Joanne Yordanou

I sometimes sleep until 9 at the cottage and sometimes wake at 6 or 7. It is magical at the latter times. Here's why:

Then everybody wakes up.....

I thought we could all use a little inspiration of how to retire those old sweaters. The folks at Country Living came up with these delights...

Now and then, everyone needs a little bump of inspiration. Here's a peek at the eye candy that's got me going...

Sadly, Ikea was sold out of the lovely cushion below, so back to making a pattern that I can work on slowly at the cottage. Speaking of cushions, Linda and I were downtown yesterday, stopped at IKEA, had an open face shrimp sandwich and pushed onto Pottery Barn at Sherway on the way home. Their coastal look is so fresh and tempting. Love that ropey look! What caught my eye were the knitted and crocheted cushions. Love the look of chunky crochet and the classic cable pillows. The ones below (1st pic) were made from strips of paper!!!

I often get a little sidetracked (like blogging when I should be knitting or crocheting). Yesterday, I saw this pillow from Canadian House & Home via Poppytalk and thought I have to make some for the cottage! As soon as I am finished the sexy yellow crochet top, THIS will be my next project. I recently found some great blue checked fabric at Kimberly Seldon's Distillery Market that I want to make into duvets for the two bunk beds. So my pillow will coordinate with those. But I think I will have to do a funky one too! Stay tuned for a fab freebie!!!!

Addendum: I just picked up the latest copy of CH&H and low and behold, the photo below is from it. The pillow is from IKEA!!!!!! Cheap and cheerful, so I may not make one OR maybe I will write a pattern; we'll see! I think I have to purchase some of these for the Adirondacks at the cottage tho!

Addendum #2: Ikea's sold out!!! Back to the drawing board. Happy weekend all!

Sometimes, projects surprise you. When I design, I usually feel inspired by whatever it is I'm creating. Then at some point during the knitting, it either is bang-on what you had envisioned or takes on a life of its own - kinda the way kids do when they hit 13- surprising, but maybe more interesting than you thought it could be.

That's how I felt yesterday - pleasantly surprised. Alina, who had knit Bren for me was working on this scarf I had said "take your time" with. When I first saw the initial knitting of it, it was just an inch or two of pattern and it looked good, but I wasn't "taken" with it. One of those "someone will love it but it won't suit me" items. Today, I picked up the finished piece and WOW - I LOVE it!!! It has evolved from just a pretty scarf to a totally versatile and highly usable piece of knitting. Not to mention gorgeous! Soon-to-be-introduced "Brecon" can be a scarf, a cowl, a hoodie, a shrug (thanks Alina!) AND a shawl! I should replace the name "Brecon" with "The Ultimate Convertible", but Brecon is just too pretty a name and has a background for me.


I have yet to edit and photograph this lovely. Lucy is home from university for the summer so maybe she will oblige me. ;)

Bren is up and ready!!! I love this cardigan. It is soooo cozy! Bren is Welsh for tree and if you have ever been into a forest there, you would have seen the old, gnarly trees that tell a story of their own. Here's a sneak peek:

I have always lovely the extra something-something that knitting accessories can offer. I can't get out of my head the sock needle stitch markers I saw at the Creative Sewing & Needleworks Festival I saw in Toronto one year. I wish I had picked them up! They are so cute!
Stitch markers can also be beautiful, so I decided to make my own. They are too pretty not to share, so you can buy your own set on my Accessories Page. The stitch marker ring drops (good up to 10mm) are $8 for 6 and the hearts are $6 for 4. Or you can get latched stitch markers (hooks into stitches, travelling down, as the works grows and can be removed anytime). Drops are $8 for 6 and the Hearts are $8 for 4.  All come in sapphire blue or emerald green.

Click below to enlarge.

Years ago, I taught a class at the DKC on Stashbusters. While I was cleaning out my collection of samples to give away to friends and family, I came across my Girl About Town Bag from the Stashbusters class! All this time later, I still really liked the bag! So I am hoping you do too! It a freebie and if you have more yarn, make it bigger! I think it is so English Rose victorian and yet retro modern at the same time. I didn't line mine or put cardboard, so I would love to see picture of those that do. A pretty floral cotton wold be so cute!

What a glorious day! Isn't nice that Spring is finally here? So a quick post to get out there and do some gardening...
A favorite baby pattern of mine, "Baby Wonderful" is now available here on my site and I am posting to Ravelry next!
Enjoy your day!