ringleader mitts

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Happy Leap Day!  SO fun to have an extra day of the year, right?  I feel as if it is a total gift! 

I'm currently in Nashville for the weekend and in just a bit I'm headed to Haus of Yarn.  I need a new sweater project and need a little inspiration to go along with it.  I think Haus of Yarn will be a good place to achieve that goal!  
The Ringleader Mitts are my new go to mitt pattern.  Especially out of this yummy yarn!  The faux cable is super easy.  As a matter of fact, this pattern is listed as a beginner knitting pattern.  I don't believe it would be a true "I want to learn how to knit pattern".  However, if you know how to knit and purl you truly can make anything!
I've been making these as gifts and this pair went to a sweet friend for her birthday.
I think the faux leather labels are a nice touch.  😊

hotline sweater

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When Libby was home on Christmas break she asked if I could "fix" her Hotline sweater. It grew, as mohair tends to do, and she wasn't sure how to care for it.  I hand washed it, and popped it in the dryer, checking on it every 10 minutes or so.  When I tried it on, I couldn't believe I hadn't made myself one as it was super cozy and of course cute! :)
It is a Wool and the Gang pattern and kit.  While wearing her sweater, I was ordering yarn to make myself one.
On both Libby's and this one, I decided to make them both with the Knit side being the right side.  (The sweater calls for the Purl side to be the right side.)  I just prefer the knit stitch better.
The sweater is made with both sides being exactly the same so it is basically reversible!

Pattern:  Hotline Sweater
Yarn:  Take Care Mohair in Lazy Latte
Needles: US 11
Size:  1

all the love

cookie of the week
I sure hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day.  To me, it's not about just the love you share with a significant other.  It's the love you share for all of life and anyone or anything you love.

If you have been around here for a while, you may remember my cookie of the week.  Those memories are some of my favorite.  My children were young, and baking cookies was a weekly thing.  Over time, I stopped baking cookies weekly.  I started to eat less sugar and in turn feed my kids less sugar.  I received a message a couple of weeks ago that one of my readers misses cookie of the week. I miss it, too.  So in honor of cookie of the week, I made the most delicious sugar cookies to ship in college kids care packages.  I savored one with my knitting and I can honestly say it is still one of my favorite combinations of life.  Pure love.

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful feedback on One Lovely Sweater.  I will be sure to get back to everyone in the next week!

test knitters needed!

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Hiya friends!
Hey!  I wrote my first sweater pattern!  Like really wrote it.  And it comes in 5 sizes! It's been a collaboration with SkeinCocaine and her amazingly YUMMY yarn that has been underway for over a year.  I am SO excited to finally share this with you.
It has a bit of detail that I am crazy about.  A V-neck sweater with a fluted sleeve.  Just a slight flute.  Don't worry you won't be dragging it across the table when trying to reach for something.  And the flute fits into your coat sleeve nicely.  Not a lot of extra material in there, ya know.
The yarn is a dream to work with.  And truly feels so cozy on your body.  It's one lovely sweater.  And everyone needs a least one lovely sweater in their wardrobe!

Well, I had an amazing tech editor go over this with a fine tooth comb.  But I need some friends to knit it and make sure everything is in tip top shape before we send it off into the world.  So, if you are interested in knitting this, I have set up a group over on Ravelry.  If you could please join and message me through there, that would be great!  Thank you SO much in advance!

Yarn: 3 (3, 4, 5, 5) skeins Donegal Luxe Sock 75% Sw Blue Face Leicester / 25% nylon, 438 yd / 401 m / 100 g from Skein Cocaine, 4,(4, 4, 5, 5) skeins Suri Cloud 74% Baby Suri Alpaca / 26% silk, 328 yds / 300m / 50g from Skein Cocaine. (Held together.)
Gauge: 19 sts and 26 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch worked in the round on larger needles.
Needles: US 8 / 5 mm and US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle, 24”/ 60 cm or longer especially if knitting the sleeves using magic loop OR US 8 / 5 mm double-pointed needles.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL)
Finished bust measurement: 34.5 (36, 38.5, 40, 42)” / 87.5 (91.5, 98, 101.5, 106.5) cm with 2” / 5 cm positive ease.
Notions: Waste yarn or stitch holders, stitch markers (5), tapestry needle.

xx, leslie

january knitcrate

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Well, hello February. I see spring around the corner!
February 4th to do:  Pay my last tuition check to the University of Colorado.  Wow is that a great feeling! I feel like having a party!
February 5th to do:  I really like this list.  I'm at my moms house in Orlando and sitting with my mom affords me some time to get some things accomplished.  I've been needing to put thumbs in a couple of pair of mitts, so this is a great time to be able to do that.  I also make a big batch of granola eveerytime I'm at my mom's.  My mom, the caretakers and and my sisters all love it.  Not to mention myself!  The mexican wedding cookies are one of my moms favorite so I can't wait till she tries them again.  
It dawned on me I forgot to mention the beautiful Knitcrate that arrived in January.  Such happy colors inside that beautiful blue box.  I LOVE this subscription box and if I don't make what they suggest with the yarn, I get to grow my stash yarn supply.  Always a good thing.
In January, Knitcrate collaborated with Louis Boria of Brooklyn Boy Knits.  I really like the knit pattern, the Upside-Down Cowl, inspired from the Netflix show "Stranger Things".  (I am a big fan of that show!)  It's a double layered reversible cowl.  Really looks like a fun knit!
Knit Pattern:  Upside-Down Cowl  
Yarn:  Knitologie Safari Sunset and Knitologie Golden Lion  Both 100% SW Merino.  (There are also two other color ways.)
This was the adorable "extra" in my box.  Not sure exactly what I will do with it, but it does fit perfectly on the top of my wine bottle!  😍

As always if you are interested in ordering a Knitcrate use the code FKW20 to receive 20% off of your first Knitcrate!  The code works on all crates and truly does make a happy mail day!