Simple Days » Crafts

Earring Storage

Erica Lea — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:13:34 +0000

While I’m just starting my earring collection, I’ve discovered a handy, pretty way of storing them neatly. I simply hang them from a lovely little bowl given to me by a dear friend.

Once my earring collection grows a bit, I’ll have to upgrade to a more substantial organizer. Like so: {link}

How do you keep your jewelry organized?

Fall Knitting Wish List

Erica Lea — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:54:30 +0000

Things I wish I had the time/inclination/materials to knit:

Lovely shawl using fingering weight yarn and US size 6 needles. {link}

Que Sera Cardigan. So pretty. (Worsted?) Cotton yarn, US size 8 and 6 needles. {link}

Reading Mitts. DK weight yarn, US size 5 needles. {link}

Queen Anne’s Cardigan. Old-fashioned but charming. Pattern $6. Sport weight yarn. US size 6, 7, and 8 needles. {link}

Dianna shawl. Lovely colors. So Autumnish. Lace weight yarn. Us size 6 needles. {link}

Another pretty shawl pattern. Fingering weight yarn. US size 6 needles. {link}

Milanese Lace Topper. Like I need another hat pattern. But this one is lovely. Worsted weight yarn. US size 4 needles. {link}

Rikke Hat. Sorry, another hat. But I’m in love with slouchies. DK weight yarn. US size 4 and 7 needles. {link}

A Little Ruffle scarf. Sport weight yarn. US size 7 needles. {link}

Dionysus Socks. Fingering weight yarn. US size 1 needles. {link}

What’s on your to-do list this fall?

Winter Knitting Wishlist

Erica Lea — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:38:48 +0000

If I could afford to buy all the yarn I would ever dream of and had the time/motivation to finish each project, this is what I would create:

Top row: 1 [ Pretty Maids via Knitty ] 2 [ Silver Belle via Vogue Knitting ] 3 [ Desmid via Sipping and Stitching ]

Middle Row: 1 [ Bowline Mittens via Stephanie Earp (only available on Ravelry) ] 2 [ Oiseau de Feu via Caoua Coffee (only available on Ravelry) ] 3 [ Elvira via Knitting Glasses ]

Bottom Row: 1 [ Ringwood Gloves also via Knitty ] 2 [ Whirl-it-Kit via Pickles ] 3 [ Tern Socks via Twist Collective ]

With love,

Erica Lea

Green Leaf Hat

Erica Lea — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:16:36 +0000

Elinor sports a a hat I knitted (which was intended for Judah).

I think it suits her as well.

Pattern {link}

Free Printable: Airmail Envelope

Erica Lea — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:24:23 +0000

Head over to Ruffled to download the free template for an airmail envelope. I printed mine on brown paper and added a vintage stamp.

You can also download this free font to get many wonderful vintage postage images such as the one below.

Enjoy!

Fingerless Mitts for Janna

Erica Lea — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:51:34 +0000

When I found three skeins of pink fingering-weight yarn at a thrift store, I just couldn’t help myself. That yarn NEEDED to be bought. However, baby pink is not really my color.

So, as my sister Janna (who loves pink) read two novels aloud to us, I knit her these lacy fingerless gloves.

This pattern is available for free through Ravelry.

With the leftover yarn I am knitting this lovely hat for Janna, which is also available for free through Ravelry.

P.S. If you like to knit or crochet, I highly recommend joining Ravelry.

Thrifted Knitting Needles

Erica Lea — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:35:23 +0000

Look what Mom picked up at a rummage sale for only $3! Included are straight, circular, and double pointed needles, plus three stitch holders, all contained in a flour tin. What a find!

A Shirt Dress for Elinor

Erica Lea — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:20:48 +0000

Look at the adorable dress that my sister Katelyn sewed for our niece, Elinor.

Katelyn found the pattern online and has already made two of these cute dresses.

In case you would like to make one for yourself, here’s the pattern.

Not Your Ordinary Knitted Dishcloth

Erica Lea — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:54:22 +0000

I love hand knitted dishcloths. But I’m not a huge fan of the kind made from worsted weight cotton. Yes, they are better than store bought dishcloths, but they can get very bulky.

I noticed a friend of mine knitting a dishcloth from a single strand of crochet cotton. Of course I had to try my hand at knitting some, and I was well rewarded. The scrubbing power was wonderful, and they were closer to the size of a store-bought dishcloth.

But they took so long to knit.

Then, at a friend’s bridal shower, I was struck by a certain gift: dishcloths knitted from two strands of crochet cotton. Brilliant!

So, I created this pattern. It knits up much quicker than using a single strand, but it still has that lovely scrubbing action!

This pattern is a very good “mindless” knitting project. Grab yourself some crochet cotton and knitting needles, and take it wherever you go!

Not Your Ordinary Knitted Dishcloth Pattern

Download PDF

Materials:

2 balls of size 10 crochet cotton in contrasting colors of choice
1 pair of straight knitting needles, US size 2 or 3, depending on how tightly you knit

Gauge:

Not critical

Directions:

Holding the 2 strands of crochet cotton together, cast on 3 stitches.

Begin increasing:

Row 1: knit.

Row 2: knit 1, yarn over, knit to end of row.

Repeat row 2 until you have 77 stitches, or until desired size is obtained.

Begin decreasing:

Next row: knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to end of row.

Repeat this row until there are 4 stitches remaining.

Next row: knit 2 together, bind off all stitches.

Finishing:

Weave in all loose ends. Wash before first use.