I’ve finally updated my Etsy shop with my knitty hipster bag pattern.
Can you believe it?? How long has it been? Too long! I think I was just afraid to put anything out there since my little run in a while ago. Thankfully, I’m beyond that now and can show you what I’ve made and hope you want one too. This bag is sooo cool and one of my favorites when it comes to toting my knitting around with me. The PDF pattern is 16 pages long with pictures and description so just about anyone should be able to make it. Thanks so much to Linda and all the test sewers that worked on this with me.
I also added my new bed sock pattern:
to join my sock fish pattern:
This pattern has been swimming in Etsy for quite some time now and was getting lonely. I was quite astounded when I ran into another sewer who is selling sock fish bags on her website. The same fish made to hold a sock project!! Go figure.
Ever heard of DaWanda?? Go check it out-it’s the international version of Etsy and I’ve opened a Dawanda shop there too. This is fun!!! I have a few more patterns that I really want to write up but with work, the house and Alida’s birthday party this weekend, it will have to be pushed until a later date. I’m hoping to get my sewing machine out from under the cobwebs soon-I miss her so much. I also have a free pattern coming for a simple shawl which I love. Stay tuned.
Find of the week: You really need to check out these shops too- Hanies and Mygurumi. I love the dinosaur screen printed memory and isn’t that fairy sooo cute??
I can hardly believe she’s 5 today.
Happy Birthday!!
The first thing people ask me when they see me knitting is “Oh, what are you knitting?” followed by, “Who are you knitting it for?”. It never fails.
Who are you knitting for?
Nowadays the answer is almost always the same. “For me.” I feel so selfish and guilty that I dare knit for myself. Isn’t knitting something you do for others?? How dare I spend my precious few minutes of ‘free time’ doing something for myself. I don’t know if it’s the way it’s asked or even if it’s the way people react to my answer, but somehow I always feel very guilty.
You see, I work 4 hours shy of full-time, have the two kids, my entire household and not to mention we’re building a house which I need to keep up with, so when I do get a free moment, such as at the end of the day when the most I can physically do is veg in front of a good movie, all I want to do is knit something for me. Time for me-it’s a very hard thing to come by here at this crazy house of horrors so I’m selfish and use it all for myself.
I’m sure, if you’re a knitter, you’ve heard the old, “Oh you knit so well, would you knit me one too-I’ll pay you!” I get that all the time. If they only knew how expensive I am and how long it takes me to get something finished I honestly don’t think they would ask. But they do ask and my response is always the same, “No, sorry there just aren’t enough hours in the day but I’d be more than willing to teach you.”
That’s where the fun starts and I get a multitude of responses. I’ve had looks of horror as if I had lost my marbles, laughs at such a crazy thought, and even some have been offended that I wouldn’t do it for them. How dare I not? Now who’s selfish??
But don’t despair quite yet, there are some people who do take me up on my offer and want to learn which is why I will gladly give up some of my time to sit down and teach this wonderful skill. That’s my charity knitting and I love it.
Last year I taught a high school teacher from my school and she turned out to be an absolute natural. She caught on quickly and after knitting a cable scarf within a week of learning, started with my learn to knit lace shawl, which I hope to publish soon. She loved it!! She knit two! She came to me one day and whispered (because it’s still hard for her to show off what she’s doing) “Thanks so much for giving me this gift, it’s amazing and owe you so much!” My heart jumped out of my chest and I knew that my charity knitting is just as good as anyone else’s.
I don’t just stop at the teachers in my schools (I work in both the high school and the elementary) but my real love is teaching the kids. In the last 2 years I’ve had pretty easy schedules which have allowed me to visit the 3rd grade classes on a weekly basis to work with them. It was wonderful watching them get excited when they got it right and watch their progress as they come back each week after talking to mom, a sister, grandma or even grandpa for help. I’m bringing generations together and I’m so very proud. One day the kids made me thank you cards, here are a few of my favorites. Keep in mind I’m also the swimming teacher so I’m the sporty knitter.
A mom from the class, who is a good friend of mine and who I’m also helping read the pattern from the Must Have Cardigan, made this adorable gift certificate for my local yarn store which she decorated with lots of pictures of us knitting in class. I love it!!
This year is different, I have far more hours of work and won’t be able to fit in time to knit during the day, so what I’ve done is created an after-school knitting club while Alida is in Judo. I have 6 kids who have joined, it costs money because I’m using the school classrooms which deters kids from coming, but I think it will be really good nonetheless. One little boy knit a whole scarf last year and was the first to sign up on my list. He’s really popular in his 4th grade class and such a joy to have. I’ve written up a small pattern for him so we’ll see how he does reading a pattern. He’s so happy he’s now purling!!
I’m sure to tell you more about my club as the year goes on but I’ve wanted to tell you for so long now about my past two years of charity knitting and how I hope I’m affecting lives in a good way although my time is so limited and my knitted goodies mostly end up for me. I’m also toying with the idea of offering an hour or two of adult knitting lessons for our silent action in November which will benefit our school. I wonder how much an hour lesson will go for. We’ll see.
What is your charity knitting?
