Sew Many Bags...

I loved sitting next to my mom when I was little as she sewed away in our attic nook (usually making something for me). I recently inherited her sewing table and that combined with my Grandma Myrt's sewing box (read about that here), makes me feel like I'm continuing on a tradition of female crafters by being the latest link in a very long chain. Summer is a time for sewing in our house. Yes, my lap is usually occupied with a giant pile of wool, alpaca, linen or cotton yarn, but there's something really satisfying about washing up fabrics, pairing them together, ironing them out and sewing them up to make something special. I sew when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I need to think through some problems, almost always when I can't sleep (fellow insomniacs, fist bump!) and when my wrists need a break from the knitting needles.

This summer has been a major season of binge-sewing for me. My insomnia gets worse in the warmer months and while some people would pop a sleeping pill, I cozy up to my sewing machine, sewing late into the night, audio book streaming through my headphones and gentle snores drifting down from upstairs. I never minded not being able to sleep. I choose to embrace it and use that time to create.

I just listed a batch of 40 new knitting project bags in my Etsy shop here. Many are knit-themed! This rounds out about 150 bags I've made this summer so far, and with 2 weeks left of summer camp followed by a brief sojourn up north, I hope to knock out 60 more or so before heading up to Squam to teach.

Check out the latest batch of bags here!

Once in a Blue Moon SALE!

What exactly does "once in a blue moon" mean? Did you know we're going to experience one tonight? According to our friends over at Wikipedia, "the term has traditionally referred to an 'extra' moon, where a year which normally has 12 moons has 13 instead. The 'blue moon' reference is applied to the third moon in a season with four moons, thus correcting the timing of the last month of a season that would have otherwise been expected too early. This happens every two to three years."

Pretty interesting, huh?

In honor of the blue moon happening tonight, head over to Ravelry here, where ALL TanisKnits patterns (keep in mind that Tanis Gray and TanisKnits patterns are different - TanisKnits is my independent line) are 50% off! Use the code BLUEMOON from 12am-12pm all day and the discount will automatically appear at checkout when the coupon code is applied!

This sale is only happening "once in a blue moon," so please enjoy!

Tippin Cowl & Giveaway!

While summer and I will never truly be friends, for someone who is not a big fan of the heat and major sun time, I do some strange things when the thermometer climbs over 100. I really like to eat piping hot soup, drink tea, wear long pants and knit with giant piles of wool in my lap. Weird, I know. I heard someone once say, "A real knitter doesn't acknowledge the seasons when they knit" and I whole-heartedly agree with that. 500 Degrees outside? Bring on the bulky wool! Sweat trickling down your neck? Show me the worsted alpaca! I even (and here's where you'll roll your eyes) have started crocheting my holiday gifts.

With that sentiment in mind of wool knowing no temperature boundaries in my home, I reached for the super bulky with dreams of cables and coziness, despite wanting to fan my face with a nearby magazine. Introducing the Tippin Cowl, an infinity cowl that comes in 2 sizes, chock full of cables with interesting twists and turns. Shown in 2 lengths in 2 completely different yarn options, this would be an excellent stash-busting gift for the people lucky enough to make it only your holiday knitting list.

Knit up in The Lemonade Shop's Super Bulky for the long version (that gorgeous single ply really shows off those cables), and Miss Bab's K2 for the shorter version, even though it's hot out, the squishy and delightful super bulky yarn ensures a quick knit on US 10s. Starting with a provisional cast on and ending with the ends kitchenered together, YOU decide how long or short you want it (just always finish on a full rep). Go even longer than the lighter version shown and knit until you run out of yarn, or go just enough to wrap it around your neck once. Come winter (and as my fellow Game of Thrones fans know, winter is coming), you'll be patting yourself on the back for having this little beauty knit, blocked and ready-to-wear when those first few flakes start to fall (or to plop in front of the TV to watch Jon Snow come back, because you KNOW Jon Snow is coming back).

I've started color-coding all my cable charts to make them easier to read, but if you prefer, the written instructions are included as well. Call me a glutton for punishment, or call me just plain smart, but hand me the super chunky wool any day.

The Tippin Cowl is available for download here.

Now for the giveaway! Answer the following trivia question correctly and be entered in to win a copy of the Tippin Cowl pattern! A winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by me via email on Friday, July 24th. Contest open to readers worldwide:

In Game of Thrones, what are names of Daenerys' parents? 

Valar dohaeris!

Good Enough to Eat

None of my "crafty friends" do just one thing. We all knit and crochet, or we sew, embroider, make soap, tat, quilt, bake - the list is an endless one and many people do all of those things. I always like to share interesting stories or cute little things about something other than knitting every now and then here on the blog. I tend to read more in the summer and always have a pathetic bookmark - a post-it that has lost its ability to stick, a random piece of yarn that was probably part of a provisional cast on, a tiny crochet hook or a knitting pattern ("Oh, so THAT'S where my pattern went," I say every time one goes missing and I find it in a book days later). Aren't these handmade felted bookmarks adorable? Original article here.

Designer Creates Tiny Bookmarks That Look Like Your Favorite Foods 

Inspirational Gecko is the brainchild of Natural Sciences student, Francesca. She loves creating little, colorful, cute things using only felt and thread. All of her lovely creations – bookmarks, covers, key chains, brooches – are completely handmade and designed to put a smile on your face with their unique charm. Francesca’s muse is a gecko named Dorian who lives on her ceiling in her room. As Francesca studies or stitches, Dorian pops out of his burrow every so often to say hi, and give her an inspirational smile!

More info: en.dawanda.com | Etsy