Eclectic Closet Litblog, Book Reviews & Knitting Designs

A litblog dedicated to book reviews/recommendations, as well as literary and publishing news. Now enhanced with knitting designs.

Lá Bealtaine

June15

Janelle Martin_MG_2886 sized watermarked
Lá Bealtaine
was designed for Wooly Wonka Fibers’ Celtic Year club, inspired by the Gaelic May Day festival Beltane – one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals at which special bonfires were kindled. Lá Bealtaine is the Irish Gaelic name for Beltane.

The pattern includes three sizes for this design: a shoulder wrap with buttons, a scarf and a rectangular stole.

Janelle Martin_MG_2933 sized watermarked

Wriggle Mitts

May3

Knitting-Apr21-2019_MG_3011 scaled watermarked

The Wriggle Mitts were designed for Shall We Knit’s retreat in January 2019, using the featured yarn that attendees received in their goodie bag. Another local designer (Lynne Sosnowski) and I were challenged to each design a new pattern using Shibui Knits yarns. I created these mittens and Lynne designed a cowl called Portable Hole.

The mittens are knit with two fingering weight yarns held together to create a marled effect. The sample was knit using a chainette yarn (Shibui Knits Maai) and a beautiful hand painted silk mohair yarn (Riverside Studios Kidsilk).

If you don’t want to knit with two yarns held together, you will need 160 metres of a yarn that knits up to 7 stitches to 2.5 cm on 3.5 mm needles.

S Curve Cowl

May2

I’ve neglected this blog since my mother passed away. Enough time has passed and I feel the designing bug returning so it is time to get back to posting about here about designing, knitting and books. With that in mind, I present the S Curve Cowl, a design that was designed for Shall We Knit?’s retreat in November 2017, using the featured yarn that attendees received in their goodie bag.

Knitting-Apr21-2019_MG_2991 scaled watermarked

Lynne Sosnowski and I were challenged to each design new pattern using the same yarn. I created this buttoned cowl and Lynne designed Benmiller Rendezvous Mitts.

This cowl is knit with two fingering weight yarns held together to create a marled effect. The sample was knit using a hand painted, speckled yarn (Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino KPPPM) and the luscious and decadent Filatura Di Crosa Superior.

The contrasting trim at the end of the cowl is achieved by knitting with the hand painted yarn only. The length of the cowl can easily be adjusted by knitting additional repeats of the main stitch pattern.

Wishing Everyone a Peaceful Holiday Season

December25

Icy branches

Wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday season to you and your loved ones. May this time of celebration refresh your heart and spirit.

Tablet Braid skipping

Patterns that make me wish I liked knitting stranded colourwork designs, part 2

December12

On November 26 I posted my stranded colourwork picks for this year’s Indie Designer Gift-A-Long but I had so many selections I decided to break it into two posts.  Here’s part 2.

The Kentigern Blanket by K.M. Bedigan

The Kentigern Blanket by K.M. Bedigan

 

 

Stairsteps Tam by Stephannie Tallent

Stairsteps Tam by Stephannie Tallent

 

Dark Passage Socks by Beverly S.

Dark Passage Socks by Beverly S.

 

Tourbillon by Kris Carlson

Tourbillon by Kris Carlson

 

Hyde Park Hat & Mittens by Becky Herrick

Hyde Park Hat & Mittens by Becky Herrick

 

Sirona by Emmy Petersson

Sirona by Emmy Petersson

 

Modern Tartan by Elizabeth Green Musselman

Modern Tartan by Elizabeth Green Musselman

 

Elektrocute by Emma Welford

Elektrocute by Emma Welford

 

Cats in the Garden Socks by Sonja Launspach Kunstwerk Designs

Cats in the Garden Socks
by Sonja Launspach Kunstwerk Designs

 

Estri Cardigan by Meiju K-P

Estri Cardigan by Meiju K-P

 

Tiled In Cowl by Sarah Jordan

Tiled In Cowl by Sarah Jordan

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

posted under Knitting | No Comments »

Patterns for literary lovers

December7

I find literature a great inspiration when designing.  In fact, I’ve designed several pieces based on works of fiction: Sargaço Shawl, Whitman Cowl, Taming of the Fox, and Stacks Socks.

Here are my picks of some other #giftalong2016 designs inspired by works of fiction.

 

Eyre by Renée Kies

Eyre by Renée Kies

 

Shirley Keeldar shawl by Elizabeth Felgate

Shirley Keeldar shawl by Elizabeth Felgate

 

Georgiana Newbury by Teresa Morey

Georgiana Newbury by Teresa Morey

 

Petit Prince and Little Star by Aurélie Colas

Petit Prince and Little Star by Aurélie Colas

 

The Tale of Little Rabbit by Olga Beckmann

The Tale of Little Rabbit by Olga Beckmann

 

Persuasion by Christal LK Designs

Persuasion by Christal LK Designs

 

 

Ranganathan's Mitts by Sharon Fuller

Ranganathan’s Mitts by Sharon Fuller

 

Scheherazade's Tale by Nim Teasdale

Scheherazade’s Tale by Nim Teasdale

 

The Yellow-Gartered Dude Abides by Elizabeth Green Musselman

The Yellow-Gartered Dude Abides by Elizabeth Green Musselman

 

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

Save

Save

Save

posted under Knitting | No Comments »

Patterns to make you smile

December4

As we get further into December, there are some very grey and dreary days. Gift-A-Long has some fantastically cute and funny patterns, the perfect thing to combat an overcast day.  The challenge here was paring the list down to these selections.

 

Celtic Cabled Mandala by Tatsiana Kupryianchyk

Celtic Cabled Mandala by Tatsiana Kupryianchyk

 

 

Lady of the Lake by Lotta Groeger

Lady of the Lake by Lotta Groeger

 

My Little Slug by Selina S.

My Little Slug by Selina S.

 

 

Venn by Ella Austin

Venn by Ella Austin

 

 Woolbringer: A knitted sword by Emily Ringelman

Woolbringer: A knitted sword by Emily Ringelman

 

Zombie Knitster by Julia Swart

Zombie Knitster by Julia Swart

 

Karen by Tanja Osswald

Karen by Tanja Osswald

 

Mullioned Hat by Katy H. Carroll

Mullioned Hat by Katy H. Carroll

 

Flidais Stole by Stephannie Tallent

Flidais Stole by Stephannie Tallent

 

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Patterns to tame the inner geek

December2

Whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter, Doctor Who or Firefly, the Indie Gift-A-Long has something for everyone.  Here are some of my pattern picks that celebrate various fandoms.

 

Venomous Tentacula by Jennifer Dassau

Venomous Tentacula by Jennifer Dassau

 

Space Cadet Sweater Vest by Nicole Montgomery

Space Cadet Sweater Vest by Nicole Montgomery

 

Doctored by Gabriella Henry

Doctored by Gabriella Henry

 

Shoggoth by Lee Meredith

Shoggoth by Lee Meredith

 

 

 

Jayne Cupcake by Kathleen Sperling

Jayne Cupcake by Kathleen Sperling

 

The One Ring by Renée Kies

The One Ring by Renée Kies

 

Guinan by Akua Lezli Hope AkuaDesigns

Guinan by Akua Lezli Hope AkuaDesigns

 

Mithrandir by Amy van de Laar

Mithrandir by Amy van de Laar

 

 Calluna Brae by Sally Oakley

Calluna Brae by Sally Oakley

 

Omar Alien by cheezombie

Omar Alien by cheezombie

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

Save

Save

Save

posted under crochet, Knitting | 1 Comment »

Patterns for period drama lovers

November28

I love period dramas and will happily watch a marathon of Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, The Miss Fisher Mysteries or The Paradise. Many of these feature fantastic knit or crochet garments and all have inspired designers with their aesthetic. Here are some of my picks for those who desire a bit of vintage style with their knitting/crochet.

Flapper Cloche by Megan Nodecker

Flapper Cloche by Megan Nodecker

 

Pride and Prejudice Mittens by Christelle Nihoul

Pride and Prejudice Mittens by Christelle Nihoul

 

Sanguinaria yarn bag by Naomi Parkhurst

Sanguinaria yarn bag by Naomi Parkhurst

 

Paris 1925 by Marie Greene

Paris 1925 by Marie Greene

 

Parisian Delight by Andrea Rangel

Parisian Delight by Andrea Rangel

 

Ninetta Neckwarmer by Nina Machlin Dayton

Ninetta Neckwarmer by Nina Machlin Dayton

 

 

 

In Case of Draughts by Hunter Hammersen

In Case of Draughts by Hunter Hammersen

 

Nola Cloche by Hilary Smith Callis

Nola Cloche by Hilary Smith Callis

 

Bellocq by Marnie MacLean

Bellocq by Marnie MacLean

 

Lady Sybil's Crescent by Michele DuNaier

Lady Sybil’s Crescent by Michele DuNaier

 

What is the Gift-A-Long? The GAL is a big knitting and crochet designer promotion with prizes and more than 5,000 people participating in a giant KAL/CAL. Come join the GAL group on Ravelry!

posted under Knitting | No Comments »

Saying Thanks

November26

Black Friday Cyber Monday sale at Eclectic Closet Knitwear 20% off

The worlds converged – Gift-A-Long2016 and Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday are all happening at once this year. Want to find the best deal on my designs? All the details on my sale, which coupon to use and links to the designs are here.

Thank you for all your support of my designs and small business.

Indie Designer Gift-a-long sale collage

« Older EntriesNewer Entries »

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Email Preference *
Email Format

Visit my Ravelry Shop

My Knitting Patterns


Audrey II



Angular Path Scarf



Cartouche Stole



Fossetta Cowl



Fossetta Hat



Sargaço Shawl



Whitman Hat



Every Which Way Cowl



Every Which Way Hat



Every Which Way Fingerless Mitts



Gothic Forest Scarf



Valencia Scarf



Branching Path Cowl



Flower Bell Stole



Whitman Cowl



New Tech Cowl



Vieux Carré Stole



Stacks Socks



Anna Perenna Shawlette



Taming of the Fox


Don't Ask Y

Cantilevering Leaves



Amplification Stole



Combs Cowl



Mindfulness Cowl



Tipsy Scarf



Gridwork Scarf
Ravelry Free Download