Entrelac Baby Blanket

I'm working on a couple of entrelac baby blankets.  Truly a labor of love!  Pinks, purples and black!  I have just posted this in my Etsy shop and have already received a custom order.  It will be my great pleasure to create a luxury, family heirloom for them.

Entrelac is not for the novice knitter, but there are some great tutorials on YouTube to get started.  I like a single crochet edge and the black yarn had some lovely grey tones running throughout.

A generous 52" L x 35" W is perfect for the crib or stroller.

I am anxious to get some entrelac scarf patterns written up!  Keep your eyes open!

Happy New Year,
Sheila

Free Fortunes for 2013!

As we leave 2012 and enter 2013, it's all about starting new.  A fresh start for a better year!  I offer you my Fortune Cookie Baby Booties FREE pattern you can find in my Craftsy Pattern Store.  I have blogged about them before, but this is the perfect time to reintroduce them.

The story goes:

I had remembered a baby shower about two hours before I had to be there! No time for a blanket, but plenty time for some simple booties! I do mean simple! Too simple to give by themselves! 

I always have these "take out" boxes on hand at Christmas time. There you go... Instant gift! I hand wrote a little fortune...."good things come in small packages"! Not very original, but it worked! The mommy loved them and that's all that matters!

A sheet of cute "fortunes" are included for you to print off, cut and slip into each bootie!  If you are a "hooker" and not a knitter, you can easily adapt the pattern.  Just single crochet to the size given.  I'd love to see a photo of your finished "cookie".

Happy New Year to You and Yours,
Sheila

Craftsy Christmas Sale!

All Craftsy classes are 75% off until midnight on the 24th!  There are classes for everyone and it would make a great gift!  Give a Craftsy gift card and let them choose their own class!  Everything from knitting, crocheting, bread baking, cake decorating, quilting, sewing custom shirts, dresses and handbags!  Knitting 101, cheese making, there is even a class on how to write knitting patterns!

Have a Merry Christmas,
Sheila

Pattern Sale

Head over to my Etsy pattern store for a HUGE STOREWIDE SALE!  Patterns, fabric, knitwear and crocheted/knitted blankets are all on sale!  The pattern above is on sale for $5 for a savings of $2.

All fabric is marked down too.  Perfect for the Crocheted Reversible Baby Blanket above!

All knitwear  is on sale too!  The  scarf above is 75% off!  If you want to make your own, find the pattern here.

Side bar, I've recently had my picture taken in some of my knitwear.  My daughter is usually my model, so much more fashionable than myself, but I have been urged to show my designer side.  So, that's me, above.    A face to the name!

So, pop on over to Creative Design.   It's not too late to whip up some last minute gifts!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Easy Chunky Scarf Pattern

Whip this lovely scarf in an evening!  Kira Dulaney's Twist Scarf is super easy and fun to knit!    It's almost all cable, which causes the edges to curve, AND, it's reversible!

 You can use a bulky or super bulky weight yarn, or try a worsted weight yarn double-stranded.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of super bulky weight yarn and big needles.  This is perfect for that!

Whip these up for under the tree for teachers, mail carrier, babysitter or your hairdresser!

Have a great week!

Sheila

Classic Cabled Cowl

If you have not tried cables yet, this pattern is for you! It's simple with this big fat yarn and large needles!  It's so simple, in fact, that you'll wonder why you haven't tried them before.  I am the instructor for the Craftsy Workshop for Classic Cabled Cowl or you can purchase the pattern alone in my Etsy shop.  The workshop is on sale for $7.99 regularly $15.99 and the Etsy pattern is $5.00.  

You can whip these up for your family and friends as gifts in one evening! The same pattern will work for women, men and teens and uses just one skein of super bulky yarn!

The lighter yarn colors really show off your cable work!  The buttons really make it extra special.  No buttonholes here!  Just poke the buttons up through the cowl.  I suggest you take your finished cowl to the button store so you can see what it will look like.  

If you like the giganto buttons, purchase snaps, as the big buttons won't go through.  I am often asked where I purchase my buttons.  Hancock Fabrics, JoAnn Fabrics are two stores that carry a great selection.  There is a local store here in Omaha, that I like.....Mangelsen's, where I purchase most of them.

This is a great, affordable gift for everyone on your list.  Once you master this simple cable, you can tackle any pattern that uses them! 

Go for it!