Hand Like a Hole--Free Pattern of the Month!

*As seen in*

Hand Like a Hole
Wrapped Stitch Wristers

Materials
1(1, 2) Balls Vickie Howell Collection’s ROCK (Shown in “Trent” gray and “Jeremy” yellow)
US Size 7 Needles
Tapestry Needle

Sizes

Unisex S (M, L)
Stretches to fit hand circumferences: 7” (8”, 9”)

Directions (Make 2)

CO 35 sts. Work in garter stitch for 3”(3 ½”, 4”).

Next row (RS): Knit 21(21, 19) sts, yo, k1 (twice), yo2, k1 (three times), yo3, k1 (4 times), yo4, k1 (5 times).

(WS): Knit all knit sts, drop all yos.

Work in garter stitch for 3”(3 ½”, 4”) more. BO.

Finishing

Fold in half length-wise and seam up.

Dig this project? Get more great knit & crochet patterns and kits like it, here!
Copyright Vickie Howell, Inc. 2007. All rights reserved.

Wee Bebes

I just got back from visiting my best friend Tammy and her new baby boy, Owen (aka the inspiration for the "B&B Baby" Kit). Owen's a beautiful, perfect and nearly impossible-to-stop -staring-at, bundle of mushy goodness . I started snapping pictures of him early one morning and clearly tired of my antics, he flashed me this gesture. He was unamuuuuuuuused with the flash gong off in his face. Heheh.

As is evident from this picture, my mom is DYING for another grandchild. Now that I'm married again, she's taken to text messaging me name ideas for her mythical, red-headed grand-daughter-to-be. I told her to bug my brother with that request. It's his turn. ;-) Thankfully, since mom lives 10 minutes from Tam, she can get her fix for now via Sir O.

Speaking of babies, last weekend we drove up to Dallas for my SIL's baby shower. Her son, Sam is due in June. Dave's already informed her that he and I will be Sam's "cool aunt and uncle" so to begin living up to that, we found him a wee pair of soft little shoes with flying "v" guitar appliqués on them and I knit him this hat to match.

Yarn: VHC's LOVE in colors, "June & Johnny" and "Jack & Sally"
Pattern: B&B Baby Set, available free w/ purchase at your LYS or for purchase as a kit, here.

The drive to Dallas from Austin takes about 4 hours (with stops), which was just about time enough to knit up a Sense & Sensible-knitty scarf as belated birthday gift for my MIL.

Yarn: VHC's LOVE in color, "Andi & Blane"
Pattern: Free w/ VHC yarn purchase at your LYS

Alrighty, I'm late picking up web-gal Jenny for an early b-day brunch. Stay tuned tomorrow for a free wrist-warmer pattern!

xo,
Vickie

The Name Game

While I was out touring, a few people asked me about the names of colors of my yarn, so I thought I'd post the scoop for those interested. For the CRAFT colors, I'm slowly starting to put up pictures of the namesakes to see when you click on an individual swatch. Check out Jennifer, Allison & Mafiosa, when you get a chance! :-) Alrighty then, here goes...

CRAFT (Organic Cotton & Milk Fiber)
Named after my friends or other crafty people who've inspired me.

Suss (dark purple): Knitwear designer, Suss Cousins
Meowers (light pink): My on-line knitting friends
Libby (coral): My mom
Todd (teal): Designer, Todd Oldham
Cathie & Steve (olive green): Hosts, Creative Juice
Jennifer (mint green): Host, Craft Lab & Owner, Naughty Secretary Club
Candi (tan): Knit/Crochet designer, Candi Jensen
Martha (pale yellow): Martha Stewart
Allison (chocolate brown): Host, Uncommon Threads
Mafiosa (hot pink): Austin Craft Mafia
Adina (black): Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Knitting & Knit.1 Magazines
Chica (red): Craft designer/writer, Kathy Cano-Murillo (aka Crafty Chica)
Carol (white): Craft guru, Carol Duvall
Kelly (light green): Producer (formerly of Knitty Gritty), Kelly Mooney

ROCK (Hemp/Soysilk/Wool)
Named after rock stars, of course.

Kim & Kelly (turquoise): The Deal sisters /The Breeders & The Pixies (Kim)
Karen (Lavender): Karen O. /Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Siouxsie (dark purple): Siouxsie Sioux/ Souxsie & the Banshees
Courtney (hot pink): Courtney Love/Hole/Solo stuff
Billie Joe (lime green): Billie Joe Armstrong/Green Day
Dave (blue): Dave Campbell/ Arms in Danger
Billy (orange): Billy Corigan /Smashing Pumpkins, etc.
Shirley (reddish-orange): Shirley Manson/Garbage
Jeremy (bright yellow): Jeremy Enigk / Sunny Day Real Estate/Solo stuff
Joan (black): Joan Jett/Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Thom (brown): Thom York/Radiohead
Trent (grey): Trent Rezner/Nine Inch Nails
Gwen (red): Gwen Stefani/No Doubt/ Solo stuff
Jack (white): Jack White/White Stripes

LOVE (Bamboo/Silk)
Named after fictional couples from movies.

Lloyd & Diane (turquoise): Say Anything
Gail & Dewey (pale yellow): Scream
Peter & Mary Jane (red): Spider-Man
Sarah & Maurice (dark teal): The End of the Affair
Napoleon & Deb (dark yellow): Napoleon Dynamite
Jack & Sally (gray): Nightmare Before Christmas
Andi & Blane (coral-y pink): Pretty in Pink
Mulder & Scully (emerald green): X-Files
Harold & Maude (brown): Harold & Maude
Ennis & Jack (periwinkle): Brokeback Mountain
Shelby & Jackson: Steel Magnolias
Buttercup & Wesley: The Princess Bride
June & Johnny: Walk the Line
Joel & Clementine: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Stay tuned, more colors in all 3 lines out this fall!

xo,
Vickie

As Seen on TV!

Hey all! Since we get quite a bit of requests for pattern info on some of the knitted pieces I wear on Knitty Gritty, I thought I'd post what I can remember here. Here goes!

Green "Teensey" Capelet

Episode: "Mixing Yarns" w/ Stephanie Klose
Pattern: Free here on my blog!

Orange & Cream "Oh, Scrap! Wrap"

Episode: "Knitting for Charity" w/
Pattern: Free here on my blog!

Multi-colored "One Skein Wonder" Shrug
Episode: "The Better Sweater" w/ Stefanie Japel
Pattern: Available for purchase on Stefanie's website, GlampyreKnits.

Black & Teal "Triangle Shawl"

Episode: "Coriolis Sock" with Cat Bordhi
Pattern: Kit available for purchase here on Suss Cousin's website.

Brown & Cream Wrapped Stitch Tank Top

Episode: "Forever Plaid" w/ Teva Durham
Pattern: Available in her fantastic book, Loop-d-Loop.

xo,
Vickie

Introducing, Vickie Howell Collection Kits!

Wowza, two new knitting kits from the Vickie Howell Collection! They're cute, they're quick-to-knit and perfect projects for the knitter on the go!

B&B Baby Kit

Photo: Jody Horton Model: Fields Horton

Kit includes:
• 3 colors of Vickie Howell Collection's LOVE (70% Bamboo/30% Silk)
• 10 yards of Vickie Howell Collection's ROCK (for monogram & ties)
• Plastic zippy project tote
• Pattern for Newborn Stripey Beanie & Booties

Total boutique luxury for baby! Comes in 3 colorway choices: Punky (modeled), Earthy, and Candy.


Earthy: Monogram & Tie yarn included in black (VHC's ROCK in color: Joan)


Candy: Monogram & Tie yarn included in black (VHC's ROCK in color: Kim & Kelly)

Psst! The kit alone or the set knit up, both make great gifts!


Formality Scarf Kit

Photo: Dave Campbell

Kit Includes:
• Two colors of CRAFT (65% organic cotton/35% milk filber) from the Vickie Howell Collection
• Plastic zippy project tote
• Complete scarf instructions

A tux-tastic, year-round accessory! Comes in 3 colorway choices: Starry Night (modeled), Enchanted Evening, and Endless Love.


Enchanted Evening (VHC Colors: Jennifer & Carol)


Endless Love (VHC Colors: Meowers & Carol)

Check out these and keep your eyes peeled for more only, at Vickie Howell.com!

Virginia

After the tragedy of yesterday's massacre at Virginia Tech, the knit-related news I had planned to post about today seems trivial and inconsequential. I'm sitting here with my boys, one who's home sick and the other playing at my feet, feeling comfort in knowing they're close and safe. I can't fathom what the parents of the 30+ adult-children murdered, must be going through right now. I just can't imagine.

If any fans out there are friends or family members of the students or professors who were injured or killed in this inexplicable act of violence, please, please let me know if there's anything that I can do to help you through this awful time--put together a charity auction to aid in funeral costs, personally visit or call hospitals or homes, anything. Contact: rebecca@vickiehowell.com , and she'll get any necessary info to me.

I usually keep my very strong political opinions off of this forum but today, I ask us as a country to please re-examine our current gun laws. In the state of Virgina, it is currently legal to carry concealed guns, guns need not be registered with law enforcement, a permit is not required to purchase a gun, there isn't a waiting period and, there is zero background checking required for "private"(gun shows, swap meets, etc.) gun sales . I know this information wont bring any of the victims in this case back but I have to hope as a parent and activist, that we can help prevent more events of this record-breaking magnitude from occurring in thing future.

My thoughts and love are with you all.

Vickie

NEW KNITTY GRITTY ON HGTV STARTS TOMORROW!

Starting tomorrow, HGTV will air new episodes from season 7 of Knitty Gritty on Mondays in April, and more beginning at the end of May (I guess they're trying to ration the new stuff out). Re-runs from past seasons will continue to air on Wednesdays and Fridays. Just a reminder, Knitty Gritty airs on HGTV on MWF at 7am/6amCT, and DAILY on DIY at 2pmET/1pmCT/12omPT. Make sure to set your DVRs for these new ones--the projects are all really cool and vary in skill level! Knit on, Vickie

NEW EPISODE MONDAYS ON HGTV
4/16 "Coreolis Sock" with guest, Cat Bordhi (Remember her from the Mobius show?)
4/23 "Kitchen Couture" with guest, Jordana Paige (That's right, the bag lady)
4/30 "Hooked on Knitting" with guest Lily Chin
5/28 "Spot on Adornments" with guest, Christina Batch (EOC of Adornment Magazine)

Pssst! Don''t forget there are also two NEW episodes from season 8 on DIY this week including, the viewer anticipated Yarn Harlot sock show.

Knitted Centerpiece O'Love '07

I think I mentioned before that fellow Austin Craft Mafia member, Susann, eloped a couple of months ago. She and her hubby are throwing a big bash tomorrow night to celebrate and as our gifts to her, she asked if each of us from the group would make one of the 8 centerpieces she needed. There were no rules at all, other than they needed to be done by tonight. IMHO, this is a brilliant idea--gets people involved and cuts down on bride-stress. Go Susann! Knowing our group of girls, there's bound to be some wacky table baubles showing up--Jennifer made a wedding terrarium that I'm totally jealous of! Conversely, and for a change, I went traditional.





I bought a square vase at a craft store and filled it with hydrangea from Whole Foods. The vase is covered with four pieces that I knit out of Leigh Radford's Silk Gelato by Lantern Moon, and then seamed together. The color, "Melon", actually reminds me a lot of the iridescent pink of Susann's dress that she'll be wearing. I was lucky enough to be with her when, upon my insistence because it looked so friggin' beautiful on her, she bought it. But I digress..
The centerpiece is finished of with a silk ribbon I got on-line at MJ Trimming. Super simple, but pretty. Well, at least I think it is. Hope Suzie Q likes it, too!

Ok, off to a date night with Dave. We're going to the Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and a movie. Have a great weekend!

xo,
Vickie

Calling all parentals!

Hey, Parents! If you're out at a grocery store or newsstand this month, take a look at the current issue of CHILD Magazine. In it they feature me and my cutie-pie boys including, a full page of our, ok my, favorite things in daily life (Vans Slip-ons, Lexie Barnes bags, Spider-man Vitamins...)



If you haven't had a chance to check out my eco-friendly craft column in the healthy parenting magazine, KIWI, not to worry!



They've created a page for me on their website and started putting up past issue's projects. Pick up the newest issue due out in May, with my Hugs & Stitches booties pattern!

I have a couple of new things to tell you about, but they'll have to wait until tomorrow. Apparently, even though I stopped sharing Wet n' Wild eyeliner's almost 20 years ago, I still managed to get pink eye, and it kinda hurts to stare at the monitor. WTH?!

Nightie night,
Vickie

Peeks & Waves--Free Pattern of the Month!

With Mother's Day coming up, it's time to start working on quick, but thoughtful gifts for mom. For this pillow cover, you need only to knit one piece and attach it to an existing pillow, letting its color peek through the front while the back remains uninterrupted. And hey, if you use my line of yarn, you can literally say your pillow is made with LOVE! ;-)

Materials
1 Ball each of Vickie Howell Collection’s LOVE in colors: Jack & Sally (silver), Ennis & Jack (lavender), and Joel & Clementine (dark purple).
US Size 9 Needles

Tapestry Needle
Black 19”x19” Pillow (I found mine at Target)
Black Thread
Sewing Needle
Sewing Pins

Finished Measurement
Approx 19”x19”

Wavy Pattern Stitch
Rows 1-2: Knit all sts.

Row 3: K 6, *YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K6. Repeat from * to end

Row 4: Knit all knit sts, drop all YOs.

Rows 5-6: Knit all sts.

Row 7: K1, *YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K6. Repeat to last 5 sts. YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K1.

Row 8: Repeat row 4.

Directions
With Jack & Sally, CO 65 sts. Work 8 rows in Wavy Pattern Stitch.

Join and switch to Ennis & Jack. Work 8 rows in Wavy Pattern Stitch.

Join and switch to Joel & Clementine. Work 8 rows in Wavy Pattern Stitch.

Continue established 3 color stripe pattern (24 rows), twice more.

Join and switch to Jack & Sally. Work 8 rows in Wavy Pattern Stitch.

Bind off.

Finishing
Pin finished piece onto front of pillow. Using sewing needle, thread and small stitches, attach knitted piece to pillow by tacking on

Dig this project? Get more great knit & crochet patterns and kits like it, here!

Copyright Vickie Howell, Inc. 2007 All rights reserved.

Happy Easter, Peeps!

Yesterday was our 2nd annual Easterpalooza at our house AKA, the "Howell/Campbell Home for Wayward Easterers". Austin is a city of transplants so there are a lot of us here who don't have family close by. Easterpalooza is open to anyone who wants to come. The adults sip on mimosas and eat snacks while the kids hunt for easter eggs and jump in the huge, Spider-Man bouncy pit. It's good times. This year, it was pretty cold outside but a lot of people still showed up, including sisters in craft maifia-ness and their SFOs: Jennifer, Tina, Karly (who's newly engaged--YAY Matt & Karly!), Hope, Jenny (who I suckered into modeling the Sense & Sensibile-knitty Scarf & Wrap, the patterns of which are available for free with VHC yarn purchase at your LYS), and Susann who brought her sister and 4 kids who are visiting for
Susann's post-elopement party. In case you're keeping track, that's 2 ACMer's engaged, and 2 who've eloped over the past 4 months. Don't drink the water. ;-)


Patterns: Melinda Morrow, Yarn: Vickie Howell Collection's Love

My mom's also in town, which is awesome. We got crafty and made a ridiculous Peeps Wreath for the door. After all, nothing says "Welcome to Our Home" better than hot glue and sugar-saturated marshmallow!


Me and Libbs (aka my mom). Photo by Tanner Howell :-)


"Welcome, my peeps!"

On the Knitty Gritty front, I finally watched the new episodes that have aired so far. The music action is going to take a little getting used to but, I actually like pace of the new, HDTV format. Seems less tedious to me. I don't know, I need to see more before I have a strong opinion. Just out of curiosity though, do any of you watch Uncommon Threads or Craft Lab? They're produced by the same company and edited almost exactly the same way. For those of you who are anti-new format, does that feeling go for all three shows? Inquiring minds wanna know!

I do however agree, the Knittycam is a bit obscured by the large graphics that are on screen at the same time (although I like that they're labeling what's being done--and yes, I did catch the graphics mistake made on the cropped sweater episode). All that to say, I think the guests have totally kicked ass so far and that the topics have been pretty interesting to watch. I'm really glad that we were able to do some more advanced stuff this go around. Congratulation to Jamie (aka Scout) for her great job showing us how to hand-dye yarn on today's episode! She was all worried, but did a fantastic job! Seriously, that was the last show of the season we shot and everybody was really tired. She was a great sport. Thanks, lady!

Ok, I've got a sick kiddo to check on and a quickie, Free Pattern of the Month (are you reading, Dave Lowe?! ;-)) to finish. Hope you all had a happy Easter!

xo,
Vickie

Tons O' DIY Knitty Gritty Goodness!

Alright, I'm a little late spreading the new Knitty Gritty gospel (that apparently happens when I go and get myself a personal life & stuff), but here goes:

Calling all Knitsters! There are brand new episodes of Knitty Gritty airing daily now on DIY. That's right, season 8 has begun and in some kind of needle& yarn showdown, season 7 will also begin airing on HGTV on April 16th (schedule to follow). If you're quicker on the uptake than I am, you may have already seen the Michael Del Vecchio travel tote, Cookie A. lacey sock and Stefanie Japel top-down shrug episodes (if not don't worry, they'll re-air!)-- but there's so much more to see, beginning today!

DIY SCHEDULE (Weekdays at 2pm ET/1pm CT)

4/6: "Hat Trick" w/ guest, Jennifer Hanson aka Stitch Diva
4/9: "Hand-Painting Yarn" w/ guest Jamie Dixon aka Scout
4/10: "Celebrity Scarves" w/ guest Sarah Rosenberg
4/11: "Teen Scene" w/ guests Katy Von Rader & Hana Gurvitz
4/12: "Knitting on the Go" w/ guest Lisa Shobahna Mason
4/13: "AlterKNITive" w/ guest John Brinegar
4/16: "Knits That Fit" w/ guest Amy O'Neill Houck
4/17: "Knitting Rules!" w/ guest Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka YARN HARLOT
4/18: "Happy Hour Knits" w/ guest Star Athena (re-air)

It seems that the Do-it-Yourself web folks have been hard at work on the site and have added a Handy Dandy Stitch Glossary (with video demos by yours truly) and a Knitty Gritty Video Channel! Oh, and don't forget I also have a How-To knit and crochet section on my site . Clearly people, all the knitting resources you need are literally at your finger tips. So...let your fingers do the walking, er, typing!

Knitlicious kisses,
Vickie

P.S. Don't forget to set your DVRs!

The Missus

The Campbells

In case any of you have been wondering why I've been a wee bit quiet over the past week or two it's because, I was putting together a wedding. Mr. Dave Campbell and I threw caution (and the stress of planning and scheduling) to the wind and eloped over the weekend! We were married by candlelight in a wine cave at a Calastoga, CA winery on Friday, the anniversary of the day we met. We walked down the aisle together, to Muse's song "Blackout" and danced to "Love is a Place" by Metric. We sipped champagne, visited the Beringer Vineyard in Napa Valley and stayed for a couple of days at the lovely, Indian Springs Spa where we indulged in massages and mineral baths. Our witness was the photographer and the ceremony was offciated by the flamboyantly fabulous Rev. Blane (seen below flashing "jazz hands" with me), who managed to personalize the event so much that he even included my love/Dave's hate for Diet Coke.



After that we headed south to San Francisco where we spent a couple of honeymoon days at the swanky W Hotel while shopping, eating amazing food, hanging out at a pub with a bunch of Irish dudes (seen below with us from L-R: Mick #1, Darren, and Mick #2) and for the first time in years, not even checking e-mail. The whole experience was amazing, romantic and for us, absolutely perfect.



As soon as we can figure out a place to hold it (Texas heat makes venue choices difficult), we'll throw a celebratory party. We can't wait!

And that folks, is all she wrote!

xo,
Vickie