Let's Play!

Now that I have kids, I have grown a real love for knitted toys.  It is quick, a great stash buster, and makes a kid (or kid at heart smile).  I have made a few toys for my kids, and I plan on many more.  I have included pictures and links to a few of my favorite.  If you type in "toys" on Ravelry when you are searching for patterns, the choices are endless.

I absolutely LOVE Danger Crafts' monsters by Rebecca Danger.  This is Daphne and Delilah.  She has a few free patterns, many single patterns for purchase, and a new book.  http://www.ravelry.com/designers/rebecca-danger



I also LOVE anything by Susan B. Andersen, who wrote the "Itty Bitty Toys" "Itty Bitty Hats" "Itty Bitty Nursery" and most recently "Spud and Chloe's at the Farm."  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/spud--chloe-at-the-farm


Here are some more cute toys from her that are on my list.



There is a tennis ball in this frog.  Ingenious!



What kid wouldn't love these puppies.

The toys that I will be starting next are from a small independent publisher in Colorado.  It is a husband and wife team.  He does the illustrations, and she writes the stories...and the patterns.  Yes, there are patterns for the toys and clothes in the stories.  This is such a fabulous concept because it connects my knitting to my children.  These books are available through Etsy and they will ship internationally.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/slatefallsknits?ref=seller_info





There are just so many toys to knit.  If you have some stash to bust, and need some practice with double pointed needles, check them out.  I even learned how to use the Magic Loop method from Danger Crafts.

Happy Knitting!

Oh so Effortless!

Over a week ago I finished my " Effortless Cardigan" by Hannah Fettig.  It is very easy, but a whole lot of stockinette stitch.  I love the result and I wear the sweater all of the time.  My only complaint is because of the weight of the front panels, it can stretch out a bit.  I also need the perfect shawl pin to keep it closed.  I'm hoping my mom makes one for me.  Ahem...hint hint mom

Please check out my Ravelry page for this project.  I made a few minor changes to the sweater.  http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitterlydesigns/effortless-cardigan

A little bit of history repeating

I am mostly a self-taught knitter, but when I was a kid, I wanted my mom to teach me to knit because I saw she was doing it.   



This is the sweater my mom made me when I was about 5 or 6 years old presently being modeled by my son.

She is left handed and I am right handed so it was a bit of a challenge, not to mention I had a very short attention span being a mere 8 years old.  I learned to cast on and knit back and forth, and that was all I could manage.  I had no idea what casting off meant, so I would just slide all of the stitches off of the needle and that was it, my project was complete.  I created a beautiful work of art, or so I thought.

 Many of the women and men in my family are incredible crafters and artists, so it is in my blood to create.  So much so, I went to college and got my BFA in photography, and now I obsessively knit.

This is my Great Grandma's basket that I now use.

I have created little knits for my children that I hope someday they will cherish.



Scott's first baby sweater



Laurel's first baby sweater

Scott & Laurel's baby blankets

Ooooh! Spring...well almost.

Now that February is over, and we have been in the 50's and 60's for the past few days, it has me thinking of flowers, green grass, pedicures (my toes look like they have been hibernating all winter), and Spring projects.

I am still very slowly working on my Effortless cardigan by Hannah Fettig, and finishing some booties for my daughter to wear to her baptism.  (Her toes are still hibernating.)  I am trying to stay focused so I can wear the sweater before the weather gets too warm, but it so pretty I will probably wear it anyway.  I have been collecting colorful skeins of yarns, and I can't wait to use them on my warm weather projects.  My favorite picks are actually sock yarn, and no, they are not for socks. 

1.  I will be making another "Cream & Sugar Cowl" http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2011/01/cream-and-sugar-cowl.html by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting in Madelinetosh Sock in shades of blue that remind me of the sky.

2.  I will also be making her "Cloudy Day Beret" http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2011/02/cloudy-day.html in Buckingham by Bristol Yarn Gallery in a pale gray.http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitterlydesigns/stash/buckingham  It is not a bright and Spring-like color, but since it is Alpaca and Silk, and it is a fingering weight yarn, it will produce a light and airy hat that can be worn through the warmer Spring days.

3.  I also hope to start Hannah Fettig's "Wispy Cardigan" http://www.etsy.com/listing/63236767/wispy-cardi-malbrigo-kit-m-l-xl in Malabrigo Lace in the Applewood colorway.  Also, if you like Hannah's stuff, check out her kits.  They are going away and she is selling them for 30% off.  You must go to her site to get the discount code before you purchase through Etsy.  http://knitbot.com/

4.  I plan to start Ysolda Teague's "Damson" shawl  http://ysolda.com/patterns/accessories/damson/ in Pagewood Farm's Yukon sock weight yarn in the Lilac colorway.

These are just a few projects in my queue, but I am sure there will be many more gifts, toys, and accessories to be made, plus two patterns of my own I am hoping to finish soon.

Here is a bouquet of flowers for you.  Maybe they'll inspire your Spring pallet.  Please leave me a comment below and let me know what your Spring projects will be.  Maybe I can post a picture of your finished projects.