alipyper

Category: alipyper likes to knit

  • the mr. gets a new cable scarf

    The Mr. is not always so excited about the craft projects that I spend an inordinate amount of time on. This fall I kept asking him if he wanted me to knit him anything and it took him about a month to warm up to the idea of a scarf. I bought some gorgeous soft baby alpaca at Harmony during their Black Friday sale in a very manly orange. Check out my ravelry project page for all the specifics.

    As soon as the yarn was purchased, the Mr. asked me, “So, um, what number on your list of projects is my scarf?” I was too embarrassed to fess up to the number, so it got bumped to the {nearly} top and it’s happily keeping his neck warm on the daily commute.

     

  • the incredible power of handwork

    [embedplusvideo height=”337″ width=”550″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/bfoByYLSBY8?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=bfoByYLSBY8&width=550&height=337&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep2746″ /]

    I was deeply touched by this short clip of Renate Hiller, co-director of the Fiber Craft Studio at the Threefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, New York, who speaks on the transcendent and meditative qualities of creating with our hands and the importance of using natural and beautiful fibers in our work.

    To quote from the video clip:

    “…in handwork, in transforming nature we also make something truly unique that we have made with our hands, stitch by stitch, that maybe we have chosen the yarn, we have even spun the yarn — even better, and that we have designed. And when I do that, I feel whole. I feel I am experiencing my inner core because it’s a meditative process. You have to find your way; you have to listen with your whole being. And that is the schooling that we all need today. Because we’re so egocentric and this makes us think of what is needed by something else. So we are in a way practicing empathy — empathy with the material, empathy with the design. I think this practicing of empathy that we do in the fiber crafts is paramount for being healing to our world. And it’s a service for the divine that we are surrounded by.”

    Thank you Amanda!

  • Christmas Granny Squares and Harmony in Provo

    A brand new fabric, knit, and gift shop is opening in a historic house in downtown Provo this weekend! It’s very exciting, especially since I will be teaching some crochet classes in the new shop! Laura Harmon and her amazingly talented daughters are opening up Harmony at 315 E. Center Street in Provo this Friday September 14th.
     

    www.harmonyprovo.com

    Isn’t it kind of funny that during Rivalry Week (BYU plays against the U of U this Saturday in football) that we’re going to get some Harmony in Provo??

    I’ll be teaching an Intro to Crochet class, which will be a small class to allow lots of one-on-one help for beginners, and a Granny Squares class where I’ll teach lots of great tricks to update this iconic classic crochet motif! It is going to be so much fun! Stop by this weekend to sign up and check out this amazing new shop.

    I’ve decided to crochet a Christmas Granny Squares afghan as part of the Granny Squares class. The other week {G} was horrified that I had already started planning what I wanted to make for Christmas, but with hand-crafted gifts you have to start early! I’m really, really excited about how this afghan is going to turn out and super excited about Harmony!

  • Knit Mary Jane Booties

    One of my very favorite knit bootie patterns is a free, vintage inspired Mary Jane Bootie pattern from Hadley Fierlinger of She’s Crafty (her blog is here). It’s a classic design, it knits up fast and lovely every time, and it’s perfect for baby boys or girls. I’ve been knitting a LOT of these little things lately!

    The pattern can be a little bit confusing, especially if you’re a new knitter, so I’ve done up a supplemental pattern sheet for each available size to help keep things straight while you’re knitting.

    Before you download my supplemental help sheet below, please visit Hadley’s blog to download her free pattern. Then come back and download my help sheet for the size you’re interested in. Let me know how it goes!

    Mary Jane Bootie 0-3m Help Sheet
    Mary Jane Bootie 3-6m Help Sheet
    Mary Jane Bootie 6-12m Help Sheet

  • Temple (Cricket) Vest

    My Dad wanted a white vest to wear so he wouldn’t get chilled when he’s in the Provo Temple. My parents went out shopping to try and find one, but couldn’t. While they were shopping my Dad said to my Mom, “Why are we shopping for a vest when Allison could knit one for me?!”

    Card by BlondeDesigns

    We found some 100% worsted weight white wool at a very reasonable price and I adjusted a free pattern I found on Ravelry.com. It didn’t get done until his birthday at the beginning of February, but my Dad is happy as a clam about it.

    My dear knitting friend who is from Australia said to me when I showed her what I was working on, “Oh, your Dad could wear it to play cricket!” I had a laugh thinking of my 78 year old Dad playing cricket in the temple. Hee, hee!

  • Sure Love Ya!

    My Grandmother Mangum‘s favorite endearment was “Sure love ya!”
    Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day with lots of love!
    Knit heart with banner adapted from this free pattern.

  • Pixie Cable Hat Pattern

    Did you know that I’ve finally finished my knit Pixie Cable Hat pattern?! I’m so excited to finally have it available for PDF download in my Etsy or Ravelry dowload shop! It’s a very vintage-y feeling hat to keep a little one’s ears warm. Don’t let the cables fool you! It’s very easy to knit!

  • Picot Edge Fingerless Gloves

    These are headed to the UK for a dear friend. A thoroughly satisfying quick knit! Check out my Ravelry project page for how I adjusted the free pattern.

  • Hand Knit Christmas Stockings

    Garnet Hill

     I must confess that I am partial to homemade Christmas stockings. My mother made all eight of our Christmas stockings growing up. I love my elves with the pipe cleaner limbs!

    Sugar Plum Stocking Pattern from Knitting Today Magazine

    One year after {K} was born, I was desperate to have a matching set of stockings for all of us, so I took what I had in my stash, made some simple stockings and embroidered our names on them. They are great, but I’ve been longing to make a set of stockings that I really love!

    Sundance Catalog

    Several years ago I saw some colorful striped knit Christmas stockings at JCrew and I’ve wanted to knit a set of my own Christmas stockings ever since. Of course, I remember I want to do this when the Christmas decorations come out after Thanksgiving and there is never enough time to knit by then!

    Land of Nod

    Hopefully by next year I’ll have a set of hand knit stockings to pass to my children!

    Vintage and Stash Stockings

  • 11.11.11

    Free Knit Pattern

     Thank you to all the veterans that continue to allow us the freedom to vote, to worship, to work, to bake, to craft, to create, to sell, to enjoy, to play, and to be.