Fall 2024

 

This is my favorite time of the year. The months are filled with wonderfully warm sunny days, yet the mornings can get a bit chilly. I slowly take out my knitted pieces and wear them each and every day. The colors of leaves are just spectacular, and I enjoy the precious moments of being present. I think about different knitted items that I would like to add to my wardrobe, and what I already have. I also start to think about knitted gifts and what should I create next. 

I have totally missed the toy mystery KAL that I wanted to create for the last days of summer entering into the first days of fall. Life outside of my knitting bubble happened and I just didn't have enough time. At the moment I am working on a design for a third party to be published next year. Once this project is off my knitting needles, I hope to revisit my toy mystery KAL. In the meantime, there are plenty of knitting patterns that you can choose from. For example, this cute broomstick, a perfect half hour project for some leftover yarn. The pattern is available here on my blog, or anywhere my patterns are available.

Thank you for visiting.

Dreams...

 

I took this picture sometime last year as the sun was setting in and the light was just perfect. When I look at this image it evokes a dreamy world of endless possibilities. It also reminds me of my last year e-book project Baba Yaga's House a whimsical collection of knitting patterns, recipes, and images. 

This month knit-a-long is all about small and fun projects that can be knit up quick and used as a small whimsical decoration for Halloween, like this broomstick:

...or maybe an eyeball or two, or a whole jar of them, or an eyeball coaster:

Patterns links:

Baba Yaga's House

Broomstick

Deadline Morning Coaster

Eyeballs

My plan was to sent out my first newsletter last month, but the computer decided to stop working and took a long spa vacation at the hands of a computer specialist. After the unplanned break things are getting back to normal and hopefully the first newsletter will go out sometime this month. Don't forget to sign up for it here on my website:

Stana's Critters Etc 

Thank you for visiting and reading.

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...

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.

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