Knitting a Pleat

I've seen a few patterns that I thought were quite cute that had pleats in the knitting. I've never knit something with a pleat in it and kind of wondered how you'd do it. Here's a great video I happened upon that shows how to do it. It makes me want to go design something pleat-y!

The Quest For the Perfect Sweater

I have been a bit selfish with my knitting lately. I really want some handmade sweaters for the cold months coming up, and it's much much more cost effective and enjoyable to make them myself.

The first one I made is a bit snug, but still satisfying...

I also made the buttons to match. The pattern is the "Garter Stitch Swingy Cardigan" from Ravelry (the greatest knitting resource ever made). And, it's free!

The one I'm working on now fits wonderfully, and even though it's taking forever to make, I'm motivated by the notion of it being done someday soon.


The pattern is the "Lauren" sweater over at Ravelry (that one's only 3 buckaroonies).

I also made these 2 over the past few months. The green one was meant to have sleeves, but it is now a vest-type thingy because the sleeves were annoying to make.


This one is from the book,
Knits Three Ways.










And this one is the "Leaf T-shirt" on Ravelry.

Do You Feel "The Bubble?"

Anyone who has ever created something or felt like creating something, I think, will know what I mean here. I often feel that there is something bubbling in me when I have an idea or want to make something very badly. I'm curious though about how others experience "the bubble."


Right now, I am unable to sew for physical reasons (sorry if I keep mentioning that all the time), and I keep thinking of things I want to make. It feels very bubbly/boiling-y not being able to do it and not being able to get these ideas out of my head and into a concrete form. I find that keeping notes in an idea journal helps a ton. But, not being able to sew also helps me to get more deeply involved in the things I can do-- like knit.


On a related note, feeling the initial spark toward creating an idea also involves the executing of that idea. In his book, Trust the Process, Shaun McNiff writes,

"While he played the piano, Duke Ellington said 'I'm not playing, I'm dreaming.' It is like the Islamic Mystics who quote the Koranic saying, 'It is not you who throws the dart when you throw it.' Creativity is a force moving through us, and only through practice do we learn how to cooperate with it. The "process" is like a muscle. It needs to be exercised in order to function properly."

What does it feel like to you to have an idea or want to create something? Or, what do you feel when you are creating? Is this something you think about on a regular basis? I think artists-- no matter what their medium may be-- are driven to create by this feeling of serenity (or however you'd describe it) and motivated by the challenges "the process" brings.

Digital Zombies

The title of this post is so inherently hypocritical. I sit typing on my blog as I try to market my online shop amidst posting a new item from the shop on Facebook and looking for photos to add to my new blog post...after reading an article in the online version of a newspaper. Phew. The most ironic part after reading the article I'm posting in dismay? I'm uploading files for a job at the same time.


Here's to make sense of all of this banter: "Taming Your Digital Distractions" It's an article in th NY Times about programs that exist ("digital nannies," as the author so succinctly put it) to help quell your online meanderings during supposed "work" time. There are programs to track where you spend your time on your computer and graph it right before your procrastinating eyes. There are others that will literally stop you from spending time in certain places like Facebook too. Yes, they actually give you a time limit. Isn't it amazing that this is what we've come to in such a short span of time? I was so against Facebook during college until my friend signed me up. I still talked down about it, but I'm a total user now.

On a lighter note, here's a hand knit iPhone:

Great Vase Revamp Tutorial

I just saw this wonderful tutorial over at Craftzine.com's blog about using yarn scraps (hey knitters!) to cover a vase. They're so pretty, and it looks much easier to do than I had thought.


I'm thinking it would be especially cool to use an old aluminum can or something recycled rather than a fresh new vase, but I love the idea. Hmm, I could use some new free recycled vases for my succulents that are outgrowing their starter pots. Here is the tutorial.

Take My Survey!

I have a **SURVEY** up to help me with some questions about my Etsy shop. If you take the survey and e-mail me at natalieedler@gmail.com or "convo" me through the SquirrelyWhirls Etsy shop, I'll give you a free knitting pattern for the sweater below:

For more images and info., see the listing for the "Ocean Waves Kimono Sweater Knitting Pattern"

Thanks so much for your help!