DIY Tools of the Trade

As knitters, we are constantly pining for the ability to, one day, live a self-sustainable life.  We imagine huge afghan throws covering our bed; our kitchen drawers filled with handmade dish cloths and homemade foodstuffs filling our refrigerator with the basic ingredients growing in our backyard.  The clothes on our backs are hand sewn with care.  Some of us even imagine going as far as gaining carpentry skills (me with a table saw, perhaps?) and constructing our own furniture- heck!  our own houses! Built with our bare hands, blood, sweat and tears.  Can you imagine one woman doing all of this?  Well, if you can't, you shouldn't be reading this blog!  (Seriously.)

However, if you find yourself in pursuit of self-sustainability, there are some tools out there to help get you on your merry way.  I let out a (very small) squeal when I came upon this article via DesignSponge.  There are 20 gadgets in all, which doesn't make for too large of a list- maybe attainable by the end of this year?  Maybe next?  It depends on your budget, but I'd say that some of these are quite inexpensive and well worth the investment.





One of my most recent (and long-running) DIY projects has been an old computer desk.   It's mid-transformation at this point, so you'll have to use your imagination until I can give you the finished product.  However, I will say that any of the above tools would make this project 10X easier.  Nonetheless, it's satisfying to recreate a piece of furniture on your own...or anything, for that matter!

I guess this is a call out to women everywhere- don't be nervous about getting your hands dirty!  There are plenty of projects around the house that we are more than capable of completing.  We're not just designed to knit and crochet...



(Anthropologie knobs...because you gotta give your refurbished furniture a little extra swag.  Stay tuned for the finished piece, sooner rather than later hopefully.)

xo  j

{top two photos, courtesy of My Life Scoop}

persistence mitts

FINALLY... these fingerless mitts are done. For me, these gave a brand new meaning to the whole "if-at-first-you-don't-succeed" adage. I can't even COUNT how many times I tried to finish them: at first, I started using Paula McKeever's Cafe au Lait mitts pattern (with the crosshatch lace stitch, found here), but the wool I was using just kept sliding off my DPNs... over and over and over and OVER again. Each time, I found myself unraveling the entire project in a fit of knitting rage. (I'm sure many of you have experienced this at least once, yes?) After an estimated 15 attempts (and about two weeks of precious craft time), I finally switched to a simpler pattern with my trusted Sugar 'n Cream - in a pretty, almost spearmint-y color - and that made all the difference.



I ended up casting on 30 stitches onto three size 7 DPNs, knitting 4.5 inches of k1, p1 ribbing, keeping the main section (with thumb gusset) in plain stockinette stitch, and finishing off with more ribbing. (The ribbing at the top serves a practical purpose too - it stays a bit looser than stockinette stitch, so your fingers are free for cozy tasks like reading or sipping a cup of coffee.)

A great video tutorial for creating a thumb gusset can be found here. (It comes in parts - watch them all!)

<3 N

We're Auctioning Off a Slouchy Hat for Robbie T!

To all of our loyal followers, I have a very important announcement! We are participating in a facebook auction for Robbie Tesmond (click to read his story!)

We would love your support in this effort to raise money in the hopes of providing little Robbie with a new lease on life.  We're auctioning off a Baby Alpaca Slouchy Hat.  The bidding started at $5.00, and it is currently at $7.00.

The bidding is taking place at the facebook link provided above (oh, and HERE)! Please make a bid and help Robbie live to see many more birthdays to come :)

BIDDING ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16TH!!



xo j

Springtime Washcloths

I loved making these washcloths- sweet and simple designs, made with Sugar N' Cream 100% cotton yarn.  I was especially pleased with the haphazard pattern that emerged from the speckled colors in the yarn and the not-so-symmetric square of each washcloth.  Sometimes it's best to let the yarn do it's own thing.



*A little "behind the scenes" secret?  That coffee pot is my grandfather's....brought all the way over from Italy.  Pretty snazzy, huh?

xo j

A sheep.dog Hat on the Sartorialist?

Okay- it's not necessarily a sheep.dog hat, but it does resemble my most recent project pretty closely...don't you think?

 

xo  j

Do it for Yourself

This hat is very special to me. Not just because it's made from some of the SOFTEST yarn you'll ever run between your fingers (100% baby alpaca, softer than a baby's bottom).  Not because it's a nice, natural, neutral tone that matches with every outfit you can think of.  And not because it makes my head feel cozier than an evening curled up with hot chocolate and a blanket while watching countless documentaries via netflix.

No.  This hat is very special to me, because it is made for me!



I usually don't knit things for myself.  The only knit items I tend to keep are the lone sock that is still waiting for its mate to arrive (and that ain't happenin' any time soon, because I'm currently socked-out), and the pieces that I just can't bring myself to give to any decent human being.



However, I don't deny the fact that it is a good idea knit items for yourself every so often.  This isn't something you should feel guilty about in the least bit. Your work is art, whether you are willing to admit it or not.  Therefore, it should be cherished.  It is easy to knit one-too-many things and lose sight of the fact that your endless hours of stockinette stitching and knitting in the round is valued by another person.  However, when you give yourself that freebie every once and while, it brings back a little bit of pride to your being.  When you walk down the street with that carefully, hand-made hat on your head, it gives you a sense of accomplishment that you can secretly show off to world on your own accord.

"Where did you get that hat? I love it!"

"Oh!  I made this hat, actually.  And no.  You can't have it...but I'd love to make one especially for you, if you'd like."

Oh, and if you're interested, here's the blog where I found the FREE pattern.  I'm particularly enamored with this blog, so I'm extending a fair warning to you all- it's addicting.  Enter with caution.

xo  j

Socks with a side of Cake

Of course, I chose to go home to Pennsylvania during one of the coldest weekends on record. Oregon and I drove up on a Thursday night, and Friday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. Thus, knitting and baking experimentation were in order!

Knitting and baking are the perfect couple. They are food and warmth together- the bare necessities of life. Sometimes, they even like to make it a threesome and include reading...

I recently finished the book My Life From Scratch. It was delicious, to say the least.  Along with memories of a sweet-laden childhood (something I can identify with possibly), Gesine Bullock-Prado gives new meaning to putting your heart and soul into the art of baking.  Armed with my parents' roomy kitchen and a warm fire crackling in the fireplace, I baked the best carrot-cake (wo)man has ever laid eyes on.  It was Gesine's recipe, the same recipe she used for her sister's wedding cake ("sister" being Sandra Bullock.  yes. her.)

With a slice of spongy perfection in orange-stained hands, and my toes thawing from another frigid dog walk, I sat down on my parents' couch and started knitting my first pair of socks.









Where did I get this pattern, you ask?  I bought it at a quaint little store in Doylestown, Twist Knitting and Spinning. When I got to the front counter with my purchases (birthday gifts from Mommy-dearest), we struck up a conversation with the sweet lady manning the store.  I was tempted to ask her if she had knit the sweater she was wearing (she was so nice, so I'm assuming she did).  While she was putting my yarn skeins into convenient little spools, she was telling us how she believed that at least 99% of knitters are good people- how they are always so patient in the store, and there's never a negative iota of energy in that space.  She didn't have to say a word, though, because as soon as I walked in, it was like walking into a place where time stops.  Hours go by as you browse through pattern books and try to lay your hands on every plush, soft skein of yarn. Women would saunter through the door, projects in hand, along with some goodies to share with the rest of the gang, and sit down on the plush sofas to talk about their children, grandchildren, and life in general.  Not a negative iota in the room.

Dear Lady at the Counter with adorable sweater that you probably knit yourself, I agree.

xo  j