Lisa Kay Knits... and Quilts!

Back in late 2007, my mom and I were shopping at the Galleria in St. Louis, and we happened upon this sweater in Brooks Brothers. I had never actually bought anything in Brooks Brothers, and it seemed at little bit "out of my league," to be entirely honest. I thought the pink and brown Fair Isle sweater was the bee's knees, and my mom purchased it for me as my Christmas present that year. While it was my first thing from Brooks Brothers, it wasn't the last. They usually have a few Fair Isle sweaters each year, and I keep an eye on them. It is one of the few stores where I've seen wool Fair Isle sweaters, ready-made. Fair Isle is usually hard to find, often only in two colors, and typically not wool. The wool yarn, to knit it yourself, is generally more expensive than a store-bought sweater (even at Brooks Brothers), and a store-bought sweater is instant gratification! One of the benefits, also, of a store-bought sweater is that they are machine-knit, which all...

Now that all my Christmas gift crafting is finally done, I'm free to work on other projects that have been queued up... In September, I took a business trip with a co-worker and new friend who likes to bead, and we went to some bead and other craft shops while we were there. I purchased some blue beads to make a necklace, modeled after one of their displays (number of beads and alternating sizes), but choosing my own beads. I particularly liked the blue glass beads with the white polka dots and alien-looking protuberances, and I chose the rest of the beads to go with them. It was really quick, once I finally sat down to do it... Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Every once in a while I do something a little different... This one started as knitting related, really! A couple of weeks ago, I got the idea to make some beaded stitch markers. I had gotten one stitch marker as a gift in a yarn order, and I liked the way it was made. (Maybe I should say, "sample" instead of "gift," but it didn't say who had made it...) I decided I could make some like it, and I purchased some colored wire to go along with some beads I already had. It worked out great, and I had a coordinating "beginning of round" marker to go with the set. I wrapped the wire around a size nine needle to set the loop size. They will be a bit large for sock knitting, though usable, but I think of them more as sweater markers for raglan increases, or perhaps lace markers (the only reason to make more than four, I think). I was so pleased with how well the stitch marker project went that it inspired me to make a necklace, too. I have not gotten o...