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 1/24/18 elise lopez 1/24/18

diy: free chunky cabled hat pattern

when i asked my best friend sammie what she wanted for christmas 2017 (handknit, of course!), she knew her answer right away: a basic black hat. I was more than happy to oblige! wanting to honor her wishes for "basic" but also wanting to make her something special, i knew a hat full of chunky cables was the answer.

since i used a super bulky wool, the hat knit up very fast (aren't quick projects the best?) and the cable pattern is very easy and repetitive. so grab your needles and some chunky yarn and cast on this cozy winter hat!

materials:

US 13 (9mm) double-pointed needles

cable needle, extra dpn, or stitch holder for cabling

yarn: wool and the gang crazy sexy wool in space black or another super bulky yarn

tapestry needle

key:

k - knit

p - purl

c2l - cable two stitches in front, to the left

k2t - knit two stitches together

pattern:

cast on 40 stitches across 4 needles (10 stitches/needle)

alternate K1/p1 ribbing for 6 rows

* P1, K4, p1, k4 across each needle

repeat 4 times

row 5: p1, C2L, p1, c2l across each needle

repeat pattern from * 4 times

to decrease:

R1: P1, k2t, k2t, p1, k2t, k2t across each needle

r2: p1, k2T, p1, k2T across each needle

r3: p1, k2T, p1, k2t

r4: weave end through remaining 8 stitches to bind off

the finished hat is a great winter basic that still has visual interest. if you're into pompoms i think this hat would look super cute with one!

what color chunky cabled hat would you make?

elise lopez 1/24/18 elise lopez 1/24/18

#WIDN: custom knit alligator

very recently, i designed a large knit alligator toy as a commission for a dear friend who intends to give it as a baby gift. It’s always an honor when I’m asked to make custom knits! i feel simultaneously flattered that someone likes my designs enough to support my work and so excited for the challenge of being trusted to design something great. as someone who grew up loving stuffed animals, there’s something extra special about designing for a baby and creating something that they will hopefully love for years to come.

pattern: elisemade original design, 2017

yarn: patons classic worsted wool in aran & lion brand heartland in joshua tree

i tried to keep the design as simple as possible by knitting flat the head/torso/tail in two continuous pieces, the back and the underside. i knit the four legs separately, using the same idea of seaming together two flat-knit pieces. the texture on the back is from simple variations of knit/purl stitches across a row.

i knit a flat piece in pink and black wool in the same shape as the head and seamed it to the inside to create the "open" mouth.

the eyes are simply 2 flat knit pieces (white eye and green lid) seamed to the face and puffed up to make them 3D, and i used a tapestry needle to embroider the iris and pupil.

to make the teeth, i cut a narrow wave pattern down the middle of an approximately 2x11” strip of felt. the two halves became the top and bottom teeth and i simply hand-stitched them to the edge of the mouth.

finished dimensions are approximately 12x24".

i'm very pleased with the way he turned out! what do you think of my knit alligator design? check out my knit toys page if you'd like to see more photos!

if you'd like to commission a custom toy, please email me at elisemade@gmail.com <3

elise lopez 1/22/18 elise lopez 1/22/18

knitspiration: artist kate jenkins

i follow a lot of amazingly talented makers on instagram, and am constantly discovering new artists and inspiration. when i came across the work of kate jenkins, i was immediately blown away by the level of detail and texture she has achieved; her knit and crocheted foods manage to look both playful and realistic at the same time! i love to discover artists like kate that are creating such fun and whimsical pieces. check out some of my favorites:

this is such a beautiful and colorful plate! i love the wrinkly walnut and microgreens.

how great is this sequined crab eating linguine? she has a lot of other great work in sequins including shiny lobsters and little sardines coming out of the can.

happy little mussels :)

i love the snips of "chive" on this plate of crocheted penne!

pineapple hunk!! very cute and clever. i love the bobble texture and the shaping of the arms!

check out kate's website to see more of her work and pieces for sale, and follow her on instagram @kjcardigan so you don't miss out on the knitspiration!

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?