Craft Fairs

When designing my little critters I tend to knit many samples. In this respect I am perfectionist, I like when my patterns are good. Some of these little critters are given away to many children that I know. Some I give to charities. Few of my critters are available at the art galleries which sell my art.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to sell my critters at a craft fair. I must say that it has been an interesting experience. This coming weekend I am attending another craft fair. It will be once again with the Tip Top Toes shop owner. I adore her baby slippers. The store can be also found on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TipTopToes?ref=ss_profile

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Charitable donations

This is the time of year when I think more about charities and their purpose. To who should I donate and what should I donate.
Ever since I remember I have always given something to someone who was in a greater need.
I always believed that it is a good thing to do, and that perhaps when I will be in a need, someone will return the kindness.
Since knitting is a big part of my life, I do end up with a lot's of knitted things. Well, some of the knitted creations are spoken for, but what about the rest? I would love to give them away, but to who?

Should I give locally or internationally? Should I give to children, or adults in need?
I think I have come to a conclusion. I give as much as I can. I give to where my heart points me at the moment.
These squares (even though they have a shape of rectangle) are my latest charitable donation. They will be a part of a blanket for someone. I hope that the blanket will keep someone warm, even in his/her heart.


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Knitting Pattern for Mini Dog

Mini Dog
by Stana D.S.
Finished Toy Size: Approximately 10" (24cm) tall.
Yarn: You will need less than a ball of each yarn, one color for head and body, and one or two colors for the PJ. I like to use cotton yarn.
Recommended Needles Size: Double pointed needles US #3/3.25mm (set of 5)
Notions: Yarn needle, crochet hook, stitch holder, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of black embroidery yarn.
Abbreviations: KFB= Knit in front and back of the same st, this creates 2sts from 1st.
SSK= slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together, this decrease 2sts to 1st.
Gauge: will vary with the yarn used.
INSTRUCTIONS:
First leg: With PJ color yarn and three double pointed needles cast on 8sts. (3 or 2sts per needle). Place a stitch marker on the first st, and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (8sts total)
Row 2: KFB all around, 6 or 4 sts per needle (16sts total)
Row 3 - 20: Knit around (16sts total), transfer the sts to 2 needles (or use the stitch holders), 8sts per needle. Cut the yarn. leaving long enough tail.
Second leg: With PJ color yarn and three double pointed needles cast on 8sts (3 or 2 sts per needle) Place stitch marker on the first st, and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (8sts total)
Row 2: KFB all around, 6 or 4 sts per needle (16sts total)
Row 3 - 20: Knit around (16sts total), transfer the sts to 2 needle, 8sts per needle.
Continue with body:
Row 21: Knit 8sts from the first needle with second leg, knit 8sts from the first needle with the first leg, continue with the next 8sts from the first leg and finish the row with 8sts from the second leg (32sts total)
Thread the tail of yarn from the cast on stitches on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the legs with fiberfill.
Row 22: - 42: Knit around, 8sts per needle (32sts total). Continue stuffing the dog with fiberfill.
Continue with Head:
Row 43: Change yarn to head color, continue knitting in the rounds, 8sts per needle (32 sts total)
Row 44 - 57: Knit around, 8sts per needle (32sts total)
Row 58: *SSK, knit 6; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (28sts total)
Row 59: * Knit 2, SSK, knit 3; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (24sts total)
Row 60: *Knit 3, SSK, knit 1; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (20sts total)
Row 61: * SSK, knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (16sts total)
Row 62: * Knit 2, SSK; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (12sts total)
Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. Thread the tail of yarn from the top of the first leg on a yarn needle. Stitch through the stitches in between the two legs to close the hole, and stitch to secure.
Arms:
With PJ color yarn and crochet hook pull and secure the yarn to the body by tying a knot and pull through 6sts per needle (12sts total) through the side of upper body of the cat, start 6 rows down from the beginning of face color, and continue down the other side. This will save you sewing on the arm.
If this direction is not completely clear, begin with the PJ color yarn and three double pointed needles and cast on 12sts (4sts per needle)
Place a stitch marker on first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 12: Knit around, 4sts per needle (12sts total). Begin to stuff the arm with fiberfill.
Row 13: Change yarn to body color, continue knitting in the rounds, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 14 - 16: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 17: SSK all around (6sts total)
Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, eaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.
Repeat on the other sidde of the dog for the second arm. If the arms were knitted separately, sew them on the side of the dog, using picture as a guide.
Ears:
With body color and two double pointed needles cast on 6sts (3sts per needle). Place a stitch marker on the first st, and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around, 3sts per needle (6sts total)
Row 2: * KFB, knit 2; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (8sts total)
Row 3: * KFB, knit 2, KFB; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 4: Knit around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 5: * KFB, knit 5; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 6: Knit around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 7: * SSK, knit 5; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 8: Knit around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 9: *SSK, knit 2, SSK; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (8sts total)
Row 10: Knit around, 4sts per needle (8sts total)
Row 11: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (6sts total)
Row 12: Knit and cast off from both double pointed needles at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Weave the end inside the ear.
Make second ear. Thread the yarn from cast on sts and sew the ears to the head of dog, using the picture as a guide.
Tail:
With body color yarn and crochet hook pull and secure the yarn to the body by tying a knot and pull through 2sts per needle (6sts total) through the middle of lower back of the dog. This will save you sewing on the tail.
If this direction is not completely clear, begin with body color and three double pointed needles and cast on 6sts (2sts per needle)
Place a stitch marker on the first st, and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 10: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 11: SSK around (3sts total).
Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.
If the tail was knitted separately, sew it to the middle lower back of the dog.
Finishing:
Cut a long piece of body color yarn and thread it on a yarn needle. Begin by one arm and weave the yarn in and out around the dog's neck, tight the two ens of the yarn together to shape the neck. Embroider the face of dog, using the picture as a guide.
It is possible to use two colors for the body. Switch in between the colors while knitting, always on the same side, the pattern for color switch could be every two rows, or every four rows or which ever mathematical combination pleases you, as long as the numbers add to the total number of knitted rows to keep the proportion of dog. When changing the yarn do not forget to twist the two threads around to make sure there aren't any holes.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charity purposes. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

Cabin fever...

In the part of the World where I live, shortly before Halloween, the nature decided to trick us. A rare snow storm in October. The red and yellow foliage looked stunning against the white snow.

Then the electricity was gone. With the electricity, also everything else that we take for granted disappeared, the heat, the light, the water. So, we began to camp in our home.

When candles are the only source of light, there is not much to do. I took some knitting needles and knit, and knit, and knit.

As you can see, we waited for some time.

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