Home Made Originals

Stich Sampler Vest

2011-07-16T09:19:00.002-06:00

Stitch sampler vest

Project info

Name

Stitch sampler vest

Pattern

Elongated Stitch Sampler Top by Suzanne Bryan

Craft

Knitting

Made for me

Size M

Needle and yarn

Needle: Size 3 circular

Yarn

Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton & Silk Hand Paint
2 skeins = 654.0 yards (598.0m)

Colorway: csp12

Dye lot: 8252

Purchased at

Mustard Seed Dreams in Pocatello, Idaho

Notes

I love the variety of stitches in this sampler, but I got stuck on two of them. One I found how to do searching the internet and the other one I got a kind response from the pattern creator.

For the double twisted drop stitch, I found this link useful
and for Esparta stitch, Suzanne provided this clarification:

I am sorry that those directions were not more clear. On row two you drop the extra wraps from row one, just work one stitch for each original stitch. Then again when you repeat row 1, you will drop the extra wraps from row 2. This pattern was found in the Mon Tricot knitting dictionary 1030 Stitches Patterns

7/15: finished knitting. I used almost all of the two skeins, about 600 yds; current wet blocking it which opened up the stitches and lengthened it a few inches. I’m still very glad I added length to the vest. I am thinking I will wear this open and may not bother with the buttons.

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Status Finished

Started June 19 2011

Completed July 15 2011

Daisy Chains

2011-06-25T08:25:00.006-06:00

This is an adorable free pattern on Ravelry, Daisy Chain. The author has kindly assented to me using her pattern for a knitting class at my local yarn store. It was really a fun knit and the embroidery adds a very special touch. On the second one, I put a daisy on the back for fun.

Wordless Wednesday-hello tulips

2011-05-18T18:30:00.001-06:00

Bloom Day

2011-05-15T18:58:00.006-06:00

Everything is blooming here...we planted a flat of Alyssum and some petunias this weekend as well as a couple of new bushes/plants: Crimson Pygmy Barberry (not shown, it was planted after photos), Dwarf burning bush, Goldfinger Potentilla, and a Sunny Delight rose. The project involving removing all the old paint from the fence is nearly complete, thanks J!

2011-05-07T18:58:00.002-06:00

This was a pretty quick repetitive knit. No seaming, just 3-needle bind off at the shoulders. I'm already working on vest #2 in white.

Project info

Name: Weekend Vest

Vail Island Vest: by Gwynn Erickson

Size 38

Needle and yarn

Needle

US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn

Berroco Weekend

How much?

3.5 skeins = 717.5 yards (656.1m)

Colorway: 5931

Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival

2011-05-06T19:44:00.000-06:00

This week's Blog carnival is hosted by:
JN Originals, http://jnoriginals.etsy.com
This Creative Journey, http://www.judy-nolan.com

1. Spring is a time for new beginnings, when many of us get reorganized and put a fresh face on things. Describe and/or show us what you have done recently in your art space to get more organized.
I wish I could say I had organized my art space but at the moment by desk and work area is in a cluttered state. I have, however, taken steps to organize my digital space. I've been working on a new version of my Etsy seller spreadsheet. There are some bugs still to work out, but I'm very happy to have a better way to track my listings, sales, materials and supply expenditures, mileage, and other aspects of my craft business. If you are interested in trying out my Excel spreadsheet and offering me some feedback, send me an email and let me know where to send it.

The Best Things

2011-05-04T19:49:00.003-06:00

I'm featured

2011-04-23T22:31:00.001-06:00

My new listing, fingerless mitts with attitude, are featured in an Etsy treasury:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hats!

2011-04-17T16:23:00.000-06:00

I've made four of these hats, think I'm done!

New Today

2011-04-14T19:10:00.002-06:00

Here are my newly finished fingerless mitts. This time I left off the bobbles and modified the pattern a bit:

and here is a new treasury my neck warmer is featured in:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T18:56:00.001-06:00

Be SQUARE

2011-04-12T18:00:00.006-06:00

I'm so excited about the new toy I received in the mail yesterday. It's a little credit/debit card reader that works with an Android phone (or an IPAD) and plugs into the headphone jack. I've resisted taking credit cards at shows in the past due to the costs associated with most options (Propay and others). This seems perfect for me...no charges at all unless I make a sale and then it is 2.75% of the cost of the sale (slightly more if no card is present as in if you make a phone or internet sale).

My neckwarmer is featured

2011-04-11T10:54:00.000-06:00

April's Featured Blogger

2011-04-11T10:29:00.003-06:00

is.....lindab142

Linda is a member of the Etsy Bloggers who designs "handmade beaded wire kippot, beaded and wire wrapped gemstone and glass judaica and secular jewelry, magnets, beaded bookmarks and accessories for purses, zippers and other fashion accessories."

Her Etsy shop is here. the bracelet shown above has different types of yellow glass, acrylic, glass and yellow jasper gemstone beads
Her blog is here. Every week on her blog she does an Etsy top finds feature that I really like.
She also has her own website.

Comfort slippers for Japan

2011-04-11T08:54:00.004-06:00

I wanted to share this with my readers. Reiko Arato is a knitter on Ravelry who is selling this cute slipper pattern to raise funds for the victims in Japan. The pattern is only $2.50 and you can purchase it here. Below is Reiko's message about her effort:

2011.3.19
Dear knitters,

I was born and grow up in Sendai, Japan, and have lived in Shanghai, China since last year.
My parents live in Sendai. Many friends also live there.
For my hometown and Japan which had suffered serious tsunami damage, I had thought what I was able to do from Shanghai.
Then, I decided to sell my pattern and to contribute the total amounts I received for Japan to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The pattern consists of one page.

In the stricken area, hygiene, food, information, and all other things are insufficient.
I hope you will cooperate with me.

Sincerely yours,
Reiko Arato

Catty Fingerless Mitts

2011-04-10T10:38:00.008-06:00

Well, they are actually called "Catty Bitch Mitts" and hopefully that won't offend any of my readers. I didn't name them, I just knit them, and knit them, and knit them. It's a fun, free pattern you can find here on Ravelry. The pattern creator is Bev of MyLittleRoomintheCorner
With 4 colors of Cascade 220 Sport you can make at least 4-5 pairs of these lovelies.

Smile, It's the Law

2011-04-09T17:55:00.005-06:00

It's about time I participated in the Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival. I've been a slacker of late.

This week's topic:
The first Public Library (in the US) opened on April 9th, 1833 in New Hampshire
Peterborough is the town where the first library opened. What's your town known for? Show us around!

My town, Pocatello, Idaho, is known as the "Smile capital". Here's the information on how this came to be from the City's home page:

In 1948, the Mayor of the City of Pocatello, George Phillips, passed an ordinance making it illegal not to smile in Pocatello. The "Smile Ordinance" was passed tongue in cheek as a result of an exceptionally severe winter, which had dampened the spirit of city employees and citizens alike.

The ordinance unintentionally remained on the books and was discovered by staff and later by a local reporter who wrote an article appearing in 1987 in the Idaho State Journal. The American Bankers Association chose our outdated ordinance to use in their national advertising campaign, emphasizing the theme of outdated laws to convince the United States Congress to modernize banking laws.

On December 10, 1987, in response to an invitation from Pocatello's Mayor, representatives from the American Bankers Association visited Pocatello and declared our community the “U.S. Smile Capital.”

Pocatello received a great deal of national and international media attention for the “Smile Ordinance,” and in the spirit of fun, the event was perpetuated by making “Smile Days” an annual event.

Traditionally, our status as the U.S. Smile Capital is celebrated with a poster contest for elementary school children; a smile contest; “arrests” of those who do not smile; and a community celebration at the end of the week.

Join the fun and help us celebrate the universal language of a smile!

Keep Smiling!

Note: This post was written as part of a blog carnival by my EtsyBloggers Team . If you're a lover of books and libraries, you might want to read how Etsy shop owners are influenced by Public Libraries while others give you a glimpse into their home towns, like this post.

In Memoriam

2011-04-09T10:05:00.004-06:00

Farewell to my special kitty, Snickers, who was with me for about nine years. She was the only cat I've known who would do "rollovers" on command. In the summer, she liked to sleep in the sink. She liked to cuddle on the couch when we watched tv. She had a unique personality and I will miss her.

Springtime Baby Cardi

2011-04-07T19:59:00.004-06:00

This is my most recently completed project: Springtime Baby Cardi for my newest Grand daughter. It was a fun knit, you work from bottom up, over shoulders and down the back, then pick up stitches to add sleeves and seed stitch border around front. The pattern calls for buttons but I didn't have access to any when I finished this, so I just made a tie by braiding some of the yarn and attaching to the front. It's a free pattern available for sizes 3 mos, 6 mos, or 12 mos. I knit with Berrocco Weekend.

Chocolate and vanilla treasury

2011-03-10T19:30:00.002-07:00

Chocolate and vanilla treasury a photo by HMOriginals on Flickr.

I'm featured in this lovely treasury on Etsy.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-02T19:12:00.003-07:00

A Knitting Story

2011-02-19T07:55:00.005-07:00

For a while I've wanted to write a children's book with a knitting theme. I had this idea before I found and knitted from the wonderful book, Phoebe's Sweater. Another recent acquisition was Freddie's Blanket, by the same author as the Phoebe book. I've sent that one off to my grand-daughters for their reading pleasure but still plan to knit something from the book for them as gifts.

I'm still waiting for the spark that will get me writing my book. In the meantime, I found this great post about other knitting themed children's books which you may enjoy.

Your favorite slow cooker recipes

2011-02-13T18:22:00.004-07:00

I am trying to find some great slow cooker (crock pot) recipes. I've rediscovered the crock pot as a great way to have dinner ready when I come home from work. Would you be so kind to send a link, post, or email your favorites?

Here is a favorite I've already made two or three times. I adapted it from a recipe found online and I would love to give credit to the original (though I did make a few changes) but I can't find it.

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

· ¼ cup all-purpose flour

· 4-6 chicken thighs

· small amount of chicken broth (optional)

· 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes with chilies undrained

· 1 can or jar artichokes hearts, drained and quartered

· 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms or 1 small can mushrooms

· 1/3 cup chopped onion

· 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

· 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

· 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Put everything in crock pot, and sprinkle the flour on top. Stir. Cover and cook on low heat for at least 4.5 hours (may cook longer and turn to warm) or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve over rice or pasta.

Felted Goodness

2011-02-13T15:13:00.002-07:00

What a lovely collection of Felted lovelies...those are my felted bowls on the bottom left.