What's New in the Etsy Shop!

Now that The Paper Sparrow is a new shop (Anchor 5 Boutique) and in new hands, i am able to focus more on my own little shop with Etsy.

I've added some of my Mom's super soft, super wonderful baby blankets that she crochets. She is usually busy making these for babies in the family, but now that the family has slowed down a bit in the baby department, she has a few extra to share with the rest of the world!

Mom has been making these blankets since my first baby was born, and i actually still have the 2 blankets she made for my daughters over 30 years ago!

She works with easy care acrylic yarn that can be tossed in the washer and dryer and used again and again. These blankets make great baby shower gifts....

Also, a few more critters have joined the Etsy team! This is Rosie the lop eared bunny

and Fuzzy

and Happy. All of my knitted bunnies and teddies are made without buttons or small parts that can come loose and cause problems for small children. So they are safe for children of all ages. I have a few orders to fill for the brick and mortar shops i am working with, but will soon be adding more baby hats, scarves, jewelry and more malas and rosaries. Time to start thinking about Christmas!

January Crafts

Sometimes it seem that i am not getting anything done around here

But when i line up all the projects like this

Wow! I've been busy!

Knitty Gritty

Just because Spring is here, doesn't mean the yarn and needles go away. I plan to keep knitting and crocheting all Summer long, making little light weight cotton things and some dolls and bears, and making warm woolen things for the cold months to come

(and we all know they will be back all too soon!) We've been putting the Winter hats away and i've been busy knitting up some all cotton, light weight hats for the little ones out there. Gotta keep those little heads covered from the sun!

I took a "finishing" class with my knitting teacher Linda last week, and since she sat me down and taught me the invisible seam technique, i am feeling much better about my seams!

These little booties are so simple and are going on the shelf at The Paper Sparrow.

And these scarflettes are being packed away for next Fall and Winter.

Here's an update on the lace shawl i started...It's coming along, slowly but surely! I've REALLY got to pay attention to this pattern or i will make a big mistake so i only work on this when i can without being distracted or disturbed. I really do like working with lace tho...

Here's a close up of that pattern ...

And i started this lace scarf, done in a very fine metallic rayon yarn. The pattern is less complicated than the cotton shawl, and good practice for me.

It reminds me of honey comb when you see it up close... I hope someday soon to have a few pieces i can be proud of, all done in lace ...

Teaching myself how to knit Continental Style

I have been taking knitting classes at The Paper Sparrow and have been working hard on this new skill every day. But what i have been noticing is that when i work with the smaller sized needles, my hands and wrists hurt, especially my right hand and wrist. I have been doing some reading on this issue and have read that knitting Continental style is not only a faster way to knit, but that it seems to put less stress on your hands and wrists and is more comfortable for folks with arthritis. So, after searching in YouTube, i found this short video on how to do the garter or knit stitch using the Continental method. At first it was awkward as all get out, but isn't everything awkward at first? So after working on it for a few hours, i'm getting the hang of it! Here's the video:



After a little more practice, it's on to learn how to purl Continental style!