Itty Bitty Giraffe

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This has got to be one of the cutest toys I have knitted in my entire 30 years of knitting!  Susan B. Anderson, my favorite knitting goddess, is the designer and she has a wonderful class on Craftsy to teach you how to complete this perfectly delightful giraffe in all its squishy goodness!  Find the class here.  By the way, it's on sale for $9.99...that's 50% off!  The (Not So) Itty Bitty Giraffe.

This would make a great photo prop and it's a perfect summer knitting project.  It is really a simple pattern and Susan has a wonderful way of breaking things down, so it's easy to follow.

From the Craftsy site:
"Susan B. Anderson's adorable knit toys have been featured in magazines, on websites and in her best-selling books, Itty-Bitty Toys, Itty-Bitty Nursery andSpud & Chloe at the Farm. Now knit along with Susan on Craftsy as she shows you how to make this darling giraffe, the most popular project fromItty-Bitty Toys.

Using the included free pattern, you will learn how to pick the perfect yarn and knit in the round on double-pointed needles, using simple increases and decreases to shape the body and head. Along the way, Susan shares toy knitting tips you can use to create a whole menagerie - details like a pompom mane, perky horns, sweet hand-stitched face, and stuffing secrets to make your giraffe perfectly huggable. You'll finish with a soft and sturdy handmade toy to be treasured for a lifetime.

Sign up today for The (Not So) Itty-Bitty Giraffe and knit a new friend for the child in your life - or for yourself! We promise not to tell."

I knitted this myself from her book, Itty Bitty Toys.  It's a large toy perfect for any girl or boy. Take a look again at the top picture and you can see may hand behind the head.  That will give you an idea of the size.  If you follow my blog, you know my daughter is in college, so, in the plastic storage bin it goes awaiting a future grandchild!  How cute would this be in a long run yarn.  True to life browns and creams would be stunning.  Adding the right amount of spots is SO worth it!

Have a great week,

Sheila

Graduating Granny

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It's graduating time for seniors and my list is long for prezzies!  This is the first of many gifts for the girls.  A giant Granny in their favorite color.  Alyssa's party is the first and she likes turquoise.  My stash had just the right shade.  Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Chunky, 3 skeins, and, I think, a J crochet hook is what I used.

Perfect style for a young woman starting her college days in fashion design.  Great for walking around campus too.  Fun fringe gives a nice effect and is well worth the effort to attach each piece.  You can easily crochet your favorite edge instead.

 
The shawl pin is mine and I only used it to show other ways to wear something giganto like this.  I would have picked something more to her liking if I was thinking.

The yarn is a bit bulky to knot it this way.  If you were using a much thinner yarn and smaller hook, you could easily knot it.

I purchased the yarn from Craftsy some time ago, so I'm sure it is gone, but they have a nice substitute in 12 colors, AND it's on sale!  I used my Easy Triangle Scarf Pattern, you can find in my pattern store on Craftsy for one stop shopping!  I just used the Cascade Yarns, larger crochet hook, omitted the beaded edge instructions and attached fringe instead.

This is the pattern I used that calls for a lighter, cotton, crochet thread which would make super gifts too.  The thread comes in lots of great colors and the beaded edge takes it to another level.  You can, of course, omit the beads and just do the crocheted edge without them.  I've done both and it still looks great.

Have a nice week,
Sheila

January in Red Scarf

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This scarf was a joy to knit!  I found a wonderful yarn in Nashville, Tennessee while on vacation this spring.  A lovely yarn shop called Bliss Yarns carries this huge 560 yards (512 m) skein of squishy, yarny goodness in gorgeous reds/blacks by Miss Babs.

Yowza-Whatta Skein in Awesome!  Superwash and hand painted without a knot in sight!

As I have not yet blocked this beauty, it's a bit difficult to see the little eyelet detail on the points.  The drape is perfect and I think it looks divine on my petite daughter.  If you are rather plump, like me, you will look awesome too!

You can see from the back, the points are just on the one side.  I very much like these types of patterns. No edging needed, great for the shoulders or just around the neck.  Something like this in cotton would be great for the summer months and air conditioned spots.

It's all garter stitch, but interesting enough with the eyelet points.  You can just see them on the left.  If you are a beginner knitter, you will enjoy this very much.  Easy to read pattern and very well written.  The name of the pattern is January Scarf and Annie Lee, the designer is available, too, for questions.  Always a plus!   She has a web site and is also on Ravelry, so you can save her pattern in your library.

Annie is also the designer for my Freesia in Gold I had posted about recently.  Another easy, well written pattern that was fun!  You can find it in her Ravelry shop as well.  Freesia is the name of that pattern.

Click here for the Ravelry pattern page
Click here for Bliss Yarns shop
Click here for Miss Babs yarn shop

The sun is finally shining here in the Midwest and we look for temps in the mid '80's all week!  Yea!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Karen's Carnival Scarf

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Sometimes when I look at yarn, I love the colors, but it ends up staying in my stash for quite some time.    I had this Fiesta Baby Boom in Harlequin (photo below) I bought in the Craftsy Yarn Shop.  I just loved all the colors, even though my closet is nothing but grey, black, white and cream!  Alas, unless you already have this yarn, or can find someone that has it in their stash, you won't be able to find it.  I have looked everywhere on the internet.  No luck!  Try Fiesta's web site here.

It is a bit difficult to see what a yarn looks like until you "cake" it or knit/crochet it.  But, isn't it gorgeous?  Who would know the hank above would look like the scarf?

I made this scarf for my very good friend, Karen.  We have known each other since 1970 and she is the only person I have known longer than I have know my own family.  We have lived apart from each other since 1974, but have kept in touch with each other all these years.  Marriage, babies, deaths, reunions and vacations.  The older I get, 54 this week, the more I cherish people in my life.

I have to sneak in this pic of some fabulous yarn I bought today in the Craftsy Yarn Shop!  Jeez, I can't hardly wait for it to arrive.  Well, I guess it gives me time to find just the right pattern!  Speaking of patterns, the FREE scarf pattern belongs to a fellow Ravelry knitter Terhi Montonen.  Follow the Rav project page for the pattern here.

Best,
Sheila

New Fabrics

I have loved fabric my entire life!  My mother made many of my clothes growing up as it was cheaper to make them than it was to buy ready made.  Back in the day...the '80's...I made clothes for myself quite often, having learned to sew from my mother.  Simple patterns that would include a jacket and pencil skirt.  I loved making clothes for the office in easy wear knit.  I worked at the courthouse, here in Omaha, Nebraska, for ten years and being smartly dressed was a must.  A funny little tid bit....ladies were not permitted to wear pants until 1973 in the court system!

 Anyway, back to my post.  I also love yarn, so putting the two together is a natural for me.

My Crocheted Reversible Baby Blanket pattern includes both.  I had so many customers ask me where I found my fabrics, that I decided to list them for sale.

Stand alone fabric stores like Hancock and JoAnn's sell beautiful cloth.  Even some Wal Marts sell fabric.  There is a locally owned store here in Omaha that I love, Mangelsen's.  The above photo shows cute little butterflies.

I do many custom blankets for new babies and the fabrics that I receive from the buyers are gorgeous.  I love it when the package arrives and I decide on the yarn color.  It is much easier to pick a yarn color AFTER you choose your fabric.  A quick note to the customer to discuss yarn colors and I'm off!  Fingers flying!

All of the above photos are of fabrics that I would choose myself for the Reversible Baby Blanket.  I have them listed in my Etsy shop .  I'm also getting ready to list and sell fabric scraps by the pound.  One and two pounds of huge designer pieces.

If I was a better photographer you would see the details and yummy colors at their best.  I am a knitter/crocheter by trade not Annie Leibovitz or Anne Geddes!

Best,
Sheila

find fabrics in my Etsy shop here
find the Crocheted Reversible Baby Blanket here