Spring and Taking it Slow

I haven't been designing a lot lately, but I did have fun making this wedding gift:

So far this year, I've been taking my projects slowly and trying to avoid "deadlines" since they sometimes make knitting, crocheting, and crafting in general slightly less relaxing.  It's been really wonderful.

I've also been mostly using patterns written by other designers, which I'm keeping posted on my Ravelry page. I do have a set of bulky yarn crocheted cowl patterns I'm hoping to share with you in the next months, though!

Hope you're having a lovely end to winter and that you're enjoying the hope of warmer weather.

Quick Project

I'm really excited about this project. I bought a permanent transfer pen and a small cotton drawstring bag.  With some tracing paper and practice, I made myself a personalized project bag for my knitting/crochet. The flower image is not my original, but "Frances and the Bee" is! You can see my new blog about beekeeping and life in Minnesota at www.francesandthebee.blogspot.com.

 

Also, I'm working on getting some more items up in my Etsy store, FrancesandtheBee. I'm especially excited about this little project bag because it gives me some inspiration for some items to sell in the near future.  So... please check out the links! 



First Taste of Honey from our Hives

Pattern Coming Soon!

I have made my first knit pattern ever and I'll be posting it soon! It's a pair of simple fingerless mitts that I'm calling...

"Early Morning Mitts" 

 



Yarn: Cascade Paints 100% Peruvian
Wool in "Grape."

I've been up during the wee hours lately with my new little boy, so I've had a lot of little moments here and there to get this accomplished. Before I post the pattern, I'm going to knit another pair and tweak things a little.

Keep your eyes peeled!

P.S.  I'd just like to say I'm really excited for Christmas cookies this year!

It's a Boy! and "I Love You" Hearts

Our little boy was born in October.

Baby sweater I knit early this fall.  It turns out the blue striping paid off, considering we had a boy.

"I Love You" hearts that I made for our little girl to carry in her pocket while we were away having a baby at the hospital.  I left an envelope of these at home for the Grandmas to hand out at their discretion.

I used fabric scraps, quilt batting scraps, and roughly sewed them with just a needle and thread.  Each heart is only about the size of a quarter.

 

I hope you're enjoying what is left of the fall weather. 

Me, I'm dreaming of Christmas lights and gingerbread cookies already - which is not a normal thing for me, but is something that I'm ok with. 

36 Weeks and Counting

36 Weeks Along Now

Leaves, More Fun than Ever

Pumpkin Beanies for Volunteer Project
(Pattern Here)

More Busy Summer Photos

We've been getting in as much fun time this summer as we can... I haven't had much time for pattern designing, but I have been working on projects like crazy to try and get everything finished before Baby arrives (in approximately 5 weeks or less).  




Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Sasqauatch Knitting Party that a Friend and I hosted...
A LOT of fun.

 

Baby Gift for a Friend

 

Busy Summer

We've been enjoying a busy June and beginning of July. Busy - not like the swamped feeling of too much to do, but the feeling of trying to get the most out of the time that one possibly can.  We've been taking lots of trips to parks, lakes, the wading pool... and the craft store.  There happen to be a lot of babies on the way this year - how exciting! - and that means a lot of knitting and crocheting for me.  I love it.

Dam near St. Cloud State University, Mississippi River
(The water is very high this year.)

Knitting More... Crocheting Some
(Hat is From Norway with Love by Pickles)

Adventures at the Lake

Munsinger Gardens, St. Cloud Minnesota

It's Been a While

I just realized I haven't made a post in almost a month. Sorry!

In early February, I discovered that I'm expecting.  Yipee! The first few weeks of pregnancy have found me pretty tired, and I haven't really crocheted or knit in weeks. I do have a couple of projects I'd like to wrap up, though, including making some Chemo Caps for a volunteer project I found on Ravelry: http://www.skrapyram.com/2012/01/please-join-me-for-special-project.html. The photo here is one of the hats I finished for the project.






Since I don't have any new patterns to share, I thought I'd post some recent photos:

By Erica Knudson

By Erica Knudson

By Erica Knudson

(Mississippi River)
By Erica Knudson

Coming Down the Pipes

I just wanted to check in to say that I'll have a couple new patterns posted by the end of next week:

Ocean Shrug
Erica Knudson



the Ocean Shrug

     a very simple crochet shrug that is great for a beginner

and the Baby Ripple Hat
     a little textured baby hat, great for solids or stripes
     (photos coming with the pattern)


Until later,
Erica

Oops!

The hats aren't listed here yet, and I'm sorry!  The Holidays (and the flu) have been upon us lately.
I will get them up, soon.  I'm excited to share with you...

The Hats Are... Still Coming!

Well, I did make a couple of new hat patterns this week, but, as you can see, none are posted.

One, I didn't particularly like. 
The next is a really cute baby hat, but I gave it as a shower gift without taking a photo - doh!
This weekend I'll finish a textured slouchy hat, but a pattern won't be up until the week after Thanksgiving.   Also, I'm hoping to work on vintage style toddler hat for my Girl for our vacation. Things rarely turn out as I imagine them in my head, so we'll see what happens.

The moral of the story is, I'm a little behind.  Sorry. 

Please check back for patterns the week after Thanksgiving - and Happy Thanksgiving, by the way!

The Hats Are Coming!

I've been in "hat mode" lately, so I thought I'd share that I'll have a couple new hat pattens next week.

Don't you like how fast you can get a hat finished?