plugging along

Published my first knitting pattern a little over a week ago! It's a free pattern for my turban headband. It's the same headband that I'll glad knit up for you for a price. It's also one of my new items for Yelp's Totally Bazaar.

September is almost over and I think I'm doing okay with my goals. Only one has been completed and only one has no work done it what-so-ever. I'm okay with that.

Knitting

Not Quite a Blizzard

I'm not really a headband type person, but came up with this little ditty. I've knit up a bunch of them for YTB. I'm waiting to get my hands on some madelinetosh ASAP to make one for part of the ESK Chunky KAL. I like wearing it to the side. I think it makes it look a little more interesting and you can add a vintage button or pin to the center to switch things up.

Blizzard Conditions

A simple garter stitch hat that I also finished up. Basically a chunky rikke with a pom. I'll be selling this on etsy and YTB as well. I'm sure this will be one of my go to winter hats. I'll have a nice huge pile of things to wear to keep my noggin warm.

I've not really done any knitting on the rikke scarf. It's the last item I need to finish for the wedding present. Instead I've cast on a third pair of rose city rollers and another hat. Priorities.

Sewing

I've been ignoring my sewing machine. The only things I've sewn were a couple of project bags that were custom ordered. Otherwise I've not wanted anything to do with the thing. No reason why, just rather do other things instead.

So that quilt I wanted to start and finish this month...probably not gonna happen.

Yelp's Bazaar

I've come up with a theme for all my new items...I don't know how it happened, but they're weather related. Not Quite a Blizzard (headbands), Blizzard Conditions (hats) and Blanket of Snow (blanket scarves). I'm not sure how I'll continue this trend. I have a couple more hat ideas and then my fingerless gloves.

Not Quite a Blizzard - a Pattern

Not Quite a Blizzard: a headband

Not Quite a Blizzard is a warm and thick turban style headband great for late fall and early winter. You could wear it over or under a hat for extra warmth. The squishy weave of the fabric created leaves the headband nice and breathable.

NQB knits up super quick and is great for when you need some instant knitting gratification. You should be able to complete it in less than that two hours, unless you get distracted by the internets while you're knitting like I do, then it may take you a bit longer.

Materials Needed:

1 skein Lion Brand Thick & Quick Super Bulky Yarn (or any other Super Bulky yarn)
US 11 knitting needles
Tapestry Needle
Scrap Yarn
Crochet Hook (optional)

Abbreviations:

k - knit
p - purl
yo - yarnover
sl1pw - slip 1 purlwise
brk - brioche knit (knit together yarnover and knit stitch made in previous row)
k2tog - knit 2 together

Provisional Crochet cast on 18 stitches (or any even number of stitches that you prefer for the width of your headband + 6 extra stitches) with your scrap yarn.

Push first 3 loops off of needle and then with Main Yarn knit 12 stitches (leaving a 9 inch tail). Drop last 3 loops.

Foundation Row: *yo, sl1pw, k1* repeat from *to* to the end of the row.

Row 1:  *yo, sl1pw, brk 1 (or k2tog)* repeat *to* to the end of the row.
Repeat Row 1 until fabric measures about 18 inches long from cast on edge or when wrapped around your head unstretched you have about an inch or two gap.

If starting with a yarn over makes no sense to you written, hop on over to Hands Occupied to see what it looks like when knit. She has a great video showing how to knit the first two rows right handed AND left handed.

Bind Off Row: *p1, k2tog* repeat from *to* until end of row. You should have 12 stitches on your needle or the number of stitches you started with. (When I bind off I try to make sure my tails end up on the same side.)

Leave stitches on needle, cut a 9 inch tail.

With other needle pick up cast on stitches (12 original knit stitches) and then unzip provisional crochet cast on. Weave cast on tail through cast on stitches and weave cast off tail through cast off stitches. Then weave cast on tail through cast off stitches and cast off tail through cast on stitches.

Pull taut. With both tails on the same side (top or bottom) tie a knot. Thread them onto one needle and weave through cast on and cast off loops several times to secure ends and then cut excess yarn.

Wear and be the envy of all your friends and enemies too.

You can also create a moebius style headband by twisting the fabric once and then grafting the two ends together for a different look.

making progress

I haven't made a list of goals in a long time. I used to do it monthly on my old blog and decided this month, I'd give it a go and see what I could get accomplished. I made 5 goals because I thought that was a reasonable and should be fairly easy to accomplish. My goals are as follows:

1. Finish knitting all the items for the wedding gift.
2. Complete a quilt from start to finish.
3. Sell 10 things out of my etsy shop.
4. Finish and submit my Hermione's Everyday Socks to Yarnathon.
5. Finalize all the items I plan to make/sell at Yelp's Totally Bazaar.

So far the only that I think may give me trouble will be completing the quilt. I know what fabric I want to use, but I'm unsure of the pattern or if I'll even use a pattern.

Knitting 

I've had a couple of finishes over the past couple of weeks. A shawl, a sock and several headbands. I'm doing well with getting wedding gift items completed. I've finished 3 of the 4 items. If I sit down and put some time into the last one I shouldn't have a problem getting it done by the end of the month. 

I'm kind of dreading the second sock for my pair of Hermione socks. I've got second sock syndrome. I really need to get this done by the end of the month so I can get it submitted and enter it into the quarterly contest. The first sock took 2 months...it shouldn't have, but I kept putting it down to work on other things.

the colors are so beautiful and the yarn so soft. - Molly Walker Shawl

Sewing 

I had a Flash Sale last week to drum up some business because I a) had a bill I forgot to pay and b) I really wanted to go out for Thai food. I ended up selling 6 or 7 items through my etsy shop, so I've only got a few more items left to sell. More project bags sewn up and listed. I've got a few more cut and ready to sew up, but I want a break from sewing anything with zippers.

I need to get started on that quilt and need to make myself a needle holder for my DPNs. The plastic pouches they're stored in are ripping and I don't want a bunch of needles all over the place. 

Yelp's Bazaar 

I have two items finalized for YTB. I think I want to add two more items since I'll be retiring my popcorn/bubble cowl. I want to replace that with another cowl and I think I' want to make another set of fingerless gloves.

I learned brioche knit this past week and knit up a headband to go with the Molly Walker shawl and since it was easy and quick enough I decided that would be one of my new items for this year. It's a simple pattern that's easy to adjust for width and size which gives my customers more options. I think I'm going to write up the pattern and upload it to Ravelry and post here on the blog as well. So look for that sometime in the next week or so. I need to get some good photos first.

not the best photo, but it works. - turban headband

I think making the goals is definitely helping me get working on all the stuff that needs to get done. Hopefully I can keep up this momentum and be ready for YTB by the middle of November and have some extra time to spare.

this is not the update you are looking for

A lot of the same stuff from last week, so I'm thinking I'm just going to bi-weekly updates. Hopefully I can remember that.

I'm tired and trying to think of a few new items to create, but my brain isn't cooperating. I need a nap. So next week, a proper update. I leave you with this cute owl project bag. I want to make one for myself, but I have enough of them already. Click the picture!

peddle to the metal

I updated the shop this weekend and will do another update during the week!  Weeeeeee!!! I'm also currently offering free shipping with the code FREESHIP for my US customers and for the non US customers I'm offering half off shipping (you'll receive a partial discount after you order). Some kind soul hacked my PayPal debit card and the funds are frozen until it's all sorted. I need to buy some new shirts, mine current upper body covers are showing wear and tear in the form of holes. So...yeah...free shipping when you use Direct Payment so I can buy new shirts while everyone has them on sale.

Knitting

I finished the Rikke hat I working on last week and turned my Dunaway scarf into a Rikke scarf. I didn't really care for the ribbing or the slipped stitches, so I eliminated them from the pattern and have renamed the pattern the Rikke scarf...because I'm making it to go with the Rikke hat. And that makes sense to me.

I also started working on my Molly Walker shawl. I don't care for the m1R increases because I have a hard time knitting the increase and splitting the yarn. The Molly Walker has these increases. Instead of modifying the pattern to a different, easier increase, I've decided to stick them out and power through. The fabric being created is beautiful. I'm so happy I chose the Gal Noir as the colorway for it. I think my friend will really like it.

Sewing

I intended to make myself a drawstring bag, but made it too short so now I have a nice bowl with a zipper pocket on the inside. Fine by me. A lot of new project bags in the shop that I finished up this weekend. I was a sewing machine Friday and Saturday. I have fabric cut for a few more and will be listing those this week. 

Anything made with the Hello Kitty fabric I purchased was snatched up immediately. Yay!!! Everybody loves Hello Kitty. I've got a ton of scraps left from fussy cutting the fabric and I can't bring myself to throw them out so I'm going to make myself a Franken Kitty something or other with them. Probably a pouch for my knitting things.

Yelp's Totally Bazaar

I'm still trying to finalize the headband pattern. I just can't decide. I keep starting one and then don't like how it's turning out so I frog and start over. I may need to give up on it.

I did figure out a pattern for my apron though, happy to mark that off my list. I just need to purchase the fabric and get it sewn up.

Next up to work on are hats. A simple knit beanie with a pom pom on the top. And to choose colors and start saving up for yarn. It's stock pile time.

you get a rikke and you get a rikke and you get a rikke too

Two week streak and then I forget to post. Oops! Meh, it happens. I remembered Monday that I hadn't posted anything and I was going to post on Monday and then I forgot again. But I'm back today, that's something...right?

Knitting


In the past two weeks I finished knitting one project. I've done a lot more sewing than knitting lately. I finished a Rikke hat for my friend's fiance. I wanted them to have matching hats (in style of hat, but not color. I'm not a fan of being super matchy matchy. Blech!). This is the third Rikke I've knit. It's a great pattern. Super easy and the hat turns out squishy, stretchy and comfortable.

wooden tag from All This Wood on etsy

I've also started several new projects, another Rikke hat (I love this pattern, what can I say), a modified Dunaway scarf, and a Molly Walker shawl. These three items are part of a wedding present that is over a year late. I'm still looking for a headband to knit to go with the shawl.

Because I want to get these late gifts finished I haven't working on my Hermione's Every Day socks or the Rose City Rollers socks I started a while back. I do want to get my HED socks done soon though so I can submit them for Yarnathon credit. I still have a couple of other KAL I want to start on. I'm not sure how I'm going to juggle knitting for Yelp's Bazaar and the Yarnathon. I'll make it work.

Sewing

I've been finding all kinds of fabric that I must have in my stash for no other reason than to just have it. Not really good for my want to have less stuff in my life.

I've ended up sewing up a lot of project/cosmetic bags for Yarnathon participants with what I've picked up. My favorite so far has been this Hello Kitty x mathematics fabric. My LQS only had this fabric in the pink colorway, but I found it in blue on etsy. I'll be making myself one more project bag and then I think I'm set...until I find more fabric that I have to have and share.

I have a bunch of small coin pouches that I either need to list on etsy or send out for consignment. I have no idea what's holding me back. It's an easy task to mark off my list, but I can't get myself to do it. 

Yelp's Totally Bazaar 

I'm hoping to finalize at least one of the new items on my list this week. December will be here soon so I really need to get things done. I'm still looking for an apron pattern, a banner, tags and a bunch of other small things. Then it's on too sewing, knitting, crocheting until I've got a good stock pile for the bazaar and the winter.

I also want to rework a pattern for items to sell at work. I think it'd be a cute knit for the winter. Maybe this year will be the year I work on priorities. Maybe.

argle, bargle...

Yeah, I didn't get much done this week. I worked 3rd shift at GenCon this past week and I had all kinds of plans to get some work done in that time between waking up and going back to work...but that didn't happen. I was tired and confused in that in between time and couldn't collect myself enough to do anything productive.

I think the most I was able to do was press some fabric which will be ready to cut this week and will be fashioned into project bags and maybe a couple of pencil pouches. And I am almost to the heel of my first sock of my Hermione Everyday Socks.


I had some spare time before work at GenCon and did some knitting and a woman saw my project bag (similar to the one above) and we got to talking about knitting. I've not really talked to any knitters in person, it was nice. I mentioned I had another project bag I was going to list on etsy and she decided she wanted it. I love random sales like that. She runs A Tangled Skein on FB and let me know that I could post my project bags on her FB page. It'll be nice to have another place to let people know what I have for sale. I'd like all the positive exposure I can get.

The plan this week is to catch up on everything I didn't get to this past week. I have a couple of custom orders in my queue and I want to do another shop upload. I've also got some yarn to dye, wind and knit. I hope I can get it all done.

If you don't follow me already, you can find me on instagram, twitter, etsy and facebook.

making a comeback?

Hello, hello!

I decided yesterday that I want to get back into this blogging thing. It created some nice structure and accountability before and I could use some of that right now. I'm hoping to blog at least once a week, mostly to keep track of what I'm doing. I was selected to have a table at Yelp's Totally Bazaar this year again and I have a lot of prep to do.

Knitting

I'm really enjoying knitting and I think that's due to eat.sleep.knit's Yarnathon. I've learned a lot of new stitches over the last 6 months and have knit things I didn't think I'd ever be able to knit. I have a long list of things I'd like to knit for friends and I'd like to design a couple of my own patterns too. I still crochet, but haven't done a lot of it lately.

my first pair of socks and not my last

In May I participated in Mad May and won a $150 gift card to WEBS. I spent days trying to decide what to buy with my gift card. I settled on quite a few skeins to make gifts for friends and a few skeins of yarn for myself. Included in that was a skein of natural yarn because I wanted to try my hand at Kool Aid dyeing. My first attempt came out beautifully I think. I can't bring myself to knit it up. I love the color transitions and that all I used was Kool Aid and my stove. My next creation will be something with greens.

orange, pink lemonade, and cherry. it still smells quite lovely

Sewing

I FINALLY got around to sewing up some more zipper wallet/coin pouches and have a handful listed in the shop. (The next item purchased with be item number 100!!!) I need to get the rest sent out to the handmade shops. I don't know why I'm procrastinating. With school starting soon I think I will add some pencil pouches to the shop or for knitters and crocheters they could be for storing needles and hooks.

picking out zippers is always the hardest part

I've also added some cosmetic pouches/knitting project bags to the shop. I really like these triangle project bags for socks. Everything fits in them quite nicely. I plan to attempt box pouches next, but I haven't found a tutorial that I like just yet. I may just have to wing it and see what happens.

I love Hello Kitty, I wanted to keep her for myself, but she's got a new home now.

What I need to do now is set aside some time to do some quilting. I think I have enough batting to get two or three quilts completed. I've got the tops done, I just need to get them basted, quilted and bound. I've found one shelter that will take them for new moms that are on their own.

Life

Nothing new there really other than work life. I left my job at the end of March and had enough from my bonus and taxes to take two months off. When I started job hunting, the first CraigsList ad I opened was the perfect fit (did I have retail experience and do sew/knit/crochet). I applied immediately and 30 minutes later set up an interview. It's a great job, just a couple of days a week. The pay is better than my old job. When it's slow I can knit or crochet and sell those items in the shop. It's nice to have another venue to sell my wares. I spend most of my off time at home. It's summer time, I should be out enjoying, but it's too hot.

Hopefully this is a good start to blogging again and that I'll be back next Sunday with something to share.

Oh and if you don't already, you can find me on instagram and twitter.

Knitter's Gonna Knit

rikke hat for Rima

It's been quite some time since my last post. I moved into a new apartment, FINALLY! But haven't been doing a lot of sewing. In fact I'm just getting back into sewing. It might be a seasonal thing? I've got a couple of projects I'd like to complete in the next couple of weeks and I need to go ahead and fill my etsy shop.

I picked up knitting back in December/January and that what's been taking up a lot of my crafting time. It took me several attempts to understand knitting and now I'm hooked. I've started using the fancy hand dyed yarn which is quite pricey, but so very beautiful. I don't have a lot of use for knits so I've been gifting things to friends. Lucky ducks.

age of brass and steam shawl

simple slip stitch socks

mustang pouch for my cousin...she just doesn't know it yet

100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 004 - XOXO

Four down, ninety-six to go. I have a couple of quilts I want to make as wedding gifts and decided on using the XO blocks with some hearts. I thought I'd enlarge the XO and give them a shot for this quilt here. I put it together real quick one night and then realized I didn't have anything for the back or binding so I hopped online and ordered a solid aqua and the pink and white stripes. I really like stripes for binding.


I didn't have enough pink fabric for the "O", so I had to fudge the block a little bit to make it work. I hope that everything stays where it needs to when it comes to washing this guy.


I like these easy blocks. I may make a couple more quilts with these blocks.



Quilt Stats:

• Size: Approx. 41” x 41” 
• Pattern: XOXO
• Fabric: mostly miscellaneous fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics
• Quilting - wavey horizontal lines varying widths apart

Finished Quilt 010