Copper

I have been very grateful for a little online thread on Ravelry set up by a fellow knitter and avid fan of Vogue Knitting, coilycurly. This knitter, to honor Vogue Knitting’s 35th anniversary, has set up what she is calling the “Anniversary Challenge”. According to the ‘rules’, contestants are to knit one project from…

By: Holly May 13, 2017June 21, 2017 Collection, TechniqueBuffalo, clothing, Collection, fashion, healthy-living, knitting, knitting technique, Ravelry, vogue, Vogue Knitting, Vogue Knitting Live, yarn stash, Yoko Hatta8 Comments

Fair Isle Coat from Remnant Stash

This past year, I have made a conscious effort to utilize the growing stash that is forming. I don’t mean the stash of yarn waiting to be worked on with particular projects in mind, I am meaning the remnants or leftovers of yarn from already completed projects. I call the first the stash and the latter,…

By: Holly April 9, 2017May 13, 2017 CollectionBuffalo, clothing, fashion, humor, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, Ravelry9 Comments

Bear(s)

It began with wanting to knit my daughter a Christmas present. Not being a fan of surprises, I did not want to present my daughter a knitted garment she hadn’t seen. Having to start somewhere in the investigation of what to knit for her, we began with patterns I had saved over the years. Our tastes are…

By: Holly November 7, 2016December 13, 2016 Collection, TechniqueBuffalo, clothing, Collection, Deborah Newton, fashion, fashion photography, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, photography, Ravelry, style, Technique2 Comments

Honeycomb Slip Stitch

Last year, The Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo brought in designer, Heather Lodinsky, to teach a skill on one of her designs. The pattern was her two-tone slip stitch cable pullover and the skill was using slip stitches in cable work. In my experience in knitting, I had not encountered slip stitches to be used for the design…

Vest [Best] Dress[ed]

For a project that pretty much flew off the needles, it is interesting that I have so much to say about it. I have lots to say not due to any pattern issue or yarn dissatisfaction, but rather the changes I made in how I constructed it. From long tail cast on to sewing on the seam…

Granny Square or Flower Child

I think I have more questions than answers after finishing this project. This will create lingering in my mind. The topic is crochet. This is definitely the most challenging project I have made in crochet as it involved gauge, fit, shaping, and color changing within a row, none of which I am sure I did correctly…

By: Holly October 6, 2016December 7, 2016 Collection, Techniqueblogs, Buffalo, clothing, Collection, fashion, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, mental-health, photography, Ravelry, style, summer accessories9 Comments

Linen Tunic ~ Photos Help, Again

It was a hot summer. Record-breaking in fact, in our neck of the woods. Knitting is at a minimum for me during the summer due to heat, not to mention the warmth of the summer sun is a constant force of beckoning. Who doesn’t want to be outside during short summer months? On the other…

By: Holly June 8, 2016December 7, 2016 CollectionBuffalo, clothing, Collection, fashion, handknits, Heather Lodinsky, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, Niagara River, photography, Ravelry, Seaway Trail, style15 Comments

Two Tone Cable Pullover ~ The Pattern

The Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo is not only a friendly organization where one meets people who are passionate about knitting but the Guild is also very serious in its purpose and programming. The two ladies deemed program chairs leave no stone unturned in providing ideas for programs and seeing those ideas to fruition. It…

About

Knitting inspires Holly’s life-long love of fashion or maybe, Holly’s life-long love of fashion inspires her knitting. Either way, this is why she is here and sharing her journey with you. ~ She is ‘theyarnista‘ on Ravelry, a name befitting combining these two passions of hers. ~ ‘Tis Thee (About Holly) Many years of teaching Literacy Coach,…

Featured In

SPREAD YOUR WINGS I haven’t a clue how my story will end but that’s all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that’s when you discover the stars. ~ Nancy Willard ~ Buffalo Knitting Guild Presentation, 2016 On the Runway, 2015 Featured in VK, 2014 Interviewed, 2013

Fashionscape

NOTE: This blog post explains the inspiration for this page, Fashionscape. Fashionscape ~ This is where I give homage to our on-location photo shoot sites where hubby photographer and I troop around choosing spots and taking photographs of these hand knits, each spot specifically chosen to enhance the piece that was photographed. It is this careful consideration of location that we…

Blooms of Copper

By: Holly June 24, 2017June 24, 2017

Poetryhealth, healthy-living, knitting, Lifestyle, mental-health, Poetry, writing12 Comments

Copper garment, “Orange is the new black.” “Absolutely retro, yet undeniably modern.” “Is it a tunic or sweater?” Symbol of life change. Simple style while coping with the complicated. Vintage yarn at hand, modern technique repairing life lines. Busy constructing, resting to heal Strong statement, rebuilding strength. The tiger lilies recently transplanted in a courtyard…

Copper

A letter from Lizzie!

By: Holly June 17, 2017June 23, 2017

Musingshealth and wellness of pets, healthy lifestyle, healthy-living, knitting, mental-health, pet owners, pets, tough choices8 Comments

If you believe in kindness, thoughtfulness, and love for a pet, then this update is for you. A few posts ago, I shared a good-bye love letter from Lizzie, our lab of five years. The letter was written in first person, Lizzie, who wrote to her ‘new family’ sharing a thing or two about her…

Life-Altering Event Tips

By: Holly May 26, 2017June 20, 2017

Musingscaring for loved ones, health, health and wellness, healthy-living, knitting, long term patient care, mental-health35 Comments

I call it a cloud. A storm cloud. A storm cloud filled with tragic events. This cloud of tragedy chose our house and the residents inside to reign its terror. It has hovered for months but this morning, there was a phone call with news that may loosen the grip of this fury. Just enough wind of information,…

While on the topic of remnants

By: Holly May 14, 2017

Techniqueclothing, Collection, fashion, knitting, knitting technique, Ravelry, vogue, Vogue Knitting12 Comments

Since being home in retirement, I see, touch, and feel my yarn collection much more than when I was working. In fact, I might even say I avoided looking at my yarn as it seemed to yearn for my attention. Yearning yarn of yesterday has become quite the playmate for today. Corny, but true. Sorting, organizing,…

Fair Isle Coat from Remnant Stash

By: Holly May 13, 2017June 21, 2017

Collection, TechniqueBuffalo, clothing, Collection, fashion, healthy-living, knitting, knitting technique, Ravelry, vogue, Vogue Knitting, Vogue Knitting Live, yarn stash, Yoko Hatta8 Comments

Lizzie’s Love Letter

By: Holly April 22, 2017May 13, 2017

Musingsanimal lovers, dog lovers, dogs, health and wellness of pets, journaling, uncategorized14 Comments

To My New Family ~ I came into this world from a litter of 9. Summer is my canine Mom and Bono, my Dad. (The formal papers are attached). We were born in Cindy’s house. Ribbons of different colors were placed on my sibs and me, so we could be identified by name. Maybe, also…

Bear(s)

By: Holly April 9, 2017May 13, 2017

CollectionBuffalo, clothing, fashion, humor, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, Ravelry9 Comments

My Sister

By: Holly March 29, 2017May 21, 2017

Musings, Poetrybereavement, Down Syndrome, family, journaling, Poetry, sisterhood, writing20 Comments

Today was my sister’s Memorial. It brought family and friends together, Even friends from our childhood and colleagues from the past attended.. Sweet music, a quiet ambiance, and an Irish poem filled the air with remembrance of Emmy. I wrote and recited this poem. My Sister As a toddler, I was told she was special. Special?…

We’ve got Spirit

By: Holly March 3, 2017May 13, 2017

FitnessFitness, indoor workouts, Lifestyle, mental-health, running, treadmills9 Comments

This is a short post to share the addition of a new tool/toy to the household. Recently celebrating a 60th birthday, honoring 12 years of running, wanting to support the workouts of OTF, desiring to skirt these bitter winds of long winter months, and feeling like it was now or never, hubby and I are now enjoying…

A Gift for My Hand Knits

By: Holly January 4, 2017May 13, 2017

Musings, Techniquecloset organization, clothing, Collection, Entertainment, fashion, knitting, knitting technique, Lifestyle, Spring cleaning, Sweater Care2 Comments

As space is the constant, I continue to ‘play’ with different configurations on how best to store my hand-knits and how best to organize the stash. Consequently, the look in the yarn room keeps changing as I now use one room and its closet for both. Questions I ask myself: How can I store my obsession without…

Numbers

By: Holly December 11, 2016December 11, 2016

PoetryEntertainment, goal setting, healthy-living, knitting, mental-health, Poetry4 Comments

To be more or maybe less, there is an option neither to mingle nor disappear like in nonexistence stitch count, splat points, pace on a track, number of cardinals in a winter’s scene loved by dreamers there are those who believe Productivity, ambition, pride sing their praises of course, resting on one’s laurels is a way…