handmade by stefanie

After college, I moved out to Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend (also known as my now-husband, Tyler).  We lived there for three years, and while most of our time there was pretty difficult in the monetary/job sense, there were some really great things that imprinted on us - such as the importance of buying local. At the best of times, Portland has a tight job market, and we moved there right as the economy started to tank (well, one of the many times, I suppose...but you get the idea).  We did somehow find jobs - not the greatest jobs, mind you, but jobs that paid money in exchange for us getting out of bed each day.  There were periods of unemployment for both of us and we were even on food stamps at one point....ironically, that was the best we'd ever eaten.  That's pretty much the Portland experience, I suppose. But the emphasis on locally-produced foods, goods and services was an ethos that really grabbed us and stuck.  It hit the food world long before making waves i

These socks have actually been done for a while - but I never got around to posting about them!  The yarn is some Trekking XXL I got in a yarn swap, and I used the stitch pattern from Judy Sumner's Kyoto legwarmer design from Knitted Socks East & West (if you're wondering how I adapted it for a fingering-weight yarn, I cast on 70 sts on US #1 needles, then used half of the stitches for the heel flap).  I think they turned out pretty well - the stitch pattern kept me interested in knitting them, but it's not too busy for the patterned yarn. I made this hat in a couple of days, but still haven't found the time (!) to sew some cute buttons on the band.  I've determined that I need more hats in my winter arsenal, and when the Spring 2012 issue of Knitscene came out, I knew I'd have to make the adorably stripey East Falls Hat .  I'm not typically one to knit the pattern in the specified yarn, much less the colors used in the model.  However, I've

I've decided that 3 is the ideal number of WIPs for me.  I'm not sure how I arrived at this conclusion, but at any rate, this is the number I will try to stick to in hopes of staving off unchecked startitis. It seems like a long time since I've shared an actual knitting project - in progress or otherwise - so here's the lowdown on what's on the needles right now: Project the First: It's a secret!  This is a new design I've been thinking about (and quite possibly talking/blogging about, too) for quite some time.  I think I knit the prototype a year or two ago, and I am just not getting down to the business of deciphering my notes and putting them into something that resembles a knittable pattern.  This project is exciting for two reasons:  1) it's the first project I've cast on using my brand new Knitter's Pride needles!  2) I'm finally knitting with the two gorgeous skeins of Quince & Co. Chicadee Tyler got me for christmas (in *cou

Those of you who regularly read this blog also know me in real life (is that a crazy assumption to make?), so you are aware that I work with various knitting- and yarn-related companies as part of my job (in addition to being a crazy yarn lady in my spare time).  In a nutshell, I help people create & implement their marketing strategy in the realm of social media - I work from home and I can safely say it's the best. job. ever. I also have the best clients.  This isn't a news flash, but the knitting world is filled with (mostly) awesome people, and lucky me, I get to work with the awesomest of the awesomest.   Sorry for gushing - I hope I didn't just send anyone into a nauseous tailspin - but it's been a while since I had the kind of job I loved doing every flipping day.   Which brings me to reason #547 why this job rocks:  yes, there are perks.  Besides all of the fun and freebies of the trade show, my clients have been showing me the love these past few month

Lavishea Lemongrass - my new fave! I'm a bit of a germaphobe, and in my previous line of work (back when I was a practicing Licensed Massage Therapist), I washed my hands 2,000 times per day on top of my usual routine.  Needless to say, I'm always in need of a Few Good Hand Lotions. One of my favorites is  product I came across at the TNNA Columbus show last year - Lavishea Lotion Bars .  I gave the Lavender a try at the booth and subsequently became obsessed with this product.  Upon arriving home in Chicago, I trotted down to my LYS and picked up my first Lavender bar - by far, my favorite scent. First off, what I love about these bars is that the TSA won't take them away .  Now that I'm starting to do more traveling each year, this is huge!  I always hate having to give up my hand sanitizer and lotion when I fly.  While you can purchase hand sanitizer at any of the shops once you get in the gate, finding an adequate hand lotion is a taller order, so avoid

I never thought I'd use the words "fast," "easy" or "laceweight" all in the same sentence, but believe me when I tell you that the Pear Drop shawl from Ysolda's new book Saturday Treat really is a fast & easy laceweight shawl!  I made the smaller version using a skein of Malabrigo Lace I had in my stash (colorway: Ibiza) - and had plenty leftover. I don't think I've ever knit a laceweight anything in under a month, but this project took just over 2 weeks to complete - a record for me, most definitely. I enjoyed this project so much, it's almost made me reconsider my ban on purchasing laceweight yarn.  Almost! Click here to view more photos in my Ravelry Notebook.

The proverbial tip of the iceberg. Yet again, I found myself opening my box of spinning fiber and being amazed at what an incredible selection I had tucked away.  It's almost criminal to let it all remain unspun, but I never seem to find (or make) time to spin these days.  The thing about being self-employed when you're a workaholic is....you're a terrible boss.  I typically give myself one day off a week (which is when I get caught up on chores, write my personal blog posts, work on new designs....are you getting the picture?).  During the course of the work-week, I have a choice for my evening hours of free time: knit or spin?  The answer, invariably, is knit .  Which is why my spinning wheel has been silent for months now, halfway through the project I was so excited about... last year .  Over the weekend, I dusted off the wheel and made a decent amount of progress on the never-ending spinning project.  Now, I know this isn't a terribly novel idea - I'm c

Image © Namaste Ever since the Columbus Trade Show last year, I've been coveting the Namaste Mini Messenger bag.  A gift from my in-laws, this is my first Namaste bag (unless you count the magnetized notions case), and I am completely in love with it!  I have traveled so much in the last month, and I'm not sure what I would have done without this roomy bag.  Everything I need while on-the-go fits perfectly: knitting projects (yes, plural! Not many bags can fit multiple knitting projects comfortably), tablet, cell phone, keys, a magazine or book, my work files, my business card/CTA card holder, lots of pens, and of course various lip balms and other random stuff I feel compelled to lug around, despite rarely using during the course of a day.  And though I feel the need to carry half of my house around, this bag remains lightweight and easy on my shoulders and back.  The strap is comfortable and doesn't cut into my shoulder, a complaint I have for several other bags I

Finishing so many projects not only feels good, but gives me permission to start new ones - perhaps the best part about knitting.  There's really nothing like starting a new project - even though I try to keep my startitis in check these days, I really love the feeling of casting on for something new that excites me. Here's what's currently on the needles: 1.  Super secret sparkly cowl!  I can't show you the particulars, but I'm working on a new sparkly cowl design using The Wool Dispensary's Useful Irradiant.   2. Socks!  I started these while in Phoenix, and over this past weekend I finished the first sock and started #2!  The pattern is based on Judy Sumner's Kyoto Socks from Knitted Socks East and West (I'm just using the chart, since the pattern is for a different weight of yarn).  I got this yarn (Trekking XXL) at the Sweatshop of Love Holiday Party/yarn swap last December! 3.  Laceweight Shawl! Wait a second....after that last lacy shawl deb

Out of print for just over a month, the Heliotrope Stockings are back on the scene.  This pattern is updated with the most recent errata (though I've preserved the errata link for anyone who purchased earlier versions of this pattern from The Sanguine Gryphon).  I've also updated the yarn information to reflect the two new yarn companies created by the dissolution of The Sanguine Gryphon, and included instructions to make a regular rib cuff as well as the original ruffled cuff.  Enjoy! Pattern:  Heliotrope Stockings Suggested Yarns: Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! The Verdant Gryphon Eidos Click here to purchase on Ravelry via Paypal. Click here to purchase on Craftsy via Paypal.

No one can deny it - one of the great things about TNNA is getting free stuff.  We all love free stuff, right?  (And for the record, I never expect to get free stuff - but it certainly is nice!)  This is only my second show, but I managed to score some really fantastic finds that I look forward to sharing with you in greater detail soon.  For now, let's soak it all in... Fiber samples!  This year we welcomed Spinners & Weavers to the organization.  Consequently, there were lots of gorgeous fibers to lust after. Camel and silk roving....now I just have to finish what's currently on my wheel! Samples from Unicorn Fibre Wash - I've heard great things about their Power Scour, and I'm excited to try it out! Books!  So many books!  Seamless Crochet by Kristin Omdahl, Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits 2, and both of the new Ysolda books, Whimsical Little Knits 3 and Saturday Treat. Oh, squee! Let's not forget the yarn (Robin's favorite)!  At left are new offe