handmade by stefanie

I finished my Emmanuelle Sweater a few weeks ago, and it's been in heavy rotation ever since. It's hard to believe that this is the first chance I've gotten to take proper photographs, but that's just how things have been lately. This is the second sweater pattern I've knit by the designer, Mercedes Tarasovitch-Clark , and I really like the way it fits. I'm not super-great at intarsia, so I do find myself wishing that my chevrons were a little neater; if I were doing it all over again, I think I would knit the front and back pieces and then add in the chevrons with duplicate stitch afterwards just because I hate intarsia so much. I realize that is a totally insane notion to even entertain, but that should only speak to my true feelings where intarsia is concerned. Maybe someday I'll make friends with this technique, but it's not likely to happen any time soon. At any rate, the instructions were easy to follow and I had no issues with my yarn subst...

Summer has finally come to Chicagoland, which means it's time to trade in my jeans for skirts (for those of you who care, I don't believe in shorts) and bust out my ankle socks. One of my first-ever sock patterns is my go-to for the summer months; since I also don't wear sandals or flip-flops (yep, I'm weird like that), it's necessary to pair anklet socks with my shoes. The Lacy Summer Socks  are quick to knit with a lacy motif that's perfect for peeking through mary janes; it's now available as a free download on Ravelry and continues to be one of my most popular patterns. I recently came across a very sweet blog post from a fellow Raveler who recently made her own pair and shared her feedback about the pattern itself. Seeing a finished project from your own pattern is already one of the highest compliments a designer can get, but so is getting positive feedback from your fellow knitters! Craftsy Pick of the Week I've been getting back into design...

It's been a while since I've shared Raveler projects, so here's the latest, greatest projects to inspire you (clockwise from top left): Beentheredonethat's Stuffed Ostrich : Who doesn't love an ostrich playing piano?  S tickpixie's Hot Little Socks : Lacy Summer Socks knit with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Flames! Annedon's Kitchy Pleated Bag : This Raveler has made several versions of this purse using my pattern from Malabrigo Book 3 . Love the silk lining and tag - so fancy! MrsNezbit's Lipstick Purse : Knit with Malabrigo Worsted in Comfy Junkie and Lipstick, this is a great variation of this pattern! NaiadDreams' Whale Hexiflat : Oh, those clever hexipuffers (and hexiflatters, too!) - I'm honored to know that my whale chart has found its way onto a few Beekeeper's Quilts!  For more FO Projects, visit the Tami's Amis blog !

The Kitchy Pleated Bag continues to be one of my most popular designs from Malabrigo Book 3 . Here are the latest FO projects to pop up on Ravelry! Annedonn has made several kitchy bags to give as gifts - her latest two (shown above, top left and middle) have fancy buttons, too (the pink buttons have some sort of bug on them)! I'm not sure what yarn she used, but I love seeing the variations in color combinations. KnitKnacksTO made this version (above right) to use as a project bag in what looks like Tuareg and Pearl Ten Malabrigo Chunky - a great pairing!

A few finished projects flew in under my radar, which is a shame since this first one especially would have been timely if I'd shared it on here when it was still fresh.  Presenting Zipper the Easter Bunny , who was knit in a day on March 28th (see what I mean?) by Rav user mimulus .  Oh so adorable! The main color is Plymouth Encore Worsted Tweed with some mystery yarn for the contrast pocket.  Take note for next year, I suppose! (you should also check out mimulus' blog - there is an awesome pattern for a Distinguished Gentleman's Wig awaiting you!) This second finished project was  the March Monthly Mystery Project for Tangled Purls in Salem, OR .  A while back, they contacted me for permission to use my free pattern for the Reversible Cabled Wrist Warmers in a class - and naturally, I said yes!  Then, as is my wont, I completely forgot about it til I came across BlueDragon 's finished project on Ravelry.  Hoping to see more finished wrist w...

It's been a while since I've shared the latest knitter projects from Ravelry.  Here is the latest crop of Kitchy Pleated Bags from Malabrigo Book Three . First up, Rav user annedonn  made a spring-y version with Cascade yarns, fancy purse handles, and some seriously rad buttons: Rav user Kelly0706 combined 1 skein of Rasta in Lettuce with a pretty color of Cascade Bulky to make this cute bag.  The super-cute buttons are the perfect finishing touch! Finally, I can't resist a project photo with an animal in it - here is Rav user Knotjustknits ' destah version using Kraemer Yarns Bear Creek .  I'm a little intrigued by the yarn/colorway; it looks like the lighting in the photo is a little off, but it's a cute Kitchy nonetheless!

Happy Malabrigo March!  Spring is in the air, but mostly because we never got a "real" winter here in Chicago (unless you count the five days it snowed, two of which happened to be on days I was trying to fly out of here).  It's been in the 30's and 40's, which is a frigging heat wave here this time of year.  At any rate, I wanted to share the latest crop of projects that have been recently completed by my fellow Ravelers!  It's always so fun to see what colors, yarns and patterns people have chosen, and this week's post features a few of my favorite designs! First up, here's a cute little Kitchy Pleated Bag (you can find the pattern in Malabrigo Book 3 ), knit by chookgirl in Moda Vera Grand and Moda Vera Mousse.  I like the one fancy button hiding on the inside of the bag! Also from Book 3, pk26 knit up a pair of the fastest socks in the west, the Quick Draw socks!  If that color looks familiar, that's because it's the very same one I...

If you're new to knitting (or feeling a little rusty as you return to crafting), my free Keyhole Scarf Pattern is a great project to get you started.  Rav user jowet recently knitted this project as part of her return to knitting and said, "looking at the ravelry projects here, i saw several lovely knitting projects that i wished i could do, but the only knitting i remembered were the words “knit” and “purl” - i’d even forgotten how to actually do them. so for 2012, my first new year’s resolution was to learn to knit. i bought a learn-to-knit kit at mary maxim, and while waiting for it in the mail, i practiced knit and purl (via you tube knitting videos) using … chopsticks! by the time i got my kit, i was all set -- and here’s my very first knitted project :-) thanks for your lovely pattern, stefanie!" I couldn't be more thrilled to enable someone to carry out their new year's resolution...much less, have my project be their first FO of 2012.  There is...

Recently, I came across a Raveler who used my Mustachio Nosewarmer pattern to create a clever Mustache for the Baltimore 'Stache Bash , a mock beauty pageant celebrating the brave men who have spent a month growing mustaches and raising money for Baltimore City Schools! KaceyJH oh-so-cleverly knit the mustache & used the i-cord ties to affix said mustache to her face, no nosewarmer needed!  Looks like some mustachey fun to me - be sure to check out more photos by photographer Margaret Hart by clicking here and here .  Photos by Margaret Hart, used with permission.  Oh yeah, before I forget....happy new year, everyone!  Here's hoping 2012 is a good year for all. 

Mercourier has whipped up another adorable Button Bunny - this medium-size bunny only took a day from start to finish! If you're having any last-minute gifting emergencies, the fastest toy in the midwest is just what you need (and it's not too late to get 20% off your pattern purchase - just enter "GiftCute" at checkout!) Pattern:  Button Bunnies Yarn: The Wool Dispensary Greater Poison in Aerial Ballet (MC) and Georgia Building Castles (CC) Hello there.

...a Zombie Bunny with a pom-pom tail.  NOTHING. (this is my way of saying "Happy Thanksgiving," apparently) Rav user Mercourier - aka my buddy Sam, proprietress extraordinaire of The Wool Dispensary - recently made this zombie bunny who uses its snuggliness to its advantage so it may feast on your brains.  She used the Button Bunnies pattern, The Wool Dispensary Greater Poison in a new mystery colorway for the MC and Riverpoet Fiber and Yarn in "Blood Orange Massacre" for the CC....not to mention pink safety eyes and a cool skull toggle button to great effect! Hope you have a wonderful holiday today - and remember, tomorrow is BUY NOTHING DAY (for real).  On Saturday, be sure to support your LYS and other small businesses, tooo (such as The Wool Dispensary , or perhaps an independent designer whose blog you enjoy reading??)!

I was super-psyched earlier this week when I discovered that someone on Ravelry used my whale chart on a hexipuff !  Though I am not knitting a Beekeeper's Quilt (I think they're pretty spectacular, but just can't commit to something so....time-consuming), I am delighting in seeing everyone's projects and living vicariously through them (and, mayhaps, enabling them a wee little bit !).  Siri oh-so-cleverly duplicate stitched this little guy onto a hexipuff...yet another awesome and creative way to put a whale on it!

Spotted in the wild...Ravelry user ainsleygrimm has finished an adorable set of Button Bunnies in The Wool Dispensary's Greater Poison in Circus Popcorn.  Can bunnies and cats be friends?  Apparently, if both are cute enough! Ainsleygrimm is actually a knitting friend of mine who also happens to be a fellow cat animal lover.  She works in her family's veterinarian office and was beyond helpful to us last year when Robin was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF).  To manage his condition, we've been giving him subcutaneous fluids every day - something that seemed so impossible a year ago, but it's amazing how quickly you can get used to something.  Lisa was kind enough to give us an in-home demonstration since our how-to at the vet office didn't quite stick (I was sick, it was my birthday, we were still so shocked & stressed out about the diagnosis...and the cat wasn't terribly cooperative, either!).  It made a huge difference to get a sub-q l...

I'm continually delighted with the amount of whale-themed projects popping up on Ravelry using my little whale chart .  It's always interesting to see how people use it - some take a few elements that they need while some use the entire chart, for example.  There's a good variety of projects that just look better with whales on them, other than the socks that started it all - hats, sweaters, cellphone cozies, etc.  Then we get down to yarn types and colors - and today's featured projects are a great example of the infinite possibilities of all these elements.  yarnstormer's whale hat I've shared this first hat with you before, but I want to post it again because a) it's super cute and b) it's a great foil to the next project I'll be sharing with you.  If you recall, yarnstormer's whale hat is a striking mix of Madeline Tosh Sock, Zitron Pro Trekking, and a few colors of The Loopy Ewe's solid series.  She's even kind enough to give...

Here's the latest crop of FO's from Ravelry users around the globe!  Clockwise, from top left: 1. This cute version of my Kitchy Pleated Bag was knit by Rav user Spyoung .  She added an extra round of increases (and subsequently, an additional round of decreases) to make it even more puckered.  Cute and roomy - makes a great project bag or fun little tote for the bag addict in your life. 2. Lacy Summer Socks by Rav user birgit - these socks are a quick knit and a great way to use up 220-yard skeins of sock yarn!  3.  Stuffed Ostrich the first - two have been added to the herd recently (do ostriches run in herds?  I have no idea).  Rav user Shinanigans says Mallie the Ostrich was a quick-knitting, unique gift! 4.  This smartphone cozy by Rav user annelive uses my whale chart - a fun way to protect your fancy phone with the magical powers of the whale! 5.  House of Mirrors fingerless gloves - this is the first official F...