Birdie...

There and back again!  We are home from our cross country college drop-off...a little bit worse for the wear {sooo tired} but feeling really positive about our daughter's new home away from home...I can see her thriving there. There is so much that I want to share about this experience and this time but I am still very much in the midst of processing it all, and to be honest I can't talk about it quite yet without getting misty {actually I'm moving between mild humidity and monsoon depending on the moment}.  So we'll save that for another day and instead go for a little {drum roll please}...tahdah!...

 This is my latest published design—The Birdie Backpack appearing in the new issue of Petite Purls!...

There are so many cute patterns in the 2010 Fall Issue.  I'm honored to be in such good company.  Last year my Ladybug Coat was a part of their premier fall issue, and I feel so fortunate to have another design included in this terrific online magazine. 
 
All about Birdie...

I had such fun making this backpack.  It was quick, no stress, and just plain fun to knit...one of those whimsical projects that just makes you smile while you're working on it.  I love that!  Plus, it has pockets!...

...secret pockets!  I really, really love that!  There is a pocket on the underside of each wing.  You can omit this detail and just make your birdie without pockets, but why-oh-why would you? 
The details...
The bag is worked from the bottom-up, in the round with Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Skinny Cotton.
Note: If you haven't used this yarn before {I hadn't}, let me tell you, it is fantastic.  I have always used Tahki's Cotton Classic when making cotton knits.  Cotton Classic a lovely yarn and will forever be one of my faves {so many great colors to choose from}, but I am so happy to have another great go-to cotton yarn.  The Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton has a little less sheen than the Cotton Classic and it washes to a soft, oh so yummy texture...ideal for making that favorite weekend sweater—you know the one—it's more old friend than sweater.  This yarn is strong and durable enough for a backpack and soft enough to be right next to the skin—pretty great, right?

The backpack opens and closes with a zipper along the back of the bag.  I-cord feet, a knitted beak, layered button eyes, and knitted top-feather tufts finish off the bag design.  I lined my bag to give it a little more structure and make it a bit more rugged {we are hard on our knits}, but you could make yours without the lining if you wanted.

It's perfect for short outings, just the right size for a sketch book, a pencil box, a snack and some light reading.  Our Birdie will be busy keeping us company on outings to the local nature park this fall...can't wait!

~xox~
alison

ps~Thanks so much for the love this week.  I can't tell you how much your wishes and thoughtfulness meant to me...knowing you were out there really helped prop me up...you'll never know how much.  You guys are the best!

My girl...

Here she is, my girl, wearing her first ever I-made-it-myself sweater...

She did a great job and I think it looks great on her.  It is a slightly adapted version of Emma Fassio's design and is a really wearable and flattering little garment...

...love that hemline...so cute!  You may remember this version from earlier in the summer—it {like most clothes these days} is cuter on her but I don't mind a bit.  She made her version with a double strand of Berroco NaturLin {love this yarn!}.  The night that she finished this sweet tunic, she immediately swatched and cast on for her second ever sweater—Liesl, a Coco Knits pattern.  She's knitting it in Lang's Tosca Light {another great yarn}.  It's going to be gorgeous and is progressing nicely—I'll keep you posted.

I don't have to tell you how happy all of this knitting this makes her mama.  After a couple of early false starts with knitting {consisting mainly of last minute scarves for gifting and one ill-fated and unfinished sweater—due to an unfortunate combo of a poorly written pattern and icky yarn—no fun}, I feel confident that she is now a true knitting convert, and I am over the moon about it.  It is so gratifying to sit and knit with her, to see her reach for her knitting needles, to enjoy a Saturday stitching, talking and laughing at the knitting shop with her.  Knitting is such a huge part of my life, such a great source of joy and comfort to me, and it brings me no end of happiness to see my girl get it and share it...and how timely that it should come right now, right before she leaves the nest.

Which brings me to another little item...I will be absent here for a few days as we are taking my sweetie off to her first year of college.  I'm not going to delve too deeply into all of that right now...the feelings, the excitement that I have for her, the pride that I feel, the anxiousness, the knowledge that I will miss her more than words can say, and that I am so very happy for her all at the same time.  No, I am not going to go into all of that...there will be time enough and I just can't right now...no time to open that up right now {not that I haven't already had my moments~pass the tissues please}, but for now there is still so much to do and it's time to put one foot in front of another...one...foot...in front...of...the other...

I'll be back next week with a little show and tell {I'm really excited about this one}.  Until then...happy knitting!

~xox~
alison