A Jacket for Robin

A few years ago, I knitted a jacket for my friend Robin. It was one of those rare projects that felt like more than just yarn and needles. I used twelve skeins of Ella Rae Amity and US 9 (5.5 mm) needles. The yarn was soft but sturdy, its color a quiet echo of Robin’s calm strength.

As I worked, I kept thinking about her. I wanted the jacket to feel like something special, just made for her to wear. The process took time, of course, but never felt tedious. Just a rhythm of stitches and thoughts, a slow unfolding of something meaningful.

When I finally gave it to her, she smiled, gave me several hugs, and was very happy in a way that tells you you’ve gotten it just right. That moment made every yard worth it.

A Scarf That Spirals Like a Story

I started a scarf like this a while back. No big plan, just a need to keep me occupied while watching TV. I had a bunch of Schachenmayr Nomotta 100% wool in baby blue, a color that looks good on everything. Then I paired it with a blue variegated wool from Araucaria, which I had in my stash. The combination of the two yarns reminded me of a jacket I had a long time ago. 

I knitted the scarf in length first, then joined the two ends into rounds. I like "scarves" like this because there are no ends to twist around your neck. A type of knitting that doesn't require attention to edges, with no turning, just one round after another that builds on itself. 

When it was long enough, I added a crochet border using the variegated Araucania yarn. Just a simple shell stitch, nothing fancy. But it gave the whole piece a gentle finish and a sophisticated appearance. It’s warm, but not heavy. Soft, but with substance.

Funny thing, I’ve worked with this yarn before. A while back, I made a beanie and a scarf from the same baby blue and Araucaria blend. I’d promised it to my dear friend Vivian, but in a flurry of donations for a local animal charity, I completely forgot and gave it away. When she asked what happened to it, I had to admit (with a sheepish grin) that I’d forgotten my promise. So I did what any knitter would do: I grabbed my needles and made her a new set, as quickly as I could. Same yarn, same love, just as pretty as the first set. When I gave it to Vivian, she fell in love with it from the moment she saw it. Now she is wearing it proudly, and I am pleased that she loves the set of a beanie and a scarf. 

A Spring Dress from the Past: Yellow & Green in Debbie Bliss Yarn

Back in 2008, when I co-owned All About Yarn in Azusa, I made a sweet little spring dress for a 3–to 4-year-old girl using Debbie Bliss yarn. That yarn really lived up to its name: soft, smooth, and easy to work with. It was one of those projects that came together without a fuss, and the colors just sang “spring.”

The top of the dress featured light green and yellow stripes, with half sleeves that provided a nice balance, neither too warm nor too bare. The skirt was all yellow with a gentle swing to it, perfect for twirling. I added a green ribbon around the hips for a little extra charm, and it tied the whole look together.
I ended up selling the dress to a customer from the shop, and I still remember how happy she was with it. It’s funny how certain projects stick with you not just because of the yarn or the pattern, but because of the moment. That dress felt like sunshine stitched into fabric.

Pink & White Baby Jacket for Angelika

 

I just finished a little pink and white baby jacket for baby Angelika, and I have to say, it turned out really sweet. I used Sirdar Snuggly Baby Care DK, and wow, that yarn is soft. Like, really smooth. It’s the kind of yarn that makes you want to keep squishing it while you knit. The pattern was super easy to follow, nothing too fussy. It worked up quickly, and the DK weight gave it a nice, even texture. I didn’t have to fight with the yarn or second-guess the instructions, which is always a win.
And on Angelika? Adorable. The colors suit her perfectly, and the fit is just right, not too snug, with a little room to grow. She looked so cute in it, I almost didn’t want to take it off her to weave in the ends.
This was one of those projects that reminded me why I love knitting for babies, simple, sweet, and full of heart.

Beanie & Hand-Crank Knitting Contraption

I began the beanie on a hand-crank knitting machine using a 49-needle setup, then completed it by hand during our Knitting Circle gathering. It was a sweet moment when Ginnie’s elderly aunt stopped by to greet us, sat down for a chat, and just before leaving for the senior luncheon, she admired the colors and the overall appearance of the hat. She was particularly drawn to the pompom, expressing her love for them. She is always so friendly, with her sweet smile, so I simply gave it to her as a small gift. The beanie, a blend of machine precision and hand-finished care, found its perfect home.

Flower Blossom Beanie

Girlie Flower Beanie

My First Beanie on the 40 Needle Wonder Machine

Trying a new project and watching how it comes out is always special, especially when yarn is involved. Last week, I received a 60% off coupon from Michaels via email for any regular-priced item. I went to Michaels and treated myself to a little 40-needle round knitting machine and couldn’t wait to give it a try. My first project? A simple beanie. Or at least, that was the plan.

The little plastic machine made the process very easy, just crank, shape, and voilà! But once the beanie was done, I was staring at it thinking, “Hmm… cute, but it needs a little something.” So, I reached for my stash and added three little flower blossoms to the side. Just like that, the beanie went from basic to blooming. It’s amazing what a few flower petals can do!

And now, meet the model: Paul. Paul isn’t just any doll; he’s a little handmade doll I stitched together back in 1989 for my daughter when she was just two years old. Paul was a beloved companion for years, passing from tea parties to playdates, always ready for adventure. Seeing him now, wearing this new creation, feels like a full-circle moment. A new project, an old friend, and a whole lot of love stitched in between.

Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or just starting out, I hope this little story reminds you that creativity doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s just a crank of a handle, a few flowers, and a doll named Paul.

Until next time, may your yarn be tangle-free and your projects full of joy. I mean it!

Sweet Little Piggy

Knitting toys is a fun, creative hobby, and these tiny creatures are just adorable. It’s a loop of inspiration, before one project is finished, I’m already scouting the next idea to knit. I love making these little toys not only because I enjoy knitting, but also because they make cute, small gifts for children. Today I finished this little guy. 

The Puddle of Moonlight

Episode 11: The Puddle of Moonlight

The night after the spectacular Knit Parade, Knittyville felt hushed and glowy, like someone had tucked a silver blanket over the rooftops. Tangle the kitten pressed her nose to Granny Myrtle’s window. The enchanted ball of yarn on the sill hummed the faintest melody, like a teacup singing when it’s just the right temperature.
Jasper the clever mouse popped up beside her, whiskers twitching. “Do you hear that? It sounds like a lullaby with tiny sparkles.”
Granny Myrtle adjusted her spectacles and smiled. “That would be moon, mending music. The yarn must still be full of stories.”
They slipped out into the cool night. Dew pearled on the garden leaves, and the cobblestones looked like they’d been polished by stars. Halfway down Waffle Stitch Lane, Tangle stopped. In the dip where rain usually gathered, there was a puddle that didn’t mirror the lampposts or their faces. Instead, it shimmered with a sky deeper than any night—an upside-down pool of drifting constellations.
Jasper peered over the edge. “That puddle is… wearing the moon!”
Granny Myrtle kneaded the enchanted yarn between her palms. It warmed and glowed, threads brightening to a soft lunar blue. “A moon, puddle, ” she whispered. “They say if you knit it just so, you can mend a tear in the night.”
“A tear?” Tangle’s ears perked.
Granny pointed. Above the clock tower, there was the slightest snag in the sky, a loose stitch of darkness where stars slipped and sputtered. The town’s shadows seemed a smidge too long, as if bedtime had been stretched past cozy.
Tangle squared her tiny shoulders. “We can fix it!”
Granny cast on with the enchanted yarn, the needles clicking like sleepy crickets. Jasper held the skein steady, and Tangle batted the end into perfect loops. With each stitch, the moon puddle quivered, sending ripples of silver toward the snag. The ripples climbed the air like gentle ladders.
But the night had ideas of its own. A breeze gathered, soft and curious. From the hedges and rooftops, out came Knittyville’s nocturnal neighbors: Mimo the moth with crescent, dust wings, Lottie the barn owl with a voice like soft leather turning pages, and a shy hedgehog named Prickle, who wore a thimble as a helmet.
“We felt the pull, ” Lottie hooted. “Night is asking for a patch.”
“Patches are my favorite!” squeaked Prickle, hopping in place.
Mimo fluttered over the moon, puddle, dusting it with pale shimmer. The puddle brightened, revealing not just stars but threads of silver, midnight, and a hint of bluebell. Granny changed patterns mid row, hands moving like memory. “Stockinette won’t hold. We need moss stitch, something that hugs.”
Jasper nodded very thoughtfully for such a small mouse. “Moss stitch hugs. Noted.”
The enchanted yarn sang louder, and the puddle rose, no longer water but a sheet of moonlight fabric, soft as a sigh. Tangle leapt and caught a corner between her paws. Granny and Jasper gathered the rest, with Lottie guiding from above.
They floated up to the snag, all of Knittyville hushed, curtains barely parted as neighbors watched the strange procession: a kitten, a mouse, a granny, an owl, a moth, and a hedgehog, carrying the night like a quilt.
At the tear, a sliver of elsewhere peeked through, orchard sweet and faraway, a place that smelled like apples and rain. Tangle’s whiskers tingled. “Hello, Elsewhere, ” she murmured. “We’re just mending. You’re beautiful.”
She placed the patch. Granny’s needles made their soft tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, and Jasper threaded the edges with tiny patience. Mimo pressed the corners with moon, dust. Prickle tapped the border with his thimble helmet, setting the stitches like buttons. Lottie hummed a lullaby only owls remember.
The tear drew closed. The stars settled back into their constellations, brighter and somehow closer, as if grateful. The moon gave a plump, contented glow.
Down on Waffle Stitch Lane, the moon, puddle became, simply, a puddle again, reflecting lampposts, faces, and one very proud hedgehog. The enchanted yarn cooled to a gentle glow in Granny’s hands.
Jasper exhaled. “We patched the night.”
“We did, ” Granny said softly. “And it will hold, so long as we keep listening for loose stitches.”
Tangle gazed up. High above, a brand-new constellation winked into being a tiny mouse, a tidy thimble, a moth’s wings, a wise owl, and, centered proudly, a cat curled like a comma. She grinned. “That’s our secret signature.”
They walked home in the hush before dawn, paws and feet and little prickly steps clicking softly on the stone. Back at the window, the enchanted yarn settled in its bowl, faintly humming. Tangle curled on Granny’s lap; Jasper tucked into the curve of her tail. Prickle napped beneath a tea cozy, and Mimo and Lottie drifted toward the silvered sky.
Granny Myrtle stroked Tangle’s ears. “Magic’s a patient craft, ” she whispered. “It isn’t just made, it’s mended.”
Knittyville slept a little deeper that day, comforted by a sky that fit just right, and by the knowledge that if anything ever came unraveled, friends and a good yarn could stitch it back together again.

To be continued…

Another one for the cause.

Another Beanie for the cause... Yesterday I had a really lazy day, but I had a brilliant idea for turning leftover yarns into a colorful beanie, and it turned out to be such a fun project! After sorting through my stash, I picked soft shades to create a cute beanie. I started with a simple ribbed brim and switched colors for the body of the beanie. This project inspired me to explore more ideas for using leftover yarn, like crafting mittens or a matching scarf! If you have leftover yarn, consider making small items like beanies, scarves, socks, and mittens. I think it’s a great way to get creative and reduce waste.