A few months ago, some of my random craft brainstorming led me to think about knitting or crocheting accent pieces for jewelry.  I think you could come up with an endless amount of original designs for anyone and everyone.  This one I made with my Mother in mind, so these would make fun custom gifts for friends and family.

All you need are beads, nylon line for beading (fishing line), 2 metal rings, feathers, yarn, and whatever else you want to add for accents.  Thread your beads using the nylon line and connect to a metal ring on both ends.  Tie ribbon to metal rings to tie the necklace in back, then begin to add your accents.  I added a bleached peac0ck feather, a knitted circle, and a vintage poodle pin I purchased at a local antique shop.

You could make any knitted shape from a square to a circle or even a small piece of intricate lace.  If you like my knitted circle you can find the pattern under my “Poppies” post in the free pattern section of our blog.  I used Rowan Yarn’s Kidsilk Haze because of it’s delicacy and the halo effect it gives to your projects. -B

Learn how to knit fair isle two handed!  This is a quick project to get you comfortable with this interesting and popular knitting technique.  You need to bring a size 7-24″ needle.  The class will be held Saturday, July 31st from 1:00pm-2:00pm.  The cost is $38 and includes the yarn, 2 hours of instruction, and the pattern.

If you know how to do the basic knit stitch and are ready for the next step this class will teach you how to increase and decrease using yarn overs.  It makes a cute little dish cloth you will cherish for years to come.  The class will be held Saturday, July 24th from 1:00pm-3:00pm.  The cost is $25 and includes the yarn, 2 hours of instruction, and the pattern.  Don’t forget to bring a size 7, 8, or 9 straight needle!

The cool thing about lace charts is you can use them in so many different ways.  For example, for this scarf our friend Mikki took a lace chart she liked did a few repeats across and repeated the chart long ways until she was happy with the length and Voilà! you have a lovely lace scarf.  You can do this with any lace chart you like.  If you have a short chart just do a few repeats to make it wider or maybe you have found a wide lace chart that will make the perfect lace scarf.  We have another L & B customer that will exchange one lace chart in a pattern for another in a sweater to get the exact look she wants.  Talk about customizing your knitting.

This customized project was knitted out of Noro Sekku beautifully crafted in Japan of 50% cotton, 17% wool, 17% nylon, & 16% silk.  Every project I have seen knitted out of this this yarn has turned out magnificent.  The vivid colors are very eye catching and when you wear your newly knitted project you are sure to turn some heads.  This is one of the most interesting new lace yarns of the season, you can see different colorways at our online shop just click here! -B

For those cool summer evenings when you’re feeling a little girly, a little dressy, a little 19th-century, comes Amelia!  This feminine cardigan features deep garter stitch cuffs and edging, along with pintuck-inspired twisted rib panels.

The scoop neck and slightly cropped length with partial buttons down the front lets you show off a fun top underneath.  Gotta love that layered look.  A bit of twisted rib at the waist accents your curves or gives you the look of them.  This pretty little cardigan is a quick knit and is worked seamlessly (the best part) from the bottom up.

This one was knitted up in one of L & B’s favorite yarns Mission Falls 1824 Wool a 100% merino with good body and stretch.

You are sure to find your favorite shade with over 30 colors to choose from you can’t go wrong with this fiber beauty.

I like that this is a timeless knit that will never go out of style, you can keep it in your wardrobe for years and it will be as cute as it was the day you started knitting.  You can find the free pattern here at knitty published in 2008. -B

Prism’s “Stuff” is made up of many fibers that form one beautiful project.  From the cozy comfort of velour to the shimmering elegance of metallics, its selection of fibers features a splendid variation in nylon, mohair, wool, alpaca, cotton, polyster, nylon and silk.  Just imagine what all you can create from just one half-skein of this wonderful mixture.  Stuff is available in Prism’s 150 yard half-skeins.  Since 1984 Prism has been bringing the ultimate knitting experience to discerning knitters.  They want you to love every stitch that you make, and they always strive to deliver the level of quality, ingenuity and delightful surprises that will keep you knitting.  Check out L & B’s selection of colors available here at our online shop. -B

You can’t beat the idea of two projects in one, and that is what you get with Duet.  Wrapped around the neck once and fastened at the front, it’s a fun little scarf, and with a narrow ribbon threaded through the top edge and drawn tight, it’s a pretty lace hat.  Absolutely genius!

Knit out of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, a brand with a well-deserved reputation for excellence.  Combining luxurious silk with their world-renowned Uruguayan wool gives you a blend that will drape elegantly & keep you warm, all with a subtle sheen.

The scarf into a hat and back again idea makes a perfect gift and the leafy lace pattern keeps the pattern interesting for any knitter.

I even think you could make two for a matching set you could wear together or you could use a combination of a solid yarn for one and a complimenting variegated for the other.  You can find the free Duet pattern by just clicking here.  There are so many options for this quick little project the possibilities are endless. -B

The Hearts of Gratitude Etsy shop has handmade healing hearts, stitch markers, shawl pins, and pendants.  A few years ago Rita and Julie began making healing heats and gave them as gifts, they were so well recieved they decided to start selling items on Etsy.  All the metal hearts are made from either copper or brass and genuine semi-precious gemstones.  Each heart is crafted with specific intentions in mind and each one is unique.  The stitch markers Hearts of Gratitude makes are simply the best I have ever used.  The metal doesn’t bend and they slide smoothly on your needles.  You never have to worry about your knitting being snagged or the markers falling apart because they are made using excellent materials and craftsmanship.  They heart pendants can be worn by themselves as jewelry or you can wear them around your neck while knitting to hold your markers around your neck.  Hearts of Gratitude will custom create any heart you like, all you have to do is let them know your needs.  L & B hopes you enjoy this shop as much as we do! -B

When we first opened the shop we were asked to design a pattern for a baby cocoon.  Originally it was thought this would make adorable newborn photo’s which it does, but I like it for swaddling little ones.  The pattern is quick, simple, fun, and we have even shown beginners how to make this as a 2nd project.  All you need to know is how to work on double pointed needles, increase, bind off and then complete it with a kitchener stitch.  We knitted the first cocoons out of two hanks of Farmhouse Yarns Lumpy Bumpy, which makes a whimsical project, but after Tahki came out with Maya a textured cotton I think it is hard to make a decision between the two yarns.

I guess you can look at it this way, if you want a super warm cocoon use Lumpy Bumpy, if you want a summer cocoon use Maya.  Whichever you choose it is adorable, you only need two hanks, and your baby will love feeling snuggled up and secure.  We just recently posted the pattern up on Ravelry YEA!  I was so excited to finally figure out how to do that, so click here for the link. -B

Knitted by our very sweet friend Rene, L & B is excited to show off these beautiful Jaywalker socks knitted out of one of our favorite sock yarns, Colinette Jitterbug.  The author was inspired to create this pattern with Jaywalking in Boston in mind-right, left, right again and I think the pattern looks really cool with all the zig zags.  If you are a beginner sock knitter this is a good second pattern because it is easy to memorize and Rene says it is a good traveling by plane pattern or knitting by T.V. light.

You will work the pattern top down and she says when she knits another pair she will use a larger size needle on the calf section than what she normally does because it knits up a little tighter than the foot.  If you like snug fit socks you may like to knit them all on the same size needle.  Jitterbug is the perfect sock yarn giving awesome stitch definition and it always feels good on your hands.  When I decide to venture away from my plain toe up pattern I think I am going to give this one a go! -B