Progress (It's a Miracle!)

A few months ago, I posted my very first pattern for a baby blanket I made for a friend. Guys, it's gotten such a great reaction! I'm so happy and flattered and excited and I'm giddy every time I see someone post a picture of their progress on Ravelry or Instagram. I don't even have the adequate words. Ahhhhhhhh!!

I've been getting lots of questions and comments and, though I've done my best to answer all of them, I know I can only be super accurate if I knit up another blanket following the pattern and fix any mistakes I may have made. So, ta-dah!, I have FINALLY gotten around to starting another blanket. Here's proof:

I like to match my knitting to my nail polish - don't you?

Yes, the color was inspired by my nail polish. What? I like mint and orange!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sucker for Packaging

Did I buy this blush solely because it looks like knitted fabric?

Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Blush - Rose

Yeah, pretty much.

Luckily, it's actually pretty good! Nicely pigmented and only the tiny, tiniest bit of shimmer (I'm not a fan of shimmery blushes). Nicely done for an impulse buy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Guess Who Has Two Thumbs and Has Reopened Her Etsy Shop

This gal!


I finally opened the shop back up and it is such a relief to finally have gotten around to updating and listing again.
The day job's been pretty lax recently so I took advantage of that time to photograph and update descriptions for items. Quick poll: does anyone else find the process of photographing and editing shots as tedious as I do? You have to take so many shots, get the lighting just right, select and edit your best shots, and then finally you can post. How I wish there was a quicker way! Pays off, though, 'cause I'm really pretty happy with the way the shop is shaping up. But, uggghh, just when I think I'm done and finally ready to post, I catch a stray piece of lint or a ring band that's tarnished and - bam! - gotta take pictures all over again. Figures.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Buttons and Rings and Gems - Oh My!

A few weeks ago, during a fit of crankies over the seemingly endless gloomy weather, I pulled out all my buttons and gems and set to making the most colorful rings I could think of.  I didn't take a picture of my final products, and then my mother came and wiped out my inventory, so all I have to show you are the ones I kept for myself.

Apparently, I prefer more neutral colors for my own accessories.

For this week's Crafty Sunday, I decided it was time to make some more! It's really just so much fun and though I'm a little commitment-phobic when it comes to officially gluing everything together (do I really like the colors together? is that rhinestone too much? or not enough?), the final results are really satisfying. If you have any ring blanks and buttons lying around, I highly recommend seeing what you come up with, as it's one of the quickest and easiest projects you could work on.

Work area.

Awaiting permanent assembly.

I swear I actually glued everything into final rings, but did I remember to take a picture? Nope. 


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

On Crafting and Blogging

Welp, I've managed to be MIA for almost a year. Sure, there've been blog posts here and there but, for the most part, GONE. I'll admit it - Instagram had stolen my attentions away. It's just so quick - click! - to post a shot of what I'm up to. If you follow me there (@shecraftsdoom) then you know I've actually made quite a few things over the last few months and even instituted a little "me" time I like to call Crafty Sundays wherein I craft. On Sundays. Fascinating, I know - you've been missing out!

The truth is, I'd kind of gotten into a slump when it came to making things and blogging because I became so focused on making stuff for the shop. And lost my drive a little because I felt like everything I made had to fall into the context of items that fit that aesthetic and that I thought would sell, completely forgetting that I make things simply because I ENJOY MAKING. I don't actually care if anyone wants to buy my items. I started a little shop just 'cause I couldn't think of what else to do with all I make. And, yes, because secretly I would love to make crafting my one and only full time job.

So, for awhile there, I wasn't making anything at all. Which meant I had nothing to blog about other than what a loser I am for not wanting to make things. I finally decided that I needed to temporarily shut down the shop and get back to making whatever I want whenever I want. It's completely reignited my love of grabbing a bunch of items without any plan in mind and seeing what comes of it. Which, in turn, has motivated me to get back to posting here! Ah, the happy little circle of life.

All of this just a long-winded way of saying I'm getting back into the swing of things, folks! For today, I'll leave you with an art piece I made a couple months back. I'm not big on photos being displayed everywhere in my home but always wanted to have some sort of a family portrait. I love silhouettes and thought of this idea years ago but, not being a painter, had no idea how to go about it. Enter Manzanita's post, two and a half days of work, and now this proudly hangs in my bedroom.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Knitted Round Pillow Project (simple tutorial included!)

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I completed this project a few weeks ago. But...I realized I hadn't shared it on the ol' blog at all!

Pillow!

This project came about because I wanted to start incorporating more handmade items into my home. So, since the accent pillows I'd bought years ago for our sofas were now definitely worse for wear, I thought I'd remake them - knitted style!

Want the simple instructions? I thought you might. It was really so simple that I didn't even write the pattern out, just came up with it as I knitted along. First, I found this link, which taught me how to knit a flat circle (thanks Alyoops!), then I simply made two large flat circles (approximately 19in. wide, I'm my case), crocheted one looooong band in single crochet (approx. 2.5in. wide), and crocheted all the edges together. Hint: I started seaming the edges together before I was even done crocheting the band so I could make it exactly as long as I needed. Stuff (and really over-stuff so your pillow holds its shape) and tuft with two large buttons on either side. Ta-dah!

Inspiration pillow shown here in all its faded, dirty glory.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect large brown buttons, since you can tell these ivory-colored ones just don't cut it, but, other than that, I LOVE the way it turned out. So soft and cozy and I MADE IT. Yay. I'm currently working on the rectangular versions (in the opposite color scheme) for our other sofa, but that's been a little slower going since knitting flat panels just isn't as interesting as knitting the round ones were.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Striped Chevron Baby Blanket - Free Knitting Pattern!

Recently, I completed a baby blanket as a gift for a pregnant friend. It got some good response in the ol' Instagram community, so I thought I try my hand at writing a pattern and offer it for free to you fine folks!

As this is my first time writing a pattern out for others to actually be able to use, please be kind and forgive any errors made. Did I screw up somehow? Let me know and I'll be happy to help/fix the mistake!

So, without further ado - ta-dah! - the pattern:

Striped Chevron Baby Blanket

When I learned my friend was pregnant, I knew instantly that I wanted to knit something for her.  She’s a classy little lady so I thought a classy little blanket would be perfect – and preferably one that didn’t scream “cutesy.”  Enter this striped chevron blanket!  Once you’ve gotten the hang of the pattern, it’s pretty quick and easy going, with enough changes to keep from getting bored to tears while knitting it but not so complicated that you get frustrated or lost when you have to put the project down.  And it’s super customizable!  Add or subtract rows to make the stripes wider or the blanket longer and use any colors you’d like!

Quick tip:  Make the chevron pattern into a simple chant you repeat to yourself while knitting to avoid making the easy mistake of creating extra stitches in your rows (learned this the hard way - but chanting in my head really helped!)

Materials

·         Size 8 needles (36 in. circular)

(My personal faves – Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles)

·         Worsted weight yarn

(I used Caron Simply Soft but any worsted weight yarn will do)

Colors

·         A1 and A2: Caron Simply Soft – Heather Grey (315 yds.) - 2 skeins

·         B: Caron Simply Soft - Lemon (315 yds.) - 1 skein

·         C: Caron Simply Soft - White (315 yds.) - 1 skein

Gauge (although, on a blanket, do you really need to worry about it?)

Approx. 4 sts. x 7 sts. = 1 in. in chevron pattern

Finished Measurements

Approx. 29 in. x 30 in.

Chevron Pattern

*K2tog, K10, YO, K1, YO, K10, S1, K1, PSSO*

Border

Using A1, CO 156 sts

Rows 1 - 4: Knit in garter stitch for 4 rows.

Body

(You will be maintaining the edges in garter stitch throughout the entire blanket.)

Row 5 (right side): K3, chevron pattern to last 3 sts, K3

Row 6: K3, P150*, K3

Rows 7 - 38*: repeat rows 5-6 (34 rows total)

Yellow Stripe

Row 39* (right side): K3, add in and switch to B, k chevron pattern until 3 sts remain. Add in and switch to A2, K3.

Row 40*: using A2, K3, bring yarn forward as if to purl, twist B around A2 and continue to P150* sts with B, yarn back as if to knit, twist A1 around B and continue to K3 with A1

Row 41*: Using A1, K3, move strand B back to knit, twist around A1 and continue in chevron pattern until last 3 sts, move strand B back, twist A2 around B, and K3 using A2.

(Note:  This reads a little complicated but it’s really not, it’s just to show how to twist the strands around during your color change so there are no gaping holes in your work as you progress.)

Rows 42-54: Repeat Rows 40 and 41 (16 rows total of color B)

White Stripe

Row 55* (right side): With A1 K3, add in C and continue in chevron pattern until 3 sts remain, switch to A2 and K3

Row 56*: K3 with A2, P150* with C, K3 with A1

Rows 57-58*: Repeat rows 55 and 56 (4 rows total of color C)

Yellow Stripe

Rows 59 (right side) - 76*: repeat rows 40 and 41 (16 rows total)

Body (Grey Stripe)

Rows 77 (right side) - 92*: using A1, K3, chevron pattern to last 3 sts, P3 (16 rows total)

(It’s up to you if you’d like to keep using A2 where the pattern usually calls for it. It does make it one less seam you’d have to weave in later, if you do. J)

Yellow Stripe

Rows 93 (right side) - 110: repeat instructions for rows 40 and 41 (16 rows total)

White Stripe

Rows 111 (right side) - 114: repeat instructions for rows 55 and 56 (4 rows total)

Yellow Stripe

Rows 115 (right side) - 130: repeat instructions for rows 40 and 41 (16 rows total)

Body

Rows 131 (right side) – 164: using A1, K3, chevron pattern to last 3 sts, P3 (34 rows total)

(Do not continue using A2 at this point, it’s no longer necessary – except for if you run out of A1 before you finish the blanket.)

Border

Rows 165 (right side) - 168: K in garter st for 4 rows

Finishing

Bind off all stitches.

Weave in ends and block blanket (if desired).

* Errata
Row 6: A previous version stated P156, corrected to P150
Rows 7-38: A previous version stated Rows 7-39, corrected to 7-38
Row 39: A previous version stated Row 40
Row 41: A previous version stated P156, corrected to P150
Row 57: A previous version stated P156, corrected to P150

 ©2012 She Is Crafting My Doom  www.sheiscraftingmydoom.blogspot.com

All rights reserved.  This pattern is provided free for personal use only.  Neither pattern nor garments made from this pattern may be sold.  If you’d like to share this pattern, please link directly to my site.  Questions?  Happy to answer!  Contact me at happydoomcrafter@gmail.com.