Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth day I knit a market bag almost every year.  When I go to the grocery store I try to bring my own bags and do my little part to reduce waste.

This year I knit the "Grrlfriend Market Bag" by Laura Spradlin. It is a free pattern you can find on Ravelry.  I really like the single strap for it - and that it is knit in one piece. After all, seaming a market bag seems counter-intuitive. The pattern is well-written and the finished bag is perfect for running errands.

I knit the bag using Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in color 637 Raspberry and used size 8 and 10 needles. I am really pleased with it and look forward to farmers markets in Hoboken so I can put it to good use.

Happy Earth Day everyone!  Knit, Crochet, Create - and be Green!

Spring is in the Air

It happened! Mother Nature has (finally) brought Spring - and it is here to stay (I hope). I have spotted daffodils and crocus' sprouting around town. Spring accessories are slowly making their way into our wardrobes and our cooler-weather items are getting moved to closets. But before you put those items away, you need to make sure they are ready for storage, right?

So, what to do? Dry clean? Machine wash? Hand wash? 

Depends on the item, the yarn, and the recommended care. When in doubt - hand wash. We are huge fans of Soak, a wonderful wool wash that does not need rinsing but will clean your hand made woolens beautifully. Fill a clean tub (bowl/sink/tub) with lukewarm water, some Soak and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Gently swish it around - rinse and squish out excess water in a clean towel or two. Then lay flat to dry until.... 

Until cooler air returns, let's enjoy some lighter weight scarves and shawls. Maybe knit a toy for spring - or a market bag for farmers markets! Whatever you do, enjoy these lovely days!

Knit, Crochet - Create!