made by telaine

Christmas is looming

2011-11-16T12:29:00.000-06:00

My flowering Christmas cactus is just one of the little reminders in the house that the holiday will soon be here. If that isn't enough, the piles of yarn and scattered looms make it all the more obvious.

Smart knitters start their gift-makin' in the summer. I say "Nah, I'll make or find something else instead of a loom-knit this year." But then I think of a nifty idea or find a perfect pattern — and it's November.

I was already prepared to knit two Christmas stockings to match my husband's. I've been deciphering my scribbles from last year, charting our names and seeking colorwork inspiration from my books. Between caring for and playing with CB, I finally cast on the first one last night. (OK, I cast on like 3 times because I kept making silly mistakes due to distraction.) Will I have them both done by St. Nick's? Maybe. By Christmas? Definitely. I also hope to write a tutorial for my loomy readers, complete with charts!

But my crafty cranium must have thought my plan above wasn't enough of a challenge. I thought up and test-knitted the beginnings of a cute loom-knit gifty PLUS I bought a pattern by Bethany to make something for our family exchange. Both remain somewhat secret for obvious reasons. But here's what my craft table looked like yesterday ...

Oh, and I also just added a "quick knit" gift to my queue for a December baby shower. What is it about Christmas that makes me just a bit crazy?

Costumes are a 'rap!

2011-10-30T00:46:00.000-05:00

The 'Guise has been guessed! My husband will be the happy-rapping Parappa. I will be his crush Sunny Funny. And CB will be bandmate friend Katy Kat. (But I'm also calling her a catnapper.)

The characters stem from the video game "Parappa the Rapper," a PlayStation rhythm game with goofy lyrics.

Ribbit, ribbit

I can't hold it

Last toilet I had, I already sold it.

In the rain or in the snow

I've got the funky flow

But, now I really gotta go.

...

Every single day, stress comes in every way
I ain't got no time for nobody
My style is rich, dope, phat in which
We'll make a cake that looks rich

Crack crack crack the egg into the bowl
M-I-X the flour into the bowl
Crack crack crack the egg into the bowl
M-I-X the flour into the bowl

...

Watcha gonna do when they come?
I gotta redeem!
Whatcha gonna do when they come?
I gotta relieve!
Whatcha gonna do when they come?
I gotta recieve!
You gotta do what?
you gotta do what?
I gotta Believe!

Congrats to Bethany, Zoe and Mindy!! They will be getting goodies from my crafty stash that includes T-pillows, loom knits and of course, yarn. Thanks so much to everyone who followed along. This was a geeky one to guess that I'm sure required lots of Googling.

Happy Halloween!

Something lacy is looming

2011-10-27T18:02:00.000-05:00

My looms will soon embrace some lace knitting. My sister, Trisha, is getting married this spring and I get to knit her a pretty shawl for her shoulders. Her colors are like a clover green and blue hydrangea. She is leaning toward green for her shawl so I'm studying my stash.

I like the bright greens of this one ...

Interlacements 12 Ply Frizz

And the sheen of this one ...

Interlacements Ray of Sunshine

Both yarns are actually the same colorway — Tiaga — but they each pick up the dye just a bit different. Neither have wool, which would give me a little give on the looms, so that worries me just a little. I must knit loose!

Some runners-up (one of which might become a matron of honor shawl for me) ...

Creatively Dyed Yarn Tradewinds in colorway Fig ... from a Stitches Midwest trip

Handmaiden Fine Yarn Swiss Mountain Sea Sock ... my husband's splurge for me during our Canada trip

To help me on my lace-knitting bender, I just picked up an e-booklet, Loom Knit Shawls: From Simple to Sublime by Renee Van Hoy. I've always adored her lace patterns and now I get to jump right in. The instructions are written in a nice, clear manner. The pattern I am choosing is a perfect match for my sister and she will see why — in June. ;-)

But first I have to clear my 1/2-gauge CinDWood loom. I must decide whether to finish or frog this work in progress. And I have my costumes to seam and two Christmas stockings to knit, but really's who's counting?

Frogging the dog ...

2011-10-25T14:19:00.001-05:00

CONTEST CLOSED --- THE COSTUMES AND WINNERS WILL BE REVEALED THIS WEEK!! Thank you so much for following my blog. :-)

and tailing the cat ...

Guess the 'Guise #11
• "Come on now, why don't cha follow my words
Because we're almost done, I'll make it easy at first."

Kiddie-size loomin'

2011-10-24T21:11:00.001-05:00

You've been living under a ball of yarn if you haven't heard about this book. Bethany Dailey's Loom Knitting for Little People has made it to the Internet bookshelves! It's packed full of fun knits to make for kids young and old.

As the book designer, I had a mostly easy job putting together the well-written patterns by Bethany, gorgeous photos by Christina A. Flores and editing by Jennifer Stark. The project was a first for all of us so we learned a lot as we worked along. Putting together a 113-page book is no small feat!

But every revision, redesign and rewording was worth it. Bethany has self-published a book that reads as professionally as any other knitting book out there.

The patterns are divided into Wearables, Accessories and Play Things. Plus the Knitty Gritty section explains all the techniques in depth. Projects range from beginner (Pom-Pom Hat) to moderate-advanced (2-Piece Hooded Vest).

The Crazy Caterpillar pattern is a great, low-commitment way to try several new stitches. Your swatches turn into a cuddly creature! The Pair of Lacy Trims can be applied to any project you wish. I know I have a baby blanket just waiting for a finishing touch.

Some more of my favorites …

Credit: Christina A. Flores Photography

The Jester Hat along with that Crazy Caterpillar are both on my to-knit list. They only look intimidating until you read the simple step-by-step instructions.

Credit: Christina A. Flores Photography

The yarn used in this project helps an organization called KidKnits. The nonprofit buys merino wool yarn hand-dyed and spun by widows in Rwanda, which helps support families there. They also sell kits that include a 36-peg round loom.

Credit: Christina A. Flores Photography

Koby is a kitty that would win any child's heart. It might take me awhile to jump onto a project this large since assembly has always been my least favorite part of knitting. But someday, I will give in!

Credit: Christina A. Flores Photography

A few months ago, I test-knitted the So Cool Cap pattern. Go on back to that post to read all about it. I can't wait till the cap fits our CB.

A total of 33 patterns fill the book's pages with lots of photos and illustrations. If you haven't already added it your loomy library you can buy it from CreateSpace (more proceeds go to Bethany) or Amazon. Happy looming for you lil' ones!

Bethany A. Dailey: Web site, Facebook

Christina A. Flores Photography: Web site, Facebook

Jennifer K. Stark: Web site

Petal to the metal

2011-10-23T18:17:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, this post was going to start with ...

Knit, sew, crochet, frog, knit and sew some more.

But now that sentence ends with ER visit. So I've been a bit absent(minded) the past few days. But I'm back so let's get on with the guessing contest! I'll have plenty of time to finish the costumes by Halloween while I recover.

We have a little petal power going on for one costume.

And the blue kitty got a lil hairball.

Kitty Kat doesn't quite stay on CB's head so the feline is getting a brim extension by the way of crochet.

Guess the 'Guise #10
• The costume not shown will soon be a 'rap.
• Our trio plays at the 'Station.
• They gotta keep the beat!
Previous hints

Bees bring me to my knees

2011-10-19T00:45:00.001-05:00

I understand the business of bees is important. But they — and their waspy relatives — makes me run away like a little girl when they visit our yard. So I have to say I'm a bit happy to see what was once this ...

Is now bee-free ...

Still, a straggler visits a toad lily.

The big furry bees actually don't bother me too much. As long as I let them "eat," they let me pass without a sting.

The sedum has since dried up for the season. Bees be gone!

'Guise prizes

2011-10-18T00:48:00.000-05:00

Are you getting closer to guessing the 'Guise yet? If you need a refresher, check out the previous posts from my Blogtoberfest. You can guess as much as you want but you gotta get all THREE characters right to be victorious. Let's check out some of the prizes!

Crazy/Chic T-pillow

Halloween-esque pillow made from an upcycled t-shirt and remnant fabric.

Stuffed with a plush 16x16 insert. Hidden zipper opening.

Glow-in-the-dark alien wristbands

I'll toss in a couple wristbands from my glow-in-the-dark collection.

Fun for parties in the dark ... or trick-or-treating!

Speaking of parties, I will have the loom-knit costumes ready to rock by Saturday. But you can still guess all month long. Here's one more hint for you ...

Guess the 'Guise #9

• Flower power!

Rule of threes

2011-10-17T18:51:00.001-05:00

Three days of missed posts means three contest hints (plus a WIP pic) for you!

Guess the 'Guise #8
A hint for each character ...
• I gotta believe in the rhythm.
• I have a sunny disposition.
• I meow at the mic.

Previous hints

Ears marked

2011-10-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

CB took lots of catnaps yesterday, already true to her costume in progress.

Nope, I didn't just give it away. You'll have to guess the specific character for each costume. And there's one more embellishment to top off this one — plus a tail.

This next hat might be a bit ruff to guess off the cuff.

This guy still needs to get "patched." But I will come back to both of these after I make way on the third costume for me. See what colors remain and learn more about the contest if you're new here.

Guess the 'Guise #7
• Are you game?
Previous hints

Red Parka weather

2011-10-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

Fall is rolling back in again. A crisp cool is in the air — but not so cool that we need a working furnace (thank goodness).

Red is barely touching on our young Autumn Blaze maple (right) while its older cousin blushes a bit stronger.

So it was only fitting that a Blogtoberfest blog called Red Parka Diaries caught my eye today. (Even though it's technically spring for this blogger in Australia.)

Jen is crafty gal who appears to enjoy quirky art and photography. After reading about her recent adventures, much of her life is what I'd like mine to be like at age 34, too. The saturation and unique crops of her photography catch my eye. And her whimsical illustrations make me smile.

Source: Red Parka Designs

This art print reminds me of my sister Trisha, who collects elephants. Girly is getting married this spring and I have a shawl to knit for her. And I got some gorgeous yarn to play with yesterday. But more on that will come later. For now, I have a baby hat costume to finish!

Crafty consuming

2011-10-10T17:53:00.000-05:00

Someday I will master how to put a car-seat carrier in a shopping cart. And hopefully that day will come before CB grows out of hers. The babe and I shopped at Joann Fabrics today for a few more costume supplies.

The orange hat requires a patch. And since I can't find the perfect one for the perfect price online, I will attempt to make one. I get to play with puffy paint and googly eyes! Meanwhile, the blue hat has barely budged an inch but I will knit, knit, knit as much as I can tonight.

Guess the 'Guise #6
• We walk and talk but human we are not. And we don't fly like duck, duck, goose but we are girl, girl, guy.

Bottlefuls of root beer

2011-10-09T23:45:00.041-05:00

Something delicious is bottled up inside ... our laundry room. We learned to "brew" our own root beer today.

The bottled beer requires a warm place to carbonate for the next week. So we'll be running the dryer almost every day to keep them cozy!

Warm weather, a cool day

2011-10-09T02:00:00.001-05:00

When our furnace broke last week, I was a bit worried about staying warm during the crisp fall nights. But summer unexpectedly returned and now I'm aching for our A/C instead. Apparently our furnace fan is necessary to cool the house — something I should probably know as a homeowner.

I still took advantage of the gorgeous day and carted CB out for ice cream. She slept in the stroller. I enjoyed the fall color. I called dibs on her share of the ice cream.

We further heated the house later by baking two pizzas — an experiment (homemade zucchini deep dish) and a backup (Digiorno). Toss a lot of mozz on veggies and I will call it delicious. After sweating it out upstairs, we moved to the basement for some natural cooling. Between my attempts to put the lil miss asleep, I was set to knit.

But then I remembered the ice cream saved in the freezer. And it's not just any ice cream. It's the stuff that's really bad for you from a devilishy-delicious local ice cream shop called Brain Freeze.

Of course the ice cream won. Did you really ever doubt that?

I'll be back on the costume catwalk next week with more hints and pics for Guess the 'Guise. Stay cool — or warm — wherever you are!

The Cheat

2011-10-08T10:08:00.001-05:00

Oops, I missed a day. Well, I'll try to make up for it by posting twice today.

Speaking of "cheating," I thought I'd share this nifty guide my sister, Tessa, posted awhile back. It's from the tumblr blog "Living in the Stills."

Once upon a time, I knew the ins and outs of my manual SLR camera. I bought a Pentax ZX-M SLR manual-focus camera for a photography course back in college. I still have it and should play with it more often. But manual focus requires me to wear my glasses and it just doesn't feel natural having a glasses lens pressed up to the viewfinder. (I wore contacts back then.)

A few years ago I was going to sell it and took it for one last romp in the wild. The following three photos were fresh from the camera — no editing in Photoshop.

Instead I held onto my dear friend. My aforementioned sister even borrowed it for her own first photography course in college.

Since then I have fallen out of practice and forgotten a bit of the tech. I love how this cheat sheet sums up the variables in simple terms plus nice visuals. It's enough for me to turn the dial on my digital camera to M and see what I can do! (Or maybe even dig out my old camera.)

Hat's off ...

2011-10-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

... But not quite done.

Guess the 'Guise #5

1 pair and 1 patch are needed for costume 1.

Hat 2 will be of all blue and Hat 3 will be of colors 3.

Previous hints

The Patches are back

2011-10-05T23:58:00.003-05:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday. But I can't watch a horror movie alone. And I rarely have the nerve to venture into a haunted house.

I instead enjoy the saturation of the season — in both color and whimsy. I've decked our halls with fall ... starting with The Patches Family. Visit an archived post for a loom-knit pattern to make your own.

In another decorating vein, I finished putting up CB's height chart. The decal set was a gift from her Auntie Trisha. Our 2-month-old girly is already past the 2-foot mark.

And now for my other favorite part of Halloween — dressing up! Here a new hint for my costume contest ...

Guess the 'Guise #4

• One of us is immobile. But all of us are not really real.

Welcome to the circle

2011-10-04T14:06:00.002-05:00

Does loom-knitting sound a bit loony? If you clicked here from Blogtoberfest and feel a bit lost, I'd like to share a lil' loomy lingo.

Loom knitting is like needle-knitting in the round. But your stitches each have their own peg. Once you learn how to wrap, you can knit, purl and do almost anything you can do with needles. The pegs help keep your stitches even and the loom is easy to hold.

Let's talk about the photo below. It's a 41-peg large-gauge loom. So I can knit up to 41 stitches. And the gauge is equivalent to a U.S. 10-13 needle. It's perfect for bulky-extra bulky yarns or I could use thinner yarns for lace work.

I've connected my knitting in the round to make a hat but you can use just part of the loom to knit a flat piece, too. I am knitting a row and purling the next to create a garter-stitch brim. Next, I'll knit all the rows for stockinette.

I hope to show you a few different looms this months as I work on the costumes.

Guess the 'Guise #3

I need these costumes in a pinch. So this first hat will be a cinch!
But I've been warned it won't keep my ears warm.
Previous posts with hints

My own musings

2011-10-03T18:49:00.002-05:00

Through Blogtoberfest, I am traveling to new blogs around the world.

I visited Musings of a Crafty Mind today. She's a gal who really loves chevron among other things. She's also learning how to knit so I'll enjoy reading about her progress. Maybe it will inspire me to pick up the needles (instead of the loom) someday.

But this month I'm all about the knitting loom so I can get these costumes done in time! Here is another costume-guessing hint for you ...

Guess the 'Guise #2
• These Halloween hats-to-be will fit a family of 3.

Previous posts with hints

The contest title is brought to you by the words of Dillfrog Muse. That's the brainchild of my wordsmith-programmer husband. If you're looking for another way to turn your phrase, check it out for rhyming, similar words, meanings and more.

I'm glad I began this post in the morning since it's now somehow the evening as I finish up. The days are growing shorter. Some of my spirea still are blooming but leaves are changing their hue.

The kiss of toad lilies

2011-10-02T10:37:00.000-05:00

My toad lilies are hopping this fall. These tiny blooms pack a big punch in my shade garden.

And when I say tiny, I mean it. When I first fell in love with these lilies, it was online. I imagined gorgeous Stargazer lily-size blooms based on the photos. Of course I didn't read the size descriptions. I fall into that trap all too often when shopping on the web. I went ahead and bought a whole bunch of seeds to start indoors …

One seedling succeeded one spring ago. But after I transplanted outside, it wilted away like the others. But it soon had some new buddies growing strong all around him. My green-thumbed mother-in-law had found some mature toad lilies from a friend and a shop. And managed to procure a few for me!

A "slug cup" took the place of that poor seedling.

It was a rough first year for those toad lilies as icky squishy slugs moved in last summer. I was worried I would have no blooms but they prevailed.

Those pretty orchid-like blooms are about silver-dollar size. So they might be smaller than expected BUT just look at all that detail in such a little thing!

Four varieties thrived last year but I've since forgotten all their names except one — Samurai. It's the first one to bloom each year and was featured two posts ago back in August.

Earlier this summer, I realized I had planted those lilies way too close to each other.

Lots of new babies popped up and are competing for spots. I'll have to dig up a few when they sprout next spring to spread them out — and share them with my friends and family.

So far, my knitty friend Barbara has shown interest in these exotic flowers. She's the one who also got me interested in Blogtoberfest this year. Check out her blog, too, to read about her knitting and life adventures this month!

Back to the blog(toberfest)

2011-10-01T22:23:00.003-05:00

It's better late than never getting started! With about two hours (CDT) to go on Day 1 ... I'm taking on the Blogtoberfest challenge to post daily updates.

I'm coming back in a big way after taking some time off for our new little miss. At least I'm going to try — CB still rules my worlds, online and off.

In the spirit of Halloween — and simply having something to talk about — I'll be teasing a loom-knit costume project for the next few weeks. If you guess what the ensemble is before the holiday falls upon us, I'll make you a nifty prize package. (It goes without saying that if you are one of the very few I've already told, you can't "guess.") The sooner you guess, the better it will be!

Guess the 'Guise #1
To cast on this challenge, I have gathered the following yarns for the project ...

Happy guessing and happy Blogtoberfest!

Summer's passage

2011-08-29T13:31:00.001-05:00

The season is on the cusp of autumn. The toad lilies are just starting to bloom ...

... as our new life grows.

While we endured sleepless nights, our garden changed with each day. Minutes have quickened for us. But they take their time on each and every bloom outside.

Nikon hydrangea: From golden blues to violets to faded pinks

Last petals of the Salmon Asiatic Lilies

Blushing Angel Hydrangea

Asiatic orange lilies

Twist N Shout Hydrangea reaching their end

White Azalea after a summer shower

Tall tiger lilies

August Lily Hosta

Only the beginning of the toad lilies

Graphic designin' and knittin' for "Little People"

2011-07-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

I've been bookin' it on a very special design project.

Author (and loom-knit designer extraordinaire) Bethany Dailey has dedicated loads of time and passion to make her self-published debut. More than 30 fun patterns for kids of all ages fill the pages. With adorable photos by Christina Flores and Bethany's playful prose — designing this book can hardly be considered work. And Jenny Stark also has been a proof-reading grammar goddess ...

Just today she enlightened me that the rule for commas in a series is different for Standard English (her method) than for AP style (my method). I've been trying to do it her way for fun throughout the day — but it's so hard! I am giddy, conflicted, and itching to take out that comma before "and"! ;-)

OK, back to the book! After "working" on it for a few weeks, I could no longer resist trying out one of the projects. I chose the simple, chic So Cool Cap in the 6-month-old size. What a coincidence that our own lil' one-to-come should be just the right age to wear it later in the winter!

Knitting the hat was a breeze and could be done in a day. I thought I had knit the bill wrong (twice!) when it came off the loom. But after following the clever instructions to sew it on, it all made sense and it looks perfect!

The pattern details a crocheted circle for the top — or to go with your own flavor of embellishment like a pom pom or button. I went back to the loom. Using the 8-peg side of the pink Knifty Knitter spool, I used a gathered cast-on on all pegs. I knit about 8 rows and then did a basic bind-off. Then I cinched my cast-on to close up the top, using the extra yarn to fill the bubble before seaming. I'm sure crochet is probably faster so if you know it, use it!

The cap was complete and my hat forms were just not worthy. So my friend, Erin, allowed me to borrow her almost 6-month daughter, Kaitlyn, for a photo shoot. This gave me a new respect for Christina's photo skills. I had a hard time focusing on the bubbly, roll-y little girl! But the both the hat and happy model turned out adorable!

For your own chance to make this cap and more, check out Bethany's Kickstarter endeavor for pre-orders. If you pledge now, then she will know she has enough to fund the book's release. Watch the video to learn more about her and how the book is also going to help children in need. Bethany has two crafty hands and a heart of gold!

Stampin' up coasters

2011-07-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

I took my stamps to stone — instead of paper — for a recent craft project. Here is how I made some gift coasters for our immediate family.

These stone tiles went from dishwasher to my craft room to the stove (where they stunk up our kitchen a lil bit.) I went through some trial-and-error with the project but my process in the end worked for me. Your experience might vary but nonetheless I will share what I did.

Supplies:

StazOn solvent ink pad

4" x 4" Tumbled marble tiles with a smooth surface (but not glossy!)

Rubber stamp

3/8" light duty felt pads

Optional: Spray sealer

StazOn ink pads are a few bucks more expensive but they are worth it ($7-$8 at Michaels). For my first trial (below), I used a simple pigment-based rubberstamp ink. But even after sealing it, the ink smears or rubs off when the coaster is wet. StazOn says it works on more surfaces right on the box.

Coaster fail!

I found 9-packs of 4x4 marble tiles at Home Depot for about $8. Try to pick a type with a smooth surface. My white ones were almost perfect. But I won't be able to use half of the slate ones because the surface was too chipped. And those glossy glazed ones won't absorb the ink.

Steps:

1. WASH — Your coasters will be dusty so toss them in the dishwasher or sink for a good scrub down. If you handle them quite a bit after washing, wipe them with alcohol as well to remove oils. Allow them to dry for a few hours.

2. STAMP — Pick out your desired rubberstamp, sink it into some ink and press down with a gentle pressure (just enough to make contact with the stone). The StazOn ink bled a bit into the stone after setting. If you press down too hard, it will be a blurry mess.

3. BAKE — Heat your oven to 250 degrees and set them inside for about 20 minutes. It might get a little smelly but it's nothing a fan won't air out. Remove and let them cool.

4. SEAL — (Optional) For that first trial, I sprayed a Krylon sealer onto the coaster to keep the ink from blurring. But as you can see above, it didn't work very well. I don't know if that's the fault of the pigment ink or sealer. But I realized if you seal the stone, it could lose its absorbant properties. That doesn't make for a very useful coaster when you have a sweaty glass. So with my final batch, I did not seal them. My second coaster did not bleed in the few days I tested it.

5. PAD — Place the furry little dots onto the bottoms so they sit nice on your table.

This was a rather inexpensive craft project that I believe anyone can do. You could even borrow stamps from a friend to save a few more bucks. Personalized gifts are the best kinds. ;-) So stamp away!

Beaded Scarf on the loom

2011-07-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for something new to do with your looms, try knitting with beads! Beading guru Deanna K. Van Assche designed this flippy fun scarf for Interlacements Yarns. With her permission, I have translated it to the knitting loom.

I know it looks complicated but it's as easy as sliding beads up when you need them while knitting the garter stitch. First the pattern teaches you how to transfer the pre-strung beads to your yarn.

But if you want even more visuals, you can check out this tutorial by my talented Interlacements co-worker, Emily Bielinski.

Next, you will learn how to do the long-tail cast-on with beads to create that fantastic fringe look. More about that cast-on and others can be found in this PDF tutorial from Isela Phelps. My pattern does detail the long-tail cast-on specifically.

Then you're off and loom-knitting this quick scarf! I am knitting mine with Interlacements New York 200, which is 200 yards of a DK-like ribbon yarn. Other knitters choose Interlacements Tiny Toes, a sock yarn but you'll probably want to go down to a fine-gauge loom for that yarn weight. This loom is an original Decor Accents extra small gauge (ESG) hat loom, with at least 25 pegs. The purple round hat loom by Knifty Knitter might also work if you prefer an even looser gauge with ribbon yarn.

If you want to try this pattern, here are two ways to buy! It includes the beaded scarf pattern plus a loom-knitting basics page. You can buy it through my Ravelry shopping cart and you'll get a PDF delivered straight to your e-mail.

Beaded Scarf (loom knit) - $6

add to cart

show cart

Or you can head over to Interlacements Yarns. For $6 plus a little shipping, Tracey will mail you a nice color printout plus any yarn you are tempted to buy, too!

What's in stock

2011-07-11T16:58:00.001-05:00

You may say hello and goodbye to my last two crafty custom orders ...

T-pillow 1 of 2 for Toshie — Happy Chaos

T-pillow 2 of 2 for Toshie — Biblical Disaster

Spring Meadow Scarflet for Kristy of KLM Photography

You're looking at the last of my custom orders for 2011. As August rolls around, I'll be taking maternity leave from my craft business. I might be back sometime this fall but I'm not making any promises! New baby and hubby will get first dibs on my time.

This also means you should make the acquaintance of my current shop stock! First up for the locals: Head over to D.I.Y. Studio and Gifts on Broadway in Green Bay, Wis.

T-pillows on the top shelf at D.I.Y.

The remaining stock of t-pillows are now $20 or less. These soft jersey pillows are fun to cuddle and safe to throw at your fellow couch-mate.

Next, we head over to Etsy, where pillows also have been reduced. Plus you can use the coupon code "OHBABY" to get another 20% off any item. This could cover your shipping!

On Facebook, I have an oldie-but-goodie exclusive.

Crazy/Chic t-pillow

This is one of my favorite creations and I'm not sure why she's still hanging around. I'd keep her but she just doesn't go with our decor — and might scare the new baby a bit. ;-) The t-pillow shows off Jan Avendano's crazy design on the front but keeps it sweet with a pink-checkered back (for when Grandma visits). This is the only t-pillow with a hidden-zipper closure on the bottom to keep that pillow form in. I hope someone gives this wacky gal a home soon! Comment on the Facebook photo to lock it in and we'll work out a payment method.

You have a few more weeks until I close my shop doors. When I reopen, I might have some new goodies to share — and a new shop site. The Made by Telaine staff of myself and Willow bunny are considering a hop over to Artfire. The end of 2011 will be all about starting anew.

Front-yard fireworks

2011-07-04T23:16:00.002-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Our neighbors always put on a good show so we don't have to travel to celebrate. This year, Mr. Plate's parents and grandma joined us. We chased Willow the bunny around the yard, grilled some yummy steak kabobs and played a washer toss game. Then we pulled our chairs to the front yard to watch the sky light up.

An addendum of three things I learned:

1. Willow needs a longer leash for those backyard sprints.

2. Morning Glory "sparklers" are NOT more awesome than good ol' regular sparklers.

3. Mosquitos really like pregnant gals. ;-)

Three things

2011-06-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

I have a yay, nay and something on the bay with my loom-knitting. First the yay!

You can really see how rough I am on my looms when I take these macro shots. ;-)

My Square Dance Blanket is rockin'. If I were only working on this, it would be done by now. But since I'm juggling projects crafty and graphic design alike, I'm just finishing the second of four pieces. I love the increasing/decreasing method of making the square — and the garter stitch tip I mentioned last time. It's my favorite, no-brainer WIP right now.

Before I could prepare for the next square, I had to free up the gray yarn of this project — the doomed sock that turned into a fingerless mitten and then into a wrister. Yep, this is the nay ...

I shake my fist at the mitt not meant to be!

I am going to save the lace pattern for another day. The Spriggs Creations knitting spool loom is just not my friend (but he might be yours!). If you are planning to knit socks with this loom, be sure to use the e-wrap stitch taught in the accompanying booklet. The u-wrap/regular knit stitch results in a too-tight sock. The mitt I made instead fits well, albeit a little loose for my lace to really pop. I give a thumbs up to the loom's smooth base and evenly spaced pegs. And while the gauge wasn't right for socks, worsted yarn knits up very nicely on the loom. But I must give a thumbs down to rough pegs that snag yarn and no peg toppers.

Before I hop back to a particular book design project ;-) ... I have another beaded scarf teaser for you. I finally took some photos of the long-tail cast-on and beading process. Once I do the writing part of the pattern translation, it will be available on the Interlacements website! This is one of those projects your friends won't believe you loomed.

Beading it!

World Wide Knit in Public

2011-06-12T21:14:00.002-05:00

While I do knit in public at least twice a week, I logged a third today with my friends for World Wide Knit in Public Day.

We packed our knits and a picnic for an afternoon at Jackson Square Park in Green Bay, Wis. The weather was wonderful (well, I at least was warm enough) and the yarn was flowing through needles and loom.

I FINALLY started my first baby project today — the Square Dance Blanket from Loom Knitting Made Easy. The blanket really is easy and I should have it done in a week or two. To make things interesting, I'm also trying the garter stitch tip by Isela Phelps (video). Check out the link to learn it, too!

Using this technique, you can do an e-wrap knit row and a purl row together, saving just a bit of time. I was worried the e-wrap knits would create a fabric looser than I prefer but so far, it's lovely for the blanket project!

Speaking of this particular stitch, head on over to Loom Knitting Central for the Garter Stitch Challenge. My project here isn't eligible but original projects qualify. Loom away!

Flowers in lieu of FOs

2011-06-08T08:49:00.000-05:00

My garden is blooming while my knitting is barely budding lately. I've knit a bit with my friends but my looms remain lonely when I'm home. So here are some pretty pics with just a few WIPs at the end ...

:-P ... Can you see it, too? I forget their real name but I love them. I hope I can keep them alive. My track record with annuals is poor.

Chives!

I accidentally let them go to flower but they grow like weeds so I know we'll get more this summer.

I beat the bees to the Hawthorne tree blossoms this year.

I found alstromeria at Bonnie's Greenhouse this year. I didn't even know I could grow it in Wisconsin. It was one of my complementary flowers for our wedding.

Some flowers from family ...

Wild geranium from my mother-in-law

Pasque flower from my mom

And the shade garden is filling out ...

Lily of the Valley reminds me of my mom's porch garden.

Solomon's Seal lives between the hostas but the latter grew so big this year that the Seal might be on the move.

Miss Kim is the lone lilac left. Pocahontas and Angel White bloomed big but both have dropped their last petals. My Sensation lilac with the awesome white-tipped purple flowers didn't pop at all this year.

Some loom-knitty photos as promised ...

Washcloth set

I knit up a quick washcloth set for Lucie's wedding gift. I used the corn row pattern from I Can't Believe I'm Loom Knitting for the square; the pinwheel is one of Isela Phelps' free patterns.

The waves are slow-going in the shrug from Phelps' Loom Knitting Primer.

Meadow lace fingerless mittens

I'm still playing with the Spriggs Creations sock loom. Unfortunately, the loom has some shortcomings and I'm not having much fun with it. My yarn either snags on the rough pegs or slips off because the pegs don't have tops. I might have to save this original pattern for another loom.

Beaded scarf off the loom

My beaded scarf has been half-done for almost a month. I've been stalling on stringing on beads for the second half even though it's really not that hard — just time-consuming. I'll take some nifty photos of the long-tail cast-on for the second half. Then I get to write an approved loom translation of the pattern for Interlacements Yarns. So stay tuned!

Loom Knitting Made Easy (review)

2011-05-22T20:49:00.000-05:00

I've had plenty of time to page through this nifty loom-knitting booklet, Loom Knitting Made Easy by Isela Phelps. Now I'd like to make good on my promise to review it here on my blog.

This book was made for crafters curious about those strange circles hanging around the stores. It proves knitting looms can go beyond hats and scarves.

Isela breaks down all the techniques for looming, from the simple twisted knit to purling, increasing/decreasing and cables. Every page packs a lot of punch with clear photographs illustrating each step. The "how-to" takes up more than half of booklet.

From there, six projects take the loom-knitter through all they have learned. For the knitter who thought they've never do lace, there's the elegant "Wrapped in Lace" shawl. As for myself, I'm about to cast on the square dance blanket. My squares rarely turn out to be ... well, square. So I'm looking forward to using the increasing/decreasing technique to get that perfect shape.

Once I'm finished playing, I'll be happy to pass it along to another loom-knitter who wants to go beyond the basics. Thank you to author Isela for providing me with a copy for the purpose of a review. She also has another loomy book coming out in the fall — Stylish Accessories Knitted on/Hand Loom.

New beginnings

2011-05-10T13:44:00.000-05:00

As spring finally washes over Wisconsin ...

I observe in awe of colors long lost ...

and life once again buds at nature's pace.

We are looking forward to welcoming a new life of our own by summer's end.

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day everyday to mothers of all kinds.

A cozy consignment

2011-05-04T08:33:00.001-05:00

My thrifty t-pillows have found a new home at a crafty shop. The three latest joined three veterans for a nature series ...

Pillow upcycled from Threadless tee design by Yeoh Guan Hong

Pillow upcycled from Threadless tee design by Matt Lyon

Pillow upcycled from Threadless tee design by Peter Bragino

The veteran T-pillows: Strange Birds, Mountain View and For the Birds

D.I.Y. Studio & Gifts recently opened its doors in the Broadway shopping district in Green Bay, Wis. And I'm trying out my first consignment deal. I hope these upcycled Threadless tees will get their second chance on someone's cushy couch.

I checked out the grand opening this past weekend. The store's motto is "make, blend, shop." Owners Jen and Angie offer artsy-crafty classes, help blend your own bath-and-body fragrance and of course, invite you to shop local crafters' creations. I walked out with a purchased pair of fun earrings!

So go check out the t-pillows and much, much more if you live nearby. Check out D.I.Y.'s Facebook page for the lastest news. ... Or you can snag the last pillow or two in my own Etsy shop.

The Friendly Scarf Project FINALE

2011-05-02T20:33:00.000-05:00

Let's finally give this scarf project a finale! I recently loom-knit the last square on my own scarf.

The wonderful ladies of my Saturday knitting group knit the other squares — each with a touch of their own personality.

I finished off my scarf with the lacy wasp nest stitch. If you're looking for a bonus square to make your own scarf (or blanket), here you go! To complete the double yarnovers, I recommend setting up the whole row before knitting.

Lacy wasp nest stitch
Multiple of 4sts, plus edging; knit flat
Row 1-2: K all
Row 3: *YO, k2tog, ssk, YO, rep from *
Row 4-6: K all
Row 7: *k2tog, YO, YO, ssk, rep from *
Row 8: K all

Here we are, modeling the fruits of our friendly labor!

I hope you enjoyed this loom-knit square series. Leave a comment on any page if you have a question.

Pique Rib // Diagonal Garter Rib // Woven stitch // Punchwork // Seersucker

Raised Diamonds // Diagonal Rib // Basketweave slip-stitch

Dropped seed stitch // Granite stitch

Little bunny, big roar

2011-04-17T03:41:00.001-05:00

My lionhead bunny has been ruling my craft-room kingdom for nearly 6 months. In that time, Willow's "bark" has proven to be worse than her bite. Because she doesn't really bite — or scratch her human servants. But she wants you to believe she's a force to be reckoned with.

Knowing that my bun was 2 or 3 years old upon adoption, I figured she wouldn't grow any larger. She looked like a teeny thing at first.

November 2010

But her girth has grown in step with her personality — in healthy servings. She has also been the most vocal bunny I've ever met. She delivers her decrees with squeaks and thumps on a daily basis. When she runs her Indy 500s, she starts each lap with a hind-foot stomp that echoes like a gunshot. She runs for a reason, too. She's got to make us work to catch her for a cuddle.

For the first few months, the fur did not fly like her sprints. But soon enough, it was time for her to shed like most bunnies do. The brush was just the warmup. I found that plucking actually was more bountiful and much preferred by both of us. I've started a nice collection of Willow fur that might someday become yarn.

February 2011

Her poofy coat has filled back in nicely since then. And sure enough, she started another shedding session this past week. I took advantage of a nice spring day and headed outside, where the fur can fly free. Here are a series of photos from Willow's day on the deck. She has grown to be quite a bunny!

Guard bunny, always alert

Time for a bath ...

Ahem! A little privacy, please?!

My pretty girl, always listening with at least one ear

With this last photo, Willow has made her debut on flickr's Explore, where photos with high "interestingness" show up. She has become quite a star in the past couple days as her admirers leave comments. I'm trying to not let it go to her fluffy head but she's never been the most humble queen of our suburban jungle. So I'll just feel humbled enough for the both of us.

Spin (In) cycle

2011-04-11T22:11:00.000-05:00

The Wisconsin Spring Spin In sprung and it was a splash. But alas, we never saw the hotel's indoor water park.

We were there to rep and sell for Interlacements Yarns. This show was a nice change of pace from the mega Stitches experience in California. Tracey (the boss), Zoe (the designer) and I made lots of fiber friends and enjoyed steady sales. The days were still long and all we wanted at the end was food and bed. ... And maybe a felted soap lesson.

Felting wool over hotel soap for a little late-night project. It's like always having a sudsy washcloth! We got tips from Tracey and followed these directions.

Back to the booth! (photo by Zoe Moulton)

This show was extra special for me because the company launched my first loom-knit pattern. The Bunny Baby hat and its Cotton Candy yarn got their own little loom corner. I believe we sold 4 or 5 patterns, which was pretty awesome for a small show.

I showed off some board knitting with Mikado wool yarn, too.

During the downtimes, I picked up an Interlacements pattern for the Beaded Scarf and translated it to the loom. I showed this off and some other simple stitches to our customers.

Some visitors wanted to buy a loom, too, which unfortunately we don't sell. But we might have a solution for future shows. One of our booth neighbors — Hillcreek Fiber Studio — goes to many of the same regional shows as Interlacements. They sell the hand-crafted Circular Sock Knitter by Spriggs Creations ... and a few other sizes, too.

Sock and hat looms

The worsted-gauge looms have nice smooth wooden base that I would compare to last year's Decor Accents looms. The pegs themselves are wooden and are a bit rougher. I won't be sure if this will be an issue until I start knitting with them. Soon enough, I will be designing some worsted socks for these babies and hopefully selling them at Interlacements! Then we can refer our customers to a local vendor for their loomy desires.

Some more snapshots from our show weekend ...

Zoe of Knits by Zoe tries her foot at spinning in the booth.

Interlacements hosts a Yarn & Fiber Tasting night.

Fiber bunny!

Hoppy new patterns!

2011-04-06T11:20:00.001-05:00

Spring is budding around the corner and I've been knitting in the spirit of it. I have two new patterns to share with you. … and they are Willow-approved!

Yep, they are bunny-inspired. They are also the first two loom-knit patterns for Interlacements Yarns line. They are both knit with a fluffy light yarn called Cotton Candy. So they are perfect for those sunny but blustery days when you want to keep your little ones warm.

They will be officially introduced at this weekend's Wisconsin Spring Spin In. I'll be doing my best to lure in some new loom-knitters at this show!

First up is one for the babies … the Bunny Baby Hat.

His uber-cute hat features two long raggedy ears. And the eyes and nose are knit into the pattern so that's less assembly for you! It will fit a baby about 4 to 6 mos. old. Oh and don't forget the bunny tail …

You can knit the bunny ears with stockinette so that it curls in a bit OR garter stitch for a flat look.

If you're just starting to loom knit, there's a free bonus with this pattern. You also get a stitch reference guide that covers u-wrap knit, purl, increasing and decreasing. PLUS you also get the warmers pattern mentioned below!

Pattern PDF download: $6

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The Bunny Bobble Warmers is the pattern spinoff. You can take what you learn from the hat and make these up in a few hours with your leftover yarn. They will fit a toddler best but you can make them shorter for your baby, too.

You can make these without having the hat pattern, too, if you're familiar with basic loom-knit stitches. Bobble directions are included.

Pattern PDF download: $2

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I have an Interlacements-exclusive special for you, too. You can head over there to buy the full pattern set for $6 (plus a lil shipping) and you'll get it all mailed to you in a full-color printout. Plus you can pick up some Cotton Candy yarn, too. You can make a few hats and warmers with this skein!

It's a pima-cotton blend that is baby soft and all of her yarns are hand-dyed in mega hanks. It has a bit of stretch, which is perfect for loom-knitting. You can even choose the color you want from the colorways page.

I recently helped relaunch the Interlacements Yarns website so I'm pretty proud of it. So after you ponder these patterns, go check out her goodies!

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 10/10

2011-04-03T12:53:00.000-05:00

I have passed along the last square for the project — for my friends' scarves, that is.

The Granite Stitch is a simple textured pattern. Since it has some ribbing characteristics, it shouldn't roll too much but you might want to add a garter border just to play it safe.

Granite Stitch
Multiple of 2 sts, knit flat
Row 1: K all
Row 2: K all
Row 3: *(P1 K1), rep from *
Row 4: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 5: K all
Row 6: K all
Row 7: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 8: *(P1 K1), rep from *

On the loom

But I'm not done yet. My own scarf — with my friends' contributions — has been returned. I will be knitting one more square to finish it off so I will have one bonus pattern for you! And it's going to be a lacey one.

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 9/10

2011-03-27T12:28:00.001-05:00

The dropped stitch gives an inch (more or less) and you feel like you've gained a mile in your project in not much time. Plus it's a fun design element to show off your more-interesting yarns.

On the loom

The dropped stitch is as easy as the first stitch you probably learned — the e-wrap. Knit your first peg. Next, e-wrap that same peg as many times as the pattern dictates. (You might run out of room after four wraps though.) DO NOT knit over the e-wraps. Continue onto the next pegs in the pattern. When you have completed your row, you should have several wraps secured on each peg.

If you are knitting in the round, you can continue onto the first peg in the next row. First, pick off the extra loops you e-wrapped. Don't worry, you won't lose your stitch. Then knit the peg and continue on.

If you are knitting flat, like these scarf squares have been, you won't be able to release the e-wraps on Peg 1 on this row. That is because they haven't been secured. So you're going to skip (slip) the first stitch and you'll release those e-wraps on the next row.

As you release your wraps, tug gently to pull through the dropped stitches. They will hang nice and neat.

Normally, dropped-stitch patterns have several rows of garter or stockinette between. Just for a different spin, I used seed stitch instead.

Dropped seed stitch
Multiple of 2 sts. plus edge sts., knit flat
Row 1: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 2: *(P1 K1), rep from *
-- Repeat Rows 1-2 four times or as many as desired. --
Row 9: *(K1, e-wrap 3 times), rep from *
Row 10: *(Drop 3 sts., K1 on same peg), rep from *

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 8/10

2011-03-20T22:34:00.000-05:00

As we near the end of the scarf project, I'm getting yarn antsy. I had to mix it up with some more interesting colorways. So I offer my apologies if they are not the best at displaying the stitch. But I need some spice to keep me going.

I marvel how my new original stitch — basketweave slip-stitch — turned out with James C. Brett Marble Chunky. While the striping yarn has "chunky" in the name, it knits more like a heavy worsted so it just fit the extra-small gauge loom.

On the loom

Here's how to create a slip-stitch on the loom. Remove the loop from the peg and hold with your pick. Take the working yarn and place it behind the peg and in front of the knitting. You are not wrapping the peg, you are skipping it — or slipping it as they say. Slip as many pegs as stated in the pattern. Then bring the working yarn back in front of the peg to knit. In my pattern, the slipped pegs are noted with "sl wyif," which stands for "slip work yarn in front." Enjoy!

Basketweave slip-stitch
Knit flat, multiple of 4 sts., plus edge stitches
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7: *(K2, sl wyif 2), rep from *
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: *(sl wyif 2, K2), rep from *

If you want an easy way to see all the squares in the project, check out the bottom of my Patterns page for the links.

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 7/10

2011-03-14T12:13:00.002-05:00

Here's an easy but pleasing square for the scarf project! The rib patten just jogs over every few rows to create the diagonal, almost twisted, look.

I don't think I chose the best yarn to show off the stitch. The twisted specks of pink and green are a bit distracting. But it's still a great stitch to keep your edges from rolling on flat projects. And it's reversible, too.

Diagonal rib (to the left)
Knit flat; multiple of 6 sts. plus edge sts.
Row 1: *(P2 K4), rep from *
Row 2: *(K4, P2), rep from *
Row 3: *(P2 K4), rep from *
Row 4: *(K4 P2), rep from *
Row 5: *(K2 P2 K2), rep from *
Row 6: *(K2 P2 K2), rep from *
Row 7: *(K2 P2 K2), rep from *
Row 8: *(K2 P2 K2), rep from *
Row 9: *(K4 P2), rep from *
Row 10: *(P2 K4), rep from *
Row 11: *(K4 P2), rep from *
Row 12: *(P2 K4), rep from *

WIPs and what-might-be's

2011-03-09T23:57:00.000-06:00

It's the eve of a heavy work period for me. So I want to talk about play! First up, we did get to knit a bit while in California for the Interlacements trip. Here's what I started ...

I cast on Interlacements' appropriately named California yarn for a shrug. I'm working off the Waves Shrug pattern in the Loom Knitting Primer book. The ribbon yarn is knitting like a worsted. I can already tell my gauge might be a little small so I'm hoping it will just take adding more rows in the back section.

I worked on this pattern during down times for our last day in the booth and invited many curious glances. Attendees were intrigued by loom-knitting and we're hoping to introduce it to a wider audience. I'm now working on my first loom-knit pattern for Interlacements Yarns.

I won't give away what it is yet. I want to see the pattern go well first. But it will be soft, cuddly and perfect for spring! I'm knitting with Interlacements' Mississippi cotton yarn.

This pattern and hopefully one more will debut at an April show in Pewaukee, Wis. Pattern #2 should feature ...

Baby Bison yarn

So if I have time, I'll be writing up a new fingerless mittens pattern for this springy wool yarn. I have a few ideas already brewing. Just to add one to the pot — I'm also hoping to write a lacy shawl pattern for this later on ...

Colorado yarn

I'm taking some time to study shawls a bit more before I jump on this project. Is there a type of shawl pattern you'd like to see for the loom? Let me know in the comments!

And in case I get "bored" or simply cast-on crazy, I have one more project just begging to be touched.

I will be translating a beaded scarf pattern to the loom ... probably for personal use. Tracey of Interlacements helped me wind the yarn and Em taught me to string on the beads. This project will be deserving of a blog all to itself once I get started!

Hoping off the Interlacements train, here's a WIP tease for my sis. That's Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, one of my favorites for the large-gauge loom. It will probably be warming up before I set this project down but it will be something to match her hat next winter!

It's knitting up quite fast when I squeeze it in between work, pattern design and the weekly Friendly Scarf Project square.

Yep, if only I had more time (and wrist strength) to knit away my days. It makes sense that these two alpaca beauties are in my "someday, oh someday" pile. I finally took a photo of them today.

A few months ago, the knitting guild, Zoe and I trekked to London Dairy Alpacas in Two Rivers, Wis. We got to almost-pet a few critters and shop a bit, too. The yarn feels so much more authentic when the woolies are just outside!

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 6/10

2011-03-05T12:11:00.001-06:00

I've loom-knitted past the halfway mark for the scarf project! I did miss a week but I feel so much more far behind the other knitters in the Saturday group. I think some of them are sneakily knitting two squares a week. ;-)

On the loom

For this week's stitch, I dug up a diamonds pattern from a needle-knitting dictionary. I really like the combined texture of the stockinette, garter and purl diamonds. I'd like to apply it to a hat pattern someday.

Raised Diamonds
Worked flat, multiple of 8 sts + 1 edge st. on both sides
Row 1: *(P1 K1), rep from *
Row 2: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 3: *(K1 P1 K2 P2 K1 P1), rep from *
Row 4: *(P1 K1 P2 K2 P1 K1), rep from *
Row 5: *(P1 K3 P3 K1), rep from *
Row 6: *(K1 P3 K3 P1), rep from *
Row 7: *(K4 P4), rep from *
Row 8: *(P4 K4), rep from *
Row 9: *(K3 P1 K1 P3), rep from *
Row 10: *(P3 K1 P1 K3), rep from *
Row 11: *(K2 P1 K1 P1 K1 P2), rep from *
Row 12: *(P2 K1 P1 K1 P1 K2), rep from *
Row 13: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 14: *(P1 K1), rep from *
Row 15: *(P1 K1), rep from *
Row 16: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 17: *(P2 K1 P1 K1 P1 K2), rep from *
Row 18: *(K2 P1 K1 P1 K1 P2), rep from *
Row 19: *(P3 K1 P1 K3), rep from *
Row 20: *(K3 P1 K1 P3), rep from *
Row 21: *(P4 K4), rep from *
Row 22: *(K4 P4), rep from *
Row 23: *(K1 P3 K3 P1), rep from *
Row 24: *(P1 K3 P3 K1), rep from *
Row 25: *(P1 K1 P2 K2 P1 K1), rep from *
Row 26: *(K1 P1 K2 P2 K1 P1), rep from *
Row 27: *(K1 P1), rep from *
Row 28: *(P1 K1), rep from *

Remember if you translate this pattern to an item connected in the round (such as a hat or sock), make sure that your row pairs stack and you work the stitch as it presents. What does that mean? For example, Row 27 would be (K1 P1)* and so would Row 28 since you haven't reversed directions.

Transferred to needles

Pattern: Trisha Ann Hat

2011-03-03T21:29:00.000-06:00

I know spring is just around the corner but we're still getting a few blustery days here in Wisconsin. So if you're looking for a quick loom-knit to end the season, check out this fun one!

Photos by Nicholas Wautier

My beautiful sister is the namesake and model of the Trisha Ann Hat. A few remnants of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick will do the trick. When you knit with super-bulky yarn, you'll have a hat in just a couple hours!

This FREE pattern features techniques discovered by other fellow loom-knitters. Learn more about the drawstring cast-on by Brenda Myers (PDF link) and the mock crochet stitch by "ladydove" Tina.

Download PDF now

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 5/10

2011-02-27T00:46:00.001-06:00

California was amazing but I couldn't wait to get home to this guy.

Coincidentally, the stitch pattern above/below his name is this week's scarf stitch. OK, so I've been working on my square for two weeks.

On the loom

I think the pattern popped a little more on Tyler's stocking. Do you see the subtle diamond pattern? Since it's a knit/purl combo, it makes for a nice substitute ribbing that won't roll.

Seersucker stitch
(Worked flat, multiple of 4 sts plus edging)
Row 1: *(K1 P1 K1 P1), rep from *
Row 2: *(P1 K1 P1 K1), rep from *
Row 3: *(P1 K3), rep from *
Row 4: *(K3 P1), rep from *
Row 5: *(K1 P1 K1 P1), rep from *
Row 6: *(P1 K1 P1 K1), rep from *
Row 7: *(K2 P1 K1), rep from *
Row 8: *(K1 P1 K2), rep from *

Off the loom

Stitches West weekend

2011-02-21T17:38:00.003-06:00

What I learned at Stitches:

When you take a group photo at the end of the show ...

Em, Kimberly (XRX's social media extraordinaire), Zoe, me and Tracey

Try not to knock over your boss.

(photos from Em's camera)

We had a busy busy weekend and you know what, the trip is not over! With a snowstorm hitting our Minneapolis layover and home of Green Bay, we're not flying out of California until Wednesday. But first, let's see some more goodies from the show.

I think I spent my preconceived yarn budget at Urban Fauna on Saturday. The shop stocked some handspun yarn candy and cute gadgets. I splurged on three skeins of San Diego-based Darling Bud Designs yarn in what we call muskmelon.

I have a bad habit of only buying one of handspun yarn and then I'm stumped for a project that isn't a hat. So I brought two to cool dude at the register. He talked me into the third who would have been a lonely widow on the rack. I also found a nice wooden multi-needle for felting and a sock monkey gauge ruler.

The sheep WPI gauge and nail file are from Friday's previously mentioned haul. Then Zoe surprised me with some pretty beaded split-ring stitch holders.

But it was mostly work with just short bursts of yarn play. Back to the booth ... where Zoe welcomes me back with grace on Sunday.

And then sneaking away for a bit to pick up some smelly soap from Sanguine Gryphon. They decorated their booth with a medieval flair.

Yes, I do believe those are handknit undies on the table.

And then run down the aisle to get a quick pic with "somebunnyslove" Kimberly and Rowan the bun. My heart goes out to her since her real bun Sweet Pea hopped across the rainbow bridge while she was away. May he be munching lots of bananas and carrots on the other side with his bunny friends.

Deanna, our partner in beady crime — and lady in purple, sneaks into the photo on the left.

I also returned to Ellen's to buy the rest of her sharp loom picks. They work wonderfully!

And then the show was over. We tore it all down in an hour. We headed over to our much more snazzy hotel, The Avatar. (We got poor service and little sleep at the Hilton.) This is what I imagine when I think of Silicon Valley.

We will be bunking here for the next two nights as we recover from the show and wait for an airplane that wants to fly to the snowy Midwest. We'll be treated to wine-and-cheese happy hours and mod living arrangements.

Jetson furniture!

Robots!

Cheers!

Stitches West: Day 2

2011-02-19T09:43:00.003-06:00

We're back at Stitches West in rainy Santa Clara, California. Good thing we get to spend most of Friday inside playing with yarn, right? Check out this nifty machine!

During a break from the Interlacements booth, I got to crank the Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine a couple aisles away. I've toyed with the children's toy version of these before and I was much more impressed with this one. It was well-built and the yarn fed in smoothly. You do need to pull on the project to get even tension as you crank it out. You can use stoppers to knit flat. This one has 46 needles for hats while a smaller one has 24 for smaller projects.

Then Tracey led me to an awesome find on the other side of the exhibit hall.

Ellen crafts these loom and knitting boards in 3/4, 3/8 and 1/4 gauges. She knit sock yarn on the 1/4-gauge 56-peg loom above and it creates an adult sock for a narrow foot. She recommended DK/baby weight for a larger sock on the same loom. The loom costs $25 and I'm sleeping on it. I do like the idea of loom-knitting a sock in between chunky and fine-yarn.

Ellen's Wooly Wonders doesn't have the looms posted online but you can contact her for more information. She will handcraft custom sizes. And check out the furry critter (needleknit) patterns while you're there.

Before the market opened, I snuck over to Purrfectly Catchy Designs. I bought another handy sock blocker — Lambsy Diva the sheep — to live with my bunny blocker at home. Zoe adopted Max the dog.

And then the market opened its doors for one of our busiest days! The yarny crowds were much more civilized than those Black Friday mobs though.

Later in the afternoon when these crowds died down, Zoe directed me to another market gem. A long woven banner made from 24-karat gold thread hangs high. It was made to honor a man 150 years ago.

The booth guy sells this thread and a slightly thicker thread that can be combined with another yarn while you knit, weave, crochet, etc.

At the Interlacements booth, it isn't gold but the Mamboo Bamboo yarn shines, too, on shelf and in sales.

I've been remiss in posting a photo of these pretty button badges, too. I made up a limited number for prizes and they have been quite popular. They feature Interlacements yarn and the Celtic-esque logo. Tracey plans to borrow a real button maker after the show and we're going to "mass-produce" these babies.

The market closed at 6 and after getting some food, it was time to put up our slipper feet at the pajama party.

We modeled for the contests and then did our own little photoshoot to cap off the day.

We're up again and getting ready for Day 3. And it looks like the blue skies are trying to overpower those gray clouds!

Stitches West: Day 1

2011-02-18T02:42:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Stitches Market Preview ... vicariously, that is.

We greeted early shoppers to the Interlacements booth Thursday. The line to the doors snaked through several hallways of the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. I missed the initial rush photo but I'll have three more chances this weekend.

Rhode Island and Mamboo Bamboo yarns

Rick Rack topper and the corresponding yarn

I made my first market purchase from Girl on the Rocks, who shared a booth with Pigeonroof Studios. She has the cutest sheep WPI gauges and bobbins. I first learned about her from Franklin Habit's blog post. I made sure to buy a few and took note of her equally wonderful yarns.

The day wasn't over when the market closed. We sat back for a bit at the Ravelry meetup. And soon enough, in rolled Em straight from the airport. Our Interlacements team is now complete! ... And then we got to meet the team behind Ravelry.

But let's rewind to the afternoon to wrap up today's mostly yarny blog post. Zoe and I trekked (in the rain, what's up sunny California, huh?) to the bus and wound our way south to the Winchester Mystery House. We toured a house that was continuously being built — and rebuilt — at the turn of the 20th century.

Sarah Winchester was widowed and worried about spirits. She believed a house built like a maze would confused the ghosts and guarantee her a long life. A staircase would lead to ceiling, cupboards would open to walls and a door opened to "nowhere".

We got a quick glance of the gardens (and a taste of what our Wisconsin spring will be like) on our way out. The rain even gave us a little reprieve.

Good night until tomorrow, our first full day of Stitches West!

Outside the Santa Clara Convention Center

Pre-Stitched

2011-02-16T22:30:00.000-06:00

It was windy but beautiful outside in Santa Clara, California.

But we stayed inside most of the day, setting up the equally beautiful Interlacements booth for Stitches West knitting expo.

Owner Tracey Schuh

Setting up the grid walls

Zoe trapped in a grid cube

Hanging the Rick Rack yarn

Clara's Shell pattern and Irish Linen yarn

Now it's time to knit a bit and get some sleep. See you tomorrow!

California, here we come

2011-02-14T20:20:00.000-06:00

My Interlacements Hawaii stole is fresh from blocking …

25th Street Stole pattern by Jenny Stark

The suitcase is almost packed (around the looms, of course) …

And my knit purse has been lined with nifty (and fun!) pockets for shopping efficiency.

It's time for Stitches West!!

We're hopping on a plane Tuesday to sunny — maybe a bit rainy — California. Zoe, Em and I are working for Interlacements Yarns, the yummy yarn company run by Tracey here in the Northeastern Wisconsin. We're setting up a booth at the Santa Clara expo and will be selling her wares Thursday through Sunday. And shopping, of course!

Ad design for Stitches Showbook

I've been busy photographing new yarns and designing pattern booklets. Zoe is debuting two gorgeous needleknit patterns, Clara's Shell and Bamboo Flame Scarflet.

And Interlacements is releasing the following new yarns. You should be able to find these (and the patterns) online after the show.

Mamboo Bamboo, bamboo ribbon yarn

Midori, tencel fingering weight

Silk Foo Young, worsted silk blend

Irish Linen, formerly Kansas, worsted rayon blend

I'm hoping to blog daily while we are there. Palm trees, a haunted house, pajamas and lots of yarn are headed your way (vicariously). Hasta la vista … baby.

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 4/10

2011-02-13T12:44:00.000-06:00

This is a stitch I'm excited to use again. For this past week's scarf project, I worked on a lacy stitch called punchwork. Check out the k2togs and yos ...

I'm hoping to use this stitch with some lighter weight yarn for a shawl pattern someday.

Transferred to needles

Punchwork

Multiple of 3 stitches plus edge stitches

Row 1: *K1, YO, k2tog, rep from *

Row 2: *K1, P1, K1, rep from *

Row 3: *K1, k2tog, YO, rep from *

Row 4: *P1, K2, rep from *

On the loom

Next week's scarf pattern will be a bit late. I'm heading off to California for Stitches West. More on the that tomorrow!

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 3/10

2011-02-06T15:04:00.004-06:00

So I set out last week to do the Stamen Stitch for my scarf square. Ooops! I accidentally forgot to purl my even rows and I knit up the Woven Stitch instead. My hands must be trained that way because I've done this stitch quite a few times before. It's featured in my Rocky Road fingerless mittens pattern and I used it in a scarflet gift two Christmases ago.

Rocky Road fingerless mitts

Gift for my mother-in-law

But in case you missed it, here it is again!

I knit it up with some sparkly purple Caron Simply Soft.

Woven stitch
Multiple of 2 stitches plus 2 edge stitches
Row 1: K all
Row 2: K1 *(Slip 1, work yarn in front, K1), rep from *, K1
Row 3: K all
Row 4: K1 *(K1, Slip 1, wyif), rep from *, K1

On the loom

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 2/10

2011-01-29T23:39:00.000-06:00

My reference book calls this stitch "Diagonal 7 (to the right)." But that's only because it's the 7th diagonal stitch in that section. And it's really just a coincidence that it uses a multiple of 7 stitches. So I'll just use my blogger's license and rename it for the purpose of the scarf project.

Transferred back to needles for the next knitter

Diagonal garter rib (right leaning)
Multiple of 7 sts. + 1 edge st. on each side / worked flat
Row 1: SL1, *P4 K3, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 2: SL1, *K3 P4, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 3: SL1, *P2 K3 P2, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 4: SL1, *P2 K3 P2, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 5: SL1, *K3 P4, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 6: SL1, *P4 K3, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 7: SL1, *K1 P4 K2, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 8: SL1, *K2 P4 K1, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 9: SL1, *P3 K3 P1, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 10: SL1, *P1 K3 P3, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 11: SL1, *P1 K3 P3, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 12: SL1, *P3 K3 P1, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 13: SL1, *K2 P4 K1, rep from * 3 times, K1
Row 14: SL1, *K1 P4 K2, rep from * 3 times, K1

Is it wrong that I like the wrong side more?

The Friendly Scarf Project, Square 1/10

2011-01-24T22:16:00.001-06:00

Whaaaa? I'm knitting on needles?

Nope, not quite. I just transferred my loom-knitting over to the sticks. I'm working on a new collaborative project with my Saturday Nuts for Knitting friends. Here's how it works. We each start a scarf with our choice of stitch count, pattern and yarn. Then we trade our squares every Saturday and add onto a friend's scarf. That step times 10 equals an almost-complete scarf returned to original owner, who then knits the last square and binds off. My patchwork scarf will be bursting with my friends' personal touches of style every 6 inches.

I just have to add that extra step of switching over my loomy swatch for my needle-knitting friends.

Here's a tip if you ever have to transfer from the loom to needles for your own reasons. Unless you're using double-points (DPNs), make sure you start from the opposite side of your working yarn. When you transfer your loop to the needle, the right side of the loop should be in the front (the right side) and left side of the loop should be in the back. For me, I had to remove the loop and enter the front of the stitch so it wouldn't twist. Thanks to my friend, Zoe, for helping me understand how stitches should rest on needles!

This collab will be a great opportunity to try some out some new stitch patterns. The first one up was the Pique Rib 1 stitch.

Worked on a multiple of 3 stitches.
Row 1: (K2 P1*) rep. from *
Row 2: (K2 P1*) rep. from *
Row 3: (K2 P1*) rep. from *
Row 4: P all

For my scarf, I cast on 28 stitches and added a 3-stitch garter border on each side plus a P1 at the start of each row pattern after the garter.

You can also check out the swatch over at Loom Knitting Central's blog. Our minds were thinking alike last week.

I *should* have weekly updates of stitch patterns as our scarves grow. I've cast on a diagonal rib for square 2/10 so stay tuned!

Stitchin' some ... graphics

2011-01-16T17:10:00.000-06:00

I've haven't been twiddling my thumbs for the past couple months. Instead of knittin', I've been clickin' more on the computer making some graphic designs for some good people. And I've been working part-time as a consultant for a local newspaper group.

First up is an identity package for the Loom Shop/Loom Knitting Central. Loomy friend Stasia is doing an awesome job with this! I'm looking forward to her contributions to the loom-knitting community. The website is still under development but you can follow her on Facebook for tips and project sharing.

The next gal wanted to reinvent her shop with a new name and look. Brenda is a loom-knitter turned needle-knitter and sews, too. She wanted something whimsical that represented both sides of her business. She's currently selling on her Facebook page.

My logo-makin' has been mostly a 2nd- into 3rd-shift job. During the day, I've been working for a group of weekly newspapers. I'm helping them make the shift from one page design program (QuarkXpress) to another (Adobe InDesign). It's been a wonderful experience getting out of the house for a bit and working with some amazing, hard-working people. I'm talking to people instead of the bunny! (Don't worry, Willow still gets some playtime.)

That job is winding down, too, so I'm winding up some yarn! Watch for some new patterns and projects in the coming weeks. PLUS I'm getting ready to head to California to work as a yarn rep for Interlacements Yarns at Stitches West. It's going to be a fun couple of winter months! Stay warm and keep crafting!

Last-chance Christmas

2010-12-19T01:50:00.023-06:00

It's finally 100% Christmas in our house. Our tree is decked with lights and ornaments from our childhoods and adulthoods. And the house is sparkly on the outside.

Has Christmas snuck up on you, too? If so, I'm having a last-minute sale in my Etsy shop. Check out some of these gift goodies ...

Infant-size dino hat, available in toddler size, too.
Mountain View recycled T-pillow, for your artistic friend
Sparkly cinch-bag, perfect for a winter wedding
Slinky recycled T-pillow, for your geeky buddy

At the checkout, enter coupon code LASTCHANCE for 25% off. Plus you get free U.S. Priority shipping so the post office Santa should get it to your home by Christmas.

Shopping for something you don't see? Maybe a monster hat or scarflette? I'm open to new ideas for the new year! Leave me a little comment below.

Have a wonderful winter holiday!

Happy St. Nick's

2010-12-05T20:31:00.002-06:00

Are your stockings hung by the chimney with care? My husband's is!

I pulled several patterns and color charts together to design his mega Christmas sock. I created my own letter chart for bulky yarn and his name just fit! I'm not sure my name will be as lucky.

The specs:
Loom: 48-peg purple Knifty Knitter hat loom, regular gauge
Yarn: Katia Peru bulky in ruby, dark navy, olive green and mustard
Rows: 64 rows in the leg, (short-row heel), 30 rows in the foot, (short-row toe)

I haven't done much new knitting otherwise. I'm designing a poinsettia hat for myself and about halfway through a puppy hat for a friend's toddler boy. Maybe I'll knit a last-minute gift or two. I promised myself I wouldn't but well ... we'll see!

Speaking of, here's a perfectly honest video about Christmas knitting by Franklin Habit.

Zig-Zag Cowl

2010-12-03T22:49:00.000-06:00

If your neck is feeling nippy, you can loom-knit this lace cowl in less than a week. Here's a quickie pattern for you to make for you or give as a gift.

I label this pattern as "advanced" since it incorporates lace yarn-overs on the loom. But if you've done those before, this will be a breeze. And you won't feel one when you're done.

Pattern PDF download, $3

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Rocky Road Fingerless Mittens

2010-12-01T22:59:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a quick gift to loom-knit, check out these mitts. The Rocky Road fingerless mittens hug your giftee's hands with their soft bumpy texture.

If you're looking for more ideas, check out the pattern page or come back later this week for a lacey cowl pattern. Happy holiday looming!

Pattern PDF download, $3

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The story behind the sale

2010-11-26T12:59:00.000-06:00

If Black Friday is turning you blue with the wintery winds outside, come back in and shop online for a bit. Etsy has a nifty Shop Local page so you can still support your neighbors, too. Handmade crafts have a story to share. Check out this nifty video from the Etsy itself.

What's my story? My T-pillows are made with repurposed and thrift materials. I start with a well-loved, clean shirt with an intriguing graphic. Mountain View is made with a limited-edition Threadless tee so it's extra unique.

Scrap fabric completes the back. This pillow is trimmed with some vintage tassels from my mom-in-law's basement. The pillow is eco-friendly and has a bit of history to boot. The only new item is a button handmade by Lisa Clarke of Polka Dot Cottage. So the story continues. Visit her site and Etsy shop to discover her crafts.

Back in my lil shop, I'm having a Free U.S. Shipping Sale plus 10% off all stock for this holiday shopping weekend. This baby blue dino just arrived and his orange buddy is coming soon.

If you want to take handmade into your own hands, here's a sneak peek at two loom-knit patterns coming next week. They are drying now before their big photo shoot. They will be quick knits just in time for a last-minute holiday gift.

Happy Holidays and stay warm while shopping or knitting!

Welcoming Willow

2010-11-12T12:57:00.000-06:00

A new girly bunny has moved into the Made by Telaine headquarters. With her speckled gray and white fur, I've named her Willow for the tree bark with a secondary nod to my favorite tv Buffy character.

Hullo!

Willow certainly looks furry with her lionhead mane and puffy butt. But she actually sheds into the air a bit less than some other bunnies. Lionheads are wool breeds and if I am patient, I could turn her fur into yarn. It would probably take more than a year's worth though since she's less furry than an angora breed.

Willow checks out her room

My girl was one of three who came to visit with Kristin from K&R Small Animal Sanctuary in Oshkosh, Wis. It was a tough choice! I think I spent about two hours choosing between Willow (who was then named Dazzle) and the black lop-eared Trick. The lop was quite awesome and I recommend him to anyone in my area looking for a mellow bun. He's content in your lap and he even checks back with you while he hops around to explore. A black lionhead, Nala, also visited. I think this beauty would be a great choice for someone who has rabbit experience. She just needs a little TLC but has come a long way in temperament since arriving at the sanctuary a short while ago.

In the end, Willow was the sweetheart for me — once you caught her — and I was looking for a small rabbit this time around.

She's a speedy little girl!

Now that Willow knows she's here to stay a bit, she's become a bit more opinionated with her thumps. She does this one-foot pound while I try to catch her to say "I don't like this!" I'm sure time and daily handling will calm her. It only took one day for her to learn the litter-box rules in her new home.

She'll do almost anything for a treat.

And my home feels complete again, with a furry friend. I can be the crazy crafty gal who talks to her bunny while she works.

A little Red, orange and yellow

2010-10-31T19:12:00.004-05:00

My likely last garden update is brought to you by my alter ego, Red Riding Wolf Hood.

Happy Halloween!

Little is left in the Goen garden but a few plants still have some fight in them — even after this past windy week.

Toughest tomato plant of the backyard

Last of the pink spirea

This pink daylily didn't bloom all summer long. The leaves were yellowing and then this month, pow — a bud pops out of the ground. But I think the frost might have claimed this tardy flower. It doesn't want to open.

Maple leaves before the windy week

Purple petunias

It's not a flora photo but it represents the season. I had a blast carving pumpkins for the first time in years with my knitty friends Em, Vicki and Zoe. "Dead Jack" is flickering away on the porch now. (Photo by Em Bielinski)

Back to the garden ... I'm going to miss my favorite season to take photos. Flowers are my favorite model (sorry, Em) ;-) and the long days give good light in my craft room. Goodbye garden and see you in spring!

Putting pencil to pattern

2010-10-28T17:42:00.001-05:00

With finished knits heading out, new projects are knocking on the door. I'm ready for something new so I'm going to design a few loom-knit patterns for you.

The first one up is a lacey cowl. Yep, it's the one frogged above. With my first try on the 41-peg large-gauge loom, I found the gauge to be a bit loose. I am using Interlacements Yarns Yang bulky yarn but it's acting like a heavy worsted for me. So I will be instead casting on the 48-peg medium-gauge loom.

I designed some long woven-stitch fingerless mittens for my mom this past summer. But I forgot to take photos. So I'll be looming a pair for myself with some chunky alpaca to go with the pattern. So those are just two of the projects I'll be writing up. Is there a loomy pattern you haven't seen yet? Let me know and I might be able to design it. Check out my current patterns on my shop page or on Ravelry.

Now it's time to say goodbye to two projects that had been filling my days and nights. My friend, Alenne, is on her way to pick up the pink and white afghan. It's a double-knit rib pattern with four rows of furry yarn during color changes. I knit three panels on the Knifty Knitter blue long loom/knitting board. My friend, Lyn, taught me the proper mattress stitch for almost-invisible seams. It's stretchy and soft!

And it's the last of the dino hats for a little while. Today, I dropped off the last two in blue and orange for twin baby boys. I think she and her nearby co-worker loved them so they are a wonderful finale for me.

Before the curtain call, one child-size dino did stomp into the Etsy shop. Pick him up for a birthday, Christmas or just because.

Graphics in the bag

2010-10-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

Let's get a little graphic … artsy. To my extreme glee, my freelance graphic design gig has picked up a little. Here is a big one I recently put to bed …

Power of the Purse sponsor presentation

Click the link above to see a Flash presentation I updated for the Women's Fund, a local charity. Former instructor Diana Resch passed this on to me to help get my name out in the local graphic designer pool.

I should have gotten a photo of me because I actually gussied up a bit for this luncheon. I wore a pretty black lace and gray top from LucieLu. Speaking of the gal who runs the online shop, I've done a bit more design work for her, too.

Print ads for BUST magazine

Homepage graphic

Working off the same look of the sale, I'll next design some typography illustrations for some vintage postcards. She wants to add a little thank-you to each package she sends out.

I have three logo projects in the works. First up is one for a knitting-loom shop business that is right up my alley. Next I'll will turn Wisconsin into a knit mitten for The Bay Area Knitters Guild. And No. 3 is Stitch 1, Stitch 2 for the former Craft Junkie. Yep, I notice a theme here. I can't help if my acquaintances all tend to be knitters. I can do much more though! So if you're looking for a logo, business card, web art, etc., send me an e-mail and we'll chat. Check out my portfolio. I'll be ready for new jobs in January 2011.

While we're in the realm of graphic design, here's one more moment of personal pride. Nicole of Hello Sweetcheeks sent me a Francesco Mugnai blog link that includes my business cards (and hers!) among the best of September. All that eyelet hammering was not for naught.

Spooky sale!

2010-10-13T22:25:00.002-05:00

Lately, I've been the culprit who goes bump in the night. I've been knitting like the ghostly wind, working on custom orders. I'm taking a short break now to add a little "Boo!" to my blog. It's time for a Halloween sale!

Rocket glow wristband, Pink monster hat, Purple glow wristband,
Halloween skeleton t-pillow, Green alien wristband, Black monster hat

If you're looking for a crafty costume or decoration, check out my Etsy shop. All of my Halloween-theme merchandise is 33% off until the end of October. And I've added a few special wristbands from my Sputnikfest stock. These nifty cuffs glow in the dark. The buttoned ones are adjustable and the rocket one is stretchy. Let them sit in the sun all day and they glow for night-time fun.

In between my non-knitty jobs and a new exercise routine, I just finished the cutest hat for a local client. She asked for a baby hat for a shower and gave me creative freedom. I remembered an idea from my friend, Erin. I set to work on a furry puppy hat in girly colors. The puppy ears hang low to become ear flaps for the little baby ears. I handed off the hat today and I hope the new mother loves it!

Garden buzz

2010-10-01T22:54:00.007-05:00

Autumn has arrived but my garden is still pretty bzzz-y. The fall flowers are blooming and the bees are feasting. The sedum has been the buffet of the block. I like to believe they are quite thankful for the nectar so I thought it would make a good card for my Etsy shop.

Autumn sedum bee thank-you card listing ... available as a single card for $2. If you'd like a discounted set of 6 or 12, send me message!

Onto to the best photos of my September garden ...

This year, I caught a butterfly enjoying the sedum.

... And a bee sleeping in my bunny statue's ear.

The Mitzy planter shows off the licorice vine on the deck.

On the patio below, my stubborn strawberry plant tries to bear another round before our first frost hits.

Now I want to show of the star of the season. My four toad lilies are all blooming in the shade garden. These teeny tiny flowers squish in so many details that I love getting right in their faces. I can't wait to see how they spread to fill out the area next year.

This big bloomer came from my mother-in-law's friend.

The tallest toad lily of dark purple and white rises high above the three other plants.

Tagged

2010-09-27T19:20:00.000-05:00

Let's play tag! And I'll be it. I got some nifty labels to stitch into the latest Made by Telaine products.

Etsy shop Mommie Made It printed my logo on organic cotton twill ribbon and shipped them to me last week. That was just in time for the first label to go on a purple dino hat.

This beastie got shipped to a Sputnikfest customer this morning. I know I keep saying dinos are coming to the Etsy shop but they are selling as fast as I can make them. If you really want one for Christmas, I recommend placing a custom order!

So what else is looming? Here's a peek into my queue …

Baby puppy hat / requested by snazzy local Daily Buzz Cafe barista / due in early October

Red dino hat / requested by a long-time friend for her dino-loving kid / due in October ... A purple youth dino hat *should* be coming into the shop around then, too.

Twin dino hats / requested by an awesome local gal who found me through Little Orange Kitchen from Sputnikfest / due in late October

Pink and white afghan / requested by a sweet local friend / half done and due in November … it's got the farthest-out deadline but it's the biggest project. So that's what I'll be knitting up tonight with a little Farscape on the TV. Happy looming!

Intertwined with Interlacements

2010-09-23T12:39:00.001-05:00

My newest job has me wrapped around its little finger. With yarn. And I don't mind a bit! Let me introduce you to Interlacements Yarns and the woman who has a heart as big as her craft stash.

Do you remember the bit of happy news from Stitches Midwest I couldn't quite share yet? Well, the yarn's out of the bag as of right now.

With my knitty friends Zoe and Em, I became reacquainted with an old Loops and Links regular Tracey Schuh. I remembered her as the amazing sock-machine knitting magician (which is another hobby I'd like to try someday). And I've since learned she once had an interest in loom-knitting, too.

Two pretty antique knitting boards came home with me.

She and her husband had just bought Interlacements Yarns and were running the booth at the yarn expo. Before us gals knew it, she asked us to work for her at Stitches West in Santa Clara, Calif., in February. !!! Yep, California, here we come.

OK, this isn't California. But Tracey does have a breath-taking backyard that makes you feel like you're on vacation.

But before we sell the yarn, we got to learn the yarn. So we've paid some visits to her home and headquarters … and in turn, have been paid in yummy yarn and other goodies.

New York, California, Hawaii and Yang ... all hand-dyed yarns of varying weights. I wrote up a quick lacey cowl pattern just today for the silky wool Yang. (But I won't get to knit it for at least another month.)

Another "payment" ... This 60-inch Decor Accents knitting board means I will never have to knit lap afghans in panels again!

But this goes beyond yarn play for me. I also get to employ my graphic design skills. My work has spanned from logos and photography to creating an Etsy shop. During our last visit, I took photos of her samples to sell.

Sunset cap-sleeve tee, modeled by the impressive Em

Detail of the Prairie shell top

The tops and socks feel as soft as they look. The socks already have a starring role in an Etsy treasury today. The yarn is hand-dyed and comes in wools, cotton, flax and silk to name a few fibers. If you want the yarn itself, you can head over to the main Interlacements website. We're still sorting the current bounty …

… And more beauties are on their way!

Sputnikfest success

2010-09-14T19:09:00.006-05:00

The forecast wasn't promising. But we made the trek to my hometown of Manitowoc, Wis., on a very rainy morning with hope in my heart. And it turns out a cloudy day doesn't scare away the alien enthusiasts. My little Made by Telaine venture made a splash at this year's Sputnikfest.

Mr. Plat and I got soaked until the tent was actually up. Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is? He got up at 5:30 a.m. to help drive 45 minutes to set up a craft fair booth in the rain. More thanks to ... My dad who found and delivered tables; my mom who sat with me for most of the day; AND my sisters and knitty friends who drove from out of town and stopped by, umbrellas in hand. We had no idea anyone was even going to show up to this shindig.

Anyway ... A few drip drops creeped in so I strategically arranged the products in the drier areas — and rearranged about three times until the fair began.

The dino hats and glow-in-the-dark wristbands were the big winners in the booth. And now I have two, maybe four, more dino hats to make this fall! If you want one for Christmas, we better chat soon!

The displays I bought from Shana (Loops & Links yarn shop) came in handy. My little signs about loom-knitting and pillow-making were read by a few. I think I need a bigger sign though.

I had made enough sales to pay for my booth fee and then some when a sweet surprise came my way. I won second place for Best of Show!! The "pottery guy" won first and I believe it with everything I heard about his awesome egg cookers. I also met the wonderful gal behind Gracie Designs who is working on creating a crafter co-op in my area. The fair organizer, Kim, was also a sweet, laidback gal to work with.

Let's check out what happened just outside my booth throughout the day ...

My mom hangs out with some Star Wars characters.

And then they fight!

My sister, Tessa, tries on a monster hat but I think her boyfriend, Brian, makes a more convincing monster face.

Tracy goes alien with some new specs ... Tessa and I drive a spaceship for a few minutes.

A purple alien welcomes folks to the craft fair.

Lots of Made by Telaine pins went to the kids who like free stuff — or maybe I inspired some future knitters. Ok, ok ... I know the real reason. This alien dude found a good home at least!

I had a blast at Sputnikfest and I would do it again ... with hopefully a sunnier day. I'm going to get one of those blow-up aliens, too.

Ready to launch

2010-09-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

3 ... 2 ... 1 ... BLAST OFF! The latest Made by Telaine merchandise is rocketing to this weekend's craft show at Sputnikfest. After several weeks of knitting, stitching and punching — let's check out the out-of-this-world artifacts!

Wacky wristbands and hairbands made with glow-in-the-dark yarn are a Sputnikfest special. My mother-in-law Diana helped find some awesome alien buttons to embellish these stretchy loom-knits.

Check out the glow! They can be a fun festival souvenir now and Halloween accessory later. And speaking of the costumed holiday, the dino hats are finally back!

The purple and jade are baby-size, which makes them a quick costume for your little one. The yellow dino is just a little bigger for a toddler. They are fun to wear even after Halloween. I'm accepting custom orders for any size.

What would a good launch be without a soft-landing? I cut up some no-longer-loved shirts to make t-pillows. They all come with a removable plush pillow for easy cleaning. Do you have a favorite tee that is no longer wearable? Bring it to the booth or talk to me on Etsy — I can give it a second life!

My business cards boast a second use, too. With my friend Erin's help, I punched some holes and hammered some eyelets into these very resilient cards. I really had to hammer hard (or ask my husband) to get these holes made! But now they double as product tags with price info on the back. I'm very happy with how they turned out!

Retro-cool poster designed by Tina Kugler

The Artta this World craft fair is at Sputnikfest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc, Wis. I'll be setting up shop in Booth 7. If you're not local, don't fret. Items much like these will be heading to the online shop, too!

Hello, September

2010-09-01T13:10:00.002-05:00

You might be sending your kids to school this time of year, but for me, it's back to business. I've got a bit to say today and it might be a bit text-heavy so let's get a kinda-sorta photo up on top now.

I am sending out my first Made by Telaine newsletter. If you haven't subscribed yet, you have until 3 p.m. today (Sept. 1) for the first issue. Go ahead, give it a chance. If you really don't like it, it's easy to unsubscribe but I'm hoping you'll stick around. I'm going to talk shop, teach a little looming and offer a nice bit of savings each month.

I've been running my blog and Etsy shop for more than a year, so why a newsletter now? Well, I'm in a sharing mood today so here's some insight from the gal behind the website.

It's been a year and 8 months since I left my normal full-time design job at the local newspaper. Back then, I naively thought I would fall into a new job within a matter of months. In the meantime, I decided to do some freelance graphics and build an Etsy shop for a little money. I honestly didn't put all I had into these ventures. And the right job never came along. So this summer, I made a decision. If I wasn't going to settle for a less-than-ideal job in the real world, I had to try harder with my dream world.

I've made some tweaks to my life online and offline this summer that I've mostly blogged about so I won't repeat. As a result, you should see more stuff in the shop and find it easier to chit-chat with me.

New listing: White Wedding clutch purse, knit by Lyn of the Made by Telaine co-op

New listing: Custom fingerless mittens. Check out the listing to see yarn choices!

I also am trying one more time to translate my shop into a craft fair booth. I've been crafting like crazy for the past month to prepare some new dino hats, novelty wristbands and t-pillows. Next week, I will blog about all the goodies for Sputnikfest. The craft fair is on Sept. 11 at the Rahr-West Museum grounds in Manitowoc, Wis. So if you live around there, you should pop on by to check out some aliens and crafts!

You're going to see a bit more of me on Facebook and Ravelry, too. I've been making more updates on my Facebook page. Sometimes, it will be about the shop. Other times, it might be a neat link related to my crafts. I'll try to keep it fun and not spammy!

Snake hat-scarf loom-a-long on Ravelry

On the Ravelry side, I'm working on more patterns to share with the loom-knitting community. In July, I hosted a loom-a-long for a simple washcloth. This month, it's all about the snake hat-scarf for more intermediate knitters. Please feel free to join us! With the feedback I gain, I might someday write my own pattern book. A gal can dream, right?

Because that's the theme of this month. I might be dreaming with all these lofty business ventures but I have to start somewhere and I hope you come along for the ride.

My nifty new business cards!

Garden goods and bads

2010-08-30T16:24:00.000-05:00

I could say a few bad apples have grown in my garden this season. But when I say "apples" I mean my veggie plants. It's time to take off my gardener gloves and show you more than just pretty pictures this time. But first, a happy story ...

A few years ago, I read about the candy corn vines in our local newspaper. I absolutely loved them. They boast a punch of color and furry flowers — not to mention that candy corn is one of my favorite fall sweets. But I was too late to the greenhouse that year to pick up my own and for years afterward, I could not find them ...

... Until this year! I was scoping out the clearance flowers at Stein and there they were. Tons of them! I wanted to buy a cart-full but I restrained myself with two. They are labeled as annuals so I wasn't going to get much more out of them this year. Sometimes growers can get them to come back so my fingers are crossed. I'm trying one outside and one inside — the out is winning so far.

So from here on out, let's keep it honest and show you a pretty for every pathetic. The following is why I call myself an amateur gardener.

The white hydrangeas turned peachy pink in August.

My onions never got bigger. I thought I did better with spacing them apart this year, too.

The bees are indulging in the the front-yard sedum.

My cucumber plants are a bit stunted. A few of them have been "growing" since July.

The exotic toad lilies are still popping and the two other varieties are about to do the same.

Blight is hitting my peppers hard. I don't think we're getting a second sweet pimiento one.

What I thought looked like weeds throughout the summer finally bloomed! The turtlehead chelone is producing tons of pretty pink flowers per stem.

At least the oregano is happy in the crate. The spinach never looked awesome enough to pick. Now some mystery chives and a strangler marigold are poking out.

Good tomato.

Bad tomatoes. Well, the Early Girls in the sad hanging container are. Just below it, the Sugar Shack cherry tomatoes from last year somehow planted themselves into the rocks and RUG. The sprawling plant doesn't look pretty but it's certainly producing.

Let's get back to the all good. More specifically, check out this delicious strawberry in my first set of greeting cards. You can buy a 6-pack now in my Etsy shop. And a new set is coming soon.

Stitched 2010

2010-08-25T23:32:00.003-05:00

I didn't need more yarn. That's well-represented by my haul from a shop-closing sale and well, my flickr set of my stash. But I was happy for a weekend away with friends and fiber.

An annual expo for all things yarn-related, Stitches Midwest was a step above last year. We stayed an extra day and knitted many hours in the fancy hotel lobby. A knitting-board afghan and glow-in-the-dark wrist cuffs were my happy poison.

We walked a few laps in the market Friday and discovered a few treasures. I tried to focus on accessories instead of yarn but I was foiled by a few gems. After a day of driving and shopping, we happily relaxed at pajama party hosted by amazing "somebunnyslove" Kimberly.

I was surprised to win the prize for craziest pajamas with my sock monkey'd apparel. My last-minute slippers even matched but they kept falling off. I didn't measure my negative ease too well with the Pretty Peds pattern by Bethany Dailey (PDF). But a simple strap will keep them on for future footing.

Our Saturday market trek was more laid back. I needle-felted another pin and added to my roving fiber stash. Now I have to actually needle-felt more at home. With all these pretty colors, I have no excuse!

During one of our breaks, Julie Romanowski of Knitters Magazine chatted us up about the show. We told her how we loved the market but haven't tried the rather-pricey classes yet. Then I filled her in how loom-knitting has leaped forward in the past several years. I may have name-dropped a few of my favorite loom makers and authors. I don't know if it will go anywhere. But it would be pretty awesome to see loom-knitting represented at future Stitches. Hey, I would even be willing to teach one of the market sessions if I were a big name.

Saturday was topped by a surprise that I can't talk about yet but it cemented smiles on our faces for the rest of the trip. On Sunday, we knit some more (of course) and then loaded our loot. Without further adieu, here's my take (kinda clockwise):

Needle-felting kit of many colors from Esther's Place
Unplanned Peacock Studio sock yarn, KidLin mohair, Wacky Woolies mug and stitch markers ... all part of my PJ prize
Newton's Nevada Print yarn ... for a someday lacey thingie
A Knitting Universe t-shirt with a cool kangaroo
Creatively Dyed Yarn "Beaches" fingering weight ... the colorway is called Kingsland but it's vampire yarn to me
Colinette Art yarn from Flying Fingers Yarn Shop ... where an awesome dude gave us free totes and needles

Speaking of Flying Fingers, we checked out their ride on our way out.

Oh, Canada

2010-08-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago we took a trip south* to Canada. First, we were tourists for a day at Niagara Falls.

The American and Horseshoe falls, stitched together

After the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the falls. We got very wet.

For the next few days of our trip, I tried out a little new and old.

New food ... a caesar salad with tempeh bits, edamame, sun-dried tomato, jicama, red pepper, napa cabbage and pine nuts. Our friend, Debs, took us to this great restaurant, Fresh on Spadina in downtown Toronto.

Old habits ... Checking out a yarn shop called Lettuce Knit in Toronto.

My favorite husband ever bought this delicious yarn candy for me. Hand Maiden Fine Yarn is hand-dyed in Canada. The skein is made of silk, superwash merino wool and seacell. Someday, it will be a luxurious lacey shawl or scarf.

For the weekend, we crashed at our friend Errol's house, the place of awesome musics and Fluffytron the bunny. Mr. Plate got to collaborate with some of this friends and I got to witness the magic. Go check out the live collab (done in one hour!) "Right on Time" and more by The Cow Exchange in the 50/90 challenge.

Another crafty connection to this trip might be the reason why it took an hour or two to cross the border on our way home. A couple days before we left a woman was busted with 3,000 buttons laced with cocaine. The "fashion designer" was trying to get into the country at the Toronto airport. Good thing we bought yarn, not buttons!

Alas, we were welcomed back to the U.S. of A. After eight hours of driving, we boarded the Lake Michigan car ferry and sailed to Wisconsin.

* And yes, Niagara Falls and Toronto are technically south of Green Bay, Wis.

Remembering Mr. Mitzy

2010-08-13T13:08:00.001-05:00

My best bunny friend Mr. Mitzy hopped his way across the rainbow bridge on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. A sudden illness took his life after only 1 year and 7 months. He was a wonderful Rex rabbit who kept me company while working from home.

His ashes will be buried in an herb urn. This year I'm planting it with a purple sage and some licorice vine that reminds me of his fur. Next year, I'll plant his favorite munchies. A stone bunny statue that resembles Mitzy as a baby will stand nearby.

I adopted a 3-month-old Mitzy from the Bay Area Humane Society in March 2010. I thought I was getting a girly bunny but the vet said "It's a boy!" So the "Mr." was added to his name.

The furry tumbleweeds got larger and larger as he grew up fast. He loved to play with all sorts of toys. His tunnel and rope carrot were favorites as a babe. He moved on to demolishing baskets. At 6 months old, he became king of his own castle.

With that photo, he won a Cottontail Cottage in a Bunspace photo contest. A celebrity was born. When he wanted attention or more food, he rattled his cage. When I placed his litterbox in the "wrong" corner, he head-butted it to its proper location. And if I wanted to brush him, I had better be rubbing his nose, too.

But those were small requests for what he gave back. When I was sad, he would let me hold him for snuggles. He would flop down next to me for rubbas after running his bunny marathon in the room. He would try new veggies, which is more than I can say of myself at times. He even endured a Santa hat for the Christmas postcard.

He grew to be 8 fluffy pounds. He shared his cage with his stuffed pal, Einstein, who he treated like a real rabbit.

He was a good bunny to the end. I wish I could have saved him from whatever hurt him. He didn't deserve such a short life. He will always be my Mitzy and no bunny can replace him.

A video of his first year (Larger version)

They're coming ...

2010-08-02T18:05:00.006-05:00

The dino hats are rawring back onto my knitting loom and will be for sale soon. The critters are fresh from their recent win at Vanna's Choice yarn contest. They bit off a 3rd place in hats and won a $100 Michaels gift card for their creator. That will of course go to more yarn for more dino hats. But first, I'm using some soft Dark Horse Fantasy acrylic for the newest dinos — Jade and Eggplant.

This contest just made my day. I was shocked and honored to be among such talent. And it felt incredible to see a loom-knit winner in the bunch, mine or not!

These youth-size dinos will be in my Etsy shop this fall but if you want to make them yourself, I'm making it easier for you to do so. I've typed up the pattern and saved it as a handy-dandy PDF.

download now

Thank you!

2010-07-29T16:36:00.002-05:00

Since I work so hard in the garden, I think it's time for the garden to work a little for me. I'd like to print a test-run of thank-you cards featuring the flowers of my labor. The lot have been narrowed down to seven choices. Help me out and vote below! (Please don't vote if you already have on flickr or Facebook.)

Hawthorn Tree

Sedum & Bee

Strawberry Marigold

Tiger Lily

Sensation Lilac

Ripe strawberry

Blue hydrangea

I haven't decided on the specifics yet. I might do $2 a notecard (5.5x4.5) and/or a pack of 6 for $10. Thank YOU for voting!

Lilies and a logo

2010-07-27T17:06:00.010-05:00

This garden update is brought to you by a new down-to-earth logo (above! ^) and the letter "R" — rain and robin. Both of which have kept me inside for most of the month.

Mama robin became a vigilante, swooping down on anyone who dared to walk near her nest under the deck. This meant the patio garden, upper deck and most of the backyard were danger zones. But the babies are finally flying now so here's hoping they fly far, far away.

At least the rain (7.75 inches!) offered me a consolation prize of beautiful lily blooms.

The tall tiger lilies are a me-pleaser.

The aptly named rain lilies are thriving.

Strawberry Candy daylily looks good enough to eat.

I got a Dark Sensation oriental lily from a greenhouse clearance this year. He's adding some pink pop to the front yard.

The teeny tiny Samurai toad lilies bloomed! I hope his buddies follow his example.

The garden edibles are ripenin' for the pickin' ...

Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes ... in the Topsy Turvy

Early Girl tomatoes

We are now waiting for the sweet pimiento pepper to turn red. The green bell pepper plants are not doing so hot.

And cucumbers are just crazy cool to watch.