Ok, so I asked (over on instagram) for questions about the wee tiny village (Chimney and Belfry). And one of the things that came up a few times was 'how did you make the little tree?' Which, I admit, I was not expecting.  But it's super easy, so I can totally show you. It's just a twig from a tree in my yard (mine's from a hawthorn tree, but look around for one with a good branching pattern that works at the scale you're looking for). Then I yanked the top off one of those 'sport bottles' (the ones with [...]

Was your village missing something? I mean you have lots of options for houses, but maybe what you need is a church? Or a school house? Or a town hall? Because I know we're all working hard to stay home more, but I'm pretty sure the folks in your tiny, woolly village can still go out safely!  If they've been petitioning for somewhere else to go, Belfry is out today, and it adds a lovely new option for your town. And really? I am, well, let's say more than usually sympathetic to the idea that folks might want a bit [...]

You might have thought I'd have been clever enough to get all the pictures for the wee tiny village in one go on my first trip out.  Because really, who wants to get that cold, that wet, and that filthy more than once if they don't have to. But alas, no.  When I went off to take the first round, I hadn't actually finished knitting all the other buildings that were going to be in the set. Was I incurably lazy? Overwhelming busy? Filled with existential dread over the election? Waiting to see if enough folks bought the houses to [...]

Ok, I have a plan. Now normally I do a pattern (or something pattern-like) more or less the first and third Tuesdays of the month. But I don't know if you recall, but the first Tuesday of this month was the election, and wow was I not going to try and compete for brain space with that circus. So I bumped the first of this month's patterns (the adorable little hat ornaments from last week) to the second Tuesday. Which would normally mean I'd do another pattern on the fourth Tuesday. But this year, scandal of scandals, I am taking [...]

I told you there would be some additions to the tiny village! I mean, we started with lots of cute little houses. But it seems only fitting to add on some sort of municipal structures at some point. Call it a church or a school house or a town hall, whatever works for the needs of your tiny, woolly community. I'm headed back to the beach to take more pictures of these later today (you know, once the sun is up and the tide is out). If my signal is good enough, I'll probably hop on stories and show off [...]

Shall I make a confession?⁠ So, I'd gone to the library to do photos.  There is a lovely little park next door, and it's a great place to take pattern pictures (it's also next door to the good doughnut place which I fully admit is part of the appeal).  I had the knitting and the camera and the whisk broom and the step stool and all the other kit that accompanies me on these excursions.⁠ Everything had gone fine, and I was almost done.  But I really wanted some pictures of the hats hanging on something that could pass for [...]

Want something cute and quick and cheerful? Maybe a bit of a palate cleanser after the last couple of months? Something you can cast on and finish in an evening?  I've got you covered!  Bedeck is out (and it's 10% off for a few days with the code ORNAMENTAL). Look, I have certain proclivities, certain urges. If I get an idea, an idea I can knit in a day (with bits from my scrap bin), an idea that will make something unapologetically adorable, I tend to indulge it.  And I'm not even going to pretend to be sorry.  We've all [...]

How about a little PSA about waiting (while we all wait to see how the election came out). If you've knit with a yarn, left it sit around for a while, then ripped it, your yarn will be kinked.  This is especially the case if you blocked the yarn (blocking helps yarn hold its shape...and yarn that's knit into fabric is in a very twisty turny shape).  It is occasionally true for yarn that was dyed on a blank and then wound up in a cake (a lot of gradient yarns are made this way). Do not knit with your [...]

Filed under 'things that look really rather odd right now, but will be quite cute when they're done.' Which is pretty much all of my knitting lately. ⁠ Is this just an excuse to spend more time playing with blocks? Well...sure. Though I'm not really sure one needs an excuse. ⁠ But I think our wee village might need just a few more buildings, don't you?