Nothing says Happy Holidays like...

(2007 Holiday Knits, four stamps featuring classic winter-time imagery designed and machine knitted by nationally known illustrator Nancy Stahl. via)

... warm, cozy stamps from the US Postal Service. Receiving one of these in the mail would be more than enough to evoke the holiday spirit.

If this ain't love...why does it look so good

(Holt Renfrew Private Labe, Oversized winter-white cable sweater coat in 100-percent cashmere. $725 via)

I love this. Rarely do I ever love stuff that comes from private label this much, but this takes the cake.

I have a crush on The Sartorialist

(Both via The Sartorialist)

Who doesn't? He gives me my daily fix of stylish people in the city. His eye for style and detail is impeccable. I love the coats these girls are wearing.

They did the 'mesh'

(Left: models backastage, Right: Vivienne Westwood FW06, both via Style.com)

The thing about kitting mesh is that you can take almost any stitch and work it with fube yarn and large needles to get the look. It makes for some quick knitting. My favorite comes from a Rowan pattern, Dawn in book 35. Work in Stockinette stitch working the knit side with 12mm needles and purl side with 5mm needles. The effect is large holes on every alternate row.

How they stay warm in Istanbul

(Both via Elle )

Fable Handknit is one year old!

Hard to believe that a year had gone by since I started Fable Handknit. They say it takes five years to build a business, so I hope they are many more to come! Thanks to everyone for their support! It's been an incredible year and some of you know about my secret for next year. It's coming a long, but I will wait for the big reveal.

Meanwhile I've been kept so busy with my recent purchase of... a knitting machine! So for the past two weeks, I've been occupied with learning how to use it and discovering how I can use it. However, I found that a lot of hand knitting stitches and techniques are not easily applied to machine knitting, so it wil never take the place of hand knitting. I've been having fun being able to knit a yard of Stockinette stitch in less than an hour!

Knitting Footwear

(Both Givenchy, SS07, via style.com)

While I thought the main parts of the Givenchy show was weird. But then she showed these knitted or crochet platform sandals. Although I think knitted shoes are a bit much unless they are slippers or used as fabric to cover a pair of pumps, they are interesting to look at. If you are interested in knittinga pair of boots though, check out the first issue of Craft, they have step-by-step directions.