my*january

i decided that i was completely serious when i said i was going to devote the entire month of january to selfish projects, just for me. i am going to knit and sew myself some lovely items and not feel one bit guilty.

i have a couple knit skirts all lined up and we are going to head out to the fabric store in a bit for thread. 

i also have that lisette pattern that i bought so many weeks ago on my mind. 

i am currently knitting a brea bag for myself in green - amazing green.

i might stitch up some pretty patchwork potholders for my kitchen and toss all of the old, charred and ugly potholders.

and i need a duvet cover for the down comforter we received as a christmas gift from my mama.

i likely will not get even half of this list completed this month, or this year. but all of these ideas started swimming around my head the second i allowed myself to think only about {me}.

so, how about it, friends... does anyone want to join me in a month of selfish crafting? be sure to let me know so i can come visit and see your wonderful projects! looking forward!

disclaimer :: i started knitting my sweet husband a pair of charcoal gray knucks early last year and still have not completed them. one is finished and the other only needs the cuff. i might take them to our mom's night out this friday and get.them.done!! just to completely clear my conscience, of course. he really does deserve those hand knit knucks!!

small style :: bearded balaclavas

i knit these little balaclavas with beards and mustaches for my friend tahirih's little boys in exchange for one of her gorgeous prints {this one to be exact}.

seriously, could they be any more adorable. i die.

normally i would link up the pattern except the pattern i tried to use was simply awful and i would not put you through that, friends. no good. so i kinda just winged it and did my own thing and it was smooth stitching from there. perhaps i will put together a little bearded balaclava tutorial and post it here for you all. after the holidays, of course.

i am linking these cuties up with morgan's small style post! go check it out!

little lamby knits pattern giveaway!

i introduced megan from little lamby knits and her adorable patterns last month and now she is back with two new amazing patterns for your little ones!

The Organic Seasons Jacket and Blanket

The Organic Seasons Jacket & blanket are complimentary pieces. The hooded jacket is worked seamlessly & flat from the bottom up, sleeves in the round & then body and sleeves are attached and worked
together with raglan shaping. Hood is knit
seamlessly from the neck up with shaping at the back and then grafted at the top. This sweet jacket features an asymmetrical front closure with button holes & buttons or toggles. The wave pattern is worked throughout with a border on the bottom featuring the seasonal motif of your choice. Borders are worked by picking up stitches along the front and hood edges. There is 2-5" (5-12.5cm) positive ease for comfort & a generous fit.
The Organic Seasons Blanket is worked seamlessly from the center out and has a seasonal motif border along each side. 
Both patterns are sure to become heirloom treasures!
 

   

so sweet, yes? megan has generously offered to give one lucky reader both patterns! to enter simply leave a comment on this post.

for an additional entry (leave a separate comment for this one) follow the little lamby knits blog to stay updated on all her wonderful patterns. 

enter until monday november 21st.

good luck, friends!

comments are now closed.

take care of YOU this {handmade} holiday season :: a guest post

 hello friends! i hope this monday finds you all well. we unfortunately have a mild  tummy bug going through our house - no fun! belly crummies or not i've had lots to be thankful for the past few days. here is a quick summary ::

day 11 - various meet up with fantastic friends {thank you, loves!}

day 12 - sweet sixteenth birthdays {miss niko!}

day 13 - my washer and dryer {tummy bug}

day 14 - autumn sun {glorious healing sunbeams}

 oh, and i haven't closed the comments on the alphabet glue giveaway post just yet, so get over there and enter, quick! 

 and now i am super excited for my first handmade holiday guest post! today i am featuring my sweet friend karen who i was lucky enough to meet at a local yarn shop two winters ago. we were both expecting and had our sweet baby boys just days apart :: my luca and her liam ♥

karen has put together a lovely {and so important} post about taking care of yourself while making a handcrafted holiday. thanks bunches for your contribution, karen! xoxo

We all know how much fun knitting, crocheting, sewing and general craftiness are, but too much of a good thing can lead to painful wrists, hands, forearms and shoulders.  Listed below are some simple things you can do to alleviate the stress and strain of all the holiday craftiness you are probably in the midst of.  Remember though, these self care techniques are good for anytime of the year, and taking care of yourself now will help to ensure you are crafting happily and pain free for many years to come!

***

Tips to Reduce Stress

1. Make a list of things to do, prioritizing what needs to be done first, and putting off things that can wait for a little while.

2. Try to maintain a normal sleeping pattern.  Same thing goes for your diet.  Yeah, yeah, I know it doesn't sound like fun and some days these goals may be totally impossible, but it will make it easier for you to deal with the ups and downs of the holiday craft season.  All though, the occasional cookie and cup of cocoa does make the crafting just that much merrier ;)

3. Make time to do the things that are truly important to you; its important to take time for yourself during the holiday hustle and bustle.

4. DRINK WATER!!!  It can help you feel better if you have overindulged, and also promotes general health and well being.

5. Realize it may not all get done, especially if you keep adding things to your to do list.  Try setting a date that you will "throw in the towel" and be done with crafting craziness...if it isn't done my then, it can wait. This frees you up to enjoy some time before and during the holidays without feeling guilty.  For me this year, that day is December 17th.

6. Go see your massage therapist, chiropractor or acupuncturist.  All three treatments can greatly improve your physical well being as well as your mental outlook.


Tips to Reduce Pain and Tension While Crafting

1. Take a break!  Stop every hour or so to give your hands a good stretch.  Really open up your palm, stretch your fingers as wide as they will open.  Shake your hands out and maybe rub some nice lotion on them, focusing on the middle of your palm and where your fingers join the palm.  Rub the inside of your wrist with the thumb of the opposite hand. Make small circles with your arms and then let them hang loose at your sides.

2. Close your eyes for fifteen to thirty seconds every ten minutes or so, especially if you are working with a very small gauge knitting project or a difficult to read pattern/chart.

3. If you notice the discomfort lasting longer or becoming more intense, please see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.  Believe it or not, it is possible to hurt yourself by crafting.

4. Knitting yourself a pair of wrist warmers or gauntlets to keep your wrists warm while you are working is a great way to help keep yourself from experiencing discomfort.  Just make sure when you knit them for yourself, you make them snug enough that they wont interfere with you are crafting.  Natural fibers are best for this type of project, as they will retain heat.

5. If you have over-done it, place ice on you hands, wrists or shoulder to help alleviate any pain or swelling that may occur.  A good rule to follow is ten minutes on, twenty minutes off until the pain subsides or the swelling goes down.

6. Last but not least, don’t forget that crafting is what you do for fun!  Sure, we all feel the pressure of the holiday giving crunch, but your family would rather have you happy, healthy and sane for the holidays, even if it means they get an IOU (or better yet, the supplies to make their own gift and a bit of your time teaching them a new craft...its like two presents in one!).


--
Karen
www.albanyofthewest.blogspot.com

winter wool {and a winner!}

i am sweater knitting again. this time i am knitting this pattern with this wool. so far i have knit the collar and the shoulder increases. once again i am in love. with this pattern and this wool joining forces to create the greatest winter sweater ever. at least that is the plan.

on to giveaway winner news ::

the randomly chosen winner for the knit girl in idaho stitch marker {or wine charms} is lorraine! yay, yay, happy day! watch your inbox for a message about your winnings, lorraine!

and guess what - there are even more giveaways to come! don't miss out, friends! see you soon. xo

meet reni :: knit girl in idaho {and a giveaway!}

time for another fabulous sponsor introduction! reni makes super cute personalized stitch markers for knitting and crochet as well as wine charms. i met her last december when i was lucky enough to be her neighbor at a holiday craft show. i had so much fun chatting with her that afternoon! please read her introduction, visit her shop and enter her generous giveaway at the bottom of this post! 

xo, erika

Tell us a little about yourself!I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and moved to Washington for my freshman year of college, which is where I met my husband a short time later.  After dating a few years, my husband and I were married one week after we graduated from college, which is almost 25 years ago now!  In 2005, we decided we needed a slower lifestyle so we packed up and moved to Idaho. We have two wonderful boys, our oldest is 18 and just started his first year of college, and my youngest is almost 15 and started his freshman year of high school.  Being the only female in the house sometimes has its downside (like cleaning toilets!), but most of the time I feel blessed and lucky to have three very special men in my life.  My family is very supportive and always encourage me in my "crafty" endeavors!

Tell us about the wonderful things that you create! When did you learn your craft and who taught you?

My mom taught me how to knit when I was a little girl, but I lost interest somewhere along the way and didn't pick it back up again until after my second child was born. I have been absolutely addicted to knitting ever since. My first knitting projects were very simple garter stitch scarf projects, and then I went through a phase of knitting nothing but dishclothes! Dishclothes are very small, quick projects that are a wonderful way for a beginning knitter to try new techniques they might otherwise be intimidated to try. Knitting dishclothes is how I learned to master cables, yarn-overs, ssk, etc.... Once I acquired these new skills, I felt confident knitting more advanced scarf patterns.

Eventually, I was bit by the sock knitting bug and now socks are my all-time favorite project to knit!  Sock projects are great because they are small, portable projects that travel well (you can carry it with you in your purse!). Most sock patterns can be knit with one skein of sock yarn, and there are literally thousands of free or inexpensive sock patterns available for knitters at every level.  One thing most sock patterns have in common is that they call for stitch markers or place markers. Stitch markers slide on your knitting needle to help you keep track of your stitches while knitting a section of the heel. There are many different types and styles of stitch markers available, but I found most of them to be boring so I decided to create my own.  I shared a picture of my new stitch markers to some of my pals on Ravelry (a FANTASTIC online knitting and crochet community!) and a couple of them said they would pay me to make them a set too! This led to more and more people wanting to buy my stitch markers, hence my Etsy shop, KnitGirl in Idaho was born.  My best customers today are these same friends from Ravelry!

  

I specialize in making personalized stitch markers using any photo, personal logo or short saying. The question I get asked more than any other is "how do you make those?" My answer is that it has taken me years to perfect the process and countless hours of trial and error, so I am very protective of my craft!   I will say that whenever I think I have the system down to an exact science, undoubtedly there will be equipment failure or a supplier that changes.  I have to be flexible to change and ready to roll with the tide at any given time.  There are other Etsy shops that sell similar items to mine, but don't be fooled by the copycats out there! My stitch markers are the originals of their kind and can be found at The Loopy Ewe  as well as many other online retailers and yarn stores. Also, be watching the newsstands because I received good news that my stitch markers will be seen in a couple magazines in the coming months! 

 Are there any new items in the works for your shop?

I am very excited because I recently started selling removable stitch markers for crochet, which is a brand new market for me!  Unlike knitting stitch markers that slide on the knitting needle, these stitch markers use a lobster
clasp that clips directly on the yarn in a crochet project. 
 
In January of this year, I also opened a second Etsy shop called Wine Charms by Design.  I started this shop for those people who love my stitch marker charms but, sadly, don't knit. I use the same charms as on my stitch markers, but they are on a wire hoop that wraps around the stem of a wine glass or other stemmed glassware.  As with my Knit Girl shop, I also specialize in personalized wine charms and have done several sets for weddings.

What's your day job and do you have any other hobbies or passions?
 
My husband and I also own a business together that has been in the family for 3 generations. He's the sales & marketing dept and I'm the taxes & bookkeeping dept!  We've always had the luxury of working from home so one or both of us is usually around when the boys would get home from school.  Now that the boys are almost grown up, our family time is a high commodity.  We cherish our time together, whether we're watching a soccer or basketball game or just relaxing at home in the evenings together.  Aside from knitting, I am an avid reader. I will read just about any genre and never, never leave home without a book! 

Please let us know where we can find you - etsy, blog, facebook, etc.
 
Knit Girl in Idaho Etsy shop: www.KnitGirlinIdaho.com
Facebook: Knit Girl in Idaho
Twitter: KnitGirlinIdaho
Ravelry: KnitGirlinIdaho
Email: knitgirlinidaho@gmail.com
 
Wine Charms by Design Etsy shop: www.WineCharmsbyDesign.com

Facebook: Wine Charms by Design
Email: winecharmsbydesign@gmail.com

for today's giveaway reni has offered to one lucky winner either a set of 4 Personalized Stitch Markers (choice of Knitting or Crochet) OR a set of 4 Personalized Wine Charms (wouldn't these make GREAT gifts?!). also she is happy to ship internationally so anyone is welcome to throw their name into the hat!

- to enter visit reni's shops and let us know what item you would choose! 
extra entries (leave a separate comment for each one)
- add either (or both!) of reni's shops to your etsy favorites
- "like" reni's facebook page
- follow reni on twitter


i will close the comments and choose a winner on thursday october 13th. good luck, friends!

comments are now closed - i will post the lucky winner's name later this evening!

how to properly finish a handknit sweater.

alternately titled "oh hey, you finally finished that sweater of yours, now you get to spend three long days trying to decide which buttons are perfect for it!!"

i loved the gray buttons first, then i thought maybe i wanted wood buttons. but i add wood buttons to everything, i am kind of over it. the top-left button in the first photo, right next to the gray ones,  is actually a dark green. and the button right under it a dark brown.

once you sew on some darned buttons already you can then put your new wool sweater on even though it is nearly 90 degrees and go into the backyard and have your eight year old take some pictures of you looking all dorky as i have demonstrated below.

no make-up and a grundgy pony tail. but this post is all about the sweater, friends. i would seriously hate to take the spotlight.

now if it would just kindly get cool enough for me to wear this lovely i would be a very happy girl.

here are my yellow sweater's deets ::

pattern :: tea leaves cardigan

yarn :: cascade 220 in lemon ice

needles :: addi turbo circulars in sizes 6 and 7
buttons :: vintage from my button jar. and i really do think i made the perfect choice!



small style :: mama knit

it turns out my dear husband has a strong adversion to sweater vests. i suppose this is perfectly reasonable for a fellow his age but come on, is there anything cuter than a sweet baby boy in a hand knit sweater vest?

so it became quite an ordeal when i cast on this little sleeveless hoodie for luca. first daddy begged me not to put our little guy in a dorky sweater vest. then he teased me every time he saw me working on it. finally he just gave up and kept his opinions to himself. and this morning when i carefully buttoned it onto the baby for the first time he admitted that it really is pretty adorable. ha, i win.

here are the project details ::

pattern - kira's hooded vest

neddles - addi turbos in sizes 6 and 7

yarn - wool of the andes from knit picks

the green is "avocado" and the contrasting color started out a pale blue ("rain" i think) but it was a little blah so i kettle dyed it in these amazing dark blues, purples and brown.

those buttons were in my stash, i think they came off of a tattered vintage shirt before it was tossed.

i love every delicious little thing about this vest. and i think inspired daddy is sweater vest smitten too...

today i am linking up with mama loves papa.

handmade collective

handmade digs, head to toe.

cozy sweater vest with cabled owls (ah, those owls. a favorite of mine!) hand knit by my friend jaime.
reversible pants with mushrooms on the bum made by mama.
sweet soft soled shoes sewn by jamie of brown birdy design, also a local friend.
and under his little trousers is the cutest {not.even.kidding.} cloth diaper ever, stitched up by my crazy-talented girlfriend jess.

and his new hat. goodness how i love his hat. all snuggled up close in the baby carrier i sewed right before he was born.

i also knit that skully hat that my handsome hubby is wearing way back in march of 2008. and i am pretty sure i have not knit him a single thing since. it is his turn, me thinks. so, friends, what should i knit for my boy? a pair of knucks perhaps? or a beer bottle cozy?
if you would be so kind please link up your favorite knitting-for-your-guy pattern(s)!
many thanks! oh, and did you hear... spring is here! ♥

small and smaller :: cute hats for cute heads

i knit a small hat for luca but it was more harper sized. so i knit him a smaller hat and it fits just right. now they each have a cute new hat and i have high hopes that they will still fit next winter.

i was going to post one photo of them in their hats, my favorite photo, but i swooned with each one. so i posted them all.

this is the hudson hat pattern, i have knit it before. i used random wool scraps from my yarn stash, mostly cestari fine merino.

and just for fun a current snapshot of luca eating his favorite lunch - avocado and banana.
sweet toothy grin, ginger hair starting to develop little curls, big brown eyes.
i am in this photo too, friends. right there, right there, wrapped around that tiny finger. you see?
♥

happiest day mitts

today is my mama's birthday! i knit her a pair of charcoal gray fingerless mitts. she requested mitts some time ago and i had intentions of knitting them in time for christmas... yeah...

i was able to find 8 matching vintage buttons in my stash for the welted cuffs. i think they would look really sweet with mismatched buttons too.

and here they are hugging my favorite coffee mug.
the deets ::
the yarn is cascade 220 in charcoal
the pattern is welted fingerless gloves
i used needle sizes 5 and 6

they knit up superquick and the pattern is wonderfully written. i see several more pairs in my future. mitts for everyone!

i also stitched up a little gift envelope to contain the mitts using old calenders. this calender was from 2003, the year esme was born and had all of my midwife appointments, prenatal yoga classes and such written in it. i hesitated for a brief moment but it was the prettiest calender i had so i went ahead and cut into it. only for you, mom.
oh, and i made up a quick tutorial so you can sew up your own button closure gift pouches. come back and visit later this week to see!

happy day, friends!
erika

handmade workshop :: market eve

inspired mama MAKES! will be making an appearance at the hip holiday craft market tomorrow. local friends, please do stop by and say hello! here are some of the sweet little goodies i have loving hand crafted just for this event ::

whimsical coloring wallets

learn to knit kits that include a handy little tote, a mini skein of hand painted wool yarn and a set of handmade knitting needles with fabric button caps to match the totes *swoon*.

so many adorable prints to choose from.

i have lots of super fun stocking stuffers too - book marks, rings, hair ties and wool felt flower headbands...

and how fun are these eye spy bags?! everyone in my house has enjoyed playing with them including my husband and my 20 year old brother.

i can't wait to send all of this handmade goodness off to loving homes.
handmade workshop ::2010 has begun!
happy weekend, friends.

bundled

luca has a new mama knit sweater to go with his new mama knit hat.

this is the caelum sweater knit with marr haven wool yarn in light gray with a wee bit of rainbow trim on the cuffs and waistband. the leftover rainbow yarn from his gnome hat.

up next... tiny mittens!

november one. er, two.

i started this post last night but after homework and dinner and bath time and bed it was forgotten and then remembered today, november two. here is what we've been up to ::

he went to his first homecoming dance and we learned the half winsor knot together thanks to youtube. no clip on ties for us thankyouverymuch!

they had a daddy-daughter date to the rain gutter regatta with her girl scout troop and lunch at mongolian bbq (her choice) after.

while they were at the regatta we attended the philharmonsters performance and had a whole lot of fun even though it was a bit crowded for harper's comfort.

niko attempted to play the trumpet at the instrument petting zoo.

luca didn't have a halloween costume but he was pretty festive anyway.

harper and esme were ready for tricks and treats at "ghouls at school".

and, i finished luca's little hat just in time for sunday evening, so he went out dressed as a rainbow gnome. you can find the adorable pattern here.

we had a wonderful october with lovely weather and plenty of fun with friends and family. now we are eagerly looking forward to whatever november has in store for us.

happy monday/tuesday, friends!