Crochet School/Knitting School

School is now in session!  Look for my Crochet and Knitting School videos on YouTube!  I post under the user name Mommaflick09.

I am using YouTube as a teaching medium for those who want to learn how to crochet/knit and how to read patterns that relate to the stitches used.  This "school" material will cover basic techniques as well as more advanced ones as well.

The first video is up on YouTube now and goes over the crocheted chain stitch and how to read the stitch in written patterns and charted patterns as well.  Please check it out here.

If you would like to see something specific taped and reviewed, please leave me a comment and let me know!  I would love your input and feedback!  Thank you!

Until next time, keep those needles and hooks busy!

Sara

Knitting Video

I posted a knitting video yesterday on YouTube on how to make tighter 1x1 ribbing when knitting Continental style.  In this video, I show you a sample of the loose way of doing the ribbing and the "new", tighter way.

I plan on doing a series of videos on how to read crochet and knitting patterns in the future as well as videos and how to's on simple and advanced knitting and crochet techniques.  If you have something in particular you would like to see as a video, please leave me a comment or send me an email.  I would be happy to take requests!

You can find the new Tight 1x1 Ribbing video here.

Until next time, keep those needles and hooks busy :)

Sara

Pin-tastic Friday

My pintastic Fridays are going to be used to link up the top five awesome pins I found this week on Pinterest.  If you don'f follow me already on Pinterest please do so.  Here are the pins I think are the best of my week:

1. Block Stitch Tutorial
2. One Skein Cowl
3. Invisible Decrease
4. Clever Color Change for Amigurumi
5. Knitting Increases

Do you have some favorite new pins?  If so, link them up in the comments below :)

Free Heart Pattern

I needed a heart pattern for a project and none I found on the web really did it for me.  So I wrote one myself and I'd like to make it available for you to use :)

Free Heart Pattern:

Materials:
Any weight and color yarn you'd like to use
Any size hook you need for your yarn of choice
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Create a Magic Circle and chain 2.
Crochet all of the following into the magic circle: 3trc, 3dc, chain 1, trc, chain 1, 3 dc, 3trc, chain 1, slst.
Pull string tightly to close center circle.

WIP Wednesday

Although it is a day late, I thought I would let you see my latest WIP (work in progress).

I have been making hats for my family for the coming winter lately, well since I got my new knitting needles from Knitpicks anyway, and I found a few awesome patterns on Ravelry and I have been on a knitting kick... big time!

First I made this little beauty for me:

The pattern can be found here.  It was a quick work and while easy to knit had some challenges.  I've never done wrapped stitches and this was a good test for me.  This was also the first time I tried to use the Magic Loop method for knitting in the round.  I love it!  I cannot stress how much easier it was to knit this hat using the magic loop method rather than using DPNs.

Second is this, which is currently on the needles and is our WIP Wednesday highlight.

Originally, I wanted to do this hat in a lovely gray yarn but it is a chunky/bulky weight yarn and the pattern calls for worsted weight.  I am not good enough in knitting yet to modify a pattern to work with a different yarn size so I changed to Vanna's Choice in Chocolate. Mr Little Bird picked this pattern for himself out of a few I showed him on Ravelry. I like this pattern a lot.  It is very easy to read and understand, plus works up quickly.  Again I chose to Magic Loop this hat as opposed to doing the DPNs; which will likely be the method of all my future "in the round" knitting will be done in.

What are you working on?  Do you have the fall crafting bug yet?  Mine always comes early but when it hits, it hits with a vengeance and nothing else can be done :)

Coming soon...

First of all I wanted to thank you all for your patience while I figure things out here at home. Getting schedules organized and created for two small children isn't as easy or as quick as I thought it was going to be. While baby bird #2 is a great sleeper she is not the most predictable on her actual times. Plus little bird #1 needs playtime with Mommy bird too:-)   that being said, things are normalizing now so posts, patterns and overall interactions will be coming at a more regular clip now.

Now on to the coming soon part. I have filmed a few video tutorials and I have taken pictures for a few written tutorials on crochet. The first ones will be about creating a chain, single crochets and half double crochets. There will also be a post on crochet abbreviations and how to use the abbreviation to read patterns.

If there is something specific you'd like either a visual(picture) or video tutorial on, please let me know. Just leave me a comment, I'll be sure to get started on what you want to see asap:-)

Its that time of year again...

How I love the Fall.  Things get so busy!  Between orders coming in like wildfire, patterns selling like hot cakes, family visits and parties to go to there is just not enough time in the day!

I love the colder weather, even though I am a cold person by nature, I HATE being hot!  Summer in Virginia tends to be long and relentless so every Fall it is the sweet relief I need to recharge my batteries.  We had a ton of rain this year during the Spring and Summer so there really aren't the traditional fall colors springing up everywhere like usual.  It was just too wet.  Everything is going from green to brown fast!  But despite the lack of colorful awesomeness that is usual I have been enjoying the cooler weather.  And with that cooler weather comes the yarn crafting bug.  I have been crocheting and knitting up a storm!  Working on a baby blanket for my new little one due in February, I've made several hats for her and hope to make a few more too :).

One thing that has been a big part of my Fall has been Pinterest.  I'm slightly addicted obsessed with Pinterest.  There are so many good ideas out there, from decorations to crochet and knitting patterns to recipes.  There is never a lack for new things coming up and I often find myself eating lunch or breakfast and browsing Pins. If you'd like to follow my boards click the button on the side bar.  If you don't/haven't visited Pinterest, I highly suggest it.  Much fun and inspiration can be found there.

I hope you all are doing well and hope you are finding all the inspiration you need for your crafts in one place or another. Until next time...

Sara

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

If you are hungry, do not read this post until you have eaten :)

Today is my husbands birthday.  Every year I make him a spice cake of some form or variety, as per his wishes. This year though I did not ask him what he wanted.  I just made him something I knew he would love, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip bread.

Now I must preface this with I did ask him if he wanted bread or muffins to which he responded, bread!  I found the recipe here and being the chocolate and pumpkin freak he is I immediately knew he would love it.  Super simple to make; just measure, mix, and bake.  The end result was delish! I probably would have preferred it with fewer chocolate chips and more pumpkin and spices but overall he is thrilled so I am too!

If you are looking for a nice fall treat give this a try; you won't be disappointed. :)

Business as usual...

Hello everyone!  Hope this little message finds you happy, healthy, and in good spirits!

I have had a few orders recently and been working to get them done, but in that time I have also been knitting!  I am suddenly quite taken with it.  I guess it is because back in the spring I taught myself how to knit Continental style and since then things have just seemed to click!  Knitting is so much easier and faster when you have good tension and less movement!  I started knitting my soon to be baby daughter a checkerboard blanket in pink and purple, and also made my first hat.  Its a little big for a newborn but will probably fit her perfectly next fall :).  I started another hat and this one seems like it will fit a newborns noggin much better.  Once I have the blanket and second hat finished I will post pictures of them.

I found an awesome recipe today.  Fall is sorta synonymous with apples and pumpkins in this house and the author of "Smashed Peas and Carrots" Blog was kind enough to share a recipe for apple strudel today!  I love apple anything and this looks so yummy!  Take a look here.

If you have any super yummy pumpkin or apple recipes, please share in the comments below.  I am always looking for a good treat for fall!

Sara

Baby Booties

Hello everyone!  Hope you are well this Monday!  It was a crazy weekend in the LBD house and even though I hate Mondays, I am glad to be getting back to some semblance of normalcy.

My son has been a huge crank-butt; we think he is teething, and so he has pretty much gone from perfectly happy to full on crying and whining in 0.2 seconds!  Thank God for children's Tylenol!  I dislike grumpy kids and my kid being grumpy is the worst!

On the crafting front, I have slowly been making progress on a new item.  I was able to make a new set of baby booties this weekend and I think they are so cute!  Tiny shoes are always darling, and crochet ones just take the cake!  These are made from a pattern I received for free from The Lovely Crow.  Super cute and modifiable for boys and girls! Available sizes are Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 months.  I have the blue and brown set I made, Size 0-3 months, available for sale on my Facebook Page.  All you would need to do is let me know what type of buttons you'd like and I can sew them on then ship them out!  They are available for $20.00.  If you'd like to custom order a pair for your little one or one you know, just send me an email at sara.littlebirddesignsfxbg at gmail dot com.  I would be more than happy to make a pair for you.

If you want to custom order something else, be it hat, slippers or cowls, just let me know!  Hope you have a wonderful week!

Until next time...
~Sara

I'm back!

Hey gang!  I know its been a while; who am I kidding, its been a long time! But I am finally back!  I've been very busy around here with my son and being sick and tired pregnant with #2.  Things are finally looking up and I should be able to start blogging again.  :)

I have been busy in the crafting arena too.  I've been designing a few new hats, modifying some patterns and listing some things for sale on both Etsy and Facebook.  Definitely check it out!

We found out today our little #2 is.... a GIRL!  Exciting and crazy!  Now the hard part, finding the perfect name!  I'll keep you all posted as time goes on and as we near D Day for this little one.  I hope to make her some cute things; she is going to be a February baby so at least she will have appropriate weather for all the crochet and knit things I'd like to make. :)

Sorry its been so long and I will try to do better about communicating with all of you in the future.  I would like to post some different things this quarter; cool recipes, sweet finds, cute pics, and new item photos.  For now, I will leave you with these:

ankles crossed like a proper lady :)

She had her hands together like she was praying, so cute!

New Products being rolled out

I have started a new project.  Well, several new projects.  I currently have a "Tea for Two" set I am working on and have the teapot complete and working on the cups.  I've also started making some cute felt foods.  I started relatively small, a cookie, then made a cinnamon roll.  Both were easy; I had patterns to follow.  My latest creation was all my own design.  A yummy slice of watermelon.  Just perfect, nice pink inside, beautiful green outside :) See my pics below.

 Do you have any favorite foods you'd like to see made up?  Just comment below :)

Wordless Wednesday

There is just something about the way he sits on his feet that gets me every time :)

He really is only 21 months old; not that you would know it to look at him ><

Update

Phew!  What a long haul that was!  I finally finished knitting 2 sets of leg warmers and crocheting 2 hats for my cousins.  Took me a long time but I think they turned out nice.  I made the leg warmers to look sorta 80's-ish with bands of purl stitches in the stockinette stitch.  Crocheted hearts added on last to make the look complete :)

Now I am taking a mini break for the holiday and will start some new projects after Easter.  Maybe some new designs, maybe some new products. Maybe delve into machine sewing a bit.  Keep checking out our Facebook page to see any new items and patterns that might be listed.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Easter weekend!

Until next time...

Post It Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

My sweet baby playing with his Daddy.

Too cute!

I follow a few blogs and one of them posted about this super cute dress for little girls.  Makes me want to make one :)  Crochet and sewing, sounds fun!

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/07/quick-crochet-fabric-top.html

Manic Monday

Nothing too manic about today.  Just a normal Monday after a fantastic weekend.  Hope to get some great naps from my baby and get some work done.  I need to work on/hopefully finish leg warmers and get some flower clips made up.

Hope your Monday is not manic but very chill. :)

Until next time...

Big 100 Giveaway results

Thank you to all who participated in our Big 100 Giveaway!  The results are in and here is the screen print:

Laura Haasenritter

Congrats Laura!  I will be in contact with you about your item :)

Thanks again for playing guys and once we hit 250 fans I will do another giveaway, so spread the word about Little Bird Designs of Fredericksburg!

Post It Thursday

Sorry I missed Wordless Wednesday.  I guess I was working too hard and forgot to post it.  Here are your post its for today: