Free Pattern - Knitted Boot Cuffs

As warmer weather comes to the USA, we start to look for projects that are small.  I'm working on low cost items for our church youth group.  They are having a Gift Shop in the fall to raise money for themselves and fingerless mitts, crocheted dishcloths and boot cuffs are the perfect thing to work on over the summer.

I found this FREE pattern on Craftsy by Codi Hudnall.  Super simple and a very fun knit.  I'm going to be making loads of these in 2 different sizes.  

I used Lion Brand Heartland in Mammoth Cave.  The one in the photo is a size medium and used about 3/4 of the skein.  I'm rather "fluffy" and they fit me fine.  My grown, 23 year old, daughter is petite and these were far too big for her.  She'll need a small so, I'll be making those two sizes for their gift shop.

It's supposed to be raining all week in the Heartland, which also means tornado weather.  So, I guess I'll be quite happy to stay indoors and knit away!

Best,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Speaking of sizes.....Need to keep track of sizes, especially if you make holiday gift giving goodies?  Use plastic bread ties! 

Embroirdered Mitts, and Other Fun Stuff

Not crazy about my leaf embroidery,  but they're good enough for who they're for.....me!

Thank you Lion Brand and Craftsy for the squishy goodness!

A great find, at the grocery store no less, reversible bag for $9.00.  Perfect for projects on the go.

New sew in labels for my knitwear from Wunderlabel.com. 

Cosmetic bag makeover. 

Adding embelishments to store bought legwarmers.  Could be arm warmers too!

LOVE my hair tie bracelet so much, I bought one for my daughter and niece!

TheBangelBear.com 

Have a great weekend!

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Turn a restaurant straw holder into DPN holder!

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.

Yarny Goodness

For those who celebrate, I hope you all had a nice Easter.  As I am Greek Orthodox, our celebration is not until next month.  Orthodox Christians have Pascha (Easter) after Passover.

I want to show you some things in the works.....a crocheted bud scarf pattern using Lion Brands Landscapes....

a simple cowl.  US size 8 16" circular needle.  Cast on 96.  Knit a 2x2 rib for one inch, knit until you like the size, do a 2x2 rib for one inch and bind off.  I purchased this Cascade Yarns Pinwheel on Craftsy.  Huge skein of 440 yards in Hearts and Spades!  You can get quite a few cowls out of that much yardage.

I bought two, because at $5.97 a skein is just too good to pass up!

 

I have a spring garden scarf pattern in the works using the gorgeous Cloudborn Fibers yarn, also from Craftsy.

I'm adding an orange and yellow to the mix, instead of the magenta and purple in the above photo above.  I'll design something else with those.  Maybe a knitted scarf for fall.

 

Here's the orange and yellow, plus, I picked up a 3 color gradient in gray which I think I'll add some color to when I decide on a pattern.

Have a great week,

sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Kinky circs?  Just run the cable under hot water until it straightens out!

Knitting Garland Scarves

Thank you for the grand support of my crocheted Garland Scarves (photo below)!  I had so much fun designing and hooking those up.  Now, I know many hookers can also knit, so I'm in the process of writing up Garland Scarves for the knitter.

You can find the pattern for the crocheted Garland Scarves in my Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy shops.  Links at the top of this page.

My design process is rather simple.  I get an idea in my head, pick up the needles or hook and get started.  No schematics, usually, just jotting things down as I go along and it usually works out.

That's how it worked for the crocheted Garland Scarves.

I often do this process on the dining room table or the table in my knitting studio.  I need quite a bit of room  to work.  Pads of paper, pencil, different size hooks or needles, tapestry needle, balls of yarns in various colors, scissors etc.  My "knitting chair", which my brother calls "knitting central", doesn't allow enough room for all this.

I've got two patterns going on in this photo.  A green garland and pattern notes and another green garland and roses with pattern notes pinned to blocking boards.

You can see another scarf in the works at the top of this photo.  We usually don't eat at the table for WEEKS when I'm designing!  Pitiful, isn't it?

Here are some of my blocking boards.  If you buy big foam puzzle pieces, they are so much cheaper than traditional blocking boards, and if you get them on sale, even better.  I bought the flowered ones on clearance at WalMart.  Twenty pieces for $5.  I also use a yoga mat, usually for rectangular scarf blocking.

I store them all in a clear, plastic bag that came with a bedspread purchase years ago.

 

I have two designed with two more to go.  These knitted scarves will be more for the intermediate knitter, not the beginner/advanced knitter, as is usual for me.  I strive to design deceptively simple patterns with spectacular results (my motto), however sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

Must get back to it.

Best,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Tons of yarn tails get tossed out in the yard to help the birds make their nests.  

Garland Scarves Pattern

 

If you follow me on instagram (button on the right side of this post), you've followed my progress on these crocheted Garland Scarves.   On a recent trip to Washington, DC, our nations capital here in the USA, the Cherry Blossom trees were in full bloom.  The view was spectacular!  I ran across the photos we took and was inspired to design a garland scarf.

Once I got started, I couldn't stop!

Cherry Blossom Garland Scarf

Super easy, three skein pattern for the advanced beginner or better.   So easy pink cherry blossoms and simple green leaves all together with a basic brown stem with branches.  Oh, and you can get more than one scarf from your three skeins.  We all love those kinds of projects.  I must tell you, I loved making the stem and little branches so much.  So much so, I made two more scarves in two different color ways.

On the Cherry Blossom Scarf, the leaves are crocheted right on the branches and the blossoms are crocheted separately and attached later.  If you look closely, some of the branches are bare and some have tiny buds.  You have total control on how many flowers, buds and leaves you want on your scarf. 

I give you lots of photos and tips and I'm always available if you have any questions.

 

I like it even without any flowers!

 

Roses are Red Garland Scarf

So, after I completed the first one, I made another in two colors...taupe and red.  It's tough to photograph red, but let me tell you, the colors are amazing together!

I adore this one.  Simple roses and buds with larger leaves that are just slightly more challenging to crochet.  I've put the bulk of the flowers on the ends of the scarf this time and made fewer leaves.  Of course, you can crochet as many as you like and place them anywhere you like.  Same stem and branches. 

This photo shows the taupe a little better.  

It looks a little grey here, which also would be fabo!

 

Nice in Neutral Garland Scarf

And because not everyone loves color, a neutral garland, that goes with everything.  Oh, and by the way, if you make it in all one color....this is a one skein project!  

I give you all the information you need.  Yarn:  Lion Brand Heartland in 6 colors.  The pattern for the stem/branches, leaves, cherry blossoms, roses and buds.   Lots of instructional photos and tips.

Oh,  and feel free to mix and match as you wish....

You can also use buttons instead!  These are from Joann Fabrics.

Or store bought felt pieces.  I found these for 66% off at Hobby Lobby, in the Valentine isle.

 

I hope you like them as much as I do.  Here's where you can find the pattern:

Etsy

Ravelry

Craftsy

Have a great week,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Keep a luggage tag on your project bag in case it gets left at the coffee shop, doctors office or airplane.  This is my favorite project bag....from Bloomingdale.