Vintage Finds Friday: Sweater Weather

After a heat wave the weather is finally starting to cool down and be seasonal here in the city of brotherly love. I love me some sweater weather! Especially when I can wear angora sweaters from 1980.

Vintage Cream Angora Sweater

From pistolpoppy

metallic pearl sequin 80s pink bow sweater M

From storylandvintage

GRAPHIC 80's Black and Cream Sweater, Size Small

From momodeluxevintage

Black mini sweater dress sm

From secondskinstyle

Amazing Vintage 80s Southwestern Sweater with the best colors

From RaggedyThreads

Softest 80s Mauve Angora Sweater Sz M

From starletvintage

Siren Red Black Angora Knit Sweater Puff Sleeves size small to medium

From gottabvintage

Pic Post Promotion

Here is a quick pic and a link to my latest in my etsy shop. New Merino and Silk Lace weight!

Starting on November 1st through the 5th when you purchase a hank of Alpaca Silk you get a free copy of Fall of the Leaf Fingerless Mitts.

Jack-O-Lantern

Simon Made his first Jack-O-Lantern last night and has proudly displayed his handy work in our living room window. Simon has been fascinated by this practice since he moved to the states from Australia, so this October we finally made one.

Here it is lit up. I say it's pretty good for his first time.

Here is a bit of my handy work. More Alpaca Silk, this hank is dyed a lovely burnt orange that I am calling Harvest Moon. The more and more I dye this yarn the more and more I fall in love with it. I need to make something else out of it and I plan on dyeing larger batches of colors.

I am also planing a promotion for next week involving this lovely yarn and my newest pattern. Check back here or on Blue Betty's Facebook Fan Page

Spinning and Spindles

I fixed my spoke spindle the other night with the help from some super glue. I have been super lazy about fixing this thing. I dropped it on a tiled floor about a year and a half ago and the whorl broke of from it's spokes. I finally pulled it out of storage and glued it back together. I forgot how much I love this spindle. I'm down to my last bit of fiber that I have not that I should call it a bit it is 4oz.
As I was pre-drafting I found this inside the roving I was using a white heart. This was left during the dying process when the dye didn't get soaked all the way to the middle. I like to think that this is a happy accident and that this soon to be yarn is spun with lots of love.

P.S. I added some more Alpaca Silk to my Etsy.

Mondays

I have a bad case of the Mondays today. I don't have to work till three, but I don't want to go. I really want to sit on my comfy couch and spin since I finally fixed my other spindle, or since it's so nice out go to the park and spin in the sun shine.

Instead I have to sort through my yarn and organize it and put it in the new shelving unit we bought, and Simon so nicely put together for me. It will make out apartment more organized. It will also cut down on the yarn clutter that is currently strewn about the apartment.

Maybe I will take some before and after shots.

Vintage Finds Friday: Baking

With the weather getting cooler and the holidays fast approching this becomes my favorite time of year for baking. It makes the apartment feel nice and cozy and it also provides me and the hubby with yummy treats. Below are some amazing vintage baking items all found on etsy.

Vintage Pyrex Autumn Harvest Mixing Bowl and Casserole Set

By BlueHouseVintage

Primitive Bundt Or Angel Cake Type Pan Or Food Mold

From myclosetshelf

Vintage Metal Pastry Baking Utensils

From RedHenStudios

Vintage MIRRO 1950s Aluminum 60 Minute Kitchen Timer

From take2vintage

Old Rolling Pins Small (2)

From lunaparkfoundry

LOT OF VINTAGE MEASURING UTENSILS AND COOKIE CUTTERS

From kris67

Vintage Green Flowerpot Half Apron

From TwigCottage

Post Birthday

Yesterday was my 26th Birthday and now I am officially a year older. Simon likes the months of October to March because our age gap closes, if only slightly for those months. Birthdays to me are an excuse to go out to fancy dinner or by myself a new pair of boots. I have yet to buy my new boots, but we did go out to dinner last night with our friends Antea and Wes. We went to Jones in center city and the food was great. I absolutely loved the potato pancakes. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I liked this resurant as it is a Stephan Starr resturant and I do love the continental even if Simon does not. We can both agree on Jones though with entrees like meatloaf and pot pie on the menu Simon gets a good sized portion of some of his all time faves and I love the idea of comfort food in a homey comfortable setting. (I love the fact that each booth has a nightlight.) Add in a mural of the jersey shore (Simon and mine favorite summer spot) and Jones was a great pick.

I leave with a pick of some new hand spun in my Shop.

New Pattern Released Today

Here it is my newest design the Fall of the Leaf fingerless mitts. I had a lot of fun designing these guys and went through about three different versions before I came to the final product. These little guys are perfect for a quick knitted gift for a friend or for yourself. A great project for a knitter with a bit of knitting in the round experience or for the beginner who is ready to get their feet wet in knitting in the round and a little bit of lace.


I knitt up these great little mitts with a new yarn that is also available in my etsy shop. Its an Alpaca Silk blend and is is scrumptiously soft and warm. Perfect for any thing worn close to the skin. The color pictured is Twilight Sky, as of right now it is the only hand listed in my shop, but in the days to come expect more Alpaca Silk to turn up and in the weeks to come expect knits to also be listed in my shop.

I am also thinking up some other quick knits as well as kits for the upcoming holidays.

New Yarn

New Yarn! I love, love, love the color of this sock yarn. I almost couldn't let myself list it, but I want someone else to enjoy this hank of yarn as much as I do. It's 4oz of super wash merino wool. Check out all it's stats in my etsy shop.

This extreme close up is of a hank of hand spun I also listed today. It's super fluffy and has a nice chunk of yardage on it. Great for a gift, either knit it up into something great of gift it as is to a knitter or crocheter. I loved spinning this color way it was so warm and cheery. If you would like to see more photos of this lovely hand spun check out Blue Betty.

Well I must be off to check the dye pot!

P.S. Tomorrow I will be releasing not only a new pattern, but brand new yarn as well!

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peek at what will be new at Blue Betty this week. First off I have a pattern coming out on Wednesday. I know I originally set the release date for Tuesday, but I need an extra day to finish up lay out and edits. But with a slightly later release date I will also be able to finish up photos on the new yarn that is suggested for the project so expect a double release, on Wednesday the 20th (which also happens to be my birthday!).

Also later in the week I will be adding some lace weight and some hand spun to the shop. Below is a photo of the lace weight yarn I've been dyeing. It's lovely and scrumptious, but I'm a sucker for wool and silk blends.

Expect a lot to be happening and a lot of new items to be going up this week.

(The new lace weight base takes color so well I just want to eat them!)

Friday Vintage Finds: Camping

Camping, that is what I'm doing this weekend. To be more specific, camping in a tent, I've been camping in a camper and a cabin but never in a tent. In honor of my first tent camping trip this weeks vintage finds is inspired by just that. Camping.

Vintage - Folding Chair

By BDVintage

SALE Vintage Faribo Blue and Green Plaid Blanket Throw

By pattispolkadots

1960s-70s Retro Quilted Sleeping Bag

By tlknww3blues

Vintage Pair of COLEMAN Camp Lanterns

By melanieperalto28

Vintage Sandwich Snack Maker Toaster Grill Long Handles

By suzincolo

Vintage Girl Scout Cooking/Mess Kit With Cup

By treasuredarling

One Cup Coffee Maker

By ZigZagWay

Rain Rain

Today is a wet, cold miserable day. Not only did I lose my umbrella but my favorite boots have worn through the soles. Glad to be home, going to knit and make home made pizza with the hubby.

P.S. Expect a new pattern in my etsy shop on Tuesday the 19th!

Almost Done

My lovely ball of yellow yarn is smaller now. I have finished the pattern and am making the mitts according to my old notes, and making new notes. The right hand is finished and the photo above is the left hand on the needles just getting started. I expect to finish the left hand today and type up the pattern tomorrow, and maybe take pictures since Simon will be around the apartment in the morning.

What I've Been Up To

Here is all the yarn I haven't added to my Etsy shop, but now I will have a photo shoot and have some new items in my shop hopefully by the end of this week. There is even some hand spun in there.
This little lovely will soon be knit into my latest design. The yarn will also be avaliable in my Etsy shop as soon I finish dying some more of it. It's a alpaca, wool and silk blend
Here are three versions of the pattern I'm working on. I am almost done just a few more tweeks and it will be finished. The design will be done by the end of the week and I'm hoping to have the pattern (and kits!) in my shop by next week.
And finally I'm dying some lace weight. I'm not a huge lace knitter, but I do have and appreciation for lace knitting and do enjoy a good lace yarn now and again. This is a wool and silk blend and should be up in my shop in a few days. I have another hank of this yarn I am going to dye and see how I feel about it. So far I will probably be ordering more of this base very soon.

Data Update

I got my new data cable a few days ago, and I bought batteries so tomorrow expect some fun photos of what I've been up to!

Vintage Finds Friday: NIght Out

Photo By: echoart

Today, before the husband left for work he said that maybe we should go out tonight. When Simon offers going out I always say yes, mostly because he barely ever brings up the idea himself. While our night out usually consists of going out to our favorite pub, or to 5 guys for burgers, once in awhile I do dress up for a night out in Philly. So today's Vintage Finds is inspired by a night out.

Vtg Sequin All Night Long Black Dress

By CarolynnJosephine

Sequined 70's Butterfly Top

By Bobettes

SALE size 7.5 vintage BOOGIE NIGHTS stilettos

By maefairvintage

vintage green and black flapper style necklace

By unpotpourri

Vintage Costume Ring

By ShayRose

vintage. Black Retro Clutch

By styleforlife

Exploded

That is how the apartment looks right now.
But I just got my new base yarn in the mail (yay!). But don't tell Simon as it adds to the explodiness of the aparttment
And I have a cold egg roll to snack on, so right now life is good

Get Knitting

The weather here in Phily has truned in the past week from hot and muggie to cool and breeze. There was no gradule change in the temp here like usual. One day it was 80 degrees out and the next it was 55 degrees and damp. I must admitt I love fall weather and have accepted the fact that fall is here. I am ready for sweater weather, and with that comes the fact that i want to knit all the time. Not ony are there projects I need to complete, write up and test for patterns for my etsy shop, but there are tons of patterns I want to knit, most of them garrments, (vests and cardigans and pullovers oh my!).



How oh how will I be able to knit all that I want? First off day light hours are reserved for my shop knitting because this to me is my "work", work that i love doing so there is no probem with that. The evning hours are dedicated to personal projects. The only problem is there are so many that I want to make lately. I have noticed a trend with myself that I am becoming a sweater knitter and that my skill for creating finished pieces that I actually want to wear is growing. Last year I compleated one vest, three sweaters, and one knit shell by the end of January. I could have made more, but gift knitting got in the way, damn holidays! (I say this, but I love knitting gifts so I should stop my belly aching). So I say this and have no sweater on my needles just yet, this is a lie of course, I was knitting the puff sleeved femine cardigan from Stephanie Japel 's "Fitted Knits", which had a ton of errata or things that just didn't add up, as to that the yardage needed for the project was off and I have one ball of yarn left and need to do both sleeves and my button bands. I can tell you now that my one ball will not be enough to finish all of these elements. I had to make a ton of mods for the yarn that i had and now i must decide on how I am going to finish the darn thing. It is however off my needles and can wait for a solution. I will post a pic once I have my new data cable.

Along with all the patterns I want to knit for myself I have a cardigan that I designed last fall that I need to size and test knit. I alread knit my first one, but the guage was off so my medium came out about 3" larger than desired. My mother got the first cardigan and she loves it. I am thinking going down a needle size will do the trick.

Wel I am off to get some knitting done.

In the Mail

So, after my summer job I realized that I some how misplaced my camera's data cable in the camp office. Once you miss place something in that space it is good as gone. This posses a problem for me as I have a ton of camp pics still on my camera and I can't take pics for my etsy, or this blog. But not to worry I have ordered a new cable which should arrive about the same time I receive the new base yarn I ordered. This will be good timing, new yarn, new pics, and a new data cable to upload said pics with.

Also, Simon and I are now almost real adults, we recently bought a real couch for our living room and no longer sit on a futon to watch tv. We are also getting a new shelving unit just for my yarn and fabric stash. (Simon is a tad bit of an enabler, I think that he has just accepted his fate that he lives with and married a knitter and wants to make the best of it.) As of right now our living room looks like it exploded, well at least my yarn stash looks like it has exploded, and I have found some yarn that I dyed and never took pics of and some hand spun that was meant to go in my etsy shop too. To sum it up, expect some new items to pop up in my shop as soon as I get my new data cable.

I've Been a Bad Blogger

I have been, I constantly forget to blog even when I post a little not above my computer that says blog or die. I always think I have a good excuse so your probably wondering what it is this time. My excuse for not blogging since the beginning of September is that I recently got married to my Aussie Boyfriend. We had a small wedding in my home town and a lot of the elements we made or did our selves. I sewed two dresses for our wedding party and made ties for the guys. I also made both bouquets (with help from Simon, he cut felt for me). We also made all the decorations our selves and set up the barn where we had the reception.

So I leave you with a pic of Simon and I with our wedding party out in the vineyard at the winery where we were married.

But now for some quick business, I have just ordered some new base yarn to dye its a worsted weight wool, alpaca, silk blend that will work wonderfully with the new pattern I have in the works.