r-anne-dom

August 22, 2013

Got the "Summers Almost Over" Blues?

Cure it at ennadoolf on Etsy!

August 21, 2013

Wednesday Wonder - What IS THIS?

Does anyone know what this means?

It is on a keychain I have.

August 20, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Lise Solvang Designs

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters

Lise Solvang Designs

What is your shop name?

Lise Solvang Designs

What is your blog name?

www.ahandknitlife.com

What inspired you to start this blog?

I want to share how ALL aspects of my life have knitting in it. My whole Life is Knitted Together by My own Hands.

When did you learn to knit?

8 years old

Who taught you to knit?

My Mom

What or who inspires your projects?

Nature……it's Beauty and it's Play and Harmony of Color

What is your favourite thing to knit?

Gowns

Are there yarns/wools you love?

I love the challenge of creating Beauty with any and all kinds of Yarn

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?

No……for the reason stated above.

What would you like to say about your creations?

Play

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?

Crocheting, Weaving, YarnBombing:-)

Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn?

Spinning will be my next endeavor!

August 18, 2013

August 14, 2013

August 13, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Sarandipity Handmade

What is your shop name?

Sarandipity Handmade - SarandipityHandmade.etsy.com – I make handspun yarns, blankets for babies through adults, baby bibs, hats, scarves, mittens, socks and more!

What is your blog name?

My blog name is Sarandipity (Sarandipity9702.wordpress.com)

What inspired you to start this blog?

I started my first blog years ago when I wanted a place to keep a diary of sorts and share pictures of my kids (and now my yarn & projects). Now I use it mostly for big updates, like visiting the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck or my trip in June to Colorado to the Estes Park Wool Market, which will be up, hopefully, soon. I also use my blog to post about my food allergies as well as my kids and of course yarn activities.

When did you learn to knit?

I first learned to crochet when I was young. My mom taught me. I didn’t do much with it until after my oldest son was born in 2005. I made some hats, scarves a couple baby sweaters and a few toys. It was shortly after that that my husband expressed interest in a fisherman knit type sweater. At the time, I couldn’t see spending over $100 for a sweater and thought I could crochet one just as easily. After 3 failed attempts I decided the only way he was going to get his sweater would be if I learned to knit. That was in late 2009. I’ve been a knitting fiend ever since…and yes, my husband did, finally, get his sweater, thought it wasn’t a true fisherman knit sweater. He still wears it to family get-togethers in the winter holidays, which makes me incredibly happy! Recently I added spinning to my list of fiber hobbies, I love this as much as knitting!

Who taught you to knit?

I pretty much learned to knit from one of those teach yourself to knit book, watching videos on You Tube and a little help when I got super stuck from my friend Rose, who is an awesome fiber artist!

What or who inspires your projects?

I guess it depends on the project as to where I get my inspiration. Sometimes I’ll just see a yarn and know the right project for it. Sometimes I’ll incorporate things from favorite tv shows or what I know about the recipient.

What is your favourite thing to knit?

Right now I love to knit socks. I love that they are portable and simple. I mostly make plain vanilla socks with a short row heel and let the yarn colors do all the work to make some colorful, toasty feet!

Are there yarns/wools you love?

I’m very tactile so I love to touch things. I’m in love with 15.5 micron merino wool that I can spin into yarn. It’s so soft and amazing. I want to get some more of this wool to spin and list for sale in my shop. I also think I want to make a scarf or something to wear next to the skin from it for this winter in upstate NY.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?

Anything scratchy or soy based. What would you like to say about your creations? Everything I make I make with love. I love the craft I do and want other to feel that love in the items I create, be it a simple sewn blanket, pair of baby socks or a huge twin size, crocheted hexagon blanket.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?

In addition to knitting, I crochet and spin yarn, as well as sew fleece tag baby blankets. Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn? I think the next fiber art I’m going to learn is fiber preparation before spinning. I recently ordered a set of hand carders and some Shetland wool and plan to learn the step by step process of going from fleece to yarn.

July 30, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Zibeline Knits

Today, meet Keya of Zibeline Knits!

What is your shop name?
Zibeline Knits (or www.zibelineknits.com)

What is your blog name?
Zibeline Knits

When did you learn to knit?
around age 9

Who taught you to knit?

My grandmother taught me, but my mother should get a great deal of credit for fixing my mistakes as time went on. (I've been knitting, then, for 32 years.)

What or who inspires your projects?
I really don't know. I think I'm more inspired by a pattern of stitch than an external experience. I tend to look at a stitch pattern and just get a visual of what it should be used to knit in my mind.

What is your favourite thing to knit?

Ahhhh. That would be socks.

Are there yarns/wools you love?

I am absolutely a wool snob. I prefer to knit and to wear merino and pure wool over every other fiber type.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?

I don't like acrylic or to really work with any yarn that contains acrylic; I'm just not into knitting with plastic. I also have a considerable allergy to angora rabbit, which is completely unfortunate!

What would you like to say about your creations?

My yarn is unique. I dye in small (two or three hanks at a time) batches and no two organic hanks are exactly the same. My yarns are completely organic and hand painted or hand dyed. Nearly all of my yarns are a product of the U.S.--originating in Oregon, plied in Peru--with the exception being the BFL that I import directly from England. Someone once made the comment that, since I have so many hanks to choose from, I must just "cook" them in the microwave. I was deeply put off by that comment! I use non-toxic acid dyes and NO microwave or oven at any point in the process. My yarns are usually dyed and dried outdoors, so there's no issue with animal hair or allergens. There is also no smoking allowed in my dye works or my home, so there's no cigarette smoke aroma, either.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?

I do a good bit of spinning when I can, as well as having begun my exploration of the triangle loom. Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn? I would like to someday own and operate a traditional treadle loom, but that's years down the road for me right now.

July 23, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Babywear by Babs

This week I'm pleased to introduce you to Babs of "Babywear by Babs".

What is your shop name?
Babywear by Babs

When did you learn to knit?
I learned to knit from my Mother about 100 years ago - well maybe only 40 years ago. I still have the buttons from my first project which was a cardigan sweater with a simply cable up the side of each placket. From there I went to knitting for my dolls and gifts for my friends. In fact, I saw a high school friend a few years ago and she told me she still owned the scarf I knit her for Christmas one year!

What is your favourite thing to knit?

My favorite thing to knit are the fisherman knit sweaters. It is so challenging to figure out the combination of cable patterns and make it all work together aesthetically and proportionately. The different cable patterns are all selected by me to arrive at a unified and interesting sweater design. Each one I knit is different. It is so much fun to see the sweater go from my brain, to paper, to the finished knitted sweater.

Are there yarns/wools you love?

Since I knit for babies I really like to knit with blended yarns that have some acrylic in them so they are soft to the touch. I also love to use washable wool. It makes for easy care but still has the warmth of the wool - especially for the fisherman sweaters since wool is the traditional yarn to use on this kind of sweater.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?

I really do not like to knit with cotton. It doesn't have much elasticity and I don't like the way the finished product feels.

What would you like to say about your creations?

My creations come from my head and my heart. I do much of my designing while falling asleep at night or in the early hours of the morning after I wake up. It helps me calm my mind and is a time of great inspiration for me.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?

I also: sew, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, quilt, macramé. But mostly I just knit now.

Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn?
My grandmother and one of my mom's sisters was a weaver. I really wish I was 20 years younger and lived in a big house so I could have a loom and learn how to weave. Well, perhaps in my next life!

July 21, 2013

Sunday Solitude

July 20, 2013

Make Your Own Paper Medallions

We used the instructions at this website.

We used 8.5 x 11 paper, and we used 7-8 sheets glued together along the short side.

Don't they look great!!

July 16, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - EtsyKnitters - Funky Girls Handmade Shop

Today, meet Freda of Funky Girls Working Shop on Etsy!

What is your shop name?

Funky Girls Working Shop

How did you come up with your shop name?
I am the Funky Girl who makes Funky Items

What is your blog name?
Funky Girls Handmade Shop

How did you come up with your blog name?

I am the Funky Girl who has funky handmade items

When did you learn to knit?
I was 10 years old

Who taught you to knit?
My grandmother

What or who inspires your projects?
Different and one of a kind projects.

What is your favourite thing to knit?

My favourite items are big items such as sweaters, cardigans.

Are there yarns/wools you love?
I love yarns that are soft and the smell of it.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?
Those are very itchy and smells very strong.

What would you like to say about your creations?
I love to see them on my customer’s.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
Dying, spinning the yarn and creating them

What other hobbies or activities do you have? Taking pictures
What country are you in?
I live in Canada, Penticton British Columbia

Are you able to access yarns/wools easily in your country?
Unfortunately, no.

If not, how do you cope?
I buy my yarn online.

What are your goals for your shop?
My goal is to promote my shop consistently.

Do you have any tips for someone considering opening an Etsy shop?
Promote promote promote.

Do you have any knitting tips?
My knitting tips are on my YouTube channel,

When did you join the EtsyKnitters team?
2009

What are your current projects?
I am knitting the Big Lebowski The Dude Wool Cardigan

Do you teach others to knit? who?
Yes, I do and I do not charge.
Adults, kids.

--
Fredaヅ

Thanks Freda! I am definitely going to check our your YouTube channel - I'm always needing visual help for knitting tips!

July 14, 2013

Sunday Solitude

July 09, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - EtsyKnitters - Mountain Street Arts

Let me introduce you to Pam, another member of the Etsy Knitters Team!!

What is your shop name?
MountainStreetArts

What is your blog name?
mountainstreetarts.com

When did you learn to knit? When I was 7 years old

Who taught you to knit?

My mother

What or who inspires your projects? The Home and Garden TV Channel

What is your favourite thing to knit?
Home decor

Are there yarns/wools you love?
I love to knit with silk, tencel, baby alpaca and other soft wools

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?

Acrylic

What would you like to say about your creations?

I am happy that I was able to fill a much needed niche in the fiber marketplace. I enjoy making people happy and doing custom orders. Knitters and Crocheters spend a lot of time making and designing their project so it's important for them to put a label on it advertising their work.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
Crocheting, rug hooking and needlepoint