handmade by stefanie

I was recently sent a project kit from Skeino for review on my blog, and you have probably seen my WIP photos of the Aloha Hat & Scarf kit over on Instagram as well as here on the last couple of Wednesdays. In addition to sending me a free project kit, the Skeino folks were also kind enough to create a coupon code for my readers (found at the end of this post)! Aloha Hat-Scarf Kit in Hapuna I was pretty excited to give this kit a try because I don't knit many entrelac projects, so it's nice to have a reason to revisit this technique, which I learned via a Craftsy course I took 3 or 4 years ago. Since then, I've knit a handful of entrelac projects here and there, and while I don't really keep that skill set sharpened, it's pretty easy to jump back in whenever I need to. Sometimes I'll re-watch the Craftsy class videos to get a refresher, although there are some really great free tutorials online which will do the trick if you don't want to pay f...

I'm still chugging away on my two grey sweaters: over the weekend, I separated for the armholes and began working the left front on my Broad Shoulders KAL sweater! And knitting sleeves two-at-a-time for my Pennant Cardi has proven to be an excellent bar knitting project. I'm usually a homebody, but lately I've found myself out and about way more than usual, and so I've managed to make a lot of progress since last week - it's probably hard to tell, but the sleeves are about elbow length now! I've started the second section of the Miya Shawl for the KAL that's happening here on Ravelry , and I have to say I am loving the yarn. Would you believe this is my first-ever 100% cashmere yarn I've ever knit with? But the biggest news is that I have started two NON-GREY projects (yes, all caps is very necessary there) since last week! First, I dusted off my crochet hook and started working on one of my recent FreshStitches Kit Club shipments: a yellow br...

When you're participating in two KALs, the thing to do is start a new project, right? That's what I thought! Over the weekend, I was had the uncontrollable urge to start an entrelac cowl with some of my handspun yarn from Spinzilla . It's been a while since I've made an entrelac project, so I re-watched several lessons from Gwen Bortner's Entrelac Craftsy class to refresh my memory for each step. I decided to use the Cloudlover Polwarth (which is two dyed colorways inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas), though I might not have enough to finish the cowl - I might end up knitting the next tier in the alpaca/silk handspun before finishing off with more of the Cloudlover handspun . Despite this distraction, I made some great progress on my Baah KAL sock - the first sock is finished and I'm already working on sock #2! I had to take the cats to the vet yesterday and managed to work through two repeats of the leg; my goal is to be completely finished b...

Just a short post on this FO Friday - last weekend, I finished my Entrelac Cowl !  There were lots of ends to weave in (you break the yarn with every tier), but Gwen had a really clever time-saving finishing tip at the end of the final cowl lesson.  I opted to block my finished project, but have yet to take some photos of myself modeling it, since it's been over 90 degrees every day this week.  I'm longing for the days when I can wear a cowl out-of-doors! Pattern: Infinity Neck Warmer by Gwen Bortner from the Entrelac Knitting Course on Craftsy Yarns: The Sanguine Gryphon Codex in Le Petit Prince, The Fibre Company Acadia in Asparagus and Blue Heron

I've clearly given up on the whole three-at-a-time rule for WIPs; that's long since gone out the window. In addition to the four projects already on the needles, I've added my first-ever entrelac project to the mix, and will be casting on for the WestKnits Mystery Shawl KAL today. The more the merrier, right? It's well-documented that I've been wanting to give entrelac a try for quite some time (see here , here , here and here , for example).  I haven't done anything to act on that impulse until now, however.  Last month, I signed up for Gwen Bortner's entrelac class on Craftsy , though I thought it would be better to wait til after the madness of TNNA before getting started.  Last weekend, I watched the first few lessons and was surprised at how EASY (not to mention, addictive) entrelac really is! Like so many things in knitting, looks are deceiving - while the entrelac fabric looks intricate and the charts seem complicated and intimidating, the tec...