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...

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!

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!!