Sweet Baby Cap

 

“Why was I wearing a hat?” she asked me.

My middle daughter Flory and I were looking at a baby picture taken by the ocean near Wellfleet on Cape Cod. It was summertime.The hat was red and it tied under her neck. A pilot’s cap, it’s sometimes called.

“You were wearing it to protect your ears,” I told her. “You had lots of ear infections and I worried about  the wind on the beach.”

Flory looked at me suspiciously 

“And it was adorable on you,” I confessed. 

Last week while searching for a perfect baby hat to make I came across The Sweet Baby Cap, pattern, a knit version of the hat Flory wore. By popular demand, it’s been translated from Norwegian. To knit the Sweet Baby Cap, you must trust its simple instructions. Be sure to keep your gauge close to the patterns—about 7 stitches to an inch. On Ravelry,  you’ll find  an international gallery of the precious modeling their caps as well as scores of helpful knitterly comments.

So far, two Sweet Baby Caps have been made. For newborns on either coasts. I know their mothers will want to protect their ears from the ocean’s breeze and other forces of nature.

The post image and the one above are available as a free download card. Send it along with your Sweet Baby Cap. Or instead of another email, use it to surprise your grown-up darling, a long lost pal, or a special someone with a handwritten note. Slip your card in an envelope, stamp it, and deposit it in your nearest mailbox.

Note:

The Ten Secrets of the Laidback Knitter's Contest is over. The winner was chosen in April. Stay tuned for future contests.

I will now be blogging regularly on Fridays. Post should appear by noon CST. I have added a Blog RSS for those of you who would like to follow that way. I am thinking about starting a monthly newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.

Blog Posts also appear on my Facebook and Ravelry Pages. Vist me there.

Our Amazing Mothers

This week in honor of Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8), photographs have been popping up on Facebook pages of my childhood friends and schoolmates. For the first time, I am getting to see their mothers--Pearl, Florence and Elaine-- as young women. To add to the parade of those captured on film as forever young, I'd like to add my mother, Lillian Edwards. 

Share a picture of your mother, mentor or important women in your life on my Facebook Author's Page . I'll be there to greet her.

A Mother's Day card for you. Click on card or here to download.

You can read a Knitter's Portrait of my mother on Lion Brand Yarn Company's website. A longer version is in A Knitter's Home Companion.

Readalong: Hazel's Amazing Mother by Rosemary Wells

Laidback Knitter's Contest

Congrations to Katie! She plans to give her copy of The Ten Secrets of the Laidback Knitters to a close friend-- "she's a brilliant knitter, and has knitted me a few wonderful gifts, and many other gifts for other people, all of which have been greatly appreciated. And I'd like to return that gift, whilst encouraging her in one of her many talents."

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. It was great hearing from all of you. If you are still interested in catching the Laidback spirit, check out the book's website  The Ten Secrets of the Laidback Knitters.  Follow Laidback Knitter Vicki Steifel on Twitter-- Vicki Steifel at Knitting News. Or Join The Laidback Knitters (and Crocheters) on Ravelry.

Note:

I will now be blogging regularly on Fridays. Post should appear by noon CST. I have added a Blog RSS for those of you who would like to follow that way. I am thinking about starting a monthly newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.

10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters: A Guide to Holistic Knitting, Yarn and Life

 

 “10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters gives knitters permission to relax and have fun with their knitting; to see that knitting is as much about process as product; and to know that the stitches they knit can express the inner joy they feel.” Vicki Stiefel and Lisa Souza, 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters: A Guide to Holistic Knitting, Yarn and Life

Top Ten reasons why I like The Ten Secrets of the Laidback Knitters:

1) I love secrets. Secret passages. Secret messages. And the secrets of laidback knitters.

2) Great photography of animals, yarns, knitters, projects, nature. I especially love the vintage shot of author Vicki Stiefel modeling for a 1950’s pattern book, Fashions in Wool for Little Tots.

3) All the models represent realistic body types and a variety of ages.

4) The interesting knitters you met on their pages—like Wise Woman, Anne Hennessey of the Wool Room at Meadowbrook Farm, Antrim, New Hampshire.

5) The kind and funny ways the authors remind you to check your gauge. “Checking the gauge is a pain. We know. But just pretend it’s fun.”

6) The generous spirit that guides the book's rich content, sidebars with historical tidbits, interesting links, stories, anecdotes, and useful advice.

7) See the Souls of Fibers--An entire chapter on fibers to help you understand  and make good yarn choices.

8) The Vintage Quilt Socks pattern designed by Judy Summers, author of Knitted Socks East and West: 30 Designs Inspired by Japanese Stitch Patterns.

9) Do it with Hooks—a  helpful, handy chapter on crochet which as the authors state is often a “perfect partner to knitting”

10) Connect the Dots—a chapter on knitting and community. It includes a touching tribute to the authors’ knitting buddy, Cindy.

If I needed an eleventh reason, it might be The Giveaway. The Laidback Knitter’s have generously sent a copy (I’m not ready to part with mine) for a blog giveaway.

Contest Info: Click here and send  an email with one reason why you would like a copy of 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters: A Guide to Holistic Knitting, Yarn and Life.

One entry only, please! All entries must be in by 5 pm. CST Thursday, April 28^th   2011. The lucky winner will be announced the following on Friday’s Blog.

Note: I will now be blogging regularly on Fridays. Post should appear by noon CST. I have added a Blog RSS for those of you who would like to follow that way. I am thinking about starting a monthly newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.

Friday's Feature -- Sis Gessner's Mandel Bread Recipe

 

A Mandel bread recipe.

Not just any mandel bread, but Sis Gessner's --from my house to yours. The recipe is in my new book, A Knitter's Home Companion.

Read A Baker's Handy Helper and Sis Gessner's Mandel Bread recipe today in the Lion Brand Yarn Comapny's Newsletter, The Weekly Stitch.

 Note: I will now be blogging regularly on Fridays. Post should appear by noon CST. I have added a Blog RSS for those of you who would like to follow that way. I am thing about starting a monthly newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.