Knitting

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Going on a Knitting Adventure

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clara yarnI’m super-excited to report that I’m spending this weekend at Mount Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas, at a knitting retreat with about 20 other ladies and the Yarn Harlot.

Awesome, right?

Except I still really have no idea what knitting to bring.

It’s unseasonably cold (there may even be snow. Today. In Arkansas.) and I’m wishing I had time to finish that alpaca sweater I started a few months ago and abandoned because I thought this time, for sure, it was really, really spring. But I’m probably taking a sock. And maybe a shawl. I kind of abandoned the fingerless gloves I expected to be working on because of a math error.

What do you knit in front of a knitting superstar?

I don’t know.

I am, for sure, taking this. It’s the first run of Clara Yarn, made by Clara Parkes. It’s beautiful and warm and fluffy and I can’t wait to dive in.

(Incidentally, if you want to follow the hijinks of my weekend I’m going to try to post updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.)

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Comments

  1. I go to Mount Magazine in October for a quilting weekend-well it is really 4 days of quilting. I love the place! Great food, great scenery and accommodations are top notch. Have a wonderful time. Make sure your walk up to the highest point-great hike!

  2. sounds like you’ll have a great time.She(Yarn Harlet) is really fun. I have been able to go see her two times now, and would love to be able to do a retreat with her!! Sound like so much fun!!

  4. How fun! I take mindless project to knit retreats- vanilla socks or a garter stitch project.

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]