Crafty Pants!

My toes are little icicles right now. No really, they are frozen solid. My socks aren’t cutting it; I need slippers!

Mary Jane slippers:
 

Funky Slippers:

Abi Slippers:

Cow Slippers:

Knifty Knitted Mary Janes:

Whew, I never knew a vacation could wear me out so much!  I spent two weeks being lazy, and getting taken out to nice restaurants. I loved it, but now I feel like a big lump. It’s hard to believe, but I really missed working out! I usually go to my school gym (which is brand new and gorgeous) which plays awesome music. However, I’m at home now for winter break, and so I have to take jogs in the silent outdoors (yuck). My MP3 player doesn’t have a clip, so I haven’t been able to take it with me. Until now!

This cute armband is perfect for carrying my music in style:P

I tried knitting about three or four years ago. I got pretty good at knitting scarves, and my tension was nice and even. But I didn’t like two things about it:

1. It was slower than all heck.

2. It made my elbows hurt like no other.

The day I found the Knifty Knitter was the day I put down my knitting needles. I know, most knitters would kill me on the spot if they heard this! I will try again… someday.. But, the only thing that has really kept me longing to knit was cables. I love the look of cables!

Now, a wonderful person has a great tutorial on how to create cables on a knitting loom!!! So now, who knows when I’ll ever pick up those needles;)

Ok.

So I’ve been gone a long time.

I can explain!

Well, I went on a very lovely vacation to Key West. Once I was back I started a new job that has demanded much of my energy getting settled into. Also, it has been HOT for Seattle, and I just haven’t felt like picking up a crochet hook.

However, I got the fire lit under my arse once again! I am making things as fast and I can for a small craft fair. I am going in on it with three other people, so between the three of us the booth price is very cheap! This is the first arts/craft fair I have ever done, so this will be fun. I have been crocheting, knifty knitting, carving stamps, printing, sewing, woodworking, you name it! Because the booth will be soo cheap, I don’t really care about mass producing anything. I’m using this as an excuse to sit and craft for 3-4 hours at a time. Now I can say, when people ask me what am I “going to do” with something, I can say, “sell it!”

I haven’t really been checking out the free patterns lately, because I can’t really sell the things I make from them. However, I did find these super duper cute Gnomes that I want to make as gifts. Anyone remember David the Gnome? Ahh, memories.

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I've been meaning to try this for quite some time now. I have a HUGE box of thrifted tees back home. In less than a week I'll be back at my parents house, where I have my beloved sewing room, machine and serger! The first thing I'm going to make is pants from a tee.

This Daisy pattern shrug is perfect for the nights where it is too cold for a tank but too warm for a sweater. I love this stitch pattern! 

I'm still very new to crochet, and I thought that a beautiful basket weave pattern was only possible for the knitters out there. Silly me! Crochet bythehook created this super neat basket weave afghan. Since 99.9% of all of my yarn if from thrifting, I hope someday I thrift enough skeins of one type/color to make this afghan!

Japanese patterns make use of a chart, which is extremely helpful, but sometimes the chart alone isn't enough. These Japanese patterns have been graciously translated for us so that all us non-Japanese speakers can enjoy making these super cute amigurumi doggies and mushrooms. I especially adore the chihuahua!

Edit: I fixed the link!

I’m making this purse right now, and it’s turning out darling! The pattern is very easy to follow, just remember that your turning chain does count as your first stitch. I forgot that and it began to grow outwards in a funny shape.

I’m making it in my cheapo black acrylic yarn with an I hook, and the proportion/tension is perfect. I can see this in a tan twine or straw, lined with a cute summery print. I love the size and shape, so in style right now. It makes me so happy to see that crochet is ‘in’ right now. I’d make things anyways, but it’s nice that I can actually wear and use my creations in public:)

Aww, I love this life-like chihuahua pattern. The website also has patterns for different dog sweaters to dress it (or a real dog) with. I especially like the t-shirt and jeans pattern!