A Grettir for Eddie

--amber

After thirteen years of friendship and nine years of love, this guy definitely deserves a handknit sweater. Eddie has received a couple of handknit scarves from me over the years, but otherwise he's been resorting to keeping himself warm with store-bought woolens. Meanwhile, I've been parading around in a slew of handknit things from head to toe. 

Last month the spirit of holiday giving got to me and I decided it was time to share the sweater love. 

Jared Flood's Grettir pattern caught my eye and Eddie agreed, it was the perfect sweater for him. The Icelandic style yoke would be fun for me to knit, and--in a palette of natural heathered greys--the sweater would be classic and easy for Eddie to wear.

Grettir is written for Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter yarn, which I love and just used for my Reverb. It makes a stunning sweater, but for Grettir I opted to go a little more hardcore with my choice of wool--I wanted to make Eddie an Icelandic sweater with the Lopi that I fell in love with on my trip to Iceland. My own Iðunn cardigan, knit in Létt-Lopi, has been my most beloved sweater for the unpredictable Colorado winters.

Lucky for me, Létt-Lopi comes in an full spectrum of heathered greys so it was easy to find the perfect four shades for Grettir's chart. The worsted weight sweater pattern knit up in just about a month, and in the blink of an eye this sweater was finished. I have to say, I love knitting Jared's patterns. They are well written, create beautiful garments, and I always learn a new technique for impeccably finished handknits.

My favorite thing from Grettir is the rolled crewneck collar. So simple, yet so neat and tidy.

Eddie's new sweater was finished in time for our most recent snowstorm and, my, isn't a Lopi-wearing, bearded man a welcome sight the midst of a snowy forest?

After this sweater success I don't think I'll wait another 13 years to knit Eddie a new sweater. Until the next one, though, this sweater is sure to keep Mr. Corcoran warm and extremely fashionable.

Cat Nap: Craft Up Some Cattitude!

Oh boy its finally here! Lizzy House's latest collection Cat Nap has arrived. It's almost like this collection was speaking directly to Fancy Tiger's soul. With smiling cats, mischievous mice, dancing butterflies and all around adorableness Cat Nap has won our hearts! We can't wait to craft up new shirts, dresses, bags, and quilts with Cat Nap. According to Amber, you can never have too many cat dresses. There are 3 perfectly suited color stories available. Per usual, these prints compliment her Pearl Bracelets fabrics--don't worry we still have some in stock that coordinate perfectly! 

We have some lovely inspiration for you from Lizzy herself. Check out what she has been sewing with Cat Nap. 

"Catnap draws from my Scandinavian roots, my love of home, cats, and napping. In my small apartment, I follow the sun through the day as it shifts from room to room. You don't have to love cats to love a good catnap."

-Lizzy House

Craft Up A Trend: Stock Show Style

The cowboys are starting to roll into town and Denver is preparing for the 108th annual National Western Stock Show! It's time to find our western spirit and craft up some Stock Show Style.

We have collected an array of crafty patterns and supplies that are suited for your all stock show needs. With these we assure you will be the most fashionable attendee at this years stock show! 

Rockabilly Soft by Hill Country Weavers is a beautifully constructed cardigan with yoke detailing fit for a cowgirl. Muted colors of Loft make the perfect palette for this sweater. Check out the western-style piping at the shoulders!

Figgy's sewing patterns have us swooning over the adorableness. The Ayashe lays out options and suggestions on how to further customize this gem for your little one. Can you just picture this top with some tiny cowboy boots?! 

Obviously we needed to figure out the perfect pattern for Kokkas horse fabric from Japan. The Madeleine is a full skirt that sits at your natural waist and... it has suspenders! The over-sized pockets will be a perfect place to stash treats for your new llama friend!

This rustic Shetland lace from Elemental Affects would be lovely teamed up with Brooklyn Tweed's Frida pattern by Hiroko Fukatsu.  This fringed shawl is sure to keep you warm and stylish while watching all that mutton bustin'.

What about crafty cowboys, you say? Whip up one of these Negroni shirts from our pendleton shirting. You are sure to be the most stylish man in the catch-a-calf contest!

We love chambray, specifically dresses made out of chambray. We have a wide range of colors in stock but of course the standard denim wins for stock show sassiness. 

Watch out cowboys! There's a new horse in town and he can't wait to attend this years national stock show. This needlefelted pony will win the hearts of all those in search of their western spirit! 

We hope to see you there showing of your new duds!

Jaime's Carpino Sweater

Those people over at Brooklyn Tweed have got to stop. Every time I turn around they are publishing another round of beautiful patterns and I have to knit them all. There's not enough time!! Sometimes I can get overwhelmed at so many beautiful things to knit, but Carpino was easy. It was love at first sight for this pattern by the charming Irish designer, Carol Feller. Carpino moved immediately to the top of my queue and as soon as I finished our last knit along I cast on. Everything about this pattern was effortless: I confidently chose my color, my gauge was right on, the pattern just used one needle size that I happened to have in my knitting bag from my last project. It was all so serendipitous! Carpino held up to all my expectations. It just flowed off my needles in a few weeks with no tinking or issues.

The front panel is done in a feminine and interesting simple lace design. The lace repeats over just 3 stitches and 4 rows so it was a cinch to memorize. The sweater is knit seamless from the top down so I could try it on as I went. I knit this up exactly per the instructions with no alterations and I love it. 

The back of the sweater is done in stockinette stitch with some subtle dart shaping for the waist and hips. The sleeves and bottom band are finished with a stylish twisted-rib stitch and the neck is professionally finished with an i-cord edge.

Loft is a lovely yarn to work with and comes in a beautiful palette - I am so happy with this forest-y green, color, Birdbook. The sweater is warm enough to wear in chilly weather, but not too hot to keep on all day indoors. The easy fit is comfortable and flattering to wear. I've already worn this about a dozen times and I'm already scheming another Loft sweater.

The best part about this sweater? It is my 10th and final sweater for 2013. I had a personal goal of a sweater a month for 2013, which I fell just shy of, but I'm so proud of myself and all my sweater accomplishments! Hooray!

Lets spend 2014 together!

Fancy Tiger Crafts is sending you hugs and many thanks. We have been crafting together for going on 8 years! Our customers and our shared passion for all things hand made are the reasons for this. This year has been beyond amazing.

2013 has seen the development of our own line of yarn, Heirloom, produced for us by Jeane Decoster of Elemental Affects. This was received so well that it is now sold in stores nationally and have even hit a few stores internationally! 

The folks here at Fancy Tiger have developed twelve beautiful patterns for Heirloom, and we couldn't be prouder of the things we have created together over the last twelve months.

Our patterns for Heirloom have been pushing us to create even more. Big things are coming in 2014... We can't wait to share them with you! Here is a sneak peek of two new patterns coming soon for Heirloom!!

Here is to an abundant and beautiful 2014!

Downton Abbey Fabrics!

Here at Fancy Tiger Crafts, we have January 5th circled in our calendar as the day season 4 of Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey premiers! If you can relate to this, you have one more reason to rejoice: Downton Abbey fabrics are here! Andover fabrics has partnered with the Downton Abbey production team to design this licensed collection: The Women's Collection. The Dowager Countess, Mary, Edith, and Sybil each have their own line of fabrics inspired by the character's style. All the Downton Abbey fabrics are period-specific. These prints are even going to show up in future episodes of the show!

Dowager Countess

The Dowager fabrics feature refined blacks, purples and greys in detailed prints. These colors speak to the characters subdued color range. Although, as the series progresses she has been wearing a bit more color- check out those purples Countess!

Mary

Mary's fabrics are sophisticated designs in saturated jewel tones. She radiates a very classic style and we share the same love for these burgundy wears.

Edith

 Edith's collection introduces art deco flair and Edwardian colors. Edith is always seeking to impress with her consistent wears of fabulous prints and a very reliable color scheme: greens and corals.

Sybil

Sybil's colors of dark seafoam, grey and mauve speak to her character. She was very bold with her attire for her time. She's inspired by the modern movement of the arts, this drives her personal style.

We also have some new 1920's patterns in- entirely inspired by Downton Abbey. I see dresses, hats, scarves, and parasols in our future!  Perhaps you might host a Downton Abbey sewing and viewing party? Or wear your new Downton Abbey frock to a premier?  Snuggle up under your new Downton Abbey quilt with friends. We can't wait to see what you make!

Tortoise and Hare: A Vest Success!

I've been eyeing Kate Davies Tortoise & Hare sweater pattern for a few years--talk about adorable--and knew I had to knit this colorwork short sleeved sweater. The thing that finally pushed me over the Tortoise and Hare edge was when Jaime and I visited Shetland this fall. The natural colors of Shetland yarn at Jamieson + Smith's were irresistible and I knew it was time to make this.

You might notice that my Tortoise & Hare is not, in fact, a sweater, but an adorable vest! I love it as a vest, but here is the real story: that adaptation is mostly due to me rushing head over heels into this project and not doing a proper gauge swatch for my colorwork. Whoopsiedaisies. Apparently, I knit colorwork really loosely, which is weird, right? Here is how I turned a knitting disaster into a knitting success...

Check out the Vikkel braid action.

Knitting along, with just a tiny bit of unease about my gauge, I finished the body of the sweater and steeked open the neck and armholes (the pattern is knit entirely in the round and steeked in these three places). I tried it on and it was ridiculously huge in the shoulders. Like, you could fit a pair of football shoulder pads in it huge. After several months of knitting, this was pretty devastating.

I couldn't bear to rip out and reknit a single tortoise or a hare, so I decided to take my garment sewing and steeking skills to the next level. A beloved Shetland souvenir vest from my trip to Scotland became my pattern. I cut my oversized sweater shoulders down to size. After cutting away the excess fabric, I kitchenered the shoulder seams back together. From there I picked up stitches for the arm holes and neckline and finished them with a simple 2x2 rib.

It was a vest success! 

I love my new vest. I also maybe learned a little lesson about gauge....but also about owning my mistakes. Take that, knitting disaster!