Tag Archives: handmade

May30

Playing with my knitting machine

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Playing with my knitting machine

I’m finally starting to come out of my latest adventure…spinal surgery!! YAY…not.  I was expecting the surgery itself to be way worse than it was, but it wasn’t horrific.  Granted, feeling staples brush against the vertebrae in your back is not a good time.  It’s been slow but the incision is finally healing.  The nerve damage from the blown disc pinching off my S1 and S2 nerves for 9 months will take longer to heal, if it ever heals at all.  I hope I finally heal completely because walking with a cane really sucks.

The worst thing about the whole thing was that I couldn’t sit for more than 10 minutes at a time (and then I had to sit in a reclined position), thus I COULDN’T KNIT!!!!  It really stunk but I found a way around it; I had the fore-site to elevate an old card table and dug out an old Bond Knitting Machine, that I’ve had for years, and set it up.  About two weeks after the surgery, I was standing and walking so I designed a simple baby blanket that I could make; it wasn’t exactly like knitting but it was the best I could do at the time. The good thing was that I was able to gauge it out to a hand knitting pattern.

If you’d like to have this pattern, it can be found at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

~or~

http://www.ravelry.com/stores/cape-cod-stitchery

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Apr18

Busy, busy, busy…

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It seems like everything that could have happened lately, has.  I’ve been working on getting more worsted weight patterns made but life sort of has gotten in the way; a few weeks ago was my precious husband’s birthday, the next day we had to put our beloved 13 year old German Sheppard, Minnie, to sleep because her poor body was just giving out on her.  Then barely after going through the anguish of losing her, and seeing how much our Jack Russell, Dexter, missed her too…I had to get spinal surgery.  Needless to say, it’s been a tough months so far.

In between the gaps of activity, I was able to get a few patterns done: Worsted Weight Diamonds and Worsted Weight Quilted Stars; both were originally chunky yarn patterns but I converted them to worsted weight yarn.  Chunky yarn blankets are lovely in the winter, because they’re soft and heavy, but way too warm for summer (however, they make lovely floor blankets!).

I’ve also have developed a new obsession…Portuguese pin knitting!  I love working with worsted weight yarn but lets face it, knitting a blanket with smaller yarn seems to take forever!!  But, once I got the hang of pin knitting, I was easily doing 100 stitches a minute, almost twice as fast as standard knitting.  I loved it so much, not only did I make a few knitting pins for myself, I made some to sell in my Etsy shop!

If you’d like to see the new knitting patterns, and the older ones that I’ve had posted for a while, please see them at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

 

Feb16

Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket in Wavy Lines

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My latest baby blanket design; this creation was a happy accident because I was going for a large basket weave but once I started knitting it, I noticed that the main vertical lines were waving on their own…and I love the way it turned out!!  I’m thinking that I’m going to make this one into an adult sized blanket but that will be a project for another day.

If you’d like to obtain a copy of this knitting pattern, it is located at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

Thanks for looking!!

Feb6

Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket in Stars

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Hello everyone!  The good thing about winter is that there is plenty of time to knit and I’ve been busy.  My latest is a chunky yarn knit baby blanket that has the illusion of stars in it, or snowflakes (I’ve heard both…) in charcoal gray.

To  get a copy of the pattern, please feel free to visit my Etsy store at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

Thanks!!!

Dixie

 

Jan31

Knitted cubes, in 3D

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I thought I would share my latest design; a reversible knit and purl baby blanket knitted in a stunning spice red, chunky yarn.  Very soft and appropriate for an evening out with Mom and Dad!

This pattern is available, along with many others, at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

Thanks for stopping by!

Dixie

Jan18

Busy…busy…busy…

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It’s been a pretty busy couple of months for me, between the holidays and everything…thankfully, I was able to add two new baby blankets to my design collection of non-traditional baby blankets.

The first is a knitted, chunky yarn, mustard colored baby blanket, that’s large enough for a toddler.  It’s very soft, fluffy and quite cozy!

The second blanket is also knitted with chunky yarn but in a subtle denim blue, this one is also a good size for a toddler.

Both patterns, along with the other chunky yarn baby blankets patterns in my collection, can be found at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

Feel free to message me if there are any questions.

Thanks!!!

Nov26

Traveling Diamonds; a non traditional baby blanket

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Hello everyone!  I have finished another baby blanket and this one has gotten a CRAZY response from my knitting group on Facebook!  It’s another knit and purl only blanket (no cables here!) and it great for the beginner.  The blanket is completely reversible and the diamonds appear to be 3D.  I have created a pattern and it can be found in my Etsy shop; Cape Cod Stitchery.  Thank you!

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Nov25

Honeycomb and basket weave cable knit baby blanket

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Hello everyone!  I’m glad to say that I’ve rolled out another baby blanket pattern at Etsy and I’m very happy with how it turned out.

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It’s is knit with chunky yarn, on bigger needles, and it’s irresistibly fluffy and so soft!  Not only was it a pleasure to make, it’s an heirloom item that can be treasured for years, long after the little one has grown out of it.

If there are any questions, please feel free to comment or send me a private message.  Otherwise, please check out my Etsy store, Cape Cod Stitchery, not only for this pattern but for the others that have already been posted.

Thank you!

 

Nov18

Update on “The Project”

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Update on “The Project”

So, “The Project” has been launched and I’m very encouraged by the results.  About 6 weeks ago, I began creating patterns for the baby blankets that I’ve been making for military members, that I work with, that are welcoming little ones into their lives.  After creating the patterns, I began posting them on Etsy as digital downloads at my shop, Cape Cod Stitchery, and have found an element of success that I’m quiet happy with.  Three of the four patterns are quite unique because I made them with bulky/chunky yarn (that is incredibly soft and fluffy acrylic yarn that is COMPLETELY washable!) and gender neutral that is perfect for the little ones that could get chilly once the impending winter gets closer to us (if it’s anything like last winter, something really warm will be needed).  Once knitted, I created them to be durable so it would make a perfect floor blanket to put between the chilly floor and a snuggly baby.

Anyway, I’m very proud of how these baby blanket patterns have turned out and I’ve gotten a massive response from the knitting groups that I belong to.  Please, take a moment to check them out at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodStitchery

The following images are for the patterns that are currently available and I’ll be updating my blog as I add more patterns.

Please feel free to leave a comment if there are any questions.

Thanks!

Dixie

 

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Bulky Knit Basket Weave Baby Blanket Pattern

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Gender Neutral Bulky Yarn Knit Baby Blanket Pattern

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Cable Knit Honeycomb Stitch Baby Blanket Pattern

cropped bulky baby blanket

Gender Neutral Cable Knit Bulky Yarn Baby Blanket Pattern

Aug11

Another long absence but I’m back!!

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Remember when on the last day of December, New Year’s Eve, when you’re sitting around with your family and waiting for the new year to come, the discussion always heads towards “I hope next year is better than this year!”

Well, it hasn’t been so far.  Actually, it’s been one step left of brutal.

The first of the year kicked off with a massive snowstorm that hit the New England and then I deployed to the Midwest for four months.  The time within the four months consisted of:

1.     Unyielding snow storms and bone chilling cold that didn’t let up.

2.     Complete homesickness being away from my husband (and my dogs) for so long.

and the worst one…

3.     My precious father passed away before our eyes.

Needless to say, I haven’t been feeling all that creative and crafty lately.  However, as it is said, “when God closes a door, he always opens a window”; a window opened after being consumed in the fog of loss and grief for my Dad.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still hurting but a spark of my former self has returned, thanks to my husband, friends and family.

The first shot in the arm was that I decided to go back to college, thanks to the provocation of my friends.  I’m 6 weeks into my first class and I’m pulling a 98.2%; not too bad for an old lady such as myself.  The second is that it’s come to my realization that I’ll be eligible for retirement in the next 4 – 5 years and that I’d better start laying the foundation for what I’m going to be doing once retirement happens.  Knowing that once retirement occurs, my hubby and I will escape into the wilds of somewhere but a concrete fact remains that we are both technology geeks so wifi will be there…so I’m returning to the world of blogging.  I don’t know what I’m going to do with it but it’s time to give it a go again.

So, for my loyal followers that wondered what happened to me, I’m back and will do everything I can do stay relevant again.  Please forgive me, it’s been a really tough year…