The Year 2020 and Happy Holidays

 

What a year this has been. It will be remembered for generations and taught in history classes. 

 Happy New Year 2020 was my first blog post of this year. 

This is my last blog post of this year. 

Between these two blog posts the world dealt with some challenges and we are still not over the Pandemic. I have seen posts about how so many people wish this year didn't happen and how the New Year cannot come fast enough. 

Whether we liked 2020 or not, it is a year of our lives that will never be repeated. We do not have the option of replay or start from the beginning, and we should try to embrace this year with all that has happened to us, the world, society, and individually. It is upon us what tomorrow and future holds.

 I sincerely hope that you, the reader, will have a Happy Holidays and may your days be filled with love, kindness, compassion, and generosity towards each other. 

Stay focus on the breath and look up to the stars and Universe, for we are all made of the same material.  

Joy to the world, and may you find some peace and health. 

Thank you for reading. 

PS: In my small world of knitwear design work, I have managed to published 34 new knitting patterns this year. This include plenty of self-published patterns, including an entire e-book Baba Yaga's House and also having my work published by variety of third party publishers like: I Like Knitting, Knitpicks, Lovecraft, Interweave, and Knotions. 

E-book Baba Yaga's House

 

"On the way into the forest Hansel crumbled the bread in his pocket and stopped as often as he could to throw the crumbs on the ground." 

                                                Brother Grimms' Fairytales  (Hansel and Gretel) 

    The idea for Baba Yaga’s house started many years ago when I baked a gingerbread house. I baked one only once because I realized that it is quite a messy process. However, I always wanted to knit a ginger bread house after that baking adventure.  Last year, when I finally decided to knit the house. I made a sketch and realized that it looked rather like another famous house from a fairy tale of my childhood. What I ended up producing was a rough sketch of Baba Yaga’s house with the chicken legs.  

    The house itself was rather plain and needed accessories and characters to fill the world of the fairy tale. There are endless characters and inspirations to be found in the world of fairy tales; this e-book is just a little slice of the fantastical world fairy tales are. As a bonus I have included a few recipes and ideas I have tried out while working on the knitting patterns and the creation of this e-book. You can purchase each pattern individually or as the e-book.

The list of knitting patterns included:

Apron 
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga's House
Broomstick
Cat Pin Cushion
Fox Pin Cushion
Frances, the Fox
Frog Bag
Love Potion Garland
Rockefeller, the Owl Ornament
Winter Trees
Witch's Hat

The extra recipes:
Dandelion Honey Syrup
Lavender Syrup
Calendula Cream
Chalk Label Decoration
Lemon or Lime Cubes
Linzer Cookies

You can purchase the entire e-book on Ravelry: Baba Yaga's House

on Payhip: Baba Yaga's House

and on Lovecraft: Baba Yaga's House

    The picture bellow was taken in a castle Pernstejn that has been used to film many fairytales' movies. Visit to the castle has been on my list for years. I managed to see the castle during my last trip to see my mom, family, and friends. The photo makes me think of all that is possible if we follow our dreams and imaginations. My journey into the world of fairytales started a long time ago and hopefully will continue for some time. There is so much more to explore. 

The beginning...

Thank you for visiting, and for reading. 

Rockefeller the Owl Ornament

 "He was so tremendously frightened by the sight of the owl sitting in a corner..."

                                                    Brother Grimms' Fairytales (The Owl)

Rockefeller is seventh knitting pattern in the fairy tale inspired series.  The sample pictured bellow was made last year, and the sample pictured above was made last month. A friend of mine named the owl Rockefeller after the tiny owl that was discovered on a Christmas tree at Rockefeller center in New York City. 

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

 

There are three more patterns to add to the collection and then the entire e-book will be available. 

You can have a sneak preview here on Ravelry:

Baba Yaga's House e-book

Thank you for visiting.

Snowmen Garland, Paw Print Pin Cushion and Paw Print Heart

 Over the past week I have published three knitting patterns. They are all quick and wonderful last minute knitted gifts. Each of these takes about two hours or less of knitting.  And all you need is less then 50 yards / 46 meters of yarn. The patterns suggest worsted weight yarn, but it will work in any yarn weight. The size of the finished item will be different from the samples done in worsted weight yarn, and you will have to adjust the needle size accordingly to the yarn weight. 

The first and the most easy of the three patterns is Snowman Garland: 

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry: My Designer Page

or clicking on this button, which takes you to Ravelry:

 

or you can buy it on Lovecraft website, or on Payhip

My second pattern is Paw Print Pin Cushion: 

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry:

or clicking on this button, which takes you to Ravelry: 

 

or you can buy it on Lovecraft website, or on Payhip

My third pattern is the most difficult of these three as it requires stranded knitting, increases, and decreases working in the round, but it's also my favorite one of the three:

Paw Print Heart

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry:

or clicking on this button, which takes you to Ravelry:

 

or you can buy it on Lovecraft website, or on Payhip, or in my Etsy store

Here is a picture of our dog with the Paw Print Hearts. He has been an inspiration behind this pattern and as a thank you I will donate $1 from each pattern purchase during the month of December to our local animal shelter. Our dog has arrived from an animal shelter and he has been a wonderful addition to our family. 

Thank you for visiting, and thank you for buying my knitting patterns. 

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.

Witch's Hat

 "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again."

                                                                    C. S. Lewis

Every witch needs a good hat. The knitting pattern for this witch's hat is available to purchase on Lovecraft and Ravelry, and on Payhip. Links to all are on the side of my blog home page.

You can also purchase the pattern by clicking on this button, it will direct you to Ravelry.

This is a third pattern in the series of whimsical patterns inspired by fairytales.  

From the beginning...

Broomstick

Cat Pin Cushion

A whole e-book will be available by the end of this year. Here you can see a sneak preview from the photoshoot for the e-book. 

Thank you for visiting.

Cat Pin Cushion

  "You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream."

                                                                              C. S. Lewis 

Cat Pin Cushion is second pattern in this collection of knitting patterns and more on this journey into the fairy tales that started with the beginning introduction. Broomstick was the first knitting pattern published this month. In the picture above you can see the third knitted item along with the broomstick and cat pin cushion. 

At the end of this journey a whole collection of whimsical knitting patterns and more will be available as an e-book, or each individual knitting pattern will be available separately. 

If you would like to purchase the pattern for this Cat Pin Cushion, you can buy it in my Ravelry store, on Lovecraft, Payhip, or by clicking on this button (which will take you to the Ravelry purchase download):

 

Thank you for visiting, don't forget to stop by to see the next pattern and more.

Knitting Pattern for Scraptastic Pillow

 Do you remember my previous Scraptastic Projects?

Pictured are Scraptastic Cowl and Scraptastic Scarf.

 I have been collecting all those tiny scraps of yarn from other projects and tight them together and create a ball of yarn. This ball of scrap yarn is so colorful and random. I have to admit the Scraptastic Scarf is my favorite scarf to wear through the winter months. 

After creating the Scraptastic Scarf and Scraptastic Cowl I was thinking about my next Scraptastic Project while I was collecting the tiny scraps of yarn. In the end I decided to make a pillow case. As always with the scrap yarn projects it takes time to get enough scrap yarn for the whole project. With this pillow case I decided to use up even small remnants of yarn skeins that has been collecting for some time. Sometimes I would find these remnants useful in knitting toys, but mostly these small remnants were too small to use for the toys. This is the beginning of Scraptastic Pillow Case. 

As time went on I would add few rounds here and there whenever I had some yarn leftover from another knitting project. As you can see from the picture bellow, the dog approved it as a pillow for one of his naps. 

Today I finished the Pillow case, added zipper to the CO edge and here you can see the wrong side of the pillow with all those knotted yarns.

Scraptastic Pillow

written by Stana D. S.

Finished Measurements: 18" (46 cm) [20" (51 cm), 22'(56 cm), 24" (61 cm), 26" (66 cm), 28" (72 cm)] Square. Pictured pillow sample is 28" (72 cm) Square.

Material: Scrap Yarn from other knitting projects, preferably in similar weight. If using thinner yarn such as fingering weight, double the yarn. This is a fantastic project for all those tiny leftovers and small pieces of yarn that otherwise might be thrown out.

Gauge: 16 sts & 26 rows = 4" (10 cm) in double moss stitch.

Recommended Needle Size: Circular Needles US 7/4.5 mm.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, zipper 18" (46 cm) [20" (51 cm), 22" (56 cm), 24" (61 cm), 26" (66 cm), 28" (72 cm)] long. Pillow case insert 18" (46 cm) [20" (51 cm), 22" (56 cm), 24" (61 cm), 26" (66 cm), 28" (72 cm)] large.

Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
CO = Cast on
BO = Bind Off
St, sts = stitch, stitches

Pattern Notes:
This Scraptastic Pillow is knit in the rounds in double moss stitch pattern, using whatever scraps of yarn you have from other knitting projects. All the ends are conveniently hidden inside this pillow case. The zipper is sewn to the CO edge. The top of the pillow is BO with 3 Needle Bind Off.

Double Moss Stitch Pattern (worked in the round, over multiple of 4 sts):
Rnds 1 - 2: K2, P2.
Rnds 3 - 4: P2, K2.
Repeat Rnds 1 - 4 for the pattern.

Directions:
CO 144 (160, 176, 192, 208, 224) sts. Place the stitch marker, and begin working in the round, being careful not to twist the sts.
Work in the Double Moss Stitch Pattern using the various scraps of yarn in similar weight, connecting the scraps with a knot, and making sure the knots are all on one side.
Work in the pattern until you reach the desired length of the square pillow. 
Make sure that all of the knots are on one side of your work. 

Turn the work inside out and BO using the 3 Needle BO technique.

Finishing:

Pin the zipper to the CO edge and sew the zipper to the CO edge.

Insert the pillow.

Here is a link to my picture tutorial for attaching zippers.

Zipper Attaching Tutorial

Thank you for visiting. 

Broomstick

 "Life itself is a most wonderful Fairy tale" H. Ch. Andersen 

Finished Measurements:  6.5” (17 cm) long. 

Suggested Yarn: Worsted Weight Yarn. 

Cascade 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards / 200 meters per 100g / 3.5oz) 1 skein each: color options: 211 Cocoa (MC), 870 Straw (C1), 1926 Doeskin Heather (C2).

Yardage: 10 yards / 9 meters (MC), 4.5 yards / 4 meters (C1 and C2).

Recommended Needle Size: Double Pointed Needles (DPN) US #5/3.75mm (set of 5) or your preferred needles for knitting in the round.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, pipe cleaners.

Gauge: 20 sts & 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Abbreviations: 
C1, C2 = Contrast Color
CO = Cast On
DPN = Double Pointed Needles
MC = Main color
St, Sts = Stitch, Stitches

Techniques:
I-cord:
The set amount of sts are knitted from one needle to a second needle, do not turn the needle with sts around, just push the sts to the beginning of the needle and knit again. This technique makes a tube.

Note:
The broomstick is created by making an I-cord with inserted folded pipe cleaner. The bottom part of the broomstick is created by cutting 40 pieces of yarn for the tassel, the yarn is folded in half and secured to the I-cord by a knot. 

INSTRUCTIONS:
Handle:
With MC and DPN CO 4 sts.  
Work I-cord for 8 rows.
Bend the pipe cleaner in half and insert the pipe cleaner with the ends pointing away or toward the CO edge. 

Continue to work the I-cord around the pipe cleaner, until the I-cord is as long as the bended pipe cleaner. Cut the yarn, leaving a long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on the needle, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. 

Finishing: 

Tassel:

Cut 20 pieces each of C1 and C2 approximately 8” (20 cm) long. Fold in half. Arrange the folded yarn around the I-cord handle, and secure with a knot. 
Weave in the ends. 

Thank you for reading.

Follow the journey from the beginning... and don't forget to come back for more....

If you prefer to own this pattern as PDF file, you can purchase it on Lovecraft website  or on Ravelry by clicking on this button