handmade by stefanie

I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but I really haven't been promoting the affiliate programs I'm signed up for lately, and that is mostly because I feel like the main site I am an affiliate for, Craftsy, is everywhere - and people are a little fatigued with the 24/4 promotion. Also, I'm guessing most of you have probably hit a wall for how many classes you can sign up for and only watch half of, which is pretty much where I'm at right now! I hope you don't mistake this for me knocking Craftsy - I still very much love the website and do refer back to the many classes I've taken quite a bit. However, I do have a fair number of classes I've purchased and have get to find the time to watch, and that's kind of a bummer. I keep telling myself - SOMEDAY! - but then that day never comes. Having said that, I simply couldn't say no to a full free month of Creativebug. This weekend only, they are generously offering myself and all of you dear readers a Cre...

Mystery Toy! I have two more patterns slated to be self-released this year - Pattern A is a super-cute toy pattern that will be coming out next week just in time for Yarn Con , and Pattern B is a sport-weight sock that will be out by December (year end at the latest!).  I'd like to offer one of these patterns for FREE to anyone who purchases 2 (or more) patterns from my Ravelry shop between now and the end of September.  Here's the deal: 1.  Purchase any 2 patterns from my Ravelry shop.   2.  Forward your invoice to the e-mail address provided on said invoice with a note telling me which pattern you'd prefer - "new toy" or "new sock" should sufffice! 3.  When the pattern you requested comes out, I will send you a link for your free download!  It's as simple as that!   Where is all this coming from, other than the goodness of my heart, you ask?   You can thank our sad, dead car.  We've been unable to drive it for...

this free pattern used to be on a website called the twisted think tank, which is now defunct - but because i want the world to be filled with silly people with fake mustaches and warm noses, i shall re-post this pattern for the good of all mankind.  and just in time for your holiday knitting, too! mustachio nosewarmer supplies: 1 skein flesh-toned sport weight yarn (i used elann.com's baby cashmere, which is actually fingering weight, so i held 2 strands together) 1 skein any sport weight hairy-textured and -colored yarn (i used lorna's laces grace in 36ns chocolate) set of #2 dpn's darning needle optional supplies: size F crochet hook (if you prefer to crochet ties instead of making an i-cord velcro, tiny snaps or a tiny button (if you prefer to have interchangeable mustaches) to make nosewarmer: using flesh-toned yarn or choice, cast on 40 sts onto #2 dpn's.  divide evenly among needles, PM, join for rnd.  work *k1, p1 ribbing for 4 rnds.  switch to...

A long-term project of mine is to update my previously-published patterns with better photos and the addition of charts (instead of just written instructions).  The first pattern that is newly updated is a free one - the Reversible Cables Wristwarmers. I've knit these up as gifts in a matter of days, and whenever I wear mine (pictured), I always get compliments.  You can make three pair using one skein of either of the yarns called for (Malabrigo Worsted and Lorna's Laces Worsted) - talk about economical! If you aren't a member of Ravelry , then you can download a free copy of this newly updated pattern by clicking this link!

Working on some colorwork socks at the moment - I recently bought Wendy Johnson's new book, Toe-Up Socks for Every Body , and I am in love with so many of the colorwork designs!  I was never much of a colorwork sock girl...I always make my stitches and floats too tight, and then the sock fabric isn't stretchy enough and it's nearly impossible to get over one's ankles.  It's amazing, however, what going up a needle size can do for you.  My floats and stitches are still sometimes a little too tight (hence the slight puckering in the unblocked sock pictured below), but there is still plenty of give and i think this will actually be wearable. This is my version of Wendy's Critter Socks ; while I think ducks and cats are fine little critters, for some reason I've had whales on my brain.  I made my own colorwork chart to plug into her pattern, and if you'd like to have some whales on your socks (or gloves or hats...), this chart can be ea...