Whimsical, Practical, Warm: Wind-Knitting

A wind-powered knitting machine creates a continuous scarf which is harvested and labeled with time it took to “grow”. Merel Karhof, a designer from the Netherlands has re-created a sensible, beautiful and functional art form.

More photos and info at Merel’s site:  http://www.merelkarhof.nl

Hat tip: Josh

Bayleaf Studio on Etsy

Hand knit hats on to my friend Lili who has launched her Bayleaf Studio’s ETSY site with yummy, cozy and creative accessories and hand made invitations and cards. I will attest to her powerfully creative industry and talent having been the recipient of cards and useful gifts from this prolific knitting, sewing and collaging artist. Lili’s studio is full of baskets of deliciously soft yarns and projects. You can also go to Bayleafstudio.com for more news and info. Hurray!

 

Fabulous Fiber Arts

 

 

Great Barrington, MA is a sweet, small town with beautiful shops notably on Main St and Bank St. Particularly, noteworthy is Karen Allen’s store stocked with sumptuously soft cashmere sweaters, hats, fingerless gloves (you’ll just want to wear them all the time – yummy). I walked in an was recognized by Susan, who works there part-time, and who also is a landscape architect and designed my hillside of thyme, peonies, day lilies and ladies mantle 10 years ago.

But, back to the shop.

Karen is an actress (think Marion Ravenwood…Indiana Jones) who is also a talented artist. She is a student of ancient and modern textiles from aroudn the world. She designs and works with hand manipulated Japanese knitting machines to create her amazing sweaters, scarves and more using Scottish and Italian cashmere yarns.

All this beauty does come with a hefty price tag. Worth saving up for one wonderful sweater to savor through the winter and the rest of your life! Or even just some fingerless gloves? Hope some of my family members happen to read this post. Definitely worth a browse and squeeze, and tell Susan that I sent you.

Knitting Socks!

So this Thanksgiving we had 8 guests sleeping over in addition to the 5 of us. It was fun having kids of all ages and my siblings and partners hanging out, watching kids, tv and catching up. Sylvie was knitting socks! And while she was here she completed one sock. It took her 1 evening. That means I could knit 3.5 pairs of socks per week. Not that I want to knit every night but I had forgotten how easy it is to knit socks and what fun it is to work with double-pointed knitting needles. I foraged online and have found some great youtubes demonstrating how to start, turn the heel and complete a sock. Check these out!

Knitting Socks Part One, Part Two, Part Three – which is the section for turning the heel and Part Four. There are fabulous wools and great patterns available. Visit your local knitting store to touch and choose your yarn. I always find wonderful and talented people at knitting stores who are always willing to help to help with knitting snags and creative ideas. Check out the Yarn Harlet’s Blog! This is a blogger who is afraid that when she leaves the house she won’t take enough knitting with her. She is now into knitting socks and her blog is a riot.