SpiderWomanKnits

To Pom Pom or not to Pom Pom

 

Have you knit a Vermonter? Do you pause before you pom pom? I always do :) I'm really digging this red one without it. But then again, it would be so fun! What do you think? 

 

The Alex Hat

 

Hey there! Sorry in advance for the late night, bad lighting photos but this FO is too fun not to share right away. You know by now that fast, fun, addictive knits are sorta my thing and The Alex Hat did not disappoint. I have another one the needles already and have a feeling a few will make their way onto a gift pile this holiday season as well. Robyn is a designer true to my own heart. Check her out! As for the hat, fun to knit, fun to wear, what's not to love? Make one, or ten. 

 

a new pattern : a new life

Spiral Cowl 

Ah, friends, it's been a while. Years. So much has changed for me. I've spent the past few years dismantling dreams and building new ones. It's a long story, one that involves divorce and moving. I'd like to eventually share bits and pieces of it with you but know that the kids and I are in a good place, doing good things and I can't wait to share all of that with you. 

Through it all knitting has been my constant. I designed this particular cowl just about when all of the change began, about three years ago. I didn't write down my notes at the time and the cowl sat, unworn and untouched, until the end of August when I finally buckled down and recreated it so I could offer a new design for all my knitting lovelies. It's another very quick, very addictive knit that is perfect for the upcoming gift giving season. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. I love the way Leslie's turned out. 

I've already had such a warm and generous response to the pattern which makes me feel overwhelmingly grateful for your support of my work and in turn the new life I am building for the kids and I. 

Ahhh...gosh. So much to say. Next time. 

xo Spidey 

Free Pattern and New to the Shop: Textured Cowl

First, many, many heart felt thanks for your support of my farm and fibery endeavours. I shipped out the first batch of yarn today and have more going out tomorrow. I love knowing that Indy and Hayden are "out there" now, along with my daily chores and labor, love, laughs, time, good energy and everything else that goes into small scale fiber production. If you happen to be on the receiving end of a skein I'm really looking forward to your feedback. You can find indy hayden twenty twelve as part of the Rav database too. If you're in the market for some sweet alpaca yarn you can find some here. Yahoo!  

Ok, so, here we go again folks! I wrote up another addictive (warned) and fun cowl project for you that is sure to warm your needles and your necks. I'm calling it the Textured Cowl, because I am much more creative with my knits than my naming, and you can find it for FREE as a Ravelry Download.

I really love this cowl. I think it's suitable for a man or woman depending on the color you use and I also think that depending on color it takes on very different feelings. I can't wait to knit one in a sweatshirty gray. I am staring at an absurd amount of super bulky in my stash but, of course, not that color. 

I feel like such a bore being redundant but it must be said that I love offering patterns for free, in turn, I humbly ask that you direct people who are interested in purchasing a cowl to my Etsy shop, please do not sell any yourself. I'm going to try something new here. I want my patterns to be available to everyone (read free) but if you've knit (and enjoyed) my patterns before and feel that they are worth something to you or feel inclined to contribute to my design work I've added a PayPal donation button to the sidebar. I'll be sure to keep the patterns coming. Thank you so much! 

Whew. Now that I got that out of the way. I can't wait to hear what you think about this knit and look forward to seeing your creations on Ravelry. If you don't happen to be a knitter, this cowl is currently available in my Esty shop and ready to ship or you can choose your own color and let me knit for you, which I love to do. 

Enjoy! And many heartfelt blessings and thanks, 

xo Spidey 

 

yarn! in the shop!

Indy and Hayden gave up this particular fleece almost two years ago. I had to live with their fleeces for a while, touching them, smelling them and just generally loving them before I was able to drop them off at the local mill. Months went by as I patiently waited for them to return, spun from raw fiber into delicious, delicious yarn. Then I had to live with the yarn for a few more months, touching it, smelling it, loving it and knitting it into a variety of different works before I was able to finally decide to share some in The Shop tonight. 

I had this yarn spun for knitters, blending Indy and Hayden's fleece with a wee bit of local wool so that you would get all the luxury, softness and warmth of alpaca but with just enough wool to give the yarn definition and structure. It's a 4ply worsted to heavy worsted yarn because that is the yarn that I personally turn to most often,(when I am not knitting hundreds of super bulky cowls!)the work horse of any stash I think. I've maintained Indy and Hayden's fawn/caramel coloring but the yarn has flecks of natural wool in it for a subtle tweed effect. 

Look at these guys! They are mighty proud and they should be. Both the shearer and the mill owner said that their fleece was among the nicest they've seen. My plan is to have different weights spun from year to year so for now there will be a very limited amount available in the shop of what I am calling the indy hayden twenty twelve worsted blend. One skein is plenty to make a hat or a pair of mitts or, dare I say, a cowl. If you happen to end up with a skein or two, I hope that you love it as much as me. I can say that it is a true pleasure to knit up. 

FO : Mr. Cowl

It was my brother Pete's birthday this Tuesday so I jaunted down to NYC to see Cat Power with him! Oh, so fun. I love when all I need is my tiny vintage Amelia Earhart suitcase and an adventurous spirit. It's not easy to leave my large brood mid week! But it was worth it, even if today felt all sorts of Monday. 

Cat Power was amazing by the way. 

And so was the breakfast that Pete and I had in Brooklyn which we lingered over while I knit up his birthday present and people watched. Such a perfect morning. I knit a heavily modified Mr. Cowl for him which is really a perfect man-cowl, I've knit one other, it's very flattering and masculine. My mods are raveled with other project notes here. 

I think quick jaunts to Brooklyn will be my "emergency exit" more often :) Vermont has my heart for sure and always, but, oh my, it's easy to forget what a wide world it is out there while you're nestled deep in these mountains. 

Free Recipe for the InSPirATion Cowl

I designed this cowl as part of my InSPirATion Series of ooak hand knits for my Etsy shop but would love to share the simple recipe for this design here for knitters. 

Grab: Two main colors and one contrast color of Super Bulky yarn, I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick. Size 15 needles, circular or straight and a size K crochet hook. 

Make it: Cast on 42 stitches and knit every row, switching colors with your two chosen main colors on the right side row whenever you feel inclined and carrying your other yarn up the side. Continue doing this until your piece measures about 10" tall or however tall you'd like. Bind off leaving a long tail about 18 inches long. Using your contrast color and a size K crochet hook, single crochet along one edge. Break yarn and pull through loop. Seam your cowl using a mattress stitch and your purl ridges while taking care to line up your stripes. Weave in all ends. Wear and enjoy!

As always, with my pattern offerings, patterns are for personal use only. I ask that you kindly refer those who would like you to purchase a cowl to my Etsy shop and not sell any for your own personal profit. I hope you have fun making one! Can't wait to see all of the color combintaions! 

xo Spidey

 

FO : Shaelyn

Well, hello there! What a blessing the past few months have been. Red Comb Vintage has been keeping me good and busy but I managed to sneak in a very special knit for a very special woman and I am so excited to share it with you. 

My Grandma turns 95 today! She is really an amazing lady. She's an Armenian Genocide survivor with a story of survival too difficult to even tell, has one of the most beautiful singing voices you've ever heard, is a licensed Funeral Director, has done commercials (quite recently) and modeled (in the past, at 95 swims nearly every day and can not be beat in a game of cards. 

I knit this shawl for her, the only request she had was that it be colorful. 

This was such a great knit. The lace pattern is easily memorized and you have the stockinette rows to break it up a bit. You can find all of my project details on Ravelry. 

I'm not able to blog much these days but you can find me often on Instagram. I'm spiderwomanknits there as well. Have a follow if you will! Hope all is well in your world. 

xo Spidey

Free Pattern: The Vermonter

It's getting to be that time of year! Time to put our wooly thinking caps on and start thinking about gift knitting. Well, I have an early gift for you! Another free pattern to add to my collection and this one is really fun. Meet The Vermonter. It's quick, straight forward, fun and easy to wear hat that uses one ball of super bulky yarn and just a bit of your time. 

In fact, if you happen to have a ball of super bulky laying around and some size 11 DP's you could whip one up this weekend and I really hope you do!

You can find the free pattern for personal use on Ravelry.

Or, you can purchase a license to knit The Vermonter for your own shop or craft fairs in my shop along with my favorite needles that I use to knit all my hats. Read more about pattern licenses here. 

Enjoy!

xoxo

Spidey

FO: Quynn 2

Quynn 2 flew off the needles this afternoon just in time for school pick up and 84 degree weather. The knitter in me is so ready for Autumn. 

By modifying the garter brim on this hat you get such a different look. I'll be playing with that even more. 

Besides being a super willing and adorable knitwear model, Simonne just finished her very first week of school and she lost her first tooth! I wrote a little bit about my feelings on losing baby teeth years ago when Jorn started. If you're interested here is the post. I still feel strongly that this is such an interesting developmental time that goes beyond just the physicality of it. 

And, as usual, Quynn 2 project details, more pics and my mods can be found on Ravelry. I wish everyone a lovely weekend! xo Spidey

PS. find me on Instagram as spiderwomanknits