Happy New Year! Welcome 2021!

Happy New Year and I want to say "Welcome" to 2021!

Like many of you out there, I'm very happy to say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021. I'm looking forward to what this new year can bring and what I can bring to this new year.

I'm starting out this year with attempting to finish all my unfinished projects. Yes, I know, I've said it many times before, but this year is the year to finish all those projects I have lovingly stashed away thinking I will get to them someday. 

Well that someday is now.

I just recently finished a shawl for a friend that was commissioned back in 2019, all it needs is for the ends to be weaved in and the tassels to be added to the three corners. It is the Lost Souls Skull Shawl by Maryetta Roy. It came out beautiful and I can't wait to hand it off to its owner who has been patiently waiting for it. When I started it in 2019 it was for her to wear on Halloween, but because she gave me the yarn and pattern in September, I told her I couldn't guarantee it would be finished for her to wear by Halloween and she was okay with that. She would happily wear it the following year. 

Well COVID-19 hit and we all know the changes that it brought to our lives in 2020. The changes knocked my knitting and crocheting mojo right out of me. I just didn't have any energy to make anything, well except for masks and even that got old really fast. I found myself not wanting to do anything, except binge watch movies and television shows on Netflix.

Lost Souls Skull Shawl by Maryetta Roy

So this poor shawl only got worked on when and if I attended my knit group's virtual knit nights. Can I just say, virtual knit night just isn't the same as being with your fiber family!!! The lack of physical nearness to my tribe really put a damper on my will to knit or crochet anything and as you can see I didn't even write one blog post all of 2020. I guess I was in a COVID-19 depression, not being able to travel to see family and friends, staying inside most of the time only venturing out when I absolutely needed to was very draining. 

But when the holidays rolled around and I got an invitation from my sister for Thanksgiving I was so happy, I didn't even realize how sad I was until after seeing her and her children and spending some time with them that it dawned on me that I was truly depressed and needed that contact, that connection with the people we love.

This year also brought about changes to my house as well. When you have to spend everyday at home, working and playing you realize all the things you've neglected because you had to go to work everyday. It started with removing the carpeting throughout and then painting the walls, adding new baseboard trim, new doors and trim and before I knew it, this little townhouse of mine now shines like a brand new penny. It has been very exciting seeing the transformation and there is still more to come - like the powder room downstairs, the kitchen and some updates in the bedrooms, but all and all this place is looking good - good enough to hopefully put on the market this year, because we are looking for a bigger place. 

Upstairs hallway

New carpet on stairs

I am so looking forward to 2021, how many of you are ready for a restart, refresh, a new year and new beginnings?

Being a Grandma is so much fun!!!

I can say with absolute joy that I love being a grandma (Mimi). My grandson Joziah is now 18 months old and is pure happiness when he walks into a room. I look forward to coming home when I know he's going to be there. He makes me smile every time I see him.

He's also the perfect model for my knitting. I love making him crochet toys to play with and things to wear. So far he's gotten two hats (currently working on a third), a pair of socks, two crochet binky clips, and crochet tiger rattle.

Frog binky clip

Tiger binky clip

Joziah's 1st knit beanie (2017)

Tiger rattle

Colorwork Hat (2018)

Current cabled hat (2019)

As you can see my grandson is very photogenic and I love capturing him at play and when he's sleeping - don't they look like little angels when they are sleeping? His current hat is blue and green with beautiful cables, it will also have ear flaps and two mini pom poms on top. I can't wait to see him sporting his new hat - even though he doesn't like wearing them.

When I'm not making something for Joziah, I'm making something for the latest addition to family, my nephew Connor. He was just born last month and I was scrambling to get his baby blanket done before he was born.

Dreambaby DK Baby Squares Afghan by JoAnn Turcotte

Duplicate stitched Connor's initials

Baby Connor wrapped in his blanket

I'm also currently working on a crochet blanket for one of my twin nephews that were born a month before my grandson. Unfortunately, I didn't get to make them their blankets before they were born so I'm trying to get them made this year before they turn two. I did have fun making them these pumpkin overalls for Halloween two years ago and these super soft cloud pillows last year for Christmas.

Twins Cameron & Carter in Halloween jumpers

one of the twins enjoying his pillow

And in-between gift knitting I've had a few orders, including these two dog sweaters that I just completed for Molly the pug and Lulu the chihuahua - same sweater in two sizes.

Molly in petal pink sweater

Lulu in also petal pink sweater

I'll be gearing up for shows again this year. I won't be doing any summer shows but I will be doing holiday shows in November and December. When I have the dates, I will be sure to post them. Happy belated New Year and Happy Knitting!!

New online shop now open!!!

I'm happy to announce my new online shop is now open for business!. If you don't find what you are looking for there, then shoot me an email and we can discuss your custom order.

And now my new website: www.knittermama.com. And as a welcome to my new shop, I'm giving free shipping to any order during the month of March, just use FREESHIPMARCH2018 at checkout.

Thank you and happy shopping!

Holiday Bazaar

I decided to only participate in one holiday craft show this year. It will be at Kent Commons in Kent on December 1st and 2nd. I hope I will see you there!

Happy holiday knitting!

Fall is here and all I want to do is knit

I love this time of year, the leaves are changing color and the weather is cooler. Which means, I get to knit some fun cool weather knits. I've been browsing patterns on Ravelry to get ideas for projects for fall and winter. It's so much fun to go through the many wonderful patterns and choosing ones to make.

Like a great pair of cable hand-warmers (Traveling Cable Hand-Warmers, by Purl Soho) or a warm shawl (Jet Stream by Heidi Kirmaier). So many to choose from, so little time to knit them all! Especially since I'm already working on some projects for family and friends.

Right now I've got a few UFO's on the needles: baby blanket (Baby Squares Afghan), baby overalls (On-the-Go-veralls), baby bonnet (Marius Bonnet).

Baby Squares Blanket

Just finished today! (10/10/17)

Marius Bonnet

I'm looking forward to knitting and crocheting for my upcoming holiday bazaar in December. I will be making hats, cowls, and mitts. I ordered some bulky yarn, sport weight, and bulky wool just for the holiday show.

My old standby will of course be the owl mitts and matching hat that I have made over the years that people seem to love. I will be using my knitting machine to make some long scarves, which will be so much easier than in previous years where it seemed like knitting a scarf took forever to finish.

What are your cool weather knits that you are working on, would love to hear from you? Happy Knitting!

Wanting to lose it all...weight that is!

So summer is here and I've been beating the heat by staying in-doors out of the hot sun and knitting and crocheting away!

I'm back in my crafting groove again. I seemed to have lost it last year and couldn't get motivated enough to look for it again. So I just lounged around eating and binge-watching Kdramas, Cdramas, Jdramas or anything subtitled I guess you could say. In that time I also gained about 15-20 pounds. I was so shocked when I went to my doctor's office and she made me get on the scale. She of course gave me that disappointed look and said, "Stacy, no more fooling around, you have to do something about your weight."

I knew this of course, but I'd been procrastinating about it for a long time, well a very long time. So when my good friend and fellow crafter was raving about this new plan (Take Shape for Life) she was on, my ears perked up, but when she said she bought their food and had to measure any food that wasn't their food, I quickly lost interest. But when four months went by and she was looking totally fabulous (she lost over 30 pounds). I got interested fast.

I talked to my doctor about it first and since my friend and I went to the same doctor I mentioned I was interested in starting the same plan my friend was on, my doctor was all for it. So I went to my friend and she helped me get started. I received my fuelings (that's what they call them) and I started the plan on June 10th. I have been on the plan for more than a month and I've already lost 15 pounds! Yep, you heard me right, 15 pounds. That was better results than I got when I joined weight-watchers over 10 years ago.

So I'm seeing the results and I'm happy with them. I just need to stay on track. I haven't been binge-watching foreign dramas - or at least I limit myself to only 1 hour a day to them and I've been eating my fuelings every 3 hours (5 fuelings per day with 1 evening meal). Basically I eat 5 times a day, about 100 calories per fueling and 1 regular meal of lean meat and vegetables which is about 200-300 calorie and I drink over 100 ounces of water a day. I know that sounds like a lot, but you get used to it and when I don't drink at least that much, I start to crave water - basically your body gets used to it and will want it regularly.

So knitting and crocheting has been keeping me busy so that I don't think about eating things I shouldn't and since I signed up and committed to two farmers markets this year, I'm very busy getting inventory ready for my booth. And when I'm working I don't think about food, I'm so busy I had to set an alarm on my phone for every 3 hours to remind me to eat!

Here are some of the items I've gotten done so far:

Ahh Spa Slippers, designed by Kris Krafter

These crochet slippers will make stocking stuffers this holiday season for everyone you know. They are so quick and easy to make. I can get one pair done in about 2 hours, or two episodes of a good one-hour show (Stitchers - interesting TV show about a woman who gets stitched into the minds of dead people). It sounded like a good show and surprisingly it wasn't about knitting, crocheting, or sewing (LOL).

Giraffe pacifier clips using the Giraffe Bookmark
designed by Ashlea Konecny

Froggie pacifier clip using the Frog Bookmark
designed by Ashlea Konecny

Ladybug pacifier clip using the Spot the Ladybird
designed by Susan Yeates

Bunny pacifier clip using the Rammelear Konjin Snuf
designed by Stip & Haak

These crochet little guys will be perfect for the baby in your life that loves their binky (pacifier). 

Teddy Bear Rattle Teething Ring,
 Rammelear Beer Bram
designed by Stip & Haak

Bunny Rattle Teething Ring,
Rammelear Konjin Snuf
designed by Stip & Haak

Any baby will have loads of fun with these crochet rattles that double as a teething ring as well.

F-Bombs designed by Jenifer Spock-Rank

Do you often drop the f-bomb, well now you can without saying a word, with one of these cute little knitted bombs. Or drop one of these on a friend or co-worker who says or does something stupid. These are great for a gag gift or white elephant gift this holiday season.

Farmers Markets Drawing Closer

I'm getting excited, I'm back in my local farmers' markets again this year! I will be at the Kent Farmers' Market in August and the Auburn Farmers' Market in September. I've changed up my inventory from the last time I participated in these markets (2012 and 2013). This time around my focus is on smaller wearables, baby items and toy-like items. Items such as pacifier clips, baby blocks, stuffed toys, keychains, frisbees, hacky sacks, slippers, re-usable market bags, water bottle totes, etc.

I've been working like crazy fulfilling orders and trying to build inventory for the markets at the same time. It's hard but I'm having a lot of fun along the way because every item I make for babies I think of my new grandson who will also be here very soon (August) and I can't wait to meet him. Each baby item I make I think, my little grand baby needs this and he will love that. My son has already put in an order for a tiger teething ring rattle and a Benny the Bull (Chicago Bulls) pacifier clip. I have to design the pacifier clip myself because I don't think I can find a crochet pattern for a bull (but you never know, maybe with a little search on Pinterest or Ravelry, I will)!

Well I did a search on Ravelry and low-and-behold I found a pattern for a bull/ox and I will modify it to make him look like Benny the Bull, of which there are many versions of Benny to choose from, so I will be working on that soon.

Here is a sneak peak at what I've done so far to get ready for this year's farmers' markets:

Rattle Teething Ring (Tiger)

Teddy Bear Keychains

0-3 months headbands

Giraffe pacifier clips

Football keychains

Ladybug pacifier clip

These are just a few of the types of items I will have. I hope to see you at the markets. Happy Summer Solstice! And happy knitting and crocheting.