GIVEAWAY And Book Review

photo credit Denise Voie de Vie

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoy Denise's photography. Denise, who blogs at Voie de Vie, is an accomplished knitting and crochet designer, painter, and photographer. I have the honor of being one of the reviewers of her latest eBook, Fleurs et L'eau - Printemps/Ete 2013 (Flowers and Water, Spring/Summer 2013). Besides patterns and beautifully modeled samples, there are pictures of vibrant flowers, peaceful water, historical building, and deep canal, at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks/Carl S.English, Jr. Botanical Garden in Seattle.

Now the patterns:

1. One if by Hook Cardi: This crochet cropped cardigan would look so cute on a young lady or someone with the right build -- thin in the middle and without overly large chest or hips. It's a good representation of wearable fashionable crochet. The stitch pattern offers good texture and the overlap neckline design is a sweet touch. With a cotton worsted weight yarn this is a quick project for the summer.

2. Two if by Sticks Cardi: a knitted version of the cropped cardigan. The navy blue trims illustrate the Seattle, Pacific northwest spirit. At 4 stitches per inch, this is a very quick knit, so pick up the sticks and make it for the summer!

Denise's patterns come with very nice schematics, but as a die hard chart knitter, stitch pattern charts would be ever more helpful.

3. Anyone for a Stroll? Bag: crochet small tote bag with bamboo handles. I love small tote bags, they are so easy to use when you are dashing from one place to the next, and have to constantly find or put away wallet, change purse, glasses, sunglasses, phone, car key, house key, pen, camera, hair clip, shopping list, credit card, business card, chapstick, hand lotion, carry-around knitting project, etc. This little bag is a quick project in thick and thin yarn or other bulky yarn. Close it with a big button, or not. There are instructions for Bottom Stabilizer, Lining, and Attaching Handles.

4. Le Bateau Shawl: le bateau means the boat, and this crochet crescent shaped shawl is so named because it looks like the bottom of the boat from the side ways. But so much prettier!! The body of the shawl is worked in one piece and then top and bottom edgings are picked up. With 75 inches wingspan, this is a pretty good sized go-everywhere shawl.

5. Constellation Bracelet and Earrings: crochet with beads, so simple and so elegant. There are plastic rings inside to hold the shape.

6. Climbing Vines Cowl: crochet in rich texture, another go-everywhere, suitable for all occasion summer must-have accessory. The body is worked flat and edging is added after seaming, so in theory you can easily change the pattern into a scarf or stole.

Now the GIVEAWAY:

Denise's eBook is available on Ravelry for $14.99. I have ONE copy to giveaway to a blog reader (eBook will be sent to you from Denise through Ravelry). To qualify, leave a comment on this entry:

1. Your favorite pattern in this eBook
2. Ask me a question, about this blog, knitting, dogs, me
3. Let me know how to get in touch with you if we are not connected already

One entry per person. Entry ends Thursday July 4th noon PST. In next week's blog post I will announce the winner and answer your questions.

There are so many words in this entry, time to take a look at this face again.

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, and leave me a comment!

Another Oldie: Tree of Life Afghan

Project:  Tree of Life Afghan
Pattern:  Tree of Life Afghan by Nicky Epstein, published by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn:  Encore Worsted solid white
Yardage:  about 10 balls, 2000 yards
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: 2002
Cast off:  2004

Cost: about $50

Notes: Knitted this a decade ago (!) for my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary. It was one of my first major cable projects, and I gave myself two years to finish it. Think I finished it with plenty of time to spare. Now that I remember, I'd better start planning something for their 60th coming up next year. 

The pattern looks complicated but was fairly easy to execute. The leaf border was a lot of fun to make.
Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, Tami's blog, and leave me a comment!

Snow White in June 六月雪

Project:  Snow White in June 六月雪
Pattern:  June's Favorite Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn:  Frog Tree Pediboo Worsted, 80% Merino 20% Bamboo
Yardage:  9 skeins, 1638 yards in stash
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: June 1, 2013
Notes: This is a shop model for Green Planet Yarn. The yarn has 20% bamboo, and you can definitely feel it, much less wooly but still pretty nice. The pattern is a cardigan with three inches gap between the two fronts. It's not something I'd usually wear because I'd think there is not enough fabric to cover a round belly. The sweater knits bottom up in one piece, so it's pleasant going.

West Cliff, Santa Cruz

Wednesday was my birthday. Henry and I planned for a nice day of walking along the coast (me), playing games on the Boardwalk (him), and having lunch on the pier (together). We arrived in Santa Cruz (over the hill from where we live), just to find an almost-flat tire. We went on to do our things (actually by then I already dropped him off so I didn't have much choice), all on foot. When we were done I managed to get the car to a gas station where the guys helped put some air in the tire, and warned me NOT to drive home with that tire, because it'd pop any moment. Off to Wheelworks, after three hours wait and $400, I got two new tires on my Little Green Engine. I was so glad to bring us all back home in one piece in my own car for a late birthday dinner and ice cream cake. One would hope this does not signify an eventful, exhausting, and expensive year to come. 

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, and leave me a comment!

Shades of Red

The Fishermen's Wool from Einstein's Coat went from this:

To this:

10 and 20 drops red

And this:

30 drops red

And this:

40 drops red

I don't have a really big pot for dyeing yarn, so had to make do with a good sized baking dish in small batches. I kept adding more food coloring with each batch, until the last one that came close to the intensity that I was looking for. The rest came out more pinkish than red, so I might try to dye them again to for deeper colors.

Next project, June's Favorite Cardigan, which I started on June 1st.

This young man graduated from middle school. He is officially taller than his mom, and knows a lot of stuff his parents didn't know when they were his age.

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, and leave me a comment!