Last minute gifts

Cast on tonight for a last minute gift set for hubbies grandmother. She is elderly and in a home and he fears this may be her last year with us, thus he wanted to do something special. He picked out a lovely hat and gloves set for her to wear and stay cozy warm.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/escargot

and

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/camp-out-fingerless-mitts

It was hard to decide but we chose these two patterns over these other two lovelies that are just as wonderful and charming.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lee-3

and

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mitts-18

If you as of yet still have some last minute gift orders to fill maybe consider these charming free patterns. Whimsical and lovely.

Wool donations for warming centers

Our local area has warming centers for the homeless that are invaluable during cold snaps like the one we just suffered. I am taking up a project for just this cause.

If anyone has any wool, alpaca, or other animal fiber yarn that they would be willing to donate I will use that yarn to knit donation items for the warming centers. It must be wool, wool blend, or animal fiber of some sort.

Cotton lowers the bodies natural temperature especially when wet and can cause hypothermia, whereas wool is a natural insulator helping the body maintain its natural temperature even when wet. Another good quality of wool is that it can be water proof. I have lanolin on hand and can waterproof every item before donating. This makes wool very superior for donation purposes as it can keep folk warm and dry even in the worst conditions.

Any weight, color or amount would help! Washable wool and super wash is fine. Sock yarns would be great even if just ball end scraps as I can work those into the  feet of 100% wool socks making them more durable. Any amount of wool yarn will help greatly! Mill ends, partial skeins, whatever you have on hand!

I will also happily accept raw locks of fiber, again must be animal fiber such as wool, alpaca, llama or other. I can use these raw locks to make thrummed items for donation such as thrummed mittens and partially thrummed hats. This will add extra warmth for folks.

My goal is to start collecting donations now and work on knitting items for the Egan Warming Centers and other charities year round. It would be great if no one had to be cold!

For more information on the Egan Warming Centers please visit their fb page at... https://www.facebook.com/EganWarmingCenters

Julenisse of Kindness

I saw this blog on Kindness elves, a spin off of Elf on a Shelf, who honestly creeps me out! http://theimaginationtree.com/2013/11/alternative-elf-on-shelf-tradition-kindness-elf.html

So today I picked up some beads to give these a try on my own, since I have no clue where to buy them. I figured Juletomten can leave a little Julenisse of kindness for little Bear. I am now trying to decide the best way to attach the beads. Maybe a little crocheted chain body inside? Like chains going to each leg and arm with beads for hands and feet, then back to a main body and up through the head and securing to a braid of hair? Then knit the clothes to go over?

My Grandmother used to make me the most amazing and beloved clothes pin dolls with little Bead heads when I was a child and I now wish I had paid better attention. This will be a bit of a learning experience for me but will update how it goes.

I think these little guys will fit in nicely to our current traditions and holiday activities. Today while visiting Sinterklaas at the mall we picked up an ornament to get some one a Secret Santa gift. We picked some one in a retirement home and got them a Knitting Loom pack. We are all very excited about this one since we are such a crafty family.

We also have been thinking of ways to be giving to our neighbors this season with thoughts of gifting the neighbors with St Lucia cakes and then maybe Julebukking and taking cookies about. If you think of any great ideas please leave your ideas in the comments.

Sharing

I wanted to share this great crochet blog with everyone. Look at her beautiful stuff! http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/

Books for kids

I wanted to share some great books for kids that share the inspirations I adore so.

Extra Yarn is a great little story about an ordinary box full of yarn that turns out to be so much more! An adorably charming book about a little girl, her box of yarn, and how she changed her world.

Weaving the Rainbow is an inspiringly  beautiful book about the world through the eyes of a weaver.

The truly, terribly Horrible Sweater.... That Grandma Knit; we have all been on one end,the other, or both of this story. Have you ever been given a truly terribly awful gift that some one made you with love? Or maybe you made some one something they just couldn't appreciate. Well this is a story for kids all about learning the value truly terrible gifts can have.

Phoebe's Sweater is an endearing little book about a darling little mouse who is about to become a big sister. This book is full of love and joy, as a mother shares a truly special gift with her daughter. At the end of the book you will find special patterns for your own little mouse.

Are there some children's books out their related to a craft or art that you love? Would you like to share that special book? I would love to hear about more great books dedicated to opening the eyes of children to the world of arts around them.

Images courtesy Amazon.com

Ruching your Garments

I have been talking a lot about sewing lately, and have recently mentioned my new found impulse to try ruching some shirts to add a more flattering wardrobe collection.

I found some ruching tutorials and really want to share.

Image courtesy of RushBrooke Strand

Here is a very simple one, cut and dry and a great quick reference.

Image courtesy of Katie's Awesome

Here is a good example of how to use ruching on bodice work... or curtains, or skirts, or really anything!

Image courtesy eHow mom

 Here is an explanation of how to use elastic for ruching, this would be great on knit fabric like a t-shirt.

I hope these might help my fellow inspiring seamstresses. And remember to check out my Facebook page and my Pinetrest boards for inspiration and great patterns. I love sharing my finds as I come across them. So like and follow along to make sure you don't miss out.

Adding to your sewing library...

Yes this is essentially a fiber blog, but I am a polyamours crafter, I mean in my bio it does say I am an artisan of many mediums, right? So while I love my knitting and crochet, I also love sewing, and painting, and gardening and anything else that lets me create and find beauty in the world.

In keeping with this creative fluidity, I would like to share a link to one of my favorite blogs (Sew, Mama, Sew). This blog addresses a wonderful designer and her book of patterns. It seems like it would be a great addition to anyone's pattern library. And what library would be complete if it only held one subject matter? Right? So I encourage you to fill yours with everything you love. Cook books, gardening books, knitting, crochet, sewing, everything beautiful you can think of!

Image courtesy of Natalie Chanin

Making t shirts fit!

Okay, I have got to try this! I will get so much more wear out of my shirts! Half my closet is just shapeless. Any way, check out this easy tutorial!

Photo courtesy Andrea of a.steed's.life

Yarn blogs

Here is a really great yarn blog I really want to share. Just read how much time and love goes into the yarn she dyes. It really says something about the ma and pa businesses out there. It really makes one think about their next yarn purchase. It feels really good to me to buy from someone who puts so much love into what they create instead of something that is just handled by machines and mass produced!

I also just love the that she is a "real people", I can totally relate to her sweater gone bad issue. I have been there many a time as have most knitters!

Anyway, check out her blog, subscribe, shes a great lady that I would love to see get even more support.

Photo courtesy of Yarn mama10

Free Pattern Friday

Here is a great sweater pattern featuring the shaker rib stitch. Which is a great step up from knit and purl for beginner knitters who are just branching out.

And remember to keep an eye on my facebook shop page for great patterns, weekly drawings, and updates as to whats new.

Image courtesy Berroco

More free patterns

Here is another great collection of free patterns from one of my very favorite sites! I just adore WEBS! Check em out and don't forget to pop by their garage sale section, but be prepared to spend far too much money, lol. There is just way too much yummy yarn and when you can find it for half off, ya hard not to over spend teehee.

Photos courtesy WEBS

Knitting tip of the day

Knitting tip of the day... When working socks or other garments that tend to sag, add a fine elastic thread such as knitting elastic to your yarn, work the two together as you would with just your yarn. This will help home made socks stay up and other garment pieces stay in place! You can use it only in the cuff or for the whole piece for more elastic shape resilience.

Pull over

Here is a great pull over pattern, perfect for spring! Check it out!

Image courtesy Knitty

More patterns!

Here is another pattern site for you guys. Some cool stuff and great ideas for both knit and crochet if you poke around..

Image courtesy Naturally Caron

Noro

Yummy new Noro patterns, with a free teaser pattern...

Photo courtesy Noro

Aran

I just finished up a pair of Aran boot socks that I am in love with. So in the post sock after glow I was looking up Aran patterns, and though these are not all Aran I just had to share. There are a ton of really lovely felted projects on here. And though I am not a felter, there are many here I wouldn't mind trying! Oh here are a few more to check out!

photo courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn

Dropping stitches on purpose?

I never woulda thought!


From Berroco
"Dropping stitches is like working with fire. Sometimes when a stitch drops by accident it can run speedily through your entire fabric, wreaking havoc and leaving you with a significant amount of repair work. Under proper control, however, a dropped stitch can be a unique decorative element that enhances a knitted project. Mastering dropped stitches is like burning candles or using a fireplace - the fire is controlled and beautiful, instead of destructive.

Dropped stitches add interest to the fronts of Kabak, this week's free pattern. Gorgeous multicolored Berroco Versa™ is a perfect yarn for showing off dropped stitches, since its flat ribbon construction and smooth cotton blend allow stitches to run easily without snagging. For a demo on working the dropped stitch pattern featured in Kabak, check out our how-to video. Don't forget to look through our other how-to videos for more helpful tutorials."

Check out Berroco at www.berroco.com for more info. I know I am!


Photo courtesy Berroco

Some great knit blogs

I would like to share some amazing knit blogs, there are so many out there, here is a start on that en-devour.

Check out the blue garter  and dances with wool  they both have great toddler knits and well beyond.

Photos courtesy Blue Garter

Belated Free Pattern Friday

So I have been so busy lately I keep spacing out updating my blog here. So I figure it's best to update when I can instead of trying to keep a strict schedule.

So here is a great hat pattern for free.

Photo courtesy Berroco

A free sweater pattern for your little one. 

Photo courtesy Berroco

And a reminder to sign up for Berroco KnitBits Newsletter  to receive more free patterns by email each week (not affiliated). 

Photo courtesy Berroco

I'm so loving this sweater, and these mittens!  I am in such a mood for springy greens! Those mittens remind me of the socks I am knitting myself right now. They would go great together! I think those mittens would look wonderful with the hat I listed above as well! 

Photo courtesy Berroco

I also encourage you guys to check out this great sock pattern. I think I will have to give them a go in the near future. But first my favorite thermal socks (think the little thermal socks I knit for kids but in women's size) and then think I need some nice heavy wool garden socks to wear with my boots when digging in the dirt!

Photo courtesy Lana Holden

Darn it any how

This here may just be the best darn sock darning tutorial out there. It at very least is the best one I have found! It sure as heck beats the technique I had been using. I may just break out those wool socks with the bare heels! I think I may give this whole darning thing another chance.

Photo courtesy Wool and Chocolate