Generosity, GAL, Fasten off Yarn 2020, and life

 

This is the time of year when people tend to be more generous and caring. In the knitwear designer world it is also the time of year when a wonderful event Gift-a-long is happening on Ravelry.

GAL 2020 officially started yesterday with a week long sale event, after the sale event is over the gift-a-long continues until the end of the year. There are games to play, prizes to win, and more. You can join the event on Ravelry Indie Design Gift-a-long I am also participating as a designer.  Stana's Critters Etc on Ravelry.

In June of this year (I think, but I might be wrong) Ravelry website was redesigned and the new Ravelry website was live. Apparently there have been some issues with the new design. Due to this a new event was created  Fasten Off Yarn-a-long  This event starts today with another sale time and conitnues with knit a long, games, prizes and all, but is held completely off Ravelry. I am also participating as a designer in this event, you can see the patterns here: Stana's Critters Etc 

As a knitter I will try to participate and knit something from other designer's patterns. I have quite a few favorites and I just need to decide what to make. 

Life is rather interesting. We all are trying to cope with the effects the pandemic had on our lives in the past several months. I am not sure what the future is holding for us, humanity and the world, but I try to be optimistic. That is rather difficult at times when I scroll through the news and read them. I personally choose each and every day to see something good and something positive in my life. For example my heart shaped rocks pictures and collection. It started with an unexpected chance discovery of a heart shaped rock on a path I have taken so many times before, yet I never saw that heart shaped rock before that day, few years ago. Since that day I have seen so many heart shaped rocks, and clouds and other objects that it might be an ordinary. Yet I choose to see each and every heart shape I see as a message from the Universe that life is good, and that there is hope for all of us. 

One of my latest knitting patterns is named Paw Print Heart. It is a combination of heart shape and a paw print on it. You can see the samples with my dog. At the moment the pattern is available in my Etsy store, Payhip store, and on Lovecraft. I will add the pattern to Ravelry next week.

Each year I choose a charity to donate some money. This year I will donate locally to our animal shelter. It is not the only charitable organization I donate, as I am an active member of Friends of the library and I support them a lot. For every pattern purchase of the Paw Print Heart I will donate $1 to the animal shelter. I guess it is my way of being thankful for the gift of our dog who has arrived from an animal shelter and has been a loved member of our family.

Stana's Critters Etc

Paw Print Heart

Thank you.

Apron

 "Gretel opened and shook out her apron..."

                                                         Brothers Grimm's Fairytales (Hansel and Gretel)

Apron is sixth knitting pattern in the fairytale inspired collection of knitting patterns. Just in time for baking season, to dress up any of your dolls or toys while they are helping in the kitchen. This apron fits dolls from 9” and up. The apron will also fit smaller size dolls as well. The Apron is 5” (13 cm) wide and 5.5” (14 cm) tall.

Suggested yarn: Worsted weight:
You will need less than 50 yards /46 meters of MC and 15 yards / 14 meters of CC.
The Apron is knit flat, with I-cord edge and string. The pocket is knit separately and sewn on.

Bellow is picture of my two models: Baba Yaga and Frances.

 

You can purchase this pattern on Ravelry, Payhip, Lovecraft or by clicking on this button which will take you to Ravelry website:

The previous posts that are connected to the fairytale series and patterns are:

The beginning

Winter trees

Frances

Cat Pin Cushion

Witch's Hat

Frog Bag

Broomstick

The middle part of a journey

Fox Pin Cushion

Thank you for visiting, and come back for the next adventure on this fairytales inspired journey.

Fox Pin Cushion

 "Well, I'm going to help you," said the fox.

                                            Brothers Grimm's fairytales  (The Fox and the Horse)

Fox Pin Cushion if the fifth pattern in the fairytale inspired series of knitting patterns published over the three months of October, November and December of 2020.  The entire e-book will be available in December. In the meantime you can follow the little breadcrumbs of previous posts, knitting patterns and  pictures. 

When I started to work on this project in November 2019 I started with the idea of a gingerbread house. But there are so many of knitting patterns for gingerbread house, so I added a little twist. What if the ginger bread house is not an actual gingerbread house but rather another famous house from fairytales. And so the journey started with a sketch and drawings and looking through my yarn stash for yarn to use up. In some ways this entire e-book is filled with great stash busting knitting projects. 

 This fox pin cushion uses yarn I had left from a knitting pattern  Fox Pillow, which was originally published on Lovecraft website, earlier this year. 

You can purchase this Fox Pin Cushion patterns on Ravelry, Lovecraft (see the link on the right side of the full web version if you are on mobile phone), or Payhip. Or use the buy button bellow which will take you to the Ravelry:

The crumbs left behind to follow the journey into the fairytales world:

The Beginning

Winter trees

Frances

Cat Pin Cushion

Witch's hat

Frog Bag

Broomstick

The middle part of a journey

Thank you for visiting and be safe until the next time.....

 

The middle part of a journey....

 

Today is a very important election day in the USA. The outcome of this election day will affect me and everyone else on this planet in some way or another. I am trying to be optimistic and believe in goodness, human decency, truth, and kindness, but our human history is convincing me otherwise. I have to admit I am scared of what will happen. Watching the news as stores are boarding up their windows in anticipation of violence and riots is rather depressing. The pandemic that we have been living through for the past several months is raging and seems unstoppable. I cannot help but think of my family and their experiences throughout their lives. My grandmother was one of approximately twelve millions of people who were forced labor during the World War II. She has survived and met my grandfather during that time. My mother had lived through the military occupation of our country and watched the army stay for 21 years while trying to raise her family. I guess my life has been rather easier in comparison. At the time when they were young they lived through forced labor and occupation, while I lived through the fall of Berlin Wall and Velvet Revolution. I have experienced the optimism and euphoria of freedom after the cold war. It kinds of make me wonder what my child will experience and I truly hope that there is a bright future for all of us. 

In some way today reminds me of the middle part of a fairytale. The time of tryout and testing, the time when the hero or heroine has to do the required task to reach the goal and overcome the villain. Unlike fairytales when we know the outcome, when we know that the good prevails and the villains are punished, in the real world we are not guaranteed that outcome. We might not have the happy forever fairytale ending. But we sure must try and hope for the best. 

On my part I will continue the journey and hope. 

As for my fairytale inspired knitting journey, you can see the little bread crumbs I left behind and follow...

The beginning

Winter Trees

Frances

Cat Pin Cushion

Witch's Hat

Frog Bag

Broomstick

Baking

And I am off to bake and knit to occupy my mind and hands until next time...

Frog Bag

 The frog said to her in a very friendly way, "If you need anything, just come to me, and I'll lend you a helping hand." 

                                                                    Brothers Grimm's  fairytales  (The Lion and the Frog)

Frog bag is a fourth pattern in the collection of fairytales inspired knitting patterns. This funky, and simple bag will keep your things all together. The hook allows you to hang it anywhere, or by adding a button you can turn this frog bag into a small clutch to keep all important things in one place. 

The knitting pattern is available to purchase on Ravelry  Lovecraft, and Payhip. Or you can buy it by clicking on this button, which takes you to Ravelry purchase:

The beginning of this adventurous journey, and the previous patterns in the fairytales series are:

Broomstick

Cat Pin Cushion

Witch's Hat

Thank you for visiting.