handmade by stefanie

just wanted to share some FO photos of the simple yet effective scarf i knit with my tour de fleece handspun - found the perfect button in my stash today, and now i'm ready for fall!  hope everyone is enjoying their holiday! 

I recently came across an adorable baby sweater using my  colorwork whale chart. ravelry user nupsi (from england, i believe) was kind enough to allow me to share photos of her project - is anyone else jealous of the baby who gets to wear this?! here are the details: pattern:  knit hoodie #3812 by bernat design studio & colorwork whale chart (linked above and to your right) yarn: when i inquired about the yarn used in the project, nupsi said that she actually didn't know the exact type and fiber content, because she'd been given a large amount of mystery yarn by her late grandmother and wanted to put them to good use.  (destash 2010 is in full effect across the globe!)  her best guess (by feel) is that the light blue is a thick wool/acrylic mix, the whales are knit with 2 strands of yarn held together (one being a dark blue cotton, the other being a lighter blue wool), and the water spouts are also a wool/acrylic mix.  additionally, all th...

in all the years (7? 8?  i'm losing track now!) i've been knitting, i have to admit that i never got the concept of shawls.  to me, they just seemed like special torture - they're often using laceweight yarn with complicated charts that require lots of concentration, stitch markers, and perhaps a magnifying glass.  on top of that, i couldn't envision any scenario in which i'd need or want to wear one. i've had a change of heart - well, sort of.  i don't see myself making a hanami any time soon (though i actually did try - i ended up frogging it six rows into the first chart), but earlier in the summer, i did make my first laceweight shawl - the ever-popular citron shawlette from knitty . i had originally bought some yarn to make a laceweight cardi, but decided that i didn't like how the yarn was knitting up for the project.  i knew that, if i let it sit in my stash, it would languish and never become anything.  i wanted a simple project that was pre...

it's been a busy end to august - there have been band practices, social engagements, extracurricular work meetings, and of course lots of knitting and designing to get done.  not much happened for me in that last category over the weekend, as i was too busy running around with my friend from kansas city on friday and saturday night after work, and sunday night my band played a show in logan square.  (sometimes i need these sorts of things to force myself to give my hands and arms a break from knitting; it's harder for me to take a break if i'm just sitting at home.) i am pleased to report that, despite all the general zaniness of the last few days,  i did manage to knit a pair of flip-top elbow-length fingerless gloves - although i have to confess it was a slower week at work, and most of the knitting got done on a day i had some client cancellations.  you may recognize the yarn from last week's post - crystal palace's mochi plus - it's true, i just could...

i've been getting some treats in the mail lately, but the one i was anticipating the most is Shannon Okey's The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design .  until earlier this year, i self-published or sold designs casually here and there.  now I've been getting to work with some pretty cool companies (Malabrigo and Sanguine Gryphon, anyone?), although there were a few straggling projects leftover from last year, one of which came back to bite me in the butt. without getting into the gory details, the main point is this:  last year i was naive enough not to sign a contract for a certain design project.  i held up my end of the bargain, met my deadline, etc, and assumed that their word was as good as mine, only to be told in july (after i'd already completed the work) that the design fee they'd promised last year was now half that.  compound that with a lot of frustration due to communication issues (very hard to get any sort of response whenever i contact...

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!

major startitis has kicked in.  i blame several things:  1) the ever-present knitting ADD i just can't seem to shake;  2) a break from the crippling heat and humidity this week, reminding me that summer will eventually end and i will get to wear my sweaters and mittens and hats once more;  3) last night's fashion show at nina ;  and 4) having lots of birthdays, special occasions, and holidays to knit for from now 'til the end of the year, with new ones popping up weekly!  last night's show at nina was super fun - i don't get to attend many events of any kind, since most of them happen when i am working (thursday & friday evenings, saturday and sunday).  so to me, getting to come to last night's event was a bit of a treat.  i haven't been to many knitting fashion shows, but the few i've attended were definitely on the lame side.  not so last night - i was more than pleasantly surprised.   Really beautiful yarns,  interesti...