Tara Miller Designs

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Everyday I have been thinking of blogging but when it gets down to it I have not made it the priority that it should be. Many of you may know that I have been blogging over here and not so much here on Gruenetree. The tide is turning and I am dedicating more time to my own projects so there is more for me to blog about here and more projects to come.  

One of my most recent projects that I am still super excited about is my new Cardigan Bay Jacket from Interweave Knits Fall 2011. I have been over the moon since this issue arrived. More and more I have been disappointed in the patterns the past few seasons but this issue makes all past transgressions forgiven. I love so many of the patterns and I could not wait to cast on for the Cardigan Bay. It took a little over a week to knit up and while I am still waffling over buttons, it is done and awesome. Too bad it is months from being cool enough for me to wear.

Next I knit up the Pembroke Wrap from Interweave Knits Fall 2011. This was also a fast knit and super cozy. I know I will be giving it as a Christmas present but I am not sure to whom yet. I used Lion Brand Wool Ease with US 11 needles so it is a little bit smaller than the pattern but still a good size. At the time I didn't have my size 13 needles (see this post on prepping for the move) so I ordered some new Harmony needles from Eat, Sleep, Knit (more below). Thus I used my 11's. I will definitely be making this again but maybe in 2 colors.

This issue has inspired me to branch out with the chunky yarns and I have 2 patterns in developments. One a shawl and one a jacket. I just received my yarn for both today so I will be casting on this evening once the child is asleep. Now more on Eat, Sleep, Knit. I have just discovered that this cute LYS is in my neck of the woods. But even better are all the deals they offer and the wide selection of yarn colors! Like I said I order my Knit Picks needles from them and the order shipped that day and was in my box the next! PLUS they included a Yarn lottery ticket and I won $100 store credit! So I ordered more yarn and then with that order I won a skein of Sploosh! Plus, they have a yarn marathon where you can win even more yarny goodness! To top it off shipping is cheap and fast ($3 and $5 or free if you order over $75). So I am in love now.  

GrueneTree Giveaway!

** Comments are now open but my Navigation bar needs retool. Sorry for the mess!

 

I am proud to share that my husband has recently opened his open Motorcycle Shop: Gas-Head Motorsports, Inc. Which he hopes will be the badest place to get your bike worked on and hang out and talk shop. Unfortunately, the location is close to 1 hour away from home. BUT it is very close to my parents home. So after a long talk, we have decided to move closer to his work and my parents so that  1) Devon can enjoy more time with Daddy 2) Mommy (me) can get more work done while Devon bakes cookies with Grandma 3) we save on gas money 4) Take a general load off financially and time wise. That said, I have some packing to do. We are planning to rent our house on this side of town while renting on the other side until the market picks up. While we are fixing little things here and there getting the house into show fashion, it is my job to de clutter and pack our lives into boxes until we can settle permanently again. We don't know the size of the new house because we haven't started to look yet. With Garrett's 12- 14 hour days (We are so glad that after 4 mo his biz is a success but he is too busy to do anything else) so I am packing the none essentials away. But some items are too pretty to pack away for who-knows how long so I want to find better homes for my samples that I have created recently. Thus GrueneTree Giveaway is born. I am hoping to have 2 a month but let's take it one step at a time. 

The premiere Gruenetree Giveaway is the lovely Pearl Clutch. I knit this from Berroco Lustra, which is a deliciously shiny and slightly fluffy yarn in a cluster pattern (Free Pattern Here to knit your own) with a Turquoise Dupioni Silk Lining. Just add your comment to the bottom or tweet this tag me so I will know and you are entered to win! Good Luck!

New Knitting Pattern: Braided Ribbon Cowl

Here's my newest knitting pattern available now on Ravelry and soon available on Knit Picks. This is a great winter project that you can adjust to the chill in the air. If you need some style, tie the cowl on loosely. When the wind picks up and the cold increase, tighten the ribbon. The thick yarn and cables keep the warmth in close. You can opt to wear the cable in front for extra style. 

Zipping North Georgia

When I wasn't zipping through the trees, I found some time to work with Amy Butler's new Belle Aran yarn for my November project. I want to do some colorwork but haven't narrowed it down yet. Here is one swatch. 

New Knitting Patterns

In a previous post I mentioned working with Stitch Jones Yarn to come up with some new knitting designs and the results are amazing. I am really pleased with how well my ideas turned into knitted pieces. It is still weird for me to go from a picture in my head, figure out which stitch patterns to use to duplicate it (not to mention converting each stitch count) and figuring out how to combine them all for a finished product. 

 Sharon sent me 2 balls of Dyepot Worsted in Bollywood and right away the colorway had thoughts bouncing all over my head. How can you not be inspired by Bollywood? Sharon mentioned that she had wanted to send me some solid color yarn but the variegated Bollywood was what was to hand. I can't imagine what design would have come from a solid colorway but I am so glad she sent the Bollywood. It was a challenge but the name itself lent some many great ideas. The body of the Bollywood Shawl represents all the ornate lattice work that can be seen in and around windows in India. It lends a dreamy, romantic view on any landscape. The border of the shawl is a feather stitch that pays homage to all the exotic birds from India, namely the Peacock (which is the national bird). 

The Speak Easy Hat came from the yarn as well but in a different way. With this solid colorway, Cinnamon Twist Kensington BFL Aran, I felt I could do a stitch that was busier than the Bollywood because the stitch did not have to compete with the colorway. I wanted a scalloping effect around the bottom of the hat and then some graceful, but simpler design toward the top with, of course, a beautiful decrease. I hate sloppy hat decreases, as though the decrease is an afterthought and not really part of the hat. What I ended up with was somewhat farther from my original vision than the Bollywood but not so far that I didn't recognize it. I love the result and thought of a 1920's cloche right away. If only my hair were properly bobbed to finish the look.