elise lopez 2/9/18 elise lopez 2/9/18

ravelry roundup: 5 quick and cute valentine's day knitting projects

february 14th is right around the corner, but there's still time left to whip up a quick and easy knitting project for someone you love! i rounded up these 5 unique valentine's day-themed project ideas from ravelry to get you inspired.

1. this sweet baby hat with intarsia hearts:

baby hats are one of my favorite things to make; the quickness of the project is very satisfying and they are great for using up leftover yarn. this hearts design is cute and simple and could be made in any color combo!

find the pattern here.

2. these cozy socks with heart details:

holiday-themed socks are already a thing, but these handknit ones take a cozy gift to a whole new luxe level. the color combination ideas are limitless!

find the pattern here.

3. this creative idea for a handmade card:

this card idea is so creative! i'm already thinking of ways to play with this idea and personalize it, like embroidering a message on the heart or making the card in a mini version.

find the pattern here.

4. this conversation heart garland:

a cute idea to decorating your apartment or home, or make as a gift. this would be a great project to use up some scrap yarn!

find the pattern here.

5. this icord celtic heart knot

design © maddycraft.com, made by Ravelry user BlueTofu

i don't know about you, but i love to knit icord and am always trying to think of different ways to use it. i love the way this designer combined the icord with knot techniques to make an awesome celtic heart knot. it can be made into a necklace, keychain, bracelet, wall hanging, or gift topper. so cute!

find the pattern here.

which valentine's day-themed project is your favorite?

elise lopez 1/19/18 elise lopez 1/19/18

ravelry roundup: selfish knitting

I can count on one hand the handknits I have actually kept for myself, so one of my major goals this year is to do a lot more selfish knitting. Here's 5 patterns I'm itching to make:

1. the weekender sweater by andrea mowry

i am obsessed with the drop shoulder detailing but overall simplicity of this sweater design. i want to make it in a similar marled gray, because i love gray everything! i love that she offers two design variations, one simply without the sleeves for a fun spring knit.

find the pattern here and follow andrea on instagram here!

2. marled mania leggings by stephen west

i just love everything stephen west makes, and he's the undeniable king of bright bold color combinations and designs. i've been dying to make a penguono for a few years now, and once i saw these leggings i knew i had to add them to my westknits list.

the best part about this pattern is that it is designed to help use up leftover bits of fingering weight; as someone that definitely needs to destash in 2018, i am excited to try out this pattern. plus, since i've never knit pants before i'm looking forward to learning some new techniques!

find the pattern here.

3. cast away scarf by wool and the gang

pretty much all of wool and the gang's patterns are killer, and i want to make just about every sweater design that they sell. they also do just the coolest collabs with brands like soludos and really think outside of the box in terms of what knitting can be. i love them so much! i've been really wanting a cool triangle shawl/scarf and the tassels on this one are just perfect. I would probably choose a soft pink or black color in their shiny happy cotton to make this scarf.

find the pattern here.

4. winter honey shawl by andrea mowry

i've obviously been crushing hard on andrea's incredible designs. i've never made anything with that much cable detail, so i love the idea of this project to really push my boundaries and skills. i can imagine wrapping myself in this shawl in the early mornings when i like to drink tea and knit. i love that mustard color!

find the pattern here.

5. mexican serape blanket by alexandra tavel

not only does this blanket look super cute and cozy, $1 from each pattern sale goes to help fund earthquake relief efforts in mexico. alexandra has a few other beautiful blanket patterns that are part of her "purposeful patterns" series; my other favorite is the moroccan wedding blanket!

find the pattern here, and check out her other designs here!

What are your selfish knitting plans for this year?

elise lopez 12/4/17 elise lopez 12/4/17

knitspiration: knit snowman ornament maker photos

last week, i posted the instructions to make your own knit snowman ornament using my free pattern. today, i wanted to share some serious snowman knitspiration!

this pattern has been live since last year, so i've seen so many talented knitters posting photos of their snowmen. it's so awesome to see the way other makers interpret your designs and make them all their own. check out these super cute creations!

those chunky scarves look so cozy! I love the loopy ends on the blue and green one.

so much innovation on this one...put a knit hat on everything! i love the addition of the bobby pin arms! french knot eyes is such a great idea!

i love the super long scarf on this little guy, and the excellent job on the face embroidery!

the whole gang!!! love the creativity of using buttons and beads for the faces, and i'm dying over that tiny knitting basket!!!

the first fan snowman! love the hat and scarf combos and the knit carrot nose.

i love how this maker embroidered some singing mouths on this snowman family!

last but not least, the 12th snowman in seahawks-themed winter garb! i love this idea, it would be super easy to customize it for the sports fan in your life!

download my free pattern from ravelry here or check out my blog post from last week! happy knitting and be sure to share your creations with #elisemade!

-Elise

elise lopez 12/1/17 elise lopez 12/1/17

DIY: free knit snowman ornament pattern

it is december 1st and that means gift knitting season is upon us! there's still time to cast on a few projects before christmas, and plenty of time to make a few knit snowmen ornaments using my free pattern!

if you're not a knitter, no worries...you can purchase a ready-made snowman ornament from my shop!

these snowmen are knit in the round in one piece and are easy and fast to make. use up scraps of worsted or fingering weight yarn for the cozy scarf embellishment! add these to your tree, give as a gift, or use as a present topper.

supplies:

size us 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles

worsted weight yarn in white (i like patons classic worsted wool in aran)

contrast yarn (black or brown for eyes and mouth, worsted or fingering weight scraps for the scarf)

orange felt (to make carrot nose, or use orange yarn to knit one!)

tapestry needle

sewing needle and orange thread (for felt nose)

instructions:

click here to download a PDF copy of this free pattern from ravelry!

stay tuned next week for some fun variations on this pattern that you can use to make more gifts and decorations. happy knitting!

-Elise

elise lopez 11/1/17 elise lopez 11/1/17

ravelry roundup: 5 amazing knitting projects for baby

for this month's roundup, i am highlighting my favorite projects for babies and kids! i don't know about you but i've reached that age where all my friends are having kids, and i'm constantly trying to think of cool ideas to knit for them. i scoured ravelry, and here are 5 of my favorite projects that i found:

1. this sweet shark plushie:

my go-to for new babies is stuffed animals, because they won't grow out of them too fast. this looks like a quick and easy project!

click here for pattern

2. this incredible rainbow baby blanket:

would i ever have the patience to knit this? i'm not sure, but it. is. goals.

click here for pattern

3. this super cute pair of shorts:

i'm already thinking of different color combos and ways to personalize these. how cute would it be to make each element a different color or make stripes in the garter stitch?

click here for pattern

4. this totally hip pair of moccasins:

i can't get over how cute and creative these are! the perfect project for stylish babies.

click here for pattern

5. this speed racer hat:

i love the applique and embellishment on this pattern. super cute and creative!

click here for pattern

which project is your favorite?