Jill and I recently started designing fiber-inspired window displays for our local yarn shop, Nine Rubies, in downtown San Mateo, California. Here is our previous knitted window display, with pom-pom Christmas tree and knit wrapping paper. Saloni, the shop owner, challenged us to a 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics window display to enliven the remainder of what little winter we get in California. As always, the challenge is to design an entirely knit window display–or at least entirely knit, crochet, and fiber-filled. Since you guys loved seeing our process in the Squid Tree post, I’ll show you a little here too. We love how it turned out! (more…)
crochet
Holiday food fun: Knit pie & a gingerbread village
Thanksgiving knit apple pie & crochet pumpkin pie
Last year I made mini mince pies for my grandfather, Pa, for the last time and topped a pumpkin pie with prancing moose from our trip to the Okanagan. In retrospect, I think I needed to go all out in order not to let Pa’s last mince pie stand out like a sore thumb in time. Since I had just gone all epic on his ass a month before, in my 80 hour Day of the Dead filet crochet memorial pieces, going all out might just be how I deal with emotions. Ya think? This year a nice engrossing challenge was in order. And then that dough just called to be spun into yarn. (more…)
New Crochet Pattern: Monster Slippers
Our first yarn bombs were imaginative mailbox feet that transformed the big blue boxes into elves, ducks, frogs, and monsters. They soon became our most popular work, with everyone requesting slipper versions of their own to wear at home. Indeed, why should mailboxes have all the fun? Now you can yarn bomb your feet with this new Monster Slippers crochet pattern, available for instant download where ever you like to buy patterns: Ravelry, Etsy, or Craftsy. (more…)
New crochet pattern: Choir of Angels Christmas Ornaments
Every December after the fresh-cut tree is up I set aside an evening to gather around and unpack our family ornaments. We take turns hanging them one at a time, sharing again the familiar story behind each one. A trio of brilliantly painted wooden angels always delights. Like a little chorus of seraphim in heaven, they sing out their song, “holy, holy, holy!” I wanted to share my family’s tradition with you by designing a simple crochet angel ornament pattern with just enough charming detail to earn a place on your family’s tree for years to come. (more…)
New Squid Tree Yarnbomb
Our biggest yarnbomb yet!
Introducing #squidtree, the latest transformative yarnbomb from @TheDapperToad and @KnitsForLife. Time and again the story goes: we love our idea, then halfway through we fear it’s going to be crap, but end up falling in love all over again when the result exceeds our expectations. (more…)
Free Crochet Pattern: Draft Dodger
My latest custom order was so fun and simple, I can’t resist sharing the tiny 10-line pattern with you all. Drunk past midnight at the Beach Boardwalk like a member of the Lost Boys after a reunion slash wedding, I picked my phone up out of the sand for like the fourth time and started reading emails. “Woah guys, what the hell is this? Someone just messaged me on Etsy asking for a draft extruder! What the hell is that? *kapow!* Oooooh, look over there, someone’s launching some leftover fireworks. Let’s go in the ocean right now. It’s not even cold! Hiccup. Geez, I seriously love you guys…”
A sunrise and several liters of water later, I remembered something about a confusing custom order inquiry. How wonderful is the internet to connect us with people all over the world, and muddle through translations to eventually communicate. The inquiry referred to a German post about a Türzugluftstopper, that is, a draft dodger. Mystery solved! (more…)
Two new classes you shouldn’t miss
Just a quick note about two new great opportunities for you to learn fresh, modern craft skills. They both start August 6, one in person and one online, so you can take both! (more…)
4th of July Weekend Yarnbombing Spree
Hope you American guys had a great holiday weekend full of “oooh’s and aaah’s” at sparkly fireworks. We took the opportunity to get some yarnbombs up around the sleepy lagoon town, Foster City. You may remember that we threatened to publish the patterns for these. Jill demanded more photos for the pattern layouts, so more installs were in order. Cycling the shores on our PUBLIC bike and Schwinn, we found an amazing spot for a future yarnbomb. Sign up to get notified when the patterns come out here. (more…)
New Crochet Pattern: Bicycle Skirt Guard
Finally, you can cycle in a maxi dress! We’re excited to announce another fresh crochet pattern is out today: the bicycle skirt guard on Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy. A perfect crochet project for spring or summer, or just a pretty way to yarn bomb your bike with crochet and still cycle chic. Don’t crochet? Gift the pattern to your favorite crocheter with a box of cupcakes and your biggest smile. Grandma will love making something you really want for a change! (more…)
New Crochet Pattern: Happy Earrings
The inspiration for these exotic crochet earrings came from a chocolate tasting room in Palo Alto, California called The Chocolate Garage. Specializing in the world’s best-tasting bean-to-bar craft chocolate, the staff needed some appropriately exquisite, hand-crafted accessories that evoke the exuberance of cacao. I designed this pattern while savoring a bar of The Garage’s so-called Happy Chocolate, so it was only fitting to christen them Happy Earrings. (more…)
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