Finish Line

Happy Monday!  Glorious weather has finally come to the Heartland, USA.  We are digging in the dirt, transplanting hosta, peony bushes and relocating the veggie garden to a sunnier spot.   

I've finished up some fingerless mitts and have them for sale in my Etsy shop.  Lion Brand Heartland and some iron on appliques from Simplicity have been a dream to work with.  Even though warm weather is coming, I get many requests for these as air conditioned offices are super cold and these are perfect for that.

The young people at my church are planning a Gift Shop for the months of November and December to raise money for their group.  So, I've set aside some mitts for them.

 

I found a bunch of baby pastel skeins by Cascade Yarns, so I hooked up a corner to corner blanket with a taupe trim.  I'm not terribly fond of traditional pastels and lean more to non-traditional colors for babies, but I do love how this turned out with the taupe color.

 

In looking through my bins of finished things, I came across all these beauties I am saving for a "someday grandchild".  Knitted toys designed by Susan B. Anderson, Yarn Miracle Monkey (I don't see her patterns listed in her shop any longer, not sure why), and some I can't even remember where the pattern is from.  It was so much fun finding these as I haven't looked in the bin for about 5 years!  I really must go through the other 3.

 Have a great week,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Turn some CD sleeves and holder into a knitter/hooker friend.

Random Fun

Sheepish socks on clearance at Shopko!

 

Knitting little girl fingerless mitts and coordinating hat.  The iron on applique is from JoAnn Fabrics and the yarn is Lion Brand Heartland.

 

New yarn from Fiesta Yarns!

 

New mini business cards from Moo.com!

Happy Monday,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

When ordering yarn online, if you have an idea of a project in mind, write it down on a post it note.  When the order arrives, place the post it note on the bag so you don't forget later.

Organizing a Knitters Closet

Happy Monday!  What is it about spring that makes you want to clear things out?  A burst of energy after a long, cold winter?  For me, it's just that.  So, I tackled the closet in my knitting studio that was my daughters room.  The above photo is the after.  I don't know why I didn't take a before photo....ah well.

Amish baskets filled with needles and various tools like pom pom makers, purse handles, beaded fringe, plastic eyes and noses for knitted/crocheted toys, etc.

Blocking board puzzle pieces, totes bags filled with WIPS, piles of arm warmers and hats ready for gift giving, bags of yarn and.....

 

plastic bins filled with finished scarves and hats.  

I bought two, six section laminated cube cases from Shopko, on sale for $40 each.  Super easy to put together and in a yummy chocolate color.

My table was so full of stuff I couldn't actually use it to block a scarf, lay out fabric for cutting or set up my swift and winder to cake any yarn!

I have quite a bit of photo props.  Fabric for background use, Styrofoam heads, sock blockers, mannequins, dress forms and oh, magazines I keep for a long time.  I love looking through them for inspiration!

I hate that bit of space on the sides that are so hard to get to, however, it works out great for holding clear bags filled with completed fingerless mitts, cowls and hats.  I try to use clear "vessels" every chance I get.  I like to see where everything is.  You can buy fabric cubes that fit perfectly in the cubes and keep things neat and tidy, but then you can't see what's in them.

I love these plastic baskets, by Curver, that look knitted.  Found them at Target.

 A place for everything.

Have a great week,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

I'm a sucker for a cute tin!  I found this one at the Dollar Tree that held a fifty piece puzzle.  It's perfect for a "knit kit".  The little rectangular thingy on the right is a pill box, also from the Dollar Tree.  I put some of my business stickers (from Moo.com) on them to cover up the days of the week.

Fingerless Mitt Knitting

Happy Monday!  I think spring has finally come to the Midwest.  The sun is out, the birds are singing and rabbits are multiplying!

I've been working on knitting fingerless mitts and loving it!  This is my absolute go-to pattern for gift giving and charity knitting and one of my favs when traveling.  I'm using Lion Brand Heartland and iron-on appliques from Simplicity.  All was purchased at my local Joann Fabric Store.

I adore this little bird.  So chubby and sweet on its own, but I think it still needs something.  Maybe a little branch to sit on.  I'll add one using my limited embroidery skills.

You will notice that I put the embellishments on one mitt only.  One on each hand is a bit overkill in my mind if the appliques are each the same.

Look at the detail!  I could never do this kind of embroidery work on my own.  If you can, that's great.  For those of you that find it a bit daunting, these are perfect.

I like how this one stands out against the black mitt.  After I picked out all the iron-ons I liked, I went to the yarn section, took them out of the package and off the card they are lightly glued to, and held them against the yarn to see how it looked.

I've only finished these two sets, but will keep you posted on the progress.  The appliques cost anywhere from $2.49 to $5.49 a package.  Not cheap I know, but some have three per package and some have one.  They are super easy to iron on to your knitwear and don't interfere with the sizing of the mitt.  A hot iron, no steam and only using the tip of the iron, just hold it down for several seconds them move on the another part and do the same.

 

Some of you might remember my Heirloom Mitts pattern.  These are iron on appliques also and I put them on both mitts. If you purchase this pattern, you get all three mitt patterns and the headband pattern for $5.00.

The paper hands I use for photos came from Hobby Lobby for $2.47 in the kids craft section.  You get 30 in three different color hands. 

Here are my pattern shops if you are interested in the Heirloom Mitts pattern:

Etsy

Craftsy

Ravelry

or at the top of this page in the heading sections.

Ok, that's it.....I HAVE to get out of my robe as it's 9 a.m.!  

Have a great week,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Turn a garden tools bag into a project bag.  Turn it inside out so the pockets are on the inside, which keeps all your yarny bits and bobs on the inside of the bag.