Etsy #CraftParty at @EcoMonster

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I signed up for this year’s Etsy Craft Party that was hosted by a cute shop in downtown San Jose called EcoMonster.

If you are unfamiliar with Etsy Craft Parties check out their site for details. There were a bunch going on in the Bay Area last night.

While I was there I got handy with some string thread again and made myself this cute little Apple fabric/felt pin:

EcoMonster Craft Party

EcoMonster Craft Party

If you also went to a Craft Party yesterday, where did you go and what make? Or maybe it was a supply swap, find any hidden gems?

Hope everyone local to the Santa Clara, CA area will stop by the MidSummer Art Fair, I will be there with a booth!

CroCreations Infinity Scarf Pattern

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I was searching around the interwebs this past week for another scarf pattern that would be perfect for some chunky yarn I have that I bought at a yarn show by James C Brett. I very much wish I had bought more but I only ended up getting a skein of his MC28 color:

JamesCBrett-MC28

JamesCBrett-MC28

The pattern I ended up using was a variation of Caron.com’s Bellflower Infinity Scarf by CroCreations. See the sample photo:

CroCreations Infinity Scarf

The only modification I made to the CroCreations version of this pattern was I added an extra set of Shells so it was a bit wider:

CroCreationsScarf

CroCreations Scarf

I love the color blending and it seems to change equally between rows too which is really neat. I will post more photos once its longer!

Wishing all the Dads out there including mine a Happy Father’s Day!!

5/18/2013 – UPDATE

It is finished, here is a photo of the completed infinity scarf!

Finished CroCreations Scarf

Finished CroCreations Scarf

June 22nd – Triton Midsummer Art Fair!

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Next Saturday, June 22nd from 10am – 5pm I will be joining many other local crafters at the Triton Museums Midsummer Art Fair. Check out the museums website for more details and location information. This will be an outdoor fair and will also have food trucks and other entertainment so its a must visit for sure if you are local to the Bay Area!

My table with have both my photo prints as well as some hats and scarves that are currently available in my Etsy Shop.

Come out and support local crafters and visit me at my table! Hope to see you there!

 

Recent Pattern Finds

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I have been working on 3 new patterns I have found over the last week or so and wanted to share them.

Pattern 1 – Aquatic Blossom Infinity Scarf

The first is a pattern for an infinity scarf using a pattern called Aquatic Blossom and I followed this great tutorial on Crochet Geek.

The video was helpful, since I am mostly a visual learner I find that pairing written instructions with a quick help video to be the best way I learn new patterns. Here is the video if you are interested!

Here is a photo of my work so far, I have 2 rounds done and moving onto the 3rd, my blossoms seem to be a bit lopsided but I really like how its turning out either way!

AquaticBlossom2

Aquatic Blossom

AquaticBlossom1

Aquatic Blossom

Update 6/30/13:

Here is some photos of the completed scarf:

aquaticblossom-finished2

Aquatic Blossom Scarf Finished

 

aquaticblossom-finished1

Aquatic Blossom Scarf Finished 2

Pattern 2 – Crocodile Stitch

The second pattern uses a type of stitch that is being used for a pair of slippers I am making from a pattern I bought by Bonita Patterns, I just had to make a pair for myself and then I will make a few for the shop. The crocodile stitch that is used for the top of the slippers was a bit challenging to pick up at first so I searched out a basic video tutorial for that stitch. There are a few tutorials for this stitch out there but I found this one the most helpful by The Crochet Crowd. I enjoy his tutorials a bunch as he is very witty and makes fun jokes during his tutorials.

Here is a shot of one of the tops with the mini crocodile stitches that I made so far and of the slippers in the works.

Slippers2

Slippers

Slippers1

Slippers

Pattern 3 – Spring Petals

I found this pattern on Ravelry called Spring Petals and knew it would be the perfect pattern for a skein of the yarn I bought from a family friend who runs a yarn making shop called Western Sky Knits.

I think it turned out really great and will be available in my shop shortly!

SpringPetals

SpringPetals

Ok that is what I have for this week!

Sale – #SFEtsySplash40 Sale is Tomorrow!

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Don’t forget tomorrow is the big SFEtsy Community 1 Day Sale! Everything is 40% off!

Everything currently for sale in my shop Threads by ionyka will be 40% off, with shipping starting at only $2.50!

Check here for the list of participating shops.

Check out some great items from some really amazing local shops! Show your support, I know I will be picking up a few things for sure!

SFEtsySplash40 Sale!

SFEtsySplash40 Sale!

SFEtsySplash40 Sale!

SFEtsySplash40 Sale!

SFEtsySplash40 Sale!

 

Two New Patterns

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I tried 2 new patterns over the holiday weekend, the first is a pattern I found called Stashbuster by Sarahndipities. It us a super fun quick pattern you can make with anything, I am certainly going to use it again soon with all the leftover yarn I have like she recommends!

I made this into an infinity scarf too which makes it great warm wrap for cool to cold days. The yarn I used was a multi color acrylic yarn with reds, browns and dark magentas, reminds me of fall :)

Infinity Shell Scarf 3

Infinity Shell Scarf

Infinity Shell Scarf 1

Infinity Shell Scarf

Infinity Shell Scarf 2

Infinity Shell Scarf

The other pattern I tried is called the Divine Hat  by the same person whose Cable Hat pattern I have followed and used already. It makes a spiral effect and looks really neat when its done, I especially like how the yarn I used almost makes rows of color too.

Spiral Hat 1

Spiral Hat

Both are currently available for sale in my shop! Back to crocheting!

Learning to Improvise

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Even when the best laid plans are in place, there are always opportunities that cause you to need to improvise. I was planning on making a single color hat with some light purple yarn I had and I underestimated how much I would need. Not liking to undo work unless I have to, I said ‘ok, I will just make the brim of this hat in some grey yarn I have left over’. However I needed 1 more row of the purple diamonds and I still came up short again, so I made the brim 1 row longer but instead of fpdc/bpdc alternating like normal for these hats, I did fpdc then 3 bpdc and I think it turned out really nice!

DiamondImprovise

Diamond Hat

I might use this style brim again on future hats too, gives it a different look. I also really like this color combo. I made another hat prior to this (which is why I ran out of the purple) using these same colors. Both will be up in my shop soon for sale! I need to get better photos and its super cloudy today so the lighting is no good (yes, its cloudy in California, on a holiday, how terrible, shame on you CA for not being sunny right now!)

DiamondDuos

Diamond Hats

Don’t forget on June 3rd my shop will be participating in a 40% off sale! Great chance to get some amazing handmade gifts for you or someone else on this 1 day only event! Coupon code and tag code are SFEtsySplash40 and you can see many items that will be on sale here!

Happy Memorial Day everyone, make sure you take a moment to remember all those who have served and currently serve our country.