box sweater

Can't believe it's been almost six months since I've posted! In the time I've been gone, I graduated from college, went to South America, moved to New York and got my first big-girl apartment, started my first job...life has been a little crazy. But I'm determined to keep this blog up, because I don't want something that I'm so passionate about to get lost in the shuffle or pushed to the side. On that note...

This box sweater is the first project I've finished in my new place. I've been dying for sweater weather for weeks now, and have been operating on the logic that maybe I can will it to come faster if I start on my fall knits now.

I got (stole?) the idea of adapting this Berrocco pattern from Karen Templer's truly inspirational Knit the Look series — it's an awesome read for anyone looking to knit something a little more fashion forward than what you tend to find on Ravelry — and adjusted it to fit my vision (and my stash). I tend to gravitate toward roomier, more androgynous cuts with lots of fabric for extra coziness when it comes to sweaters, rather than sexier, close-cut shapes, so I used a chunky wool-mohair blend and added lots of positive ease. I also decided on a little extra length in the back to add interest and prevent the sweater from riding up.

While I love how this piece turned out and have been living in it, it could very easily have been a huge flop, because I committed one of the cardinal sins of knitting during the design process. I made a too-small swatch and didn't block it, and I almost paid the price when the sweater stretched to literally double its original size as soon as I got it wet. Luckily I had been hoping that it would open up a bit and it eventually shrank back down. I think I'll be sticking to home projects for a while, but when I come back to garments, I won't be cutting any corners!

Home goods to knit

Been gone for a while...I was sick most of last week and then had to make a trip up to New York for an interview, so this is me trying to get back into the groove of posting regularly!:)

As I look froward to graduation and (hopefully) moving into my own place, I've been thinking a lot about how I'd like to decorate and the home goods I'd like to knit. Here's what's on my list.

Big Stitch Rug, Purl Bee

A rug. I love the idea of a soft, chunky rug, and this pattern from Purl Bee is gorgeous. It's simple, but feels a bit rustic, which I love. The only problem is that the yarn they used is absurdly expensive (like, you could get a store-bought rug for a tenth of the price type expensive). If I can find a reasonable alternative, this is definitely going to be one of my first home projects.

Umaro Textured Throw, Brooklyn Tweed

Blankets. Everyone needs a few throws here and there. The thing is that this is another project it's easy to drop some serious cash on, but when I'm at home I'm constantly snuggled under blankets, so I think this one could be worth the splurge.

Woven stool project, Apartment Therapy

A woven stool. Ok, so it's not exactly a knitted piece, but I've been wanted to try weaving for ages, and this seems like the perfect started project — no loom required. It would be such a cool way to add some character to a room.

I'd also like to make some smaller projects, like washcloths, potholders and placemats, which would all be easy to improvise. I won't be able to really start on any of these until I have my own place and somewhere to put them, but I like to plan projects a few months ahead. Moving day is getting closer and closer....!

Pretty tins for knitting notions // Liberty sewing kit

While my socks make for a lovely souvenir, they're not the only thing I brought back from Paris and London.

Like I mentioned earlier, I promised myself I would start using nice tools dedicated only to knitting. I made good on that promise by picking up a sewing kit that includes pretty scissors at famed department store Liberty, in one of their adorable signature prints. There were several options, but I liked this peacock pattern most.

I am slightly addicted to tea, especially any variety of mint, and when I saw this tin I had to have it. Lots of tea and a pretty box in which to store my knitting tools? Sold. I also stumbled upon some of my favorite candies, Les Anis de Flavigny, at a drugstore, and the tin will be perfect for little things like stitch markers and tapestry needles.

Odds and ends // links for the weekend

I'm currently missing the gorgeous weather and people of my California home. This picture was taken on my 22nd birthday with two of my best friends, Alejandra and Maddie.

A brilliant idea for joining two balls of yarn. No knots, no ends to weave in. Genius.

{Wool & The Gang}

Another innovative idea: a traveling wine glass that would be perfect for spring picnics. 

{Juniper Moon Farm}

You know those cool books that are hollowed out inside to make secret boxes? Here's how to make them.

{Heather Rivers}

I'm obsessed with these handmade leather sandals. {Calpas}

Class ring // thoughts on moving on

I've been (im)patiently anticipating my class ring's arrival since early February, and it's finally here! It was waiting for me on the kitchen table when I got home from spring break. I've never been into the idea of a super-blingy class ring (that's what costume jewelry is for, in my opinion), so I went with a simple signet with my school's crest.

I ordered it sized as a pinkie ring because I have a few rings that I wear pretty regularly on other fingers, but I'm having a hard time deciding whether I think it works or not, so for now I've put it on the chain never take off and I'm wearing it as a necklace.

The ring is beautiful and I love it, but it's also a sign solidifying the fact that I am graduating in less than two months. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. I guess the best way to sum it up is by saying that I'm happy to go, but sad to leave. In fact, that's how I've felt throughout my entire college experience...I've been so transient the past few years, and while I'm always thrilled to get where I'm going, I'm always sad to leave where I am. Once I know for sure what I'll be doing after graduation, it will be a lot easier to get excited! More on that later, hopefully...

Color and stitch blocking

I'm usually not much of a color person in terms of the clothes I wear. Given the choice between a bright palette and all black everything, I'd go with black every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I guess you could say I tend to be a bit more utilitarian in my color choices...I want everything to go with everything, so I usually stick with muted hues.

But with spring just around the corner, I've been dreaming of some colorful pick-me-ups and things with a bit more visual interest, particularly in the form of blocked colors and stitch patterns. Here's what I have in mind.

Stitch block cowl, Purl Bee

I am addicted to huge cowls like this one — they're just so cozy! I'm a huge fan of the blocked stitch look, it really draws you in and makes you look more closely. It would be just perfect for transitional weather in spring and early fall. I don't wear much yellow though, so I'm thinking maybe some icy blues or rust shades for the contrast yarn. I suppose it will depend on whether I'm in the mood for warm or cool colors if/when I decide to knit this pattern.

Cashmere scoreboard sweater, Madewell

A girl in one of my classes was wearing a raglan sweater today, and I've been wanting to knit one with colored sleeves forever. Hers had a soft blue-green body with gray sleeves like this one from Madewell. It was adorable, but if it were up to me, I would reverse the sleeve and body, because I always want the pop of color to have a smaller surface area than the main neutral. I would go with a pretty light grey or oatmeal body, offset by soft pink or apricot sleeves. I'd probably knit the sleeves three-quarter length, and maybe extend the body by a few inches (I like my sweaters long).

Crochet shopping bag, Kvalitid (via One Sheepish Girl)

Finally, one super easy knit that would look great color blocked is a tote. It could be such a cute way to add a splash of color to a weekend wear. It would also be adorably nautical in a more neutral cream and navy. There's also some cool stitch blocking going on between the orangey-pink bottom and the white/grey body. This one is actually crocheted, and I'm not a crocheter, but it's great for inspiration. Or maybe it's just the perfect opportunity to bust out the crochet hooks and learn a new skill!

Finished socks // snow day

When I left for spring break, I had big plans to start and finish a pair of socks while in transit to/from Europe. I have to admit, I cheated a little...I knit the entire foot of the first sock the night before I left. But the rest of the pair was knit exclusively in planes, trains and automobiles (and hotel rooms)! They'll be a cute reminder of a very lovely trip, but more importantly, they're my favorite pair of socks that I've ever knitted.

They're nothing special really, just a very plain pair with a ribbed leg adapted from this universal pattern by Amy Swenson. When I was first knitting them up, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish so I stopped a little short on the foot, and I'm very glad I did. They are perfectly snug. I have heard many other knitters say that they make sure to size down their socks, and I finally see why — they feel comfy, warm and like they'll stay in place rather than slipping around like some of my other hand-knit pairs do.

Still, there are always some improvements that can be made! If I had had enough yarn, I would've made these a few inches longer...I think next time I make socks I might do knee-highs, even. Also, I don't love that the ribbing starts so far down on the foot, so I'd like to try adding a few rounds of stockinette after the heel turn on my next attempt.

In other news, it's still winter here in Georgetown. As much as I'm dying for spring and it's hard to come back to the cold after such nice weather in Paris and London, I took a walk this morning to get breakfast and it was absolutely gorgeous. There are few things prettier than my neighborhood in the snow!

A handmade sketchbook

This being my senior year of college, I was determined to take one class that was a) something I'd always wanted to learn about and b) just for fun. Because of my love of knitting, I was leaning toward an art class. I had taken film photography my sophomore year, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't think I was all that great at it. So I settled on bookbinding.

I've always had a fascination with beautiful books and writing implements, so it seemed like the ideal class for me. The results aren't always as perfect as I'd like them to be, but I've managed to make a few things that are really special, one of them being this sketchbook especially for knitting projects.

I used the coptic stitch technique (you can find a great tutorial here!) to bind graph paper between the two hard covers. I've already started filling it with pattern notes, and I can't wait to add some colorwork ideas, stitch patterns, and inspiring things.

A visit to Moët & Chandon

Being a maker of things, I love learning about how stuff is made. Something that I find very fascinating and mysterious is alcohol, wine and champagne most of all, so I was incredibly excited to take a day trip from Paris to the Champagne region to do a tour of the Moët & Chandon cellars. After six months of studying in France last year, I had still never done a real wine tour in country, and I have to say I had been missing out!

The company has miles and miles of strangely beautiful caves where champagne is stored during all parts of the process, and we learned a ton. Did you know that regular bottles of Moët never have a year on them? It's because almost every bottle has a mix of juices blended together from the current harvest and past years' reserves to create the perfect taste — the only bottles that have years on them are vintages, from years when the harvest yields such a perfectly balanced flavor that it doesn't need to be blended. Dom Perignon, which is widely considered to be the most exclusive champagne in the world, is actually so exclusive because it is only released as a vintage, so it's not even consistently available!

Much like knitting, bookbinding, and every other craft that I know anything about, creating the perfect champagne isn’t a science, it’s an art. It’s inexact at times, and everything ultimately depends on the instinct of the maker. 

The building is also gorgeously outfitted with decor that speaks of old world luxury. The most opulent piece? This chandelier made entirely of 18th-century Baccarat flutes.

Of course, the tour wouldn't have been complete without a tasting — we had one glass each of a blond demi-sec and a rosé. Both were delicious, but the blond was the uncontested favorite.

Overall, it was a wonderful day and so nice to see more of my beautiful adopted country. There's so much to do in the city, but to stop rushing from site to site and soak up an authentic part of French industry and culture can be even more valuable. If you ever have the opportunity to go, jump on it!

Knitting pretty

The main reason I knit is (obviously) to create beautiful things. I enjoy the actual act of knitting, but what it's really all about is the look and feel of the finished product. But why shouldn't every stage of the process look and feel pretty?

My knitting supplies are in need of an aesthetic update. When I move into my own space this summer I'd like to have a nice corner dedicated to knitting instead of my things just being thrown on a shelf, and I have vowed to stop using metal needles in juvenile colors and kitchen scissors (yikes!). These are some of the things I've been eyeing — they all come from San Francisco-based Fringe Supply Co.

1 | 2 | 3

Have needles, will travel // the last spring break

I can't believe that today marks the beginning of my last spring break, ever. I've been lucky enough to have spent my last three breaks in NYC, road tripping through Ireland, and traveling from Prague to Vienna to Budapest. This time, I'm off to Paris and London for 10 days full of great food, good fun and wonderful friends. I can't wait to make memories with some of my favorite ladies before we graduate from college and life isn't one big sleepover anymore.

Since I have two long flights and a trip on the Eurostar to look forward to, a portable knitting project is necessary. Socks seem like the best way to go, even though I just finished a pair — there will be no pattern to consult and everything will fit nicely in my carry on. For yarn, I'm going with this grey and white sport weight skein (I can't remember who makes it, but it's from Michael's) and then I'll use up what's left of the Blue Sky Alpaca Silk (from Lauren's socks) held doubled for the cuff. At any rate, they should be done by the time I'm back, making for a quick and satisfying project. The results, along with probably 1001 pictures from the trip, will be up when I get back!!

Lauren's seed stitch socks

Months ago, I promised one of my best friends, Lauren, that I'd knit her a pair of socks. Finally, I've got them done. She'll be getting them as a birthday present along with a hand-bound book I made for her.

This is my first time knitting toe-up, and I can’t believe I ever did it any other way — I find the construction to be so much simpler and more logical than in cuff-down patterns. For whatever reason, the idea of starting at the toe intimidated me before, but now I’ll never go back. With no stitches to pick up or decreases to do, there’s just less room to screw up, creating a cleaner, less hole-y end product. And no more of those silly looking triangular toes you wind up with when knitting a cuff-down sock! Love.

However, I found the leg construction to be a little too simple, and they ended up a bit baggy around the ankle. Next time I'll try a ribbed leg, or I might reduce a few stitches on the way up. Still, it’s not anything that a little blocking and shrinking can’t fix…with a bit of work, they’ll fit Lauren just fine.

Knit with Blue Sky Alpaca Silk

Hey, world

I'm Sam. I like to knit.

I've been thinking about starting this blog for a really long time, and I think now might be just the moment.

I'm about to go through a serious transition period and some very exciting things are about to happen in my life, and I want to document them...partially in order to share with others, but mostly for myself. After learning to knit while I was living abroad and going through a pretty rough patch, it's become the thing I turn to when I need to ground myself, or when I just feel the need to create. This blog will be a visual record of what comes off my needles, and whatever else is making me happy. Thanks for coming...don't forget to say hello:)

P.S. — All images are mine unless otherwise credited. The one above was taken by my gorgeous pal Taylor.