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!

Yarn Stash Sale - Bags Of Yarn For All Your Stitching Needs

What's a girl to do when she runs out of room for new yarn purchases?  Why do we feel the need to hang on to yarns for that "just in case" moment?  Why is it when we get rid of certain yarns, we find a use or project for it the following week?  The only comforting thought is that if we sell it, a like minded knitter or crocheter will buy it as they are skeins she has been looking for at a great price!
                                                                       $10.00 a bag!

Boa, eyelash, satin, ribbon, ladder, fun fur are all yummy yarns I have adored for many years.  Scarves were knitted with love.  Baby sweaters crocheted with gorgeous boa yarns.  Hats made with suede yarn for a toddler noggin!

Easy crochet scarves with Pom Pom yarn for girlfriends one Christmas.  Squishy cowls with soft fuzzy goodness.  Ponchos crocheted with boucle.

Bargain bins at yarn stores beaconing me to scoop up the single skeins to make that one ball project.  Balls of partial skeins that you just can't throw in the trash....I might need that!

Mixing, matching different fibers to create that one of a kind treasure.  Christmas wreaths whipped up with all those left overs.  As much as it pains me, I must let go for the sake of new wonders from independent dyers, my own bare yarns waiting for me to dye them into my own creations.

So, here you go!  Many are full skeins.  Some partials looking for a new home.  All are looking for a new home to become YOUR one of a kind scarves, baby hats, fringe for a blanket and craft projects and all coming from a pet and smoke free home.

Click here for my Bag Of Yarn Sale in my Etsy Shop

Best,
Sheila
Yarn tip:

* I use post it notes too keep track of what line I am on when using a pattern.

Top 3 Knitted Neckwear Patterns

As holiday knitting and crocheting approaches, I've put my top selling patterns together for one price...$10.00!  Each pattern is $5.00 if purchased separately.  The Project Cards sell for $2.00 separately.  That's a savings of $7.00.  All the patterns are great for the advanced beginner and interesting enough for the seasoned knitter.  

The Parchment Shawl is an easy pattern and great for car trips as it is a two row repeat.  You can easily make it larger or smaller and would be stunning in a long run yarn!  The edge is crocheted.  If that is not your thing, a simple garter stitch edge would be just as beautiful and will keep the edge from rolling.

The Cathedral Shawl is done in beautiful Madeline Tosh DK weight yarn.  Feel free to use any weight yarn and needles you have.  A cotton weight yarn with larger needles would be great for the warmer months.

The Classic Cabled Cowl looks complicated, but not so!  No buttonholes either!  Yay!  If you have not tried cables yet, this pattern is for you.  Very simple with big, fat yarn.  The same pattern will work for men or women and uses only one skein of super bulky yarn. A perfect gift for your hairdresser, babysitter, boss or teacher! 

I created my Project Cards (below) as I have many "PIGS" (projects in grocery bags)!  Scarves started but forgotten.  A baby blanket that needs to be finished 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 used.  What pattern is this?  How many skeins did I need?  

Print the cards off from your computer, punch a hole in one corner and attach it to your project with a pin or slide onto your circular needle.  Ten on a page and plenty of room on the back for additional notes.  Great gift, too, for your knitting or crochet buddy!

I am working on a simple arm warmer pattern and hope to have that up very soon.

Click here for the patterns in my Etsy shop

Have a great week,
Sheila
Yarn tip:

* A great gift for a knitting friend is some yarn and new needles! Put them in a clear drink cup you get at the coffee chop with a straw! Put the yarn in the cup and replace the straw with a pair of knitting needles!

Three One Skein Granny Gifts

It's that time of year when knitwear designers start publishing there patterns for fall and holiday knitting and crocheting.  I spend my summers designing squishy, yarny goodness for that reason.  Here is one I developed especially for the newbie crocheter.  Three One Skein Granny Gifts.  All 3 patterns for one price, in one pdf.

First up is a simple granny bandana.  One skein, one hook, one evening!  It doesn't get much simpler than that.  The pattern is written out with no abbreviations for the new "hooker".  The suggested yarn can easily be found in your local hobby craft or fabric store that carries yarn.  This would be cute for kids.  You could get two of them out of one skein, or one adult size.

Next up is the Granny Cowl.  I love this style and size.  Not too big and not too small.  Here, again, would be cute for kids.  Kids scarves have a tendency to go missing.  A cowl stays put and keeps them cozy outside or inside!

A cute hoodie for the unexpected rain or snow shower!

A simple Granny Mitt is the final pattern.  Again, so easy to fit any size hand from children to adults.  Add more grannies to go higher up the arm.

Three One Skein Granny Gifts in one pdf for one price,  for the newbie or seasoned crocheter!

Click here for the pattern in my Etsy shop

Click here for the pattern in my Ravelry shop  or click on the "buy now" link at the top of this post

Have a great week,
Sheila
Yarn Tip:

* Keep a small project in your car for those times you’re stuck in traffic, have to wait at the doctor’s office or waiting to pick up a child from school!