Monica Knits

These cuff-down, knitted ribbed tube socks, evocative of refreshing rocket popsicles, incorporate, a round toe and melon colors. Shown in size 6-12 months. The pattern provides instructions for sizes 0-6 months and 12-24 months as well and includes an optional waste yarn (peasant) heel and Kitchener toe. If you've never knitted socks before, tube socks are the quickest to knit and baby socks less intimidating than adult socks.

Pattern Information: Two Toes Tubes Baby Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_Toes_Tubes_Baby_Socks__D10417220.html This pattern lets you choose from 2 toes, 2 heels, 3 patterns and 3 sizes using Comfy Fingering^TM cotton or or Palette^TM Peruvian Highland wool yarns--over 12 sock combinations.

The best way I found of creating knots is to use t-pins at the points. Once you start pinning a knot, like this example with 10 points, it becomes easy to lose track of which is which otherwise. I divided the circle into the number of points and drew diameters through the center, extending past the circumference. Then I numbered the points on the paper to keep track of the loops and the order in which they are twisted together. The paper is pinned to a blocking mat. Read more ... for related links

I've been experimenting with straps for accessories and clothing. This swatch is a 3-color I-cord of Palette colors: Lady's Slipper, Cosmopolitan and Rouge respectively. The color is changed on each "row". The fingertip yarn guide was helpful in creating this swatch but every few rows, you have to stop and turn the dpn to untwist the yarns.
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To help manage the yarn tails associated with horizontal stripes and color changes I tie a small, temporary square knot. This quick measure prevents gaps from occurring in the knitting and allows me to continue knitting past the color changes until I'm ready to weave in the yarn tails. The yellow arrows point to three of the four color transitions. Read more ....

The afternoon sun, shining on this gold flame spirea, highlighted the red and gold leaf colors. It is the spring equivalent of the burning bush, and lifts my spirits with its vibrant colors.

It has been an unual spring. In less than a week, no fewer than 10 different flowers and 4 trees have blossomed in our garden. Flowers that normally bloom later, are vying for attention with the early spring blossoms. Only the tulips haven't yet bloomed. The bleeding hearts are already blooming. I almost took the tomato cages off the young saplings, but I'm glad I didn't. Read more ...

Grape Hyacinth When I was in my late twenties I wore a houndstooth check wool suit of purple and black. One of my colleagues remarked: "Purple is perfection!" After the torrential cloudburst today I found four different flowers that had begun to bloom in my garden. Today was the day for purple flowers to bloom: vinca, grape hyacinth, wood hyacinth and hyacinth. Purple is perfection! Read more... to see all four flowers.

Whirligig Gloves Promise of SpringThe late winter colors of sky blue, brilliant sunshine, snow, dried grasses and leafless trees evoked the sense of spring awakening. The effect was both uplifting and fascinating and inspired Fair Isle style gloves in 4 cheerful colors: sky blue, cream, rust and yellow. Read on ... for Independent Designer Pattern (IDP) and yarn information.

The blue sky and brilliant morning sun hinted at 50^oF temperatures and the promise of spring. The sun created prismatic effects on the snow and the crystals of snow sparkled in the sunlight. These late winter colors inspired me to knit gloves in 4 colors: sky blue, winter white (snow), and rust and marigold (morning sun on the deciduous trees and dry grass).

For a quick, festive, warm gift to knit, beaded wrist warmers sparkle. They take longer to knit than wrist warmers without beads--the time depends upon how many beads you decide to use. When you pair beads, plus yarn, you create a unique tribute to the wearer. These narrow, fitted wrist warmers were designed for a medium sized woman working at her computer. The turquoise blue color was selected to complement my sister's coloring. The beads resemble ornaments on a Yuletide tree.    Read more .... for pattern instructions.

Fireworks I found these fireworks uplifting and inspiring, the colors bright and the background dramatic. The colors remind me of a black knitted coat of mine whose surface is enhanced with a slip stitch design of many colors. Read more .... to see needlework with black backgrounds.