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.

Technicolor Granny Blanket - 2nd Pattern In A Series of Four!

If you followed my post last week, you know about the Technicolor Chevron Blanket.  Well, here is project number two is a series of four! 

Technicolor Granny Blanket is so easy.  If you can crochet a granny square, you can make this.  Perfect for the newbie "hooker" who is ready to move on from scarves to something only slightly more challenging.

Perfect for the stroller and won't get caught in the wheels.  So colorful that any child would be happy to snuggle down for a nap with all this squishy goodness!

The Technicolor Chevron Blanket,
Technicolor Granny Blanket,
Technicolor Linen Blanket and
Technicolor Wave Blanket
(photos below) patterns are ready to purchase in my Etsy shop, Craftsy shop or Ravelry shop.  

The 3rd pattern in the series ready....Technicolor Linen Blanket.  I love this stitch as it looks like fine linen.

The 4th pattern, Technicolor Wave Blanket is ready too!

You can make all 4 blankets with the one yarn purchase. I have put all 4 patterns together in a bundle for one low price.  Find them all in my Etsy shop.  That would be 4 blankets total you can make from the one yarn purchase!  It comes out to about $17.00 per blanket.  There is still plenty of yarn left for a wee hat and booties!
Have a great week,
Sheila
My Etsy shop
My Craftsy shop
My Ravelry shop

Yarn tip from Knitsimple:
Not sure if you have enough yarn left to make it across the next row?  Stretch the yarn gently across the entire width of the piece back and forth three times.  If you can make it back to the edge, you'll have enough to complete the row.

Technicolor Blanket and A Little Lesson in Color

Wow!  Now THAT'S colorful!  I just adore custom orders that include all this glorious technicolor!  With all this yarn....17 skeins.....I'm sure to get 3 or 4 blankets out of that kind of yardage.  This one measures 33" W x 48" L (83cm x 122cm).  I'm working on blanket #2 in a granny sort of pattern.  I'll be getting that one written up this weekend.

11/6/13 post script:  I've made 3 DIFFERENT blankets out of all this yardage and am working on a 4th!

 The colors are so bright and clear.  Picking out the right colors is very important when using more than one color at a time.  They must be of the same hue to all "go together".  Like when you are at the hardware store in the paint department.  The paint chip colors they have on display are of the same hue.  There might be 5 displays, all of them have basically the same colors, but it's the hue that makes them coordinate.  Same thing with yarn.  I've helped many a customer in the yarn department of a store.  Not that I work there, it's just, I can't help myself!  I see someone struggling with choosing from all the choices in texture and color.  I just ask them what they are making and a conversation starts.

For this order, I had 20 skeins lined up on the floor.  Switching them all about.  Bent over at the waist.  Putting some back.  Replacing others that didn't look right.  This is the result, 17 skeins in the order I had them on the floor.  There were about 3 ladies watching me, in silence, do my thing.  When I was done, I lifted my head and said..."well, how'd I do girls"?  They all laughed and were very complimentary.  One lady, about 20 something, wanted a little lesson in color.  I quickly put 10 skeins on the floor that were the same colors as in the photo above, but not the same hue so she could see the difference.  It was great fun as we all shared knitting and crocheting stories of who taught us, what we have made and what will be the go-to gift to make for the holiday approaching.

 I found a great etsy seller and had them make these custom buttons for me.  Twenty four wood buttons, for $27 plus shipping,  with my etsy shop info on them.  Angie and Brittany at Rememberwynn are jewels to work with!  Even if you don't sell your items, how cute would they be on a hand made with love pair of mittens, scarf or blanket you are gifting?  Hand Made With Love from.....

Well, I'm off to do another blanket and see how many I get out of all that yarn!  Will keep you posted.  Have a great weekend!  Find the pattern here.

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

If you are a beginner, stick to light colored yarn.  Darker colors are harder to see.  Newbies should also try to stay away from mohair as it is very difficult to rip out.  And stay away from loosely spun yarn as it splits easily.

Knit Some Hats for Baby to Toddler

Do you have some babies and toddlers to knit for?  These are perfect and you get all three hat patterns AND my Project Cards for one low price of $13.00.  Of purchased separately, the cost would be $20.00.  That's a savings of $7.00!

 Sizes include newborn to toddler.  Great for the advanced beginner who wants to try knitting in the round.  Interesting enough for the seasoned knitter too!  

 You get all 6 patterns in my Christmas Hats Collection.  I am always available to help you after purchase.  Get your family photo taken with your little munchkins all in these cute hats.  How awesome would that photo be for a present to the Grandparents?  

 Try the little giraffe hat in brown and tan.  A two tone in creams would be stunning!  Rainbow colors would be fun!

I created these cards for myself as I have many "PIGS" (projects in grocery sacks)! Scarves started, but forgotten. A baby blanket that needs to be completed for a shower. A shawl put away for a rainy day.  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? 

Print these cards off on your printer, punch a hole in one corner and attach it to your project with a safety                              pin or slide it on your circular needle!

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!

If you like to shop on Etsy, find the pattern collection here 

What are you working on for gifts?

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip from Craftsy for weaving in ends:
Bulky-weight yarns can be difficult to hide since they’re so thick.

Just pull the yarn apart into two pieces, then weave the pieces in separate directions.

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

My Favorite 4 Crocheted Blanket Patterns

As holiday crochet and knitting gets underway, I've put together a bundle of my favorite crocheted blanket patterns for one low price!  Get all 4 patterns for $12.00.  Each pattern is $5.00 if purchased separately.  That's a saving of $8.00!

All the patterns are perfect for the advanced crocheter, and interesting enough for the seasoned hooker.  All the yarns can easily be found at your local Hobby Lobby, Michaels or WalMart, if you are in the USA.

 

Try using your yummy yarn to make it extra special.

I also have fabric for sale in my shop picked especially for my Crocheted Reversible Baby Blanket.

Granny squares are the perfect take-along project now that school has started.  Waiting for kiddos while at practice, after the school bell rings or dance class.  Easily make any of the blankets larger or smaller.

What are you dong for your holiday knitting and crocheting?

Click here for the pattern in my Etsy shop

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip

* Make a buttonhole! An eyelet buttonhole is self-sizing—bulky yarns make large holes that work for large buttons; fine yarns make small holes that work for small buttons.

My Favorite 4 Crocheted Scarf/Cowl Patterns

I've put together my top 4 favorite crocheted scarf/cowl patterns for one price!  As holiday crocheting approaches I thought I would put together some pattern deals and these are my most popular neckwear patterns to crochet.  All four for one price of $12.00.  Each pattern sells for $5.00 if purchased separately...that's a savings of $5.00!

All the patterns are perfect for the advanced crocheter and interesting enough for the seasoned "hooker".  The pocket cowl is great for men and women and can be whipped up in one evening.  Sometimes you just need your phone, a few dollars and your keys.  This keeps them all at the ready.

The Twist Cowl is another quickie and also perfect for the man or woman in your life!  Great secret santa gift or for the person that has everything or hard to buy for.

The Summer Mobius can be made with any number of yarn weights that you might have in your stash. A variegated sock yarn would look stunning!

The easy Triangle Scarf has a beaded picot border.  If you are a little daunted by that, a simple edge would still be gorgeous!

Pop on over to my Etsy shop for purchase!

Best,
Sheila
Yarn tip:

* Make point protectors for your knitting needles by recycling wine corks! Or, make your own out of polymer clay!