OMG! Heart

And ZOMG! My personal fave – knitted shorts and pants?! WIN!

Check out these 80s-inspired geometrics a la Saved By The Bell. But better! The designs have an 8-bit slant IMHO that can appeal to anyone from the Brooklyn hipster to the 80′s throwback lover to the video game nards. Either way it’s a fresh take on knitwear that has a younger edgier vibe yet still classic enough to have a wide appeal. Move over Dwayne Wayne (sunglasses) and Lisa Bonet circa Cosby Show and A Different World! Go Knitwear Today!

I first saw these in an L Mag I picked up while trolling Prospect Heights… We just finished watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi (corny music but cool film about sushi as a craft). So, guess what? Sushi time! We went to eat at Taro, then Sky Ice (homemade ice cream slash thai home cooking eatery…), then sampled a few spoonfuls of gelato at Caramello where we learned that gelato is less fattening than traditional ice cream. No egg and less air makes a rich, dense, smooth confection with less calories! The sorbet (Limetta!!) was seriously decadent too with zero dairy yet all the rich and creamy mouth feel! Passed by the Barclays Center all blacked out, the new home of the Brooklyn Nets… Then while walking back to the train, we spied this flyer on ye olde stereotypical stoop and snapped one up to read on the train ride.

Annie Larson is a knitwear designer based in Bushwick, Brooklyn by way of Minneapolis, MN and originally from Seoul, Korea and Wisconsin. From reading her bio it looks like she’s a machine knitter who “bought a 1980s sweater-creating contraption in January of 2009″ (a Brother KH-965i to be exact) and never looked back. A former clothing designer for Target, Annie quit her job to pursue knitwear and what is now ALL Knitwear, her clothing line.

You can shop online for her designs at ALL for Everyone. Or at Madewell here on Broadway. Tops are around $260.

Via
http://www.allforeveryone.com/
http://ofakind.com/designers/7–all-knitwear
http://www.thelmagazine.com/

Giant Circs on display at Paradise Fibers!
Paradise Fibers, 225 W. Indiana, Spokane, WA 99205

The above Addi Turbos (circular knitting needles) are on display at Paradise Fibers located in Spokane, Washington! They were custom built for Paradise Fibers by metal artist Tim Biggs to Addi specifications all the way down to the nickel-plated tips. They are Size 150, 7 feet tall, and weigh 56 pounds. I’m curious what diameter those needles actually are!

According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the largest knitting needles in the world are from the U.K.. They measure 3.5m long and have a diameter of 8 cm. That’s about 12ft tall and 3.15 in. in diameter. On March 10, 2008, Ingrid Wagner used the needles to knit a 10 sts x 10 row tension square at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Right: Julia Hopson of Knit Wits knitting with one of the largest knitting needles in the world in Cornwall, England on September 23, 2006. They are 3.5 meters long and 6.5 centimeters in diameter.

Are you interested in Big Stitch Knitting?
“Big Stitch Knitting” or “Mega Knitting” is actually a form of knitting too. The needles usually aren’t so gargantuan as seen in the above but they are BIG! It’s been a popular trend recently too. Below is an example of Mega Knitting, also check out this Pinterest for some great photos on Mega Knitting and tools! Look at all the lovely knits!

I personally love the look of Mega Knitting. If you’re interested in big stitch knitting, BagSmith makes lovely “big stitch” tools for both Knitting and Crochet! Don’t forget you’ll need big stitch yarn too, which Bagsmith also makes, find it here. Purl Bee has a lovely blog post on big stitch knitting! Loopy Mango, right here in NYC, carries lots of Bagsmith gear including some big stitch knits on display!

Photos via Pinterest – Fibre Arts Bootcamp and Harmonyspun.com

Left: YarnPop Pouch ~ Right: GoKnit Bag

OMG! Heart these. Just discovered these handy little accessories for knitting and crochet! I always drag some crochet or knitting with me wherever since I commute on the train to work and I always just throw my knitting into the smallest plastic bag I can find. I also always find that I need a yarn ball container/bag when working at home because it keeps the yarn from rolling around but never quite found one I wanted. Until now! I found both of these at Lion Brand Yarn Studio. The only major con I see is they’re both on the pricey side. Crafters on a budget can easily poke 2 holes in a bag or something to come up with a similar, albeit less durable, solution. For more avid crafters, it can be well worth the splurge!

GoKnit Bags $26
I’ve been carrying around my travel/commuter knit and crochet projects in plastic bags! Great in a pinch but if you do it a lot, you’ll find your needles poke thru, the bags tear, and of course it’s unsightly. So when I saw these simple yet durable looking bags, it was the perfect solution! Super lightweight, durable, easy to keep clean, and can ball up into nothing when not in use. I also love that there are many loops and drawstrings so you can attach to whatever you desire.

It’s simply a drawstring bag that has 2 snap close loops. One on the inside (to feed your yarn through) and one on the outside to attach to a purse or bag! Plus, you can swap out projects whenever you want. You can snap open the inside loop to pull the yarn through without having to cut it, so projects already in progress can be removed and replaced whenever you like. Awesome. These bags are offered in a variety of materials. I got the Nylon Medium in Bright Yellow.

Where To Buy: GoKnit Pouches by KnowKnits.com

YarnPop Pouches $29
This is a handy yarn pouch with two little holes for pulling yarn though. Fabulous for keeping balls and skeins from rolling around everywhere, yarn from tangling, and getting dirty. And it’s a lot less bulky and lighter than most yarn holders. A small con is you cannot use this pouch for projects you’ve already started without cutting the yarn, pulling it through the holes, and then rejoining.

The pouch I got has 2 holes on one side so I could use it to carry 2 different yarn colors! It also comes in other varieties, one pouch has a hole on each side with an additional inside zip to separate your yarn balls. They have so many different variations. Check out their site for the one that best suits you! I got the Large with 2 holes on the same side.

Where To Buy: YarnPop Pouches

Yarn covered stairs for International Yarn Bombing Day, Sydney, Australia (CC by JAM Project) – From BBC.com

Jun, 9th, 2012 – Today is the 2nd Annual International Yarn Bombing Day ever! That’s right, although yarn bombing has been around for awhile, a day to celebrate it (worldwide) only started last year! I remember when the first yarn bombing day came around last year and I’d never heard of it. Only to discover that it was just created and by accident! The event, created by Canadian yarn bomber Joann Matvichuk, was conceived as a way to unite guerrilla knitters and crocheters the world over. Read more about IYBD and Joann at the below links!

Instagram has a featured page all about International Yarn Bombing Day!. You can also search Instagram using hashtag #yarnbombing to see a treasure trove of yarn bombing pics from around the globe.

Yarn bombing pics from around the world – From Instagram

Via http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120604-worldwide-weird-international-yarn-bombing-day
http://blog.instagram.com/post/24695471236/international-yarn-bombing-day
http://www.omgheart.com/?s=yarn+bombing

Welcome to my site! I rely heavily on free patterns I find throughout the web… And on my own patterns that I draft myself. My site includes all of them, for free! But this also means that my patterns are not professionally tested by test knitters or crocheters.

Accuracy, Clarity, & Readability
Giving away patterns for free is a tough thing to do. When I knit or crochet a project I design, simply writing down what I do isn’t enough. It could have typos or vague instructions, non-standard techniques or terms etc.

All patterns require test knitters and test crocheters to verify that the instructions are clear and the patterns are accurate. They also require expert crafters who are also experienced in pattern drafting.

So even though my patterns are free, they require the same rigorous checks as paid patterns. Even paid patterns are not always clear of errors! It’s a lot of work which is why most good patterns are not free!

Free OMG! Heart Patterns
But fear not, even though I’m not a professional designer with formal testers, I try my best to minimize errors. Free OMG! Heart Patterns usually range from Easy to Advanced Beginner with the occasional Easy Intermediate. It’s partially why I can give them away for free. The patterns are almost patternless and free from complex calculations and fit/sizing requirements. They’re still great as learning patterns but it means they don’t require as rigorous validation. Nevertheless, I still do test my own patterns and do my best to ensure accuracy and readability in all the patterns I give away!

Free Patterns I Find Online
Free patterns I find online that are shared here on my website are also tested by me. When I follow the pattern to make a project, I act as a test knitter or crocheter! So if you see a free pattern that I have made and featured on this website, it’s been tested by me. If there are any errors or inconsistencies I include them in the Notes Section of my post!

Crowd Testing or Cloud Testing!
Community Pattern Testing! The crafting community can serve as the best test knitters or test crocheters out there. You can be a test knitter or a test crocheter too! Simply by doing a project you like and sharing your thoughts and opinions. If there is an error, inconsistency, or a pattern detail that is unclear, then please share your feedback! Just enter them in the Comments Section found on any pattern page or Email Me! You can keep free (beautiful) patterns, free, just by giving your feedback, suggestions, critiques, or raves!

Ravelry does a great job of this. All the patterns they have on their site show ratings and accuracy feedback from members who have made the pattern. This in turn gives great info on how reliable, easy/hard the pattern is, and even corrections right in the feedback! In fact, everything they do is great, it’s a knitter and crocheter’s best friend! Not all my patterns are on my Ravelry yet, but I am working on posting them up there.

Via http://owlivianatasha.tumblr.com/
Via http://ivsmanifiesto.tumblr.com/post/19725645608/knitted-pattern-sweater-we-love-it-by-21
Via http://vintage-russh.tumblr.com/post/20057881102/tranquility-island-want

This hat is light, easy to wear, and great for Spring! I made this hat for myself! I first made the Mens Version (for a man) of this pattern and liked the style but didn’t like the fit the first time around. So this time, I adjusted the pattern accordingly. It’s an easy knitting hat, great for a commute project on the train or on the plane, and great for practicing Circular Knitting, using Circular Needles, and even switching up your knitting styles. Try Continental instead of English. Or vice versa!

More pics coming soon! Photo Booth pic for now ==>

Materials:
1 Ball Knit Picks Stroll Multi in Vintage Multi, Fingering Weight, 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 231 yards, $5.99
Stitch Markers, Darning Needle

Needles:
US 3 [3.25mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] Double Pointed Knitting Needles, Set of 4

Measurements:
10.25 inches (W) x 13 inches (H)
Circumference: 20.5 inches

Gauge:
26 sts and 34 rows = 4″ with larger needles in stocking st

Skill Level: Easy Intermediate

Pattern:
Free from Patons – Patons Kroy Socks Basic Beanie. The pattern below is a modified version of the Women’s Size Hat in the Slouchy Fit. I took out a few stitches and rows from the original pattern. [pdf]

Brim:
Begin with smaller circular needle. Cast on 120 sts.
Place stitch marker. Join for working in round.
[K2, P2] every round until brim measures about 4″ tall.
Total: 34 rows, 4 inches.

Body:
Change to larger circular needle.
Knit (K) every round until Body measures about 7″ tall.
Total: 45 rows, 6 inches.

Finish:
Round 1: *K2tog. K26. ssk. Rep from * around. 112 sts.
2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th Rounds: Knit.
Round 3: *K2tog. K24. ssk. Rep from * around. 104 sts.
Round 5: *K2tog. K22. ssk. Rep from * around. 96 sts.
Round 7: *K2tog. K20. ssk. Rep from * around. 88 sts.
Round 9: *K2tog. K18. ssk. Rep from * around. 80 sts.

Begin decrease in every round:
Round 11: *K2tog. K16. ssk. Rep from * around. 72 sts.
Round 12: *K2tog. K14. ssk. Rep from * around. 64 sts.
Round 13: *K2tog. K12. ssk. Rep from * around. 56 sts.
Round 14: *K2tog. K10. ssk. Rep from * around. 48 sts.
Round 15: *K2tog. K8. ssk. Rep from * around. 40 sts.
Round 16: *K2tog. K6. ssk. Rep from * around. 32 sts.
Round 17: *K2tog. K4. ssk. Rep from * around. 24 sts.
Round 18: *K2tog. K2. ssk. Rep from * around. 16 sts.
Total: 18 rows, 3 inches.

Break yarn. Thread through remaining stitches. Draw up tightly and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

Notes:
This is a one skein hat! So 1 ball of Knit Picks Stroll was enough for the entire hat. With enough left over for a tiny pom-pom if desired! The yarn is also very lightweight making it perfect for spring or as a year round accessory.

For this Women’s Hat I should have kept the brim to 27 rows or 3.5 inches. But I wasn’t paying attention and flew right passed it. If I did, I would have had even more yarn left over.

I ended up not loving my choice of colorways this time. Perhaps something more feminine and monochromatic rather than contrasty. The color scheme in this one makes it way too sporty and not versatile enough.

See my Men’s Slouchy Hat Pattern for more detailed notes on Sizing, Needles, and Yarn.

Sizing and Gauge:
Width: 10.25 inches
Height: 13 inches
Brim Circumference: About 20.5 inches

PERFECT FIT!!! Exactly the right fit and drape. I originally made this hat in the Men’s Size first but found that the pattern yielded a hat that was way too loose (for a man). Plus, as the day wore on the hat got looser and looser.

So this time around when I knitted the Women’s Size, I took a few stitches off the Women’s Size Pattern as well and modified the pattern respectively and it was a perfect fit. I test wore this hat all day today and it’s still wearing great! In total it is about 1-2 inches in both width and height smaller than the Men’s Slouchy Hat I made.

This hat size and pattern is also suitable for Mens! It might be a better fit than the Men’s Size Hat for Men even!

Version 1: Regular Fit Hat ~ Version 2: Slouchy Fit Hat

Finger Pin Cushion from The Old Country Store

Look what I found when I went to visit Lancaster, PA earlier this year! Well actually I didn’t find it. I totally missed it. My BF found it and got it for me as a surprise :) :) :) Score! AWESOME FINGER PIN CUSHION!

It’s a tiny little pin cushion that fits on your finger! Traditional ones are much larger and strap onto your wrist. They’re much handier for the serious home sewer since they can hold a lot of pins at once. But this one is great for small projects and such. Plus it’s really cute!

It was freezing cold but we managed to browse around Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA and we also stumbled across this whole cache of Quilting and Yarn Stores right nearby! Jackpot! That’s where I found places like The Old Country Store and Bitty Kinna’s. And the Lancaster Yarn Shop where I first saw the Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Needle Set in person! They remind me most of the Knit Picks Interchangeable Sets.

I bought my first Quilt Block Kit and am planning to make my first quilt block shortly! I found it at a quilting wonderland of quilt stuff and fabrics at The Old Country Store. I cracked it open and, although I’m excited to start, it was a little confusing already! The fabrics I got did not match the pattern, so it wasn’t easy to figure out which pieces were meant to be cut into what squares. I’ll have to tackle that soon though.

I ate Chipped Beef and Shoofly Pie for the first time. I. LOVED. CHIPPED BEEF! Ha. Which was basically some type of sliced corned beef or pastrami-type deli meat smothered in this white flour/milk/butter gravy. I ate it for breakfast! But didn’t care for the Shoofly Pie much which was basically sugar or corn syrup baked into a pie crust. We also ate Whoopie Pies! YES! We went to the Canning Kitchen in KKV and sampled a huge variety of pickled vegetables, pickles, jams, and spreads. Everything was weirdly sweet IMHO. But in general the food was great (albeit gut busting and not the most diet conscious). Great for every once in awhile or a little splurge.

We stayed at Eden Resort Best Western. The service was so warm and friendly, they made our stay very nice. The room rates were great and came with an awesome breakfast buffet each day! It was seriously the best meal I had all day while visiting. The bathroom was spotless and had these cool dual shower heads one with a rain shower head from the top and some water jets from the sides. The entire hotel was well kept and clean. They also had wonderful amenities like indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools and sauna. The indoor one was really nice, it was crowded with kids (and not the cleanest) but decorated really nice. Great for families with kids and nearby attractions like Dutch Wonderland.

We saw lots of horse drawn buggies clopping around, weirdly old fashioned yet with modern materials. It smelled like horse poop everywhere, even at the hotel! There were even metal posts found along the streets for buggies to tie up their horses. It was affordable, we went in the off season, took the Amtrak (although a car is really needed) and trudged around in the snow. But we had a lovely little “country” getaway from NYC that turned out to be a great knitting and sewing trip too! (more…)

This simple slouchy hat is basically done in 2×2 Rib Stitch and Knit Stitch. A great way to practice Circular Knitting, changing needles, and using Circular Needles and Double Pointed Needles (DPNs).

Here is the Slouchy Hat worn folded up for less slouch! I made this for my darling BF who wasn’t 100% in love with the slouchy hat! He did not want to look like Ashton Kutcher, Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, etc… A.k.a. the Japanese Hipster look circa 2005… Le sigh. Fair enough.

I think the slouchy look is classic enough these days so I still like it for both girls and guys. Perhaps next time I will reduce the sag. Or use a different yarn or color scheme to downplay the slouch look.

Materials:
1-2 Balls Knit Picks Stroll Multi in Lily Pad Multi, Fingering Weight, 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 231 yards, $5.99
Stitch Markers, Darning Needle

Needles:
US 3 [3.25mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] Double Pointed Knitting Needles, Set of 4

Measurements:
11 inches (W) x 14 inches (H)
Circumference: 22 inches

Gauge:
26 sts and 34 rows = 4″ with larger needles in stocking st

Skill Level: Easy Intermediate

Pattern:
Free from Patons – Patons Kroy Socks Basic Beanie. The pattern below is a modified version of the Men’s Size Hat in the Slouchy Fit. I decreased the brim height and increased the body height of the hat. [pdf]

Brim:
Begin with smaller circular needle. Cast on 136 sts.
Place stitch marker. Join for working in round.
[K2, P2] every round until brim measures about 4″ tall.
Total: 27 rows, 3.5 inches.

Body:
Change to larger circular needle.
Knit (K) every round until Body measures about 7″ tall.
Total: 51 rows, 7 inches.

Finish:
Round 1: *K2tog. K30. ssk. Rep from * around. 128 sts.
2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th Rounds: Knit.
Round 3: *K2tog. K28. ssk. Rep from * around. 120 sts.
Round 5: *K2tog. K26. ssk. Rep from * around. 112 sts.
Round 7: *K2tog. K24. ssk. Rep from * around. 104 sts.
Round 9: *K2tog. K22. ssk. Rep from * around. 96 sts.
Round 11: *K2tog. K20. ssk. Rep from * around. 88 sts.
Round 13: *K2tog. K18. ssk. Rep from * around. 80 sts.

Begin decrease in every round:
Round 15: *K2tog. K16. ssk. Rep from * around. 72 sts.
Round 16: *K2tog. K14. ssk. Rep from * around. 64 sts.
Round 17: *K2tog. K12. ssk. Rep from * around. 56 sts.
Round 18: *K2tog. K10. ssk. Rep from * around. 48 sts.
Round 19: *K2tog. K8. ssk. Rep from * around. 40 sts.
Round 20: *K2tog. K6. ssk. Rep from * around. 32 sts.
Round 21: *K2tog. K4. ssk. Rep from * around. 24 sts.
Round 22: *K2tog. K2. ssk. Rep from * around. 16 sts.
Total: 22 rows, 3.5 inches.

Break yarn. Thread through remaining stitches. Draw up tightly and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

Notes:
The Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn striped up really neat. Depending on the needle size you use and the size of your project, you will get delightfully unique and irregular striping! I only used about 1.25 balls.

For my needles, I used 20″ circular needles which also fit. I used my fave ones – Addi Turbos! They are metal needles so creamy and zippy. If you like natural materials, Clover Takumi Velvets are my fave! They are bamboo and a close second to the Addi Turbos for me. The hat can also be knit using Double Pointed Needles only. You can save yourself from needing a third set of needles this way.

I used this hat to practice my Continental Knitting. It’s a straight shot and you’re doing primarily Knit Stitch, so it’s a great way to practice a different type of knitting hold. I’m an English Knitter, so I hold the yarn from the ball in my right hand and throw the yarn over my working needle. Continental Knitters hold the yarn steady in their left hands and pick the yarn. It’s a slightly different way of knitting. It all creates the same stitches, just in a different way.

The pattern comes in 2 sizes and 2 versions – Men’s or Women’s Size and Regular or Slouchy Fit.
<== Left: Slouchy Fit Hat; Right: Regular Fit Hat

Sizing and Gauge:
Width: 11 inches
Height: 14 inches
Brim Circumference: About 22 inches

The above measurements were taken before the hat was worn! I made this hat with the intention of it fitting very large sized heads. Hence the extra height in the body. But it still turned out too wide in the brim. As the day wore on the hat got looser and looser.

The number of stitches were correct. I double checked the gauge and it seemed right. I tried on the hat as I went, since the brim is knitted up first, and it fit fine too. Some factors could have been: I’m a loose knitter and I knitted even looser because I was knitting to fit a large-sized head; the rib knit in the brim will stretch and loosen up as the day goes on; I also noticed that after I blocked the piece it stretched out and got floppier.

Next time I will make the Womens Size Hat and also shorten the body by at least 1-2 inches.

Happy New Year! 2012 is here. Elections are coming up (Obama sweaters here I come!), possible apocalypse (12/21/2012), maybe we’ll get some aliens invading the earth (YAY!) … Who knows? It’s also a leap year so we get an extra day before the earth implodes on apocalypse day! I look forward to the unknown. In the meantime, here’s some happy fun to start it off!

Here’s some of my faves from a website I died over this past weekend. I had to make a post about handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com.

It’s Rygo + Crafting Anecdotes + “Dreamy Boyfriend” = Tumblr blog hilarity. What makes it extra funny? I’m not a huge Ryan Gosling fan, he tries too hard to be dreamy and it just turns out douchey IMHO. (Sorry Rygo fans!) So it’s just too perfect that this Tumblr has Rygo looking like a craftie’s dreamboat boyfriend but somehow only makes him look extra corny! Oh the irony! HEART IT!! With extra Roflcopters and Lollerskates!

As my friend pointed out, I think it’s a take on this website siliconvalleyryangosling.tumblr.com. Another meme website involving random Ryan Gosling pics from google image search but with Tech anecdotes instead! Google Image Search + Photoshop = YAY! The world needs moar crafting memes!

From handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com
By @SewSoDef, @theowlandthebee, @katiecanavan, @sweatshopoflove
Follow him on Twitter @HandmadeRyan

(more…)