Burberry Inspired Sock Kit and A Shameless Plug

I've been busy knitting socks.  It's bitter cold here in the midwest and cozy hand knit socks have been the major knitting project lately.  I love knitting them in any sort of color changing yarn.  Stripes, variegated, gradient and solids with spots of colors in it.  

I've put together a Burberry inspired sock kit that is available in my Etsy shop.  I am down to 5 kits at the moment.  I love the simple, classic stripe goodness and colors.  Burberry has been around forever and for good reason.  It never goes out of style.

Here's the information from my Etsy listing:

Everything you need to complete the knitted, Burberry inspired socks! 

You get:
*One skein of fingering weight (1) yarn. 75% superwash merino/25% polyamide 
(460 yards/420meters) 
*One printed pattern in a plastic page protector 
*One project bag (style may vary)
*A coupon for your next order. 

No need to change colors to get this classic British look. The yarn does all the work for you!

This is a very basic sock pattern. You will easily get one pair of socks from this yarn. I have included a video link to show you how to complete the Kitchener stitch for the toe.

 

The classic Burberry stripes are nice and clean.  Black, white, red and tan.

 

I have these rain/snow shoes I wear and how cute are these socks with them?

On to my shameless plug.  I am so very honored to be featured in the Simply Knitting, February 2015 issue 129.  This is one of my favorite knitting publications.  Great projects, free patterns, stories, puzzles, reader projects AND free goodies.  This issue comes with a free knitting pattern and set of bamboo needles!  How great is that?  

If you live in the United Kingdom, I'm sure you are very familiar with this publication.  For us in the USA, I have found it in Joann Craft Store and Barnes & Noble book store.  You can find the issue number in the lower right hand corner of the magazine.  

 On page 78 is a full page article about my knitting/crocheting journey.  I love how it turned out.  Pics of my Missoni Inspired Crocheted Blanket, Fortune Cookie Baby Booties (which is a free pattern in my Craftsy shop), Knitted Arm Warmers, me in a rocking chair crocheting a crocodile stitch scarf, Technicolor Chevron Blanket, Giraffe Hat and my daughter wearing the Hitchhiker with charms (pattern by Martina Behm on Rav). 

My Christmas Hats Collection was mentioned a couple years ago as well.

Here are a few of my favorites in the February 2015 issue.  This Hot Water Bottle Cozy has great texture and the pattern is free in this issue.

Knitting God, Alan Dart has a free, exclusive pattern in every issue.  This Sugar Plum Fairy is just darling.

This wrapped cardi is so chic.  The pattern calls for DK weight yarn and the pattern looks to be for the intermediate knitter. 

This free pattern for a manly cardi looks oh, so cozy.  Would be a great boyfriend sweater for a gal as well.

Thank you so, so much Simply Knitting for a great publication!  Keep up the good work.  

Here are all the links for Simply Knitting

http://www.simplyknitting.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/SimplyKnitting

http://www.pinterest.com/simplyknitmag/

https://twitter.com/SimplyKnitMag

My Sock Kit is only available in my Etsy shop 

You can find all my patterns in my

Craftsy shop

Ravelry shop

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

When I am knitting socks, I knit the 2x2 rib back and forth, on the double point needles, as if you would on straight needles. I then start knitting in the round and sew up the rib after the bind off when I fasten off the tails. So, cast on, knit the 2x2 rib, then start to knit in the round with the remaining needles. You will sew up that rib with the cast on tail after you have completed the rest of the sock.

Holiday Knitting and Crocheting Part Two

As promised, Part Two of Holiday Knitting and Crocheting is all about blankets!  If you are here in the USA, kids are back in school, garden clean up begins, jeans, scarves and shawls come out of hiding and yarny blankets fill our laps!  

This is my most popular blanket pattern by far....Crocheted Reversible Blanket.  Super easy for the beginner and beyond, in any size and in any yarn weight.  The addition of fabric makes it extra special and I have new fabrics in my Etsy shop to help.

For little boys....

to Aneela Hoey, to

Cath Kidston inspired.

Something for the more advanced crocheter, the Uptown Stroller Blanket.  Two skeins of worsted weight yarn makes this family heirloom!  It's rather on the tiny side, but directions are given to make it larger.

Try it in more than one color to match the gender or nursery.

If you are a knitter, the Knitting Chevrons in Technicolor Blanket is an easy, two row repeat using worsted weight yarn in seventeen colors.  I have three knitting patterns and four crochet patterns in the Technicolor Series.  You can easily get up to 4 blankets out of all that yarn.  If you are a newbie knitter and ready to move on from scarves, this is for you!

This entrelac blanket is from Mary Maxim and absolutely stunning!  It comes as a kit in different colorways if pastel rainbows is not to your liking.  The color changing yarn does all the work here!  The pattern calls for an i-cord edge, however, I crocheted four rows in single crochet. I knit this using US size 7 circular needles.  You will knit back and forth, as you do on straight needles.  Circs are used to accommodate the weight of the blanket.

 I found this one on Ravelry by Louise Marina.  I adore the sweet border.

I could not find a pattern for this one, but you can use your scrap yarn, make scarves and stitch them together.  I love this effect.

What are you working on for your holiday, yarny goodness?

Find all my pattern stores at the top of this page or

Etsy here

Craftsy here

Ravelry here

Next week, head and hands!

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Here are some blanket sizes for you!

Barefoot Sandals, a Knit Kit and a Charmed Row Counter

I love these barefoot sandals my daughter made!  She saw some on Pinterest and asked me to show her how.  A mother can't resist!  We got out one of my crochet books...Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman....we popped over to Hobby Lobby and bought some Lion Brand Bon Bons....and away she went on her first crochet project.  She then sewed on some little white seed beads, which make them really pop!

She then tried another motif pattern and added another yarn color.  I think they are both really cute!  What a great bridesmaids gift for a beach wedding!  She put them both up on "snap chat" and all her friends wanted to know where to buy them.  I have a feeling she will be crocheting them up for bithday or Christmas presents for all her besties!

I've been busy putting Knit Kits together for my Etsy shop.  Here's how have them listed in my shop:

Everything a knitter or crocheter needs for their project bag. A $25.00 value!

You get everything you see here:

*Zippered bag with two pockets (measures 6.5" W x 9.5 L) {16.5cm x 24.3cm} color may vary
*Journal (80 blank pages) color may vary
*Tape measure
*Two barrettes (I use them to keep yarn tails in place on my yarn balls)
*Two sewing needles
*One row counter
*Ribbon on thread card
*Four point protectors
*Two cable needles
*One needle gauge
*Two stitch holders
*Ten bobbins
*Twenty crochet stitch markers
*One pair of scissors
*One Project Card

A $25.00 value!

And it all fits in the zippered bag.

Great gift for yourself or any knitter or hooker.

That's a TON of goodness for $16.00!!!!  I only have 5 available, so if you'd like one for yourself or yarn buddy, visit my Etsy shop to purchase.  

This is one of the cutest knitting/crocheting accessories I have seen in a long time.  Attach it right to your project.  Heidi Bears Row Counter for Circular Needles Tutorial is on her sight and easy to follow.  I can't wait to go out and get a few things to make some!  I often misplace my row counters as they are quite small.  This will make it easy to remember to USE the row counter on many a project.

I'm heading over to the Iowa State Fair next week.  My annual trip with one of my closest friends, Michelle.  I so look forward to it every year.  Food on a stick, the butter cow,  all the blue ribbons for best knitting and crocheted items, the piglets, baby lambs, and the largest bull and pumpkin in the state!  

When I was a teenager, in the '70's, my friend Karen and I would go there first thing in the morning, take off our shoes, walk around barefoot, till it closed at night!  It...was...awesome.  We saw Elton John, Sonny and Cher, Loggins and Messina, Chicago and Seals and Croft.  Some of the best memories of my life.  I am still friends with Karen and saw her last weekend when I passed through Kansas City, where she lives with her family.  I'm SO lucky to still have her in my life.

Have a great weekend,

Sheila

Yarn Tip:  

I keep a knit kit in my suitcase. When I travel, I sometimes forget to pop one in my project bag.  This way, I always have one on vacation or business trips.