fiddlesticknitting

Inspiring Women. Innovative Designers.

I spend a lot of time on the internet. It kind of comes with the territory of having your own online magazine. I rationalize by saying that I'm studying (which I am....most of the time. Oh btw, have you checked out Pinterest? OMG).  I am constantly inspired by the patterns and designers out there and thought I'd share my top 5 faves. This of course is just the tip of the iceberg, but they are the designers that inspire me the most.

Teva Durham. I love her designs. Her first book, Loop-d-Loop was the second knitting book I ever bought. I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with her at TNNA in June and it was really *a moment* for me. Awesome. 

Susan B. Anderson. Who doesn't love her? She is so talented, prolific and so creative. She is kind and generous and just all-round one of my favorites in the business. (BTW, did you see the post she wrote about me?!?!? LOVE HER!)

Ysolda Teague. Again, who doesn't love her??? She is amazing. Incredible. Brilliant.  For someone so young, she just blows me away. 

Kirsten Kapur. I was looking through Kirsten's patterns today on Ravelry and holy crap that woman knows how to design. I mentioned on twitter that one could be set just knitting Kirsten's patterns...and be very happy. Everything she does is awesome. I especially love her use of color.

Stefanie Japel. Another amazing woman. Another amazing designer. One of the first patterns I ever knit was Stefanie's "Boobholder" and fell in love with top-down construction immediately. (Isn't Stefanie a hottie modeling the minisweater?? Wow!)

If I can become half, or even a quarter, the designer that these women are, I would be happy.

 

2010 Knits

I finally got around to taking pictures of recent (and not so recent) FOs that I wanted to share with you. I need to make a pompom (first one failed) for Lovey's golf club cover, and then I'll take a picture of that, but here's everything else:

Most recently finished (12/28): Serendipity Mittens by my dear friend Brandy Fortune! They are a super quick knit (two Glee episodes worth) and used less than one skein of Spud and Chloe Outer. My Rav Info is here.

Finished at 4:30AM Christmas Day. Someone in this house likes Olivia (Nickelodeon), and I think she's a  pretty cool pig. I've named these Olivia Warmers and they used about 1/3 of a skein of each color (tutu and red hot) in Spud and Chloe Fine. Rav Info.

(No that's not a bunch of crap on my sweater, that's a bunch of crap on my mirror! It has since been cleaned thankyou!)

Finished Thanksgiving week (I think....) Here is my short-sleeved version of the Oatmeal Pullover. I am lazy and knew that I would never finish this sweater (although it's super quick to knit) if I had to knit two sleeves. So, I took the easy way out, but here in Colorado we do like to layer, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! I used Quince and Co. Puffin in Peacock. I love this sweater and wear it a ton, so I guess it's a winner! Rav info.

(This one was a b*tch to photograph. I promise it doesn't look like vomit in real life!)

This was finished in Feb 2010. It's the Modern Garden Cardi. It turned out quite wonky, but I still like it, and it's my very first (finished) sweater! Rav Info here to learn about the wonkiness. I used Araucania Limari, which was fun to use.

(My god, isn't she an absolute doll? I LOVE her!)

This was finished as Satya's Christmas present last year. I am sure I finished it in the wee hours on Christmas morning. I love this little beret, it's the Petite Beret by Hadley Fierlinger. I used Spud and Chloe Sweater in Moonlight and a little bit of Knitpicks Palette (doubled) for the i-cord. What's cool about this beret, is that it fits me too! Rav Info.

See?

If you'd like to see Satya gussied up in all handknits.....

She's pretty fancy, isn't she? If you'd like to see a sneak peek of my new design (pattern to come out this weekend!)......

(picture taken by Brandy Fortune)

 

I think 2011 is going to be a great year. I have already changed my attitude into quite a positive one, and I have a lot of plans. My word for 2011 is Determination. What's yours?

Have a wonderful and very safe New Year's celebration and Best Wishes for 2011!

Happy Holidays

 

The Problem with Me....

Is that every year at this exact time (Thanksgiving week), I  get these ambitious ideas for holiday gifts. Sometimes I just say screw it and don't do anything, but other years, I go over the top and get all crafty crazy. I am thinking that this year is going to be the latter.... :)

I must've been a good girl this year because Santa rotated me off of all of our holiday concerts, except my fave (hurray!), so I will have a ton of time for crafty goodness. 

Wanna see what I'm obsessing about?

Laura Nelkin's Aile

Olga Buraya-Kefelian's Cubed Necklace from Ori Ami Knits (omg, what a book! incredible!)

Rosemary Hill's book Elements of Style: Knit & Crochet Jewelry with Wire, Fiber, Felt & Beads

I think I'll be spending some time at this site to get my Habu on. Oh, but WAIT! The Habu site is having a Thanksgiving sale this weekend! All yarns are 15% off!!! So glad I checked the site! 

 

Now I need to figure out the men.......any handmade ideas?

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all of my readers that still stick around <3

Hell Hath Frozen Over

I have an FO. For reals. And it's a sweater. For reals. I still knit kids. 

It's the Easy Top-Down Raglan by Susan B. Anderson. She and Wendy Bernard hosted a fantastic KAL for this. I highly recommend knitting it up and reading every.single.post in the Ravelry thread. Such inspiration, and such a great easy knit!

I am really hoping that Satya will humor me and actually put it on and fall in love with it so I can take some more pictures. But I just couldn't wait. It's not every year that I finish a project!

Now, do I finish my Oatmeal Pullover or cast on for a Tiny Tea Leaves for Satya? It is only Tuesday of a whole week off. Maybe both will happen!