handmade by stefanie

I was psyched to finally get this project off the needles, especially before embarking on a long train trip down to KC for a wedding this weekend. That means I get to start some new projects, right?! Last month, I was able to snag one of the limited-edition skeins of Tibetan Dream yarn hand-dyed by Miss Babs, and I couldn't resist immediately casting on for a pair of soft, warm, and yak-y socks. I love the way they turned out! The pattern is perfect for a variegated yarn such as this, and it's also interesting to knit. For the most part, it was my on-the-go project, and now they are going to be my go-to socks for fall! Pattern: Wedge by Cookie A from knit. sock. love. Yarn: Tibetan Dream from Bijou Basin Ranch in Seaside, a limited-edition color dyed by Miss Babs Have a fun & crafty weekend!

I actually have two  sweaters on the needles right now, but I'm only able to share one on my blog (the other is a test knit for a not-yet-released pattern!). Over the weekend, I started my sleeves for the Chill Chaser KAL : as you can see, I opted for two-at-a-time on magic loop. While I never seem to suffer from Second Sock Syndrome, I almost always get Second Sleeve Syndrome; I also find sleeves two-at-a-time to be a practical choice: you are pretty much guaranteed that your sleeves will match up, both in terms of length and placement of increases/decreases. I had some pretty new yarn sent to me recently and couldn't resist casting on for a small project to see how it knit up. The yarn is a new exclusive base available at A Good Yarn Sarasota - it's called A Good Yarn Fingering , and it's hand-dyed by Yarn Love. Currently, you have to call them to order this yarn, but soon they will have it available for purchase online. The name of the colorway I got is Autumn ...

The big news this week is my progress on the Chill Chaser Cardigan , which is part of the Spud & Chloe #ChillChaserKAL happening here in their Ravelry group : I'm just about finished with both of the fronts and will be knitting the rest of the back piece shortly! My other knit-worthy news item is the progress I made over the weekend on my Admiralty pillow: As you can see, I bit the bullet and seamed all of the panels together, and I even wove in most of the ends in anticipation of beginning the final phase of pillow assembly. However, I can't proceed until the pillow form I ordered online arrives, so this project will return to the backburner til then. Consequently, not much time as been allocated to my Wedge socks, though a bit of progress has been made since last week: That's it for this week! I'd love to hear what's on your needles or hooks currently, too - and I'll meet you back here for FO Friday!

As I mentioned on my blog earlier this week, I was able to snag the third-to-last limited-edition colorway in Bijou Basin Ranch's Tibetan Dream sock yarn which was hand-dyed by Miss Babs. Even though I'm test knitting a sweater, participating in the Chill Chaser KAL and also doing the FreshStitches Mystery CAL this month, I have thrown all caution to the wind and cast on for another pair of Wedge socks by Cookie A with my pretty new sock yarn: This pattern is really fun to knit, and it's absolutely perfect for variegated yarns. The first pair I made ended up being a bit large, so Tyler ended up being the lucky recipient of the finished socks. Though I didn't keep detailed project notes in my Ravelry notebook, I was able to find the pattern I'd copied for knitting-on-the-go, which had all of my handwritten notes on it. I'll be making the next size down so that I'm assured these socks will fit my feet this time around!  I printed out the second c...

Why make something twice? It's generally not in my nature to knit or crochet a pattern over and over again, but lately the familiarity of an easy-to-make design is something I've been craving. I was so delighted with my Fresh Stitches CAL project Jack the Tiny Pumpkin , that I decided to make him a friend: I had a similar experience with Cookie A's Lateral Socks ; there is something about this pattern that I found immensely appealing...plus, I could tote it along wherever I went, sans instructions. For my second pair, I subbed in a speedy short-row garter stitch heel and garter toe. These socks were the perfect project for long (or short) trips on the CTA. Of course, finishing two projects this week means I get to start some new ones...right?

Hooray, it's WIP Wednesday! After a productive weekend of crafting (and instagramming what I've been crafting), I'm excited to share everything I've been working on. As of last night, I began the toe shaping on my second pair of Lateral Socks  by Cookie A, which means that these will be off the needles and onto my sock blockers before the weekend kicks off! I'm also nearly done with all of the monkey bits for the first of many Jerry the Musical Monkey  toys! I'll be allocating some time this weekend to sew in ends and assemble Mr. Monkey before I cast on for a buddy. Here are the monkey feet before I finished them on Monday! I also started and completed my first-ever CAL in a matter of days! Here are my progress shots as I worked on Jack the Tiny Pumpkin by Stacey Trock; I'll be sharing my finished pumpkin this Friday. I might even make a few more this month - it was such a fast and easy pattern to crochet! Finally, I cast on for a baby blanket wit...

I think I surprised even myself by finishing these socks in less than a month! There's something to be said for a simple, easy-to-memorize sock pattern. Cookie A's Lateral Socks were clearly the perfect choice for the gradual color changes of the yarn I used, Wisdom Poems Sock (purchased via Craftsy Deal ). I'm so happy with how these turned out, I may even make another pair sometime soon! Need some more FO Friday fun in your life? Click here  to check out more finished projects via the Tami's Amis blog!

It's been a while since I've shared what's on my needles - and with so many finished projects of late, that means that I've started just as many new ones! My colorwork craze continues with Ysolda Teague's Hendreary Hat in Bijou Bliss: I also started a new pair of socks using some yarn I recently scored via Craftsy's Daily Deals - the pattern is hot off the press from Cookie A's new design collection . I couldn't resist the simplicity of the Lateral Socks . What better way to show off the gradient colorway of my yarn choice? Finally, my Rockefeller Shawl is chugging along. Yes, it's been several weeks since the completion of the WestKnits 2012 Mystery KAl, but I have been struck with Second Side Syndrome, apparently. I've officially moved this project to "slow-burner status" (i.e., it's the project I pick up when feeding the cats in the morning and evening), and it will be done...eventually. Still haven't gotten yo...

Fan-girl photo by Lauren! Cookie A 's Toe-Up Socks class this weekend was fantastic!  I can't believe I am only now writing about it, but it's been yet another crazy week.   This is the first-ever "official" class I've ever taken, so I suppose I don't have much of a measuring stick to go by, but this class far exceeded any expectations.  Cookie was personable, knowledgeable, and above all, knew how to keep a large group of people with varying skill sets on task.  I loved that she prefaced the class by saying "I will read all the instructions three times - please hold all of your questions, and then if you still need help after the third repeat of the instructions, we can break out from the group for individual help."  Brilliant!  Those that wanted hands-on help received it, and for more independent learners such as myself, I was able to follow along with the detailed course materials and verbal instruction.   I signed up for this class becau...

In photos - details to follow! Friday night: Implodes, Lotus Plaza and Disappears @Lincoln Hall Disappears Saturday: Tightrope Socks complete Sunday: Toe-up sock class with Cookie A

I keep forgetting to mention some more big news: I'm taking a toe-up sock class with Cookie A this weekend!  She'll be in Chicago for three days of Sock class awesomeness with the Windy City Knitting Guild .  Though I'd like to take a few more classes (or even the whole shebang), I had to choose just one, so I decided to take the socks from the toe up class on Sunday. Though I've knit a few pairs of toe-up socks successfully, I wouldn't say that I've made friends with them by any stretch of the imagination, so I'm excited to learn Cookie's tips and tricks for happy toe-up sock knitting. Last year, I'd signed on for a Cookie A class with the WCKG, but she had a family emergency that required her to head back to Thailand and the classes were canceled.  Needless to say, it's been a long time coming, but some things are worth waiting for!  I'm very excited for this weekend - this will be my first formal knitting class, actually.  Hopefully I ...

Welcome to the selfish knitting edition of FO Friday, where at long last I have finished a pair of socks for myself.  It's true! Cookie A's Wedge Socks were indeed a fast knit - I probably could have made them in a matter of weeks if I hadn't been distracted by crocheting and other knitting projects.  But no matter, they are finished now...just in time for the ridiculous 80 degree weather we're having here in Chicago.  Guess they'll be the first ones out of the gate next fall! (I will confess, I have not yet blocked them - but you get the idea, no?) I've also been blazing full steam ahead on my first Finito project - after much deliberation, I decided to make Mercedes Tarasovitch-Clark's Haven Shawlette - a simple sideways garter triangle scarf with a pretty cabled edging.  It's interesting to make and perfectly shows off the subtle variation of the Paloma colorway.  And it knits up fast - I cast on last weekend and I'm nearly halfway done! ...

Things are happening faster than I can craft blog posts for them!  Since I'm going to TNNA this week (which I imagine will be a few blog posts unto themselves!), I will have to fill you in on the bullet points: 1.  Mustachio May:  I made a total of 5 nosewarmers from a single ball of Knit Picks Comfy Sport - and I still have yarn left over!  I'm guessing I'll be able to make two or three more.  I did create two new mustachio options, which I'll be including on a more official PDF version of the pattern, to be typed up whenever next I get a chance - hopefully sooner than later... 2.  Last week I finished a project that's been on the needles since JANUARY 15 (sorry for the all-caps, but that is just madness) - the languishing Stalagmite Socks (by Cookie A) are at last languishing no more.   It's a great pattern, and though the cable pattern is a little daunting when you look at it, it's not too difficult once you get into it.  However, it does h...