Yarn creations

There is just something about winter that has me more interested in snuggling up and working with yarn, rather than paper crafting. I made lots of Christmas gifts this year. Above is a ear warmer head wrap made on the green Knifty Knitter loom. I did random combinations of purl stitches and knit stitches to get the texture you see above.

Both of these were made with left overs from other projects. I have no idea of brand just that they are a bulky or super bulky yarn. One thing I did learn is be SUPER loose on your bind off row, I mean when you think you are being loose enough, make it even looser. First to match it to the cast on row and also you do no want these to have a tendency of sliding up and off the crown of your head. The first one I made, that's exactly what it did, as you moved your head it slowly inched its way up and off.

These are just some of the preemie and micro preemie baby hats I made for a challenge I joined on Facebook. You can see the challenge group here, or search Sunset Crochet and 2014 NICU Challenge Hats. A lot of adorable hats made and donated this year, and lots of great free patterns available too. Check it out. 

This is a crocheted beanie I made and had enough yarn so I made one for my friend Angela, doesn't she always make my yarn creations look so pretty?!?! This is the wonderful and easy pattern I used with Caron Simply Soft yarn. Whips up in a matter of hours. 

And I also made two of these neon green and black beanies for my son and my husband. These are loom knit using Red Heart Super Saver yarns I believe. Not 100% positive anymore, its been a month or two since I finished those. A lot of yarn has passed through these fingers since then. ;)

Now I'm pretty much caught up with posts of what has been keeping me entertained these past few months. At least of the projects I took pics of before I gifted them. Happy crafting, whether it be yarn or paper crafting. It's all good!

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy! 

Loom knit slouchy beanie

I am loving slouchy beanies. Especially made on the knitting loom. They are such a quick project and I finally can wear hats. "Hi, my name is Cathy and I have 80's bangs." I admit it, I'm stuck in the past. I can't seem to get with the times, the side swept bangs or no bangs at all....huh uh, just can't do it. So I never like wearing hats that squish my bangs, because at some point I know that hat is coming off and I will have hat hair. But now I have a solution. The slouchy beanie. Yea!!!

I was inspired to make this beanie after watching her awesome YouTube video. She breaks it down so simply and it was easy to follow along. I finished my first one in about 3 hours. I made it using Bernat Softee Chunky yarn in Somerset Ombre, it did take just a bit over 1 skein. I probably could have stopped at 1 skein but it wouldn't have had enough slouch I think. It's ok, the rest of the second skein didn't go to waste, I made a pair of matching wrist warmers. :) 

This is my second beanie from the same pattern. (Sorry for the terrible pic, taken late at night in terrible lamp light). This one was worked up in about 2 hours using Loops & Threads Charisma yarn in Mountain Majesty. I love these variegated yarns, they make such beautiful designs in the finished knit hat. I am currently working on a matching scarf, made using the same stitch pattern. When it is finished I will take a better picture of the set together.

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Loom knit slouchy beanie and wrist warmers

My first loom knit slouchy beanie. I am hooked. These knit up so quickly and I am thrilled with the finished hat. I originally got the idea from this post at This Moment Is Good blog, and even though I didn't attempt the striping she did in her patter, I never would have even thought of a slouchy from a loom without her post and instructions.

These matching wrist warmers were also knit on the loom. It took me three times to get the sizing right, but they finally worked out. I used the Provo Craft Knifty Knitter blue loom to make a flat panel with a crochet cast on that I learned on YouTube here, It created a nice loose and non-rolling edge, that you see at the wrist end of the lil mitts. For me personally, the right fit was knitting on 19 pegs for a total of 25 rows. Then I just sewed the seam together leaving an opening for my thumb.

For both the hat and the wrist warmers I used 1 skein of Lion Brand Jiffy in Fisherman color and 1 skein of Homespun in Pearl. I also made 1 large and 2 small flowers on the smaller looms and stitched them to the finished hat and mitts. 

Here is me trying on the hat before I put the cute little flower on for a finishing touch.



Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

More knit ruffle scarves

A bunch of new to me ruffle yarn, I have never seen these locally in stores. I ordered them from Herrschner's it's called Department 71 Parisian. It's excellent to knit with and I love the finished look. It reminds me of coral and the color combinations are yummy. Thankfully Herrschner's was having a very nice sale on the ruffle yarns and I picked up 2 or 3 more skeins in different colors. 

This is Sundance Mini Frill. It's much smaller in width than regular ruffle yarn but it knits up full and lush and really cute. If they had it in a more adult color line I would order more. As it is, this one was knit for a donation but I will be making myself one in this hot pink color combo.

Here it is next to regular Sundance Frill Metallics (I think. I have worked with so much ruffle yarn lately I am starting to lose track, but I'm pretty sure) so you can see how its narrower, presumably for a child's dimensions, but I like enough that I would wear it too. 

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy! 

Crochet and ruffle knit projects

I have been busy, oh so busy. Crocheting, knitting, baking and decorating. That's why I haven't been on here in a while. So I will catch you up on several yarn related projects I have completed lately. 

Above is my version of this beauty, made from Bernat Softee Chunky in Ultra blue. 

A matching Wafflecone Slouchy Hat. I am loving both of these patterns, they crochet up quickly and I think they are cute and fun to wear. These are both 1 skein projects, so that is an additional bonus.

These are ruffle scarves made from Sundance Vintage Frill yarn that I bought at Herrschner's online. This is a beautiful deep red with a funny indescribable red shiny accent at its edges. It is wonderful to work with, knits up quickly and makes one of the laciest and delicate ruffle scarves I have ever completed. I am really impressed with it.

This is the same product in pearl. So feminine and dressy.

One skein of the Vintage Frill product makes a super long scarf. That is why I wrapped it twice around my neck, I could also double it up and put the tail ends through the loop created by the fold but I personally think the way I am wearing them in the above photo's is prettier.

Here is my attempt at a close up the show you the lightness and the edge detail.

The surprising thing is how soft and cuddly they are around the neck. I'm so happy with the product I have already purchased it in black and linen also.


Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Loom knit scarf & crocheted fingerless gloves

Here are my latest yarn creations. Above is a scarf made from some Yarn Bee Fleece Lite in Rustica, a friend picked up for me out of the clearance bins at Hobby Lobby. It is thick and yummy.

Ugh! sorry for the terrible lighting in these pictures. I took them at night by plain old lamp light. The scarf color is a pumpkin orange with bits and flecks of a deep dark green. Definite fall yummy-ness going on here.

These are some fingerless gloves I created my own pattern as I stitched. I had ordered some yarn online, never having felt it, and it is the roughest toughest stuff. Not at all suitable for cowls or scarves, unfortunately. So I thought I would just play around and see if I could create come gloves fit to my hands. It worked. And as gloves the yarn is not terrible.

I did single crochets and popcorn stitches and a few single crochet decreases on these gloves, that's it. Pretty simple. They are unusual, but I like them. I have affectionately named them my Ewok boxing gloves. No idea where that came from, but it has stuck.

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Knit ruffle scarves

I've been at it again. Knitting ruffle scarves that is. I made some fun and festive Halloween style ruffle scarves and one new chocolate brown Flamenco yarn scarf.

The two outer black and orange scarves are Red Heart Boutique Sashay Team Spirit yarns. The next two towards the center are Sundance Holiday Frill brand ruffle yarns, I ordered from Herrschner's online and then we have a wonderful brown Loops & Threads Flamenco scarf in the center.

Here is a close up of the Sashay.

And the Sundance in Jack O'Lantern. 

Another color variation of the Sundance yarn.

And finally the Flamenco. I love knitting these ruffle yarns, they are so quick and easy and the finished scarf is so pretty and easy to wear.


Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Loops & Threads Flamenco knit ruffle scarves

I hope you are not sick of seeing my knitting projects. I know there have been many, but I am really loving making these ruffle scarves. These two newest versions are made from Loops & Threads Flamenco yarn. It has small pom poms along the edge of the net like yarn. Very different from the other scarves I have done lately. So soft and scrumptious, and very unique looking. I really like them. These are gifts, but I will be making some for myself for certain. Soon.

A close up, to show you the pom pom edges. Not a bad pic from my phone, I think. These were knit up exactly the same as the Red Heart Sashay scarves I have posted recently, here. But the finished product is very different.

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Knitting projects

 

I'm much too busy knitting right now for any paper projects. Above are two Red Heart Sashay ruffle scarves I made for gifts. The loom knit scarf and matching beanie hat are for me. They are knit out of Charcoal grey Homespun yarn and they are soft and yummy. I actually ended up sewing the ends of the scarf together, and turning it into an infinity scarf.

 

 

Another Sashay ruffle scarf. Sorry for the poor lighting on this one. It's really gorgeous fall colors of pumpkin, wine and a dark raspberry.
 

 

And my final Sashay scarf. Love the grey, fuchsia and pink color combination.

 

So this is what I have been keeping busy with lately. I admit I am currently addicted to knitting these scarves. If you want to learn there is a great tutorial here, on YouTube.

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!

Monochromatic Christmas card and another loom knitted scarf

Of course this is another Pinterest inspired beauty, and it is a crazy mash up of CTMH products and SU! stamps. The paper and the ink are CTMH as is the Color ready seam binding and the Green Glitz glitter gel. The stamps are from the SU! Bright hope set. I love them for their shwoopy goodness. They are gorgeous. I embossed around the outside edge with a SU! embossing folder also. The card front got a very healthy dose of Glimmer mist in my favorite color, Pearl.

Variation 1, just a little change to the ribbon and used CTMH Almond Glitz.

 

 Variation 2, add the red gems and sponge the CTMH color ready seam binding to match the ink.

 

 

Variation 3, ribbon change again and pearls for bling.

And another loom scarf finished. This is a navy blue and black variegated one for my oldest son. He's all pink cheeked because it is too warm to be wearing a scarf here these days. But he loves the soft texture of it and so he wears it even when he is too warm. I made it with one skein of red heart yarn and 1 skein of Caron super soft. I LOVE loom knitting. It is so relaxing for me. A cheap and easy and useful hobby. Can't beat it.

Find inspiration everywhere! Go... Create something fun & fabulous. Enjoy!