Granny in Spring

I posted last month about my Mohair Blanket with Daisies and I loved it so much, I crocheted another one!  Patons Lace Sequins in Quartz (2 skeins) and Peridot (5 skeins) and a J hook.  

The photo doesn't show the very subtle sparkles in this yarn.  It's just enough bling without being garish.  

No design plan here, just changing colors every so often.  It so reminds me of Spring or Easter time!  It would be a great baby girl gift for an April or May birth.

It's still a work in progress, but my plan is to crochet a simple, single crochet, edge.  Then, adding the Quartz daisies along the edge every so often.  I should have it done by next week.

I'm using the same daisy loom I used with the first blanket, only wrapping more times around to get a thicker flower.

If you're making pretties to add to your projects, using the same yarn, make them first, so you don't run out of yarn.  

Fringe all along the edge would be fun.

Would be cute as a photo prop too!  Drape it in an Easter basket with baby inside!

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

After hand washing your just knitted socks, and squeezing them gently, get out your salad spinner and "spin" the rest of the water out!  

Creative Designs by sheila

Gift Giving and Receiving

This is the time of year that I really treat myself!  I feel that I work hard all year knitting and crocheting away.  Custom orders, pattern writing, photography, networking and keeping up with 4 online shops and another one in the works.  I'm also working on my first book of patterns.  But who can pass up on all the yarny goodness of sales!  Just look at what arrived this week from Knitcircus!  Three hanks of glorious, hand painted yummy yarn from Jaala.  AND, a mini skein, free hat pattern and Soak soap.  Can't wait to get out my winder to cake these!  

Knitpicks has a great sale going on at the moment.  They have very affordable prices even without a sale, so you can save a bundle when the yarn is 50% off.  I am awaiting a big box of goodies from them this week!  Whoo hoo!

 I also treated myself to a Gelaskin for my Mac.  This is my logo for my knitwear business. A crocheted blanket and bunny, with an ombre ribbon, in a linen colorway.  I'm sorry that it does not show well in the photo.  I use it on all my Moo business cards, stickers and labels.  Gelaskins is a great product.  I do not receive anything for touting their praises.  The site is easy to navigate, upload your photo and purchase.  They have skins and cases for all your iphones and laptops.  They also have tons of designs to choose from if you don't have your own photo.

The keyboard decals are from Kidecals.  I bought these a few months ago and love them.  You can read the post here.  They have some new decals this season, a great sale and you can create your own on their site, too.

Have a great week,

Sheila

Yarn tip from Knit Simple:

To keep stripes even on circular needles,when you come to your next color change, put your needle in the stitch below and knit with the new color.

Knitted Arm Warmers

I am known for giving my handmade knitwear as gifts for all occasions.  Baby Showers are easy....a hand knit or crocheted blanket and matching hat!  All other events.....Birthdays, Christmas, Secret Santa, Get Well Soon, Thank You, Teacher Appreciation, it's usually a scarf, or cowl.  Shawls go to the very special person or event.  It's expected and I'm very happy to do it, but, I ask you, how many scarves can one girl give or have piles of under the tree?

Arm warmers are the gift this year and how perfect they are!  No matter what you call it...arm warmer, gauntlet, wrist warmer, sleeve or fingerless glove, it has the same effect.  One size needle, one weight size yarn, one cast on number.  Fits all women and teens.  Petite gals, like my daughter, and "fluffy" girls, like myself can all wear the same arm warmer following the same pattern.  You can even make a matching cup cozy!

No thumb hole, just long, cozy and versatile!  Long run yarns are gorgeous!  Wool blend yarn for the colder climate gift.  Cotton or bamboo for the sunnier climate.  Get some of the yarn I used for this pattern in the Craftsy Yarn Shop!

Search your stash of yummy yarn for a special gift!  One skein that cost $13.00 produced these stunners!  Soft, cozy and a bit of sparkle from the sequins.

Try this yummy yarn in the Craftsy Yarn Shop for these luscious ones!

I always wrap my knitted gifts in special ribbon I buy on Etsy.  Very affordable and really makes the gift special.  The above ribbon reads "Sheila Zachariae etsy.com/sheilalikestoknit" which is my Etsy store.  Roll up the warmers, secure with ribbon and add one of my Moo business cards and there you go.  No bag or wrapping of any kind to let your knitted goodness shine!  Look close and you will see the clear cup with straw that holds a shorter pair of warmers.

So, here's the start of my gift giving knitwear this year.  Since taking this photograph, I've made about 10 more pairs.  Have made a few for the men in my life as well.  Same pattern, just added an extra inch or so on the cast on.

What is your go-to pattern for gift giving this year?  You can purchase the pattern now from Ravelry, just click on the Buy Now button under the photo at the top of this post.

Click here for the pattern in my Etsy shop

Click here for MoseArt ribbon

Click here for Moo business cards


Have a great week,
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

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!

Project Cards

I created these cards for myself as I have many "PIGS" (projects in grocery sacks)!  The pdf is for sale if you would like to  pop over to  my Etsy shop.  I have many scarves started, but forgotten. A baby blanket that needs to be completed for a shower. A shawl put away for a rainy day.  You have them too, I know you do!

I was constantly saying....what needle went with this project?

I wish I wrote down what hook I was using for this!

What pattern does this project belong to?

What pattern book was this in?

How many skeins do I need for this?

You can print these cards off on your printer, punch a hole in one corner and attach it to you project!

Easy way to keep track of your PIGS!

Great gift for any knitter or hooker! Print them off, tie them up with cute ribbon, add a skein of yummy yarn, pair of needles or crochet hook and there you go....instant gift!

There are 10 on a page with all the information you need on one side, and plenty of room on the back to write down additional notes.