New Year Planning

Some of us have spent the last few weeks looking forward to the new year (well, those of us who were pretty sure the world wasn’t actually going to end on December 21). Most of this year was not so fantastic for me and I’m having trouble believing that 2013 will be any different, BUT my oh my I am so looking forward to January and some upcoming crafty fun times I have planned.

First, in the Sweater Odyssey group we’re kicking off the new year with a Heidi Kirrmaier KAL. Come join us—you get to knit any adult garment pattern by Heidi, and she has quite a few fantastic patterns. I’m going with Raindance in two shades of Quince and Co Chickadee.

And then, in the Amy Christoffers fanclub, we’re doing a couple of KALs: a Lilac Wine knitalong and a sweater knitalong (similar to the Sweater Odyssey group, just pick a pattern from the designer and go). The Roam Tunic and Stonecutter’s Cardigan I recently posted? Both Amy C patterns. You know you want to.

And THEN, I came across this Crocheted Puff Stitch Scarf and I have to have it. HAVE TO. I’m 99% sure one of my friends is making one for me as a gift, but I think I’m going to need multitudes. So @jacintillating on Twitter and I plotted and schemed a Crochetalong. I mean, can you blame me? This is going to be a blog-based CAL, meaning there’s no place on Ravelry to currently chat about it, but I figure we’ll probably bleed all over the internet—Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, maybe even Tumblr, who knows? And I’ll be asking participants for photos to share here on the blog (with links to your own blog if you’re writing about the CAL).

Photo from the Ravelry pattern page

The CAL details:

• Start hooking on February 1 or later.
• Finish by March 1 and who knows, there could be a prize.
• Leave a comment here letting me know you’re planning to participate.
• Tag project updates on your social media platform of choice (Ravelry, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) with #puffyCAL
• Have fun and end up with a sweet scarf.

Questions? Please ask! You should know by now that I make most of this crap up as I go.

What are you looking forward to in the new year? Have any big crafting goals in mind?

Fancy Tiger’s Holiday Handmade Fair, 2012 Edition

The Holiday Handmade fair organized by Denver yarn and sewing shop Fancy Tiger has become something of a tradition amongst my friends and I. We’ve gone the last four years; three years ago, when it moved to the Sherman Center in Denver, we discovered the Denver Biscuit Company Biscuit Bus, and that’s pretty much solidified our raison d’etre for attending the fair. We love handmade and craftiness but we’re all knitters and makers and doers so we don’t generally feel like we need to go and buy things.

Pay attention to the use of the word “generally” in that last sentence.

So this year started off as most years do, with a visit to the Biscuit Bus and a Franklin for me and some sweet potato fries to share.

After our brunch, we moved into the vendor hall, which was pretty packed (though not quite as packed as it has been in the past—I think we got there a little earlier than usual this year).

As usual, there were a ton of amazing vendors and so much to see and sample and ogle and touch and other assorted verbs. There was even a little Santa’s workshop with adorable terrarium-style scenes and a train that kids loved to try to touch.

And as I said earlier, I usually try to not buy things. I generally do a pretty good job. This year, though…

Click the photo to enlarge the text.

I couldn’t help myself. Some of those are gifts for other people; most of them are gifts for me.

After the fair, we headed over to Fancy Tiger with the intention of scoping out and possibly buying buttons. What’s missing from this picture?

Buttons. The mittens book is an Estonian mitten pattern book that’s written in both Estonian and English. I love Estonian colorwork patterns and reading about the history and evolution of cultural knitting traditions, so I had to buy that book when I saw it. Mollie Makes is such a lovely, inspirational magazine (and that issue even has a pattern from the loverly Allyson of The Sweatshop of Love!) and there were a couple of patterns in the newest Vogue Knitting so I went ahead and grabbed it (literally, only two patterns I could see myself making, so it’s a better deal than waiting to buy the patterns individually, but as usual, this issue doesn’t really speak to me). AND THEN I BOUGHT POMPOM MAKERS.

I hate pompoms.

Yeah, that is a strong feeling about a silly little ball of yarny bits, but in general, I can’t stand them. HOWEVER, I’m making these adorable baby bonnets that look like pandas and have pompoms for ears and I couldn’t convince anyone else to make the pompoms for me (yes, I tried to get someone to make pompoms for me because I dislike them that much). So I bought my very own pompom makers. Which will likely be lost to the ages after I make these pairs of pompoms.

That was my Saturday! I also finished the bonnet part of my Calavera Catrina and am halfway finished with one of those panda baby bonnets. Not too bad for a busy weekend! I hope your weekend was good.

Ugh. Pompoms.

Guest Post: Stefanie of Handmade by Stefanie

Today marks the half-way mark through NaBloPoMo and I’m going strong! Mostly thanks to the efforts of some of my bloggy friends and their guest posts. This week in particular has been full of guest posts and today is another one! I’m not actually that lazy, I just let people choose general dates for their posts and this is how it played out. You’ll be stuck with me for the next few days at least!

Today’s guest post comes from Stefanie at Handmade by Stefanie. She has a slew of great ideas for gift crafting, for knitters and crocheters alike! Be sure to check out her new pattern, Lettuce Lattice, as well.

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The Mad Dash for Holiday Crafts!

If you’re like me, you have the best of intentions to start your holiday gift knitting, crocheting or shopping early. Unfortunately, life often has other plans, be it a year-long case of startitis, a much-needed indulgence in selfish knitting, or just a hectic work schedule and social life. Thankfully, there are a host of easy-to-make patterns to whip up quickly as the holiday countdown begins. This year, I’m excited to put my new-found crochet skills to work, since I’ve now reached the point in my skills where I can crochet just as quickly as I knit! Below are plenty of projects for crafters of all persuasions. Let the countdown begin!

Toys
What do you get the person who has everything? For me, the answer is often a cute little stuffie in their favorite color! My go-to patterns which can be made in 1-2 days’ time include several Rebecca Danger patterns (Maddox the Mischievous Monster, Chubby Chirps, and Penelope the Empathetic Monster all top my list), Stacey Trock’s crocheted Amigurumi Blue Bird, and my own design, Button Bunnies.

Not sure if your recipient will like a toy? Make them a Sweet Little Owlet keychain – you know they’ll put it to good use!

Small Accessories
Hats, cowls and wristwarmers are gifts that are always appreciated. No need to do any fancy stitchery – usually the simplest pattern is the one that gets the most comments (go figure!). Veera Välimäki’s Little Things hat knits up quickly, even though the pattern calls for fingering-weight yarn – plus, it’s available as a free Ravelry download!

Breean Miller’s Indigo Swan Cowl uses bulky-weight yarn to knit a cowl that is as beautiful as it is warm. Crocheters of all skill levels will love the way Shireen Nadir’s The Mushin Cowl looks when crocheted with a hand-dyed yarn (you only need to know single crochet and double crochet to complete this easy project).

Looking to destash? Elizabeth Trantham’s free Colorful Stripey Fingerless Mitts pattern crochets up quickly using whatever yarns you happen to have on hand. I’m also partial to the Purl Bee’s Colorblock Handwarmers, a free knitting pattern on the Purl Soho blog.

Baby
It seems like everyone I know is expecting a baby in 2013! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my pre-ordered copy of Rebecca Danger’s Knit a Monster Nursery, which came out just last week. To tide me over, I’ve been working on a quick-knitting baby blanket with one of my favorite yarns, Malabrigo Rios. I just released the pattern, Lettuce Lattice, earlier this week, in fact! This project took just over a month to complete – for a baby blanket, I think that’s relatively quick! It’s pictured with Mr. Nubbins, an easy-to-make toy pattern knit with Malabrigo Rios.

Household
This year, my-go to stocking stuffer (provided I don’t run out of knitting hours, of course!) will be some fancy tea wrapped in a Tea Toter, a free pattern by Julie Tarsha. Coasters, potholders, or place mats are also can’t-miss: there are tons of free patterns to knit or crochet in designs ranging from simple (the Grit Stitch Placemat and Coaster Set by Cult of Crochet) to complex (Heather Zoppetti’s double-knit TPHPE coasters) and even silly (such as the Gobble Coaster and Walk on the Beach Coaster—both crochet patterns are designed by Amber Jones).

Have you started your holiday crafting? Are you crafting gifts this year?

Kickstart: Felicia Lo

I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite yarn dyers on Saturday, and I’m glad I jumped on that opportunity! Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Yarns was in Colorado to tape a spinning video for Craftsy, and as two of the yarn shops in my town carry SGY (yes… I am spoiled for choice for a person who’s not allowed to buy yarn this year), she agreed to do a meet and greet at a local coffee shop.

Unfortunately my camera battery died on me after I snapped these few pictures, but Felicia is everything you’d probably imagine if you read her blog. Sweet, unassuming, and well-spoken, she spoke briefly about her process of dyeing yarn and fiber and gave away a few skeins of yarn and pattern combinations (and two braids of her Panda fiber—clearly I should have won that prize, as it’s called “Panda,” but I didn’t). She spent most of the time moving between the small groups and chatting, or standing near the beautiful samples she’d brought with her and telling attendees about each one in loving detail.

So far I’ve knit two projects with Sweet Georgia Yarns, my Chambourcin in her Tough Love Sock and the Baby Velociraptor Sweater in the Superwash Worsted base. I’ve got a few more skeins in my stash—I think they need some squishing.

Month in Review: April 2012

One more month done, one month closer to my trip to Paris. In real life, April was down more than it was up, but there were good times with friends and other highlights. May will probably be more of the same, but hopefully with just as much knitting and hanging out.

I haven’t blogged about these first two projects yet, but I finished them at the end of this month.

I knit another panda. It’s living in my bookcase right now, since I can’t seem to meet up with the friend who is to take possession of him.

I also knit two shawlettes for friends, a Leaf Peeper and a Live Oak. I’m hoping to mail these this week—I should have time to get to the post office!

And earlier this month, I got to hang out with some awesome crafty types in NYC!

No yarn was purchased this month, go me.

Peace out, April. I’m gonna go swatch for Folded, to see if I think I can stand to knit a fingering weight sweater in May and June.