just some spring beauty during icy winter

Just loving these beautiful ranunculus : )

They're easily my favorite flower.

[found here]

cont.: fruit cozies

And if you're wondering if they make other fruit cozies...well... they do!!!

pears need special attention... :)

oranges really aren't different from the apples...

[dedicated to Brittany]
[pears, orange]

cozy apple

apple cozy...I think I want some apple cozies. I've been roaming around Etsy to see what people are selling and honestly?...while I love etsy and want to support other people's work the ones online are kind of expensive. They're super cute, but I'm sure I could learn how to knit one up myself.
If I did want to spend 10ish bucks here are some I'd choose from...

[top to bottom: pink/white, red, blue, purple]

currently craving...

recently saw this amazing colossal cables throw at Anthropologie and then told my mom I wanted the largest size needles she could find for christmas. I got size 17...I don't know if they would make this or not but I could give it a try!!

Keep in mind this is 70"L x 50"W !!!! [and it's on sale]

new idea?

The other day at work someone threw a crazy idea at me...open an Etsy shop of knit creations.

My initial thought is why should I open a shop of various cozies, scarves, etc. when there are already so many out there? Then I started looking around...and...I mean, there aren't too many shops.

For now it's fun to see all the creative ideas out there.

Here are a few that I really liked!

orange cozy plum cozy

yellow cozy

I really like the covers that can close completely. Those sleek iPods and phones slide out so easily! Buttons also add just the right amount of charm too :)

The best part about making cozies for anything is the quick satisfaction of another project labeled "Done"!!

Etsy Wednesday: Chicago style!!

I'm so excited to visit the windy city this weekend. It will be my first time in Chicago and I'm looking forward to seeing and experiencing all of the wonderful things I've only heard about. Below are just a few creations from some Chicago natives...

Obi Sling Bag

Felt Corn on the Cob

Miss You Tons card

Knit Desperado Slippers

hobo chic knits

I am drooling over the new Shiny Happy Cotton collection from Wool and the Gang. It's a collection of ready-to-knit patterns that look great for the fall. I've been working on a few smaller projects but foresee pulling out the bigger needles for these creations.

welcome home

I'm back! I have been in lovely Alaska for the past week. Alaska is absolutely breath taking if you have not had the chance to visit. I had a wonderful time, saw many great native crafts and plan to share with you what I saw..and purchased!!

I still need some time to collect my pictures so in the mean time I have to share with you this tutorial on how to knit a bikini top. There are many patterns online if you google it but I thought this video by KnitKnit was clever and makes you want to sit and knit right now!

via the ever inspiring free people girls

under the sea

rubber stamp set in "seascape"

crochet pattern kit

[the curiosity shoppe]

Etsy Wednesday: Home

Citrus Pom Kit-PomLove

Felted Vase-Reyaveltman

Lu the Panda-Daresong

Pillow cover-Stiksel

granny quilt!

haha! I love all these little crochet squares that Carina from Carina's craftblog is making! I don't crochet but I think the granny square is a basic style, yes? They look easy and fast enough to make and then just add them all together and you have a nice cozy blanket!

*edit*

I also wanted to show you this flickr group that she shared

Mini Quilt Monday [how fun is that?]

Monday mini 3 by Stitchindye

crochet bag

Oh exam week, how I loathe thee...Sorry for the lack of posts. It is exam week and I have a full plate of projects and tests. Today I am sad to not be posting my favorite Etsy finds but I will share with you this pretty nifty "Crochet Save the Earth bag" by RedHeart.

Being a big fan of Whole Foods (and proud employee too!) I love the knit bags we have for groceries. 

[I cannot say if this bag is from whole foods or not but they are similar to the bag pictured.]

They fit SO much stuff in them and stretch to amazing lengths. This bag kind of reminds me of them and I wonder if it would have the same qualities.

Here is the pattern:

RED HEART® Eco-Cotton™ Blend: 2 skeins 1340

Almond

Crochet Hook: 3.75 mm [US F-5]

Stitch marker.

Yarn needle.

_______________________________________________________

GAUGE: Rounds 1-9 = 4” diameter. CHECK YOUR

GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge given.

Bag measures 12” wide x 14” tall, unstretched. Bag

has considerable stretch.

_______________________________________________________

BASE

Round 1 (Right Side): Using adjustable loop technique,

work 8 sc in ring – 8 sts. Mark beginning of round, moving

marker up each round.

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 16 sts.

Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 24 sts.

Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 32 sts.

Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 40 sts.

Round 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 48 sts.

Round 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 56 sts.

Round 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 64 sts.

Round 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 72 sts.

Round 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 80 sts.

Round 11: *Sc in each of next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep

from * around – 88 sts.

Round 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from *

around – 96 sts.

_______________________________________________________

MESH SECTION

Round 1: Sc in first st, *ch 5, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st;

repeat from * to last 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in first st to

join – 32 spaces.

Round 2: (Dc just made is first st of rnd), *ch 5, sc in next

ch-5 space; repeat from * around, end ch 2, dc in first st to

join – 32 spaces.

Rounds 3-30: Repeat Round 2.

_______________________________________________________

TOP

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc around length of

joining dc, hdc in same place, *3 hdc in next ch-space; hdc

in next sc; repeat from * around, end hdc in last space, slip

st in top of beginning ch to join – 128 sts.

Round 2: Sc2tog, *sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from *

around – 85 sts.

Rounds 3-5: Sc in each st around.

_______________________________________________________

FIRST HANDLE

Row 1: Working in back loop only, sc in each of next 4 sts,

turn – 4 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, working in back loop of previous row and

unused loop of row below, sc in each st – 4 sts.

Repeat Row 2 until 14” or desired length.

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Skip next 8 sts. Sew short end of handle to next 4 sts.

_______________________________________________________

SECOND HANDLE

Skip next 26 sts. Working in back loop only, join with sc in

next st, sc in each of next 3 sts – 4 sts.

Work as for First Handle.

_______________________________________________________

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

_______________________________________________________

ABBREVIATIONS: ch = chain; dc = double crochet;

hdc = half double crochet; mm = millimeters; sc = single

crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); tog = together; yo = yarn over

needle; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as

indicated.

Special Abbreviations:

Sc2tog = Single crochet decrease – insert hook in first st,

draw up a loop; insert hook in next st, draw up a loop, yo,

draw through all loops on hook.

Etsy Wednesday!

1.                                     2.

3.                                                    4.

 

1. Geninne's Shop/"Moonbird"/watercolor illustration

2. Papaververt's Shop/striped pant cozies/felted wool

3. Lepiedleger's Shop/Blueberry Guillerminas/crocheted shoes

4. Psarokokalo's Shop/Wise baby owl pin cushion/sewn fabric

Mega-Doily

An amazing oversized knit rug!! 

Created by Jean over at Ladies & Gentlemen Home.    

knitting+cord

Created for the Come Up To My Room event at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Kwangho Lee created these interesting light fixtures. I think I'd be pretty surprised to see light bulbs covered in knit and entwined cords wouldn't you!?

Mandy Greer

Last week I found myself wandering through the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon and being in awe of Mandy Greer's exhibition titled Dare alla Luce. 

Her work was inspired by the Roman myth of Juno creating the galaxy through the milk of her breast. The exhibition was nothing less of mystical and exquisite. 

Check out her website or blog to see more of her work!!!

covered stones

How beautiful are these hand crochet covered stones? 

My wonderful boyfriend found knittalatte's etsy shop and shared it with me knowing how much I love all things knit (or in this case crochet)!

Go take a look!

holy scarf

Ok, so I realize I spend much more time devoted to hand knit creations and I promise I will branch out. Before I do however, I must share this ammaazzing scarf that is on my to-do list. 

Designed by Tanis Gray, it shows off a beautiful leaf and branch pattern and is featured on the cover of the Winter 08/09 VOGUE knitting magazine!

 

I love it and must make it. 

big knits

Fabulously big ways to stay warm.

The Pembroke Cowl in sweet pea by Yokoo.

Knitting socks

I recently just knit my very first sock!!

It was pretty challenging but I feel like I can overcome any knit sock now! 

yay!

It turned out smaller than I'd hoped. It ended up fitting only on my 3 year old brother! But it still looked great and comfy : )

This is just a plain stockinette sock knit with 4 US6 dpns. 

Since I did not have a pattern I was following, I used the sites/videos below to help along the way.

Next I am trying a real sock with smaller needles, thinner yarn, and... a pattern!!

1. Not very good visually, but still some good directions to follow on these videos by expert village

2. Knit Witch-Turning the heal

3. Knit Witch-Kitchener stitch

4. Silver's Sock Class (helped a lot!!)

5. Pattern (used very loosely)