Get Your Patterns

"Simply Cute" and "Simply Sweet" crochet patterns available at Elgin Knit Works.

Elgin Knit Works A New Knitting Shop

Elgin Knit Works is scheduled to open its doors Saturday, February 12, 2012.

With its friendly owners, welcoming decor, beautiful yarns, handcrafted spindles, accessories and vintage finds, I'm sure this shop is quickly going to become a "favorite". I know I'll be there (a lot).

New Pattern Series

Can't help it. I love her. Along with cute "pick me up" faced bears and huggable critters, I have a soft spot for primitives and folk art. I've been trying to think of a way to incorporate a little folk art into my crochet patterns without staining them and turning them into...well, a mess.

I think I've found a way to add a little without it being to much. Sweet bunny is the first pattern in my new "Simply Sweet" series. She's a bit more whimsical and folksy then my other patterns and I hope you enjoy meeting her. She's now on Etsy, Ravelry and Craftsy (how fun by the way).

Let me know what you think.

Vintage Hankies and Linens

 

It's a weakness. I can't seem to leave behind pretty vintage hankies or hand stitched linens. If it has a crocheted edge, I'm pretty much a goner. Yikes, what to do...love them, enjoy them and maybe someday sell them or use them for some great project. Just can't leave pretty behind.

What I'm Doing Today

I am always working on something. You know me, I'm one of those people with half finished projects all over the place (well, almost all over the place, I try to keep them contained).  There is always something in the making on my knitting needles, something in my crochet basket, half finished cards, patterns and scrapbook pages. Buttons, ribbon, lace, felt and thread waiting to be chosen.  

Today, I'm playing with thread crochet. Working with this soft cotton and small hook bring back memories of my mom and grandmother. When I was little and I'd watch them creating clean white doilies with a little hooks and thread. I couldn't imagine how they could be enjoying this long tedious process.  So much work for something so small. Home always had clean, white, starched doilies on every flat surface, under every lamb and bowl. Sometimes while sitting or laying on the floor watching t.v. or working on a little project of my own (probably a pot holder or Barbie outfit back then) my mom would be ironing and starching her newest creation. Every so often I'd feel a little mist of starch and still love that clean, fresh smell, must be a happy memory. Funny how things come back around. Now I sit and crochet with a tiny hook. 

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Simple Cute Elephant Pattern

Just finished this fellow. Hope he's loved.

A Day For Spinning

Some days are just made for spinning. The house was quiet, the sun was shining (even though it was about 32 degrees out), the dogs were sleeping and the Christmas stuff is finally packed away.

Get a deal, Buy 3 get one free from Etsy shop

New Simply Cute Patterns

The month is flying by, but I finished sat down and finished two new patterns. I've been thinking about them all month, but with company and snow they just took a while to get finished.

I'm thrilled to introduce the sixth and seventh members of the "Simply Cute" pattern series.  A dog and cat of course. Can't have a series of sweet animals without them.

They are now available for immediate download in my Ravelry Pattern Store or in our Etsy Shop, "The Wool Purl" 

Primitives

Have I mentioned how much I love primitives? Not the scary ones, the ones with crazy hair, big eyes, worn, well loved looks. Yesterday, a big eyed elephant picture caught my attention on Etsy. When I clicked on the picture I had to see more. I wanted everything in the shop. If you love prims and a little grunge, you'll love, The Vintage Polka Dot. Her patterns and tutorials are great and I can't wait to get started on a elephant, then a bunny, then, well... I have big dreams of getting a lot done this year.

New Year's Resolutions

heart mittens, added to Etsy shop 1/5/12

What will this year bring? I'm hoping for a healthy, stress free year of course, but I'm also hoping I find time (and patience) to get some of the things I've been wanting to do done.

I fell in love with color work last year when I made a pair of owl mittens for my daughter. This year, I'm resolving to make time for color work. There are just so many great bags, pillows, hats and mittens that keep "calling" me. Maybe this is the year, they make it onto my needles. Oh, I can't forget about the patterns I still want to create and the spinning and dying I want to do and the house I'd like to keep clean, and the...well, you know there's always something.

Time...never seems to be enough and my fingers need to move faster.

Sam's mittens

Simply Cute Bunny

Fifth in the "Simply Cute" Series. Bunny is 11 inches tall from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet (not counting her ears). Made with worsted weight yarn, simple stitches and a G hook. Skill level easy.

Simply Cute Patterns are available for immediate download through Ravelry or the PDF can also be purchase through Etsy from The Wool Purl

It's the little things

You know your a fiber lover when you stop to take a picture of how your yarn ball is unraveling. So cute.

Dolly DK (knit bear in the making)

Simply Cute Pattern Series

My "Simply Cute" pattern series is growing and I'm having a great time creating these adorable pets. Simply Cute Lion and Pig are available for in my Etsy Shop (The Wool Purl) and on Ravelry.

Bears and Change

Hi bear lovers. I know your probably wondering where the heck are the bears. Well, there will always be a bear or two in the making here, but that little bear might have a different look or style these days. After sewing sewing bears almost every day for 13 years, it feels like it's time for a change. So for now my mohair and furs have been folded and put away. Of course, I'll be making bears every now and then, but it didn't seem fair to to keep the website up without any new cubs to meet, so bearsbyteri.com has closed and the new blog is up and running.

Here you'll be able to keep in touch, see what's in the making and meet new bears and critters with sweet faces. Right now, I'm working on new crochet patterns (the series currently has four sweet faced animals from my "Simply Cute" Series. There is a bear, a lamb, a lion and a pig to meet). I'm getting a chance to make new things and have been enjoying some simple pleasure like retro granny squares (just like my mom and grandmother used to make). When I find a little more time in the day, or week, I'm spinning, knitting or sewing.

I hope you'll check back often, follow me on Facebook and check back often to see what's new and in the making.

Bear hugs

New Crochet Patterns

I've been wanting to get some crochet patterns down on paper (so to speak, how about typed and saved on my computer), but thinking about it and actually doing it have definitely been two different things. I'm thrilled to say it's happening. Two are finished and more are on in the making.

I've added both new patterns to the Etsy shop, "The Wool Purl" and my Ravelry Store is up and running.

Both patterns are quick and easy so you can have them finished in no time. You might even get them done in time to wrap and give as a gift.

Simply Cute Lamb is 12 inches tall and uses worsted weight and boucle yarn with a G hook. Simply Cute Bear is 11 inches tall and also uses worsted weight yarn and a G hook. Both patterns can be crocheted with smaller hooks and lighter weight yarn for a smaller tighter gauge toy.

Wheel Worries

As you can tell from all the fiber pictures, I'm addicted to spinning and was in love with my wheel in a matter of days. Soon I was spinning non-stop and reading about spinning when I wasn't spinning. Suddenly one night while trying to get beads into my yarn, I realized I needed a jumbo flyer (for you non-spinners, this holds the yarn bobbins. The opening if larger so you can use bulkier fibers and add more stuff to your yarn). I couldn't wait for Christmas (this was my original thought when I got my wheel). So, I logged into "The Woolery" and with credit card in hand was about to hit the purchase now button when I realized, there is no jumbo flyer for my wheel. What! This had to be a mistake. Nope, after more clicking and a quick email I was told they don't make a jumbo blyer for the Fantasia. Oh no, this wasn't going to work. There are just to many great beads and tiny treasures tempting me. I dream of the yarn these little things can be a part of. Nope, this isn't going to work.

I'm sure I had mentioned wanting a jumbo flyer when I was choosing wheels, I'm sure I was told there would be one when Christmas rolled around. So I called the shop where I'd purchased my wheel and lucky for me, the owners are wonderful. They agreed to let me exchange if the other wheel and pay the difference (of course, the other one is a little more money, aren't they always). Yep, no questions asked they said they would, but I'd have to wait a week until they got back from a trade show in Indiana. Now, for most people this probably wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm known for not being the most patient person in the world and the thought of not being able to spin for a week with my wheel in the corner of the dining room sort of looking at me was something I didn't know if I could do. I had to do it, I had to spin. So with extra care and a lot more gently then normal I spun through the week and kept trying to decide if trading in my wheel for the other one was the best choice. After all, Kromski said they were working on making a flyer for the Fantasia, but when would it be out and what if they didn't come out with one (remember the patient thing). My wheel treadles so nice, am I making the right decision, what if the other one is even more persnickety. I went on line to read which wheel was better, which one did Kromski wheel owners prefer. No help there, everyone seemed to love their wheel and pros and cons were pretty much equal for both wheels.

Finally, it was time to decide. I cleaned off my wheel loaded it the car (belting it in even) and headed to the "Wool, Warp and Wheel." They were great and let me treadle the other wheel while they listened to me go on and on about how I love my wheel, but I'm basically nuts and need a bigger flyer now instead of when and if it comes out. While sitting there, the decision seemed easier, I had liked the way this wheel looked more than mine when I'd first looked at them, I'd thought it treadled really nicely, but I remember thinking, it's more money, I'll be good and get the less expensive one. If I would have gotten the one I'd loved more that first day I could have saved myself this little bit of worry and you wouldn't be reading all this.

So in it's travel bag (an added bonus). I brought home my new wheel and planned on having to go through that "getting to know my wheel" stage all over again. Guess what...loved it right away, love that I switched and love that this decision making process is over and I can just spin.

Hand Dyed Tequila Sunrise

I was thrilled when I got my hand dyed roving to match the fun novelty ribbon I wanted to use. I think it matches pretty well, what do you think?

Spin, Spun, Done

Tiny Beads Everywhere

I thought, ok I'm ready to tackle adding beads to my yarn. Love that...not so easy.

I strung the beads on yards and yards of beautiful silk thread. Carefully placed them in a bowl next to my wheel on the floor and began to treadle ever so slowly so that each bead would be exactly where I wanted it. Slowly, slowly I began to treadle and move the beads. About a yard done, looks great. Slowly, slowly I treadled. Snap, thread broke beads went flying, words loudly escaped, dogs went running.

Maybe I'll try beads another day.

Persnickety

What a fun word. Persnickety. When Toni from The Fold said, "Kromski's can be a little persnickety." I couldn't get that word out of my head. I have a Kromski wheel by the way. I don't think I ever heard that word used in a sentence until that day. So I looked it up and made sure I knew what she was saying. Definition= Requiring a particularly precise or careful approach. Fussy. Yep, I can be a little persnickety when it comes to creating and maybe my wheel is too. I'm not really sure if it is or not since its my first and only wheel, but either way, I love that word so it seems like the perfect name for my hand spun yarn. Persnickety it is.

Spin, Spinning, Spun

I've been spinning so much, I think I treadle in my sleep. Loving every minute, wishing there were more hours in the day (time definitely flies while the wheel spins).

Have quickly discovered that I barely have enough patience to let my yarn rest on the bobbin before I can move it to the niddy nobby.

Practiced my coils and bobbles this week. Thought these were boo boos before I knew what they were.


Discovered beautiful hand dyed Roving from Sheepish Creations. Have to get some more of this.

Hand dying and painting yarn

Anyone who knows me, knows I have more than enough to keep me busy. Especially now with a new wheel, but I had to try something else. Hand dying yarn. So fun, so messy, so cool. A few steps and magic happens.


A few picture steps missing, but you get the idea.

I've got ants

I never thought I'd be saying that I need ants, but that's exactly what I said. Last year, I planted a peony bush by the back of my fence. It was full of buds, but never opened. My friend told me I needed ants to eat the wax off the buds so that they could open. Wow, learn something everyday. So I poured a little sugar water on it and waited. Nothing, not an ant in sight. I tried again, no ants. What the heck, there were ant hills all over the other side of the fence, ants are always there when you don't want them, but when you do...no luck. So, my poor little peony bush never did open and by the end of Fall it was looking like it just wasn't going to make it. When Spring finally (and I mean finally) arrived, my poor peony bush looked like it had passed in the Winter, so I pulled it out, sighed and gave in to the fact that I was (and am) a pretty bad gardener.

About a month ago, I looked over and realized, it was back it had grown while I wasn't looking and it looked better than ever. This week it was filled with buds and I immediately remembered. Oh, no I need ants, so, I grabbed a bottle of left over (flat in fact) orange soda, added a little water and went to work, pouring it slowly over every bud.

It worked! I have ants and blooms. Who would have thought I'd be wanting ants.

Practice makes...perfect

That's how the saying goes doesn't it? "Practice makes perfect." So I practice and practice. Started thinking maybe...I'm trying to hard to make that perfect yarn. Shouldn't this be relaxing, enjoyable and just plan fun. So, I loosened the tension (on my wheel and my hands), started over and had some fun with a little test skein of two ply merino. Time will tell if perfect happens , but for now I think I'll try to enjoy my wheel more and make something different and fun.