Sorry it's been so long since I've posted!  I've been busy working on turning my attic into my craft studio/ office (more to come on that in the Summer we are in the planning stages right now),  and working on creating things for my Etsy shop Ornute.  So I've basically been sewing and knitting up a storm lately.


I have decided not to make any Christmas gifts this year even though I've had some great ideas for my niece and nephew (all involved sewing and making a pattern), because it's far to late to start any big projects.  Instead I will start them in the fall next year.  I have a tendency to underestimate how long gifts will take and then I'm stressed at the last minute.  My goal is a stress free holiday season!  This got me thinking that if I wanted to knit a gift for someone as long as it was one skein pretty basic and used large needles it really wouldn't be too late to make a gift for someone.  One skein chunky knit patterns are perfect, because they knit up fast since they use large needles.   So instead of hitting up the mall, get comfy on the couch with a good long movie, your knitting needles, and some yarn and make a gift for you or a loved one.

Of course I had to share with you some of my favorite easy quick knit patterns I've found online. Most of these patterns are pretty basic so they are great for beginners and for mindless knitting (knitting while talking or watching TV) as I like to call it.   Hope you enjoy these patterns and have a stress free Holidays!

Oh You Crafty Gal's One Skein Seed Cowl

Our one skein one night chunky Chelsea Cowl free knitting pattern

Dropped Stitch Cowl by Abi Gregorio

Free Knitting Pattern: Dropped Stitch Cowl by Abi Gregorio

This free knitting pattern by Abi Gregorio of Spiderwomen Knits knits up fast since it's a dropped stitch.  Just grab some super bulky yarn ((5-6 wpi) 110 yards (101 m) and size 15 needles circular needles. 

Chunky Fingerless Gloves by Gina Michele

Free pattern from Gina Michele: Chunky finger less gloves

I love these arm warmers by Gina Michele to make for gifts or for yourself.  This Free Knit Pattern is stitched in garter and do not require any shaping for the thumb hole so they are great for beginners.  They also only use one skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (or you could use any chunky weight 6 yarn), and size 13 needles and are worked flat then seamed leaving a hole for the thumb.    Gina has lot of other great quick knit beginner projects too so be sure to check out her other free knitting and crochet patterns many of them are one skein too.

Anthro-tastic Headband by Vera Sanon

Anthro-tastic Headband by Vera Sanon

Here is a pic Knitgene took of their creation of this pattern

Vera Sanon made this pattern for a headband/ear‐warmer that is modeled after one at Anthropology that retailed at almost $100, since of course she would rather make one herself.  And now so can you with her free pattern.  You can find this free pattern on Ravelry and check out how this pattern has worked for others with pics and notes. 

Size: 4.5”/11.5 cm wide and 17 (19, 21)”/43 (48.5, 53.5) cm long, to fit 18 (20, 22)”/46 (51, 56) cm head circumference.

Materials:
Loops & Thread Cozy Wool (50% Wool/50% Acrylic) – 90 yds/80m per 4.5 oz/127g skein – Super Bulky Yarn 1 skein (the larges sizes uses approx. 52 yds/48 m)
1 set of US # 13 (9 mm) needles
Spare DPN or large cable needle or spare circular needle
Tapestry Needle

Brandy Melville Inspired Chunky Beanie

Brandy Melville Inspired Chunky Beanie by BitchinKnitting

Hats make a great gift cause you can never have to many!  Since this free knitting pattern from BitchinKnitting uses a seed stitch it creates a more unique textured fabric.  Uses some unique chunky yarn to make it even more unique!

Supplies used:

• 1 skein Deborah Norville Serenity chunky tweed yarn (other bulky weight yarns will work just as well)
• US 11 (8.0 mm) 16 inch circular needles
• US 8 (5.0 mm) DPNs (4 or 5 DPNs depending on your preference)
• Place marker (not necessary but very useful)
• Tapestry needle

Megan E Sass Chunky Knit Beanie Hat

Megan E Sass Chunky Knit Beanie Hat

MATERIALS NEEDED:

The Brioche Honeycomb Cowl by Knit LA

Free Knitting Pattern The Brioche Honeycomb Cowl by Knit LA

How cozy and sophisticated is this Brioche Honeycomb cowl by LA Knits?  Who wouldn't love this as a gift?  The brioche honeycomb stitch creates a beautiful texture and pattern.  This might be a little difficult for a beginner and is not what I would call mindless knitting, but it does have good instructions about how to create the brioche honeycomb stitch.  This free knitting pattern for the Brioche Honeycomb Cowl by Knit LA uses Blissa chunky yarn (130 yards) and size 17 needles and is worked flat.  Knit LA has other great free patterns using chunky yarn you should also check out.


Now that you've made your gift check out our post Best of Free Printable Tags/ Labels For Handmade Gifts  and check out our free knitting patterns!

For more free printable labels for handmade goods and tutorials on how to make fabric labels check out my Pinterest board DIY labels/Tags

For more free knitting patterns check out our pinterest board "Free Chunky Knitting Patterns" and one skein knitting and crochet patterns.


http://ohyoucraftygal.blogspot.com ©Oh You Crafty Gal! All rights reserved.

Check out this free printable tag for your hand knit or crochet gifts from Cobberson & CO

 It's now the perfect time to start making any Christmas gifts you are planning.  And while you are at it why not start thinking about the packaging.  I was looking on pinterest for ideals and found that many free printable tags for handmade gifts are no longer there.  Most of the links were broken.  This left me compelled to share the few great ones I found that in fact do actually link to free pdf you can print.  Yea!

Last year I created this pattern for my super duper huge mug (holds about 3 cups) that I use to drink coffee every mourning from. I couldn't find any patterns to fit my huge mug so I decided to make up my own pattern!  I've been using my mug cozy for over a year now and I love it.  It's even great for keeping smoothies in the summer cold which I live in on the summer.  I have certainly gotten a lot of use out of my mug cozy!

Handmade Scarfs like the Brixton

I've been having fun learning how to knit as you know if you follow this blog and I just wanted to share with you that I decided to start my Etsy shop Ornute to showcase these items and more.  After working in fashion for years I know starting anything just before Christmas (especially online) is not the best ideal, but I couldn't resist.  I'm having so much fun knitting I just wanted to share it with everyone.

image via One Late Night

Since I've been learning how to knit lately, I've been acquiring yarn and supplies and am needing ways to store them.  I've been searching the internet for good ideals and I found a lot I'd thought I'd share with you.    I think my favorite is the yarn ball machine pictured above.  How cool is that!


I've worked in visuals and merchandising so I've learned the best way to design a space is to pretend it's a store.  So for example pretend your closet is a boutique, how would you merchandise it?  Or if your craft room was a craft store.....?   So how would you display your yarn your selling?  Below are a few ideals that fit with my way of looking at design.

Check out this cool wood working job for yarn storage from Easy Makes Me Happy

Prudent Baby used a wine rack for yarn!  Notice the storage of knitting needles and notions on top too.

Laughing Purple Goldfish Design uses magazine files for yarn storage on shelves, genius!

I love the ideal of using book cases for yarn storage.  I think it's best to either blend it into an existing use for a book case (books, pictures, etc), or to just fill it all with yarn in a organized way with supports for the yarn, weather it's cubes, baskets, or magazine files as pictured above.  You can buy cool cheap magazine files at Ikea or make your own out of cereal boxes and modge podge. 

Dottie Angel has created beautiful storage for her knitting needles (storage in cups and pitchers on top) and yarn with her book case which could also double as a side table.

Talia Christine used simple mason jars for storing her needles.  Simple cheap and modern, I love it!

I also love the ideal of turning your yarn storage into art work by using large clear vases as (shown below)  and a storage unit or making cool box shelves for the wall that turns your yarn into works of art.

large clear vases turn yarn storage into works of art as shown by Little Lady Patchwork

I love the ideal of using cube like book cases for yarn storage because it has natural separators to help hold in the yarn and organize it plus it gives you the option of open storage or using baskets or both as pictured below from Steamy Kitchen.

Cube yarn storage from Steamy Kitchen gives you the option of using baskets, open storage or both

A good option for a well organized yarn collection could be tiered baskets as pictured below.  I think this looks a little messy but if it was organized by color in a way that flows well (yellow to green to blue for example) and not over stuffed it could look quite cute. 

Imagine this tiered basket pictured in Loopey Ewe with similar colors in each basket.....

You could also pull the drawers out of a dresser and use containers like at Sew Many Ways.  I  prefer open storage or pretty baskets like Steamy Kitchen did (pictured above) but I know clear plastic containers  can have it's benefits too (easy to take out, protected from bugs and water, easy to see what you have).

Hanging storage for yarn from KTB Designs.  She didn't say what kind of hanging storage she used.  I'm guessing a hanging shoe organizer would be best for most yarn collestions.

Cornflower Blue Studio puts her bits of leftover yarn onto clothespins, what a great ideal!

Wine racks work great for yarn storage.  Prudent Baby came up with another way to use wine racks for yarn storage, under the desk.  So smart and I love that it fits the modern look of her desk and chair.

I've actually seen this before and didn't think it was too cute for shoe storage, but I never thought of it for yarn!  I actually think that would be super cute in a craft room.  It looks like it's screwed together with nuts.  Drilling through PVC is easy so this should be pretty easy to make.  If your interested in PVC ideals I wrote a post on PVC ideals in gardening and outdoor living.  Image found via pinterest

I just started to learn how to knit and decided I wanted to make a cowl.  The only problem is I couldn't find a pattern that I liked to use. I wanted it skinny enough to easily fit under my jacket and long enough that I could use it to cover my mouth if it gets really cold (I do live in Minnesota).   I also couldn't find a pattern that didn't use circular needles.  I don't know how to use circular needles yet, so I chose to join them together instead.  You could definitely alter this pattern to be made on circular needles if you wish.



I basically came up with the ideal for this last year, I just didn't know how to knit yet. It makes a great last minute gift since you can finish it in a night.


I just felt like my scarfs last year were a bit too bundled up looking.  Let's just say in MN when your happy that it's a warm day because it's in the single digits (yes you heard me right), you feel less than glamourous.  All you care about is being warm.  But hey it's nice to be cute and warm right?

I used the seed stitch for this pattern because it's not to hard for a newbie like me and it creates a great texture.


The finished cowl measures 14 inches long and 9 and a 1/2 inches long.  I would have preferred it to be just a little shorter and wider.   Maybe like 12 inches by 11 inches.  I think if I had cast on 37 stitches instead of 43 it would have been closer to these dimensions, so I altered the pattern to reflect these changes so the finished dimension of the pattern should be 13 inches by 11 inches.  

Are you ready to knit this?

Finished Size: approximently 13 inches x 11 inches

Gauge
4 inches in seed stitch= 10 stitches and 10 Rows

Supplies

• One skein of Patons Classic Wool Roving, approx 120 yards in dark grey, or bulky yarn
• size 13 knitting needles
• Scissors
• darning needle

Abbreviations:
K - knit
P - purl
Sts - stitches

Instructions:
Cast on 37 sts
Row 1: K1, P1....repeat  ending on K
Row 2-until desired length K1, P1....repeat  ending on K, (make sure to purl into knits, and knit into purls).
Once reached desired length , bind off and leave a tail about 3 times the length, thread yarn with darning needle and seam with mattress stitch.  Wool and the Gang has a great tutorial on invisible seaming with seed (moss) stitch
Weave in ends

Enjoy your new scarf!

         http://ohyoucraftygal.blogspot.com ©Oh You Crafty Gal! All rights reserved.   

Check out my other free patterns:


Free Twisted Rib Large Mug Cozy Knitting Pattern with Videos 

image credit

I am just starting to learn how to knit.  I am taking a class and we are learning how to make mittens.  I have been using online resources to help me in between class, so I thought I'd share all the cool resources I found that have been helping me learn.  Enjoy!

Weeble Knits got 2 lbs of wool yarn (the video is for perspective) from 1 sweater, check out there tutorial here.

I am currently taking a knitting class and learning how to knit.  So when I was going through my closet and I realized that I had a few sweaters I no longer wanted, it hit me I could probably recycle the yarn in these.  So I did an Internet search to see what was out there knowing I certainly wasn't the first to have this thought.  And I found a lot of great posts on this subject that I thought I would share along with what I learned myself trying to unravel mine.

My Inspiration: from analogue me  I would love to wear these with bright colored tights and nude pumps!

Every season I try to think of something new to add to my wardrobe that will help transition the seasons and liven up my wardrobe.  If you follow this blog you've probably noticed I'm a bit obsesed with hosiery.  This season what I really want is crochet and lace knitted socks. I love the idea of using color and layering with tights, lace knee highs and thigh highs, with pumps for spring.  It's sexy, funky, and you can still be warm on a cold spring day even though you put all your winter stuff away.  Living in MN, I can only assume I'll be faced with at least a few of these days!

Handmade Ryan Gosling

No, I don't have a thing for Ryan Gosling, but this is hilarious. And let's face it, sometimes crafting you need a good laugh! I thought I'd share this site in case you haven't already discovered Handmade Ryan Gosling.  Basically people submit images of Ryan Gosling that start with Hey Girl... followed by a funny craft related caption.  I thought I'd post a few of my favs.  You can visit Handmade Ryan Gosling for more or to submit your own.  Maybe I will.....hummm I'll have to think on this for awhile.

knit these leg warmers from a free pattern here via Falling Stiches

I have been trying to get into fall fashion and try to reevaluate my wardrobe.  I am trying to figure out if I need to take anything in or out and am bringing my fall clothes up from storage and putting my summer clothes away.  I am keeping a small amount of my summer clothes in my closet still because by using layers you can often still wear more clothes in your closet than you think.

I live in Minneapolis, which as you can imagine gets pretty cold in the winter.  I have had to learn pretty cleaver ways to stay warm and cute.  I also have worked for years as a visual merchandiser and a merchandiser in fashion.  Anyone who has worked in the industry knows it's all about the layers.  So given my background I am all about the layers.  Here's my guide how to use them to extend your wardrobe further into the season

Sweater coat over a dress

Layers on Top: Cardigans, Sweater Coats, Ponchos, Scarfs, Open Knit Tops, and Shrugs.  You can still wear tank tops and sleeveless tops and summer dresses with any of the above.  As long as it's not to stylistically summer looking.  For example a simple black sleeveless top could be work with a black fur shrug. You could even wear a top over a dress

Wear a top over a dress

 Layers on Bottom: Tights, Leg Warmers, Knee High Boots, Knee High Socks, and Leggings.  You can still wear dresses, skirts, pumps, and even shorts.  I love the idea of wearing leg warmers  under knee length boots and over tights.  The image before is from Falling Stiches and here is where you can find a free pattern to DIY one yourself.  When it gets seriously cold you can even wear leggings underneath pants.  I also think knee highs with heels are really cute.

knee highs and tights with a jacket could easily be a summer dress

  I so want to try this!  This is so cool, since I always have left over scraps of fabric!  I found this on Mademoiselle Chaos's blog.  I guess I'll have to use a chopstick or knitting needle as she suggests since I don't have a spinning machine.  I'll post as soon as I do!  Here are some pics from her blog, you can read more at her site how to do this here.

You start with fabric scraps that are cut lengthwise and then tie it onto a knitting needle or chopstick and start spinning.