September is here...

 

...and there is a Knit-a-long for the Farmer's Market hosted in my group on Ravelry or anywhere you happen to be knitting. It's just for fun, a toy to give to someone, and also perfect project to use up all those remnants of yarn from your stash. 

In this blog post you can find the links to the pattern where you can purchase it:

Farmer's Market

In the picture bellow you see a behind the scenes when I was working on the Voyager Sweater few years back.

See the blog post about the sweater here: Voyager Sweater 

Over the past few months I have been busy with work that has yet to be published by a variety of third parties, or has been published and I have not had time to post about these projects, yet. At the moment I am busy with two other projects that will be published at some point in the future and I don't have as much time as I wish to work on my independent work in the meantime. 

Sometime this month I hope to send out my first newsletter, for which you can subscribe on my website: 

https://stanascrittersetc.com/

In the meantime, thank you for visiting and reading my blog. 

Summer KAL - Frogs

 

This month I am hosting a KAL with a theme of frogs. 

If you make any frog based on one of my frog themed knitting patterns like

Chadwick and Igor

Fred

Frog Bag

Frog Mask

Toadie

and post a photo either on Ravelry in the thread in my group Stana's Critters Etc or on Instagram and tag me with @stanascrittersetc or @stanascritters or use hashtag #stanascrittersetc or #stanascritters you will be eligible to participate in a giveaway with prizes to win (patterns, e-books). 

Details for the giveaway:

1. Knit a frog and post a picture and tag me. 

2. Deadline for the post July 31st 2021

3. Winners will be announced here on my blog.

Have fun knitting.

Farmer's Market

 

Farmer’s Market is a knitted version of our shopping bag filled with fruits and vegetables bought at a local farmer’s market. The fruits and vegetables are nicely stored in the knitted shopping bag. 

You can buy the knitting pattern in my Payhip store: Farmer's Market 

or in my Ravelry store: Farmer's Market

or by clicking on this button:  

In the picture bellow you can see all of the fruits, vegetables that are in the bag.

The pictured sample uses Knitpicks's Brava Mini Pack in Jewel colorway. In the picture bellow you can see that there are still plenty of leftover yarn from that Mini Pack. 

All of the items in the bag use small amount of yarn and are ideal for using up scrap yarn.

Here is the list of the fruits and vegetables in the bag:

Finished Measurements:
Shopping bag 9.5” wide x 10.5” high; handles 27” long
Fruits and Vegetables:
Apple 3” diameter
Beet 5” long
Blackberry 1.5” long
Blueberry 1.25” diameter
Carrot 7.5” long, including the leaves
Cherry 1.25” diameter
Cucumber 5.5” long
Eggplant 8” long
Grapes 5.5” long
Pear 5.5” long, 3” diameter at widest point
Plum 2” diameter
Pumpkin 3.25” diameter
Raspberry 1.5” long
Strawberry 1.25” diameter
Swiss Chard 5.75” long
Tomato 2.75” diameter

Thank you for reading and visiting.

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.....

 

Knitting pattern for Rib Hat and few more patterns

Rib Hat

A while back I received a skein of yarn from Lovecraft. It was The Yarn Collective, DK weight Bloomsbury in a gorgeous Indigo color. I made a hat, and another from the same skein of yarn. I also had another color of the same yarn and made two more hats. The rhythm of 2x2 ribbing is fairly simple and looks great on anyone. The crown is shaped into a point and the hat is reversible. 

Rib Hat

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry, Lovecraft, and also here by clicking on this button:

 

 

 Also the rights to some of my previously published patterns by a third party has returned to me and I can sell the patterns as an independent designer.

You can purchase these patterns on Ravelry and Lovecraft website. Link to the pattern stores are on the side of the blog.

First it is my favorite Golden Hour Fair Isle Scarf

A colorful exploration of fair isle knitting. The original sample is using 11 different colors, but the pattern invites you to play with your own favorite colors and create an original scarf. 

Golden Hour Fair Isle Scarf

Luna Infinity Scarf and Cowl is another pattern that has just recently been added to my own store on Ravelry and Lovecraft. 

A super quick textured infinity scarf or cowl worked in Cascade Magnum yarn is  done in a matter of hours.

photo by I Like Knitting

Cora clutch is a combination of knitting and sewing. The outer layer is knitted, while the inside layer is made of fabric. The two layers are attached to a zipper, which securely closes the bag, and a knitted flap is secured with two buttons. 

photo by I Like Knitting

Thank you for visiting.

Work in Progress and new toy mystery KAL

Another week went by. I am not sure anymore how long I have been at home, not going to my work and not receiving a real paycheck. I am not complaining. We are lucky, so far we are healthy and my husband continues to receive his paycheck and our bills are covered so far. Life is good.
According to my weekly baking pictures I have been baking six weeks already. This week was a rather adventurous. I tried for the first time to make croissants from scratch. It was a success. I also baked brioche bread. I used the middle class brioche recipe from the book  The Bread Baker's Apprentice, by Peter Reinhart. And of course I returned to some of my favorite comfort foods and desserts.

Pictured are: Salmon Cakes, Croissants, Brioche Bread and Buns, Bread (though this time it baked in a funny shape, mushrooms?), my mom's Crepe's recipe, Fruit Salad (it is a dessert though not baked), Apple Strudel, Chocolate filled Croissants, Brownies.

baking week VI

In the knitting world I managed to finish a work for a third party. I cannot post pictures until after the publication goes live, but I really enjoyed knitting this project.
I also made the Mask Buddy to help with wearing the face mask and I started to work on our next toy mystery KAL. Later this week I will post more details in my Ravelry Group and add the pattern to Ravelry. I have named them Leonard and Lola, but I might change my mind.  Pictured  is the yarn I am using for my Leonard and Lola.

May Toy Mystery KAL

Mask Buddies

Across the street we have a new family. Fox mama and her cubs are living somewhere in this small piece of wood that is surrounded by houses and we are so lucky to be able to see the fox family from time to time.
I am trying to capture the little foxes on my camera, but my phone camera is not good enough to zoom in and my real camera still uses film and I have not use the camera in a long time, and it seems to be harder and harder to actually find a place where the films are still developed.  As you can see foxes are one of my favorite animals to use in my knitting patterns.

Thank you for visiting.

Stripes KAL

Petunia

As you can see in my previous posts I had three knitting patterns published earlier this month. The patterns were exploring different knitting techniques. This made me think about the next KAL I host in my group on Ravelry. The Gift KAL is over and I will announce the winners later today. Since I am still not able to knit due to my elbow injury and I cannot work on the toy mystery KAL yet I have  decided to devoted this month KAL to a knitting technique I actually really enjoy: Stripes. 
I will open the new thread in my group on Ravelry and the theme of the KAL is anything with stripes. Join my group and have fun knitting anything with stripes....

Sunny, the pencil box monster

Kittie Blanket

Stripy

Huggalufs

Funky Stripe Scarves

 Thank you for visiting.

Summer and 3 new knitting patterns

Summer knitting

Long time ago I used to travel all the time. I travelled for pleasure and for work. When I was younger and free I used to be a tour guide. It was the best job ever. I was paid to travel, learn new things, experience new places, and share the knowledge. I would spend most of the year on road, travelling to various places and countries. When I was not travelling for work, I would travel on my own. It was truly the best job I ever had. Nowadays I don't travel for work anymore. Somehow falling in love and moving across the ocean to live in another country, and having a family made me change the direction of my career and life. My life is more settled and my travelling days are limited to visit my family and friends across the ocean once a year. It usually happens during the summer months. It creates a challenge to find a reasonable priced airline tickets, as the summer months are the most expensive months to travel. Seeing my family and friends once a year makes the trip ever so special and treasured.

Flower Heart

While I was visiting my family and friends three of my knitting patterns were published in I Like Knitting Collection.
Link to the web page: I Like Knitting

These three patterns are now also available to purchase in my Ravelry store:
My designs

and soon will be also on Lovecraft website:
My designs


Marina Infinity Scarf, a playful striped infinity scarf in white and blue. Link to the pattern:
Marina Infinity Scarf

photo by I Like Knitting

Cora Clutch, a one skein knitted clutch knitted in Caron Cakes with added lining, zipper and two buttons. Link to the pattern:
Cora Clutch

photo by I Like Knitting

Luna Infinity Scarf, a giant infinity scarf or a cowl, worked in Cascade Magnum yarn. Link to the pattern:
Luna Infinity Scarf

photo by I Like Knitting

Thank you for visiting.

Nature, life and new knitting patterns

Today is one year anniversary since the storms producing tornadoes and macroburst passed through our community and wreck a havoc.
I wrote a bit about it in this post from last year:
Life

 After the storm

Life went on and even though the damage is still visible all around us we continue to live, dream, and hope. Nature is slowly recovering and in another ten or twenty years the damage will be hardly visible.

Today is warm and sunny day like it was last year. I hope that the weather will stay warm and sunny all day and my afternoon hike with the dog will be uneventful.

I hope to have some quiet time to knit few rounds on my latest project for third party company, and perhaps even start working on the pattern as well.

I also should post more information about the patterns that were published earlier this month and last month.

First it was my self published patterns for LM Wrap and LM Hat, both worked in Caron Cakes and completely reversible patterns.

LM Wrap

The patterns are both available in my Ravelry Store or you can purchase them by clicking on these two buttons:
LM Wrap:



LM Hat:

LM Hat

Also, my latest toy mystery KAL finished few days ago. just in case you missed it you can purchase the complete pattern for Dasher, the dragonfly in my Ravelry store or by clicking on the button bellow. Here is a picture of dragonfly knit in fingering weight yarn:

Dasher, the dragonfly

Dasher, the dragonfly:



I have two more patterns that were published in the latest issue of I Like Knitting magazine:
A fruity watermelon clutch, and a strawberry sandal motif.
Link to the latest issue of the magazine:

I Like Knitting, June 2019

photo by I Like Knitting

Watermelon Clutch

Watermelon Clutch

photo by I Like Knitting

Strawberry Sandal Motif

Thank you for visiting.