handmade by stefanie

Alameda Summer Socks Have a seat, grab a snack, and I'll tell you!  The Alameda Summer Socks are my newest pattern, hot off the presses.  Don't let the twisted-stitch pattern intimidate you - they knit up quick in sport-weight yarn! The back story:  I designed these socks to commemorate the three years Tyler and I spent in Portland, OR before we got married and moved to Chicago.  It was there that I got bitten by the knitting bug, and I discovered an exciting world of crafty people and yarn shops filled from floor to ceiling with yarn...up until that point the only place I'd purchased yarn had been Michael's. My favorite yarn stores were Lint (no longer in business), Mabel's (formerly a yarn store/coffee shop combo, also no longer in business) and The Yarn Garden (still in business, hooray!).  The last year we lived in Portland, we lived a few blocks down the street from The Yarn Garden - you can imagine how dangerous that was!  I have many gre...

This week's crop of FO's is brought to you by my new favorite color (apparently):  highlighter orange.  I'm not sure when this happened - I've never been much of an 'orange' person...but suddenly my living room has some new coordinating denizens as undeniable proof that I'm crazy for orange.  I'm just as surprised as you are! Exhibit A: Exhibit B: You may notice Rebecca Danger's Dot the Dress-Up Box Monster hanging out with her new friends - I cast on for her last week to distract me from knitting and other work that needs to be done.  Perhaps I should rename her Dot the Distraction Monster!  I wanted to use up the lovely skein of Scarlet Fleece Painted Merino (in Mr. Tangerine Man) that I had left over from making Ursula and Uma....so I got out the Big Book of Monsters and started knitting away!  I ended up using some leftover Malabrigo Twist (in Teal Feather) for her ears and eye spot.  Since I only had a tiny bit left, I ended up knit...

Useful Restorative in Sword Swallower Exciting news in the world of hand-dyed yarn:  The Wool Dispensary is open for business!   Yes, their web store is open and there's a yarn to cure whatever's ailing you.  These are extremely rare, limited-edition, possibly-not-to-be-repeated skeins, folks.  I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life, but I wouldn't wait too long before snapping these up!  I'm currently knitting with Useful Restorative , a 100% superwash merino sport weight yarn, and I can tell you - it's divine . So the full disclosure/background on all this Wool Dispensary stuff?  Two of my knitting pals are teaming up to take the hand-dyed yarn world by storm.  Bree Miller is an obsessed knitter, a talented designer (we were in Malabrigo Book 3 together!), and a marketing manager by trade.  Sam Boice and I used to work together in the yarn mines, and I don't think I've ever met a knitter who is so obsessed with yarn and knitting....

I'll try not to be mushy, but it just so happens that today is our six-year wedding anniversary (side note: we've been together for 11 years total!  I can't believe it either!).  How does one find the perfect gift that conveys exactly how you feel?  It can be a tricky business.  This is probably the part where I say something super cheesy about making him something from the heart - and I do tend to knit lots of gifts for Tyler, and they are from the heart, it's just that....we're not terribly traditional people (I did insist on having the wedding march played on kazoo in our backyard, poolside wedding).  Our collective idea of a 'gift from the heart' is usually a record (him) or a knitted creature (me).  If we overspend, it's because there were too many covetable records at Reckless (that could be either of us!), or someone (not me) wanted to get a gift certificate to Nina so I could get a sweater's worth of yarn.  No expensive jewelry, swanky din...

You wouldn't think that a trouble-making bear such as Mr. Nubbins - without opposable thumbs, at that! - would be much help in the kitchen, but on the Fourth of July, he pitched in and helped make the cupcakes.  Apparently he knows a thing or two about baking - who would have guessed?? Mr. Nubbins' favorite cookbook. Time to make the batter! Helping with the peanut buttercream frosting. Mr. Nubbins' favorite part - licking the frosting from the beater. Finished cupcakes! Saving the last cupcake for Lady Nubbins...awwww....

It's rare when I actually have (and remember to blog about) FO's for FO Friday, but I finished this funny little baby monkey this morning and just had to share! Pattern:  Baby Monkey from Patons' Monkey Business Booklet Yarn:  Stitch Nation Alpaca Love (MC, dark grey); Knit Picks Gloss (CC, light grey) and Pick Up Sticks' Small Balls in Cream (CC, off-white color) Tyler likes him because his nubby little legs and disproportionately long tail act as a kickstand, allowing him to stand up on his own! I also want to share my friend's first-ever Monster FO.  While Julie was visiting Chicago last weekend, she decided to revisit knitting and wanted to make a monster.  I set her up with some yarn, needles, and a Rebecca Danger pattern.  It was pretty hot out the entire holiday weekend, so there was ample time to sit in the air conditioning and knit.  I was really impressed that she had a completed monster to take home with her!  Further proof that k...

R.I.P., donut It's been a while since I've posted any WIPs (or FO's, for that matter!)  I assure you, I have been knitting - there is no need to fear for my well-being.  I just happen to be knitting a lot of top-secret projects at the moment. For example, I'm working on my first xmas project - yes, yes, I start my holiday knitting in June.  It's true!  I'm also finishing up a new summery sock pattern to be released later this month - I keep meaning to post teaser photos here, but so many other blogworthy items keep giving them the bump (you can, however, view a teaser photo in my Ravelry group! ). I've made a little progress on Tyler's sweater, but I can't say that it would be a terribly interesting photo to post - it's a big, black, stockinette-stitch, v-neck sweater.  'Nuff said.  above:  monster parts.  below:  ostrich butt! I have, however, been knitting a LOT of toys - it is the Summer of Toys, after all!  So what have...