Inspiration
Kiki and the Tray
Dear Ann,
I’ll be quick, because I know you and Kerms are having quality and quantity time this week, but there are two table-banging bargains in our end-of-year sale that I don’t want to be overlooked in all the excitement. They are both Special To Me, and if people don’t snap them up while they’re on sale, I might end up taking home more than my share, as I have been known to do.
Kiki Mariko Rug Kit
I’ve made two Kiki Mariko Rugs at this point. One to warm the floor and cushion people’s feet (as Ashley demonstrates above), and one to accessorize a Terrier Assistant (Olive’s ramp to my bed, I mean her bed). For this year’s Holiday Shop, we stocked up on kits in the popular original colorways, and also added a warm, modern grellow colorway that Cristina had cooked up for her own home, whereupon we all fell in love with it.
The Kiki Mariko Rug is easy stranded colorwork, knitted in the round to make a big tube. It boasts the world’s easiest steek. It’s a 100% fearless steek, because you felt the piece in the washing machine before cutting it—unraveling is simply not possible in this situation. I rest my case. Bring this beautiful project into your life, you won’t be sorry.
And did I mention that the Kiki Mariko Rug Kit is on sale?
Revolution Tray
The reason we carry the Revolution Tray is simple. Late last summer, Ellen Schiller of Hey Blue Handmade in Maine made a prototype, I loved the prototype, and I found multiple uses for the prototype in my home. I wanted everyone to enjoy the tidy elegance of this shallow hold-all. Ellen Schiller sewed each one of these sculptural rope trays by hand, gray thread zig-zagging across coiled white rope. They are objects of lasting beauty and utility. They are useful in every room of the house, for purposes as diverse as holding towels in the bath or pomegranates and flowers in a centerpiece.
But the Revolution Tray’s highest and best use may be to hold and organize yarn for colorwork knitting. It’s helpful to be able to see all the colors at a glance—especially compared to my traditional method of fishing for them in the bottom of a bag—which may not be the best idea.
Did I mention that it’s on sale?
I hope you have ceased your habitual typing this week, and that you and Kermit are in your mutual happy place: listening to records, performing ungainly yet unself-conscious yoga stretches, and watching the birds through the window. Maybe a little Pilates? Benevolent Thoughts Hour?
Come to think of it, both the Kiki Mariko Rug and the Revolution Tray would be prime real estate for Kermit. Treat yourself!
Love,
Kay
Your original Kiki kit has been sitting in my stash for a while, but that didn’t stop me from ordering the grellow kit earlier this week (among other things). Not sure which I’ll start on first….
I love your writing! Maybe even enough to snap up another Kiki Mariko.
I gave you a little nod of mutual understanding when you mentioned just whose bed it was.
I sleep in our Red Bone Coonhounds bed because he just loves to snuggle in between his subjects.
Alas I cannot commit to another kiko. But I did make two log cabin dishclothes
That grellow…!!
Need to know dimensions of finished rug before embarking on such a project…..
It’s approximately 26 x 40 inches after felting.
Very good to know!
I have one of your rug kits, purchased in the fall, sitting in my queue. As.trmpting as it is, I promised myself that I have to start and complete a queue item before I can add another.
“Terrier Assistant”??!?? Just wait until Olive’s lawyers hear about this!
I am Olive’s lawyers.
I have made three Kiki Mariko rugs and am waiting on an opportunity for a fourth. Definitely, for me, a fun project.
I was reviewing my knitting “pile” recently. Every once in a while it needs sorting out. In doing this, I realized just how much better my approach to knitting has become since I found the MDK community. Three-fourths of a ball of left over yarn was enough for a toddler-size hat for a friend’s granddaughter. Two hours later, a nice little baby gift was ready to mail. A partially knitted sequence stitched pillow cover was ripped out and restarted. I could not figure out where I was in the pattern and realized I had not done a very good job following the directions. Which also explained why it did not exactly look right. The first four rows were saved and transferred from a (barely long enough) straight needle to a more comfortable circular one. I could not find the other straight needle anyway. There is still a Kaffe Fassett project in a bag. Maybe it is waiting for a Revolution Tray.
In the past, pre-MDK, all of this would have been very frustrating. Now, it’s an opportunity for creative inspiration. And it helps to know that even the best knitters sometimes have to start over. So, thanks for being there every morning with expert guidance and support through this knitting journey.
Oh gosh, the grellow!
I see you are out of stock on the Kiki rug kit ! Will you be getting any more ?
I was delighted when I saw the rug kit was on sale and thought about what needed to keep it company on its travels and then remembered you currently can’t deliver to Australia . Looking forward to the post returning to normal!