green things (or, fast knits for the impending holiday crush)

is it that obvious that green is one of my favorite colors??

honey cowl

it's been a while since i've finished both of these projects - there's just too much to blog about these days. i guess that's how you know knitting season is in high gear - although to be honest, i don't observe a knitting season, since i knit year-round in the true style of a hopeless addict.

daisy cutter

at any rate, the honey cowl is complete. this photo was a little premature (still a few ends to weave in!) but i think it's gonna do the trick for the cold, blustery winter that lies ahead of us. this was a super-fast knit - it took me less than a week! i probably could have finished it in a few days, if i hadn't been distracted by other projects.

also, finally got to take some photos of the daisy cutter beret! tyler took this one as we went on a beer run - the karate place nearby just finished a really cool mosaic, which is serving as the background. love this hat - also another great fast-knitting project that would make a fantastic gift for you or someone you love (not that those two categories are mutually exclusive). the pattern will be available through the rotten cupcakes etsy shop - i notice it's not there yet (although i have also knit the twisted thistle beret, and that is also a fantastic pattern!), but i'm sure any day now it will make its appearance.

if you have two days and some leftover worsted-weight yarn, you can make some of the cutest little owls ever! the second i came across these little guys in the holiday issue of knit simple, i knew i had to make some. right away. i literally quit flipping through the magazine and high-tailed it to the register; it was already mid-day and i wanted to get home asap and get to knitting.

i made a few mods - ie, omitting the feet (creatures without all their limbs are extra adorable) and knitting the winds flat instead of in the round. the full details on that last one can be found on my ravelry project page. the main yarns i used were some leftovers of malabrigo worsted in vaa (see "daisy cutter", above!) and lorna's laces shepherd worsted in catalpa.

this song is silly, but i did find it running through my mind as i worked on these little guys.

Comments

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b...

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a...

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n...

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog