My Pattern Writing Journey

Look at these lovely journals I found at Michaels' for $.50 each!  I have these all over my house at the ready for any thoughts, pattern ideas, yarn samples and such.  

At 80 pages each, it's a steal!  They're also a great gift for your knitting/crochet buddy.  Buy some Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in Sunrise (bright and gorgeous as the name suggests) when you pick up the journals.  The picture doesn't show off the gold outline on some of the journals.  Whether you like things fancy or.....

a little more subdued,  they are just beautiful.  This yarn is the same brand in Polo, not as bright as Sunrise. 

I keep one in my purse, on my bedside table as I often get ideas trying to fall asleep, by "my chair", and in an empty suitcase so I won't forget one when I travel.

I love the colors in these!  It gives me an idea for a new baby blanket pattern!

Here's my very first journal!  My journey to knitwear pattern designer came about quite by accident!  Many years ago, I had some problems with my feet and needed to stay off them for long periods of time.  That didn't keep me from making my way to the fridge, however!  I had to do something to keep my hands busy.  I picked up some needles, bought some Lion Brand Homespun yarn and started knitting scarves.  Now, this was a few years before they became REALLY popular.  After knitting about  50, I thought....what am I going to do with all of these, even after I set many aside for presents.  Off to a local art gallery I went.  They loved and bought them all!  I haven't looked back since!

Here's a little fabric and crocheted halter top.  I was selling these at the local Curves I went to in early 2000.  Crocheted top, fabric bottom (little mermaid fabric on this one).  The sunglasses and pale came with the dress!  The sweet model is the daughter of the Curves owner!  Isn't she just the bomb?  I'm not big on sketching my designs.  I have an idea, go get the yarn and start.  I usually write the pattern as I go, refining it later.  This is one of the few schematics I have done.

I often gift my knitwear and am so tickled to get a photo in return!  Many times they are professionally done....what an honor for me.

I have sold these little sets at children's boutiques. This was a custom order, and the twins are little jewels!.  You can't see it, but the wee girl on the bottom has a birthmark on her cheek....the sweater and hat color match it perfectly.  When the mommy came by with the photos, I mentioned it.  She howled at that!  These are worsted weight and Boa held together throughout.

A couple more sundresses.  I need to get this pattern written up as it's too cute NOT to!

How darling is this?  I've done this in yellow.  The tot always looks like a baby chick to me!  Worsted weight yarn and eyelash held together throughout.

I have made so many of these, I've lost count.....hundreds!  I can't bring myself to make any more.  It's a shame as they are SO cute on a little person.  I do have this sweater/hat pattern available for using Lion Brand Homespun yarn, but it does not include the two yarn directions.  You can just follow the pattern using a worsted (aran) weight (4) yarn and the boa or eyelash together for the proper gauge or sizing.

I do have this pattern available.  It's not a halter, but just as cute!

Click here to find my patterns on Etsy

Click here for my Craftsy shop

Here for my Ravelry shop

you can also find my shops by clicking on the header at the top of this post

Well, that's me done for this post!  Have a great week!

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Here's some illustrations for tying knots if you have to:

Knit Some Sweet Hats

 Warm weather knitting can be a challenge to say the least!  Blankets...too heavy on the lap.  Bulky yarns...sticks to my fingers.   Shawls...lightweight, but still heating up my legs!  Give up on yarny projects till the fall....NEVER!  These sweet hats are perfect!  Newborn to adult sizes are just the thing to put down and pick up again.

Oh, and the choice of topper makes it fun!  Simple, rolled brim with a fantastic bobble on top are super easy.  The hat pattern is from knitting goddess Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats.  That rosy topper on the first hat is why I purchased her book so many years ago.  A multi colored pom pom is so fun and a simple, one color pom is classic.  The Marley topper can easily be for a boy or girl.

Feathers are cute too!  You can purchase a feather clip, ready made, from most hobby craft stores and are very affordable at $3.00.  You can also make your own with a hair clip and some snipped feathers from a purchased boa, like the last hat shows.

Mix up the colors or...

go with classic white!

If toppers are not your thing, keep it simple.  All of these were made with yarn from my Technicolor series blanket patterns so they match perfectly, if you have any of those patterns.

Here's Susan's book that you can find in most books stores or on line.  

The reason I bought the book....a little black hat with roses on top!  Who could resist?

Her patterns are very easy to follow and I am never disappointed with the results.  

A solid hat with a Rainbow Marley topper makes me giggle!  Super easy!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sheila

Click here for my Technicolor Blanket  patterns in Etsy store

Click here for my Craftsy store

Click here for my Ravelry store

Find Susan B. Anderson on Ravelry here

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

When I purchase yarn on line, I usually have a project in mind.  When the package arrives, I have forgotten what I wanted to knit or crochet with it!  To keep that from happening, I jot down the project and yarn type on a post it note and keep it by "my chair".  When the yarn arrives, I stick it to the package so I won't forget!

Knit Socks On Straight Needles and a Crusty Bread Recipe

 I posted last week about finding an easy pattern to knit socks on double pointed needles.  After making several pairs, I popped over to the Barnes & Noble book store to browse sock pattern books.  Can you believe I only found one book!  But what a book it is!  Knit Your Socks on Straight by Alice Curtis!  Brilliant!  I have seen this book online and in book stores for quite some time, but never picked it up to flip through.  Big mistake!

 Beautifully written, easy to understand and tons of photos.  This is the first pattern in the book using worsted weight yarn you can find in your local Hobby Lobby, Michaels, WalMart or fabric store that sells yarn.  Alice shows you pics every step of the way.

 How cute are these little gingerbread people and snowmen?

 I adore these moccasocks house boots made with chunky yarn!

 Flip flop socks....whoduthunkit?  Use your sock or fingering yarn for these.

 I love these for St. Patricks Day!  A pair for you and a pair for your little leprechaun! 

Now, on to the bread.  This is the most awesome artisan bread I have ever made!  No kneading, no rising, no bread machine.  Crusty outside a with a chewy center.  If you follow Lucy at Attic24, you may have tried this already.  The only draw back is it must rest for 12 hours or more.  I put the dough together about 3:00 in the afternoon.  The next day at 3 in was in the oven.  The recipe states 12-18 hours but the 24 hours was just fine.  If you put up the dough in the evening, you can be baking the next morning.  The recipe is in American terms, but if you pop over to visit Lucy, she has the English terms for you.

Have a great week,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Not sure which size to knit from a pattern?  Compare pattern measurements from your favorite sweater.

Bread baking tip:

You'll know when you bread is baked fully when the inside reads 195 degrees fahrenheit  (90.55 celsius) with a food thermometer.

My First Knitting/Crochet Book...well sort of!

 I've just self published my first book...so to speak!  I have a new sponsor on my blog, Blurb, and was given a free book.  Not having used this site before, I decided to just create one with photos of my most popular patterns to see how it looked.  I must say that I love it!  Hard cover, great paper quality and wonderful resolution in the photos.

 It was very easy to use, but it's not a quick job to complete.  It took about 4 hours.  I'm hoping the next one will be a bit easier.

 The photos came out lovely and it's a great keepsake for all my yarny goodness!

 You can choose paper color, border style for the photos and there is also a nice range of page layouts.

 I was a bit disappointed that there is no spell check, so you have to be careful there.

 I really love how it turned out and will be writing one to publish with my patterns.  You can also publish an ebook.

 This book is about 20 pages, which is the least number of pages you can create.

You can even have a photo on the back, which makes it very professional indeed!  You can find the link on the right hand side of my blog page....."Blurb Make Your Own Book".

These would be great for all your Christmas photos every year.  Family reunion pics.  New baby.  Wedding book.  Even one filled with cherished family recipes.  I'd like to have one filled with my daughters artwork that she has done since she was little.  She is now in college majoring in costume design.

So here's my quandary....what would you like to see in a book from me?  I have had a number of  customers, as well as people I meet in person, ask me if I have a book they could purchase.  Enough requests that make me think I should.  I'd appreciate your thoughts  on this very much.

A book with all my knitted scarf patterns?

One with knitted AND crocheted scarf patterns?

One with the blankets...knitted only or knitted and crocheted patterns?

What about an ebook?  It would be more affordable than a hard cover and no shipping charges!

Myself, I am very much old school.  I adore my books.  The weight, the real life pictures and the opportunity to write on the pages.  You don't get that with an ebook.  Plus, if you save it on your computer, there is that outside chance of crashing!

Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Sheila

Yarn tip:

If your favorite pair of socks develops a hole in the toe, cut the toe piece off and kit a new one.  Pull off the cut yarn until you get a complete round, put your needles through the stitches, join the yarn and knit up the toe.  You can also use duplicate stitch to darn holes in other parts of the sock.