@rockyknits New crafting Instagram account

So… I made an Instagram account just for my crafting/maker projects. I created it so that I could separate my personal posts from my maker posts and create more of a social media identity that I can use for interacting with the fabulous maker community. I’m hoping to keep it updated with my current projects, but I’ll continue to update on here too! My new account is @rockyknits.

Baby Maple Crafting

So Maple was born in September and there’s been lots of cool things that I’ve made for her. It’s kind of fun to see her in so many handmade items whether they are hand-me-down handmade items that I made for her sister or brother, or new items made for her. This post is about some of the cool things that I’ve had the opportunity to make specific for her.Since she came a little bit later than expected I was able to knit her an adorable sweater called the Top Down Garter Stitch Sweater by Nancy Munroe and she’s been wearing it quite often. For some reason I thought a garter stitch card again would make a nice thick knit fabric that would keep her warm. This pattern has been a very practical make. It was easy (and seamless!) to construct and it is a very useful item for a young baby because it’s super easy to take on and off.I absolutely love the book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies by Hadley Fierlinger. I’ve made many things for my older kids out of that book and I continue to be in love with just about every single pattern in it. I made Maple some booties and a little hat out of some beautiful rainbow colored malabrigo yarn rios that I had in my stash. I purchased it at Santa Cruz yarn shop and the colorway is chameleon. The yarn was also used in the top down garter stitch jacket but I mixed it with just a plain worsted ivory colored wool because I liked the idea of toning down the colors. I’m happy with the result.I used some gorgeous stash yarn to make maple some super cute pink booties. She’s been wearing those frequently. The pattern is called baby hug boots and it’s free on ravelry.For Maple’s monthly milestone photos, I made her a cute little whale. We were thinking about what kind of animal to make her and my husband suggested a whale because he loves whales so much and we live close to them. The pattern I ended up using is called Lasse the Little Blue Whale by Alexis Hamann-Nazaroff. I made it with jingle bells on the inside to make it rattle. Her little whale was there to meet her in the hospital when she was born and the older kids have had a lot of fun playing with it and rattling it at her as well.I was able to make her a Hosenmatz out of some stashed yarn that I bought long ago in Monterey. The yarn is by frog tree and it’s a sock yarn that’s made out of bamboo. I thought it would be nice for some baby pants because I really liked the color and I didn’t have any other plans for the yarn. I used some other stash yarn for the top and the cuffs of he pants. It is knitpicks sock yarn and I remember that the colorway is called evil stepmother. I made the four to seven month old size and so far they’re too big for her but at her growth rate I get to feeling in the next month or so she’ll be in them.As far as sewing, I had a chance to make her a side snap shirt which she’s been wearing quite often. When shopping I had a lot of trouble finding side snap shirts other than white ones. when I can’t find something to purchase to me that means it’s time to start making something. So… I found some really cute cotton jersey fruit fabric that was very busy. There’s a few hidden flamingos on it as well. It’s turned out to be a pretty fun shirt that she seems to be comfy and cozy in. It was fun using a hammer to put in the snaps! I bought some extra fabric to make her a pair of matching pants which are currently cut out and ready to be sewn.

July / August Knitting Update: Getting Ready for Baby Boy

These past few months have been busy, but now I suddenly have tons of time on my hands after finishing classes for my Masters degree in mid July.  At this point, I’m just getting ready for baby boy who could be due any time this month!  I’m currently 35 weeks and Lex came right at 37 weeks so I could be getting really close.  I’m doing some project planning for the fall and I think I’m going to try and finish my fair isle jacket that I started last year.  It’s a Debbie Bliss pattern and it’s coming out beautifully so far.  I’m hoping to have it done around Christmas this year.  Another long term project that I’m planning is something that I’ve never attempted before: a shawl.  I always see beautiful shawl patterns and I’ve only dabbled in lace knitting a little bit so I think this would be a fun challenge for me when I’m staying home with baby boy this fall (we’ll see how much time I have to knit lol).  I’m going to make the shawl for my sister and she started this pinterest page to get some inspiration.

As far as baby knitting goes, I’ve finished all of the projects that I really wanted to have done and am currently working on Pepita, by Martina Behm,  using a beautiful hand painted merino from Knitpicks.  I’m very excited about it so far and am about halfway through the project.  I made a hat for the little guy using some scrap sock yarn from a previous project.  I did the baby sheep hat colorwork by Melissa Burt and I love the result!  It seems like it will be a very warm hat which will be perfect for the winter!

It has become a tradition for me to knit a little stuffed animal for every new baby in our family.  I unofficially started it, but I really like the idea of making a special stuffed animal just for new little ones.  A few months ago I was brainstorming what to make for little guy and I decided what could be more perfect than an Alpaca!  Fortunately, I found an adorable pattern by Rebecca Danger and it came out beautifully.  I tied some jingle bells together and stuffed them inside it so that it will sound a little bit like a rattle.  He doesn’t look much like an alpaca, but I think he’ll make a great companion for baby boy.

Pepita so far, Knitpicks Herbal Wreath

Baby Sheep Hat, made with Scrap Sock yarn

Zeke the aloof alpaca, by Rebecca Danger

March Crafting: Baby Carrier for Toddler Girl

So I really need to get better about updating this more often.  Despite being super busy in Graduate School, I have had some limited time to sew some fun stuff.  Also, with baby boy on the way, I’m getting inspired to start knitting again.  I’ve taken a little bit of a knitting break because I’ve been so busy and tired (growing a person is EXHAUSTING!!).  In my queue I have a pair of Overalls for baby boy.  The pattern is called Pepita and I just added it to my projects on Ravelry.  I’m also getting a little bit more excited about expecting baby boy and I joined the “Due in September 2015” group on Ravelry.

I found this baby carrier a few months ago on Ginger Snap Crafts and it is originally from The Crazy Tailor.  I finally had the time to make one.  I’m pretty sure that baby boy is going to live in the TULA carrier that I recently got at Granola Babies in Southern California, so I’m sure Lex will want join in the baby-wearing fun by carrying around some of her own little “babies”.  She’s truly at that age where imaginative play is really emerging and she loves to take care of things and be a helper.

Spring Craft Update

So I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted but I really haven’t been crafting so much in the past few months.  I’m finally starting to get back on my feet with knitting and sewing and it’s definitely a good feeling to be creating things again!  I’m almost done with the most intricate fair isle project I’ve ever attempted!  I told my sister to pick a pattern for some fair isle mittens and she chose one with 6 different colors, knit on size 1 needles.  I LOVE the challenge, however it’s been mentally taxing at times.  Here’s a link to the project: Snowflake Fingerless Gloves.  I will hopefully be done with them this week and can move onto something else! yay!!

Next up for knitting projects I’m going to make baby boy a light knit hoodie that he can wear in summer time and as a layer in the winter.  Haven’t decided the color yet but it will probably be blue.  As for baby Lex, I think she’s due for another cardigan or bolero, but I don’t know which pattern I want to use yet.  Still thinking about it but she definitely has one on the way.

I recently bought a sewing pattern to make some capes and masks for the toddlers.  They are getting older and more ready to play dress up.  As imaginitive play is SO important, I highly encourage it and want to make them some fun things to play with.  I have some superman fabric and some vegetable fabric that I’m going to make dress up capes out of for around the house.

Fall Knitting! Wahoo!

I recently realized that Lex needed a new hat for Fall one day when we were freezing on the playground so I knit this one up really quick using some stash yarn I’d been eyeing for years.  The pattern is called Holly Hat and it’s a great pattern!  It has been difficult finding a pattern that will fit a toddler’s head the right way but this one is great.  I think I’m probably going to make one for myself so get ready for an adorable mother-daughter photo with matching hats!!  I’m so excited for the future embarrassment when she’s a teenager muahahaha!

I’ve also been working on a gorgeous and simple wrap cardigan for myself which should hopefully be done by Thanksgiving.  The pattern is called Kimono Wrap by Joanne Yordanou and it’s in one of the first knitting books I every bought: 12 Months of Knitting.  I’ve been eyeing the pattern for a while and I thought it would be a fun and easy knit.  Loving the fall knitting with this baby cocoon for newborn Ben as well!

 

Cottage Creations Craft Boutique Coming up on July 27!

Lately I’ve been getting ready for my first craft fair!!  It’s with a group called Cottage Creations and it’s will be held on July 27th in Long Beach.  I’m pretty excited just to get Well Tempered Designs out there and experience selling my items face to face.  I’ve been having fun with some new fabrics -particularly polka dots and random combos of floral, gingham, chevron and damask for some of the basket liners.  I’ve also made lots of flannel and terry cloth burp cloths as well as a TON of little girl’s hair accessories-including bows, flowers and headbands.  I’m planning on putting some sample knit cardigans out and taking custom orders if anyone’s interested as well.  It will be nice to spend the day with other crafters and friends!  Looking forward to some of the food offerings as well-there will be $1 cupcakes and $1 tacos!  If anyone is local and would like to come by all are welcome!  Here’s a link to the group page on Facebook: Cottage Creations.  Login and join the group to get updates about items for sale from some of the wonderful food and craft sellers.  The event on Saturday will be from 4-7 at 3762 San Anseline Avenue.  Long Beach, CA.

 

June Knitting, Sewing and Crafting

This has been a productive month as far as crafting goes!  I got my first sale from my Etsy Shop, Well Tempered Designs, and I’ve been building up my inventory of basket liners and children’s accessories getting ready for the approaching craft fair season.  This will be my first go at craft fairs and I couldn’t be more excited! In addition to Etsy projects, I’ve done some pretty cool personal projects as well.

Aleksa’s shortage of diaper covers, as well as her ability to rapidly unhook velcro, has led me to make her some more wool covers.  This one is just in time for fourth of July and is ready to go!  Next up, I’ll make a few for the twins.  Today, I finally finished a cowl that has been in the works for almost 2 years!  Cameron bought me some beautiful cream colored frog tree merino wool for Christmas in 2011.  After looking at cowl patterns for months, I decided to knit the Casu Cowl by Galia Lael.  The pattern is written beautifully!   I finally got around to making the cowl in December 2012 and had to put it on hold for a while because I ran out of yarn (I wanted it to be super long)…also I got kinda bored knitting it so I needed a break.  After finding another ball of the merino at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company, I finally finished it! Here’s a link to the project in ravelry.

This month, I got to make a few bears for twins as well!  They were way overdue for a knit a stuffed animal from me and I was so excited to knit the Laura Long Three Hungry Bears pattern again from Knitted Toy Tales.

For the next few days, I’ll be working on some headbands, flowers and bows for Etsy!  Yahoo!

Crafting Update and Harbour Surfboards Board Swap Meet

Today we had a wonderful morning visiting some friends at craft boutique (I got some FABULOUS earrings from Magnitudes by Sandra Robertson). After that, we headed over to the Harbour Surfboards Board Swap Meet and watched Cameron and friends jam!  Aleksa had a great time and I posted a video of her rocking out to daddy’s band (by rocking out I mean both dancing and playing with rocks…hehe).

As far as crafting goes, I’ve finally gotten my etsy shop up and running for some bicycle accessories and I’m trying to add something new in there once a week.  I hope to be doing the craft fair thing by the holidays!  I’m also fueling my fabric addiction by making fabric flowers for headbands as well as bike basket decorations.  I’m having lots of fun!  I’m knitting an adorable matinee jacket for my niece’s birthday.  I’m pretty sure it’s gonna turn out way to big for her but at least she’ll have something adorable to look forward to 🙂

Aleksa’s First Chrismas Stocking

So I decided that I want to make Aleksa a stocking for her first Christmas.  And I want it to be a super complicated fair isle design and I want it to have her name knit into it.  This was just a thought floating around in my brain until I browsed through the new edition of Interweave’s Knit Gifts Winter 2012 Edition and I saw the Snow Bird Stocking by Kristen Spurkland.  I couldn’t believe how beautiful and amazing it was…I had to make it.  I’m currently about halfway through and I’m pretty excited about how it’s coming out.  I’m hoping to finish it before Wednesday when we are having our family portraits taken so that I can have one of her with it. Hopefully this stocking will be something she has forever!!

One side note: making a fair isle chart for letters is HARD! I did it wrong the first time and wasted a days worth of work! The letters have to be upside down and backwards…ugh.  Here’s a link to my project on ravelry: Aleksa’s Stocking.