These are the first of two pairs of Hearth Slippers by Dianna Walla I knitted during the awesome KAL that Anna and "the Fancies" (Jamie and Amber) hosted a couple of months ago.

When Anna asked me to write a blog post about the experience, I was delighted to have a chance to think back to the knitting of them. Fancy Tiger Crafts Heirloom Romney is really wonderful yarn, stunning colors too. I particularly enjoyed knitting Dianna's stranded motifs, so fun and rewarding to execute. I'd actually never knitted a pair of slippers before! And I've been wearing these practically everyday since they were done... Finished both pairs around Christmas time and a family vacation to Bend, Oregon.

These are some images that come to my mind's eye when I think about knitting my slippers. And looking through these photos reminded of something my favorite photographer/teacher Jay Maisel once said: that we all assert our own perspectives, experiences, feelings, ideas… our hearts! into the pictures we take, no matter whom or what we decide to focus our cameras upon … The images will always act as mirrors, small reflections of ourselves.

I think you might know where this is going... of course the same goes for the knitted things we make! From the yarn, to the texture of the fabric, to the difficulty or ease of the project… we reveal things about ourselves and leave clues about our lives in our knitting. “Stockinette, ribbing, cables,… instantly evoke places, times, people, conversations- all those poignant moments we’ve tucked away in our memory banks.” –Clara Parkes, The Yarn Whisperer.

For me, the Hearth Slippers KAL happened along at the perfect time. Wintry nordic motifs and rustic-y Romney worked perfectly with the vision I had for the holidays. As I knitted, I dreamed about wearing those slippers in a cozy cabin, going on a family road trip, having our daughter home from college. I decided to knit the second pair for her. Specifically, to take on a camping trip she'd planned with friends. It was a bittersweet knit, knowing that our daughter would be spending the second half of her Christmas break away from us, with her friends... I am happy for her new found independence and I was happy for the chance to knit my feelings into those slippers, to be able to give her something useful... that would make her smile when she looks at them.

I’ve never been good at journaling… I just don’t have the discipline and I’ve always felt a little guilty about not putting pen to paper. But good news!! I’ve just started reading Clara’s book today, and it’s made me realize that as knitters, we are all journalists! And the things we make with yarn can sometimes “communicate far deeper meaning than could be put into words.” “Swatches and garments… when deciphered, tell stories of their own.” I had to giggle when my daughter told me later she actually burned a few holes in her slippers from toasting toes too close to the campfire...

Knitted textiles certainly do tell wonderful stories...

photo, Karen Templer

photo, Ashley Yousling

photo, Anna Dianich

What are you knitting/journaling about now? As you hold your knitting and peer into it, what do you see? What does it make you remember? I’ll bet it’s something delightful.

-Kathy Cadigan

Christmas has come and gone and the new year has begun.  As exciting as New Year's and beginnings are, I am always a little sad when the holidays are done (I didn't bake enough cookies, I didn't get my fill of Christmas music, I never got around to knitting all the Christmas presents I wanted to make).  And once again I vow that next year will be different.  

I'm not a New Year's resolution kind of gal, but thought that I will set some New Year's intentions and also thought that I will set some New Year's knitting goals.  Along with finishing my Amanda cardigan (yes, I am the last on the panel to finish), I plan on finishing the Cypress vest that I started before the shop opened ( a year and a half ago) and starting this summer I will knit hats and mittens for all four of my kids so that I don't panic when September comes around and they have no warm hand knits to wear on those cool mornings waiting for the school bus.  Also, I intend to get a head start on my holiday knitting.  What are your plans the new year?  

I just love marled yarn, there's something really rustic yet urban about it. Last weekend while at the mall (I have a teenaged daughter), I spotted a really cute marled hat at Nordstrom and then a cute pair of marled gloves at Madewell.  I took a snapshot of the hat and texted it to Karen who somehow has a mental file of every great Ravelry pattern available.  Karen texted me back with a pattern that would work for the that hat and the next day at work I picked up a skein of Anna yarn (great name!) and got started on the Thank You hat by the Purl Bee. I'm still working on the hat (and the Hearth Slippers) but am loving the way it's turning out, Anna yarn is so soft and squishy. I think I'll be casting on for some red mittens in the Anna yarn as soon as the hat is done.  

We have some other great marled yarns available as well, Insouciant Jacob and Twirl Marbles and you can get a similar affect by knitting two different color yarns held together like Jaime Jennings did on her Forester sweater by holding two colors of Heirloom Romney yarn together while knitting.

Check out our Pinterest page for marled yarn inspiration.