Woolly Smile

When I start or finish a project, I send photos to my sister and sister-in-law. I also share some of my to do list which is getting longer and longer each day. After me sharing everyday with every step of my projects, my sister-in-law also started feeling like crafty. She wanted to make some blankets. What she needed was an easy but cute pattern. I have seen loads of amazing patterns while I was searching for her but I felt in love with the idea of using embroidery patterns in crochet afghans. It is great for using leftover yarns but also worth buying new set of yarns to make it :) That is on my to do list but I don`t know when I can make it. I want to make it as bed spreads for the Little M and Little N.  Here are some photos that may inspire you and also remind myself of my next project.  Source  Source  Source  It is a great way of turning our favorite embroidery pattern into an afghan that we can snuggle in cold and enjoy it :)    ...

This pattern is waiting in my draft list for more than a month. I have finished knitting and writing it but couldn`t take photo for the post. When it is sunny outside, I had things to do at home with kids; when I had time the weather was dark and gray. Better late than never, here is the pattern.. I hope i can publish all other craft projects waiting on my draft list soon :) I used leftover baby yarns from my stash and knitted with 4.00 knitting needles. The gauge and size will change depending on the yarn choice and needle.  The vest is knitted starting from back part, in garter stitch. (Knit on both right and wrong side)  With the yarn and needle I used 5 stiches in garter stitch is 1 inch. The chest of the finished vest is 20 inch which is suitable for 12-18 months old.  WS : wrong side RS : Right side k : knit p : purl yo : yarn over k2tog : knit two stitches together st : stitch Cast on 62 stitches.  Knit 61 garter ridges. (I knitted 10 garte...

I read many books, websites, mums ideas on forums while I was pregnant with Little M. One of the best books I have read so far about babies and also toddlers is written by Dr.Harvey Karp. (The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Happies Toddler on the Block)  Dr. Karp says that babies are born 3 months early, they need 4th trimester. Some babies can adopt the world quickly, some don`t and that causes colic. He came with a solution of 5 S system  ( swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking)  to help colic symptoms.  Some people think swaddling baby is an old fashioned thing to do. But I believe it the opposite way. I swaddled Little M for a while and then we used the sleeping sack knitted by mum. My Granny knitted the same one for us, my mum used it for 4 kids :) And she made the same design for me to use and remember Granny. Little M could move her hands freely in the sleeping sack but didn`t wake herself up. She was used to being swaddled and...

I haven`t been updating my blog for a while. I am busy with knitting, sewing for my shop and expecting a new baby :)  I wanted to share one my latest knitting project for Little M.   The vest is knitted from bottom to up in double seed stitch. Then it is divided into 3 parts, one for back and two for fronts. The cable on body part gives the vest pleat effect, I love it. After knitting front parts and back, the collar is knitted. And finally, the bow on the back. :)

One of my friends has a baby girl now, I wanted to make something for her and while searching on Raverly I saw a baby vest project . It is not in English, there is an English translation but I really dont know what they try to say. Google translator translate better than that website . I tried to guess how it could be knitted and used numbers on the website translation. Here is the pattern for the ruffle baby vest. Needle : 4.00mm circular needle Yarn : Double knitting baby yarn Size : 6-12 months Gauge :  20 stockinette stitch : 10cm  st: stitch k: knit p: purl yo: yarn over k2tog: knit 2 stitches together RS: right side WS: wrong side ktbl : knit through the back loop Cast on 68 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 4 rows. (knit on both right and wrong sides) k6, yo, (k2, yo)* Repeat until you have 6 st left. We will make button hole now on this row. k2,yo,k2tog,k2 (WS) k6, ktbl, (p2, ktbl)* Repeat * until you have 6 st left, k6 (RS) k6, p1, (k2,...

I was knitting a lacy shawl for my etsy shop  with black mohair yarn. Then, I felt something is not right and auughhh!!.. My circular needle was broken and over 600 stitches were off the cord!! I had just a few rows to finish the shawl and was planning to start another one. I was shocked for a while, I thought undoing all the yarn or throw away all the project. Then, I took a deep breath and told myself it was almost finished. I quickly and carefully picked up stitches to a longer straight shawl needle. It took almost an hour to do that. Now, I need a new and GOOD one because this is the second time that I have the same issue with circular needles. I told what happened to Etsy knitters and asked for help. They suggested some brands. Lantern Moon Addi turbo Knit picks interchangeable needles Takumi bamboo needles Chiaogoo Knit Red lace needles I made a quick search and ordered Addi Turbo needles from the  UK website . Two of Etsy knitters said they were us...

According to Wikipedia minuet means  a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time.  But for me, it means my new assistant :)  When I opened my shop on etsy, I had no clue about how to take photos in my house. Downstairs doesn`t get most of sunshine because of the huge tree in front of the house, upstairs is perfect in the morning to get sunlight but it isn`t big enough to shoot photos from a distance.  I took photos upstairs but they were not good enough to show my items. I thought I needed help, an assistant. I told my husband about it and decided to check if we could find a mannequin at car boot sale or charity shop.  One day he came with her! He found my assistant hiding in the attic of our community centre. She looked so alone and BLACK! Black wasn`t my first option to shoot photos for my shop. But I was happy, at least I had her. I choose one of my shirts and let her wear it. I tried shooting photos with her but d...