Learning to Knit

In all my years of doing crochet, I've never picked up a pair of knitting needles...  never, ever...  at least, not until this past Saturday.

On Saturday, I went to the local yarn store, Edgewood Yarn & Fibers, and saw a lovely, sea green yarn.  The yarn is called "Bamboo Bloom" and it is a blend of bamboo, wool, and acrylic.  Unlike most yarns, it is not uniformly sized.  It varies from thin and threadlike to super bulky.  I tried doing a bit of crochet with it using a size N hook, but it just doesn't look right so....  I bought a pair of knitting needles.

Before I left the store, Ginny had me doing a couple of basic stitches: knit, purl, seed, etc.  Now, I'm sitting here plugging away at a basic knit scarf, using this lovely and well textured yarn.

The bamboo part of the yarn has a sheen, like satin and it contrasts nicely with the puffy softness of the wool. It truly is lovely.

Right now, I've only got a couple of inches knitted.  As the scarf nears completion, I'll post pictures.  Not much to see right now.

Free Pattern: Red Bulky Skullcap with Big Black Button

This pattern was originally published BirDeli's Handmade and it was posted on that blog. Sadly, the blog is no longer available so I copied the pattern from a web cache.  I take no credit for this pattern. It belongs to BirDeli.  I am only putting it here for posterity, since it had been made available there, for free, for all.

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Skill Level: Easy
Size: Fits all size heads. (Stretchy)
Materials: 10 mm (US N-15) hook, Category 5 Bulky weight yarn (approx 100 gr/110 m; 60% Wool yarn, 40% Acrylic yarn), 1 button (4 cm diameter), scissors, yarn needle.
Stitches Used: Chain stitches (ch), stitch (st), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc).

Note: Hat is worked in spiral shapes from top to end of Rnd 8. The rounds are not joined and restarted and they are worked continuously.

Instructions
Center Ring: ch3, sl st into first chain to create a ring or you can do a magic ring.
Rnd 1: ch 1, work  sc,  hdc, 6 dc in ring. Do not join the round. (8 st)
Rnd 2: Work 2 dc into the first st (mark the first of these two stitches with a marker to indicate the beginning of the second round), 2 dc in next 7 st. (16 dc)
Rnd 3: *2dc in next dc, dc in next dc* Repeat from * to * around, reach the marker. (24  dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc* Repeat from * to * around, reach the marker. (32 dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc* Repeat from * to * around, reach the marker. (40 dc)
Rnd 6: dc in each dc around, reach the marker. (40dc)
Rnd 7: dc in each dc around, reach the marker. (40dc)
Rnd 8: dc in each dc around and turn. (40dc).
Row 9: ch 2 and dc in same stitch, dc in next 15 dc, hdc in next 11 dc, sc in next 7 dc, sl st in next 6 dc, turn. (16 dc, 11 hdc, 7 sc, 6 sl st)
Row 10: sl st in next 8 st, sc in next 8 st, hdc in next 10 st, dc in next 14 st, turn. (14 dc, 10 hdc, 8 sc, 8 sl st)
Row 11: ch 2 and dc in same stitch, dc in next 11 st, hdc in next 11 st, sc in next 8 st, sl st in next 6 st. Fasten off and weave in loose ends with the yarn needle. (11 dc, 11 hdc, 8 sc, 10 sl st)


Sewing the button
Align the edge and the longer side of the brim to the row markers and fold to sew the button like in the picture.

Merino Superwash by Plymouth

In this day and age, I make all my gifts for dear friends & family members.  The gift may be a crochet scarf or a polar fleece hat. I believe that nothing says "I love you" like a homemade gift...  a gift made with love.

I'm working on some "man" gifts right now for my men at Christmas. For my husband, I made a variegated scarf and watch cap made with a lovely yarn - a "merino superwash" - purchased at Edgewood Yarn & Fibers.

It's a round yarn and worsted weight. It works up quickly with great stitch definition. One of the things I really like about this yarn is that it has a degree of elasticity, which really lends itself to making men's watch caps & close fitting beanies.  Best of all...  it's 100% merino wool...  There's nothing like wool.  It's warm, even when wet.

Plymouth Select Merino Superwash Kettle Dyed

The particular yarn I purchased is Plymouth Select Worsted Merino Superwash Kettle Dyed. It is a soft, machine washable wool yarn that comes in a variety of beautiful tonal colors and there's 436 yards per hank. One skein goes a long way!

From this one skein, a man scarf measuring 48"L x 9"W (all double crochet) was made as was a man's, ribbed watch cap (all single crochet), measuring 12"L by 20"W.

A good deal for the price!

Sandy Hook Tragedy

Tragedy...  the word conjures up images of incredible sadness and suffering, as it should, especially when the world has lost so many young lives and the lives of some who tried to save them.

I do not want to go into specifics...  others will do that.  However, we here at Summerhill Stitchery want to offer our support and our condolences to those who have suffered such a great loss.  We are praying for you.

God bless.....  May you find some peace, knowing that they have been enveloped in the arms of our Lord.   God bless you and your angels.

Christmas Bows Scarf

What really dresses up our gift packages at Christmas time?  Pretty, big, red bows!


This cherry red scarf with a strip of red metallic running through it was inspired by the Holiday, especially Christmas, Gift Giving Season. It so much reminds me of the bows found on Christmas and other gift packages.

To give it that holiday flair, in addition to the worsted weight yarn, I added a thin cord of yarn that has a red, metallic thread running through it.  Sadly, the metallic thread doesn't show up well in the photos.

The scarf is 100% acrylic with a hint of sparkle, perfect for the Holiday season.

The scarf's large "windowpanes" do not lend themselves to warmth so I recommend this scarf be worn as a fashion statement.

Machine washable & dryer safe. It's 53" L x 8" W.  I'm selling it for $25 in my Zibbet shop.

Insomnia...

Yesterday on November 18, I fell asleep around 9:30-10:00 p.m.  I was soundly sleeping when a sharp bark penetrated my sleep clouded brain.  It was the our old momma dog....  She was at the back door, barking to go outside.  I stumbled down the steps and to the kitchen door, opening it to let her out.  By the time she came back in, I was wide awake.  Great....

Auracania Coluimo

What to do?  I can't sleep as I'm now wide awake.  I really didn't want to get onto FaceBook as 90% of my friends were being smart & sleeping.  So, I started a new project using the recently purchased, light purple, hand spun & hand dyed yarn - Auracania Coluimo.

This is an imported yarn having been spun in Italy and then dyed in Chile.  I try to purchase yarns Made in the USA only, but this was a really good buy that I stumbled upon at the discount store, Tuesday Morning. It is a really nice, bulky yarn that is a wool & silk blend (70% wool and 30% silk).  It isn't scratchy and is quite soft. Best of all...  It's warm.

I bought this yarn to add to my stash, not that my stash is small - it isn't - in fact, the last thing I need is more yarn.  But, it was such a good price and I've been wanting to try the Auracania yarns but they're just too expensive at nearly $20 a hank.  The price was so good and this yarn is so soft & bulky and...  it's a pretty color of purple with natural variations because of being hand dyed. Yes, I can justify....   So, I sucked it up and bought it.

Bobble Stitch Neck Warmer

The next day as I was browsing the aisles at the local Jo-Ann's, I saw the latest edition of the magazine, Love of Crochet.  Scanning the pages, there were some rather interesting & neat looking patterns: a "bobble stitch neck warmer", a "waffle & berries cowl", etc.  One of them is for a "Bobble Stitch Neck Warmer" caught my eye. I liked the pattern as soon as I saw it.  The pattern calls for a chunky yarn, weight 6, and it only measures 27" in length. So, I started looking for the yarn for it, considering the various colors of the various chunky yarns of the appropriate weight such as Wool-Ease.  Then, it hit me....  the purple Auracania yarn would work for this!

So, last night during a bout of insomnia, I picked up my size N crochet hook and started making the Bobble Stitch Neck Warmer.  It turned out well.  I'm going to keep this one for me and make a 2nd one to sell.  It took just over one skein of yarn and there is enough yarn left over to make a cap or some fingerless gloves to go with it.  I'm leaning towards the fingerless gloves or, perhaps wristlets...  maybe cuffs.

It's held into place on one's neck with 2 large buttons. The pattern in the magazine was done in a sage or grass green and it sported two wooden buttons. Since mine is purple, I've added two, 1 1/2" blue buttons off of an old coat.

Now...  to make something to go with it...

Customer Service Pledge

When I started Summerhill Stitchery, I considered the things that really bugged me about buying things from others.

• High shipping costs, i.e., shipping a spring at $15.00 when it can ship for $5.00
• Slow delivery, sometimes in excess of 20 working days
• Unreasonable return policies, i.e., must be returned within 3 days, and restocking fees
• Lack of communication or poor communication

In general - POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I resolved to emphasize customer service, to make it a priority at Summerhill Stitchery.  With that thought in mind...

1. To combat high shipping costs, unless previously arranged, Summerhill Stitchery will ship by the least expensive option available from US Postal Service.  Summerhill Stitchery will never mark-up shipping costs.  
2. Unless otherwise requested, the customer will receive their item by Priority Mail. We will strive to use the least expensive Priority mail option to save the customer money.
3. Summerhill Stitchery's return policy is as follows:  If the customer is not satisfied for any reason, they are free to return the item within 14 working days for a full refund of the purchase price (minus shipping). That should be time enough for you to determine if the product is what you want & what you expected.  Of course, this is subject to change if we find out the policy is being abused.
4. We promise to communicate with you, promptly & with kindness.  You will NOT be put on "Hold".  We have no "hold" button!

Please feel free to let Summerhill Stitchery know of any other Customer Service pet peeves you may have to help us provide the best service to you, our customers.  Without you, there would be no Summerhill Stitchery.