Karen's Stitch Nitch

New Addition to the Pattern Collection!

2016-07-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

So, I was sitting around one day and I decided to look online for a chair that I thought would be unique for Maddie, my granddaughter. I wanted something different and fun and all I found was the usual Walmart bean bag chairs and the character chairs.

It dawned on me that I had to come up with an idea for a knit or crochet chair, so I got busy dreaming of how the chair would need to look and feel. I first decided that the best yarn to use was going to be a very thick and chunky yarn that would help in supporting the continuity of the chair. While I was think about this, I decided that I was not going to put any "hard" surfaces in or on the chair. The idea started out as a child's chair that would be soft comfy for Maddie to sit in and crawl on. With that being said I decided to go with Bernat Blanket Yarn in the baby colors.

Then I needed to come up with the design of the chair so I could go buy the yarn. I had to hurry, because I was dying to buy some yarn. You know, that burning need to go to the store for yarn and now you have the justification for buying bags and bags of yarn. I digress, back to the design.....At first, I was drawn to a rounded top that would look like a sun shining. GREAT IDEA, right? I then sat down and began drawing my ideas out. You would laugh at the rudimentary design, but in the end it was that design that made this chair what it is today.

I then worked through the pattern designs for the different pieces of the chair. The seat and the bottom were going to be identical. So I decided on large Granny Squares for the seat top and bottom, which in fact, looked like a sunshine pattern. I then realized that the sides of the seat needed to be constructed of a strong Post Stitch pattern, as well as the arms and back of the chair. But I wanted the rounded shape on the back of the chair, which I finally ended up with. I was able to alter the pattern I used for the seat top/bottom and used it for the arched back.

I contemplated several different options for stuffing my chair and landed on good ole foam padding as the winner. I ordered a roll of 3" thick padding from Home Depot, this helped in deciding on some of the sizes of the pieces.

So then I got busy crocheting away, of course, I did the math and computations, but only after I started. I needed to get a feel for how the pieces were going to fit together. I was amazed at how the whole idea came together quickly and with little calculating.

My first chair was too high off the ground, but other than that it was perfect (of course). I set it down for Maddie to see how she would like it and she instantly fell in love with it. I was beside myself, however I had to design a shorter version that would also be proportionate to the entire design.

I then went back to the drawing board and readjusted the pattern to make the seat section shorter.

This blue chair was a result of the alterations I made to the height of the seat. I wanted to make a boys version of the chair in boy colors.

Then of course I couldn't stop there, I decided that I needed to have a pink one with a different pattern all together and the result is the chair shown below.

Then I went even further and decided to design some Child's Poofs to add to the collection.

I have to say that working with this yarn has been an inspiration and I have a few more ideas up my sleeve. By the way, the poof have good ole fiber fill in them.

2011-08-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is the newest member of our little alpaca family. Her name is Daphnie and she is a doll. Doug and I both left work in a huge rush to get to the farm the day she was born.....Oh, it might help if I shared what that day was...It was July 12, 2011. I couldn't get from Boulder to Bennett quick enough to see her. She was so tiny and wobbly but her momma was so attentive and got her nursing right away. Mist is a good momma to her babies.

I had to laugh several times as Daphnie was checking Mist's armpits looking for the right place to nurse. There were a few times she ended up walking right through Mist's back legs looking for food. She finally got it and now she is a little piggy.
We were hoping for a rose gray jut like her mom, but she is so beautiful that I can't complain. Her mother is pictured here with Donny, Daphnie's older brother. That gives you an idea what a rose gray color looks like on an alpaca. Daphnie does have very similar markings to her momma and who knows, her fiber may darken up. I still love her color even if she stays the same.

Until next time.......

2011-04-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever....

Have you ever wanted so much to exit the career you are in right now and do what you love to do.

You guessed it. I am at that point. Doug and I are working hard to get to a point where we can raise alpaca and Bison....Yeah I said it Bison. Doug's passion and he thinks I am going to be shaving the tummies for the fiber.

I think Not!

Anyway, we decided over a year ago that we wanted to get involved with Alpacas, living life on a farm and me being able to do my fiber arts, which means I would no longer be a cop. I think I am all for that right now in my life. Don't get me wrong being a cop is not a bad thing, I am just so much more passionate about my fiber arts.

I have a retirement and benefits that I need to think really hard about before I decide to throw in the towel.

At this point we are living in Arvada and visiting our Alpacas once a week. We knew we would have to do this for a period of time, but we are both itching to get our own farm going. Stay tuned for the fiasco that happened when we found land in Weld County and ended up staying a whole 2 days before moving back to my house in Arvada. This is a story you won't believe. I will post it soon......

I sell my creations on Etsy and love the community. I have purchased items from other and love the variety of sellers and options. However, I am struggling with why I am not selling anything. I have bought all the books that tell you to have great photographs, have a great banner and avatar and price things right. I have offered sales, and promoted several of my items. I get several hearts and views of my products, but no sales. I think my product is quality and fashionable. If it isn't, I wish someone would say something......I have changed thing so many times that I have gone back to square one to begin again with simple and leave it at that.

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear from anyone.

Now enough of that, I have been creating some really awesome things and will be posting them shortly. I will post them here and on my, web site and on etsy.

Check Out My Shop On Etsy

2011-01-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

Ok so my shop is up and running with 15% discounts until 1-9-11. I don't want to go on and on about it, but I have been learning alot about promoting and making my shop more appealing to customers. I sold a ton of stuff at a craft fair at work and I really would like to get my etsy sales in line with craft fair sales. Enough of that........

So just an update on Mist and Donny. Donny is getting big and is a little pistol. He doesn't like being walked around without his momma (Mist). He is still adorable and we continue to work with him to get him ready to show at Great Western Alpaca Show (GWAS).

Mist is pregnant again and we are hoping for a rose grey baby in the spring. Mist is a rose grey color. I just took all of her wonderful fiber and skirted it, getting all of the hay and stuff out of it, and sent it to get spun into yarn. I can't wait to get it back and work it up for a nice hat or Underwear for Doug...lol He always asks me for a pair of knitted underwear.. What a goof he is.

If you don't know who Doug is, he is my boyfriend, bestfriend, alpaca buddy and much much more. Yes, he is the one in the picture with our cutie pie Donny.

I will be learning how to proficiently spin so that I can process Mist's and Donny's fiber myself next year.

Another new and exciting thing that has happend is that we are moving to Ft. Lupton from Arvada. We are moving to a place that has a few acres for our alpacas. I am so excited, I never thought we would be on our way this soon. Mist and Donny are at the farm we bought them from right now in Bennett Colorado. We will soon have them on our little farm and be able to see them all the time. We only get to see them once a week right now.

Sweet, I will be back in a few days as I got to get packing my house up for the move. You all know what that is like. Until then...........

I am Back to This Blogging Thing

2010-10-20T15:48:00.001-07:00

Ok! So I haven't blogged for several months. I have been hard at work creating my Etsy Shop. What a challenge to enter into the world of selling my items on line. There are several things I designed posted in the store. Some of which are hats and spa sets. I am working hard on several other items that should be eye catchers.

I sold one item, which is huge for me. I couldn't believe it.....I opened my mail and there it was the words....Congratulations on the sale of item #........ I danced around and made a spectacle of myself. I didn't think that I could actually get this shop up and running and actually make a sale. But I did, and if you are thinking about it...My suggestion is to DO IT!

I have sold my items to friends and at small craft fairs, usually at work around Christmas time....But to actually sell on line was a hoot....

Donnie and Mist are doing fabulous and he is getting so big. It might be that we can show him in this years GWAS. I hope so..... Mist is pregnant again and we are hoping for another girl just like momma a beautiful Rose Grey.

Ok...Off I go to cook dinner and try a Tunisian scarf project. Never done Tunisian style crochet...I will let you know how it turns out.

Our Newest Additions

2010-07-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Look at those cuties!!!!!!! Doug (my sweet man) and I purchased these awesome animals last weekend. Momma is the rose grey and her name is Appalachian Mist and we think we are gonna name the baby Adonis. He is a stud at his short 2 1/2 months of age.

We got turned on to alpacas when we went to the GWAS show earlier this year. We have made several farm visits and decided on these two. We initially thought about buying several more, but to our dismay, we were unable to afford them and their care. So we scaled down and got these two lovelies. I am such a fiber freak that this jumped out and grabbed me and now I am hooked. Doug is so in love with this life style too.

We decided that this is a life style that we want to pursue and in the near future get a farm/ranch. I can't wait till we have our ranch and are taking care of our herd every day. Right now we work hard for the State and want a quieter life style.

These animals are such gentle and sweet creatures. They just melt your heart when you are around them. We bred Mist and hopefully we will have a rose grey baby in the spring of 2011. Stay tuned for updates on her pregnancy and of course the life of Adonis. I think he is going to be so handsome and a great producer when he is grown. Here is another picture of me with the cuties. The sun was so bright that day.