Tag: handmade

Pitter Patter of Little Feet

[Before launching into my latest rant, I just wanted to send out a HUGE thank you to everyone who replied to my frantic post the other day. You guys were such a great help, I was so bewildered and panicked, every time I thought about it I just felt sick to my stomach. After being vegan for a solid 2-3 years now, you would think you have the whole reading-every-single-label routine down by now, but this one managed to slide past me for far too long. Anyway, your suggestions all mean more than words to me, and I plan on searching for the VegLife Vegan One supplement today if there’s enough time. I’m hoping they’ll have it at Wild Oats…? Anyway, once more, thank you SO much for all your support, I knew that if anyone out there could help me, it was my fellow veggies.]

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How out of the loop am I! Only recently, I learned that a friend of mine was expecting some big changes to her household hierarchy in the form of an addition; A very small, and possibly demanding addition at that! She will soon become an aunt, as her sister is now almost 8 months pregnant! Although my dear friend isn’t exactly thrilled about this news, I haven’t heard anything so exciting in a long time. You know what a new baby means – Tons of tiny knit lovies to create!

Getting straight to work, I dove right into the One Hour Baby Booties in Stitch and Bitch Nation. I must say, the title doesn’t lie – This was one of the fastest projects I’ve been able to whip up in quite some time! Instant gratification, huh? It makes me want to knit other sweet baby things, just because they’re so cute and easy. I have no doubt that they will be appreciated by the mother, so who knows… If I can get my hands on some soft and inspiring baby yarn, there might be a sudden surge in the number of miniature finished objects…

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Fits Like a Glove

With all of the dazzling, intricate stitches and patterns that can take shape in any of knit item you can dream up, sometimes the simple cable just has a certain simplistic appeal.

I happen to love making them; So simple, barely any interruption from the regular knit stitch, just a few select strands weaving around and around, dancing for all time. These in particular made me think of the ocean, with modeled blue waves ebbing and flowing toward the beach of my pale, sandy skin.

Alright, enough lame prose from me today.

This is the perfect time of year for arm warmers, as the temperatures begin to finally rise, but are not quite warm enough for t-shirts alone.  I have tons of arm warmers made from old knee socks because I have an inability to throw anything out, but these are really much nicer.  Especially the fact that they won’t fray at the end, and even have snug little thumb holes.

From the March issue of MagKnits, I might suggest these to someone who’s slightly weary of cables.  It’s a great way to practice, since there’s nothing else more complicated going on.  I was slightly confused over which needle size to select, since I didn’t understand the directions on how to make the stitches “ridged,” so I just knit normally on… Oh, what was it?  Maybe #3 DPN?  I don’t even remember anymore.  They came out very small, which worried me at first, but since I’m a small person, they fit just fine.

I was so happy to use this yarn, since it’s probably been hiding at the very bottom of my stash longer than any of the other skeins.  I only wish I could get more, but strangely enough, I got it for free from a library book that my mom was processing (She works at an elementary school library) because she couldn’t include the extras on the shelf.  Heh, don’t they always say that the best things in life are free?

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Of Cabbages and Kings

When I actually buy a book, whether it be for leisure reading or knitting patterns, it is a rare occasion indeed. I like to think of myself as “thrifty,” but truth be told… I suppose can be rather cheap. That’s what makes my purchase of Knitorama by Rachel Mathews even more of a painfully upsetting let-down.

Tell me, what does this look like to you?

Not only is it a terrible picture, but this is supposed to be a cabbage. Sadly, it looks like a horribly swollen Brussels sprout, some sick joke if you ask me. I really hate it. The picture in the book looked so much nicer… and bigger. Oh, and by the way, what on EARTH is a “yrn”?? It’s definitely not a “yarn,” and it doesn’t even list it in the glossary of terms in the back!

I also tried the facial mask as per a request from my aunt, and yielded similar results. I ended up having to make it up along the way, and try to interpret what those instructions could possibly mean.

Maybe I’m just dense. God knows I can be more than just half a bubble off in the intelligence department… Either that, or the author wrote this while under the influence of some illegal substance. It looked like a really awesome book; Quirky, unique, and with a number of patterns I would actually want to make. I had never seen it anywhere else… but now I guess I’ve figured out why.

Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Smarter Than Your Average Fish

Another fishy project from… Well, I think you know what book it is by now.

I chose this pattern based mostly on the fact that it looked easy as pie, and I could whip it up in an evening. This certainly proved true, and I’m fairly happy with it. The only issue I have is the ugly seam running along the side opposite… I don’t have a worthwhile picture of it, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say that I need to work on my finishing skills.

This book is really beginning to grow on me. While it was initially a huge disappointment, maybe I was too quick to judge, and just picked the wrong pattern to base my review on. I’m glad I didn’t give up and return it, as my mom had suggested when she saw me on the verge of meltdown after struggling to shape my duck for nearly 45 minutes.

Taking this into consideration, I think I will give it a final grade of 4/5 stars. I highly recommend it for beginners; Even the newest knitters will be able to follow the simple instructions and basic techniques.

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Clowning Around

Another attempt out of The World of Knit Toys. I like this one a bit better, as it was much less frustrating to shape. It was just knit flat and then stuffed and sewn together, very simple and fairly rewarding.

I didn’t like how they gave it that ugly embroidered mouth, so I left it out, but under-stuffed it a little to give it a little kisser. Oh, and I decided to omit the bottom fin, since it would just get in the way / look funny, or you would just never even see it.

My little cousin absolutely adores the movie Finding Nemo, so I’m thinking that I’ll save it as a birthday or holiday gift for her.

Hannah (BitterSweet)1 Comment

Peas, Please!

Just a sweet, little sewing project, because I was in dire need of new pajama pants.  My old pair had worn so thin around the knees, you could have read a book right through them… Even in the places that didn’t have gaping holes.  I will never take these 2-hour patterns for granted again; It was actually pretty painless, and I ended up with wearable pants by the end of the day.  The measurements may be slightly off because I’m really short, but that’s an easy fix so I’m not stressing over it.

Come on now, people, is this not the cutest fabric you have ever seen??

Smiling peas in pods.  What could be better?

(Just a note:  I have been experiencing in internet difficulty / retardation, which is why I wasn’t able to post yesterday, but hopefully it will all be sorted out soon.)

Hannah (BitterSweet)1 Comment