SpiderWomanKnits

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

whirlwind to the shore

Jorn and I went down to New Jersey on Saturday for a family gathering. It was a wonderful whirlwind and we even managed to squeeze in a trip to the shore before we headed back on Sunday morning. It was two hours very well spent. I just love the sea. Everyone was gone, it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. We wandered the shoreline, under the docks, around the amusement park and gathered treasures, of course. When we arrived back in Vermont we still had sand between our toes. What a delight for mountain dwellers. And, what a delight for a mother of three to have that time with my first born. The best treasure of all. 

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 

FO: Quynn

Oh, a really fun knit! I've had this pattern in my queue for a while now and decided to buy the pattern yesterday. I've already cast on and am almost done with a #2. Such an addictive knit with really charming results. 

I love that it covers those little ears without having to go and add ear flaps later. They are created while you knit. Perfecto!

There's also a fairly obvious front and back which is very kid friendly too. As usual all of my project notes and more pictures can be found on Ravelry. OK! Back to knitting. You've been warned, this knit is addictive. xo Spidey

FO: Sweet November

The days are still pretty warm here in Vermont but at night you can feel Fall starting to creep in. I have to say this has been one of the fullest summers for me and the kids in a long time. Perhaps it has something to do with not having an infant or very young toddler, my "baby" is starting preschool next week, but we really squeezed as much fun and relaxation as we possibly could out of the past few months. I am tired! Ready to send the kids off to school and knit up some warm goodies for the upcoming seasons. 

It's been a while since I've knit something for myself and my favorite Fall and Winter accessory is a good shawl or cowl. Having something around your neck just makes you so cosy, don't you think? Last winter I was adorned all season long with my own Drop Stitch Cowls and I am sure I will be this winter as well but I wanted something a little lighter weight to get me to the snow. The Sweet November Shawl fit the bill perfectly and I had the perfect yarn in my stash. 

I am really happy with the way this project turned out and it was a thoroughly enjoyable knit. All my project notes, details and more pictures can be found on Ravelry. 

 

FO: Chunkeanie using Indy and Hayden's Yarn!

I am crazy excited about this very simple but useful knit because it is my first ever FO using Indy and Hayden's yarn! I brought all their fleece this past Fall to my local mill and the yarn came back a few weeks ago. It's everything I hoped for and more. I had it plied and spun to worsted weight. I also purchased a sheep fleece to spin in at 20 percent because I wanted the yarn to have some more structure and be able to hold stitch definition. The resulting yarn is lofty, alpaca soft and delicious. Caramel colored with a slightly tweed effect from the sheep fleece. A perfect go to yarn. 

I should have known to expect the same type of overwhelming feeling of satisfaction you get from growing your own food but I really wasn't prepared for it. I really wasn't. I don't know why. But holding this yarn in my hands, working with it and wearing it makes knitting an even more fulfilling craft for me. I *love* this yarn in a deeper way because it is spun up, not only with Indy and Hayden's delicious fleece, but also with memory, emotional warmth. It's so special and I feel really blessed. 

Jorn asked that I knit him a hat with it and we decided on this pattern. All my Ravelry project details can be found here. Look! A perfect match! I hope to be able to make a very limited quantity of this yarn available in my Etsy shop but I just can't let any of it go yet. 

a delightful summer chore

{Alpacas love a good hose down} 

Hayden (being hosed) loves it full on. It's the silliest thing ever. He just keeps turning from side to side until he feels sufficiently soaked. Indy (watching) is more timid when it comes to water. He assumes "camel pose", lays down, and then you sort of have to shower him above from afar. I'll try to get a picture of it but he won't let you get too close to the action. Hosing down the boys has turned into the kids favorite summer farm chore. To be truthful, we all sort of argue for a bit over who will get to do it. Luck for all of us it's been a really hot summer. 

A Sweet Shop Update

Vintage Chrome Cake Server SOLD

Triple Layer Yellow Chiffon Slip SOLD

A Pound of The Sweetest Scraps

Vintage Amelia Earhart

Vintage 1950's Porta-file in *Plaid* 

Red Comb Vintage has been closed for the summer so that I could treasure hunt, wrangle weeds and make happy memories with the kids but it's reopened now. I just added these vintage cuties to my Etsy Shop and I have a feeling it won't be long until they are matched to their forever homes. You can click on the links under each picture to have a closer look. That Cake Carrier is really something!

I hope your weekend was full of all sorts of treasures too!

xo Spidey