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In one more week it will be St. Patrick's Day. I have a soft spot for that holiday because my father was born and lived the first 12 years of his life in Dublin, Ireland. He came from a large family of 8 brothers and sisters and they all were born in different countries as they worked their way to the America, but he grew up in Dublin. He's no longer living, but this post is fondly dedicated to him and the slight Irish lilt in his speech that he never lost. Could this be why one of my favorite colors is green? You'll always find green things in my online shops. Here I've featured some things from my Etsy shop. First, a selection of green scarves, shawls and sweaters. Starting with the sweater on the upper right and going clockwise these are:  Knit and Crochet Bolero Sweater , George Bernard Shaw Men's Scarf , Organic Cotton Crochet Cowl , Irish Moss Scarf , Emerald and Teal Lace Shawl , Olive Mohair Knit Shawl , Seaweed Crochet Scarf , Walk in the Woods Wrap . Next ...

I wish you all a Happy New Year 2015 and am looking forward to making some pretty things now for Valentine's Day. I last posted on Thanksgiving, and since then there's been nothing but celebrating in our home with family get-togethers and also the arrival of twin boys in the family! My needles and hooks have been Very Active! Now, with Valentine's Day only about a month away, I'm working on some "heart-felt" projects. If there's any small project you'd like me to design, contact me here and maybe there'll be time to complete it. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for things to knit and crochet for Valentine's Day. Project 1 -- Valentine Knitted Scarf I'm very fond of this Here's My Heart Scarf and Headband. It's quick to knit and is a great stash-buster since it uses only an ounce or so of worsted weight yarn.  Part of the heart shaping involves knitting several stitches together. This is clearly explained and illustrated in...

Wishing you all a Very Happy Thanksgiving! As we prepare our family feast, I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for following KnittingGuruDesigns and to give you all a Black Friday / Cyber Monday treat. Just write Code #BlackFriday10 in your coupon code box when you check out of my Etsy shop and you'll receive a 10% discount on your purchase(s). Here's just a sampling of what you'll find in my Etsy shop. I've put together some things in an Autumnal colorway to celebrate the holiday. Of course, there's much more to see and many other colors in my shop. Enjoy your Holiday and please stop by at http://www.KnittingGuru.etsy.com

Do you like to use the patterns you purchase many times? It sure helps to get your money's worth when you can use a pattern over and over again! Many patterns are written so specifically using one particular yarn in one colorway that knitters and crocheters are often at a loss for how to reuse the pattern effectively. Also, yarns are often discontinued, which means older patterns may be impossible to follow exactly. What to do? Here are suggestions for how to use skills you already have to get more from patterns. I'm going to use my latest pattern - Tender Tendrils Scarf - as an illustration. 1 - Change the color(s) This is an obvious change that anyone can make and it has a big impact. If you see a pattern you like that's shown in a summery pink, that doesn't mean you can't make it in a gorgeous green for spring.  In addition, why not imagine a single color garment or accessory made in more than one color? What if you added a contrasting border or made it in stripe...

Christmas is only 6 days away but I still have a few things I need for gifts. Last week, thinking about this need, I set out to design a chunky cowl that could be made in an hour. When I finished the cowl, I check the clock and it had only taken me 1/2 hour! Amazing! Here's the story of how to do this. It's so easy even a beginner could make this in 30 minutes. An experienced crocheter will find, after the first cowl, that they'll be making these much faster. In addition to speed, this cowl only takes 1 100 gram skein of bulky yarn, so you can indulge in some of the wildly gorgeous yarns available without spending too much. The other thing you'll need is a Jumbo Size S (19mm) crochet hook. This is a really big hook that measures 2 1/2 inches in diameter on the handle. This picture shows the hook with a penny next to it so that you can get an idea of just how big it is: Generally speaking, using these gigantic hooks and knitting needles results in rather stiffly thick a...

Christmas will be here soon and if you're like me, you're knitting and crocheting lots of gifts. It's always good to find some quick knits at this time of year, so I did want to let you know about a book I came across recently called Cozy Knits edited by Tanis Gray.   This book includes 50 projects to knit divided among 5 Chapters: Heartfelt Hats Warm & Wonderful Mittens Cuddly Cowls & Scarves Snuggly Sweaters, Shawls & Shrugs Quick & Clever Gifts There are excellent illustrations and clear directions. All the stitches used are charted, so if you like working from charts you'll be happy with this. While there are some larger projects for sweaters, shawls and blankets, there are enough quick projects to make this a good book to use for holiday gifts. You can find the book here from Interweave/F+W Media. I hope you find some nice things to make! I'll be posting some other patterns soon for very quick knits and crocheted projects that you mi...

It's two days before Thanksgiving and my mind is on the big feast - the menu planning, shopping, cooking, and so on. However, I'm a knitter, so I'm also thinking about holiday presents for everyone - what I have on hand and what I need to knit and/or crochet. This leads me to think about the yarns I have on hand, and believe me, at KnittingGuru there's always a huge stash of yarns. Still, I may have to order some new yarns for the season. That's why I jumped at the chance to add My Favorite Yarns on Craftsy to my blog. It updates the yarns for sale at Craftsy, including their many excellent deals. You can get a head start on these sales by checking the Craftsy Yarns in the right hand column of this page. While you're looking there, please also check out my Craftsy Pattern Store which has so many patterns for things to give for Christmas. I always think of the babies first at this time of year. For the littlest babies, why not whip up this Baby Santa Cocoon and H...

My final Autumn post for this year is the quintessential Autumn vegetable - The Pumpkin! What can we say about pumpkins? They look good, they taste good, and they're a great color. So my knitting brain naturally connected this to babies who also always look great, especially when they're wearing cuddly cocoons. First came the Carrot Cocoon, then the Green Pea Pod Cocoon, and now the Pumpkin Baby Cocoon.... Just what's needed for taking babies Over the River and Through the Woods to Grandmother's House on Thanksgiving, or any other day! The cocoon is snug and warm for Autumn strolls in the carriage, photo-ops, or just cuddling. It's a great way to calm your infant! The pattern has a photo tutorial on how to knit the leaves and includes step-by-step pictures and directions for making invisible increases. Here's a full view of the cocoon: This Pumpkin Cocoon is available as a knitting pattern and there's also one available that I knitted in pure Merino wool. Th...

Happy Halloween everyone! I was going to write many more Signs of Fall, but this year the season has been extraordinarily busy for me. Most importantly, my daughter got married on October 5th and between the lead time and the aftermath time, it took me several weeks to get back on schedule. A very happy event! At any rate, my Carrots and Peas Baby Cocoon Patterns did very well this year as newborn baby costumes.   Carrot Baby Cocoon and Hat Set    Green Pea Pod Baby Cocoon Set   These patterns have been popular for a couple of years because they are so fast and easy to make with thick yarn and big knitting needles. Even new knitters tell me they can finish one in a couple of evenings. These are adorable all year, not just for Halloween. They're always sweet for family pictures and would be a great way to bring baby "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house" for Thanksgiving! I was even thinking that if the bobbles on the Pea Pod Cocoon were ma...

Autumn is my favorite season. I love the foliage colors, the golden quality of the light, and the bountiful harvest. Here in New York City, there's lots of fresh corn available at the Union Square Farmers' Market and elsewhere. I've been gorging on Sweet Buttered Corn and will be having some tonight. I love it so much, I've made a soft woolen scarf dedicated to it. So even when there's no more corn to buy and eat, you can still wear it! I used a beautiful 100% soft wool yarn for the scarf. It's knitted and then edged with crocheted bobbles. The textural result gives it a definitely corn-like appearance. As a final touch, I added two tiny corncob buttons to each end. So when it comes to corn on the cob I say... eat it or wear it! This scarf is available in my Artfire store Here . Happy Autumn!

My 4th of July celebration preparation continues with my newest pattern - Red, White and Blue Coasters. You can make one of these coasters in less than 30 minutes including crocheting, finishing and blocking! Create a little excitement for any national holiday - Independence Day, Presidents' Day, Election Day, Memorial Day - with these Fireworks Coasters.   I'm very lucky to have a view of the frequent holiday fireworks in New York City from my house near the New York harbor. They're always spectacular and were the inspiration for these coasters.  I wish you all a very happy 4th of July holiday! This pattern is available at Etsy and Craftsy . Enjoy!

Are you getting ready for the 4th of July? I made this Firecracker Necklace to celebrate this year. The necklace is a graduated series of curlicues on a choker base. I made it with a shiny red rayon (bamboo) thread and added an appliqued gold metallic chain around the base. The necklace fastens with a vintage button from the 1960s.  I've made this style before and it's firm and durable - made to last for decades. It's lightweight and fun to wear all year. Since it looks like firecrackers to me, it's especially nice for celebrations.  If you crochet, please let me know by your comments here if you'd like me to create a PDF pattern for this one and I'll add it to my TO DO list! The necklace is available in my Etsy shop.

I always make sure I have some Gifts for Men in my Etsy shop because I find it hard to buy presents for men. This week I'm having a Father's Day Sale. Just use code FREESHIPDAD when you checkout in my Etsy shop: http://www.KnittingGuru.etsy.com and you'll receive free shipping on your purchase in the Gifts for Men Section of my shop. Here's a picture of the knitted and crocheted men's scarves I have available. They're all made with luxurious Merino wool, English chunky wool, or mohair. They are also one of a kind or limited edition pieces, so you'll be getting an original. Also, there are still 14 days until Father's Day, so if you crochet, you can make the Fred Astaire Scarf featured in this picture in just a few short hours in your man's favorite colors. You can purchase the Fred Astaire Scarf in my Etsy shop in the Patterns Section, or at Craftsy .  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Father's Day to All!

Brand New This Week -  the 'Round the Loop Crochet Scarf Pattern . It's super-fast and easy to crochet. The stitches used are chain, slip stitch and half double crochet. You'll be surprised at the intricate texture you'll achieve using these simple stitches. Even a new crocheter could make one of these in an evening. The scarves shown are made with Paton's Roving - a soft wool unplied yarn, and Web's Berkshire Bulky - a wool and alpaca singles yarn. Because of the pattern's openness, the yarn texture really stands out so that the scarf looks very different in these two yarns. Suggestions for ways to vary the scarf are given in the instructions. An effective substitute for the bulky yarns, for example, is to use knitting worsted doubled. These scarves don't take much yarn at all. With one skein of each color, you'll have enough yarn left over to make a matching hat. You can get your pattern here at Craftsy or Etsy . I hope you'll enjoy making thi...

I like a lot of variety in life. When I knit or crochet something, I try to design it so that it may be worn many ways. My customers feel the same way I do and appreciate the versatility of their KnittingGuru designs. The Tangerine Sherbet Swirl Summer Scarf exemplifies this philosophy. The addition of a removable tasseled drawstring allows the scarf to be worn gathered as a ruffled cowl, tied at the neck or lower, or tied casually without the drawstring. That's lots of variety for one small scarf! The Tangerine Swirl Summer Scarf is available at my Etsy shop.

When it comes to buying vintage knitting and crochet patterns, the Latin phrase Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware - needs to be taken seriously. I'm in love with vintage knitting and crochet patterns and have been collecting them for many years. This is just a small fraction of my collection:  To look at the great styles of the past and the beautiful workmanship of previous generations of knitters and crocheters is always inspiring. However, it's important to remember that many things have changed since those patterns were written. Do not expect to buy a facsimile pattern or a cleaned up PDF pattern and be able to follow the directions!      Here's why: yarns have changed, needles and hooks have changed, sizes have changed, and most important standards of clarity have changed. The handbag pattern begins with these instructions: Please keep in mind that the only parts of the pattern that are missing in this picture are the directions for the straps and inserting a ...

Flowers are an inspiring source for many kinds of crocheted and knitted jewelry. If you pick a simple floral shape, you can interpret it in thread crochet using perle cotton or embroidery floss. Stitched with tiny hooks, these threads will be dense and will keep their shape. You can wash the rings by hand so they will last indefinitely.  I'm very fond of Zinnias. They come in many colors and shapes and always look quite bold. I began with a pretty zinnia in gold, orange, and hot pink. First I crocheted the flower. It took shape beginning with a circle and proceeding outward in tendrils of variegated color. Then I crocheted the band in a cotton and metallic dark gold perle cotton. I securely attached the flower to the band. This dramatic ring weighs almost nothing but packs a big visual punch. I hope you like it as much as I do! This ring is available now at my Etsy shop. Each of my fiber art jewelry pieces is one-of-a-kind so when this ring sells, I could only approximate a simila...

My flower garden is a great joy and one of the major sources of inspiration for my fiber art jewelry as well as my knitted and crocheted accessories. Each of my pieces begins with an image. In the case of this necklace, the image was of the humble morning glory. I'd like to invite you to share in my design process for making this piece. Once the image is determined, I gather my materials: *crochet hooks *threads in cotton, bamboo and silk *beads and other findings. I then experiment with shapes. I'm not seeking to duplicate nature, but to interpret it in order to design versatile wearable art. The Morning Glory may be worn as a long lariat, a doubled and twisted choker, and even as a dainty looking headband. This is made with fine threads, but it's crocheted so tightly that it's very durable and even hand washable to last for many years. Many people view morning glories as weeds because they're so invasive. I go after them in my garden too, but they're so lovely...