Tag you're knit!

Silver Fox Sox

2011-12-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

These Lacy Cable Socks by Veronik Avery are from the book Knitting 24/7. They are knitted from Madeline Tosh sock color Silver fox.

These socks are a good fit. They aren't terribly snug up top, but due to the structure the stitch provides they don't slouch too much. I wear a 6.5-7 shoe, and I knitted the pattern as written. I've machine washed these guys a few times now, and they are holding up. While I love they way these came out. This wasn't a project I could knit while doing something else, and I had to keep the pattern with me through both socks. I will probably go with something more mindless next time.

Cousin Kai's Kanoko Pants

2011-11-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Kanoko Pants by Yumiko Sakura & Cute Noggin Baby Hat by Heather Anderson both are knit with Lion's Brand Cotton Ease in Taupe. I really like this fiber for baby's Machine wash and dryable, and not too heavy.

Such a cutie! These pants are my first attempt at baby clothes. I really had no frame of reference for fit. I was a little worried b/c they looked super small as I was knitting them, but apparently children start out very small ;) This was a pretty quick project, and was perfect for a project size between blanket and just a hat. I went ahead and knitted the 9-18 mos thinking if he were small he would grow into them, and if he were big they would fit early. He's about 3 mos in this picture and they are just a little big. perfect!

My hands smell like bacon

2011-03-28T16:08:00.001-07:00

Why? Because I just finished my first batch of bacon infused vodka!!

I got this idea from a tasty Bloody Mary I had while in Austin for the SXSW Interactive Conference. The process is relatively simple and after some research and my husband's insistence it would not make me ill, I decided to try it.

I followed instructions on Instructables.com, and used Titos Vodka. I started with a half pound of peppered bacon and a half of a bottle of vodka, and let the bacon steep in the vodka for 2-3 hours before putting it in the freezer.

I plan to use it for Bloddy Marys mainly, but found this company that actually sells bacon infused vodka, and they have what look like some very tasty recipes for bacon vodka. My favorite is called the Elvis Presley...

Leisl

2011-01-08T13:26:00.001-08:00

PHOTOS BY KATIE WAMSLEY

This Leisl, by Ysolda Teague, is knit with Manos Wool Classica. The pattern is written so the knitter can achieve different effects and variations depending on the yarn and options she chooses. My gauge is 4.5 sts/in. I followed the green sample in the pattern, 3/4" sleeves and boat neck.

Project notes:

I knitted the 34” so I’d have some ease. Though I got gauge, or so I thought, it ended up being a 32”. I chose the boat neck option of this pattern, but I don't really consider this a 'boat neck' it’s about an inch lager around than my crew neck t-shirts. Despite these things I still love it. The pattern is easy to follow, It was a quick knit for a cardigan, it fits well, and I've already gotten some good use out of it.

I ended up knitting the button holes, but I think it looks better with my buttons if I button into the lace on the other side of the button band.

Manos holds up surprisingly well for a single-ply yarn. I've always admired it in the store, and I enjoyed working with it.

These slippers are made for walkin'

2011-01-03T09:33:00.001-08:00

PHOTOS BY KATIE WAMSLEY

Growing up my father was always concerned about whether we needed socks on our feet. It wasn't until I moved to San Francisco that I began to appreciate the need for efficient foot coverage, and my fathers wise concerns. This Christmas I decided to return the favor.

Enter Lorna Miser, of Lorna's Laces. The Suede bottoms can be purchased with the pattern for 'Suede Soled Slippers', from Somerset Designs, and are lined with a synthetic wool.

I used 3 skeins of Twice Tweed from Elsebeth Lavold, a recycled blend of wool, cotton and polyamide. The yarn isn't particularly soft to work with, but I wanted something that might have some structure, and wouldn't be too warm for Texas.

The only adjustment I made was to continue the rib pattern down the heel. To attach the upper to the suede piece I used a whip stitch and strands of my Twice Tweed split in half.

My Teacher!

2010-11-14T22:37:00.000-08:00

Debbie Stoller visited ImagiKnit in San Francisco. She gave a class on the basics of lace knitting then signed some books. In the bottom picture she is demonstrating a decrease using 3 students.

This is the woman who taught me to knit… well, her book did. 5 years ago I was given the book Stitch 'n Bitch by Debbie Stoller as a Christmas gift from a friend. I picked up some cheap yarn and a set of needles, and proceeded to work my way through the book. I still reference the book from time to time today. It's easy to understand, has great illustrations, and points out little tips and tricks for the beginner not typically found in a lot of how-to knitting literature.

I used the big bad baby blanket to get over a boyfriend. The blanket was for a cousin, and the largest project I had knitted at that point. I thought by the time I finish this blanket I will be over the boy. The experiment didn't quite go that smoothly, but I came away from it with a new hobby.

Today I knit everywhere I go, and knit all sorts of projects. Knitting both drives me to the brink of sanity and helps to keep me sane. I see no end in sight. Thank you Debbie Stoller!

1965

2010-09-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

I love these arm warmers. They're just a little bit fancy. These are a pattern by Veronik Avery from Knitting 24/7. The combination of stitch patterns is based on a wedding dress designed in 1965 by Yves Saint Laurent. The dress combined super bulky wool trimmed with silk and satin ribbon. The yarn is Louet Gems color cream which is apparently a base yarn for a lot of dyers.

These were a pretty quick knit despite being on size 1 needles (the size I needed to get gauge), and because the stitch pattern is easy enough to memorize this is a very transportable project. The fit came out a little snug for me. Perhaps I should have stuck with the twos...

How to stay warm in San Fran

2010-09-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Lacy Chunky Throw by Wenlan Chia

Final size 40” x 60”. 5 skeins of Lion Brand

This project was started last year. When I picked it back up recently, I saw all of the mistakes I’d made, frogged it, restarted and finished over the weekend.

This project is an easy one. If you’re not able to tell which side you’re on by looking at put a marker on the right side. I wish I’d done that the first time around.

The bottom right is a picture of Mazze. She likes to sleep under blankets. I had gotten up to do something and when I came back I found her 'hiding' under my project.

One large craft project

2010-08-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous time! I could not have asked for a better day, and event, and I could not have pulled it off without loads of help from very talented and willing friends and family. I am one lucky lady. Below are some of the crafty projects I concocted while planning the wedding. Special thank you to our friend and photographer YiMay Yang who is too good at what she does, and everyone else there with a camera who helped us capture the event. For more photos visit my Flickr site.

Road signs. Made by Katie and Whitney (my brilliant and talented sisters)

Brides side & Grooms side buttons. Buttonpixie

Flowers. Natalie Galasso Designs

Hairpiece.

Donut stand. The Mad Batters

Cake Toppers. Sarah Giannobile. The dog on top is our dog Mazze and was a surprise from Sarah.

Photobooth.

Renegades

2010-08-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Another year another successful Renegade Craft Fair. Lot's of good stuff this year. I made more purchases than usual, but told myself I would take my lunch to work for a while as a budget trade. The Alligator Factory and KM Knits actually showed under Yarnivores. Scout Books is a cute idea, and I've seen them around. I can't wait until they make a 33 Cheeses book. ;) .

Insert big girly scream here

2009-09-15T12:50:00.001-07:00

I recently got engaged to a very awesome man. I'm so lucky, and very excited! To make for an interesting story to tell people a postal worker stole my engagement rings out of the mail. I decided to use the incident as an excuse to knit (because I really need a reason...). Until the new rings arrive (sometime in October hopefully), I knitted myself a placeholder. I used Habu textiles %100 Ramie, and 0000 needles.

Above are the rings we're waiting on. The Garnet is my engagement ring and the Onyx one is for funsies. We ordered the ring in the inset image later to stack next to the garnet, to make it asymmetrical. They were designed by Blanca Monrós Gómez, a designer I've admired from a far for a while. She has been really great through the whole ordeal. She FedExed James the wax molds and sent an image of the rings she had taken prior to shipping, for him to have something to propose with.

Berry Hats

2009-08-21T12:18:00.001-07:00

This pattern is a mash up of Michele Sabatier's Berry Baby Hat and the Greenleaf Baby Hat, by Evelyn Uyemura. The purple one is toddler size and the pink one is for a newborn.

To combine the patterns I used the instructions for the Berry Baby Hat up to the last 4 stitches. Before I started the icord, I K2tog one more time to end with 3 stitches on the needle. Then I proceeded with the 1/2 inch icord and the greenleaf pattern to finish. Voila!

Exposing my yarn in public

2009-08-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

From waiting in line at the DMV to Stern Grove concert series, San Francisco provides many opportunities for knitting on the go.

The picture on the left was taken in Sonoma. Our friend Robin, she's a crocheter, visited and requested a trip to wine country. Beautiful scenery, great weather, good company and tasty wine plus knitting?!? I could have stayed all day.

The picture on the right is from our favorite seasonal concert series in the city, Stern Grove. Robin was gracious enough to teach me some of her crochet skills while we baked in the sun waiting for the show. That piece ended up being a little basket. I want to create more out of some different materials. The one above was from some remnant linen I had lying around. I'll post them eventually.

Off to school

2009-08-19T16:35:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine is headed off to grad school next week. So, I'm sending her off with this pencil bag to remember me by. Even though she's only going to school down the road, I have a feeling we will see a little less of her for the next 2 years. Good luck Jillian!!

I used a tutorial, by Anna at twelve22, to make my bag. I sketched the pencil on the bag using a fabric marker before embroidering it. I cut the fabric before embroidered the pencil, and though it worked this time I will probably embroider then cut next time.

For the new Veselka

2009-08-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Finally, something knitted on my knitting blog... This is a blanket for my cousin's new baby. I found the pattern, by Genia Panck, on Ravelry. The yarn is Lion Brand Cotton-Ease which is a poly-cotton blend that is machine washable and dryable. The final measurement is about 36" in diameter. This project would be great for a newbie knitter if they could get a little help with the first few rows. The blanket is a cinch to knit from there.

The border is 2 rows of seed stitch then a row of YO, k2tog. Then 2 more rows of seed stitch and binding off in pattern.

Renegade Craft Fair: San Francisco

2009-07-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

I attended the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco for the second year in a row this past weekend, and saw lots of new stuff and talent as well as some favorites from last year. I purchased more this year than last as well...

Above are some of the standouts, and are things I would have liked to purchase or did. Regardless I will definitely be keeping my eye on them for new stuff.

Baby showers

2009-06-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Above is a baby shower invitation. The event is going to be held at the Chocolate bar in Houston, Texas. Yum! The babies room is going to be safari themed. Congratulations Kay!

Albright/Wamsley Wedding

2009-06-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

Below are the invitations and various collateral pieces I designed for the Albright/Wamsley wedding. Not only were the bride and groom awesome clients, the bride is also my sister. They wanted "rustic elegance with a laid back feel", and they achieved it beautifully. My part in the wedding, as well as from Maid of Honor, was designing anything that needed to be printed. Aside from illustrating the birds which remind me of my sister, my favorite part of the project were the place cards which doubled as wedding gifts.

All of the pictures below were taken by the very talented wedding photographer Laura Burlton. Check out her stuff!

Save the Date (magnet)

The photo for these save the dates was taken by the grooms mother, Nancy Wamsley, who is also an artist. I created the artwork.

Invitation

RSVP

Rehearsal Dinner Invitation

The rehearsal dinner was at the grooms parent's house. BBQ was the main course.

Programs

The programs were printed, cut and drilled by Copy Dot Com, then hand assembled. Copy Dot Com did a great job and were really easy to work with.

Place Cards

The leaves for these were cut from a template I designed. The names and numbers were hand written, then assembled.

Cake Art

Bessie's Bakery used some of the artwork from the invitations on the cake. The cake was carrot cake with cream cheese icing, and it was DELICIOUS.

Hey there cupcake!

2009-05-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Making this card was a lot of fun, and creating it reminded me of a fuzzy memory from my childhood of cards that had images on them and pre-punched holes that we could "sew".

Project notes: When I make cards like this in the future, I will construct them a little differently the inside paper was too thin to glue of the back of an embroidery piece.

Apron Daze

2009-05-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this project for a while now. I worked with Cayson Designs to first, create the print for the aprons, then to design the promotional postcard. It's been a shift from my usual work and I love it.

Magical Mittens

2009-03-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

I made these for a friend who requested a pair of "magical" fingerless mitts after she saw my last pair so she too could painlessly detach her thumb. I included instructions for how to detach the digit w/ the mittens

I created the pattern, and used some yarn from my stash.

Fingerless mitts

2009-02-26T11:19:00.001-08:00

Fingerless Mittens. Really easy project. I used the decrease bind off method on the hand part for a little more elasticity. These are based on Vanilla fingerless mittens by Elinor Gray.

The grey yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca, Alpaca and Silk, from a previous sock project, and the pink, I believe, is a Rowan yarn, that was a gift from a friend. Thanks Abbey!

Clapotis

2009-02-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

My mom bought me some Alpaca yarn for Christmas last year from the Ranch of the Oaks farm. I spent over a year trying to find the perfect project for it, and I finally found it in Clapotis by Kate Gilbert on Knity.com. I decided to make it a scarf instead of a shawl. The finished piece is 60" x 9", and is full of twisty stretchy springy goodness.

Orange study

2009-01-22T18:31:00.000-08:00

It was a busy Christmas

2009-01-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

The "Mustard Scarf" by Jane Richmond was a gift for James mother. It was a fun project and quick to knit up and I used Malabrigo kettle dyed wool. The hats are the "Really warm hat" by Melissa LaBarre. These were also a simple project that were fun to knit up.

For some of our friends we made a mulled wine mix based on a recipe by Ina Garten and, tied it to a bottle of wine. These were easy and created the need to buy a Clover pom pom maker. I now have one in almost every size. Pom Pom makers are easy enough to create at home with some cardboard, but I felt for the quantities I was making the store bought version were worth the extra cost to save a little time.

When we watched the Family Guy rendition of Star Wars with my sister she found Cleveland's character R2-D2 particularly entertaining. So for Christmas I embroidered her this picture and stretched it over a canvas to make a wall hanging. My favorite part was creating his 'fro out of french knots. I used a screen shot from the movie, traced it and transferred it on to the fabric using a heat transfer pencil then retraced it with a fabric marker.

Embroidery: first attempt

2008-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at embroidery. It was a lot of fun, easy, but harder than I expected. It's on a tea towel, and the design is my own. I used a heat transfer pencil to trace my design then ironed it on to the towel.

Throw pillows

2008-10-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

New pillow cases for some old throw pillows. They are inspired by some pillows a friend had on her couch. I hope to post the pattern soon.

More current projects

2008-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

I've started doodling. These are some invites for various weddings.

beep… beep…

2008-10-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is a birthday card I made for some friends. Their boys turned 2 a couple of weeks ago, and have been going through a construction phase for a while.

I used 3 screens per image (gold, green, and white). Alignment was a little bit of an issue with this one.

Playing with printing

2008-09-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with linoleum block printing lately. This is a print I made from a picture I took of a sign in Noe Valley.

Current Projects

2008-09-17T15:53:00.001-07:00

Along with my knitting I'm currently working on lots of fun things right now. Above are snippets of some invitations and cards.

Mazzercise

2008-09-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

I felt the need...

Vase Cozy

2008-08-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

I made this for my sister a couple of Christmases ago. It's 2 pieces of garter stitch sewn around a vase I purchased from ikea using a blanket stitch. The yarn was from my stash.

Version 2

2008-07-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

I've created both of these before in different colors. The french press cozy is a request from my uncle, and the cat is for my cousin who is about to have a baby. When I find something I like knitting with that is also machine washable, I'll knit her something useful like clothes ;)

Coffee press cozy:
I discovered the french press cozy pattern from Derek & Lauren via Design Sponge. The wooden buttons are from Britex fabrics, and the fibers are from Imagiknits and are a wool and a wool silk blend. The request was for woodsy colors because the recipient is retiring from the forest service. So, I chose the darker green fiber because it has a texture that reminds me of moss when knitted.

Kate:
Kate is made up of kid mohair and wool blends also from Imagiknits. The creator of her pattern and many other fun things is Jess Hutchison. If you like her style you may also like the knitted creations by Anna over at Mochimochiland

Renegades

2008-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

I managed to make it to the Renegade Craft fair this weekend. What a fun show! I didn't have my camera on me so I tried to makes notes of some of my favorites. I did make it out with a new skein of handspun yarn from Betsy ply. I can't wait to play with it.

Squeaky and Fuzzy

2008-07-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to try softies. We have some company staying with us this weekend (Beulah the pug) so I decided to make some quickie toys. The used toy store down the street gave these guys up, originally a rabbit and a lion. I removed rattles and crinkle paper and placed squeakers in them to make them more appealing.

Needle felting nonsense

2008-07-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Lately I've had the urge to try out dry felting. I knitted and wet felted this purse a long time ago, and only use it occasionally. So, I thought it would be a good canvas to practice on. I started trying to follow the lines, got bored, and started doodling.

A daycation up the coast

2008-06-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

James and I drove up the coast on the PCH a few weekends ago. We stopped whenever we felt like it. The whole trip was gorgeous. Below are a few pictures of crafty things that caught my eye.

We stopped in a small used bookstore where we payed what we thought the books were worth. We picked up a few goodies, and I shot a picture of the cover of this book because I like the print and type.

There was a yarn shop in Point Reyes along the way, and of course I had to stop. The owner had these awesome plushies on display. Owls are the new deer.

An Invasion

2008-06-09T11:20:00.001-07:00

These are a gift for my man. They are gouache, thread, and ink jet on water color paper sandwiched between 2 pieces of acrylic and a piece of acetate. After finding out how easy it is to have acrylic cut and drilled, I hope to do some more projects with it.

Courtney von Albright

2008-06-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

After seeing someone in this dress version C (the dress furthest in the back), I decided I had to have it. Unfortunately she purchased it from a vintage shop. I researched the dress and found this vintage pattern. The fabric shot on the right minus the adorable puppy in the middle is my practice fabric. I'm almost finished with the dress and minus a few squiggly lines it fits pretty well. Since beginning this project I've noticed Diane von Furstenberg's work everywhere and really started to admire it when I see it. This could get expensive ;)

Bridesmaid's belt

2008-05-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I attended the wedding of a friend. The bridesmaids, bride and I are all close friends which made for a really fun time. Since we all used to knit together, The bride decided to incorporate it into our outfits. She designed the belts and we all worked on them leading up to the wedding.

Two weddings and a clutch

2008-04-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I am in two weddings in May both of which I can't wait for. I've been looking for a clutch I could use for both weddings, but since one wedding has white accents and the other has ivory accents it narrowed the possibilities quite a bit. After much unsuccessful searching, I decided to pull out my new sewing machine and make one myself. This is my second project on a sewing machine and I'm really getting in to it.

Both fabrics for this piece were purchased at Britex in San Francisco. The exterior fabric is textured and is ivory with white accents The liner is silk and a print by a designer named Anna Sui

Pattern notes: This pattern w/ Uhandbags instructions was really simple. I used only one piece of fusable interfacing for this one b/c I wanted a floppier bag, and my pattern is altered a little b/c the frame I used isn't the same as the pattern. I used E6000 glue, and it was a scary mess.

More helpful handbag sewing tips and make your own purse here

Light Box

2008-04-16T13:45:00.001-07:00

I made myself a light box in an attempt to improve my photos. These shots were taken while messing around with my camera settings and in the last remaining minutes of direct daylight in the house.

Learn how to light, and create your own light box here.

Bath Time

2008-04-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

New Project! Herbal teas for the bath. I tried out a "relaxing" blend last night. These are prototypes. I want to see if I like the blends and improve my sewing skills, this is my first sewing project, before I try to pawn these off as gifts. I tried out a "relaxing" blend last night. It was successful, though the glass of wine probably helped... The chamomile in the blend was really fragrant, and the oats and salt made my skin soft.

Learn how to create your own Bath teas here.

Shower Invites

2008-04-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Invites for a friends bridal shower. The "theme"or look of the shower is Texas shabby chic. The wedding colors are pinks and green and the wedding is in a rose garden. So we added pink to our theme as well.

A lacey idea

2008-03-16T00:14:00.001-07:00

This is a picture taken by a friend, Rebecca Schmidt, of waves rolling back on the shores of Jericoacoara. I think it would convert nicely into a fun free form lace pattern. I'll add it to my project list ;)

Socks rock!

2008-03-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is my first pair of socks to knit. I finished them in January and I love them more than I thought it possible to love a pair of socks. I never had the need for socks and didn't understand the obsession with knitting them until I moved to a city that has a decent public transportation system, and weather that requires them.

Although there were a few bumps in the beginning of the project*, I really enjoyed this pattern overall. They fit so well I will probably knit another pair using it.

*A note about the pattern: there are some pretty significant changes which caught me off guard and caused some frogging. Check the pattern corrections online before you start.

Comfy Socks by:Ulli S. Shibuya

New business cards

2008-03-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

We went to SXSW interactive this past weekend. It was a great time as always. I made some business cards with my Gocco to hand out while I was there.

Poster board

2008-03-14T17:02:00.001-07:00

Made from an old poster frame, old moving boxes, spray mount, and fabric and ribbon scraps. The brown ribbon on the side is for things I don't want to poke a hole in. If I made another one of these I would use cork instead of the boxes. I think it would hold the pins better.

French Press Cozy

2008-03-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is currently keeping my coffee very warm. I used buttons I had lying around to fasten it, but I would like to put some chunky dark wooden buttons on when I get around to it. I like the fact that the stripes are so close together in color. I think I will try that again somewhere else.

French Press Cozy by:Derek & Lauren

Tag you're knit!

Silver Fox Sox

Cousin Kai's Kanoko Pants

My hands smell like bacon

Leisl

These slippers are made for walkin'

My Teacher!

1965

How to stay warm in San Fran

One large craft project

Renegades

*Insert big girly scream here*

Berry Hats

Exposing my yarn in public

Off to school

For the new Veselka

Renegade Craft Fair: San Francisco

Baby showers

Albright/Wamsley Wedding

Hey there cupcake!

Apron Daze

Magical Mittens

Fingerless mitts

Clapotis

Orange study

It was a busy Christmas

Embroidery: first attempt

Throw pillows

More current projects

beep… beep…

Playing with printing

Current Projects

Mazzercise

Vase Cozy

Version 2

Renegades

Squeaky and Fuzzy

Needle felting nonsense

A daycation up the coast

An Invasion

Courtney von Albright

Bridesmaid's belt

Two weddings and a clutch

Light Box

Bath Time

Shower Invites

A lacey idea

Socks rock!

New business cards

Poster board

French Press Cozy

Insert big girly scream here