Mr X Stitch + More + Giveaway

I'll start out with a close-up detail of two of the stitches we'll be learning in the Crewel Embroidery Class project that I'll be teaching this summer at the farm. Check out the class schedule here. 

 Do you know Mr X Stitch? If you don't, you should. It is a great site originating in the UK all about stitching. They feature both modern and historical stitching, book reviews, art, textiles - all kinds of things. It is run by Jamie Chalmers, one of the world's most well-known male embroiderers and a fantastic curator of all things embroidery and more - quilting, beading, lace, felting, and more. 

Today, there is an interview with me on Mr X Stitch and a chance to win my Crewel Embroidery class on Craftsy.com - Stitch It With Wool. Hop on over here to enter. YOU MUST ENTER ON THE MR X STITCH BLOG - NOT HERE.

Two of the panels from the Great Tapestry of Scotland

I've been meaning to share a fabulous project that has been happening in Scotland and around the world. It's called The Great Tapestry of Scotland. You must check it out here. Stitchers all over the world embroidered pieces of linen depicting the history and culture of Scotland. It is now on view in Paisley, Scotland until June 8th. It then moves on to Edinburgh from July to September. It is made of over 100 handstitched crewel embroidery panels that are pieced together and measures 143 meters long (twice the length of the Bayeux Tapestry). I've been watching some of the progress over on the Feeling Stitchy blog and then read this report about it via Mr X Stitch. Really something else and if I were going to be in the UK this summer or fall, I would make a special trip to see it. Mr X Stitch reports on it here. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. The week (and month of May) sure did go fast with the Memorial Day holiday. Whoosh. Here's a photo of the lambs grazing the field in front of our farmhouse. They look so clean and the pasture is so green - especially after looking at all that brown all winter long.

Granny Squares for Summer Projects - A "Sorta Color Tutorial"

The official start of summer is beginning. I know many of you get out in your gardens and put away the wool and the needles. Summer is actually one of my most favorite times to stitch - although I look for smaller projects that aren't heavy and hot since I HATE the heat. I'm always looking for something to bring along to a picnic so that I can stitch while visiting by a lake or someone's pool. 

My granny blanket "instagramized"

One of those favorite summer projects is crochet Granny Squares. I began an afghan while on vacation in Maine a few years ago. Here are the squares. You can see that I used multiple colors for the 3 inner layers of the squares. 

When I am making grannies, I alternate the color families so that they colors bounce against each other and "pop". You can see by the squares above what I mean. 

Warm/Cool/Warm

Cool/Warm/Cool

Of course it is okay to deviate but that is my rule of thumb. 
I also make sure that the colors in each stripe have enough difference is color value (darkness and lightness).  See No. 5 below for more info.

Recently a reader wrote to me telling me she wanted to order some of my Color By Kristin for her own afghan while it is still on sale at Webs (sale ends on May 31st). She wanted to know how much yarn to buy.

My finished afghan weighs 1400 grams - or 28 balls of Color By Kristin. This is an heirloom afghan. It is so luxurious - made of 25% alpaca/25% mohair/50% wool. It would make a lovely wedding present or a special gift to send off to college with your child.

Here's what you should know when ordering yarn.
1. My afghan is 10 squares by 10 squares. It weighs 28 balls worth of yarn.
2. My afghan finished measurement is approximately 56" x 56". 
3. My afghan does not have a border. If you plan to add a border (which is a very good idea - I never got to it) then add a bit more for a border - I'd say 3 extra skeins of a border color should do it). 
4. When ordering yarn, purchase 1/4 of the weight in your border color - mine was French Roast 3276. For this size afghan 7 or 8 balls should be enough. If you are adding a border, see #1 and add 3 more balls. 
5. Mix up the other colors. Split them half and half in both warm shades (reds, oranges, yellows) and cool shades (blues, greens, purples, pinks). You'll need at least 21 balls of the "colors." You can read more about warm and cool colors here.
6. Know that as an afghan is used, it will stretch out some. This is a very popular blanket at our house and sees heavy use in the winter. 

Here is the link to my Granny Square Afghan Pattern on the Knit and Crochet Now website. You will need to sign in and register to download it. It is a basic pattern that you can find in many books, magazines and websites. Here is a link to a tutorial with good photos.

Below I've added some photos to illustrate how the colors play with each other. This first photo shows the grannies with 3 layers of color. Note that I must have used a different hook size on the top left granny - it is much bigger than the others. I don't worry about that - I'll add the border and sew it all together and it will even out with blocking.

 

This next photo shows the grannies with their French Roast border added. Note the white space of the studio table.

This photo shows the grannies butted up against each other. See how the appearance changes as the dark brown makes a visual border and begins forming the pattern element that holds the entire design together. It think it gives a look of stained glass.

Here is a strip of grannies. I hand sew my grannies together with the dark color and a tapestry needle because I like to sew. Other people crochet them together. It is up to you. I usually sew the grannies together into panels and then at the end sew the panels together using a table as a base.

Hope this helps and inspires some of you to try some grannies. If you are a Pinterest user, there are many beautiful granny afghans there. Lucy from Attic 24 is also a great crochet inspiration. 

Don't forget - the Webs sale on Color By Kristin ends May 31st - that's 2 days from now.

Summer Stitching + July 19th Retreat Here at the Farm

I've been working on preparing the content for my upcoming day long retreats here at the farm. One of my classes is called Crewel Embroidery. This is the sampler the students will be working on. It is sized to be turned into a zippered bag or a pillow. The fabric is 100% linen and all stitching is done in wool thread.

You probably all know that I teach an on-line class called Stitch It With Wool: Crewel Embroidery on the Craftsy.com website. There's been a nice response so far. Here's the link to the Craftsy.com class. My website has also been updated to include embroidery supplies along with my PDF patterns. Check them out here.

The Crewel Embroidery Retreat here at the farm will feature all new stitches - above and beyond any of the stitches you would learn on the on-line class. There are 18 new stitches in the sampler shown above. Depending on the speed of the class participants, we will work through as many as possible. If you are getting into the Crewel Embroidery Class on-line or just want to learn in person, this will be a great class. All supplies are included and other supplies will be available for sale here.  

Check out the Retreat Information here where you can register. 

Date: July 19, 2014 (Saturday)
Class Size: Limited to 8 students
Price: $225 includes fabric and some thread. Extra supplies will be available for purchase.
Includes snacks, beverages, and farm-raised lunch. Choices of vegetarian, chicken and lamb available.
There will be no refunds for this workshop - Please know that you can make it before registering.
You will receive a registration form to be completed. Please note any dietary restrictions so I can plan accordingly.

Limited to 8 participants

Spring Here at the Farm

We finally have turned the corner and it is looking like spring here at the farm. The other day the apple orchard bloomed. And the lilacs were not far behind. The sheep are out of pasture now. The lambs are getting used to roaming around eating grass without their mamas. 

Here are a few more photos to show you all what spring looked like. Wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day. 

It's Ready - Kristin Nicholas' Easy Aran for Babies, Toddlers and Kids

My adorable model Emersen loving the camera

Thanks for being patient while I readied all my files for my latest knitwear design - The Easy Aran for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids. It's uploaded to my website here and to Ravelry here. It doesn't matter to me where you purchase it. While you are there, check out some of my other designs.

Emersen is so proud of her violet!

The yarn is of course my Color by Kristin Wool/Mohair/Alpaca distributed by Classic Elite Yarns. Remember the yarn is available over on the Webs Anniversary Sale here. It's at a great discount and available in so many gorgeous colors. Check it out.

These photos here are some I didn't use from the shoot. Wanted to include my Julia since she is feeling neglected on the blog lately.

Julia, Emersen, Marlee and the girls' Mom Shalee walking up a wood road

I designed this Easy Aran sweater thinking of beginning knitters who are just wanting to learn cabling. The cable repeats are worked over 6 and 12 rows and are easily memorized. I've included "written out" cable instructions AND "charted" cable instructions. The design features 2 x 2 ribbing trimmed with a rolled edge. There is very little shaping - only at the front neckline and the sleeves. 

This photo shows the neckline details

When I design, I think of the knitter - how they are going to enjoy the process. This project is about ease of knitting while working the cables which are the challenge to a beginner. But for all you more advanced knitters, this project is still fun to knit. 

The Easy Aran Pattern includes 3 photo tutorials:
• How to block a sweater
• How to knit a cable - both front and back cross
• How to sew in a drop shoulder sleeve
• 23 photos, 1 how-to illustration, 1 cable chart, 1 schematic, 11 pages
• More photos and information on my website

It is sized for from babies to larger children - all the specifics are over on my site. Hop on over to my website or Ravelry to purchase the PDF pattern for $6.00. If you have any trouble whatsoever with the download, please do not hesitate to contact me. It should be immediate but check your spam filter just in case it ends up there. 

Marlee's not looking happy with her big sister hugs

Thanks so much to my models Emersen and Marlee - the two beautiful daughters of our friends Will and Shalee. I need to design some more little sweaters for these girls before they get too big to model again. Hard to believe she used to be this small!

Julia loves these two girls

My Adventure Last Week

I'll start this post off with another preview of my upcoming Easy Aran Pullover for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids. Here's our little friend Emme. The pattern is almost done folks. I'll let you know as soon as it is up.

Now for my adventure. I'm not sure how many of you are into flea markets and collecting. Sometimes when I write a post like this, I feel like maybe I bore you with my love for the colorful and the old. But here goes anyway. My space, my loves! 

Last Thursday I headed off to the Brimfield Antique Market. I usually go to J&J which is the "best" show (i.e. most expensive stuff) but because of the incoming rain, I decided to go Thursday. I walk around in the mud enough here. I wasn't really looking for anything - I don't need new things but I do love to look at all the old stuff. I didn't take much money with me - I was just going for the experience. 

Each day different fields are opened. The show changes around as the week goes on - some dealers move to the different fields as they are opening and some just stay put. I have been going to this flea market for over a decade so I know my way around. Several years ago, I hit upon a booth run by a woman named Linda who had a treasure trove of antique textiles. I was in a collecting mood and bought several beautiful embroideries from far away lands. I have used them in the decoration of my home - especially in the library. I only saw Linda once and have looked for her again but to no avail.

Well, guess who I found on Thursday? Linda! I exclaimed to her "Oh here you are!" I was so happy to see her and to know that she was well. I probably acted like quite a nut - although a nice nut. I told her how I so loved the textiles I bought from her. I spent quite a bit of time pawing through her plastic boxes and picked up an embroidery from northern India. Here we are in the photo below with my new piece. Linda has lived a very interesting life trading textiles. She said that the sources overseas are drying up and that now she purchases textiles to sell from collectors who are getting rid of their collections (or the children of the collectors who don't want the stuff). (Her booth is #76 in the field across from the New England Motel.)

Linda tipped me off to a booth I shouldn't miss a few spots down from her. Run by two men from Afghanistan, this booth was a gold mine of color and pattern and texture. Featuring beautiful embroideries, clothing, etched lassi cups, rugs, beading, and Indian block print wooden printing blocks, I could have stayed here all day. Such beautiful objects. Very nice vendors too. I didn't catch this fellow's name but when I go back to see him, I will make sure I get it.

Here are the piles of carved wooden blocks from India which were used for printing fabric. He told me that the textile industry in India is moving away from the traditional block printing method. What a shame. 

Each was a small piece of art. Many had dyes embedded in them. 
 

On one of the other walls, there were beautiful embroidered robes and clothing. Stunning and so inspirational for me as a textile designer. This piece was all hand-embroidered. 
 

Here is a Suzani border embroidery with fringe laid upon the textile above. I love the interplay of the patterns. 

This could inspire the top of a Fair Isle hat.

One part of the booth was covered in these gorgeous beaded pieces. I didn't ask what they were used for. Does anyone know?

  
After these two stops, I really almost left. I didn't need to see more because I was so satisfied. It was so early - not even 10:00 - so I had force myself to keep looking. I went to find the booths that are filled with handmade American textiles. This dealer has been in the same spot for years in the Central Park field. She sells pillowcases (mostly hand embroidered), tablecloths, quilts, bedspreads and more. She comes from the Midwest. Here is a gorgeous cross-stitch tea towel. It had a William Morris vibe to it.

Near this booth (also Central Park), I found a rather creative booth featuring found objects turned into hanging lights. Nice. 

Farther down the road at Hertan's Field I saw these rusted handmade sunflowers. I don't usually go for this kind of thing but I liked these.

It started to get hot and crowded and so I decided to pack it in. I had a fun day - all by myself just looking at all the stuff that people sell. On the way out I saw these pretty blue glass vases. Nice.

I didn't come home with much but my appetite was satisfied. I'll go again - maybe in July if it isn't too hot, and definitely in September.

Whoosh

The sound of my self-imposed deadline - there it goes. Oh well. I'm not going to be able to keep my promise about the new Kids Aran Knitting Pattern - sorry. It is in the final stages of production but not quite done yet. Here is another little photo of the photo shoot process. That is my Julia (on the left - who used to model for me but is too big now), our friend Emme and her mom Shalee and baby Marlee. You might recognize Shalee - she modeled for my book Color By Kristin. Julia was the flower girl in Shalee and Will's wedding several years ago.

We have been moving sheep around this week. Lots of trips back and forth. The lambs were weaned (most of them) and they are in the pasture in front of our house. Here they are.

Rainy weekend. I'll still be at the Webs Tent Sale all day tomorrow. Stop by if you come and say hi. Bring a cooler if you'd like some of our farm raised meat.

Have a great weekend everyone.