Petite Purls - Winter 2010

Hello Knitters,

The Winter 2010 Issue of Petite Purls is now live!!  It is full of gorgeous designs and fun projects just waiting to be made.  I wanted to share a few of my favourites with you all. 

Cascade by Raya Budrevich - Which is a raglan-style baby cardigan with a beautiful lace leaf motif edging on the button band.  They have the sample knit in a grey colour, but I'd knit mine in a bright medium green I think.  Super cute for any little one in your life.

Petite Ballerina by Libby Grant - I used to be a ballerina as a child and remember being freezing during the winter months at class.  This adorable little wrap would have been the perfect accessory to ward off the chill!!  I like how the cable detail adds a little something special to it without taking away from the simplicity of the design. 

Leg Ups by Laura Nelkin - I don't have any babies of my own, but I've always thought that little leg warmers would be an awesome thing to use to keep their chubby legs cozy during the winter months.  This pattern comes sized from baby to adult so that everyone can get in on the fun!  The brioche stitch makes them extra pretty and is something that I've been wanting to try for a long time.  I think these in a baby or toddler size would be just the thing to get my feet wet with ;-)  And I must say that the little model is super adorable!!

Oliver by Jenna Swanson - Is a fun take on the sweater jacket.  It is knit in Spud and Chloe Sweater so it would be super soft and comfy to wear and the stripes add a fun playful element.  This is a design that could be made for a girl as well  just by just changing the colours. 

Uptown Girl by Shelley D. Jones - Leopard print is very big this season and what could be more stylish than this cute hat?  I really like the way the designer added pink to the mix for a fun take on the traditional colours and the bow is the the perfect thing to top it off.  I would honestly wear this myself!! 

Owlet by Odessa Reichel - I'm a big owl fan so this was immediately a project that jumped out as a "must make."  I was even more excited when I seen that the sizing goes from toddler all the way up to adult.  So now I can have my own pair!!  The pink and white colours are so much fun and add a nice pop of colour.  I think these are the perfect thing for the cold Canadian winter since the designer made them with that in mind!!  Also, these would be a great step into stranded colourwork.

Jack Frost by Katie Startzman - This toy is based on the description of Jack Frost from the Laura Ingalls Wilder book "Little House in the Big Woods" of which I was a huge fan as a young girl.  I used to think Jack Frost was this scary little skinny man who was sort of mischievous, but this design paints him in a magical light!  I'm honestly almost relieved to be able to have a different way of looking at him from now on.  I can't think of any kid who wouldn't want this hanging in their room during winter. 

This issue also includes some sewing and crochet patterns as well.  There is a sewn pixie hat, which is very cute as well as a crochet snowflake hat and crochet ear warmers. 

In the Show and Tell section I found among all their wonderful reviews that Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of the Craft Sanity Podcast (of which I'm an avid listener and highly recommend) now has a Craft Sanity magazine available either online or in print.  You can check out more on her website here.  She does such an awesome job on her podcast that I can only imagine this being nothing but a fantastic magazine!!  Congratulations Jennifer!!

Their Renaissance Mom series is interviewing Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated.  And you have to check out her craft room, it's amazing!! 

They also feature some great articles including; festive quilted holiday coasters, and how to find time for knitting.

All in all it's a wonderful issue and I highly recommend you to check it out!!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm off to start dreaming up what projects I'd like to make first....after all the Christmas knitting is done of course ;-)

Happy Knitting!!