AnsonHauenstein

I have a hard time stopping when I get a hat design in my sights, so in addition to Laphroaig, these two ended up on my needles as well. And if you are like me, you may have a hard time choosing only ONE to knit, so the Ravelry Code GIFTHATS will take $3.00 off the total if you purchase both! Glenfidditch was Craig's second gift.  He wanted a hat to cover his ears, in addition to that scarf.  And I had this gorgeous skein of Wisconsin Woolen Spun wool in stash just staring at me.  And it looks so good with the Artifact in Laphroaig, right?  Glenfidditch features  twisted cables placed in larger open cables, a simple diagonal detail at the brim and a pretty cool crown decrease.  And it's just beautiful in a heathered yarn like the Woolen Spun.  Since that's available in limited quantities, I also suggest Green Mountain Spinnery's Weekend Wool , knit up here in a few colors by my friends Larissa and Kate, and then they were modeled by the   ...

The weather was just too beautiful this weekend NOT to give Craig his first Hanukkah present a few days early - and go for a hike in it - and make him model the thing.  That's the problem with getting handknits around here, you don't just get the present, you have to do a little work for it as well. This is Laphroaig , the exact scarf he'd been hinting at. But he was happy to play in the snow, and I think he does like his new scarf.  See?  Seriously, this is my favorite photo ever right now. This is how everyone should look when we give them something we've knit.  That's some wooly joy right there. He doesn't ask for much in the hand knit department, but when he does I find I'm a little powerless to say no.  He's always been incredibly supportive of this crazy job I've chosen, and even when the strange or social elements of it have him raise an eyebrow --- you HAVE to go to Scotland with your friends?? - he's never once questioned me or not pitch...

Introducing Earl Grey Martini .  This was totally inspired by the beautiful, intricate shawls I saw this summer in Scotland.  Knit out of delicate, teeny tiny yarn in crazy detail, the traditional shawls of the Shetland Islands are stunning confectionary creations.  But when knit in gray and brown heather, they also manage to feel a little rustic, which I just loved. (Image from the archives, Shetland Museum Lerwick) But I know myself.  I'm never putting teeny tiny yarn on my needles, and I don't have the patience to work a thousand lace rows on both the WS and RS of a piece.  And I also love the garter lines of the hap shawls, and figured I'd try to combine some strong garter lines with some delicate lace lines and see what happened. (Image from The Shetland Trader, Gudrun Johnston) I was going for a shawl that would be all of these things (because why not, right?)  Rustic, delicate and simple at the same time, knit in a gorgeous wool that was big enough t...