FO Friday: Fingerless Mitts from Bijou Basin Ranch

I finally got a chance to block and photograph the fingerless mitts I knit in Bijou Bliss yarn! Even though it's still pretty cold around these parts, there are some signs of spring to liven up my FO photos this week.

These two skeins of yarn have been in my stash for at least a couple of years - I distinctly remember getting at least one of them at the first VK Live here in Chicago. Recently, the hand-dyed colors have been discontinued, but you can still get this yarn in natural cream and natural brown - perfect for at-home dyeing experiments, if you ask me!

The pattern is from the Rocky Mountain Collection by Marly Bird: the Long's Peak 3-in-1 Mittens are fun and easy to customize to suit your taste, since the pattern includes instructions for 3 different options. Since my home office is pretty chilly, I opted to make some fingerless mitts that would allow me to type unfettered. As a bonus, I now have plenty of leftover yarn to add to my cozy memories blanket!

Forever Linked Hat & Mitts

As it turns out, this week's project is pretty timely, because the maker of both the yarn and pattern, Bijou Basin Ranch, is holding a fundraiser to send help to Nepal to help victims of the recent earthquake. As their website explains, they have a working relationship with many yak ranchers in the reason, which is why they feel compelled to lend a hand. All net profits from the sale of these products will be donated to AmeriCares, which is on the scene to provide medicine, medical treatment, and other support to victims of the earthquake.

One of the products which will help raise funds is the Forever Linked Hat and Mitts, designed by yours truly. I hope you'll consider sharing this page or making a purchase to help the cause. If you are wanting to learn more about how you can help people in Nepal, this blog post on Woolen Diversions does a great job of explaining some more of your options.

Have a crafty weekend!

Comments

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog