Big Sky Yarns & Crafts

Knook and Books!

My latest design for Leisure Arts, yummy one cable Hand Mitts, with three sizes available in the pattern:

The pattern is featured in their new book, Learn to Knook:

Though I was skeptical at first, it truly is knitting with a crochet hook. The crochet hook acts as one "needle" and the cord hanging from the crochet hook is the second "needle." Here I am testing out the Knook:

This is no surprise, but I did miss my second "needle" but then I love knitting and am in no way looking for anything to replace it. I can see, however, if the whole knitting thing makes you run in fear as I have heard things like "What! Two needles! No way. I can't organize two needles," then the Knook may be your answer. Depending on which way you enter the stitch, a purl or knit stitch can be created with the crochet hook. It reminded me of picking up stitches for an edging of a sweater. I pinky promise I did all of the above stitches with my cute little Knook. 

The booklet has tons of beautiful, easy to see and understand how-to photos and 3 projects:

I purchased The Knook Beginner Set for medium weight yarn, which has even more projects in the mini-booklet enclosed:

The yarn I used for the hand mitts is a super squishy worsted weight yarn,  Alpaca Love by Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller. It is only $4.99 a ball and is 80% wool, 20% alpaca, 130 yards, 3 oz, color: #3810 Lake. Even if the yarn wasn't so affordable, I would love it. Take it for a spin if you can; I was thoroughly impressed.

I also have some fabulous new or new-ish (or, frankly, just new to me) books to share. For The Hunger Games fans out there, comes Matched and Crossed, both by Ally Condie:

They are part of a trilogy with the third to be published in November, her blog claims. I sure hope this is true but I don't see a listing yet.

The first is Matched, a story of our teenage heroine in a future utopia, which doesn't stay ideal for long. For the first time ever I think, I actually prefer the second in a series. Crossed is much more of an adventure story, though Matched is still a necessary introduction to learn about this world. As with Hunger Games, both are engrossing stories with only smidgets of teenage-ish moments.

On a totally different planet is a delightful historical teen novel (I have been on a teen bent, apparently) A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly:

Mattie Gokey, our headstrong teenager is ahead of her time (and trying to do more than merely survive) in the early 1900's. As she struggles to find what she wants out of life, we see the realities of that time period brilliantly shown by Donnelly. As only extraordinary literature will do, I felt transported. Amidst her struggles, a murder is committed at a hotel that Mattie works at, the same event that inspired An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. The characters and setting are stellar in this unforgettable boo and is a reminder why I enjoy historical fiction.

We are here to discuss knitting, ultimately, I realize, so I leave you with this impressive volume: The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt:

Do not let this cute little thumbnail cover fool you. It is the size of a huge college textbook and when it says comprehensive, it is by no way misleading. This is an amazing book with an incredible amount of information; well worth your knitting dollar. Plus, it is completely revised and updated.

Knit on.

Linsey, Sorolla ... and more!

So much to share! Amidst this semi-winter we are having in Montana, we all enjoyed the sunny skies in Arizona for a makeshift Spring Break. Of course I spent more time trying to decide on what knitting to pack than on any other part of the vacation. Surprised? No, I didn't think so.

My latest favorite spring yarn is Linsey from Berroco. It is a supremely soft 64% cotton, 36% linen worsted yarn with supreme drape. I can't say enough good things about this, though you do know I am already a Berroco groupie. In fear of not being able to finish, I chose the perfect summer scarf, Sorolla:

However, if you see something like "900 tassels" in the instructions you should just. put. the. pattern. down. Alas I could not!! I absolutely had to have it. But because I love the self-striping colors, I chose these:

I want everything to look fetching with a pair of jeans so I chose Aquinnah #6509 (blue/green/purple) as my main color and Oak Bluffs #6503 (pinks) for the tassels. The scarf required almost all of the three skeins called for and the tassels two. TWO. Yes, it is true. Many, many, many tassels.

Instead of stockinette, I worked the entire scarf in garter stitch because a fellow knitter on Ravelry did so and I loved how rich the fabric looked. (Do you see the snow in my hair? Dan and I are trying to act like it is NOT snowing. I should have had the official photo shoot in Arizona.) Here it is modeling for you in all of its triangular glory:

The tassels were a total pain in the *&^%$# but once I got in the groove with a good no-brainer movie and an official tassel maker (sorry, no pix, I left it with my mom - think the size of the gauge/needle metal tool we all have in our knitting notions bag with "steps" for different sized tassels) from Susan Bates I found on eBay, it wasn't nearly as bad as it looks. I promise.

My mom is knitting one in stockinette with blue as the main color but she was not near as determined as I was to actually wear it, so I cannot show you hers. I have worn it a handful of times already and thoroughly enjoy that little extra bit of warmth on chilly days.

While in Arizona, we visited The Phoenix Zoo with my cousins and their kids, my mom, in-laws and aunt and uncle. We were quite a tribe to be reckoned with, I have to say.

Here is my cousin Mike and his wife Andie's two girls Alexa (left) and Lilly (right) enjoying the non-real very large animal:

But no Arizona trip is complete without the obligatory cactus shot, I realize, so here is my uncle, mom and Paul:

My other cousin Joan with her hubby Joe:

Paige and their son Liam are very close in age. Look at charming pic of the four of them at my mom's house for a barbecue:

Dave, Wade, Kate and my mother-in-law enjoyed a fierce battle of croquet:

Alexa and Kate lounged in the hammock nearby:

I have to show you this pic too. Rarely are so many of us together, so here is a group shot outside a breakfast restaurant. 

Hope all is well with your world so far this year ... knit on!