knittingisawesome.com
by Lauren
This is actually a photo I took of my cat Ezzy, she is so funny! She is generally pretty easy on my yarn balls, she mostly likes to cuddle up with them. If she is on the floor and you give her a yarn ball though, she will try to balance on it with her back legs! Will try to capture that next, I guess she thinks she’s auditioning for the circus? As long as she doesn’t steal or destroy them it’s fine by me 🙂
by Lauren
Photo Contest!
I want to see your Girly Knits projects and awesome photos! When I started this blog, I had a dream of sharing fun photos of girls from around the world knitting, and showing off their amazing knitted creations. Here is a great opportunity to get creative and share! To inspire you, I’ve put together some fun prizes!
Here’s the Deal:
You have until Sept 30th to share your Girly Knits projects on either Ravelry or Craftsy with a photo of the project. Once you have added the project please send a link to me at girlyknits@gmail.com. If you need help with how to add projects, feel free to contact me with questions, or check out this article here!
Here are the Rules:
1) Your photo must be of a Girly Knits pattern, all available at girlyknits.com (I have 3 free patterns that are perfectly fine to use too!)
2) You must have knitted the item yourself and either have taken the photo or be in the photo
3) You can enter up to 3 photos, including projects you have already posted
4) A work in progress photo works too! If you wanted to use a picture of you knitting the pattern, or take a picture of it still on on the needles, even if you just started, please do!
How the winning photo will be Judged:
1) Creativity of the photo – think about interesting places you could take the photo and what you would be doing in the photo. What unique place could you be knitting or wearing your knitwear?
2) Humor – how much it makes people smile, silliness is good!
3) How much Fun you had with the photo! “Knitting is Fun” is the Girly Knits motto 😉
4) Quality of the photo and project. Having a well lit photo always helps!
5) Your Vote – I will be adding your photos on my facebook fanpage where fans can vote on their favorite photo. The one with the most fan votes one won’t necessarily win but it will get you bonus points!
I will be judging the photos along with 2 other judges.
Prizes!
Grand Prize:
*All of the materials needed to make these Lion Brand Norwegian Wristers! Includes the printed pattern, 2 skeins of LB Organic Wool in Eggplant and Natural, and a set of 5 US Size 8 double-pointed needles (total value of $26.25)
*1 free online learning class from Craftsy (up to $49.99 value)!
*$25 gift certificate to your favorite yarn store!
*$25 gift certificate to spend on Girly Knits patterns!
2nd Place:
*1 free online learning class from Craftsy (up to $49.99 value)!
*3 Girly Knits patterns of your choice or a $15 gift certificate to spend on Girly Knits patterns!
*A copy of the current issue of your favorite knitting magazine!
3rd Place:
*3 Girly Knits patterns of your choice or a $15 gift certificate to spend on Girly Knits patterns!
Even More Prizes:
*3 entrants at random will receive a copy of my newest pattern Smitten Mittens for free!!
All winners will have their projects featured on this blog knittingisawesome.com!
If you have any questions or comments and to enter, please e-mail me at girlyknits@gmail.com. And remember the deadline is Sunday Sept 30th! The winners will be announced on October 10th.
If you need inspiration, check out the photos on this blog! All eligible patterns can be found at girlyknits.com.
by Lauren
“Ruffle yourself up in girly cuteness in this colorful lacey ruffley cardigan! Made with Lion Brand’s stunning “Amazing” color changing yarn, the cardigans beautiful textured lace panel ruffle is made even more interesting with variations of color in the yarn. The ruffle gathers at your natural waist to flatter your figure, and is long enough to just cover your bum. This cardigan can be worn open for easy style, buttoned, pinned, or even with a knitted belt. This design is a great way to spice up an outfit, and would be just as cute in a solid color for everyday wear. I hope you enjoy this pattern and when finished prance around and spin in it in girly delight!”
This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!
by Lauren
“Just as flowers bloom in the Spring and Summer, so can your knitting! No need to put your yarn and needles away with this design, made with 100% cotton in an airy daisy lace pattern, it makes the perfect layering garment for the warmer months! It can be worn over a tank with a cardigan and jeans, or as a cover up for your bathing suit at the beach! With 4 different length options from a cropped tank to a dress and everything in between, plus a choice of regular or racer back, you are sure to make this sweet summery design work for you! Enjoy the sweet breeze as you blossom into the beauty you are, enjoy!”
This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!
This design was inspired by Girly Knits facebook fans! I did a poll on what girls wanted me to design with the Patons Grace neon orange yarn, which turned out to be a tank top, then gave them options of tank tops and they liked a racer back lace striped tank best. Check out the poll here!
by Lauren
“Put on the glitz and head down to the Ritz in this sparkly glamorous dress! With it’s curve hugging silhouette, scooped out neckline, and strategically placed zig-zag lace pattern you are sure to stop traffic! Made with Vanna’s Glamour, this dress knits up into a super sparkly fabric that will keep you shining as the radiant goddess you are all night long. The braided straps and lace hem are additional fashionable details that are sure to turn heads. I hope you show your friends how very sexy knitting is and get compliments for you awesome knitting skills at your next formal event rocking this dress! Enjoy!”
This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!
by Lauren
“Indulge in the luxury of making and wearing your very own fine hand knit lingerie with this elegant and classy 3 piece set. Each piece is trimmed with a sophisticated lace pattern and sweet picot edge, with the addition of a luxurious velvet ribbon bow for function and flair. Made with Karabella’s Vintage Cotton with a mercerized finish, this set is durable despite it’s delicate and dainty appeal. The camisole needn’t only be reserved for the bedroom, as it will work beautifully into your wardrobe! I made this set while watching Seasons 1 & 2 of “Pretty Little Liars”, which infused the design with drama, scandal, and gorgeousness! Enjoy!”
This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!
by Lauren
This weekend I made these super cute crochet earrings! I’m in love!
Until now I haven’t dabbled much in crochet because I typically prefer the look of knitting, but I decided I should finally learn so that I can use crochet to enhance my knitted designs. I picked up the “Crafty Crochet Embellishments” course on Craftsy because their courses are awesome and this one in particular teaches you to crochet the cutest little goodies like flowers, decorative edgings, and of course these earrings!
The instructor Linda walks you though every step with lots of helpful hints along the way. As a newbie to crochet, I was amazed I could make these in less than an hour, they are deceptively simple and super quick. Having someone to follow (who you can also keep rewinding 😉 ) is enormously helpful too!
What do you think of knitted and crocheted jewelry? Have you made any? I could definitely see it being a trend!
by Lauren
I wanted to share this cute little lamb pattern I found by Barbara Prime – I made him for my friend’s baby boy and he turned out so cute! This lamb pattern is available for free on Ravelry, where you can find her other adorable stuffed animal patterns as well. If you are new to knitting stuffed animals, this pattern is a great start! Enjoy!
by Lauren
You can’t argue that a girl increases her inherent cuteness by 110% when she puts a big knitted bow on her head. Check out these adorable knitters who did just that using my free bow headband pattern. If you are a beginner knitter and need some extra help following the pattern, I’ve also made a series of 3 videos on this blog guiding you through how to make a bow headand. Enjoy!
by Lauren
I had so much fun with last month’s interview with Carrie, that going forward I am planning on doing an interview with an awesome knitter every month! This month’s interviewee is Jess, an incredibly talented and fashionable knitter, who I discovered when she purchased my “Meow” eyemask pattern! You can tell that she has a lot of fun with her knitting which I love; all of her projects are super playful with a sense of humor inserted into them! I hope you enjoy learning more about Jess and her love for knitting, and are inspired by her projects!
All of the images of Jess’s hand knit items below link to her project page on Ravelry, where you can find the pattern she used and knit it up too! Enjoy!
Jess lives in a studio apartment in Brooklyn with her cat and tons of yarn. When she isn’t knitting, she is practicing at and managing a yoga studio in Manhattan. She hopes to someday combine the two and be able to yoga and knit at the same time. You can follow her knitting adventures at http://kittenstrength.blogspot.com/
When did you learn to knit and who taught you?
I learned to knit from my best friend’s mom when I was 18. I think she knit our whole lives, but really started getting into it when we were in high school. I remember she loved to knit just for decoration, she had this huge wicker basket by the front door that she filled with mohair mittens, it was the cutest thing.
I really wanted to learn, even though I thought it looked so hard and my best friend refused to join me because she’s allergic to wool.
At first it was really hard to catch on, every time I made the smallest mistake I would have to wait until the next time I saw my friend’s mom to fix it for me. That’s so funny to look back on now because I mess up constantly and can pretty much get myself out of any knitting jam 🙂
After I learned, I put it down for a little while until I went to college. I picked it back up in college because it was a really relaxing/familiar thing to do…also, one of my roommates was Pam Allen’s daughter (the former editor in chief of Interweave) so it was also something I could bond over with my roommates. 🙂
Who is your favorite person to knit for?
I love knitting for all my friends and family, but i really REALLY love knitting for their kids and babies. The finished products are always so sweet and they are really fast projects 🙂
What are your 3 favorite knitting projects that you’ve made so far?
It was hard to pick just 3! I loved looking back at the things I made, and the story behind them…but I would say my favorites are a fish bathmat I made, thigh high legwarmers and a where the wild things are sweater & crown.
The bathmat and thigh highs were total labors of love, they took forever and were made with leftover yarn. 🙂
The sweater i really love because its one of the first things I made that I can really put into my everyday wardrobe. I’m always surprised when I can actually make a piece of clothing that I can wear in public! 🙂
What is your favorite yarn?
I don’t know if I could pick a specific brand, but the type of yarn I always gravitate towards is a nice rustic, wool, worsted weight yarn.
Featured right is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Yarn.
What is your favorite stitch?
Stockinette! Classic. 🙂
What is your favorite knitting book?
Not sure these count as books, but every single Rowan magazine is my favorite. Everything is styled so beautifully!
If you could design the “perfect” sweater, what design elements would it have?
I think my perfect sweater would be something heavy (worsted or bulky) probably a cardigan that I can double as a coat that I could wear all the time. I don’t mind knitting in pieces (I kind of like seaming, I know crazy).
Probably something classic stockinette, nothing too fancy like cables…a good everyday sweater.
What environment do you like to knit it?
I love knitting everywhere and I do pretty much knit any chance I get. Living in New York City I take the subway a lot and that is probably where my knitting comes most in handy. It’s nice to have something to kind of block out the craziness of the city (and the other people on the train) 😉
Recently I started knitting while walking down the street, I’m not sure I’ll keep this up though because people really look at me funny.
What do your friends and family think about your knitting habit?
They have gotten used to the fact that I knit all the time, they have actually mentioned that it’s weird to see me without my knitting! Haha.
But I think they all love it, because they are always asking for handknit things 🙂
Looks like Jess’s cat loves her knitting habit too!
What do you feel is the most awesome part about knitting?
It’s hard to pick the most awesome part, there are so many things I love about knitting.
But I would have to say the thing I love most about knitting is that it is something I have more or less mastered on my own. It’s also one of the few things that I can say I feel really confident about and I know I am good at. I love that I can do it anywhere and everywhere (and have!) Making something beautiful from a few sticks and string will never cease to amaze me.
Check out even more of Jess’s fabulous hand knit projects here. Thanks Jess! -Lauren
