Felted Flower Countdown - 5 Days to Go + Mom's B-Day Gift

My friend and tech editor Lori and I have been working like crazy on the upcoming Sunflowers and Zinnia pattern. It should launch by noon on Friday. Had a bit of a snafu with my over 4 year old Mac Book Pro on Sunday - just when I was closing in on the finishing of the pattern. All of a sudden the screen went black. I couldn't revive it. To say panic ensued would be mild. Off I went to Brown Computer Solutions in Brattleboro this morning and somehow it was revived miraculously (at no charge - that place is really wonderful). They told me not to trust it though and it looks like I'm going to be in the market for a new Mac Book Pro shortly. Oh, how I hate to spend the money on it but my computer has become my life - crazy as that seems..... I've got a good back-up and will religiously back it up every day now, knowing this old thing's days are numbered. I hope I can make it to the new year on this one.

Lori and I were talking about the PDF Download Pattern Collection that has been developing here on the blog and website. It has grown organically, depending on what I wanted to knit and design at any particular time. I didn't realize it but at least half the patterns are felted. Guess I like felting. Wondering about all of you. Do you still like to felt your knitting? Someone - don't remember who - told me felting was over. I'm not inclined to agree with that though. I just love the fabric that is produced when I felt wool - it is so thick and textural and gorgeous. I love it for home decorating and home products. I just finished a set of potholders for my Mom's birthday. I'll be giving them to her at Thanksgiving (late, as usual - her birthday is in October). 

These are potholders from my Swirly Twirly Pattern which is available on my website here and on Ravelry here. They are a really fun knit. Here they are before felting.

Mom's birthday present before felting

I lined Mom's potholders with a pretty colorful check. It isn't necessary to line them though but I know my mom and I think she would like them lined. They actually would be more fire-proof if they weren't lined. Here they are in different views via PicFrame app on my iPhone... 

Have you ever used wool potholders? I can't tell you how super fantabulous they are! They don't catch on fire pretty much ever - you have to leave them on top of a pot for a long time in order for that to happen. I will not lie - I have scorched them but sometimes I am a careless cook! The Swirly Twirly Potholders are nice and thick and it's pretty impossible to burn yourself. I only use wool potholders - never cotton. If you have a Christmas gift to knit for someone who loves to cook, this is a great pattern.

Now onto the next preview of the Sunflower and Zinnia Pattern..... Here's gorgeous niece Celia modeling a tweed scarf.....

I hand-stitched two different color flowers to the bottom of a piece of wool tweed fabric from my fabric stash that I ripped into scarf size.

Close-up of the bottom edge of the scarf

I love how this photo came out. It was a cloudy, grey day and I used the sky as a backdrop for Celia. Pop back everyday this week for another preview - that is if my computer keeps working! The pattern will be live by noon on Friday.

My niece Celia modeling the tweed scarf