laughing Hens

As it's just new and absolutely gorgeous, I'm certain more and more shops will be carrying it.

Knitionary

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that time of year again

August 13, 2014, 12:09 am

≫ Next: we've only just begun

≪ Previous: dainty lace in glossy mohair and a free gift

You'll never have to guess when it's time to dry hydrangeas, they'll let you know. They turn from the brightest pink to dusty pink. Maybe they'll go lilac, maybe lime tinged with pink. As they lose their pigment, some may even go spotty. But they will be a dusty version of what they were in spring. The blossoms start to feel a bit papery, even a little leathery. They're done growing and intend to show off their fall colors which makes it the perfect time to dry them.

The time to pick hydrangeas for drying happened early this year, even in California when everything in the garden seems to happen at warp speed anyway, this is still extremely early. Maybe our drought is the reason? Maybe I need to remind my garden it's still summer.

Drying them couldn't be easier. After picking trim off all the green leaves. Place them in a vase less than half full of tap water. Give them some space and leave them alone, they will look pretty as they dry. In a few weeks the water will have evaporated and your hydrangeas will be dry and ready for fall arrangements. They're pretty.

Knitionary

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we've only just begun

August 14, 2014, 9:21 am

≫ Next: North

≪ Previous: that time of year again

While on our family vacation in Sunriver, Oregon, my granddaughter and I went into the town of Bend to shop. We stopped at a knitting store and while there we both fell in love with a shop sample, Zuzu's Petals, a lace cowl. "Can I knit this?" "Yes, you can", I assured her. She is 13 now and has been knitting since she was 9. "There are some new techniques, but they are easy to master. You'll follow a graph, but I know you can do it. Let's do a knit-along! We can skype while we knit!" (We live 500 miles apart.) So we chose our yarn and I do have a recommendation for yarn shopping with a 13 year old: She went through the shop and picked out her favorite colors. We eliminated the ones that would not come close to gauge. We then removed the ones that were itchy or difficult to knit. We were left with one, one beautifully soft, easy to knit yarn that she was positively thrilled with. We put it away and decided to start it when she visited us in August.

Now fast forward to August and she is having her last grammy and papa visit before school starts. It's time to begin our knit-along, but I did start the pattern for her, it's much too fiddly at the beginning and not fun until the knitting really starts. There's a few things for her to remember: Garter stitch first two and last two stitches, the middle is stockinette. Increase on the right side only. Purl the wrong side and make no increases, but don't forget the garter stitch edges. We are working on section one, which is just stockinette and increases. The lace portion doesn't begin until section two.

For a new knitter to avoid mistakes, it's best to look at your work on each row and correct mistakes before you go too far. A new shawl knitter will want to make sure there are consistent eyelet increases so count often. If you find yourself purling away and notice that you've forgotten to make a yarn over on the previous side, it's easy to fix, don't rip it out. Just pick the bar between the two stitches up and around your left needle and purl it. (I showed her how to do this, and I know there are youtube videos for this little fix). She felt clumsy, but she does know enough about knitting and realizes that it will become much easier as she goes along. There are 48 increase rows before we get to the lace part in section two. It is charted and written, so it will be interesting to see which way she prefers.

We'll skype, I told her whenever she needs help, I'm available. She starts 8th grade next week with all honors classes. She's on swim team and in concert choir and then there's all the friends to keep up with. I know knitting will not be a priority for this busy teen, but it's there when she has the time. I told her we could take a year if we wanted to. Even two years. Knitting is patient, it will be waiting for us when we have time for it, and it won't matter one bit how long we take. I told her I wouldn't go on ahead, but keep up with her pace so we could truly knit it together.

Off she went on the airplane with her knitting in hand and loads of confidence. Oh my gosh, it was so sweet, I'm tearing up now just thinking of it.

Zuzu's Petals

Annie is knitting with ToshDK

I'm knitting with Freia Ombre Sport

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North

August 18, 2014, 12:13 pm

≫ Next: jill

≪ Previous: we've only just begun

If you are a Kim Hargreaves fan, her new autumn designs in North don't disappoint. Kim's trademark classic and simple style combined with a sexy twist and her impeccable choice of yarn has me queing yet again. Here are some of my favorites. Prepare to swoon.

I see Kim using this wide ribbed boatneck variation a lot in this book and in her last. It's very flattering and think this will have to be a new sweater for me this year, because of that sexy neck. Sway uses one strand of Rowan Fine Lace together with one strand of Kidsilk Haze. I'm just finishing a sweater of Kim's using this yarn combo, it's divine.

Oh my gosh. Here's the back.

Honesty, a classic v neck cardi using a new favorite fall yard intro, Rowan Mohair Haze. Love this color.

Touch in the great Felted Tweed DK uses a simple slip stitch with moss stitch to get this gorgeous fabric pattern.

Beauty also uses one strand of Fine Lace and KSH together. What makes this great is the v neck front and...

...the matching v neck back.

More texture with Sense, combing one strand of Felted Tweed DK with Felted Tweed Aran.

Ahhh, Truth, with it's gorgeous off shoulder neck, is knit in super soft Lima.

Sweet and simple, in Captivate, Kim again combines Fine Art and KSH.

Here's that wide neck again, I really do love it. Brisk uses Mohair Haze.

Maybe the best for last? Lovely is indeed lovely in cables, bobbles and the new Rowan Finest, a glam fingering weight combo of merino wool, royal alpaca and cashmere. To die for.

Links for ya!

Purchase North from Kim's site where you can view all 21 designs.

Check out the yarn!

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jill

August 24, 2014, 10:31 am

≫ Next: what's for dinner tonight?

≪ Previous: North

Oh my, I do do do love this little cardigan so much. Jill by Martin Storey is a free pattern download and is knit in DK weight yarn. I first fell in love with the adorbs posie-in-a-basket pocket. I'm especially proud of it as I incorporated a few new-for-me finishing techniques that I'll share here.

When Sarah Hatton was in town I took an Understanding Lace class at my lys, Uncommon Threads which I told you about here, but I also took a Professional Finishing class at Imagiknits in the city. I learned so much and would really recommend that class if you should find Sarah teach it in your neck of the woods. I brought a few things that needed finishing just to see what Sarah would suggest. First tip, when attaching a patch pocket, do not attach it with a slip stitch, but instead use the mattress stitch. Brilliant! I use the mattress stitch for all my seaming but never occurred to me to use it with a patch pocket. The pockets turned out beautifully and do look professional! In the above photograph you can see the pocket on the left in finished. The Rowan site has some tutes for that stitch here. Do do do learn the mattress stitch for finishing, you will be so happy you know it, and perfecting it will ensure your seams always look neat and clean and professional.

The other tip is for the collar. For this sweater and collar you pick up stitches at the neck and work stockinette out. Sarah recommends that at the folding point of the collar, where you would fold the collar down, to add a few stitches to give the collar some extra room to spread out to flair and fold. In other words, you would knit a little less than an inch to the point where you think the collar will fold. The next row with RS facing, knit a third of your stitches, m1r, k1, m1l. Repeat this at the matching 1/3 spot of left side. At both sides of the collar you have increased 2 stitches, 4 stitches total. Even if you are working your collar in rib she said that you can still use this technique as the uneven rib won't be noticed in the collar. I hope this makes sense as it's a terrific little trick that professional knitters don't want to keep secret! It's little tips like these that make a knitted garment go from ho-hum to fab.

The embroidery is very easy with the most basic of stitches: a chain stitch handle, lazy daisy stitches for the petals and leaves, stem stitch for the stem and French knots for the flower center. I used 6 strand DMC floss. The pocket is a simple basketweave stitch, k3, p3 for 4 rows, then switch. Excellent directions are on the free pattern. I downloaded Jill from Martin Storey's Classic Babies Online Collection on the Rowan site. Download ALL the patterns, they are all just completely precious.

The yarn I used is the machine washable Rowan Merino Silk Baby DK. Holy cow, I love this stuff. It's super easy to knit and uber soft in the skein, it's hard to believe it goes in and out of the dryer. The patch pocket was a scrap of Pure Wool DK, also machine washable. When subbing out yarn to use in the same garment like I did, make sure it's the same weight and has the same washing care. My Ravelry link here.

I have 2 sweaters I've been wearing all summer but haven't photographed to share. One is in Rowan Denim yarn, one in a cotton blend and also another baby sweater. Must get on that, hopefully next week I can start the FO parade. So, how's your knitting coming along? Are you thinking ahead and planning all the wonderful wooley knits to knit for winter? Me too! I'm hard at work already!

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what's for dinner tonight?

September 2, 2014, 11:11 pm

≫ Next: Bay Sweater and a giveaway

≪ Previous: jill

Just a quick little post to show you those hydrangeas and how beautifully they've dried and how gorgeous they look with my Portofino dinnerware. I've got baskets, platters, bags, vases and bowls of hydrangeas, all over the house, all in different stages of drying, and all looking beautiful at every stage. I need a lot because I have a project coming up at the end of the month and I'll be using every last one.

It's chicken soup tonight, getting together with friends to talk about an upcoming trip we're planning together. Maine and Quebec, nice, right? My chicken soup, it's homemade. I'm that homemaker who saves chicken bones, chicken carcasses (what a word!), bits of unloved vegetables and throw them all in a baggie and store in the freezer. About once every month or two I take them out, throw them in a pot and cover with water and simmer away. You just cannot beat homemade chicken stock. I think this might make me a frugal cook. And I think that started 41 years ago when my young and very hungry husband came home and ate the entire recipe I'd cooked that said "serves 8". Crestfallen, I didn't say a word, but really, I worried how could we afford his appetite? When I roasted my first chicken and he ate the entire bird that night, I was heartbroken. "Honey, I was planning on having that be our dinner for at least 3 days. That's what Joy of Cooking says." Well, I soon learned that would not be the case in my house with my husband and his appetite and if I wanted the little extras in life, I had to be frugal in the kitchen. I was saving up for important things; there was always something like cute sandals I just had to buy and I remember I really wanted this gorgeous canister set. Remember those? Flour, sugar, coffee, tea? I simply HAD to have a very pretty set I'd seen at a fancy store I would visit at lunch hour. I'd wander around the store and daydream and always came back to the canisters. The lady got used to seeing me and let me put them on layaway; what I could save with my grocery budget I could pay it off and finally bring them home! They were so delicate in white fluted porcelain. After a few years, they chipped, then cracked, then were broken and eventually thrown out. They were too delicate for my kitchen, but I remember loving them so much, and was the first pretty thing I ever bought for my home.

By the way, I have 8 soup bowls and only 5 dinner plates. If you ever find an Arte Italica Portofino dinner plate during your travels, please let me know! I need 3 more! (I'm not so frugal anymore about every little thing, ya know!) They were discontinued about 5 years ago and are as scarce as hen's teeth.

I have no idea why this soup looks red. It was chicken soup and was not red, oh well.

Knitionary

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Bay Sweater and a giveaway

September 4, 2014, 6:03 pm

≫ Next: the sweater with the O. Henry ending

≪ Previous: what's for dinner tonight?

Yep, this is me doing something I never thought I'd ever do; post pictures of me taking bathroom selfies. But only out of desperation and because we were in a hotel room that had decent lighting and a big mirror, I just...did it. And they didn't turn out too bad really, but I'm still kind of embarrassed about them so I'll just move on and talk about the pattern and the yarn.

The pattern, Bay by Kim Hargreaves is my perfect sweater. I wear it open mostly, but it looks cute buttoned up too. I finished it in May so have been wearing it all summer and love it each time I put it on. The yarn is Rowan Original Denim, a newish yarn for me, but not for many of you I know. Rowan Denim has been around for years, then went on hiatus for a year or two, and now is in production again. The original producer from years ago was found to be back in business and was commissioned to create the "Original Denim", thus the name. I love this stuff but don't want to repeat myself as I first reviewed it when knitting a baby sweater that you can read about here. I hope you don't mind if I give you my yarn review from that post:

Good news for all you denim lovers out there: Rowan Denim is out of retirement! It was discontinued for one year, perhaps you heard the wails and moans. After a decade of popularity it took a year long break. Often it's an issue with the mill and doesn't have much to do with it's popularity. I am a newbie to Rowan Denim yarn and only know it from seeing it on Ravelry so was excited when I was given two skeins to review. I do admit to letting it languish for a while. I'm so fussy about cotton yarn. It must be soft and easy to knit, and sadly this is not true for too many cotton yarns. Still I was intrigued to finally find out what all the fuss was about and with needles in hand, set about to make another striped baby cardigan. I could review it and make something at the same time!

Even while casting on for my swatch, I knew the yarn would be very soft in the hand and easy to knit. The stitches lined up beautifully and was easy to get an even tension. With my pointy Lace Addis it was surprisingly easy to maneuver stitches into cables and lace. That was all I needed to know, so I ripped my swatch back and cast on for this baby sweater. True to it's type, Rowan Denim is meant to fade in the wash over time. While knitting the navy, your hands will turn blue, don't be alarmed, it washes off with soap and water! The extra dye will come out of the garment with the first wash, and after that it will gently fade over time and give you the look and feel of your much loved pair of 501s back in the day. Denim will shrink on the first wash so if you are not using a Rowan pattern, you must make allowances for this. Not a big deal, I think just adding some length to the body and sleeves would be it. Rowan patterns have the shrinkage built into the design. There are dozens of free patterns designed specifically for this yarn at this link: Rowan Original Denim Online Collection.

Now for the giveaway! I have a copy of the new book, Denim, the Next Generation by Martin Storey to give away. Denim The Next Generation is a collection of seven classic, Martin Storey family knits re-worked with a contemporary feel and style. Casual denim shirt styles, Breton stripe guernseys and rugged-look cables feature in this on trend collection for men, women and children. You can see all the patterns here.

It's easy to enter the giveaway, just be a follower of Knitionary and leave a comment. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, such as your Rav ID or your email address. For a second chance to win, become a follower of the Knitionary Facebook page and leave a message there, under the giveaway post. Scroll through to find the post with the selfie Bay Sweater picture and leave a comment under the picture, that will enter you a second time. I'll leave this open until early next week, and it's open to international readers too. Good luck! (And I apologize for having to have capcha on my comments section. I get way to much spam if I don't.)

- See more at: http://knitionary.blogspot.com/2014/03/splish-splash.html#sthash.S65P4gaE.dpuf

I hope you can find Rowan Original Denim at your lys, but if not,

here are some online stores that I recommend:

Black Sheep Wools

Jimmy Beans

Jannette's Rare Yarns
My Ravelry Page

Knitionary

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the sweater with the O. Henry ending

September 8, 2014, 12:30 am

≫ Next: the winner is:

≪ Previous: Bay Sweater and a giveaway

I call this my sweater with the O. Henry ending because I made it to turn out one way, it came out another way, and I ended up loving it best anyway! Oh, knitting! (Yep, here I am with another bathroom selfie in the same hotel room as before. I was really on a roll that weekend!)

This is Brooke from the Simple Shapes Panama book by Sarah Hatton, knit in Rowan Panama. Panama was new to me even though it's been out a year. This yarn does all the work; you really don't need to rely on creating texture with complicated stitches, even stockinette has a lot of interest. The yarn is a thick and thin type that creates an oatmeal-like texture that is unusual for fingering weight yarn. It totally works, and if you're are a tiny needle fan and love fingering weight, this is a terrific yarn to try. Also, if you are concerned about uneven tension in your stockinette, this yarn eliminates that problem. Panama is a blend of viscose, linen and cotton and comes in beautiful clear pastels and brights. It is hand wash and dry flat, but I have washed it a few times and do put it in the dryer for 5 minutes for a fluff up after it has mostly dried in the shade. The fabric is beautiful to wear, it just floats across the skin and is very cool and breathable.

As for knitting, it's easy, but is not for touch knitting. I took it to the movies and when I came out I realized I had dropped a lot of stitches while knitting 2 hours in the dark. Because of the thick and thin aspect you need to look at it occasionally, even if you're knitting stockinette, so you've been warned. While it's half linen and cotton, which can raise a red flag, it's very easy on the hands, no tired hands at all. I used wood needles with some stick, the viscose made it want to slip on my fast needles, but with the right needle it is a very easy glide.

I altered the pattern to make it much smaller than the smallest size as I wanted it to be more fitted. When it was finished I tried it on and it was larger than I wanted. No problem, I took it to the sewing machine and sewed up both sides by stitching it in about an inch at each side, starting at the arm cuff, then up the arm and right down the side to the hem. Perhaps that sounds bizarre, but I've done that before and it works. It fit! I wore it that night and it relaxed which is common with yarn that contains viscose. The next time I wore it I belted it and bloused it and ended up loving it blousey and changed my mind about it needing to be fitted after all. When I wash it, it goes back to being fitted, and I wear it fitted for a time or two. After a time it relaxes and I wear it blousey for a time or two, then it seems like it needs a wash and I go though it again. While this works for this sweater, knowing that I would recommend this yarn for a pattern that requires drape.

Panama

Simple Shapes Panama by Sarah Hatton

My Ravelry link

There's still time to enter my giveaway, but enter quickly, I'm going to pick a winner tomorrow.

Knitionary

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the winner is:

September 9, 2014, 3:00 am

≫ Next: Kaffe KAL

≪ Previous: the sweater with the O. Henry ending

Howdy! Before I pick the winner for the Denim, The Next Generation by Martin Storey I wanted to share with you an edit I made on my last post about the V neck sweater that I machine-sewed up to make smaller. Here 'tis: 9/8: Edited to add a bit more info about how I machine-sew a sweater seam: First step is to pin it and try it on. Next step is to machine baste and try on again. If it's right, sew it again with a zig-zag stitch, I usually do this twice. Then I cut right next to the zig zag to get rid of the extra sweater fabric to remove bulk. I then pick a bit at the seam to clean up the loose yarn bits and lastly zig zag the rough edge to clean it up a bit and keep it from shedding more. This technique has never failed me. Good luck!

Okie dokie, now for the winner: Jozeee (Rav ID) from Alberta, Canada; congrats doll, you have won! I've PM'ed you and as soon as I hear back from you I'll send it right out. I have a lot of Canadian readers and I want to say thank you for reading. In a few weeks I'll be visiting Montreal and Quebec City for the first time and I'm really excited!

Thank you all for entering. I love giveaways and will be thinking about another one soon. I have something in mind....something that I love and couldn't live without...I'll be back later with that.

Knitionary

9/8: Edited to add a bit more info about how I machine sew a sweater seam: First step is to pin it and try it on. Next step is to machine baste and try on again. If it's right, sew it again with a zig-zag stitch, I usually do this twice. Then I cut right next to the zig zag to get rid of the extra sweater fabric to remove bulk. I then pick a bit at the seam to clean up the loose yarn bits and lastly zig zag the rough edge to clean it up a bit and keep it from shedding more. This technique has never failed me. Good luck! - See more at: http://knitionary.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-sweater-with-o-henry-ending.html#sthash.3BkprnT4.dpuf

- See more at: http://knitionary.blogspot.com/#sthash.OYhyIoud.dpuf

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Kaffe KAL

September 15, 2014, 10:17 am

≫ Next: baby hydrangea sweater

≪ Previous: the winner is:

Finally, the average knitter can make a Kaffe design! Rowan has just announced a new afghan (or cushion option) knit along in an easy design that takes advantage of Kaffe Fassett's unfailing color instinct. Seriously, is there anyone else like him? There are 4 colorways: red, turquoise, pastel and brown. When I was at the Rowan mill in June I saw all four knitted up and it was hard to choose a favorite. All four are stunning examples of Kaffe's extraordinary explosive color sense. If you are a teensy bit apprehensive, no worries, as no special knitting skills are required. This KAL is for ALL knitting levels, pinky swear. Really, it's all about celebrating COLOR! The KAL will commence Oct. 1 and will continue through January. You will receive a clue every week and a half and will be knitting squares that will be joined together at the end of the KAL. Below are the four colorways. Join me, I'm going with a brown cushion, or maybe the red. Which colorway is your favorite? To get started, all the pertinent links are at the end of the post.

Kaffe PWW Mystery KAL Links:

Download the shopping list (4 languages, 4 colorways, print out only the pages you need!)

Become a member of the Rowan club, it's free and gives access to free patterns and more.

Join the Ravelry discussion

Follow the Rowan FB page for updates

Kate Buller interviews Kaffe Fassett about the KAL

Download the Pure Wool Worsted color chart

Kaffe KAL map!

Many knitting stores are kitting the color ways up. My lys, Uncommon Threads is doing just that.

You can also purchase the yarn online; here are some stores I recommend
with links that take you directly to their Pure Wool Worsted:

Webs
Jimmy Beans
Churchmouse
Black Sheep
John Lewis
Love Knitting
Deramores
Jannettes

Please note that many of these online stores ship internationally.
If yes, there will be a button to click that changes to your currency.

From Rowan:

Here at the mill, our fingers are twitching in anticipation for the launch of our second global knit-a-long; this time celebrating colour with Kaffe Fassett! With only a few weeks left until we release the first of the patterns, we’re now able to share with you a few more details about the project. You already know that we’ll be knitting with the glorious Pure Wool Worsted. Made from 100% wool, this superwash yarn is available in 56 – yes 56! – colours, meaning that we’re thoroughly spoilt for choice. Kaffe Fassett has designed the Afghan using a selection of these colours in four different varietions; brown, pastel, red and turquoise. With these four fabulous colour ways, you can create a stunning, yet personalised, piece, which, with the yarn’s easy care properties, could form an heirloom to enjoy now and in future years.

The first square pattern will be released week commencing 1st October 2014 and the last will be December 19. Each stage, we’ll release instructions for one of the squares that Kaffe has designed. A completed Afghan requires each square to be knitted 7 times, giving a total of 63 squares. The finished size of the afghan will be approx. 133cm wide x 171cm long (52in x 67in), the cushion finish size is 57cm x 57cm (22in x 22in) and the bolster pillow finish size will be 114cm x 57cm (45in x 22in).

In week nine, we’ll provide the two final sets of instructions needed for making-up the blanket, to complete a truly beautiful Afghan. Beginner knitter? Not a problem, Sarah Hatton has created some online tutorial videos to support you.

The patterns will be released by stage on threads in the Rowan Yarns forum, but can be found grouped together on Knitrowan.com Share your progress - you’ll be able to ask for help and advice, share your comments, and photos via this Rowan Yarns Forum, on a dedicated Ravelry pattern page, and also on our Rowan Yarns Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rowan-Yarns/114826272423?f...;). If the pace of knitting is a little overwhelming for some, we have also created a smaller cushion design. Watch out for a competition at the end of the Knit-along too!

Dates to remember - mark week commencing 1st October in your diaries for the first pattern. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing in this, an exclusive journey into the world of colour with Kaffe Fassett.

Knitionary

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baby hydrangea sweater

September 21, 2014, 8:14 pm

≫ Next: free tickets for ally pally

≪ Previous: Kaffe KAL

I bought this yarn on a lark and knit this sweater on a lark. I really just wanted to try out the yarn, Malabrigo Arroyo, a new to me yarn, which felt fantastic in the skein. I rarely buy variegated yarn, and am pretty good about not buying yarn without a specific project in mind. But you know how you just sometimes walk out of the yarn store with a faint sense that you have no idea why you made a purchase? I took it home and thought, wait, it's variegated, I'm not a fan, what's up? And what on earth can I do with a single skein? (Baby sweater always seems to rescue the single skein and I love love love knitting teeny baby sweaters anyway.)

It was only after I cast on that I realized why I was so drawn to this: for the last month I have been drying hydrangeas, heaps and heaps, and the melange of colors must have spoken to me. So very hydrangea-ish and purty.

Arroyo is one of those big-sigh yarns. It's so lovely to knit; so soft and well behaved. Each stitch will bounce into place properly and practically salute you, so eager it is to do the right thing. The stitches are very even, and if you have a problem achieving even tension in stockinette, I don't think you will have a problem with this, it takes care of all that on it's own. I doubt it's needle fussy, but it loved my Caspians. The skein is 335 yards, just enough to knit a 3-6 mos. size baby sweater. The yarn is machine washable in cold, but must pat flat and let dry in the shade. I broke my own rule as I really prefer baby knits to be machine washable AND dryable, but, oh well, rules, sometimes they are annoying and need to be ignored.

If you hate DPNs as much as I do, here's a tip: I knit this little sweater top down and in the round. When I get to the separation of the sleeves, I put the sleeve stitches on a stitch holder until the body is done. When I go back to the sleeves, I cast on one stitch at each end, knit them back and forth flat, then use those extra two cast on stitches for seaming. This avoids the dreaded DPNs! Also, this is the fastest little sweater to make, great to knit stripey with extra bits of yarn languishing in your stash. Find out how to do that here. Would you believe me if I told you I knit this in one night? True. No, thinking back it must have been two nights.

Edited 9/22: My friend Cindi said her experience with Malabrigo is that it pills like crazy. Agree, that's an understatement for Malabrigo Worsted. Everyone raves about that stuff because it's so soft, and while it is, before I was even done with my garment it looked ratty and worn, worse than pilling. I was hoping that since Arroyo was superwash it would not have that problem. I'll ask the mother to get back to me (if she can remember!). If any reader has used this yarn I'd love to hear from you. xo

My links

Malabrigo Arroyo at Webs and Jimmy Beans

free sweater pattern by Keya Kuhn

My Ravelry pattern page

How to dry hydrangeas

Knitionary

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free tickets for ally pally

October 3, 2014, 10:51 am

≫ Next: top ten free for fall

≪ Previous: baby hydrangea sweater

The annual Knitting & Stitching show, the definitive event for anyone with a love of stitch and crafts is set for October 8-12 at the Alexandra Palace in London. The Knitting & Stitching Show is the largest and most highly regarded textiles and craft event in the UK. Whatever your craft passion, it is the perfect place to find inspiration, learn new skills and shop for all your essential supplies.

Ally Pally, you are calling my name. Oh, if I could only whisk myself from here in California way over to London (easily and inexpensively), I would be there in a heartbeat! Actually, a few of my knitter friends from around the world thought it would be fun to meet up there. It didn't work out this year, but maybe next? I hear this is a fabulous show and I envy any of you that are near enough to visit it. If you can plan for a visit, I have an opportunity for free tickets at the end of this post.

The links!

Visit the beautiful and informative Knitting & Stitching Show website for all the details.

The exhibitors list here. Rowan will be there, stop by and say hi from me!

Daily fashion shows from Coats and Clark featuring Rowan and Kim Hargreaves designs.

If you go, please send me pictures of the knitted pergola!

Workshops galore

FYI, for the other Knitting & Stitching shows, go here.

Opening times:

Wed 8th	10:00am - 5.30pm
Thu 9th	10:00am - 7.00pm
Fri 10th	10:00am - 5.30pm
Sat 11th	10:00am - 5.30pm
Sun 12th	10:00am - 5.00pm

If you are lucky enough to be able to travel to this event, the nice show organizers have offered me 3 pairs of tickets to give away to my readers. Please note these tickets are only valid all day Wednesday, Thursday 3-7pm and all day Sunday. To enter, please leave a comment and give me your Rav. ID or your email address. If I have more than 3 people who want these tickets, I will use random.org to choose 3 winners. I will contact winners on Monday, so please check your Rav. account or your email on Monday. Winners will need to send me their full name. The tickets will be waiting for you at will call on Wednesday morning. (Sorry for the late notice on this. I have been out of town and this was the first chance I had to post!)

Knitionary

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top ten free for fall

October 6, 2014, 12:30 am

≫ Next: bon voyage

≪ Previous: free tickets for ally pally

Just back from Maine, and boy did I love that state! Somehow I just I knew I would, it's a truly beautiful place. We were lucky, everything was all blue skies and orange-red leaves. Just so I can prolong those wonderful vacay memories a bit, I've got a little gifty for you...my top ten leaf themed patterns that I love the most. All are on Rav, and all are free. Prolong the beauty of autumn leaves by wearing them around your neck or on your tootsies. And the best news is there is no cable needle required for all or most of these, cuz leaf knitting is just some knit togethers and yarn overs. Simple dimple. Links included with each picture caption.

1. I know from experience that this is fun to knit and wear. Lonely Tree by Silvia Bo Bilvia is a winner.

2. Easy to wear Saroyan by Liz Abinante has a lovely leafy border.

3. There's lots of leaves to knit, but I like Little Leaves by Alana Dakos best.

Any weight yarn is appropriate but they are extra pretty in tweedy yarn.

Knit a bowl full for a fall decoration, or use them as book marks, napkin rings, or appliques.

You could even make a wreath or a baby mobile!

Alana Dakos also offers a free pattern for Tiny Ivy.

I also had to share this totally adorb Wee Acorn by Pamela Wynn.


4. Leafy Baby Blanket by Leyla Alieva is a beautiful example of the overall leaf pattern.

5. Knit Cascade by Reva Budrevich for baby's first autumn season. Make sure you knit it in a softy superwash.

6. You could knit a beautiful shawl. It's hard to believe that A New Season by Maanel is free.

7. We could knit some leaf themed socks.

Interlocking Leaves by Kelly Porpiglia are very nice, don't you think?

8. Foliage Hat by Irma Dmetrieva.

9. Leaving Cuffs by Maria Magnussen.

10. Lastly, the gorgeous Hemlock Ring Afghan, an old pattern updated by Jared Floor, aka Brooklyn Tweed.

Surprise! Here's a bonus for ya! Love the Hallowig, free from Knitty. Come on, I know ya want one!

See you soon with some dinner party ideas and as always, more knitting.

Winners of the Ally Pally tickets contest are WarboysWitch,

cassiopeia1712

and Pygmina. Congratulations!
I've contacted you all and will have the tickets waiting at the will call window. Have fun!

Knitionary

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bon voyage

October 8, 2014, 2:29 pm

≫ Next: still

≪ Previous: top ten free for fall

Let's talk about entertaining, shall we? We are lucky to have friends who very often invite us over as a part of a small group, a large group or an in-between sized group. Sometimes it's fancy and sometimes it's not, but it's always gracious and always fun and always always appreciated. When Carole and Bill heard that my husband and I were going to visit Maine with mutual friends, they invited us over to share some of their favorite Maine experiences and locations. They have visited Maine many times, go often, and in fact were there the week before we were. Seems like once you visit Maine, it becomes a favorite and you go back again and again. I now see why...what a terrific place. I just can't say enough about that lovely state; not only beautiful and friendly, but the food, as in lobster, was fantastic. But this post is about the dinner party and how clever my friend Carole is: the tablecloth was made with maps of Maine. We spent the evening eating our dinner and tracing roads with our fingers and circling points of interest! What a great idea for a dinner party to say bon voyage for a move or a vacation. After dinner we cleared the table, brushed off the crumbs and folded them up to take home. Clever idea, right?

At one time I had a business making decoupage plates, many of them were from vintage postcards like the one above. This particular one was a best seller and over the years I must have sold 300. The calligraphy is beautiful, especially the striking "P" in Paris. About 5 years ago Carole and Bill and my husband and I visited Paris together. I took a plate and Carole and I were going to knock on the door and give them this plate as a gift, just because I felt that maybe one of them should find it's way back to it's original home. After a zany day of map reading, sore feet and poorly spoken French, we finally found out that this street had long ago been gobbled up by progress and no longer existed. So sad, but when I look at this plate, I think of that fun memory and I'm very proud that Carole has one on her mantle.

A pretty appetizer.

Our salad was a platter of sliced garden tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and basil.

A simple dessert of cream over figs from their tree.

Knitionary

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still

October 10, 2014, 12:00 am

≫ Next: Kaffesque

≪ Previous: bon voyage

We have a new Kim Hargreaves publication to swoon over. Kim's new book showcases her classic feminine take on the latest trends. She loves Rowan and uses two of their new fall introductions, Mohair Haze and Brushed Fleece, but also the old favorites, Kidsilk Haze and Felted Tweed. Here are a few of my favorites from her newest collection. You can purchase the book on Kim's website or at your local knitting shop.

Darkness in Brushed Fleece, a new Rowan yarn just out. I've yet to review this yarn, but when I do, I'll be saying that I love it. It's a fat cozy yarn, light and fluffy and big on loft. Amazing stuff. When I first knit a sample of this yarn I knew I wanted to make a coat with it. This is that coat. Ordering the yarn ASAP.

Crazy sexy Silence is the mullet of sweaters; all business in the front...

…and all party in the back. Gah, I love this. Knit in KSH and Fine Lace held together.

Here's another one in Brushed Fleece. Cozy, a big fabulous oversized V.

Honoured Jacket has a ladylike pleated peplum with tweedy stipes in Felted Tweed DK.

Hushed is so dear, knit with Mohair Haze and Fine Lace together.

Light, also knit with KSH and Fine Lace together features delicate eyelet stripes.
Have you tried these two yarns together yet? Heaven.

Dark uses KSH and big needles to make an airy fabric.

Kim shows off one of her new shades of KSH Stripe in Precious. Look for Kim's new colors in your LYS soon.
Gentle is subtle and elegant in garter stitch.

Very cool, Intense in Lima.

Mild, cables and bobbles in Cocoon, a lovely yarn.

Close fitting Quiet with lace hem, knit in Lima.

More tweedy stripes in Shadow, using both Felted Tweed Aran and FTDK.

Close fitting Temperate knit in the new Mohair Haze uses Kim's trademark ladylike hem and cuff frill.

See all the designs and purchase the book here.

We are on the road right now and will be home tomorrow in time to watch the Giants game! We've had to miss a few games but I'm so glad to be home for the rest of the month and *hopefully* watch the Giants play throughout the entire Orange October! On and off through the last few months we have been on planes and long car rides and am proud to report I've been using that time wisely, knitting like a madwoman. I've finished a poncho, a baby sweater (or maybe two, I can't remember), a Kim Hargreaves pullover, a Kidslik Haze Stripe pullover, TWO sweaters from the new Rowan Mag. 56, a Big Wool vest for Annie, and an almost finished Pi Shawl. I also knit a house. Hmmm. I really did. Just need pictures, terrifying prospect, my poor husband. See you soon!

Knitionary

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Kaffesque

October 13, 2014, 8:24 am

≫ Next: easy fairisle

≪ Previous: still

Here's my progress on the Kaffe KAL, and the thing is, I just love knitting stripes. Plus I love the colors, but never would I have imagined them together, but it all works and is a project I am enjoying so much. If you are interested in joining approximately 2,000 knitters from around the world, it's not too late. The patterns are free and we are in week 2 and will be knitting through December as the clues are released at an easy pace of one every week and a half. If you don't have time to start it now, at least download the patterns each release date so you can have them in your library to work on when you can. They really are fun to knit. The yarn is machine washable Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, a fat bouncy yarn with great stitch definition that's easy to knit. I love it. The pattern includes color selections for 4 Kaffesque colorways, red, turquoise, pastel and brown (mine).

Clue 1 of the left, clue 2 on the right. The colors are most true in this photo...

...and isn't it weird how a colored background can really throw off the colors. I'm blocking and weaving in my ends as I go along, but leaving a tail at the beginning and end in case I need them for the sewing up part.

Here's my colorful project basket, so pretty. It's the brown colorway and simply gorgeous. I am going to totally love my FO!

My clever young friend Sarah of the Nottingham Knitter Blog has created a great cheat sheet for the pattern, an easy to follow spreadsheet. She and I are both making the brown colorway, and her spreadsheet was created for week one, but I used it for week two as well. Download her PDF from this post no matter what colorway you are knitting, you'll be glad you did. You'll see it works for all the colorways and makes knitting this easy project even easier.

Clue Schedule:

Wed. Oct. 1 - 1st clue
Fri. Oct. 10 - 2nd clue
Wed. October 22 - 3rd clue
Fri. October 31 – 4th clue
Wed. Nov. 12 - 5th clue, making-up instructions
Fri. Nov. 21 - 6th clue
Wed. Dec. 3 - 7th clue
Fri. Dec. 12 - 8th clue
Fri. Dec. 19 - 9th & 10th clues together before the holiday season

Kaffe PWW Mystery KAL Links:

Download the shopping list (4 languages, 4 colorways, print out only the pages you need!)

Become a member of the Rowan club, it's free and gives access to free patterns and more.

Join the Ravelry discussion

Follow the Rowan FB page for updates
Sarah's easy spreadsheet PDF

Kate Buller interviews Kaffe Fassett about the KAL

Download the Pure Wool Worsted color chart

Kaffe KAL map!

Many knitting stores are kitting the color ways up. My lys, Uncommon Threads is doing just that.

You can also purchase the yarn online; here are some stores I recommend

with links that take you directly to their Pure Wool Worsted:

Please note that many of these online stores ship internationally.

If yes, there will be a button to click that changes to your currency.

Knitionary

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easy fairisle

October 15, 2014, 12:30 am

≫ Next: fall decorating

≪ Previous: Kaffesque

Hi! I'm dashing off a quick little post to share a new book with you, Easy Fairisle Knits by Marin Storey. I'm very excited about this because it brings fairisle to a less complicated level, so beginner and wannabe colorworkers like me can feel brave enough to have a go. In the foreward, Martin, who loves fairisle and is responsible for creating some of the most gorgeous colorwork patterns, addresses beginners and says, "Lots of people love the look of fairisle patterns but assume it will be difficult to knit them. That is certainly true of some of the exquisite traditional fairisle sweaters with lots of colour changes, but even a novice knitter would not find the patterns in this book hard to knit for three reasons: firstly the designs I have included are generally small, secondly the majority have no shaping (which can be harder to work in fairisle) and thirdly they only employ two colours in a row, which is not hard to handle even for a novice knitter."

I'll add one thing to that, the patterns all use Rowan Felted Tweed DK which is a very easy yarn to knit with. So, I feel brave enough, do you? Which one would you make first?

there's quite a few beautiful pillows, even more in the book

kitty kat stripes

this pattern would also be perfect for a pillow

a knitted knitting bag

hat and matching socks

I saved the best for last...appliqued fairisle trees on a quilty background.

And then there's this! How much fun would this be for a knitter's Christmas!

adorable detail, the buttons at the top, sigh

Yep, I think I would have to make this first.

Easy Fairisle Knits by Martin Storey is just out and should be available, if not already, at your local yarn shop or favorite online shop. I found it at English Yarns and MCA Direct but know it will be widely available very soon.

Knitionary

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fall decorating

October 17, 2014, 12:00 am

≫ Next: fall dinner party

≪ Previous: easy fairisle

I think I'm a little late to the fall decorating party as I'm just now thinking of adding a rustic dash here and there. There are so many beautiful ideas out there, but maybe you don't want too too much, just a wee bit. And maybe you don't want to go to Pottery Barn and plunk out the big bucks for turkey plates or Halloween decor. And while you can certainly find some beautiful things, they often seem limiting, and anyway, you have to store it somehow off-season. Rather than decorate specifically for Halloween or Thanksgiving, I'd rather decorate for fall in general. Here are some beautiful and fairly inexpensive ideas that can carry you through the fall months, and most would even be pretty during Christmastime. I've included the source in each caption when I could.

I always love simple and think this would be beautiful on the sideboard.
Brainstorm, I think I have something that might work for this.

My table is small, but I could manage a paired down version of this, really just pumpkins and greenery, simple!

White and gold and green, a pretty and soothing look for any time of year.

I could easily do a modified version of this, we have plenty of magnolia leaves and persimmons.

Apples are always pretty, even prettier with candles.

so beautiful so beautiful so beautiful so beautiful

This post includes a tutorial on making the tiny pumpkin candles. I really like the linen runner.

so copying this idea

Here is a Tutorial for pinecone garland that she swears will hang beautifully.

I find that a big glass vase like this is invaluable for every season--source.

If you are feeling particularly crafty, this blog is excellent.

And while I'm not too much into decorating for Halloween, here's one sophisticated trick for Halloween decor!

ribbon bats

This darling girl has free printables for spooky bookcovers.

ha!

hehe

handsome dude

And don't forget that sometimes the best costumes are often the easiest ones. All you need here is a black eyebrow pencil. I once captured my neighbor's white lab and penciled in some thick eyebrows and sent him home. I didn't get a picture of him but somehow he looked French, like this little fella. How does this make a dog look French? But it does, right?

Vous pensez que je suis beau, oui?

Knitionary

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