TOP 5: the best affordable, natural fiber yarns
as a knitter and fiber enthusiast, i love to explore small boutique yarn stores and i love soft, luxurious, natural fibers like merino wool and baby alpaca. unfortunately, really nice yarn can be really expensive. so what's a knitter to do?
fear not! i've rounded up my top 5 favorite affordable yarns that are all 100% cotton or 100% wool, but also pass the test for softness and durability. they're all under about $10 per skein, and you can find all of them at your local jo-ann's or michael's stores.
1. patons classic worsted wool
this is my go-to wool when i'm making anything 3D, and i always have a few skeins of the aran and black colorways on-hand. i use this yarn to make my knit bunny (pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-bunny)
find it here: http://www.michaels.com/classic-wool-worsted-yarn/M10111116.html?dwvar_M10111116_color=Navy#q=patons+classic+worsted&start=1
2. lion brand fisherman's wool
while not quite as soft as the paton's, there are such nice natural, marled colors available! Plus, it comes in large skeins.
find it here: http://www.joann.com/lion-brand-fishermen-s-wool-yarn/prd2701.html#q=lion%2Bbrand%2B&start=1
3. lily sugar'n'cream cotton
i started working with lily sugar'n'cream because the worsted weight cotton comes in the most amazing rainbow of colors, and beautiful variegated and self-striping colorways too. it's ideal for knitting and crocheting things like dishtowels and face cloths, because the cotton is super durable, and wears and washes well. plus, considering it's usually only $2-4 a skein, you can't beat the price. i use this yarn doubled up for my aphrodite crop top (pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aphrodite-crop-top)
find it here: http://www.michaels.com/search?q=lily%20sugar%20n%E2%80%99%20cream
4. bernat handicrafter delux cotton
i like this cotton more than the lily sugar'n'cream and the skeins are also larger, but it's not as easy to find. the colors are limited, but they make an excellent teal, mustard yellow, and bright purple that aren't available in the sugar'n'cream.
find it here: http://www.joann.com/bernat-handi-delux-cotton/zprd_11739950a.html
5. lion brand alpine wool
this is the undisputed king of your local craft store! it's the most expensive wool on the list, but worth every penny. the weight is a bit heavier than worsted but not quite as thick as a chunky, and it. is. so. soft. it comes in a few solid colorways, but my favorite are the marled neutrals. i love to use this yarn for cozy newborn hats!
what are your favorite affordable, natural fiber yarns?
#WIDN: custom pet portraits in watercolor pencil
This week, as I'm working on some pet portrait commissions, I thought it would be nice to share my process and some of my favorite drawing materials. i absolutely love animals, so i started making pet portraits with the desire to capture their personalities and commemorate their friendship with us. i chose to render them in watercolor pencils with a brush pen outline, to give them both detail and whimsy.
my portrait process starts with a great reference photo, selected from what my client sends to me. i like to choose a well-lit photo where the pet looks super happy! sometimes i will print out the photo and sometimes i just use my phone as a reference. i make most of my art in my apartment living room using a big drawing board, and i prefer to listen to podcasts with headphones while i draw and paint to eliminate distractions and keep me focused.
here is a collection of my most-used drawing tools:
blue painter's tape
this is the best tape ever, and useful for so many different projects. i use it mostly to attach paper and reference photos to my drawing board because it won't tear or rip the paper. i also love to use it for watercolors when i want to maintain a clean, white border.
find it here: http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-ScotchBlue-1-88-in-x-60-yds-Original-Multi-Use-Painter-s-Tape-2090-48N/100550611
watercolor paper
i recently discovered ready-cut sheets and i'm wondering how i ever did commissions without it. i like using strathmore watercolor paper, it's affordable for the quality and easy to find. for larger-scale works i like to spring for arches paper.
pencils and eraser
i'm pretty sure i have more pencils that i could ever hope to use in a lifetime (and still i find excuses to collect more), but i always find myself reaching for my favorite staedtler mars lumograph 100s. when making the initial drawing for a pet portrait, i like to use a light 6h. of course a white vinyl eraser is also key for when you're not satisfied with a mark.
find them here: https://www.staedtler.us/en/products/pencils-accessories/pencils/mars-lumograph-100-premium-quality-pencil/
ruler, viewfinder
i use these tools to help me place my composition and measure out my drawing space. i obviously love a clear ruler so i can see what's happening underneath it.
here's a great tutorial to make your own viewfinder:
paintbrushes
my go-to brushes for pet portraits are windsor and newton sceptre golds, series 101. they're great pointed rounds for detail made from a blend of sable and synthetic. i'm not saying they paint like the finest sable brushes, but they're a great compromise for the price!
find them here: https://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-and-newton-sceptre-gold-ii-brushes/
brush pen
i know i'm not the only artist who loves the pentel pocket brush pen. if you don't already have one, do yourself a favor and buy one immediately!
once i've sketched out my drawing with a light 6h pencil, it's time for the most important part: the color!
watercolor pencils
i've had my set of staedtler karat aquarell watercolor pencils for the better part of a decade, and they continue to be one of my favorite mediums. you can use them dry as regular pencils, but once you brush water over your drawing it magically turns into beautiful watercolors. i like the control you get from using a pencil, and finishing with a brush and water makes blending colors really easy.
after using the watercolor pencils to color in my drawing, i use a brush and clean water to blend the colors. once it dries, the drawing gets outlined in black brush pen, finishing with the pet's name in a ribbon banner at the bottom.
check out my gallery of commissioned pet portraits here!
introducing ravelry roundup: 5 amazing knit animals
welcome to elisemade's ravelry roundup! each month, i will choose a category and pick my top 5 favorite patterns from ravelry. not only do i want to highlight the many creative pattern designers on the platform, but i love the idea of sharing great project ideas that one might not think to search for. if you're interested in having your pattern featured, email me at elisemade@gmail.com!
Okay, now on to the roundup!
i was obsessed with stuffed animals as a child and still get all the feels when i see a really cute one. so for this month's roundup, i decided to feature 5 of the most amazing knit animals. Check it out:
1. this super creative river otter:
the shaping on the face is perfect, and the little fish in his mouth kills me with cuteness!
© Sara Elizabeth Kellner
2. this tiny flamingo:
i love flamingoes and tiny knits...need to make this right now! my favorite detail is the string legs with knots for knees.
© Miss Happy Rose | Clara Gallee Poinen
3. this realistic frog:
so so cool, the legs and little feet are done so well!
© Joan Rowe
4. these happy polar bears:
not only do these guys have the cutest faces, but they're made from knitting a single square!
© Sixth&Spring Books
5. this cute grasshopper:
i love the contrast color detail. i wish all bugs could be this cute!
© Quarto Publishing
which knit animal is your favorite?
#WIDN: hat for dad
both my dad and my husband are notoriously difficult to shop for. they're the kind of minimalist dudes that don't need a lot of stuff, and will just go buy whatever it is that they want. thankfully for me, they both like hats and enjoy receiving hand-knits!
when making hats for my dad, i let him run through the yarn store and pick out whatever speaks to him. this time, he picked out a debbie bliss alpaca silk dk in a really lovely royal blue color.
i typically (stubbornly) prefer to design my own patterns, but it's not always a fast or easy process. so for this project i picked an old favorite, the "regular guy beanie" by yarnmanknits on ravelry. i love this pattern! i used it for the first hat i ever made, and i've made a handful of others since. it's easy to make and super basic, which makes it endlessly customizable!
though this pattern asks for a worsted weight yarn, i had great success doubling up the dk weight. I also adapted the ribbing to a k1/p1, as I like the way a tighter ribbing helps hold the shape. Dad specified he wanted a knot at the top, so I finished the patten decreases down to a 2 stitch i-cord for about 12 rows or so and tied it off.
what do you think? will you be casting on a regular guy beanie for yourself?
DIY Knit bunny toy - free PDF downloadable knitting pattern by elisemade
please enjoy this link to a free pattern for an adorable knit bunny toy! perfect for easter baskets, newborns, or anyone who loves bunnies.
i designed this stuffed bunny in early 2016 for my nephew's first easter, and since then i've probably made half a dozen for all my friends welcoming new babies into the world. this pattern is super easy and great for beginners looking to try new projects in the round!
i like to use patons classic worsted wool in aran for this project because it's 100% wool, affordable, and easily found at most jo-ann's and michael's stores! it's a hardworking wool that comes in great neutral and basic colors.
download the free pdf pattern from ravelry by clicking the button below: