And Speaking of that Sheep...

Actually, it's a lamb, which generally are cuter than sheep anyway. And this pattern is free!

Fuzzy Lamb

This little cutie is by Fuzzy Mitten, a new designer in the shop.

Ok, so now we have our alpaca and our lamb, we just need someone to design a stalk of bamboo and a cotton plant! Oh, actually, while we're at it, let's add bison to the list since that would be cool and it would give me a really good reason to buy this yarn.

But wait, before I get too off track here with my wacky idea, let me properly introduce all the new patterns by Fuzzy Mitten in the shop:

Silly Duck

Owl and Baby

Pug with Anorak

 Baby Penguin

I know, so, so adorable! There's got to be a lucky kid in your life who needs one of these sweeties. (And if not, I'm sure any one of my three would be happy to volunteer for the position!)

I'm trying to be proactive about the holidays this year since I've always wanted to have a handmade Christmas, which means I'd better get those sweaters finished so I can start on one (who am I kidding—three) of these guys.

Happy knitting everyone!

Zeke!

Don't you think that if you knit an alpaca doll, you simply have to do it in alpaca yarn?

Zeke

Yes, I think so.

This is Zeke, the newest Danger Crafts pattern in the shop.

{A herd of Zekes}

I do think that all knitters should probably have at least one alpaca doll and one sheep doll. You know, a kind of reverence to the source.

I suppose with that logic I should also knit up a stalk of bamboo. And a cotton plant. Ok, I'm laughing now but really, someone should do that!

Happy knitting—no matter what it is you're working on!

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

Or at least she will!

Hmmm, it's been a long time without a post, but not for lack of something to write about. No, my one and only excuse is sleep. Or rather, lack thereof. We had a string (quite a long one if the date on the last post is to be believed) of unpleasant nights where at least one child, often more than one, was up for several hours stretches.

{One of the very cute sleep-wreckers in our house.}

In case you don't have little ones in your house, nights like those—especially when they string together in a seemingly endless way—can really, really mess with your days. So that just getting everyone dressed and fed seems like quite an accomplishment.

In any case, I don't have any idea what caused our bad luck, but I'm happy to say that the bad-night-mojo has passed and I'm starting to feel human again. (Hooray!)

Ok, so with my excuse out of the way, let's move on to happier things! New patterns!

Don't these bags by Keyka Lou Patterns just make you happy?

Dewdrop Handbag

Grocery Bag

Curvy Clutch

Envelope Clutch

Who doesn't love a new bag? I mean, really? 

My plan is to start with the grocery bag because in Portland you simply can't be seen at the grocery store without something awesome: crafty town + über-green city dwellers + hardcore loyalty to local grocery = serious social standards for re-usable grocery bags. (I know, I travel in very glamorous circles, don't I?)

Happy sewing! (And sleeping, to any of you who need it!)

Oo La La!

Have you seen these lovelies from Colette Patterns?

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Rooibos (in blue)

Lady Grey

I mean, if you're going to make something for yourself, it might as well be gorgeous, right?

And as if these aren't tempting enough, here's a link to free pattern for mini bloomers, and they are so, so cute!

Happy sewing!

Found and Finished: Finger Puppets

Does anyone remember that little Found and Finished series I started way, way back? The idea was to resurrect abandoned projects and finish them up before starting new ones. It seems I've even abandoned the idea of finishing unfinished projects! What can I say, I'm a sucker for new patterns! In any case, here's one I actually finished months ago, so this could be cheating just a little.

But see, I was planning to make more of them, so they were living in my WIP basket. Today I gave up and declared them done. The butterfly and evergreen may always remain in pieces. Or maybe one day I'll decide to put them together and finish them up. Who knows?

{In the interest of giving credit where credit is due, they're based on Aimee Ray's tiny woodland animals, which, obviously, I thought were super, super cute.}

Happy sewing!

Summer Herbs, Collected

Have you started to worry that the days of endless basil will be coming to a close all too soon? Well, I can't help with the delightful scent of basil on a gardener's (or farmer's market shopper's) hands, or with adding that perfect summery flavor to your homegrown (or farmer's market) tomato sauce, but I can offer you this new collection by Polka + Bloom.

Herbarium

Ok true, the patterns aren't new. But now they're collected. Which is cool, don't you think?

After you can all your tomatoes and freeze all your blueberries, you can stitch up all your favorite herbs so that you can gaze longingly at them in mid-winter and remember the scent of basil in the summer sun. That's my plan anyway!

Happy stitching everyone!

Sunday Picnic Blouse and Dress

Another new pattern today! Just look at this lovely by Meg of Sew Liberated:

Isn't it darling? As the name suggests, you can make yourself a Sunday Picnic Blouse and (or) Dress with this pattern. When was the last time you made something for yourself? (Hopefully recently, but if you're at all like me, it's been awhile.)

And, have you heard? Meg's expecting (yay!) so if you have a chance, drop by her blog to wish her congratulations!

Happy sewing!

My Mom Rocks

We were lucky enough to have a visit by my mom last week (even though it was way too short). In addition to getting me a massage at the fabulous Zenana Spa (their focus is pampering pregnant and parenting families—I know, you love her already, don't you?) she brought hand-knit gifts for all three of the kids.

I made the mistake of letting the older kids wear their sweaters the day they were unwrapped. After spending a little time in the backyard that morning (yes, it's still cool enough for sweaters in the morning, sheesh!) the poor things are a mess. So they'll have to be a part of a different post...

Norah's, on the other hand, is still untouched by garden dirt, stray chicken feathers, or sidewalk chalk.

It's the Baby's Yoke Jacket by Cotton and Cloud, and it's so, so fabulous. Mom reports that it was an easy and pleasant project and that the pattern was extremely well-written. She made the jacket in a 24 month size—for next winter—because she wasn't sure how long it would take her to complete it. Now we know for sure that a) she's a quick knitter and b) baby jackets knit up fast.

Believe it or not I've been knitting too (you'd never guess based on the last two months of blog posts). But unlike my Mom, things we know for sure about me include: a) having a baby in the house makes me a slow knitter and b) even baby knits take me a lot longer these days! But if all goes well, even at my snail's pace I'll have a few things done before fall!

Happy knitting!

New Figgy's!

The new Patterns by Figgy's Fall Line has arrived!

And it's just a tiny bit more exciting for us around here than other new patterns arriving because about a month or so ago we were invited to be a part of the Patterns by Figgy's photo shoot for the Fall Line (by "we" of course I mean my handsome three-year-old, Oliver). The patterns arrived on my doorstep a couple days ago.

And yesterday I got a disc full of awesome pictures from the fabulous photographer Jonah Rondon.

Oliver is wearing Tee for Two (which can also be made long sleeve or as a dress, see below) and Dapper Dillinger Trousers.

And look at this amazingly sweet version of the Tee with a flower:

It's almost as adorable as that baby!

Little Woo is a lovely cardigan that is definitely going to be on my list for back to school sewing:

Wouldn't it be darling in this? Or this? Hmm, or this... I'll leave you to decide!

Happy sewing!