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!

HUGE SALE!

Good morning lovely followers!  Just a quick note to let you know I'm having a HUGE pattern sale at my Craftsy shop!  My most popular pattern, above, is $2 off!

Save on my Christmas Hats Collection.  All 6 hats for $5.

If you are an Etsy shopper, I'm having a Storewide Sale there.  Patterns AND finished knitwear for the whole family!

Scarves!

 

Fabric and more!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Bonfire Granny

 I'm a big fan of Patons Lace yarn, particularly the variegated colors of this brand.  This is one of those projects that went with me everywhere I went for a month or so.  The kind you pick up and work on in between other, more complicated ones that require thought and a post it note to keep track of where you are in a pattern.

 A granny pattern is perfect for those times.  No need to change colors, follow a pattern or sew up at the end.  This will be for an upcoming baby shower where the sex is yet to be known!  There is a little pink in the yarn, but not enough for a new daddy to notice.  They are quite fussy about colors if a boy arrives!

This was about 5 skeins, a D/3 - 3.25mm hook with a simple, single crocheted edge.

Time to gear up for the Christmas holidays.  I'm feeling my Christmas Hats Collection calling!

Best,
Sheila

Patternfish Store

I know many of you sell your hand made knitwear and patterns just as I do.  The most well known online sites to sell are Etsy, Ravelry and Craftsy!  Another place I sell my patterns only, like my Chocolate & Vanilla Cowl, is Patternfish.  

From Patternfish:

Patternfish is an online store where you can buy or sell your knitting or crochet patterns as customized PDF downloads.Nothing in Patternfish is available for less than $3.00 US. Nor will you find advertising. We want to provide you with a calm, beautiful place to browse and pick and choose.  

Gayle sends out your check monthly and I think you need at least $20 is sales.  I do fairly well on this site considering you cannot re-list your items like you can on Etsy or post projects like you do on Craftsy or Ravelry.  People find your patterns by searching for specific attributes they are looking for.  It is not my most profitable shop, however, I do make money every month, so I'll take it!  I do have a daughter in college I am paying tuition for!

Have a great Thanksgiving week,
Sheila

Blocking Wires

There' something very exciting about ordering on line, as opposed to a stand alone shop.  You see something you like on your computer, research some other shops for prices, check your PayPal account and click, click, click you're done!

Then you anxiously await the mailman!  Well, my mailman delivered this "gift to self" yesterday and I must say, I was VERY excited to open it!

Now, if you've seen blocking wires for sale in your local yarn shop, you know that a FEW wires cost about $30.  I found this set at The Knitting Warehouse.

You get:

24 36" stainless wires
4 24" stainless flexible wires
one yardstick
40 rust proof t-pins
complete blocking instructions
storage tube

All on sale for $29.99.  I must say I think is a GREAT deal.  I have also purchased yarn from this site and was very pleased indeed.

For you newbies out there, the purpose of blocking your knitted piece is to uncurl and form your work the enhance the beauty and block it to the correct size.  

Best,
Sheila

Pin Stripe Blanket

A new, custom couch was purchased for the "man cave". Lovely, soft greys and blacks. Of course, it needed a new throw in the same colors.

I love the soft variegated look! Masculine and soft at the same time.

Really easy project with terrific results! 61" L x 44" W

I used my Grey Gardens Baby Blanket (below) pattern for this project.  If you purchase the pattern, or if you already have my pattern, just send me a note and I will be glad to give you the specifics (yarn colors and amounts, size, edging etc.) on how to make this one.  

I always add my label, Creative Design on one side and my web address on the other side,  and "made with love" charm to every piece of knitwear whether it is for sale, a gift or an item I keep for ourselves.  The labels come from a lovely Etsy shop.  Owner Sasha is a jewel and you can find her here

The silver charms are ever so sweet and a real bargain!  36 charms for $7.50 and she even tossed in a few extra!  Find Hope here

Have a great week,
Sheila

A Break From the Needles and Hooks

Just LOOK at these cutest ever gingerbread cookies!  You can find the tutorial at Twigg Studios .  How sweet would they be for a little girly party, tea party or wedding or baby shower?  So simple with a food paint pen and green sprinkles.  If you don't like to bake, buy undecorated cookies!

Best,
Sheila

How To Install Safety Eyes

The eyes have it!

Watch this FREE, great video on Knit Picks.   How to install plastic eyes is perfect for all your toy knitting or crocheting!  Give your item personality and charm this holiday season!

Best,
Sheila

Charmed Hitchhiker

I found this great pattern on Ravelry by Martina Behm.  An easy pattern with spectacular results!  I used a worsted weight yarn...Queensland Rustic Tweed in color #916 that I found this summer in a lovely shop, The Woolie Ewe located in Plano, Texas. Wonderful shop owner who offered to cake the yarn for me!  Larger needles, US size 7 32" circulars give it great shape and size.

I added the charms, so beware, the instructions for that are not in her pattern.  I wish I would have taken a close up on those.  I found them on clearance at Hobby Lobby and attached them with a small crochet hook as I knitted up to that point.  The weight of the charms helps the points stay "pointy", which is great if you don't like blocking!

I ran out of Queensland yarn, but wanted to finish my last point, so I just added two rows of black.  It does not show too well in the picture, but it really takes it to another level!

I love all of Martina's designs, so be sure to pop over to see her!

Best,
Sheila

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.

Rainbow Entrelac Blanket

I love a yarn with long runs and entrelac patterns. I'm not, however, too fond of lots of color changes. This yarn was just the ticket as it changes colors on its own. It is a kit from Mary Maxim that comes with 5 balls of yarn and the pattern.

This is not a quick knit and took quite some time....about a month/120 hours. I am a fast knitter and as I make a living selling patterns and finished items, I do spend a great deal of time in "my chair" knitting or hooking away!   The yarn in the kit is DK weight and I used my Knit Picks US size 7, 32" circular needles.

I love how it turned out. The pattern calls for an I-cord edging, but I wanted a slightly larger border so a crochet hook and some single crocheted rows provided a nice edge without taking away from the lovely blanket itself.

The pattern is very well written and the color changes keep it interesting. You are actually only knitting 10 stitches at a time, so if you find you need to frog back, it is not so daunting.

Craftsy.com (you can find them on the right side of my blog under Lovely Sponsors) has some workshops/classes for you if you are new to entrelac and need to see the jist of how entrelac works. There is always YouTube for videos as well.

If any of you have entrelac projects to share, I'd love to see them.

Best,
Sheila

Granny Chair

I love this chair from sanna & sania!  How much fun would that be to have a chair like this in your craft room?  I can see myself snuggling up, knitting or crocheting away the latest ripple blanket!  There are many beautiful diy things on this site as well as books they have published. Have a great week!

Best,
Sheila

Free Pattern!

 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!

You can find this FREE pattern here in my Craftsy Pattern store.  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".

Have a great week!
Sheila

DIY Knit Kit

Happy Thursday to you!  I'd like to share with you today my knit kit.  I do a fair amount of traveling and take my knitting/crocheting everywhere I go.  If you're like me you probably have something like this in your bag.  It has all the essentials for the knitter or hooker on the go!

Scissors, stitch holder, cable needle, safety pins, crochet hook, sticky notes and pen, tape measure, my business cards from Moo.com .  I love these cards, by the way.  They have my contact info on one side and a picture of a finished product on the other!  Also in the tin, extra reading glasses, stitch markers, ruler, row counter, bread bags ties (for intarsia...they work like bobbins), a mini tin to hold sewing/tapestry needles and the smaller items.  Oh, and hair barrettes to hold the tail on a ball of yarn!  Did I mention everything?

It all packs up nicely in this tin I found at a thrift store!  I'm going to make some of these for a couple fellow knitters/crocheters this Christmas!  One can never have enough knitting/crocheting goodies.

That's all for now!  Have a great weekend!

Best,
Sheila

Christmas Hats Collection

Hello my faithful followers!  Summer is over in the USA and needles and hooks are starting to fly as the holiday seasons begin!  Fall sweaters and blankets, Halloween projects, Thanksgiving decorations and, of course, Christmas projects and gifts!  If you own a knitwear shop as I do, or not, you have a list of yarnny projects to complete!  On my list every year are these Christmas Hats that I whip up every year for gifts and for charity.

Easy pattern to fit many a holiday noggin'!  I'd love to hear about what you are knitting or crocheting for the holidays.  Send me a photo and I'll get it featured in an upcoming post!

Have a great week!

Best,
Sheila

Kits Are In!

After MANY requests from satisfied customers, the kits are here! 

With this kit you get the fabric, crochet hook, care instruction card, a label to personalize yourself, a coupon for your next order and FREE pattern to complete a blanket approx 31" x 30" with two edging options! 

Pick out your own yarn to coordinate with the fabric! Chocolate would be yummy. A crisp white would look great too! Peaches and pinks are other colors in this fun fabric! Choose more than one color for a unique look!

I think a crisp white would be lovely with this kit. A shade of blue would look great too, or, choose both for a unique look all its own!

Pattern, below, is by far, my most popular pattern and included in the kit!  Easy and quick!  Whip one up in a weekend!

Grey Gardens Blanket is my latest pattern in my Etsy shop.  Easy pattern that's great for beginners!  Easily change up the colors, size and edging!  The crochet stitch reminds me of linen and it's a great size for a baby's crib!  Perfect colors for the modern mommy....shades of grey and yellow!

My niece and nephew are coming for Thanksgiving, so I think I will make one for each of them in their favorite colors.  They live in Texas, and will need something to snuggle under when they are here, as we are in Nebraska!  Oooo....red and black for the Cornhuskers!  We love our college football here!

Lovely, Free Scarf/Shawl Pattern

I found this Lollipop Shawl Pattern on Ravelry!  After my Knit Picks order in Chroma in Roller Skate  arrived I couldn't wait to get started!

Easy pattern and well written!  I'd like to try using worsted weight yarn and larger needles next time!

Now that fall is here, all the scarves and shawls I have been working on can finally be used!

What are you lovelies working on?

Best,
Sheila

New Patterns

New patterns are ready for purchase in my Etsy shop! Giant Fall Granny uses super bulky yarn!

I would rate this as an advanced beginner crocheter. 

It's no secret that I love oversized scarves and super bulky yarn! 

This is a great project to use your yarn stash of single skeins. You can’t go wrong with color choices here. Try black and white! All one color would look stunning. Add fringe to the edges or one big tassel at the bottom!

Color photos included! I am always available for help!

My Orange Smoothie is the perfect, easy pattern to hook away while watching t.v., at the pool, beach! Going on a car vacation? Be sure to take this along! Going on an airplane trip, easily pack it in your purse or carry on!

Try using your yummy sock yarn or hand painted scrumptious skeins that are screaming to be shown off!

Whip one up quickly using worsted weight yarn and a larger hook!

Make it larger or smaller easily by stopping at your desired width! 

Pick an edging out of your stash of crocheted edgings books!

I’m not sure there is anything cuter than an animal hat! Ok, maybe a baby wearing one! You don’t have to make your Zebra Hat in black and white! Brown and white would be cute too! Or, any two colors in the rainbow! A two tone in cream would be perfect for the modern mom who likes a neutral!

Perfect on any little munchkin or toddler noggin! 

Great photo prop for boys or girls! Thank you to Mary at Hidden Expressions for the great pic! See Mary's work here
http://www.hiddenexpressions.com/#!


Easily change the color combo! Brown and white, two tone cream for the neutral lover! Or any color combo in the rainbow! Change the black rolled brim to hot pink for girls or to blue for boys!

Soft acrylic yarn will make it easy to machine wash, gentle cycle, tumble dry low or lay flat to dry.

This is an advanced beginner or better pattern. You will need to know the knit stitch, knit 2 stitches together, make one, joining another color yarn, knitting in the round on double pointed needles.

Color photos included! All my patterns give options for yarns available in your local Hobby Lobby, Michael's or Wal Mart! You can certainly use your yummy stash for any of my designs and I am always available for help!

My Blanket Kits are available in three different sets!  After MANY requests from satisfied customers, the kits are here! Finding just the right color to go with the fabric is the hardest part of this project! I've done all the work for you to complete my most popular pattern!

With this kit you get the fabric, yarn, crochet hook, care instruction card, a label to personalize yourself, a coupon for your next order and FREE pattern to complete a blanket approx 31" x 30" with two edging options! 

I'm working on a much requested kit for my Etsy shop for the most popular pattern in my store called Crocheted Reversible Baby Blanket.  Fabric, yarn, hook, your own label, free pattern and more!

Here's just two rough samples of the kits!  Heading off to the photographer tomorrow for the shoot and will have them for sale next month!

Many of my customers do not have the best access to shops that sell yarn or fabric!  Personally, I would go mad without my favorite shops!  So, this is for them and for the crocheter that would like it all in one bundle.

I do plan on selling the kits with an option to purchase without the yarn, for those who like to pick colors themselves!

I also will be getting into dying and selling my own yarn!  Can't wait to get started on that!

It's starting to cool down a bit here in the midwest after 3 months of 90 plus degrees!  My fall scarves and boots await and I have missed them so!

Best,
Sheila

Pretty Pillowcases

I stumbled on to a lovely blog and so admired her hand sewn pillowcases! I, too, love fabric but really must be in the mood to sew! Off to the thrift store to find "vintage" pillowcases! These were anywhere from $.99 to $2 each and I used sock yarn, cotton crochet thread and a few unlabeled yarns!  All were weight 3 or so and I like a D/3 hook!

Easy pattern with lovely results!

Great for the teenage girl who has blemishes and needs a clean pillowcase each night at bedtime! Perfect hostess gift....you can always use extra pillowcases!