Take a look......
Here is the ubiquitous Red Heart "Aran Fleck":
(Yarn snobs - please don't faint!)
Which I bought to make 4 of these:
Yep - my favorite place mat pattern. DH got to eat dinner on the finished one last night & loved it. :) I choose the color because it goes with our neutral, kinda oatmealy dishes:
I plan to make one a day 'til the set is complete. I'll probably make the matching coasters too. Doug's already saying I should do sets for Christmas presents. Now, that's a thought!
In case you were going into chicken withdrawals, here's a charmer for you:
I particularly like those wings. :)
I also realized yesterday that I was pretty well out of bright, summery, variegated Sugar & Cream colors. I went to Hobby Lobby & rectified that:
After all, who can resist colors like "Swimming Pool" and "Over The Rainbow?"
While I was at Michael's checking for Cotton Ease (nope - they don't have it) I found this (Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2007):
I was captivated by the lace on the cover & snatched it up without even flipping through. I'm glad I did. Here are two things at the top of my must-make list:
It's made with Lion Brand's new nature cotton, but I have plenty of other cottons on my shelves that will worth for this. I really like that nipped in waist. I think I'll be casting on for it today, although the sizing only goes up to 40 so I'll need to do a wee bit of tweaking.
Here's a crochet number that I think is very cool - without the ribbon trim, though!
Here's a close-up:
If I don't have anything just right, I think I'll order some Elann Sonata today. I'm thinking I'll make it in a variegated. Hmmmm.....
And this...with all due respect to the designer who I won't name....this is pretty bad. A baby onesie:
In the blurb describing the pattern it says that babies are fun to dress because you can put anything on them & they won't complain. Therefor you can indulge your wildest fantasies & show off your expert knitting skills.
I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking wearing something like this might just leave permanent, psychological scars. Even in an infant.
Just sayin'.
And this sweater, when I'm in the mood for oodles of lace, might be just the thing:
Wow.
Hope everyone's having a great weekend! Today I'm going to try & make sense out of my craft room and get things put away.
I may never be seen again. LOL
Ah yes - that chicken, and the other one too. :o)
Oh, and I love me some Aran Fleck!
Posted by: Julie | March 25, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Did someone say Aran Fleck? Always liked that as a basic tweedy kind of yarn. Very attractive placemats, but I gotta say the chicken is my favorite in this post. Beyond cute! You're right - it's definitely the wings. Have you already mentioned where you found that pattern?
Posted by: Paula | March 25, 2007 at 08:44 AM
Awesome chicken!!! I know I couldn't resist "swimming pool" when I saw it. ;)
Um... and that baby onesie... I sure hope no one gets photos of the poor child. I can just imagine how embarrasing those would be later in life!
Posted by: Andrea | March 25, 2007 at 09:15 AM
I love the chicken!
Posted by: Jenn | March 25, 2007 at 09:21 AM
I love those placemates! What a great idea. I'm going to have to look into that yarn.
Posted by: Michelle | March 25, 2007 at 09:59 AM
That's another magazine I'll have to buy but NOT for that onesie...OMG that is so 70s disco babe.
Where did you find that adorable chicken pattern?
Posted by: Pink | March 25, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Acrylic would be great for place mats, wouldn't it? Great pattern and it looks super in the fleck.
You've found so many pretty patterns lately. I bet you come home from shopping with a smile on your face.
Posted by: Linda | March 25, 2007 at 10:07 AM
The place mats look great! I can't wait to get my issue of VK!
Posted by: Adrienne | March 25, 2007 at 10:17 AM
That chicken is adorable! Yes, please repeat where to find the pattern.
You are such a talented lady1!!
Posted by: Margaret | March 25, 2007 at 10:23 AM
I like the placemats and I too have Aran fleck somewhere in my stash (LOL).
I *heart* the chicken!
Believe it or not, I have all those Sugar N Cream colors in my cotton stash from last year!
Posted by: deneen | March 25, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Love the chicken!
As for the onesie... do they really think anyone looking at it will say, wow, what a knitter? *shudder*
Posted by: Anne | March 25, 2007 at 01:17 PM
Love the tweedy placemats, and of course the chicken. My VK hasn't arrived yet but it is in the stores already?! So much for the advantages of subscribing.
Posted by: Kristen | March 25, 2007 at 03:07 PM
I "heart" that chicken! Too Cute! Pretty please, let me know where the pattern can be found! Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Sandy | March 25, 2007 at 04:50 PM
Not to rub it in, but in my craft shopping excursions this weekend, I saw the new CottonEase at my Michael's... they had most of the colors, including the terracotta (which is gorgeous in person) and violet, which was almost sold out. I was able to restrain myself, for now...
And don't apologize for Red Heart Super Saver! It's the only thing I use for afghans. I just picked up some "Candy Print" to make a blankie for my daughter. It's a red/fuschia/pink varigated that she chose and I love it!
Posted by: Beezie | March 25, 2007 at 09:19 PM
I, too, am loving the chicken, despite my being a not-very-chickeny person (I'm a huge chicken - I just don't opt to decorate with them...) Love those cotton colors (I just got 6 balls (3 variegated and 3 solids) of S&C too, like last week! Must be going around! JoAnn's was having a 2/$3 sale on them, so I used some Christmas gift money and went to town. Have a great week!
P.S. Red Heart is a little hard on the hands, but it's hard-wearing and machine washable. Plus if you wash it with lots of fabric softener, it'll soften up some, which is nice too. :)
-MK
Posted by: Miss Knotty | March 25, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Starting from the bottom up:
Miss Knotty - Red Heart used to be my one & only yarn with occasional forays into Caron products. :) It's still what I reach for when I know something will be spilled on & laundered frequently. You just can't beat man-made fiber for durability! ::Grin::
Like you, I'm not really a chicken person but there's something about these patterns that captivated me. :)
Beezie - I'm happy to hear that at least SOME Michael's are stocking CE! AND I'm happy to hear that the terracotta is pretty in person. I might just need to order some one of these days.
Sandy - Thanks! Pattern details in March 26th post.
Kristen - I was VERY shocked to see it at Michael's because I hadn't heard about it on blogs yet. It must be a fluke, eh?
Anne - I'd be more inclined to question the sanity of the knitter! LOL
Deneen - Obviously, great yarn minds think alike! hehe
Margaret - I don't know about talented, but I'm certainly driven these days! Must...make...more....kitchen...stuff! hehe
Adrienne - There really are quite a few nice things in the mag - something for everyone.
Linda - I really do. Smile that is. I think I'm getting some of my mojo back.
Although not enough (yet) to finish up my Bianca Jacket!
Pink & Andrea- The designer is "out there" with most of her stuff, but this one is really too bizarre.
Thanks Michelle & Jenn! I'll be happy when all 4 place mats are done. But I think I need to make more chickens as gifts. :)
Julie & Paula - That Aran Fleck is what I used for my "come-back" sweater about 4 years ago when I got back into knitting. It certainly gave me the confidence to go forward!
Posted by: Bron | March 26, 2007 at 09:42 AM
hello...i was browsing around and found your blog...love it!...i was wondering what your experience with elann.com's Sonata 100% mercerized cotton was like...i want to get some to make the short 'n sweet in the SnB: Happy Hooker and also the lacy tunic in the Tahki Stacy Charles Crochet 2nd edition pattern book...what are other comparable 100% mercerized cottons that won't break the bank?...thanks!
Posted by: Jeanie | February 29, 2008 at 03:33 PM