Spring-Inspired Surprises.

It's a new year! As my budding orchid reminds me, a new year is a fresh opportunity, fresh new ideas!

One major change in this brand-spanking, fresh new year is to start offering patterns! I have learned the painstaking process that goes into designing and creating patterns--writing each step as you create an item, ripping and ripping until you get that perfect fit, paying attention to details that make these items stand out. Then to try to make it easy enough for most knitters to understand...phew! It is a job. But, I love it. So, as you can see from my Etsy shop, I am ready for Spring with its creamy and sunny hues, and laces or delicately cabled designs. I'm hoping to have more patterns and Spring-y knits available soon! My patterns can currently be purchased via Etsy as a PDF digital download file, which you can instantly download after your purchase. These patterns will also be available on our Thread Bears® website.

One new pattern available for purchase is for these Budding Foliage Fingerless Gloves (Click on any image to get details and to purchase):

 

 

 

My "Kaleidscope Cap" PDF Pattern:

 

 

 

I also have these completed leggings/leg warmers available:

 

 

These adorable, super-soft, delicately cabled leggings were created from many tiny stitches. They are lightweight, yet warm for bare legs. The best thing about these are that they will fit pretty much any baby and toddler sizes 6 months up to 5T! They make perfect boot cuffs for toddlers, since they are no-bulky. The fresh, mint hue is perfect for Easter!

 

Photographed on a 12 month:

 

Photographed on a 5T:

 

Notes of Autumn.

It seems as though Fall is finally making it's debut here in Desert, Arizona. Though Japanese Maple and the Mighty Oak are rarities in this part of the country, we are still lucky enough to see some color-shifts amongst the trees.

 

The Mulberry in my front yard has finally yellowed and begun to lose its leaves...

 

...so I finally felt inspired to finish up a few fall knitted items that I had begun in-between our home renovations. I created these "Fall Foliage Fingerless Gloves" from 100% Peruvian Highland Wool from Knit Picks Palette in a beautiful cornmeal color.

 

The upper-side has the bobbles and leaf motif. The underside is just the leaves. 

 

I created this aran cowl from Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino Aran in a lovely pumpkin hue.

 

And, since I loved the aran design so much, I created a super-slouchy hat with the same design. Created from a cashmerino in a spicy cinnamon color.

 

 

I possibly have some patterns in the works, so I will be sure to post as soon as (if) they are available!  ;)



Bits of an Inspiring Road Trip

After a month-long "vacation," my items are back on Etsy and ready to be bought up for the Fall! I have a couple of goodies in the works that are pumpkin-pie-, oak-leaf-, and crisp-air-inspired.

Though at times it still feels like we are experiencing those dogs days of summer here in the Southwest, I got to experience the soon-comings of Autumn on my month-long road trip.  But I don't know if it is really considered a vacation when you are trying to entertain two children under four years, I mean, how many wild horses or fields of corn can you really try to get their attention with... And somewhere around Minnesota we realized our GPS was just messing with us. So we resorted to the ol' fallback--the atlas.

But the slight change in the colors of the leaves, the feel of the Midwest's cool and brisk mornings, the taste of the sweet, fresh pumpkin butter, and watching the kids collect the fallen acorns and maple leaves on our daily walks--all of it has me inspired.

I'm hoping to feel even more inspired with my cozy knits in the very near future, since I am leaving this desert and relocating to a part of the country that actually has seasons! Fargo is definitely a contender right now. And so is basically all of Minnesota and Michigan.

 

The drive from Romeo, MI was still bright green and barely dappled with golds and reds. But it was still beautiful.

 

Here in the Southwest, the leaves start to change colors closer to Christmas, and Halloween usually entails trick-or-treat-ers sweating their makeup off. But, no more lighting a cinnamon-apple candle and watching Fantastic Mr. Fox for Fall inspiration! I will soon be able to look out my door to see everything that Autumn has to offer. Another bonus: I will be much closer to my Michigander family!

 



The kiddos with grandma and grandpa at Westview Orchards in Michigan, enjoying the finer things in life like family, fresh fudge, and peach ice cream. Grant is eyeing the fudge, obviously.

 

 

And, well, you know everyone has to see this at least once.