A New Designer

I've added some lovely new patterns by Kira K Designs to the shop...

 

Ragged Sweater

 

Travelling Eyelet Sweater

  

Concentric Circles Sweater

 

Organic Hoodie

Aren't the fun? I love the potential of the Ragged Sweater—the design is simple enough that you can let the yarn do all the work. And just the other day I was admiring a sweater like Travelling Eyelet, on another mom at the preschool open house. Of course Concentric Circles and Organic Hoodie would be adorable on girls or boys, which is always handy!


Happy knitting everyone!

A Very Special Day

Today is big at our house. It's my daughter's sixth birthday, and we've been counting down the days for at least a month now.

Any mother out there can relate, I'm sure, but I've been wondering (as I often do around birthdays) how the time has gone so fast. And sadly, it seems to move faster and faster all the time.

So we'll be taking the day (and probably the whole weekend) to do nothing other than celebrate this special occasion and enjoy her six-year-old smile, six-year-old laugh, and six-year-old kisses. Oh, and there might be cake and ice cream too. More than likely. :)

Here's to special days and ample time to enjoy them!

Sweet Appletree

The lovely Nicole Vos van Avezathe has a new pattern in the shop and much like Vogel, it's got me thinking of balmier weather:

 

Sweet Appletree

Can't you just feel that sweet-scented, summery breeze? Don't look out the window—you'll ruin the fantasy!

Happy stitching everyone!

A Little Thing for Sammie

We've got a couple new Danger Craft patterns in the shop, which is always a good thing. I mean, look at these cuties!

 

Sammie the Sock Monster

 

Chester the Bashful Bunny

 

{Tails}

Apparently I've long had a thing for bunnies (my kids have so many it's like they're multiplying—a very bunny thing to do I suppose...) but now I know that I've also got a thing for Sammies. I just love that little sock monster!

And one of the best things about Rebecca's patterns is that they can accommodate just about any kind of yarn, so you can simply use what you have on hand (if you can gauge the length of a partially used skein a little better than I can or resist a quick trip to your favorite yarn store—something I have a lot of trouble with...). I did, however, resolve to get my stash under control this year so I can envision a few sock monsters and bunnies in my future...

Happy knitting everyone!

Five Little Birds

I was recently lucky enough to receive a birth blessing from my lovely, lovely friends and aside from being pampered for the morning, which was of course present enough, I came home with some really lovely handmade gifts. This one, from my dear friend Rebecca, is too sweet not to share:

 

  

I love that she was inspired by Kata Goulda's book, Handstitched Felt, but made the image completely her own to so sweetly represent our growing family. I think that's the very best possible use of patterns: as inspiration and instruction, but with enough freedom to really personalize what you're making. (Take that with a grain of salt, since I'm someone who has a really hard time following patterns exactly as written.)

Happy stitching everyone!

Lots and lots of tiny socks

Ok, so I'm the perfect pregnant-lady-cliché, I know, but I can't help it. I just keep knitting these teeny tiny baby socks.

 

  

I think I've made about a dozen pairs so far. They're just so easy! And fast! I can make a pair in an hour, which makes me feel so productive! And I love using the last little bits of my favorite yarns from my (sizable) stash. (You can get a copy of the free Pitter Patter pattern I'm using here.)

But I do think I need to branch out. It's time to try these darling little booties by She's Crafty Handknits:

Winter Booties

Or perhaps something that fits another member of my family? (My husband is nodding and pointing to himself.)

Happy knitting everyone!

April Showers

Just in time to start thinking about Spring (particularly if you're under a few feet of snow right now), we have a lovely new pattern by SeptemberHouse:

 

April Showers 

Isn't it sweet? You may not be seeing signs of Spring out your window yet, but you could at least put yourself in a Spring-y frame of mind with this pattern!

Happy stitching everyone!

A Boy's Pasha

The very popular Pasha hat—pattern by the fabulous Jane Richmond—has had another exchange of ownership recently:

 

I have to admit that I do love his sense of style. You have to give a boy credit when he can recognize such a great fashion statement at such a young age!

You might remember that it was intended for my head, but co-opted by my five-year-old about three minutes after it was finished. Well now it officially belongs to my three-year-old. Oh well, I'll just take it as a compliment!

Happy knitting everyone!

Last Minute Valentines Project - Made by Rae

One more post about some fabulously crafty thing from over at Made by Rae: Just in case you're like me and have procrastinated a bit on the whole Valentine's Day thing, here's a super quick, easy and adorable project you can do with kids.

{photo borrowed from Rae, Merci!}

Valentine Hearts Garland

Happy sewing everyone!

Celebrate the Boy with Made by Rae and Made

I love this idea so much.

 

It's the brainchild of Rae, Made by Rae, and Dana, Made, two brilliant crafters (and boy celebrants!). They are spending the month of February celebrating the boys in their lives. You really should visit their sites for great ideas and tutorials for making super cool little boy things, not to mention all the really sweet images of their boys that they've shared.

And in celebration of my own boy, who is as sweet as honey even when he's covered in mud, I'll be making him a pair of these super cute pants — "in dark green, please," as requested, with the free pattern compliments of Lier of IKat Bag (you can get your copy too, right here).

  

Happy crafting for the boys in your life!

 

We Love Sushi

Both my kids love, love, love sushi (how lucky am I?) — so you can imagine how I flipped over Sweetie Pie Bakery's newest pattern for a sushi set:

 

 

  

Sushi Set

Nothing was left out of this pattern (except the table, but then a felt table would be tough...) — sushi pieces, chopsticks, teapot and teacup, orchid, even the cushions! Who wouldn't love sushi with this toy?

Here's to a lovely meal!

Happy sewing everyone!

SeptemberHouse Embroidery Designs

I am swooning over these patterns by SeptemberHouse, the newest designer to sign on with Magpie. Just look at these gorgeous patterns:

 

Il Circo

 

Il Circo

 

Seedling Trio

 

Seedling Trio

Both pattern sets include three images, which gives you so many options for how to use them. I love the idea of all three images framed individually but hung together, or used to create a future heirloom baby blanket, or using one of the images to embellish a special piece of clothing. So sweet!

Happy stitching everyone!

Valentine's Day Treats

...without the cavities!

Sweetie Pie Bakery is offering this super cute Valentine's Day Candy Box and Chocolates pattern for free.

Drop by the shop to download your copy!

Happy sewing!

New Knitwear Designer: Kids Tricots

Look what I found!

 

Kalea

 

Baby Liliha

 

Poema

Aren't they so lovely? These are some of the designs from Magpie's newest knitwear designer, Muriel Agator, creative genius behind Kids Tricots out of France.

I am so excited about these sweet patterns. I've been looking (and looking) for designers making lovely, classic sweaters for kids older than toddler age. Not that I don't love those patterns too, it's just that now that my oldest daughter is almost six and my son has just turned three, it seems that the pattern well is drying up. But Kids Tricots patterns are written for sizes all the way up to 8 years old! (You can guess what I'll be knitting just as soon as I finish the three itty bitty baby sweaters I've started...)

Here's to (really, really) letting my work-in-progress basket overflow! (Hope yours does too!)
Happy knitting everyone!

Bee Mine Valentine Stitching

How sweet is this Valentine embroidery pattern (sweet as honey, perhaps)? Nicole Vos van Avezathe, also known as Follow the White Bunny, has offered it for free — a little Valentine treat! You can download it from her blog, here.

And check out xperimentl's rendition on Flickr — so cute!

Happy stitching everyone!

Free Nani Iro Pattern

Isn't this bag so cute?

Side Pocket Bag

In case you missed it on The Fabric Bar blog, you can drop by the Magpie Patterns shop to download a copy of the free pattern for yourself!

Happy sewing!

Fabric Covered Thumbtacks Tutorial

 

Aren't those adorable? And no doubt an excellent use for itty bitty scraps of your favorite fabrics! Check out the tutorial here, on the How About Orange blog (a treasure trove of crafty inspiration).

Happy Crafting All!

Lots of Love

I found the pattern for these sweet little hearts recently and the lovely designer, Jackie Z, offered it to Magpie Patterns for free (download it here) — just in time for a little Valentine's Day knitting!

There's another lovely—and free—pattern by Jackie Z in the shop today: Pitter Patter Socks. It's a pattern I've used at least a dozen times because the socks always turn out and it's super easy (who doesn't love that?).

And, if you have a chance, stop by Jackie's blog for crafty inspiration from New Zealand.

Happy knitting everyone!