Molly's Sketchbook: Tiny Triangle Dress

When I tell other parents that I’m expecting a baby in June, they always tell me what a great time of year that is to have a baby. You can get outside and enjoy the weather with your new little one, and then down the road you can have fun outdoor birthday parties. This all sounds nice, but I’ve got to say, I’m not convinced.

As a native northern Californian I have never gotten used to New York City summers (or winters either, but that’s another story.)  The classic East Coast heat and humidity combo is both totally foreign and totally unbearable to me, and I’m worried that I’m going to have an equally uncomfortable kid. 

This super simple Tiny Triangle Dress is an attempt to help my daughter-to-be beat the NYC summer heat! It’s inspired by a traditional pillowcase dress and made out of Liberty of London Tana Lawn, which is just about the coolest and breeziest fabric ever made. The pattern is such a snap to sew that I’m planning to make a bunch of them in my favorite Liberty prints. So even if my baby’s hot, she’ll still look cute! 

If you’d like to make one of your own please visit my Tiny Triangle Dress journal here! --Molly

Laura's Loop: Knit Golf Club Covers

Bogey, birdie, eagle, dogleg, Cinderella story, shank, slice, duck hook, snap hook, snapper, quacker, bunker, cabbage, fried egg, tin cup, deuce, flop shot, kick, bite, long iron, mulligan, up and down, Oscar Brown, pitch and run, punch shot, sandbagger, wormburner, and so many more... This ridiculous lingo used to tumble out of my father's mouth every Saturday and Sunday evening as he, with kid-like enthusiasm, regaled us with the triumphs and tribulations of his day on the golf course.

While I never took to playing, I do love the game. It's rich with history, tradition and etiquette yet accompanied by some seriously silly outfits and laughably playful jargon. My dad  remains modest in dress, but his clubs sure make up for it!

Knit with Koigu's Kersti yarn, the single stranded ribbing is flexible enough to stretch over the large headed woods, while the double stranded tops of the covers are thick and lofty enough to protect them. This 100% merino is durable, resilient and even machine washable, perfect for the most adventurous of golfers... and knitters! Go wild with stripes of Koigu's intensely saturated colors, then top your covers off with a pom-pom, tassel or I-cord loop. Cute!

To make your own, check out the full pattern right here! (PS: Happy Father's day, Old Man! Love you.) --Laura

Whit's Knits: Whisper Wrap

Summer's parties demand some tricky layering strategies. As the moon rises and the air turns nippy, it's no fun having to cover up your pretty dress with a cardigan or jacket, and yet goose bumps aren't exactly the perfect party accessory either. And so at times like these, a graceful wisp of a shawl comes in awfully handy!

The Whisper Wrap falls like a breath of golden light, a bit diaphanous and a whole lot elegant. A simple chevron lace pattern gives it a spare structure that's at home with any outfit, from your little black dress to your wedding dress! 

For a beautiful shine and a unique story, I knit the Whisper Wrap with Anzula's Mermaid. It combines traditional silk with a newfangled seaweed-based fiber called Seacell, straight from the ocean's floor. Durable, insulating, super soft and absolutely gorgeous, it's quite an invention!

For all of this season's weddings and outdoor get togethers, your very own Whisper Wrap is the perfect companion! For the simple pattern, please visit my Whisper Wrap Project Journal.  Thanks! -Whitney

Summer Road Trip Projects!

With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, our minds have turned to the great, time-honored tradition of the road trip! The cooler might leak and the kids might complain, but the sense of freedom and adventure you get from hitting the open road is truly one of the season's great pleasures.

Of course, car time is also craft time! And so in preparation for summer travel, we’ve collected our most road trip-friendly projects, from quick and colorful crocheted trivets to breezy hand sewn coasters. Whether you’re visiting the Grand Canyon or just the next area code, we’ve got you covered! 

Friendship Bracelets

These bright, fun-to-make Friendship Bracelets are a quintessential summer project. Perfectly portable, they require no special tools except for your fingers. Work on them in the car, at a rest stop, or by the campfire! Best of all, they're easy as pie, so the whole family can get in on the action!

Citrus Coasters

Molly's Citrus Coasters were inspired by pink lemonade, iced tea, and outdoor entertaining. They were also designed to be portable enough to make under the beach umbrella! Made from a cheerful bundle of 100% wool felt, they are durable, useful, and totally fun to stitch!

Needlepoint Canvases

Needlepoint is a great for stitching away the miles! Pick it up and put it down without having to worry about unraveling or losing your place. We have a beautiful collection of hand painted canvases, from fresh and modern Charley Harper, to detailed historical designs, to simple (and quick!) starter canvases. Needlepoint is easy to learn  and totally addictive. Think of it as the crafting version of a great beach novel!

Felt Baby Shoes

Molly's darling Felt Baby Shoes are a breeze to hand sew, and they're so small that you can make them absolutely anywhere. If you know anyone who is expecting a little one, you could practically whip up a pair on the drive to the baby shower! Made out of 100% wool felt, celebrate the season with a rainbow of summery colors!

Flannel Receiving Blankets

Laura's Flannel Receiving Blankets are such a sweet, snuggly way to welcome a new baby. To convert them into an ideal travel project just sew up the side seams at home, and then en route, get to work on the crocheted edges! Great for cars, boats, airplanes, hammocks, you name it!

Pom Pom Peds

Whitney's Pom Pom Peds are everything you want in a summer knitting project. They're small, whimsical, and fun to knit, and if you're aiming to learn something new, they are also an appropriate first sock pattern. Our latest version of this now-classic sock is knit in soft, washable Squishy. It's not too fuzzy or hot, and best of all, it comes in some incredible hand dyed summertime colors!

Silken Straw Summer Sweater

Last summer Whitney's airy Silken Straw Summer Sweater answered the age old question of what to knit during the hot summer months. This is a fabulous option if you'd like to bring along a slightly more involved, but still portable, project on your excursions. It's knit with Alchemy's rustic and elegant Silken Straw. It's cool and crisp to the touch, never clingy or sticky!

Tube Sock Leg Warmers

Whitney's sassy Tube Sock Leg Warmers are a fun, modern take on a retro design. Their bright, fresh colors will get you dreaming of soccer matches and baseball games. They are simple to knit and use a 12-inch circular which you can stash practically anywhere, making them an ideal traveling project!

Fruity Trivets

A classic summer project if ever there was one, Whitney's Fruity Trivets and Pot Holders capture the essence of backyard barbecues and fun summer nights. Crocheted with vibrant Blue Sky Worsted Cotton, they are darling little slices of summer fun! And we have a cute-as-can-be knitted version as well!

Last Minute Knitted Gifts 

Joelle's Last Minute Knitted Gifts and More Last Minute Knitted Gifts are chock-full of quick and easy projects, making them excellent traveling companions! You could knit a pretty book mark on a 2 hour ride to grandma's or a sweet baby blanket on the train from Seattle to San Francisco! However ambitious, every pattern brings fresh inspiration!

Happy trails!

Molly's Sketchbook: Summertime Wallet

My favorite summertime haunt as a child was the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a timeworn amusement park about an hour south of San Francisco. It featured a creaky wooden roller coaster (The Giant Dipper!), carnival games, and corn dogs. I loved the relaxed atmosphere and laid back California beach style of the boardwalk. Everyone wore flip flops and puka shell necklaces. Surfers in wetsuits ate ice-cream on the pier, while hawkers sold neon tee-shirts that said “Hang Loose”.

Now that I live in New York the name of the boardwalk may have changed, but I still love going to the beach every chance I get. I relish in the carefree attitude of summertime at the seaside, whichever coast I’m on!

With beach season fast approaching, I wanted to honor this breezy style with a special summer accessory. A canvas wallet seemed like the perfect thing, a simple way to hold some bills and cards in order to pay for all that funnel cake and skee ball! This wallet is durable and quick to make, so you don’t have to be too precious with it or worry about it getting wet. Plus, as a nod to my eco-conscious northern California roots, it’s made from 100% organic Cotton Duck, which comes in a rainbow of pretty colors. If you’d like to make your own, please visit my Summer Wallet Project Journal right here.  --Molly

ps- These would make a great gift for dads and grads!