handmade by stefanie

I'm really excited to introduce the Jinxproof Hat pattern with everyone today, because I've been working on it for what seems like for-EV-er! I started it over the holiday break, but it grew from being just a simple slip-stitch hat pattern in a chunky weight yarn to a choose-your-own-adventure short story that allows you to custom-make a hat based on your preferences and whatever yarn weight you have on hand (sport, worsted, or chunky). The Jinxproof Hat is available for FREE now through June 15 to anyone who signs up for my newsletter , after which the pattern will be available for $6 in my Ravelry store (Note: if you already subscribe to my newsletter, an email with a free download link will be arriving in your inbox later today - I got your back!!). I asked the kind folks at Briggs & Little Woolen Mill to supply the yarns for each hat sample. They're Canada's oldest mill and seriously the nicest people ever (full disclosure: I work with them in my day job...

It's been a really long time since I've released a totally new design: we're talking spring of last year , by my watch. It's not that I don't have ideas percolating, or that I haven't been working anything in secret - it's just that, for the better part of last year, I have been working on  wrestling with this cowl design - charting patterns, knitting, ripping out for several cycles before I finally found the golden combination. It seems like my go-to projects these days are "easy" stockinette/garter with just a few bells and whistles to add interest while I knit - but not too many bells and whistles, or I simply can't knit on them at the end of a long day of work when I am totally brain dead. Does anyone else have this problem?! I wanted this cowl to be something that was fun to knit and had the potential to be "weekday knitting" (or "conversation knitting" if you prefer). So, each time I found I couldn't master ...

I'm excited to introduce the Sweetest Baby Hat , which I designed to match the Sweetest Baby Socks - together, they make a totally sweet baby gift! This adorable hat is nice and stretchy to accommodate fast-growing noggins. It uses the same stitch motif as the  Sweetest Baby Socks ; both can be knit with just one 50g skein of fingering weight yarn to create a lovely duo that’s great for gifting! The patterns are sold separately for $4 each, but if you purchase them together in my Ravelry store, you will automatically get $2 off . Also, if you have already purchased the  Sweetest Baby Socks  pattern, you will  automatically get the $2 discount when purchasing the Sweetest Baby Hat . They are shown here in A Good Yarn Fingering in the Jewels of Autumn colorway; it's a specialty base available at www.agoodyarnsarasota.com which is available in a variety of semi-solid and variegated hand-dyed colorways. I highly recommend giving this yarn a try: it's a ...

I'm pleased to start the week off with a brand-new sock pattern, the Air Quotes Socks ! They are the second-to-last design from Conversation Socks , and I am beyond thrilled to have this ebook so close to completion. In fact, my goal is release the final pattern two weeks from now, and you know what that means - the ebook price will increase once more! The  cable panels on the front of the Air Quotes Socks remind me of the old-timey quotation marks (in journalism class, we called them 66 and 99); the cuff is ribbed on the back to ensure excellent fit. The stitches are very easy to read so that you can fly through the pattern without needing to constantly consult the chart, and they are the perfect way to show off the beautiful hand-dyed colors from Baah Yarn . Bonus: the superwash merino of Sonoma is soft and easy-care! If you're just joining me, here's the deal: all 5 designs are written for sport weight yarn on US #3 needles; each pattern was created with the ...

Chittery Chattery Socks in Louet GEMS Sport! Since I don't have any FO's to share today (gasp!), I thought this would be a good day to introduce my next sock design from Conversation Socks ! The Chittery Chattery Socks are knit with Louet GEMS Sport , and while they look like they’d involve a lot of fancy footwork (or rather, colorwork), but they are actually quite simple! Single-round stripes and an easy-to-memorize stitch pattern are all you need to put your best foot forward. Be prepared to get a lot of questions about these socks, because they were very popular at my knitting group! While the stitch pattern is simple (all you need to know is how to knit and purl), what makes these socks special is the exquisite and hard-wearing yarn I chose especially for this design, Louet GEMS Sport yarn. The tight spin of the yarn not only prevents pills, but it provides for crisp color definition within the design. Plus, it comes in a variety of wearable colors so that you c...

Today, I'm bursting at the seams because I finally get to reveal a project I've been working on since January of this year: an eBook comprised of five unisex sock designs called Conversation Socks ! I dreamed up this project because I find myself with less and less time to devote to holiday gift knitting, but I know that my family members love and cherish the gifts I make them, especially socks! By choosing sport weight yarn and US #3 needles, each sock knits up quickly and produces a mid-weight fabric that is nice and toasty without being bulky. Each pattern was created with the express purpose of being simple enough for knitting on-the-go, but interesting enough to keep you engaged. These patterns are perfect for your morning commute, knit night, or a trip out of town! They don't require huge, hard-to-follow charts or incredibly complicated techniques. Instead, they take the basic building blocks that the average knitter has at their disposal to create five designs ...

I'm so excited to share my newest design! I was recently asked to design some accessories for Bijou Basin Ranch's #CountdownToOutlander event which is happening right now! They have a new line of hand-dyed colors inspired the the Outlander  series of books by Diana Gabaldon, which is being made into a TV series which premieres on Starz on August 9. The Outlandish collection includes a spectrum of 27 gorgeous colors and comes in two of my favorite bases: Lhasa Wilderness (a blend of yak and bamboo) and Himalayan Trail (a blend of yak and merino). Himalayan Trail yarn in Lallybroch from the Outlandish color series. Before we get too far, I have to make a confession: I've never read any of the Outlander books. I have managed to glean a few key plot points here and there in my internet research, but I can't claim to be a super-fan, nor would I want to misrepresent myself as such. I chose to draw my inspiration from scenic photos of Scotland, which is where a large po...

I'm heading down to the TNNA Trade Show in Indianapolis today, so I have pre-scheduled this post to unveil my newest design: the Pedi Purls socks! My feet often  get cold while waiting for my nail polish to dry; a bright pair of toeless socks are a fun solution to the problem! I designed these socks in Baah Sonoma especially for the trade show; they will be on display in the Lavishea booth because they were inspired by a new Lavishea product making its TNNA debut, I'll try to get a shot from the booth to share for you next week. The concept behind these socks is something I'll be exploring more this summer (hint, hint): quick-to-knit sock projects which have interesting stitch patterns that are easy to memorize, allowing you to work on them while on-the-go.  The pattern is written to fit the average woman's foot and can be easily customized for size if you are familiar with sock-knitting. There are also instructions for adding a toe to your socks, b...

Though I no longer have a daily commute, I still like to have one relatively simple project on the needles which can be worked on while riding the train or bus. Socks are one of my favorite on-the-go projects since they don't take up a lot of space, and I prefer patterns that are easy to memorize so that I don't have to keep pulling out a chart as I knit on-the-go. I designed these socks to be the ultimate travel knitting project - easy without being boring, all the while resulting in a pair of socks you'll love to wear. The colorwork lice and stripe pattern at the top of the cuff can be easily memorized (and you can just use your first sock as a reference when knitting sock #2); the striped toe allows you to easily work your toe shaping - all you have to do is remember which color is worked for the decrease round! As an added bonus, they are a great way to use leftover sock yarn, as you only need a small amount for the contrast color. Each pair can be knit up quick...

I'm so excited to announce that I have a new sock pattern! The Windmill of the Autumn Sky Socks are a celebration of my favorite time of year, and I chose a nice, autumnal color from Fleece Artist (the sample is knitted in the "Rust" colorway of Nova Sock ). They feature a simple lace pattern that will keep you interested as you knit, but won't stress you out by being overly complicated. I'm all about lovely, soothing knits for fall.  The stitch pattern also lets the subtle variations of hand-dyed yarns take center stage. Plus, they make a great gift if you're starting to panic about your holiday gift-making!  The name of this pattern is kind of a mouthful, but I became obsessed with a song by Asteroid #4 and couldn't get the song title out of my mind whenever I thought about these socks! Somehow - long though it is - it just suited them perfectly, and the name stuck. Plus, the lace pattern kind of looks like windmills! Unfortunately, t...

Hooray, it's FO Friday, and I am especially excited to share my finished project with you this week: See how excited I am?? Based on a vintage stitch pattern, the Scalloped Rib Socks have always been near and dear to my heart. I am thrilled to offer a totally new version of this design knit in Baah! La Jolla superwash merino sock yarn. It's delightful to knit with and the perfect way to show off this stitch pattern! Version 2.0 of the Scalloped Rib Sock pattern includes an additional size option, clearer instructions, and most importantly, CHARTS! If you have already purchased this pattern, you will receive the updated PDF free of charge! Pattern Details: Yarn: 1 skein Baah La Jolla (400 yards) - both sizes Needles: US #1 Gauge: 30sts = 4 inches in stockinette stitch Size Options: Women's S/M (7" circumference) or Women's M/L (8" circumference) Click here to purchase on Ravelry. I strongly recommend signing up for newsletter u...

Earlier this week, I put the finishing touches on a brand-new cowl pattern: the Like the Tides Cowl is a quick, simple knit that lets the gradient colors of the yarn take center stage. I fell in love with the colorway, Seaglass, when I was visiting Windy Knitty with a friend last month. I knew I wanted it to become a cowl, but when I searched Ravelry for the perfect pattern, I couldn't seem to find one that looked like what I was imagining it in my head. I chose a simple, easy-to-memorize stitch pattern that would be as soothing as the sea; all the better to show off the stunning colorway, too! Later on, I found out that this yarn is 100% made in the USA: the wool comes from sheep raised in Colorado and it's handpainted in California  - how cool is that? Pattern Details:  Yarn: 2 skeins Freia Flux Sport (290 yards total) Needles: US #6 Gauge: 22 sts & 32 rows = 4 inches in pattern stitch Finished Size: 20" circumference; 9" wide Cowl is knit...

I find myself without an FO this week, unless you count the following: my first finished sock of 2013 and my Breezy Bolero from last week, now complete with buttons! Consequently, this will be a short post today. It's been a while since I've shared my sock progress, but these have been taking the backburner to other projects in the last few weeks. They are my own design, which will hopefully be out later this summer. I am loving the yarn, Fleece Artist's Nova Sock . I'm also glad to finally have a photo of me wearing my newest finished sweater! The buttons were gifted to me by my pal Lauren, who probably has a button stash that puts mine to shame....and mine is pretty extensive. I believe she'll be selling some of these lovelies on etsy sometime soon. Of course I'll keep you posted! I would have had a finished Genmaicha hat to share with everyone, but I had a small incident with a stretchy bind-off gone awry; this weekend, I'll try again and h...

I have five - FIVE! - babies to knit for in 2013, so I wanted a blanket that was pretty but not too difficult to make. I've been working extra-long hours at my day job, so by the time I settle down to knit for a few hours at night, most of my brainwaves are spent. Using knits and purls to create a textured lattice-like pattern, the Lettuce Lattice Baby Blanket was born. Sorry for the terrible pun - it's been a long week (and it's only Wednesday)! At any rate, my new baby blanket pattern is perfect for swaddling newborns, makes a fantastic receiving blanket, and is sure to be a great companion blankie during the toddler years. Knit with superwash yarn, parents will appreciate this thoughtful and easy-care gift. The PDF pattern includes stitch chart and instructions on working with hand-dyed yarns.  You'll also get a chance to master the crochet cast-on method (one of my favorites!) - click here  to view a video tutorial on YouTube to see just how easy this technique...