Knitty Gritty Handwarmers

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Hi All,

Now that another semester of college is behind me, its time for me to start focusing on my crafts again! Today, I want to share a quick project that I made in under one hour! I got this pattern from an old episode of Knitty Gritty! If you haven’t seen Knitty Gritty, it is a knitting and DIY show hosted by the incomparable Vickie Howell, which used to come on the DIY network. The show has been off the air for a few years now, but the patterns remain fabulous.

These handwarmers were knit with straight needles, with stockinette stitch and a rib stitch edging. To make the hole for the thumb, you simply sew inward from both ends of the handwarmers until you have the desired length leftover for the thumb entry.

What I love about this pattern is the ease with which it can be personalized. I knitted these with sock yarn and made them relatively short. However, you can use any yarn to create any texture, length, or style desired!

-Mika ❤

New Year, New Designs

Hi everyone!

It’s been so long since my last post. I’ve been so busy lately I’ve almost neglected my crafts! Today, I want to share one of my most prized creations.

This vest is my own design and took approximately 2 months to make. I love designs that have an element of surprise which is why I chose to use two different colors for the front and the back.

A fun fact about this vest is that it was originally intended to be made entirely in seed stitch. I changed my mind after knitting about 20 rows seed stitch and switched to a rib stitch, which ended up being quite serendipitous, as my last minute change of plans created a peplum effect on my vest.

As you know, I live for all types of crafts. In addition to knitting and fiber arts, I also enjoy bellydancing in my free time. During my latest performance I got to put my new vest to use as I danced in it!

(*Photo credit to LJPhotos!)

 

Sending peace and love,

Mika ❤

Warm and Cozy Earmuff

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Hi all,

While winter may be far off, its never too early to begin crafting for the cold weather.  This project took approximately 3-4 hours to make and is constructed with Loops and Threads Country Loom yarn. What I thought would simply be an over-sized headband, I realized could be used as the perfect earmuff! It is extremely cozy and the perfect remedy for protecting your forehead and ears from the bitter winter winds. I think this could make the perfect go-to gift. (especially for Christmas!)

Mika

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Textured Lace Cowl

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Hi all,

Lately I’ve been feeling as though the majority of my posts focus on my love of style, leaving my love of knitting in the shadows. Well, today I hope to put an end to that! Today, I’m sharing one of my most recent FO’s (finished objects) with you.

This is my Textured Lace Cowl made with Caron Simply Soft yarn, and size 8 straight needles.  I designed this piece myself, and as you can see, the bulk of the pattern is comprised of the trinity stitch, which is a simple, yet complex looking stitch that combines both lace and bobbles into one pattern. It’s extremely textured and fun to look at! I’ve said before that I am a sucker for cowls – and this has always been the case. I not only love thick cowls that can be worn in bitterly cold weather, but I love the idea of a light, lacy cowl that serves the purpose of decoration as well!

Mika

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Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2015 Review

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There’s nothing I look forward to every three months more than the latest issue of Vogue Knitting.   I’m the type of fan that checks VK’s website more than once a week to see if they’ve posted their fashion preview for the next issue.  I’m the type of fan that reads all of VK’s books, reads anything Soho Publishing, and orders back issues of magazines.

Now, I’m the type of fan who does reviews of said magazines. I want to note that I didn’t review each and every single item. For my first review, I’m simply counting down my top 10 favorite pieces.

#10 – Crew Neck Pullover (Deborah Newton)

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The first thing I want to note is that the color choice could not have been any better for this pattern! I love the chevron texture featured in this design. It’s a very simple pullover, but the texture adds just the right amount of interest.

#9 – Open Front Cardigan (Rosemary Drysdale)

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My favorite thing about this pattern is the shoulders.  They are so strong and structured! This is a little unique for a cardigan, so it definitely grabbed my attention. Also, I love the ribbing in the lower back of the cardigan, which creates such a soft, barely-there ruffle.

#8 – Tubular Scarf (Laura Zukaite)

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What can I say? I’m a complete sucker for cables. This scarf is luxurious and features so many different types of cables – so for me this pattern is a dream come true!

#7 – Multi Directional Cardigan (Veera Valimaki)

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There’s a lot going on in this pattern. There are stripes, lace, and a variety of stitch patterns. However, all of these elements work together harmoniously and make for a stunning cardigan.

#6 – Shoulder Cowl (Jacqueline Van Dillen)

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This pattern is breathtaking. My favorite thing about this piece is that it is so simple and minimal, yet so full of drama. This piece sets a mood and has an attitude, yet can be worn in such a wide variety of ways. Definitely love at first sight for me. 🙂

#5 – Fringed Cardigan (Heather Zoppetti)

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What a playful design! I love the color combination here – as I feel that purple and white aren’t a particularly common combination. The fringe detail gives this design the perfect touch of whimsy.

#4 – Cabled Wrist Warmers (Olga Rych)

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These are by far some of the most sophisticated wrist warmers I have ever seen! Once again, we see a very intricate yet chic cabled design. The soft rose pink of the yarn balances out the texture of the cables to create the perfect balance.

#3 – Cabled Pullover (Debbie Bliss)

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Another intricate design featuring a variety of cables. I love the perfect symmetry of this pattern. Yet another example of a piece that is minimal in its own right – yet full of complex design as well.

#2 – Relaxed Cardigan (Yoko Hatta)

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This cardigan has a fabulous silhouette.  I love the detail in the back of the cardigan, in which the three large sections of the piece come together at one point. Overall, this cardigan is incredibly flattering and unique.

#1 – Oversized Cowl (Holli Yeoh)

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There are so many factors that contributed to my choosing this cowl as my favorite piece. If there’s anything I adore more than cables, it would be a fabulous pattern for a cowl.  The choice of yarn color is extremely eye catching. The design of the cowl is simple, yet the piece itself creates such a huge impact. This piece is versatile, comfortable, practical and breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely a winner in my book.

Mika

Button Up Cowl

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Today, I’m sharing this recently finished project.  This is my take on a button-up cowl.  It is knit with Loops and Threads, Links yarn and adorned with silver, decorative buttons. Also, this was a custom piece for one of my first clients! Hopefully, in the future I will be making more of these and selling them in my own boutique. 😉

-Mika

Michael’s Haul

Hi all,

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a shop-a-holic. Although I’ve never considered myself to be the frugal type, I got SUPER lucky last week when I went into Michael’s.  The haul I left with literally sent me to craft-heaven, and I make no apologies for the excessive amount of yarn I bought!

The Haul:

 

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Mason jar filled with adhesive flowers – $3.99

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Scrapbooking pins – .79 ¢

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6 balls pom pom yarn – .99 ¢ each

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2 balls “Bunny Tail” pom pom yarn – .99 ¢ each

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Starbella yarn – $4.99

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2 balls Sashay yarn – $4.99 each

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“Florence” Loops and Threads ruffle yarn – $4.89

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Reflections scrapbook – $3.99

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Wooden stamp – $5.99

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Adhesive squares – $2.99

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Tag pad – $1.99

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Scrapbook frames – $1.49

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Loops and Threads T shirt yarn – $4.89

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Photo fix squares – $3.49

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2 balls Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn – .99 ¢ each

You have no idea how excited I am to begin digging into my new stash!!! And the greatest part of this haul:  In total, all of these items (after utilizing my 20% off coupon) cost roughly $51!!!!!  Can you say “crafter’s dream come true”??

Happy crafting,

-Mika ❤

Yummy Yarn

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I’ve had this yarn for easily four years, and I’ve never done anything with it. It’s just been sitting here, taking up space in my stash.

This may sound ridiculous, but I love it too much to knit with it.  I am so afraid of using it in a project, seeing the project fail, and seeing my beautiful yarn wasted.

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When I first saw this skein, I was transported into another world. The colors, so rich yet vibrant, I imagined would add a touch of fun and flair to any look. It was the first time I had been so inspired by yarn that I immediately had to buy it without knowing what it would be used for.

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Yet, I can’t seem to cast any stitches on to my needles. I’d rather just leave this gorgeous skein alone so that I can preserve its beauty forever. ❤

-Mika