handmade by stefanie

Seems like I've been sharing a lot of sewing/quilting projects here lately, but I assure you, I am still knitting, and have recently completed a couple of hat projects, a scarf, and even a pair of socks! First up is the March Hat by Meghan Babin, which I made using some Plymouth Yarn Homestead Tweed I was gifted during the holidays and a Knit Picks faux fur pom. This pattern, which is available for free on Ravelry, features a simple yet stylish design that's easy to memorize as you knit. I also knit another hat for the donation bin using two strands of fingering weight yarn to create a tweedy effect. I based this project on the Mash it Up pattern by Babs Ausherman, but went a little off book as I knit, especially when it came time to do the crown decreases. The gold color is Shibuiknits Reed in Pollen and the lighter color is reclaimed from a past project, I'm not 100% sure of the name of the indie dyer or the colorway but I think it might be a sock yarn from KnitCircus. ...

My quilted table runner obsession continues as I sew my way through Creating a Quilted Home . I've had my eye on this hexi braid pattern, but was a little intimidated by it. But when my mom mentioned that she'd like an everyday table runner, I figured I should give it a shot.  Turns out, it's really easy to make! The hardest part (for me) was choosing fabric placement - quilting can be kinda difficult if you are a chronic overthinker. The other tricky part was getting the braid started, but once the first two pieces are sewn together it's smooth sailing. I used a charm pack and some yardage from Edyta Sitar's Blue Escape collection for the piecing, backing and binding. The border fabric is actually from my stash, so I don't remember who makes it but it just happened to match perfectly! I had it quilted at Missouri Star - check out the sweet note that they included when they sent it back to me!  I love making this project for my mom so much that I just might have...

Although I don't really subscribe to the whole "new year, new you" thing or making outlandish resolutions that will likely be abandoned by Valentine's day, I have been thinking a lot about my intentions for this year. Of course health and work/life balance is up there on the list, and home improvements are also a major one for 2023 (I have a never-ending list of projects to work on for our house once the springtime rolls around).  So whatever craft time I can carve out for myself this year, I want to make it count!  And as previously mentioned, I want to continue my yarn destashing efforts in 2023. That will most definitely be a guiding principle for any knitting, weaving or crochet (hey, it could happen!) projects this year. I did break my "no yarn except sock yarn" rule at the end of last year, but only to buy a sweater's worth of lace weight yarn from Shi Bui, who announced they were closing their doors. I've always loved their yarns, so I figured...

 When we made the big move to KC at the start of the pandemic, I could no longer ignore the ridiculous amount of yarn that I had in my stash. Since then, I've been working on using up or giving away the yarns currently in my stash while also trying my best not to buy more. Sometimes it doesn't seem like I've been that successful, but I just came across this photo of my stash from February 2021 where my yarn stash takes up nearly 5 large storage bins (and there is also a large bin of spinning fiber behind them!):  I'm also pretty certain that my handspun yarns are not pictured here, because they are in a few bins that were stored in the closet. But I digress. So, here I am in 2023. I've given away a fair amount of yarn, and have been using the rest for knitting and weaving projects. The only yarn I bought in 2022 was for Sock Pals, which meant that I used it immediately upon arrival. And I have condensed my yarn stash down to 1 large storage bin and three of four she...

Two posts in two weeks....is it possible I'm back in the blogging groove?! I don't know, but I'm just gonna go with it for as long as it lasts!  Now that they've been gifted, I can share 2 more sewing projects I made this year! First, I made a cute cat napper/play mat my mom's cat Henry: I used the Sallie Tomato Cat Napper pattern , although I ended up going off book with my fabric design. It's a pretty free-form pattern as it is (at least, in terms of how you use/place your fabric pieces), so it wasn't all that difficult to modify. The biggest challenge was sewing everything together, because there are layers of batting, foam stabilizer, and Isul-bright (a heat-reflecting crinkle layer). The sides can be tied at the top to make a little cat fort, or everything can be flat so Henry can play and nap on it.  I also sewed another table runner for my mom, but didn't have time to send it in for finishing. So, she received a box with the finished quilt top and...

I know I didn't blog a whole lot this year, but I was definitely making stuff! I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorite finishes which haven't been shared here. I'd like to blog more regularly in 2023 but let's be honest, that is not likely to happen because I'm 3,000% more likely to share what I'm up to over on Instagram  in real(ish) time.  After finishing my nephew's graduation quilt, I became obsessed with sewing table runners. Even with my novice quilting skills, I was able to make some pretty cool projects in just a weekend or two. I ended up making doubles so that I could gift one to my mom and keep the other one for myself. I've been taking advantage of the $25 flat rate pricing at Missouri Star to give them a professional finish!  Halloween Mini Tumbler Table Runner with Batik fabrics Large Tumbler Table Runner with Metallic Scandi II fabric I also tried something totally new this year by sewing my own purse ! I used the Mia Bag p...

Just in time for holiday gift knitting....it's my first-ever birthday pattern sale! Now until 11/22/22, all of my self-published patterns on Ravelry are 50% off, no coupon code needed. Oh, and this discount also applies to my sport sock pattern ebook, Conversation Knits !  Shop the pattern sale. I hope you find something that will delight the folks on your gift knitting list this holiday season, or perhaps there's a pattern that is just right for a little "selfish" knitting!   Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season, whatever you celebrate. And I promise I will share some of my latest creative projects on this blog soon.  XOXO Stefanie