The Elves are Busy....Knittng away!

When not playing in the snow--the elves helped me create this soft and aqua colored keyhole bow tie scarflette...with a crocheted flower for an accent--the flower has a blue vintage button in the center. I love these bow tie scarfs--or scarflettes--because they keep my neck warm and cozy without all the bulk of a longer scarf.

and this fuzzy heather beige hat and scarflette matching set...knit with wool and mohair, with a pretty ruby colored crocheted flower for some pizzaz! another vintage button on the center...all for sale at my Etsy Shop---hats and scarves make great holiday gifts!! and keep your or your loved one warm.

 

The yarn (and elves) made me do it......

Blue Scarflet....

Just finished this neck cozy....made of nice soft Patton's wool merino yarn. Fits most necks....and now for sale in my Etsy Shop--BOREALIS BEADS.

So if you need to keep your neck warm and cozy or know someone who would just love this, do visit my Esty Shop (click here ) where you can purchase this.
After all, the holiday season is coming up fast--and this would make a lovely gift!

After knitting I added these embroidered flowers for a little embellishment....

this photo (below) shows how the scarf intersects...the narrow part of the scraf is hollow--so one side fits through the other..

I really like how this style of scarf (or scarflet ;-) keeps my neck warm and  cozy without all the bulk of a longer scarf. This scarf is also an easy size to just stuff in your purse or pocket in case you get cold....

KNITTING FOREVER, HOUSEWORK WHENEVER.....

Fun Little Bow-tie Scarf

This little scarf was very quick to knit! and I love how it feels....because it is made of a nice soft wool/silk blend. I have ordered some cashmere/wool blends to create a few more of these. Also, making this used less than one skein--so this is a good economical project for some more expensive luxury yarns....
(now guess what I'm making this year for holiday gifts?)  I may even knit some of these to put up for sale in my Etsy shop.

Pretty clever how you knit a tube by dividing the stitches so one side of the scarf fits through....pattern here if you want to try to knit one! Yep--it is from Martha Stewart's online...although this is a old pattern which has been around a longtime--and Martha doesn't mention that fact.

I like that it keeps my neck warm with out the bulky-ness of a longer scarf. Now back to knitting...the next one is light blue and oh! so soft...and I think I may try a little embroidery embellishment on this blue one.

Handmade is Better than Store Bought

Since my youth in the 60's I have believed that anything handmade is superior to anything commercially produced or "store bought." I still believe this, and that is one reason I continue to create useful crafty items for myself, family and friends.

I love knitting baby sweaters, hats, scarves, and socks...

and partly I like knitting for the process--I just plain enjoy sitting and knitting.  But part of the pleasure is also seeing  someone wearing and enjoying the finished knitted item.






And I also know that the quality of the knitting and the quality of the yarn one rarely sees in a "store bought" knitted item (especially socks!). I like that whatever I create is very good quality and will wear and last a long time.

I remember once showing my Grandmother--in the '70's---yarn I had handspun and was knitting into a vest. She asked me why I would go to all that trouble to spin yarn when I could just buy yarn? She was  knitter--but not a spinner--so she understood why I would knit a vest...but didn't understand why I wanted to spin yarn. I don't remember what I answered--but I know now that it was partly the process of spinning (very relaxing!) and partly the quality of the yarn..and partly the satisfaction of learning an ancient skill.

People are always asking me if I sell my knitted items;
mostly I don't sell them--I prefer to give them away.
I am not a fast enough knitter to make any real money selling what I make...and  I rarely make anything with the idea of selling it...I usually knit something for a specific person....

                                                         
or for myself. I enjoy picking out the yarn that I feel matches the person I am making the item for and that fits the project. Socks for my sister? ah! she would love these colors...

I have set a new goal for myself---for this winter. I want to knit enough pairs of socks for myself that I can get rid of ALL crummy "store bought" socks, and only have hand knit ones for myself. Of course, this means knitting pairs of socks in a variety of weights and fibers..from wools to light weight cotton.

Seems a worthy goal...and one that fits with my conviction that hand made is best.

Winter Scarf On the Needles

I love the way the two different Noro Silk Garden yarn colorways are knitting up in this scarf I have on my needles right now. The pattern is from here---from another blog I enjoy BROOKLYN TWEED. I saw this scarf on his blog last year and fell in love with it.....and I am finally getting around to knitting one. This is knitting up quickly because I am so fascinated with watching the colors evolve as I go....

Today's Quote: " The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. " ~Mary Kurtz