100th Post and a Sad Story

 So, this is my 100th blog post!! I kind of feel like I need to jam out about this for some reason. Even though my posts have been very very sporadic and I know fo sho I ain't krumpin' yet.

As the title states, I have a sad story to relate to all ya'll out in blogland. Once upon a time I felt really spiffy and on top of stuff. I had all these posts scheduled for the week before Thanksgiving leading up to a grand rendition of #GlutenFreeFriday in which I was to discuss all of the various ways to make your Thanksgiving meal safe for Celiacs. It was all typed and had pictures and a slideshow and a jet fly-over and glitter and yes. It was scheduled. I swear it was scheduled! But then.

Fate.

For some reason I went back in to the post to edit a picture. After editing, the post unscheduled itself and went to draft mode. And I didn't notice until, oh...Thanksgiving Day. Oops. Big old fail. I was so bummed and distressed by this turn of events that I decided I was clearly to distracted to work at the blog until the holidays were behind me.

And now they are. So. Here we go! New year. New adventures. That's going to be my theme for the next year, I think. Trying new things and pushing forward into new realms. Blah blah blah feelings.

In other news, The Narwhal Hat continues to be my most popular pattern in the shop. Who can resist this dapper fellow??

This particular hat was made as a custom order and just finished up yesterday. I really never get tired of making these for people. They are so fun. Even though my shop only had instant download patterns right now, I am always open for custom orders of finished objects. 

Oh, another sad thing: Sewinique Boutique is no longer opened on Etsy!! My label maker that I raved about. Guess it'll be time somewhat soon to find a new one. Shoot me some reccomendations, if you have them.

Pensive about the year ahead, a girl and her Narwhal Hat inspect the snow.

Hope your holiday celebrations were lovely and full of joy. Looking forward to another year of crafting with you!!

Love&blessings,
Carolyn

Hat Month

There comes a season of knitting when drastic decisions need to be made. It's go time. There are only -only- a few months left until Christmas, so it's time to crank out gifts and delightful woolies.

The powers that be (aka me and my dear friend Pyper Jean) decided that September would be hat month. All hats all the time. Only hat related projects were made, and it was glorious. Setting aside an entire month and dedicating it to making one type of thing and one thing only seemed a little crazy to me at first. But let me tell you, it is well worth it.

During hat month, I completed ten hats. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a very in depth look at the hats, because a lot of them (read: all of them except 3) are gifts. The hat above is a gift for my husband. I was so excited to be able to rock out the cables on that one. It's a free Knitty pattern. Knit up with some delicious Alpaca.

My husband is so lucky.

 Like my crock? It's my brown yarn/hat crock. I scored it for $2. Cannot complain. Cannot complain at all.

TARDIS hat, another freebie. This one is for me, so I can show it to you. I'm a bit grumpy about the fact that my colorwork floats are tight and wrinkly. But, it looks fine when I am wearing it. Practice makes perfect?

I can also show you this one: it's a hat for Ernest. Delightful yarn to work with. There's so much more of this yarn in my stash, I cannot wait to use it up. Silk and wool. YUM.

And here's a fun little bonus picture of Ernest and I wearing our hats. Look how cute he is!! Lil babu. I think I'll be making him a million more. I love making the tiny stuff.

So, that was hat month! Next up, socks, headbands, and scarves month. Aka October. Let's rock this beast!! Let me know what you are working on!

Windschief Hat & Snow

Remember way back in December when I visited Yarnology in Winona? I scored a sweet skein of black and white twisted wool and the Windschief hat pattern by Westknits (who I adore, btw). In the hustle and bustle of holiday crafting, I never got around to making myself that hat. Then, before I knew it, we were packing and moving and crazy stuff, so the hat got put aside again, before I ever cast it on.

Well, after the sadness of my Baby Sophisticate sweater fail, I decided I needed a little distracting happy project. So I dug the Windschief pattern out and got to work. After four hours of dedicated knitting with watching Law and Order SVU on Netflix, the fruits of my labor were ripe for harvest.

Or....binding off and weaving in ends. Since....you don't really harvest hats.

 Now, this is not the yarn I purchased to make this hat. No, no. I was silly and decided that since it's Spring time here, I ought to make this hat in cotton. Creamy colored cotton. Because cotton is warm enough to fight off the breeze, but breathable enough to keep my head from sweating. Because in springtime, it gets warm out.

HAH.

It snowed yesterday. At least I have a cute hat.

 I've also been on a "sort stuff and make a mess while pretending to be cleaning" spree. It's like Spring Cleaning for crazy people. The down side is you make a bigger mess than you started with, but the plus side is you find some random pink cotton flowers you crocheted who knows how long ago and are able to make a cute pin for your new knitted hat.

My head will be bloomin', even if it's snowing in APRIL here. BLARG.

 I really really enjoyed the pattern. It was easy enough to do while watching Olivia Benson kick some bad guy butt, while still being interesting enough to make me feel like I was doing something clever with yarn. And it looks hipster-tastic when it's done!

Dat twisted rib section. Mhhhmmhmhmhmhhh.

So, here's hoping your week is less snowy than mine is so far!! BUH. WINTER. Needs to be over. I want flowwweeerrrsss!

Okay, I promise I'm done whining.

STUPID SNOW.

LOOK AT HOW EVIL IT IS!!!

Okay, now I'm done.
Happy Tuesday, yo!

The Windschief Pattern is also available online.

The Narwhal Hat Pattern is LIVE!

It is finally available!! Now you can be the envy of all your friends with your very own Narwhal Hat that you made yourself!! Joy of joys!!

The pattern is available for instant download via Last in Line Shop on Etsy.
(Also, look! I'm a big kid now with a Ravelry Designer page!!)

I was very hesitant to jump in and finally offer patterns for one of my most popular hats, but I am incredibly excited now that it is finally up! It's especially invigorating since I've been working on updating my Ravelry page, and now I'm a bonafied designer! With a pattern available!

In other news, I'm working on another pattern. It is a LOT more intricate than my beloved Narwhal Hat, which makes me even more excited to offer it for sale. Soon. Ish. Once I get it all typed up and edited and pretty.

That's all. Just wanted to let you guys know that I feel pretty spiffy with this pattern up for sale.
Hope your day is warmer than mine! After a weekend of 50+ degree weather, it's snowing today.

SNOWING.
IN APRIL.

-sigh-

Regardless, happy day to you all!

New in the Shop: Darling Deer Baby Hat

 There's a new item in the shop, and it is ohsocute. I had juuusstt enough yarn left over from the adult-sized Darling Deer Hat I was commissioned to make to whip out this little piece of adorable. A pint-sized version of the big hat!! I am pretty smitten, and I think I may require more yarn so I can make one for Baby Z.

 I really love how it turned out. Baby-sized earflap hats are too cute. And a baby earflap hat with antlers? Come on. You know it's adorable.

Those widdle antlers!!! I love.

My hand looks so weird in this picture. The hat measures about 7.5" across.

Pop on over to Last in Line Shop on Etsy to see this hat and other adorable goods!

Linkin' up at these fine sites!

Darling Deer Hat: A Custom Order

Oh deer!

 An adorable custom ordered deer hat for a return customer! Nothing warms me up more than having a customer come back for more. Except perhaps, when they come back in want of a custom order!

Right before the move, a customer contacted me on Etsy in want of a deer hat. This was in fact, the same customer who ordered this unicorn hat before Christmas. I was a bit wary to take on an order, considering the high rate of possibility that I could completely lose the project in the midst of packing and chaos. But this dear lady assured me she was in no rush to get the hat. So we settled to details and I got some yarn and started cracking!

Oh, and you get a sneak peek in these pics for tomorrows post! Hehe. Guess what it is?

 I cannot tell you how incredibly pleased I am with the outcome of this hat. She wanted the antlers to be felted, which I thought was super fun. I got to pop them in the washing machine and let the wool work its magic on the spin cycle. Easy peasey, with a super cute turn out. I could not help but take a few pics of the hat at this stage. I love it so much just plain like this!!

Such a cute lil Bambi.

The customer wanted some flowers as embellishments, so I may have gone a bit overboard. Not really, but them are some bold blooms, yo! The big one is deep purple with a faded pink center to match the two little flowers. I think it is super whimsical and romantic. Which is good. Yes.

I feel like you could wear this hat to a tea party. Flowery and cute.

I made up my own pattern for the flowers. Too fun!!

Dem antlers, yo. I love.

I really didn't want to take it off.

Hopefully she is just as smitten with it as I am. I love lovelovelove LOVE custom orders! Never know what sort of adorable things my customers will dream up. This hat has inspired me to work out a lil baby version of this Darling Deer hat. Keep your eyes peeled!!

Linkin' up at these fine sites!

Olympic Craft Watch: A Yarny Review of the Winter Games

 My family has always been very adamant about watching the Olympics. We never watched any other sports when I was growing up. No football, no baseball, none of that stuff (unless it was a local team and we were going to a live game. Sports are okay when you are supporting your hometown by being present). But every four years, when medals were being handed out, you can bet your sweet biffy my mom, dad, sister, and I would be glued to the tube cheering on America.

Maybe it was because watching the Olympics is an act of patriotism. Maybe it was because both Summer and Winter Olympics take place in seasons of less busy-ness on the farm. Maybe it was because my dad loves medals. Whatever the reason, I grew up being in love with the Olympics.

When I started dating Sailor, he was amazed at my incredible lack of knowledge about sports. I had never watched an entire NFL game all the way through, not even the Superbowl. I had no favorite teams for anything. I honestly could not have told you more than 10 professional teams, let alone name all the pro teams in one sport. The only players I could name were the ones I saw on cereal boxes. I had no interest in watching sports of any kind. But when it came to the Olympics, much to Sailor's surprise, I was the one begging him to watch.

"....But....you don't even like sports."

"But it's the Olympics."

"Which is a sporting event."

"But it's the Olympics."

"Which are sports."

"Olympic sports!"

I will have you know that I have since reformed my Non-Olympic Sport prejudice and begun to enjoy other sports. But the Olympics will always have a special gold-medal shaped place in my heart.

Especially the Winter Games.

This year has been so much fun to watch. In addition to the interesting political aspect of the games in Sochi, there have been so many exciting happenings. And amidst all these feats of athleticism and national pride and world togetherness there is something worth noting all on its own: the apparel.

I know big-name fashion blogs have already ripped to shreds all the various uniforms and outfits and dos and don'ts, but I want to hone in on an accessory that a lot of countries sport: knitwear.

So, here are the noteworthy knits I have seen thus far during the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Austria's Matthias Mayer

Let's talk about Austria's earwarmer first. When I first had these pointed out to me, I could not tell if they were knit or crochet. Upon closer inspection, they are indeed knit. In a lovely waffley stitch that looks oober cozy, might I add? They have hats that match this ear warmer. I really need to figure out which stitch this is. So cozy!!

Burton Boards for Team USA 2014

Okay, let's chat about 'Merica. First and foremost, I am completely obsessed with the US ski jackets by Burton. I know some people really hate them, but I am smitten. So rustic, so cozy, just yes. Yes all over. Yes everywhere. Send me one. Or two. The hats Burton designed for the team are quite nice as well. Simple knit beanies with rustic stripes. Lahve.

Team USA by Polo Ralph Lauren

 Okkkkkkaaayyyy. The interwebs have been going nutso about the "Ugly Christmolympics" sweaters designed by Polo for Team USA. I agree that they are a little much; overplaying the kitschy thing by a longshot. BUT there are nice moments in the ensemble: the mix-matched cuffs would look nice on a less explosively patriotic sweater, and the hat is acceptable. I am a big fan of the moose hat that they designed (the one the ladies wore) as well as the traditional turtleneck sweater with the mooses on it.

But this sweater? Buh. I vote, keep the mixed-up cuffs and the shaping of the sweater, but do it in solid navy with a striped back panel. But not Where's Waldo stripes, subtle stripes more like the Burton hat. Come on, guys.

Julie Mancuso at a pre-Sochi press conference

 Here is a lil pre-Olympic craft fashion for you. Julie Mancuso wearing a crochet hat at a pre-Sochi press conference. Ohmyyum. Such a squishy, home-made looking hat. Maybe it was homemade...I don't see any tags on it. This is a good level of kitschy for the Olympics. Cozy and homemade, not bombastically patriotic. Take notes, Polo.

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway

To follow up that nice crochet, here's some bad crochet. Can we please talk about how freaky it is that Norway opted for a crocheted hat as opposed to a knitted one?? Norway is known for knitting. The craft is deeply rooted into the country's herritage. So why, why, whhhyyyy crochet? I mean, crochet is my first love, so I'm excited to see it featured in the games. But NOT on the heads of Norwegians.

I like the hat as a hat, but I'm disappointed in Norway. Honestly, I was expecting some amazingly beautiful knitted colorwork depicting Norwegian skiiers swooshing down an mountain and/or being presented their gold medals while riding a moose. Something like that.

Maybe while I'm re-designing the Polo Team USA sweater, I'll whip up a chart for a victorious Norwegian ski hat.

Joint gold medalist (left to right) Dominique Gisin of Switzerland and Tina Maze of Slovenia

 Enough with me ripping on the crochet, let's get back to the knits. Slovenia's hats are possibly my favorite. They at least make it to my top five for Olympic knitwear. I am happy to say, I could also make this hat. It's a delightful seed-stitch concoction with those glorious neon stripes. The subtle texture adds just the right amount of interest to a simple hat. All the good things.

Carina Vogt of Germany winning the first ever women's ski jumping gold medal

What a historic event for female athletes. The first ever gold medal for women's ski-jump was won by Carina Vogt of Germany. And, let me say, she definitely hits the podium in my book for her hat. You can also see the full hat that matches Austria's ear warmer in this picture. Delightful!

But Germany's hat is all kinds of cute. Simple, patriotic colorwork that doesn't overwhelm anybody. A straight forward design. And a pom pom! Can't go wrong with a pom pom. This is another totally doable hat for crafting along with the Olympics.

Vogt being congratulated for her historic win

As you can see, there is some pretty great knitwear making an appearance in the 2014 Winter Games. Have you spotted any others?

Your patriotically,
Carolyn
Linkin' up at these fine sites!

Ps: I'm trying to get back on a more frequent posting schedule now that phase #1 of our move is complete. Things have been a million kinds of crazy here, but hopefully everything is coming together now. I am ready to get back to blogging and relaxing!!

WWII Watch Cap: Free Pattern and Reflections on the Past

If you follow me on Deviant Art, then you have already seen a little blurb about this free pattern. I was so excited to stumble upon it! I'm a major nerd when it comes to history, so when you add knitting to history, I'm all up in that.

Both of my grandfathers are interested in history, so I knew this would be the perfect project to work up for both of them. I used the same yarn for each of their hats, and included a note regarding the history of this pattern. It went over quite well at Christmas, so I am very pleased.

This pattern is the Classic World War II Watch Cap, derived from Beanie No. 212, Bucilla Yarn Booklet, Volume 318, dated 1940.

Nineteen forty!! I know there are many recorded knitting patterns that are much older than that, but the fact that I followed a pattern that was followed by dedicated women during a time of great worldwide conflict strikes me as amazing. It is estimated that the pattern was knitted at the very least a million times during World War Two. As I was working on these hats, I could not help but feel a connection to the women and girls who had labored over this same hat in hopes of warming up a soldier off fighting overseas.

You know you are jealous of my ammo trunk and med kit

 That's what knitting is all about, right? A connection to the past, as well as a hope for the future. You don't make a sweater for a baby and hope that it never gets used. You hope that the child will outgrow what you made them, and that the sweater will get tucked away for another baby to use when they are born. A piece of the past, and a prayer for the future, all in one.

In the 1940's, factories were dedicated to making uniforms, weapons, and vehicles for the war. Women had to become the machines that cranked out the hats to warm the boys out in the field. How many of them were thinking of one or two men in particular while stitching? How many of them prayed that, in the future, their beloved husbands, sons, and brothers would find their way home? These were the questions that rattled around in my head as I worked on these hats.

 My Grandfathers taught me so much: how to grow anything in your garden, how to make a fishing pole out of a stick, how to treat other people with respect and polite teasing, how to set up a tent and build a campfire, how to work with wood to build a new door, a new bed, a new wall- the list goes on. While I was knitting these hats, my hope for the future was that they would both understand the love, honor, and respect I have for them and their life experiences. I hoped they would see the joy I find in understanding the past and how that joy came from the importance they placed on history when I was young.

I think they understood. <3 br="">
You can find the pattern here.

Happy Tuesday!!
-Carolyn

Linkin' up at these fine sites!

My Views on Custom Orders and Unicorns

I love doing custom orders.  I. Love. Custom. Orders. I feel like making things by hand is such an intimate process. You are involved in each step of the process. You pick the materials. You design the product. You make it. You pack it. You ship it.

You...get the idea.

The intimacy of making something by hand is increased at least a hundredfold when the customer is a part of the design and creation process. When the communication is good between both parties, it is a blissful experience. Now, I cannot do all customs all the time; it takes longer, because you need to talk to the buyer and finalize designs and fees and whatnot. But, doing custom orders every now and then is refreshing.

Most often, the buyer wants a color combo I had not thought to offer before. Sometimes, the buyer wants something altogether new. Something I never thought of. Something totally unique. I love that. It pushes my boundaries, increases my repertoire, and ultimately makes the customer super-duper happy. It's a glorious situation all around. I get street cred for making a crazy-odd design, and the customer gets to tell everybody that their one of a kind hat was their own idea, and it was made by a glittery fun girl who is game for most things.

Last week a lovely lady messaged me on Etsy asking if I would be willing to do a custom unicorn hat for her to give to someone for Christmas. Of course the answer was yes! She had seen my 'normal' Unicorn Hat in my shop and was unsure if the recipient of the hat would really wear such an attention-grabbing creation. The person was hip and fun and would probably think the hat was neat, but needed a more low-key chapeau for erryday thuggin'. 

Which, honestly, worked out really well that the lady wanted a custom, because less than 3 hours after she messaged me, the Unicorn Hat I had listed in the shop sold to someone else.

'Normal' Unicorn Hat. Yeah, it's pretty cray.

She decided that she wanted a shorter, white mane for the hat. I was excited, because I had some floofy FunFur on hand that worked poifectly. I think it turned out very cute! I was a little worried at first that a shorter mane would make the "unicorn aesthetic" a little less obvious, but I mean, come on. The thing has a horn coming outta it's head!! Unicorn to the max.

I love these labels so much. I cannot tell you. Well, I can. And I'll say it again: LAHVE DEM.

Another successful custom order!! Well, I think it was successful. The hat should be arriving to it's happy new home any day now, so I'll know soon enough if it was an all-over success.

Happy Saturday!!
-Carolyn