Winter Cowl - Malabrigo Quickie

 

Winter Cowl is my latest published knitting pattern. It is a part of the popular Malabrigo quickie program. The pattern calls for one skein of Mechita yarn. 

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry: Winter Cowl 

Payhip: Winter Cowl

and soon it will be also available on Lovecraft website. 

I love how the honeycomb pattern creates a 3D appeal yet is simple enough for new knitters to cable knitting and I really like the polished look of I-cord edges. I have created this pattern for Malabrigo quickies, and the cowl uses one skein of fingering weight yarn. At first, I made couple swatches of the honeycomb pattern in heavier yarn weight, and I really liked the 3d appeal to it. But when I made the same pattern in the fingering weight the 3D appeal kind of disappeared and I had to adjust the pattern to keep the 3d visual appeal even in the fingering weight yarn. You can see the different swatches in the picture bellow. From left to right it is the fingering weight yarn, sport/ DK and worsted/ Aran weight yarn. 

Bellow you can see the two samples of the fingering weight yarn cowls in Malabrigo Mechita in two different colorways. 

Thank you for visiting and reading.

Grande Gatto and Cleo.

 

Grande Gatto II

Grande Gatto was originally created for jumbo weight yarn. The yarn company discontinued the yarn and sent me a replacement yarn to create an update to the pattern. I love to create toys in cotton yarn as it has proved over the years to be durable and last well through the years of play time, washing, and travelling. Therefore, I have picked two cotton yarns to held together to knit the new samples. I have used the Billow and Snuggle Puff yarn by Knitpicks for the samples. The first sample was knit as the original. Due to the yarn and needle size change the toy turned out to be about 10" (25.5 cm) tall. I created a second sample, and then a third sample, which came close to the original Gatto size of 15" (38 cm) tall. 

The pattern is updated on Ravelry, and you can purchase it here: Grande Gatto on Ravelry. 

You can also purchase the pattern on Payhip: Grande Gatto 

Sometime this week I will add the pattern to Lovecraft website, and the pattern will be also at some point on Knitpicks website.

Cleo

Cleo, is our next toy mystery KAL. During the next week I will add the pattern to Ravelry and create the timeline for the clues to be released over the period of 3 weeks. 

I will add the link to the pattern here: 

The pattern will be discounted during the period of toy mystery KAL, and there will be a coupon code for the subscribers of my newsletter to get the pattern for free. Visit my website to sign up for the newsletter to get the special discounts and savings.

Stana's Critters Etc

Once the mystery toy KAL is over the pattern will be priced as my other toy patterns and will be added to Payhip and Lovecraft website. 

Stana's Critters Etc on Payhip

Stana's Critters Etc on Lovecraft

New Patterns and more

 

In my blog post from September 2020 (read here) I talked about how my love for knitting and creating started. You can see a photo of my first finished sweater, and in some way my first design of a sweater, even though it was created only to fit me, and I never dreamed of becoming a knitwear designer at that time. 

photo by I Like Knitting

This is my 304th knitting pattern, Helena Cable Cardigan published in February issue of I Like Knitting magazine. The pattern is free for the subscribers. 

link here to the I Like Knitting website

Helena Cable Cardigan on Ravelry

Update on Helena Cable Cardigan

photo by I Like Knitting

For the pictured sample I have use the Cascade Yarns Aereo Tweed in Marine colorwork. It's a snuggly mix of Merino and Baby Alpaca yarn that was a pleasure to work with. 

Two of my previously published patterns are now available as Ravelry downloads and will be shortly also on Lovecraft website and in my Payhip store.  See pictures bellow of the Cuddly Cat Pillow a whimsical pillow and Brie's Cowl an introductory brioche technique in the rounds.

photo by Interweave Knits

photo by Knitpicks

Also, during the last year, I had few more patterns published by I Like Knitting: 

First in August 2021 Issue two patterns for pillows:

Zion Canyon Pillows on Ravelry

Zion Grotto Pillows on Ravelry

photo by I Like Knitting

In September 2021 Issue it was a Raven Plaid Poncho.

 Raven Plaid Poncho on Ravelry.

photo by I Like Knitting

Once the rights to these patterns are reverted back to me, I will add them as PDF files to Ravelry, also to Lovecraft, and Payhip.

My 305th published knitting pattern is a whimsical instant gratification project named Monogram Gift Heart.

At the moment the pattern is available as Ravelry download, and will be added to Lovecraft, Payhip and Knitpicks website. The pattern is written for variety of yarn weights, from fingering all the way to bulky, and has charts for all the letters of the alphabet, a paw print and a written-out direction on how to knit the hearts. It is a perfect project for those long gloomy and cold days as it will brighten up your day as you work on the monogram heart, and it will definitively bring a smile to anyone who will receive this little gift heart. You can play with different letters, creating words and messages.

Happy Knitting.

Thank you for visiting.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!!

 

 I hope that everyone who have visited and will stop by to visit my small corner of the Internet will have a magical Holidays and an even better Happy New Year!

    I have been extremely busy over the past two months with few special requests knitting projects. I cannot share the pictures yet as these knitting projects are waiting for the right time to be opened by their recipients. I will write a blog post all about those toys after the Holidays. 

    There are also some exciting new patterns in the works that will be published during the next year, starting with the first pattern coming out in January 2022. 

I also plan to work on some independent work and maybe even have another toy mystery knit-a-long early next year.

Stay safe, healthy and enjoy your Holidays. 

Thank you for visiting.

Aiofe Wrap

 

This Aiofe Wrap has been a project in making for some time. I made a sketch few months ago, and then knitted a sample in a bulkier weight yarn. I really liked it. I started on another sample and then I had some third party's projects to work on and put this aside. During the summer I got an opportunity to collaborate with Ula and Lia, by using their Baby Yak Yarn for this wrap.

I have never knit with the Yak yarn before, so I was rather curious on how the yarn will feel and what the final product will look like, I must admit, I really enjoyed working with the baby yak yarn creating this particular two-colored wrap. The yarn after the wash is soft and warm and I just might keep this wrap for myself to wear during the winter months. 

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry in my Designer store or by clicking on this button:

 

You can also purchase the pattern in my Payhip store: Stanascrittersetc

or here: Aiofe Wrap

To purchase the yarn, please visit the yarn website here:

 Ula and Lia website

I had a small amount of leftover yarn from this project and used it to knit a simple Rib hat. 

I have used my pattern: Rib Hat

Thank you for visiting.

My dog is a better influencer...

 

Seriously, my dog seems to be getting more Instagram collaboration requests than I have ever received as a knitwear designer. All he has to do is being himself and I just help with posting a picture of him to his Instagram T-Bone dog diary. 

I have to do more, than that. 

photo by I Like Knitting

Spotted Around Set is an e-book collection of two knitting patterns that were originally published in October issue of I Like Knitting Magazine and on their website, see the blog post from last September here: Knitwear Designer. After the exclusivity period finished I have the rights to the patterns and I can publish the patterns independently. You can buy the patterns individually or as an e-book for a discounted price.

At the moment I am working on another project for a third party publisher and my independent work is  as usually put on hold as the deadline is nonexistent unlike the contracted work for a third party.  

But once the work is finished I will return to my independent projects and continue to work on those. There are so many knitting patterns in various stages of work in progress that I hope to finish and publish during this year.  Like the pattern for this Bernie's doll. It took me about two months to knit the doll and now the pattern is taking even longer to write up into a word document from my handwritten  notes. 

Thank you for visiting and reading. 

Porta Wrap

 

I took this photograph exactly one year ago. I have finished the wrap few days earlier and it was washed, blocked and measured and the pattern was written up.  The following week I gave the wrap to the receptionist at the doctor's office where I was going for my physical therapy with my elbow. I used to take that knitting project with me and I would work on it while waiting for my appointment. The receptionist always complimented on how much she liked the color, and how nice it looked. After I gave the wrap away, I started another sample, this time instead of using Lion Brand Amazing, Olympia colorway yarn as in the pictured sample I used Caron Cakes in Red Velvet colorway. It has been my "on the go" knitting  project, and someone else was complimenting the wrap as well. I have the finished sample ready to give it away to this person. I will most likely start another sample of this wrap, most likely in different yarn than the previous two samples. 

This easily memorizable pattern is completely reversible and the pattern from this wrap has been redone and later published as Harvest Poncho last fall  by I Like Knitting magazine. 

Photo by I Like Knitting magazine

The exclusive period for the knitting pattern for the Harvest Poncho is over and I will be republishing the pattern later this month. But first I am publishing the knitting pattern for the Porta Wrap.

You can purchase the pattern on Lovecraft (link will be added soon), Payhip: Porta Wrap on Payhip  or Ravelry: Porta Wrap on Ravelry or by clicking on this button:

Thank you for visiting.

Work in Progress - Bernie Doll - January 2021

 

It took me over a week. I have watched the memes and knitting patterns appearing for the Bernie Sanders' mitts. I watched the knitting patterns for hats, cowls, and even a sweater being inspired by the famous mittens Bernie Sanders wore for the Inauguration of the 46th US president.  I saw a crochet doll and the crochet patterns for the Bernie Sanders dolls being offer for sale, for free, and I watched the bidding on E-bay for the original doll created by one of the crochet designers. There are so many crochet patterns for Bernie doll on Etsy (and other platforms that sell patterns)  now that it's amazing. And I believe I have seen two different knitting patterns for Bernie Doll. Both of which are interesting, but not what I would like to actually make. Somehow the variety of knitting patterns for Bernie doll are a little bit behind on this.  

I guess, being a knitwear designer comes handy as I am able to create a knitted toy that will fit my vision as to what the doll should look like and how much it hopefully will resemble the original Bernie Sanders in the now iconic photo. 

As with every design it starts with picking up yarn. I am using stash yarn as much as possible and this doll is not an exception. I looked through my stash and narrowed it down to those yarn as they are closest to the colors, as seen in the photo. I would like the doll to be able to either sit or stand, and have the clothes removable, and I also would like to include the chair for the doll to sit on. 

I should be working on some other knitting projects that have been on my needles and have some sort of deadline attached to it, may it be for few submissions, toy mystery KAL, knitting pattern samples,  etc.  I will post another work in progress blog post next Friday as to what I actually decided to work on. 

And those who are reading and wondering if I will type up and make the pattern available for other to knit their own doll;  I will do that after the toy is finished and I am happy with the result. 

Thank you for visiting.

Corey, toy mystery KAL

 

In the picture you can see some yarn that can be used to knit Corey. For my original Corey I used the yarn in the middle, red as MC, black as C1, and the beige mixed with yellow as C2. This is only a suggestion and you can use whatever color you feel like. Corey will look great in any color. 

Usually I have the toy mystery KAL only on Ravelry in my group. This year I would like to offer the opportunity for anyone to join and knit their Corey. I will have a thread for the toy in my group on Ravelry, and you can post pictures of the work in progress there, or on Instagram or FB. Just use a hashtag #stanascrittersetc or #stanascritters and I will be able to see the photos. 

Traditionally I offer a coupon code to get the pattern for free on Ravelry during the toy mystery KAL. This year I will have the PDF file with the pattern on Ravelry for a purchase and the pattern will be periodically updated with the clues. The free option will be available here on my blog. 

So here is the first step:

Finished Toy Size: Mystery toy KAL

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn of your choice. 

Yardage: 120 – 140 yards / 109 – 129 meters of MC, 10 yards / 9 meters of C1, 20 yards / 18 meters of C2.

Recommended Needle Size: Double Pointed Needles (DPN) US # 5 / 3.75 mm (set of 5) or your preferred needles for knitting in the round.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (small bag), two pipe cleaners (optional).

Gauge: 20 sts & 26 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch.

Clue 1: January 18th 2021 clue 1 link

Clue 2: January 25th 2021 clue 2 link

Clue 3: February 1st 2021 clue 3 link

The final pattern will be available on Payhip, Lovecraft, and Ravelry February 8th 2021

Have fun knitting.

Toy Mystery KAL - poll results

 

Last week I posted about the upcoming toy mystery KAL and asked you, the readers, to vote for the toy mystery KAL that we will knit. Here is the link to the first blog post. 

Toy mystery KAL

So counting all of the votes from across the social media, 

Toy number one: 17 votes

Toy number two: 9 votes

Toy number three: 7 votes 

These results include votes in Ravelry group, here on my blog and everywhere else that people left a vote. You can see the Poll results from my group on Ravelry in the picture bellow, in case you are not on Ravelry.

So our first toy mystery KAL for the year 2021 is a toy number one. A pile of yarn on the left side of the picture. 

Details for the upcoming mystery KAL

1. More details on the amount of yarn and material needed for the toy - January 14th 2021

2. Clue 1 - January 18th 2021

3. Clue 2 - January 25th 2021

4. Clue 3 - February 1st 2021

5. Final pattern - February 8th 2021

In my previous blog post about the toy mystery KAL I have included pictures of the previous toy mystery KALs. There were 24 toy mystery KALs , but only 23 finished toy pictures. I forgot to include Celeste, pictured bellow. In the pictures of Celeste you can see a different size and look of the toy, which is done by using variety of yarn weight and colors. 

The yarn that will be in the details for the next toy mystery KAL is only suggested and you can use whatever color or brand of yarn you wish to use. 

Celeste pattern on Ravelry

Thank you for reading.

Toy Mystery KAL

 

Over the past few years I have created 24 toy mystery Knit-a-longs. 

You can scroll through the images of the toys bellow....from the most recent one for Leonard and Lola, all the way to the very first toy mystery KAL for Harriette, which was held in October 2014.

 These toy mystery KAL's are always fun to knit and in the end you end up with a cute toy, and during the process you can learn a new technique, or practice something less familiar before using that technique in a garment knitting.

Since 2015 we start the New Year with a brand new toy mystery KAL. This year I have decided to add a little twist and hopefully interest as well.

So here is a picture of yarn I picked for the next toy mystery KAL. 

 There are actually three knitted toys that can be made, and now you, the readers have to decide wich toy will be actually our next toy mystery KAL.

1. a toy made of  one main color and two small amounts of contrast colors (left side)

2. a toy made of one main color, small amount of one contrast color, and another contrast color (middle)

3. a toy made of one main color, plus contrast color, and several contrast colors (right side)

You have a week, until the January 10th midnight of EST to make a vote for the toy that will be our next toy mystery KAL.

You can leave a comment here (it will appear after it is approved) or you can leave a comment under the same picture on Stana's critters etc on FB, or Stana's critters etc on Instagram, or in my group on Ravelry. Ravelry group

Next week after the voices are counted I will post which toy mystery KAL is going to happen and the dates for the releases of the clues. It depends on which toy is picked as they are all different.

Thank you for reading and have fun.