Hurry Up, Hurry Up

Simon and I are leaving on Saturday to head down to the Outer Banks for a week. We are super stoked and can't wait to spend the week surfing and climbing light houses. This means however that I need to complete some sewing projects. I mean start some sewing projects and then complete them before Saturday. Then I have to pack.

I love and hate packing. I pride myself on not over packing, but because of this it is a two day process. So not only do I have to finish my sewing projects I need to start packing tomorrow as well. There is however a certain excitement to packing for vacation.

New Knitting Pattern: Heat Wave

Here it is! My latest pattern the Heat Wave. I absolutely love how this top came out. I would suggest this pattern for an intermediate knitter mostly because of the lace pattern at the top, but a beginner with an adventurous spirit and a good handle on the basics of lace could knit this cute top.

You can find my new pattern in two places my Etsy shop and on Ravelry.com just search for Heat Wave or bluebettyshop.

This may become my favorite top this summer. The yarn is Knit Picks Shine Sport with is 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal. It's machine washable, soft and the modal gives this yarn a sheen almost like silk. It also comes in a plethora of colors so the combinations for this top are endless.


The pattern comes in five sizes and is worn with little to no ease so I suggest knitting the size closest to your bust measurement.

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek at the pattern that will be released in my Etsy and Ravelry shop tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for more details.

New Pattern Coming Soon

This square of knitted fabric is actually my new pattern folded up waiting to be worn for photos. The release is planed for Tuesday April 12th. Check back on Monday for a sneak peek of the new design.

Cactus Project Part 1

I have a friend who has requested that I knit him a cactus, but not just any plain old green cactus. He wants a crazy, patchy multi-colored cactus for his huge front window in his house.

I've decided to knit said cactus using modular hexagons and no real pattern. In the next few weeks I will share my progress with you on the cactus project.

I have purchsed the yarn and according to my friend he does not want it to be any where close in color to a real cactus so you can see below what my main colors are going to be. These are just to skeins of Patons classic wool in two different variegated color ways.

I will also supplement some of the yarn with scraps from my stash, and other odds and ends that I have floating about my baskets of yarn. I plan on getting started today so I should have some picks of what the hexagons look like soon.

Procrastination and Speed Wrenches

The past few days have been busy here in Philly. First off I had a strike on Monday for a theatre in the city. I was extremly excited about it once I got there because I got to strike the electrics with the ME which has never happened before. Stage electrics is my actual trade and what I do. I almost didn't bring my speed wrench but I figured better safe that sorry and it was so true this time.

Yesterday I had a deadline and well I procrastinated, a lot. The only thing I knew about my knitting submission is that it was going to be a modular knitting project. After about four hours of research, swatching, sketching, filling in forms, taking photos, and two cups of coffee I had a finished submission. The last design that got accepted came into being much as this one. As much as I like to be prepared and have things done early I am starting to think I do my best work under some pressure. Well see what happens.

fruits of my labor

Photo Update

Here is a photo update of what I've been up to. Above is my current project a cotton cardigan that I might just base a wool cardigan on for the fall. It's piled in a big heap in this photo, but I swear I've finished all the increases for the sleeves and the body.

A BSJ for my little Niece in Oz. It will be getting cooler in the months to come in Australia, but not cool enough for wool this bsj is knit from Knit and Crochet Too's recycled cotton (75% recycled cotton, 25% acrylic). I actually knit this months ago in the preparation for the baby's arrival and just finished sewing up the shoulder seam and sewing on the buttons.

This piece is also for my niece and is a more current knit. This is the Hara Baby Dress knit in the 6 month size. I know some people despise pooling, but i don't mind and I think it is interesting with the linen stitch top and the stockinette skirt.

Here is the back of the dress with some pretty purple buttons on the back. What I liked about this dress is it was a quick knit and the straps have multiple button holes making the straps adjustable.

I had a lot of yarn left over from the baby dress so I looked up some soaker patterns on Ravelry.com and found one to knit to match the baby dress. I am almost done with this. It's a fast project. I started it yesterday and I am about 70% finished with it. I just need to finish the waist band, the leg edging and sew on some buttons.

On the sewing front I have finished two pairs of leggings and a dress, and am contemplating a few more tops and maybe a maxi dress out of some cotton rayon I saw at the fabric outlet. Pictures of all my finished items will be taken as soon as it stops raining and actually feels like spring. It's April 1st and I'm sitting in my apartment wearing a wool sweater and thinking about turning the heat on.