Category: finished object

  • Relaunch: Top Down Shoulder Warmer

    I’ve been meaning to do this for ages! I picked up some gorgeous Malabrigo Rios and knit up a new version of my Top Down Shoulder Warmer.

    Top Down Shoulder Warmer

    The 2015 version features expanded sizing (to fit 28-56″ bust), new photos, schematics and a spiffy new layout.

    Top Down Shoulder Warmer

    Oh, and the option to work the sleeves in the round rather than flat! Both sleeve options are given.

    Top Down Shoulder Warmer Top Down Shoulder Warmer

    I actually really enjoyed knitting this one again – simple knitting in lovely yarn.

    If you’ve already bought the pattern before, you should receive an email and/or Ravelry message with a link to the updated pattern.

    Queue and fave on Ravelry!

  • FO: Loads of Garter Stitch

    Finished object: hat and booties!

    hat + booties

    I think they are pretty cute!

    Patterns: Cutest Booties by Stephanie; hat pattern is my own – it was surprising to me that I couldn’t find a good garter stitch hat pattern for babies!
    Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply – very soft and nice, but splitty. Good for making the pompoms though, it fluffs up really nicely.

    hat + booties

    Speaking of pompoms, I could swear I bought a set of the Clover pompom makers ages ago but I guess that was just in my head! I used cardboard to make the hat pompom and a fork to make the small ones. I sewed through them with thread and a sharp needle so hopefully they’ll hold together for a good long time.

    rios-sleeve

    Now that the hat and booties are done, I can get back to this shoulder warmer. I’m knitting the sleeves in the round, so the new version of the pattern will have options for both flat (seamed) or circular (seamless). It’s going fast and the Malabrigo Rios is so lovely to knit with!

  • stitched gifts

    I didn’t make a lot of handmade gifts this year (other than a LOT of caramels, cookies, truffles, and peppermint patties) but I did decide rather late in the game to stitch up these pieces for my sisters!

    puppy!

    Mochi the Maltese from andiwabisabi on Etsy. I used blue Aida for this one because most of it is white! This one was really quick and simple. I cut some backing fabric and put it all in a round hoop – they didn’t have any small wooden hoops at Michael’s when I was buying supplies, so now I need a new one!

    puppy!

    I’m pretty darn proud of this next one – it was rather a lot of stitching to start only a week before Christmas! The pattern is Bento Box Sushi by Tiny Modernist, a local stitcher. I saw her wares at the Creativ festival and was immediately smitten! I used evenweave for this piece, also from Michael’s – I would’ve used linen but I didn’t have time to go to the proper sewing shop.

    sushi cross stitch!

    sushi cross stitch!

    I finished it Tuesday night before I was leaving for my parents’ house on Wednesday, so it was a little bit down to the wire! The piece didn’t fit into any of the frames I had bought, so I just mounted it onto a small piece of foamcore. I used straight pins around the edge, double-sided tape to hold down the edges of the fabric at the back, and some washi tape over the back edges as well. For a bit of a border, I pinned some black ribbon all the way around and added a hanging loop straight through the piece. Of course, I neglected to take a photo of the back as we were trying to get out the door!

    sushi cross stitch!

    Now I want sushi.

    P.S. If you didn’t get one for the holidays, Gleener is still offering a promo code for blog readers! Get 10% off with code LAURACHAU10 at the checkout until January 2, 2015. Gotta keep those knits looking good!