handmade by stefanie

Whatever happened to the Darn-A-Thon ? I found myself wondering this over the weekend - the holidays really put this project on the back burner, but yesterday I decided to resurrect it by repairing the first pair of socks I ever knit for myself. These socks were knit just before the dawn of Ravelry (if any of us can remember that time!), so they aren't even entered in my notebook, but the yarn is from Knit Picks . In my early knitting days, I didn't know there was a whole world of yarn outside of a Michael's store - I had only recently discovered Knit Picks! I hadn't even encountered this thing called 'luxury yarn', and I had just moved to Chicago after spending three years in Portland, OR. Even though I grew up in the midwest, I knew my first winter back would be tough (boy was it ever!) and I would need some wool socks to get me through. Of course, I had no idea how to make socks, as I was still pretty new to the whole knitting scene. My very first order...

Today's FO Friday will be a little different, since I technically don't have any FO's to show off! I do, however, have a newly-restored Featherweight Cardigan . I knit this sweater all the way back in 2009 (it doesn't seem like it was that long ago!) and in the last year or so, noticed a few small holes in the sweater sleeves. I set it aside for repairs, and, well.... you know what happened ! Meanwhile, I plan on avoiding the insanity of Black Friday like the plague today. I'm sure I'm not the only on who rather be knitting! I'm more of a Cyber Monday person myself, as I prefer to do nearly all of my shopping (no matter what day it is) from the comfort of my own home while wearing pajamas. Fellow pajama shoppers, you are in luck! From 11/23-11/26, Craftsy is running its Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale and all classes are being offered at $19.99 or less! I have to say, I'm a serial class-taker at Craftsy . Just this year alone, I have expanded my...

Three days after I started it, the Mushin Cowl was finished - it took me longer to get around to photographing and blogging about it than the actual crocheting! I became completely addicted to this pattern, which was easy to memorize and absolutely perfect for the yarn, Malabrigo Arroyo in Escorias . I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but the Mushin Cowl is available as a free download on Ravelry. I find it surprising that I'm only the seventh person to make this pattern; it never ceases to amaze me how some patterns catch on and have thousands of WIPs and FOs, while other designs that are just as awesome (sometimes more so) remain in obscurity. It looks likes this pattern came out this year, so there's still time for it to be discovered! If you're new to crochet like me, this is the perfect project to build your skills while making something pretty. I highly recommend giving it a try! Darn-A-Thon Update : My BMFA Socks that Rock  are back in business! ...

Even though this week has been busy with work and preparation for VK Live! this weekend, I've still been finding time to knit (is anyone surprised?). I've made considerable progress on my Malabrigo baby blanket . Of course, since it's just an endlessly-repeating pattern, it's not super interesting to see progress shots...unless there is a cute kitty in said photo, right? I also started a project that has been in my queue for a while now, Marly Bird's Gradient Serendipity Shawl . I'm using the Himalayan Trail I bought from Bijou Basin Ranch at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival back in September, rather than the Lhasa Wilderness used in the pattern. I love the other projects I've made with Lhasa Wilderness - Narwhal Mittens and the Union Long Beanie - but wanted to try something new. Plus, I love the natural brown color, and it's soooo soft. It's knitting up quite nicely; the cast-on is the hardest part (336 stitches!). Once you work ...

I can prolong the inevitable no longer: I have a ton of hand-knit socks in need of repair. After years of serving me and my husband well, many of our warm winter socks have holes that have relegated them to the "someday I'll fix it" pile. Actually, let's call a spade a spade: it's really the "ignore it" pile. Mending is my most hated task; I have umpteen socks and even a few sweaters that would be good as new if I would just spend an afternoon or two fixing a few minor holes or missing buttons! My goal is to spend a few hours of each weekend darning socks and getting my hand-knit sweaters ready for winter wear. If I employ the 'bird by bird' approach, the likelihood of this getting done is much higher than if I were to attempt spending one entire weekend on the project. Hopefully this isn't faulty logic, but it's the best I've got at the moment. Here's my "going-to-fix-it" pile: Do you have a lot of hand-knits...