This week, share an image of partners. A pair, a trio, a sextet; people, buildings, plants — whatever you choose to shoot, give us subjects that are in tune with one another.
Daisy decided to hang out with us on a recent photo shoot for the Willamette Valley Tee. The pictures of these two together are some of my favorites from that afternoon. The special bond that they share is palpable and unmistakable, and it is one of those simple things in life that brings joy in seeing it.
The Castle Beach Spa Cloth is the second in the Folk Tales Spa Cloth Collection. Like the Fairy Godmother’s Spa Cloth, it is knit sideways, using pima cotton to create a soft, luxurious and pampering facial cloth.
I designed this pattern for the Summer Spa Swap going on in my Ravelry group. I wrote about the swap here. Making this cloth is not a requirement for participation in the swap!
The design is based around a vintage stitch pattern, Cockleshell Edging, resembling a clam shell. This fit well with our Summer Spa Swap’s beachy theme. Next, I started searching for the right name for this pattern. I wanted something related to summer/ beaches/ clamming that would also go nicely with Fairy Godmother, since the two spa cloths are constructed so similarly.
I rejected names like “Clam Digger” and “Clam Bake.” I wanted the pattern to evoke ideas of the clam shells, not the meat. Next, I looked at clamming beaches in Oregon, and they had names like Netarts – not the least bit romantic and nothing like Fairy Godmother.
I began thinking about fairy tales, many originating in other parts of the world, and so I started looking for clamming beaches in the UK. Eventually my search led me to Castle Beach (Tenby) in Wales. Although it doesn’t appear to be a clamming beach, it does have a castle. It satisfied both of my requirements and made me happy! And check out this website that has cool info for Castle Beach – like tide charts, the weather, and the best times for fishing!!!
You can find the Castle Beach Spa Cloth pattern here. Thank you and I hope you will enjoy this spa cloth pattern!
Dear knitting and crocheting friends, sign-ups have started now through June 16th for the Summer Spa Swap II: A Day at the Beach in my Ravelry group! Our mini-swaps (shout-out to awesome swap organizer, group moderator Jen!) are always so much fun! They are low-stress and low-cost mini-swaps, usually featuring something handmade. From Jen’s post:
This mini swap is all about sending your secret swap partner a mini “pampering kit”. This year we will use the beach as our inspiration. Your kit will include a hand knit or crocheted wash cloth (maybe you have some extra special cotton or linen in your stash?) that has a beachy theme or is inspired by the beach, a pretty and preferably a handcrafted bar of soap and one other fun little pampering item that you think your swap partner would like ($5.00 max).
To make things a little more fun, I’ve designed a new spa cloth to go along with the swap, the Castle Beach Spa Cloth. The pattern will be released next Monday, June 13th. It’s a fun little perk for the swap, but you can make any spa cloth or wash cloth you like for your swap partner. More about the spa cloth next Monday on the blog.
If you’ve followed this blog for long or are a member of the Ravelry group, you have probably seen these collages before. But in the spirit of dragging out old photo albums to browse through familiar and well-loved memories, here are some pics of our previous swaps:
If you haven’t done a swap before, I invite you to come join us. It’s a great way to get to know each other, to craft something for someone else, and to anticipate receiving a fun package in the mail. Sign up here right away, no later than June 16th. I look forward to seeing you there!!
I’m doing a happy dance because I recently finished up the Willamette Valley Tee. After many months of design, redesign, knitting, ripping out and knitting again, it was a huge relief to have finished this sweater design! Whew! See postscripts at the bottom of this page for details about sizes, availability, and test-knitting.
We had a great time at the photo shoot. The countryside was breathtaking, and it was a sparklingly beautiful day. You can see the expanse of the Willamette Valley, the inspiration for the colors in this tee, in some of these photos.
It’s great to now have space freed up in my brain for new designs. I’ve just finished designing a little spa cloth for the upcoming mini summer spa swap in my Ravelry group. Come check out the group here. We will be having swap sign-ups soon!
I’ll leave you with some of the photos from the photo shoot. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Many thanks to Marianne for modeling the sweater and to her sister and family for allowing us to traipse all over their beautiful property. And for sending me home with homemade sushi! It is a gift to know such generous people!
P.S. If you are interested in making this sweater, it is currently being tech edited and tested, and I anticipate that the pattern will be released in late summer or early fall. It is available in sizes 35, 38, and 41.
P.P.S. I am always on the lookout for good pattern testers. We’ve just started the test for this sweater, here, in my Ravelry group. If you’re interested, let me know. Thanks!!!
The beach, friends, knitting, seafood, yarn shop. Not a bad way to spend a weekend!
A huge “thank you” to everyone who came out to share this knitting weekend. I am fortunate to know such wonderful, talented and generous people, and I look forward to our next knitting retreat!
knit equals joy
A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway in my Ravelry group!! It was so much fun, and I appreciate everyone who dropped by, whether it was just for a quick “hello” or to stick around and chat and get to know us a little better!
Congrats to Ravelry user Kepanie, winner of the grand prize! Here’s her swag! I had sooooooo much fun choosing these wonderful yarns and knitting notions at the 2016 Rose City Yarn Crawl.
Gathersnomoss won a mini-giveaway for these Gobstoppers:
And heatherg7 snagged these Unicorn Tails:
Congrats Becky and Heather!!!
A great time was had by all and I hope you will join us for one of our next great events! Coming soon: a fantastic summery swap – sign-ups most likely will start in May – and the Ravellenic Games in August – a Ravelry-wide event, with knitting all during the Olympics, (virtual) medals, fun competition (mostly with yourself) and, of course, in my group, prizes!!!
I have found local yarn shops to be, often, little oases of beauty. It makes sense, really, that the owners might have an artistic sensibility and would create a lovely space to be. Here, then, I share some images of my favorites with you.
I have a few more favorites, but, for various reasons, don’t have photos right now. Those favorites include Knot Another Hat in Hood River, Oregon and Close Knit and the Knitting Bee in Portland, Oregon. All great places to spend an hour or an afternoon!
knit equals joy 