I dream of knitted tutus

Do you ever dream of knitting?? I do, in fact, my dreams are where I get my best ideas! This latest project ( and bucket list item #31 ) is a knitted tutu, designed by yours truly and was featured in one of my dreams about a year ago. Every now and then my brain reminds me of this dream and nags at me to get working on it. I always had a reason not to until last week I finally I gave in and knit away to create what you see below.

A Smashlee Stitches Original The Knitted Tutu

I will be offering these tutu’s for sale on my Etsy shop  and Facebook page in the near future. They will be in a variety of fun colours and in sizes ranging from newborn to 3 years.

I will also be offering the pattern for any knitters who want to try a fun project using ruffle yarn. First however, I need 5-10 knitters willing to test knit this pattern for me.

TEST KNITTERS WANTED

Required skills will be:

• knowing how to knit in the round using ciricular needles.
• familiar with ruffle yarn and how to knit with it
•  must know how to knit ,purl , purl two together and yarn over.

Supplies needed:

•  size 6 4mm  24 inch circular needles
• 1-2 balls of ruffle yarn (any colour or brand)
• Worsted weight yarn in a complimentary colour for waist band

For the waist band tie either

a) a contrasting ribbion

or

b) a 5mm I crochet hook and  small ball of worsted weight yarn in contasting colour

Test knitting will involve checking for errors in grammar, spelling and inaccuracies or confusion in wording and instructions.

Test knitting will begin sometime next week ( April 28th- May 4 2013) and need to be completed by May 12th.

If you would like to volunteer as a test knitter  please e-mail me at smashleestitches@gmail.com and include your name, email address, and preference in which size you would like to test.

• Newborn
• 0-6 months
• 6-12 months
• 1-2 years
•  2- 3 years.

Please also let me know if you have a model available to try the finished tutu on. Models are not required to test knit but, are preferred.

I will not require the tutu send to me, only pictures and measurements. You will also receive a final version of the pattern before it goes out for sale on Raverly and Etsy, as a thank you for testing.

Longest ever work in progress…

So after 3 years ,almost to the date,  I completed  my longest ever UFO (unfinished object) , my mini-smashlee’s baby blanket. For those who don’t know, she’s over 2 1/2 now. I started this project when I found out I was having a baby girl and vowed to finish it before I gave birth. Obviously, I didn’t and It has been sitting in a size 1 huggies jumbo diaper box for the good part of 2 years.

I don’t know why it took me this long to complete it but, this afternoon it was finally declared  done. I have to say though, I really thought I would feel different. I don’t know what exactly I thought would happen… maybe a few fireworks, or a parade, I mean this blanket took forever to finish, but, all I feel is exactly the same as I did as when it was sitting in the box.  I don’t feel super fulfilled it’s finished, in fact, as of right this moment, I don’t really want to see it again …ever…    BUT, it is my mini’s blanket and she’s quite happy it’s done.

While I was weaving in the ends (I hate weaving in ends) she laid down on it and said “MOM! Picture.” and then pretended to sleep.

Mini- Smashlee wanted to take the blanket for one last test sleep before it is forever in her possession.

So, as you can see, Mini-Smashlee loves it, and that’s what really matters. It doesn’t matter  to a two year old if my crochet border is uneven or if it’s not perfectly sewn to together. She thinks it rocks.

The alphabet baby blanket part one..

and part two…

Maybe  in a few days, it will hit me that it is finished and  I’ll learn to like the blanket . But, even if I  never love it the way my mini does, I do know one thing for sure…. Item number 1 on the Smashlee Stitches Bucket List is done!!

I have made the bucket list in it’s entirely available on my website but you can also, check it my past blog posts on the subject .

Now, it’s on to my next abandoned knitting project…felted hot pink slippers.

 

Just A Little Inspiration…

Inspiration can be found in the weirdest of places. I never really took notice of what inspires me as a knitter until I wrote this topic under my “possible blog topics” list. Almost instantly ideas flew into my head. People, places, yarns, colours , books all of which I draw my inspiration from.

So here are a few of my favourites

Rainbow yarn…

Ever since I first laid eyes on brightly multi-coloured  yarn, I fell in love. I am a big fan of colours in general but, there is something about seeing all those bright colours lined up together that gets my mind excited and ready to knit. I try very hard not to buy yarn when I don’t need it but, those rainbow colours are my kryptonite. It’s like it brings me back to the innocence of childhood and the reminds me of fluffy clouds ,care bears, and my wall paper in my  room when I was  3 years old. It just make me happy !

My latest project.. a knitted tutu.. with rainbow yarn

         Knit Gardens

This one is harder to explain but, while googling one day I came across this book by Jan Messent called ” Knitted Gardens”. It instantly struck a cord, I was fascinated by the tiny details that made this garden come alive in yarn form . This would make sense if I was a gardener but, I kill plants without meaning to and couldn’t even properly rake up leaves if I tired. Never the less, I have since bought the book and although I’m not sure I’ll ever make a knitted garden, I certainly enjoy looking through this book when I’m totally out of ideas. What I particularly love is the garden blanket and pillow.  I would give anything to curl up in bed and knit.  I guess what intrigues me the most is, unlike most knitting, there is really no practical purpose behind it. You are just suppose to stare at it and enjoy. That’s something I could get behind. Mr. Smashlee has taken a look at this book and just doesn’t get it. In fact, he is sort of  afraid to come home from work one day and see the house turned in to a miniature garden.  I’m not gonna lie, I’m sort of worried about that too.

Knitted Gardens

Blank Loose Leaf  Lined Paper

Whenever I see a stack of loose leaf paper I can help but, think what is this paper destined to be? My mind wanders to all the possibilities…maybe I should leave it blank and let someone write the next bestselling novel on it, or maybe I will be the one to write that novel. Maybe mini-smashlee will draw her first picture that actually looks like something. Maybe I’ll jot down an idea that in coming years will make me a millionaire. Maybe it be a paper airplane that entertains my daughter for hours while I get some housecleaning done. Regardless, It’s a blank sheet and it has an infinite number of  possibilities . I like the thought of a blank slate. It’s sort of like a ball of yarn, it can be anything. You just have to create. I find that very very inspiring .

So , knitter or not, what inspires you???

What A Difference A Day Makes….

I woke up this morning in a much better mood then I was in yesterday. For one, the snow was melting and two, I had a pretty great sleep  considering I’m pregnant and half to pee constantly. I used this new found energy and good vibes to spent the day working.

I took some much need pictures of my projects and have a pretty nice bucket list update for everyone.

First off let’s start with item #1… Mini’s Smashlee Baby Blanket.

I have been working away at it and find that I actually have to do this in secret because the mini is constantly bugging me when she sees her “rainbow blanket” pulled out from its bag.

The Rainbow Blanket…

Only one more row to attach, ends to weave in, a boarder to make and a trip in the washing machine and we are done.

Mommy, please hurry and finish my blanket!!

Goal number #7 Finish knitting all the stitches in the book “400 Knitting Stitches ” Starting Square number #82

And of course, my charity Knitting. Item #6.

So far, I am at 7 purple hats and 2 hospital hats. I’m crocheting as much as I can, and searching for new patterns to increase my crochet knowledge.

Charity Hats

Basically, I’m feeling good about the bucket list this week. With any luck the mini will have her blanket by next week and I can cross off another item!

Tomorrow, I am going to attempt a bucket list item I have been neglecting for a while…  #66 the art course…

April snow, why you gotta ruin everything?

So it’s Sunday,which means, I should be showing you all the stuff I knit this week but, I’m not really in the mood to take pictures so, I’ll save all that for next Sunday. And then I thought I’d just write about one of other topics I have written down for an emergency blog posting and chose to write about what Inspires me. As this afternoon dragged on and turned into evening and I went grocery shopping then made dinner and put the Mini to bed, I thought I am so not inspired and should not be writing about it right now. So, I am just basically blogging to say, I got nothing to blog about today and share this somewhat pretty but, depressing picture of what I woke up to this morning…

Mini-Smashlee was very sad when she saw her tricycle buried in snow..

Anyway, I am going to snuggle in bed and dream of warm places . Hopefully, tomorrow will bring some sunshine to the mountains!!

The Evolution Of a Slipper AKA I seriously use to suck

I was thinking about what to write about tonight when, something I had written quite a while ago popped in my head. I’m not sure exactly what post it came from or its exact wording but, it went something like this. ” I not only want to share my successes but, also my failures and be honest about my experiences.”

Like, I said, I’m sure it’s paraprashed but, I wrote something along those lines at some point in the Smashlee Stitches blog. Anyway, as the clock was ticking away and the Mini’s bed time was approching, I started to panic. I never really stress out about my blog or what I’m going to write , I try to let it come naturally but, for some reason I just didn’t know what to type. Then out of the blue, while I’m tucking mini-Smashlee into bed, it hit me. Tell them how you use to suck. Now, I’m not saying I’m the best or even that I “don’t suck” now but, I have come along way and that is what this blog post is about.
Let me  first give you some background and then I will show you ( with some REALLY bad photos) on how I came from “sucking” to whatever it is I am now.

When I started to complemtate selling my knitting, I had no idea what to even make. I saw my peers and my friends making some profits on their talents at craft fairs and my brain started going into overdrive trying to figure out what I could sell. How could I make this work? Anyone who has ever met me knows, I can either be really talkative or uncomfortably silent  and a lot of those early craft fairs days I was uncomfortably silent, not because I was shy but because, I was taking everything in, trying to learn the ins and outs, and what worked and what didn’t.

I had never even been to a craft fair, let alone sold anything at one, so for a while I ” observed ” from the comfort of a chair behind a folding table full of knit and crocheted creations. I watched  my friends sell their handmade products and obsereved how the public interacted with not just our table but, the others tables as well. Mentallly, I was taking notes and making plans .  I don’t know what pushed me over the edge into selling, it may have been and most likely was, a friendly nudge from my friends but, that summer along side their prodcuts , I was graciously allowed to put my 10 pairs of mary janes on display ,waiting for buyers. The buyers never came, I went home deflated and in a depression. However, my mind was still working and I started to knit my butt off determined to have a knit slipper for every person that walked past our table.  I am very scattered brained so, I never had a slipper for everyone but, I did have more than 10 baby booties to display . I did better the next time,  I sold a few pairs but, It definitely wasn’t worth the all nighter I pulled the night before “getting ready” for the big day.

Still feeling a little depressed, I turned to google ( as I do whenever I have a question about anything) and came across a pattern for some booties that I wanted for my newly born mini-Smashlee. They were called “Spring Breath Booties”  .  I downloaded the pattern ( first one I had ever downloaded  ) and within the day had my pattern printed and ready to be knit. I  then worked feverislty the next day and came up with this..

The first pair, made for mini-Smashlee…she never wore them.

They have buttons hole ,which you can’t see in the picture, and a crochet finish which I could not do properly no matter how hard I tried. But, I was really proud of them and took this “amazing” picture and posted this to my facebook profile.      ( honestly, I was so happy about their completion,  I really did think the pic was amazing).

I must have got a favourable response, or people were just being nice, because at the next craft fair, I  made these.

The first group of what would later be called “smuggs”

Again, the night before, the craft fair, I finished these four pairs and posted this picture to facebook. Nobody “liked it” or commented but, I did sell every pair the next day . I had altered the pattern slightly and took away the buttons but, for some crazy reason kept the crochet finishing.  I do have to say though, I really like my colour choices!

Shortly after, with my confidence soaring high, I made these. I also posted them on my facebook page and sold them within minutes to a friend.

I finally got the guts to try something new and altered the pattern again to get rid of any crocheting!

A few months, on a hunch, I opened my facebook fan page .  Then, the orders started coming in. I altered the pattern several times more to come up with some of these pairs.

A toddler pair

A child sized pair

And…an adult pair

And then this happen …

This pair almost started a fight at craft fair between customers.

I hate this pair at first but, after some more than favourable comments about them and a little encouragement from Mr. Smashlee. I took this idea and ran to create numerous  pairs in all sizes from newborns to adult. You can check them out here… but, here is a small sampling

A stripped pair

Panda Slippers

one of my favourite pairs

As you can see, the photography got  better, it’s not perfect ,but it’s better. And I really made the design my own, letting my creativity take over, which I really think is what matters the most.

I have altered the pattern so much that, the only thing similar to the original is the cable design. These slippers are by far my most popular product, and it’s all thanks to a little determination, hard work, a lot dreaming and amazing pattern designer Julia Noskova  (designer of the original pattern ).  She is  an amazing designer ,an inspiration to me, and one of my favourite knitters. One day I might even attempt the original pattern again.

I always doubted wether my slippers were “good enough” for public consumption and I don’t know if they are but, It has given me such a boost in my confidence as a knitter that It doesn’t really matter if they are “good enough”. I am very excited to see what they evolve into next.

I currently call these “smuggs” a combination of Smashlee and uggs and I no longer sell at craft fairs. Not because, I hate them but, because,  selling in person is just not one my strengths. One day I may go back in that direction, but right now my goals for my business lie elsewhere . Regardless if  sell a million pairs or if Mini-Smashlee is my only customer I will never forget where the Smuggs started from. I am so thankful for every bad picture, ( no matter how much I cringe at them now) and for every customer that inspired and sometimes help create a slipper that dare I say, doesn’t suck.

More Knitting Novels

Last week, I wrote about knit lit and a cozy mystery novel called ” Knit one, Kill Two” by  Maggie Sefton. I am currently on book 2 of 8 of this series but, it’s going pretty slow as ,the only time I really get my Ipad to myself is first thing in the morning while Mini-Smashlee eats her oatmeal…or “Emeal” as she calls it. So, while I am reading through the second book in the series I figured why not tell you about some other knitting related novels I have read.

This series of three books I discovered while on my honeymoon. Mr. Smashlee, likes to take alot of naps, and I respectfully did not pack my knitting with me, cause well…I wasn’t really planning on any down time.  However, the wedding did take alot out of both of us and our favorite past time, besides the obvious, was hanging out in our massive bed , and the mr. napped and I read. It was the most relaxing and peaceful time. So, this set of books have a special place in my heart and brings back some great memories.

A knitting trilogy by Kate Jacob

This knitting trilogy by Kate Jacobs, starts off with  “The Friday Night Knitting Club”, continues with ” Knit Two” and has a wonderful conclusion with ” Knit for the Season”.

I had just learned to knit earlier that year and was growing close to my knitting group. While I was reading these books, I was very proud of myself for understanding the knitting humour and terminology.

The books centres around the main character Georgia, and her daughter Dakota. However, you learn a lot about the whole knitting group and find yourself relating  to each and everyone.  I love the way that Kate Jacobs writes and is really worth also reading her non-knitting novel “Comfort Food”. I do have to give a warning though, if you super sensitive and crier, like I am ,I suggest two courses of actions do not read in a public place and read with a box of tissues. However, If I remember correctly, this mostly only applies to the first novel. I don’t remember the other two books being as emotional but, they are a good read never the less.

Basically, Kate Jacobs, opened my eyes to the world of knit lit, and the possibility the others loved this craft as much as I do. So, Thank you Kate Jacobs. and you know, if your not too busy, you should totally write another book!

Smashlee Stitches Sunday April 7, 2013

I have been neglecting Smashlee Stitches Sundays for a while now. Mostly, this was due to morning sickness, or should I say all day sickness but, since I’m past that oh-so-important 3 month mark in my pregnancy, it seems to have subsided for the most part. That means my Sunday recap of my Smashlee Stitches’ creations is back.  Each week you will see a sort of picture diary of my  finished custom orders for that week with a little description of each project.

Keep in mind these are custom orders but, if you are looking for the perfect gift for a loved one or friend, or you want to treat yourself, you can check out my vast arrange of custom work on my facebook page, twitter account, Etsy shop or  my website. I ship word wide and everything you see is customizable to the customer. Custom knit wear and accessories  is just a bit of what Smashlee Stitches does, as my main goal is to inspire and share my love of knitting. My future goals and plans are to involve everyone from the fellow crafter & fibre artists to the customer who knows nothing about yarn or knitting but, loves the look of a handmade sweater. If this appeals to you feel free to like, tweet, and /or follow me, as I love to meet those who love what they do as much as I do.

Now, without further ado, here’s what I was up to over the past little while.

These are Smuggs, an “ugg” inspired child slippers have a cable design and fun fluffy trim.

This orange and blue winter headband is made to show support of a school team colours .

…And the matching brimmed hat.

These are a baby version of the “smuggs”. Complete with ties to keep them on their wiggly feet.

Made for my Mini-smashlee, Tinkerbell slippers.

Here she is wearing them.

A black dog sweater.

Prairie button up boots. Extremely soft and moulds right to the foot.

Thanks for reading.

Until, next time,

Smashlee

Unfinished Business

One thing I am really bad at is finishing projects. My current list of UFO’s is so long that if I publicized it on my blog I would probably be blacklisted from the knitting world. However, I am trying to get this problem under control..I took my two biggest UFO projects and started to work on them again earlier this week.

The first one I have talked about before on my very first bucket list post   Item number #7 Finish knitting all the stitches in the book “400 Knitting Stitches”. I actually really like this project and the only reason I abandoned it was that I was running out of yarn. I really didn’t want to buy more, as this would be adding to my stash. ( for those who don’t know I am on a major de-stashing mission, also a bucket list item) So after, a lot of thinking about  this lack of yarn problem and assessing  the  current stash I gave my self permission to use a different yarn for the next few rows of the blanket. I really wanted to do all bright pink and blues, but, now I will be doing 4 rows of  different shade of pink and a different shade of blue, then I used previously. It could look really ugly but, this is more a learning piece than anything else and I really want to use up as much yarn as I can, as this is a pretty big project.  I have “scheduled” this  UFO into my daily knitting schedule on Mondays and Thursdays.

The next project I have taken on is mini-smashlee’s baby blanket. This was suppose to be completed 2 years ago. Never happened. She is now 2 1/2 and with a sibling on the way I figured if this blanket is ever going to get finished, now is the time to do it.

I started knitting alphabet squares in alternating “girly” colours when I found out I was having a girl. The squares were all done before her birth but, I was struggling on how to attach them together. I hate sewing and I didn’t want the frustration of  learning how to crochet. I think this blanket has been put together 4 or 5 times using various methods…and of course, every time I took it apart ,a square got destroyed in the process and needed to be re-knit.

When I pulled this project out, I did some intense googling and decided to crochet the squares together using a slip stitch. I’m liking it alot so far but, I did find  a little extra motivation and while I’m putting the first row together.

This is a conversation I had with mini-smashlee earlier in the week.

” Mommy, what are you doing?”

“Mommy is finally putting your blanket together!

“Rainbow scarf for me Mommy?” The letters were just attached in a row at this point.

“no, not a scarf a rainbow blanket.”

“ooh, rainbow blanket!, rainbow blanket!”

and today, as I was trying to take a picture of my progress she swipes the blanket from my hands and lies on the floor with it. It took some bribing with chocolate but, I got my picture.

The first two rows attached.
There will be a light green boarder around it and I must finish quickly as there is a little girl anxiously waiting.

I work on this project on Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays.

This is actually the 1st goal on mu bucket list as, I really have felt bad about since the mini was born. However, nothing warms my heart more than having a my  wide eyed mini sitting next to me while I work on her blanket, and hearing her little voice chant ” rainbow blanket!”

Maybe there is a method to my procrastination madness after all…Hmm…

Why I cannot live without my circular needles….

I think every knitter has a preference for needles. I know some knitters who will only knit with single pointed needles that are massively long, some who prefer them short , some who use mostly double points and some who, like myself, almost always use circulars.

When I first started to knit, I was a single point girl. In fact, my needles were so long I had trouble holding them. I held my arms so far apart that I can only imagine how awkward I looked. The lady who taught me to knit was constantly reminding me to bring my hands farther down the needle, almost to tip and she promised my knitting issues would be solved if I complied. I listened for all of two seconds and by the time she made her way around the room again my hands had made my  back up to the tops of the needles.

This is went on for the better part of a month until one week, my knitting teacher had a present for me…. a pair of smiley faced yellow plastic, child sized needles. I loved them and by the end of that class not only  could I cast on and  I could also knit a stitch or two. Since then I have acquired  more short needles because, for a while that was my preference. I happily knit along for a year or so with my kid needles and  stayed away from anything too long.  I lived in fear I would regress and lose all my  knitting knowledge as my hand would naturally creep up the length of  the needle . After I had mastered knitting back an forth, I then was introduced to knitting in the round. How cool I thought! Even shorter needles and when you knit in the round there is little to no sewing!  Except I soon realized ,there is four ( or five) “short” needles. I was always dropping  one my straight needles so, guess what happened when I knit with double points? yup, lots more needles on the floor. It was actually probably dangerous to sit within 10 feet   of me when I knit with them because, one could lose an eye from flying needles.

Without these needles there would be no Smashlee

Somewhere along the way,  I don’t remember when, I was introduced to circulars. It took a little bit but, the more I used them the more I realized these were the best thing ever invented. I found I wasn’t dropping my knitting or my needles. I could stop half way through a row and I could both knit in the round and back and forth. There  is one problem  I found however, most circulars are too long. Anything over 16″ confused me. So, as I have been building my knitting needle collection I have been extremely picky on how long my circulars are.

If I need to knit a large project, I will use a longer cable. In fact I kind of have this list of preference of needles.

It goes something like this

 When in doubt use COLOURFUL 16″ circular needles

If I have lost my colourful needles resort to grey, boring, 16′ circulars

Larger project ( sweater, shawl, blanket) only go up in cable length if your knitting is literally falling off the needles and theres no way you can just jam all 100 plus stitches on your 16″.  If a larger cable length is needle use the shortest possible, and remember try to go with colourful needles.

If you daughter hid your 9″ circular needles and your making a tiny project..search for max of two hours and then dig out the double points…(try to get away with only using 3 and again pick the colourful ones)

Only use straight needles if the world is ending and all the circulars are destroyed and if there is no short straight needles around…quit knitting and learn to crochet….

See? When I say I love my circulars…I really do love my circulars! However, it is really hard to find, short colourful needles.

I have found some I like though and those would be Knit Picks’ Harmony wood 16″ 

and Denise Interchangeable Knitting needle set. Especially the Denise2go.

However, I have yet to find my perfect needle..as the Denise needles don’t come in anything smaller than a 3.75 mm needle tip, however, they do make cables as small as 9″. Knit picks has all the tip sizes I need but, the cable lengths don’t go shorter than 16″. So, although both these needle sets are amazing, I am still on look out for those perfect circulars.