Style Trend: Colorful, Textured Infinity Scarves

Infinity scarves are here to stay, and based on what I see at stores like Anthropologie, there’s a trend towards multi-colored, richly textured ones. I decided to knit such a scarf from a beautiful yarn called Bamboo Bloom Handpaints. It is a lovely, soft combination of bamboo, wool, and acrylic.

I’ve been searching for just the right item to make for my knitting fundraiser this year, and I think this is it! It meets all of my criteria: an quick-to-knit accessory in high-quality, affordable yarn. I bet they’ll be popular. And I know I’m going to have fun making them.

Would you like to make one as well? Download my free pattern. Enjoy!

–Karen

 

Autumn Cabled Purse

I’ll admit it. About ten years ago, I became severely addicted to making felted purses. I made over a hundred of them, and I sold them at holiday boutiques, gave them as gifts, and kept a few for myself. It was crazy. At some point, though, I got bored with making them and stopped cold turkey. I was done with making felted purses.

Or, perhaps I was just on a hiatus?

I recently dug out my old stash of felting yarns, determined to use some of it up for Stash-n-Burn’s 2013 “Use It Or Lose It” Challenge. I found a beautiful cone of rust-colored tweedy wool yarn, and decided to knit it into a felted purse. Because of the autumn colors, I started thinking of cooler weather and cabled aran sweaters, and created a design with columns of cables that are carried over to the straps. Here’s what it looked like before I put it in the washing machine:

And here is how it looks finished, with wooden buckles attaching the straps to the purse.

I lined the purse, adding interior pockets, my personalized label, and a magnetic snap closure. It looks “legit,” as my teens would say.

You can download my free Autumn Cabled Purse pattern. If you make one, please post a photo on Ravelry. I’d love to see yours!

Style Trend: Wrap Bracelets

I love the look and simplicity of a wrap bracelet. It’s basically a long cord, adorned with beads, that you wrap around your wrist a few times. When I saw how thrilled my teenage daughter was when she received one as a gift last month, I decided to try to design one. Perhaps it would be a good item for my fundraising.

Being a knitter, I naturally decided to make mine from a knitted i-cord, or tube. Using some some bamboo and cotton DK weight yarn from my stash, I started making i-cords with different needle sizes. The size 1 needles turned out the best looking cord.

While knitting an i-cord is downright boring, I made it more interesting by watching some TED videos from my “when I have time” list. Before I knew it, I had made one that was long enough to wrap around my wrist six times. (44 inches, to be precise.)

Next was a trip to the craft store to pick up a clasp and some beads.

When I got back home, I threaded 10 beads onto the cord and attached the clasp. I love the finished bracelet!

Would you like to make one as well? Download my free pattern. Cheers!

–Karen

Knitting to improve maternal health

Each year, the 8th graders at my children’s school identify a community service project. After learning about the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, my son’s 8th grade class chose to focus on the goal of improving maternal health. This spring, they are educating the school community about this cause and raising money for the tuition required to send one woman to the Hamlin College of Midwifery in Ethiopia. I’m so proud of them!

For fundraising, they are selling t-shirts, holding a “parents’ night out” babysitting event, and running a silent auction. My son, who is a skilled knitter, decided to make some “Show Stopper Bracelets” for the auction. As I wanted to support the effort, I knit one as well. In the photo, you can see our finished bracelets. We hope that they will generate at least $40 each at the auction.

You can read about how to make a “Show Stopper Bracelet” in one of my previous blog posts, which includes a link to my free pattern. These bracelets are unique and beautiful, and selling them is a great way to raise money for a charity that you support. I would love to hear about any you make, for yourself or for a fundraising effort.

Desert Meets Sea Necklace

Because my knitted bracelets have been popular sellers at my fundraisers, I wanted to try my hand at making a knitted necklace. To get started, I purchased jewelry closures, turquoise colored beads, freshwater pearls, and flexible wire. I love the contrast of the colors, textures, and shapes of these beads.

Next, I sketched out a full-scale diagram of the necklace I had in mind. Yes, it is a mess, but it helped me visualize the design and create the prototype.

I then threaded the beads onto the wire, following the order in my diagram, and knitted the necklace. Here is the finished piece:

It was both fun and quick to make, and I am enjoying wearing it. I may make another one to donate it to a silent auction, but I need to first get feedback from some friends. I need to know if they would be tempted to bid on it. Quite frankly, it would be embarrassing to donate something that didn’t garner any bids.

Interested in making one for yourself? Don’t worry…you don’t need to decipher the messy diagram. I turned my scribbles into a real pattern, which I have dubbed the “Desert Meets Sea Necklace.” You can download it here. Enjoy!