Knitting News

Whats going on on the knitting front over here at SillyLittleLady?  Lots 'o' stuff!

I'm finished with the knitting part of the collaboration with lylianmae and am writing up the final draft of the pattern, although I still need a name for it...

I'm trucking away on the Max Suit (click here to see the process), finished one leg, now working on the other, the end is coming closer and closer with every stitch and I can't wait to see what it looks like finished!

I'm also designing and working up another pattern, this time a cute little cardigan but I don't want to give away too many details.  Let's just say, it uses these materials ;)

Oh, and of course there is always that secret knitting that I worked on in Paris that I can't tell you about yet, but someday my good readers! Someday!

It Has Begun

Remember that custom order I told you about? Well, I'm here to tell you that its being undertaken as we speak! I have it in my lap and wanted to share with you some of the progress.

I ordered a plethora of Berroco Vintage yarn (more than shown in the picture) in a cream color to create this amazing, one-of-a-kind piece and have started winding a few of the hanks into balls.

I started knitting the suit from the top down, so far the hood, shoulders and a few inches of the chest area are complete, the photo below was taken yesterday and I have increased a few more inches since, but it still basically looks the same.

I know its not much to look at right now, but this is the beginning! And I'm excited! Aren't you?

Latest Custom Order!

Ok ok, I have to tell you all about my latest custom order that came in last week, at first, I wasn't sure even the customer (a friend of mine) was serious! But, he's totally serious.

Guess what I get to make! Guess Guess Guess!!!

Ok, did you all guess? Cuz I'm gonna bet that none of you saw this coming. I get to make...

A full adult-sized Max suit! From Where the Wild Things Are. I am very excited about it :D

It will be an interesting trip, the customer is about 6 feet tall (I'm not...) and he wants it complete, like, footie-pajama style with a hood and ears and tail and everything! Are you not excited yet? So I ordered the yarn the other day, but its going to take a few weeks to get here because I had to order a lot (I mean, he's six feet tall...that requires a lot of yarn). I think I'm going to do it top down, kind of raglan styled.

I promise to keep you all up-to-date with the process!

Tri-Color Mohawk Beanie

I recently sent off this awesome hat in the mail and have to show you all about its awesomeness.

Its got earflaps with little circles of each color crocheted on (which actually makes it crazy warm!) and the mohawk has sections of each color tied in too. I knit it out of wool, two strands held together which will make sure the wearer never ever gets cold!

I hope to show you some pictures of her wearing it if she sends me any ;)

Recent Knitting

I know I have been so bad about posting lately, especially last week! The semester is winding up and with that a lot of time is sucked out my life into some academic-wall-papered black hole. I have had some time to knit (I have to keep whats left of my sanity somehow right?) and here is one of the projects I am working on:

Its a menswear-inspired scarf for my friend who's birthday is next week. Its her gift to herself, isn't that awesome? Do you get yourself stuff for your birthday? You should.

anyways, I've done a TON more since this picture was taken and I promise to show you pictures of the completed piece :D

Oh! And I got the final package for the Ravelry Swap I've been doing the other day, I PROMISE pictures will come tomorrow.

Yellow Order

Let me show you a recent custom order I created.

I love them. I didn't want to let them go! I hand dyed the yarn myself and we all know how much I love the color yellow. Sad to see them leave, but so happy they'll be keeping someone else's hands toasty warm :D

I knit them out of this yarn, that I mentioned back in this post.

They were knit in a nice ribbed pattern to ensure that they fit a range of arm sizes and the mitten flap open up to allow the fingers to move freely to unlock the door, turn on the car, answer the phone, and reach into your wallet all without having to sacrifice the warmth of your hand!

What's Been Happenin' Lately

I know I haven't been posting like I should, and to be honest, I don't get time to post till the evening these days and I figure that people don't read them if I post so late. Like its not worth it to post if you aren't going to post before noon. Is this true? Do you still read my posts even when they come later? Please tell me :)

But in the mean time, I really should tell you what I've been up to! I have SO many custom orders for the holidays, I've been doing loads of knitting and some dyeing too!

Here are some of the yarns I dyed this past weekend for custom orders:

This yellow one is my favorite (granted, I'm partial to yellow...) It is so gorgeous, so soft, subtle but happy :) It is being knit into a pair of custom elbow-length knucks as we speak. (Knucks are my word for fingerless mittens with a mitten flap)

This purpley-blueish-greenish yarn goes with a bright light green that I have yet to photograph, but they will be made into a pair of little girl's fingerless mitts and matching flower hat.

What have you been up to lately? Feel free to post links to blogs and photos :)

Oh! and don't forget our giveaway, it ends on Sunday night! The button is up there in the left hand corner, be on the look out for more, I would like to do them every Monday (and if you are interested, feel free to give me a note :))

Interview and Giveaway from Designerfavors

Dawn is the artist behind the shop designerfavors on Etsy. After having difficulties trying to find the right favors for her wedding 5 years ago, Dawn decided to make her own and after making some for her sister’s wedding a few years later, she chose to sell them! Allowing her brides to customize their favors lets them pick and choose something that works for them, that fits perfectly with their wedding aesthetic.

Her shop has blossomed into more than just wedding favors, she now offers favors for baby showers, anniversaries, birthdays and, of course, the holidays!

Read on to learn more about this amazing artist and see what you can win from her shop :)

Are you a self-taught artist?

Pretty much. I've never been to any creative classes or scrapbooking parties but I have seen a lot of other people's work. I usually do trial and error to mimick a look I like or a style I come up with all my own. I also get a lot of inspiration at craft store. They have really wonderful items on display and I always think "I can do that".

What is your favorite way to learn new techniques, books, YouTube videos, having someone else teach you first?

I mostly like to learn by trial and error again. I just figure out how to do something in my own unique way.

Where do you tend to find most of your inspiration?

Actually, just browsing through craft stores or down the scrapbooking isle. I tend to see items I like and just put them together. Whether it's coordinating papers or new items on display I just find something I like and try to do it myself.

What is one piece of advice you think is essential everyone know?

Do what makes you happy! I think that's true in life and in the life of etsy. If you build a business around something you don't like doing you will get burned out and frustrated. As long as you enjoy what you do you will always be motivated.

You can keep up with designerfavors by her blog, facebook fanpage, or on Twitter.

Now for the Giveaway:

Just in time for the upcoming Christmas season, Dawn is offering one of my readers a set of 24 personalized tags (8 of each design). These tags are about 2 ½ inches in diameter and come with ribbons for attaching to gifts! After the winner is chosen, Dawn will create a set just for them, personalized using their specifications :)

To Enter:

-First and foremost, you must visit designerfavors and leave a comment on which item is your favorite from the shop

-to gain another entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you are!

-to gain another entry, tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a separate comment so we can all see

with every comment, please leave a way for me to get a hold of you so I can notify the winner as soon as possible :)

That gives you 4 ways to enter this giveaway!

The giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, November 15, a winner will be chosen by random number generator and notified on the 16th. So what are you waiting for? Get started!

And tune in next Monday when we announce the winner of this one and host another giveaway! (Hint: next week will be a set of earrings ;))

Custom Scarves

Yesterday I finished up two custom scarves by finally attaching the fringe and labels :) For some strange reason it always takes me a little longer than it should to finish up with the fringe on things and I'm not quite sure why? Regardless, I love both of these scarves and am excited to see them off to their new homes!

The first is a simple lace scarf in a hand-dyed merino. It is very soft, very cozy and very long:

Second is this gorgeous leaf lace scarf out of a wonderful alpaca and silk blend called Miracle. so soft and wonderful to work with! I used up two skeins completely, nothing left :)

Custom Beanie

Last Friday I received a custom order for a beanie. It was to be knit in white with maroon letters and gold outlining with a brim. I tried really hard to make this beanie perfect as it was for a member of the one and only Fraternity on campus and perhaps others in the group would see the hat and maybe perhaps want one for themselves and I think it turned out rather well, don't you?

Red Lace Slouchy Beanie

Recently a friend asked if I could make her a red slouchy version of my Golden Yellow Lace Hat. Here is the finished product! If you would like your own, don't hesitate to contact me, I can make them in any color and style you like :D
*oh and when my blog reaches 100 followers, I am going to do a big giveaway ;)

Finished Custom Order

Here is what became of that yarn I showed you back in this post.


Custom order for a coworker based off of a design from a comic book he and his boyfriend read. (From what I hear, his boyfriend wanted to wear it to bed last night he likes it so much!) I'm so glad they both appreciate the beanie, it was really fun for me to make :)

Finished One Order and Onto Another

I completely finished up that frog beanie and have since started on another custom order beanie.

The frog beanie is for a friend's soon-to-be-born niece. It was knit a little larger than newborn size because, the way I see it, everyone always get clothes and accessories for newborns but they very very quickly grow out of these sizes and rarely have enough clothes to fit them when they do. The beanie has a felt lining so make it extra warm (it is headed to Alaska) and big red buttons to hold the earflaps up if desired. I think it turned out really cute :)

The next order on my plate is a custom beanie for a coworker's boyfriend. He handed be a stack of comic books called The Runaways and showed me a character in them who wears various styles of beanies throughout the series and said to pick one. I looked through all the books, sticky-noted every page with a new beanie and after looking them over with the coworker we decided on one that kind of looks like an anime bunny with big floppy ears. Here is the yarn I am making it out of :)

Custom Baby Frog Hat

Recently a friend asked me to make a beanie for her coming niece. She wanted it to have earflaps and look like a frog so based on her drawing, this is what I whipped up:


The only thing left to do is sew on some big red buttons to keep the earflaps up when desired and sew in a felt lining as the hat will go to Alaska.

What do you think?

Obnoxious Custom Beanie

I had another request for a custom beanie over the weekend and once the little details were squared away, promptly got started on its creation. My friend said he wanted a basic beanie, no earflaps or anything, bright colors, warm, funky and from there he gave me creative leave. And so this is what happened:

The only word I can use for it is Obnoxious.

I think it may be a bit much for my friend, but he said he would take it on a test ride this weekend up to Taos for snowboarding then let me know on Monday if its too much for him. If it turns out to be a little more than he bargained for I will take it with me to the Arts and Crafts Show in May in Los Alamos.

A New, Different Sort of Item For My Shop

So recently I have been toying with the idea of offering a sort of color choice option for my beanies in my shop. I have these beanies (like the Lemon Meringue beanie) that had a solid color undertone of sorts and a fluffy over tone of sorts and I have many different colors to choose from and I just simply couldn't decide which colors I wanted to do next so I decided to let my customers decide!
What do you think of this idea? Would you be tempted by it or do you like being able to see the finished product instead of having to guess what it will look like? (even if you know it will look awesome?)

Custom Cross with Roses

This weekend I had another request for a last-minute Christmas present. The gent wanted a cross for his mother. I hadn't done this before, but it actually was kind of fun!

I put a vine of roses (roses do grow on vines don't they?) wrapping around the cross all the way up and at the top was a sign reading INRI. There is a small loop at the top so this cross can be hung on the wall.

Green and Black Knucks

These are the coolest knucks I think I've made, maybe I'm just partial to the colors :) These are a custom order for a friend as a Christmas gift.

They took me a little longer to make than they should have because I was swamped with school work (the semester is winding down and finals are this week) and I also became fairly ill, but here they are, all completed and warm and wonderful!

Super Crazy Soft Purple and Black Scarf

A friend of mine approached me about making a custom scarf as a Christmas gift for one of her friends. She said "something purple-y and black" and here was the result:

It is SO soft and luxurious I almost don't want to give it to her, I just want to keep it for myself and use it as a pillow all day every day.

I've been working on some new things for my shop as well, so keep your eyes open for new arrivals :)