So this is my second knitted dishcloth. My arm just might fall off - not from knitting but from patting myself on the back! I’m so excited - knitting is so much fun. Thanks to a good friend for sharing the pattern. It’s so pretty I don’t know if I really want to use it but since the same good friend (thanks, Cathy K) also gave me a couple, I know they hold up really well. It’s such a great Sugar ‘n Cream pink yarn and so durable. I haven’t figured out how Cathy got the ends joined so seamlessly (I’m not generous enough to show you the back side!) but all in all this is a pretty one. I love the pink - kind of my own tribute to breast cancer as I wash the dishes every day. My first one went to a friend in Arkansas on our trip down to Texas. This one is going to my mother. I have a few more that are spoken for and then one for me. All pink, baby! Oh, and if anybody can figure out how to do this in the round on circular needles…please, email me.

Cute! I might have to try some of these - I think it’s great they’re stuffed with old pillows, comforters or what have you. Excellent idea. Thanks to Pickles - After we move, I’m sure I’ll have to come up with some variation on this theme - it’s like giant amigurumi bodies/heads.

I was browsing Barnes & Noble (thanks, LeAnne!) and came across these books for knitting a pair of socks at the same time on circular needles. It looks fairly easy — I’m putting both the books and the project on my “to do” list!

This cotton candy colored scarf is so pretty - you have to see the color in person to believe it, really! It’s the perfect color to match Nana’s eyes. It’s so soft and squishy that my kids all wanted to keep it but Jack decided modeling it would work suffice (love that bed head hair, huh!?). This was made with Paton’s “Be Mine” yarn in Sweetie Aqua. It is a bulky (5) 100% acrylic super soft machine wash and dry yarn. It took three 50 g / 1.75 oz skeins. I always seem to like my scarves really wide but I am going to try to make the next one a little less wide.

Interesting concept. I’ve come across a few sites that I don’t want to forget and - just in case you’re interested - thought I’d put them here to share with you. First, there’s a great tutorial by Grumperina on how to make your own custom labels with ribbon and an inkjet printer here. She also has a great knitting blog. Thorough as she is, there’s also a great tutorial on cabling here.

Next, I’m bookmarking several companies who will produce your labels professionally: namemaker, Northwest Tag & Label, Clothing Labels 4 U, and Custom Couture Label Co.

A few other options: I’ve heard also that you can search ebay and etsy sellers for custom labels as well. If you really like to control the creative process - print your label onto inkjet transfer fabric and create your own to sew in the seam.

Photo above from the Clothing Labels 4 U website.

Spotted on Interweave Knits today. This beautiful cardigan made by Leah Radford is for a man but I think it would look equally great on a woman. I’m putting it on my “to do” list!

I have been obsessed with reading French blogs lately. They are so interesting! What is it that makes French women so interesting and beautiful? Here are some of my favorite places to lurk:

1. Claire et Coutures
2. Lili lui
3. Mars Avril Mai
4. Nabe fabric
5. Douceur Temeraires

6. Autour d’Une Tasse de The
7. Trois-Trente
8. 22 Rue
9. Mademoiselle Milou
10. Les Manies de Melanie

That last one makes me want to have my own little French baby named Fleur just so I can knit her a sweater like that!!! Sooooo precious. Hope you enjoy the links as much as I have. I also have to thank Zoelioth - my first French blog place that I lurked.

…or doilies…or decor…or a swag. Knit these up and make them whatever you want them to be! Sooo cute. Thanks to Susan B. Anderson’s tutorials for the Easter Bunny and for the eggs. Just in time for spring!

Just had to share. Check out the Bent Objects blog here.

I have a thing for magazines. Even if I never get all of the projects done! This new Knitscene magazine looks interesting - I love the cover project! Wish I were 18 years old again so I could wear most of the stuff!

Who knew? I am in love with pom poms these days. Check out how to make the hearts here. The rug can be found here. Now if I just had some for my roller skates…

I didn’t even know this existed - KNITCH - an online knitting magazine. Look at the pretty yarn! Look at the pretty ideas…love that baby cardigan with four flowers. I have a lot to learn.

Yeah for SPRING! Here goes wishful thinking since it’s still cold and January here in Omaha. I’m anxious for spring - mostly because then I know we will HAVE to be well on our way to Texas. Geesh. This waiting in winter thing is more difficult than I expected - patience schmatience. Very difficult stuff to be in limbo. I’m going to appease my worries with a little spring-like eye candy. The website for the above pics is here and the site includes a blog, craft school and boutique - some of it is still in the works but I’ve seen the magazine. It’s fabulous.

Each of the above pics is from Marie Claire Idees - a French sewing/knitting/craft magazine. I am a francophile (is that supposed to be capitalized? I don’t think so.). I love anything from/about/in/around France. I went there after my senior year in high school and had a great time but I’m wanting to go back and take my husband. He is not such a French fan but I think he’d enjoy the culture, photo ops and most definitely the food. J’adore le pays de France dans mon coeur.

I am almost done making a beautiful scarf for my sister LeAnne for her birthday. It is so pretty and lightweight and soft it is going to be VERY difficult for me to give it away. I hope she really likes it because it makes my eyes look so blue and I am sooo tempted to keep it for that very reason. I used this yarn above - Lion Brand PolarSpun in PolarBlue 100% polyester which is kinda sticky to work with (don’t expect to be able to frog anything - it knots up) but is very forgiving - I accidentally had a few yarn over holes and they were easy to disguise. I’m making it extra long. I found a pattern using this same yarn for a kid’s pullover here and I may just have to give one a try because all of my kids were fighting over who got to keep this super soft scarf. My kids are so easy to please - they love every project I make and that makes it worthwhile for me.