The Three Hobbies of Knitting :: Why Do You Knit?

WIP (Work In Progress), the process of knitting: Pollen hat by Andrea Mowry in Mano’s Maxima yarn.

Pollen Hat by Andrea Mowry, stitch detail with Manos Maxima yarn.

Finished Object (FO), one of the many reasons to be a knitter.

Knitting can be broken into two different hobbies, actually, make that three, because I just realized that one of the elements doesn’t involve the act of knitting at all. Not everyone is a “knitter” for the same reason, and each reason is a hobby in itself.

The Collection…

The first element of knitting is the collecting of the materials. Yarn stashes and needle collections are no joke! Some people even stop at this first element of knitting and never seem to progress on to the actual act of knitting. They choose, however, to increase their collection of yarn as true connoisseurs of fiber.

The Process…

The second element is the process of knitting. The sitting for hours, rhythmically clicking your needles together, fondling the yarn and solving the puzzle of the pattern. This is the part of knitting that can be so relaxing and calming. It’s where all your other cares fall away and it’s just you and your project. This is where I love to be. It’s not even as important to me what I’m making, as long as I’m making.

The Product…

Not everyone knits for that relaxed state of mind though. The third element to knitting is the tangible finished product. Some people knit because they really need a sweater that fits just right, or a gift that needs to be given. They don’t necessarily love the process of knitting, but the finished product is worth the effort for them.

I believe all of these are valid reasons to call yourself a knitter and of course these can cross over into any fiber art! Crochet, weaving, needlepoint, quilting…they all posses these elements. Where do you fall in this spectrum of knitting hobbies?

Pattern: Pollen Hat by Andrea Mowry

Yarn: Maxima in color Jelly Bean by Manos Del Uruguay.

Happy Knitting!

xo Emily

Giving a New Meaning to Finished

I haven’t taken a real personality test in over 20 years, but I’m pretty familiar with who I am. I’m that person who has a strong desire to finish what I started. Are you one of these? This trait has many rewards, this I know, but would you believe it also has it’s drawbacks?

My younger self (also a seamstress, I’ve been sewing/knitting since before I could ride a bike) could never abandon a project before it was competely finished, even if I knew I didn’t like it, and even at the cost of wasting time finishing. Only once I was completely finished would I release myself from the burden of the project.

I feel like just recently, I’ve crossed a major line of progress in using my “don’t stop until you finish” character by changing what “finished” means to me.

Finished doesn’t have to mean that an actual product was made to completion. It can also mean that the project has served its purpose, and sometimes that happens before it is actually complete.

FINISHED has become more about the PROCESS and less about the PROJECT.

Take this project of knitting a tank top, for example. I’ve knit myself and others many sweaters, but have recently been drawn towards making my own tank top pattern. Once I knit this one far enough to try it on, I realized how much I hated the fit. Rather than getting down on myself for wasting that time and yarn, I counted this project a success since it brought me one step closer to knitting that tank top I dream of, and immediately started unraveling.

And the good news is, there was just enough yarn after I unraveled the whole tank top to knit this baby sweater!

And the even better new is, I enjoyed every stitch along the way!

xo Emily

Looking for a knit or crochet project? I’ve got a growing list of FREE PATTERNS HERE so you too can get lost in the process too!

How to Knit a Bubble Stitch

Knitting this Bubble Stitch is easier than it looks!

For all it’s luscious texture you would think it was an elaborate design for only experts to achieve! You’ll be happy to learn that the majority of the rows of this stitch are a simple stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). The bubble pattern is actually achieved with one out of every six rows using a “knit four down” technique. This technique is way easier to show in a video than explain with words, so don’t forget to watch the video below!

Bubble Stitch Pattern

cast on multiples of 4 plus 3

row 1: Purl

row 2: Knit

row 3: Purl

row 4: Knit

row 5: Purl

***now is the time to add a new color if desired***

row 6: *Knit 3, Knit 4 below*, repeat from *to end of row. (see video below for this “knit four below” technique)

rows 7 to 11: Repeat rows 1-5

***now is the time to add a new color if desired***

row 12: Knit 1, Knit 4 below, *k3, Knit 4 below*, repeat from * to end of row.

repeat rows 1 to 12 as desired.

Be warned, this stitch is addicting!

Looking for some fun patterns to try? Check out my growing list of FREE Patterns here:

As always, I’d love to see your work! Tag me on Instagram @emily_bluecorduroy and I’ll show your photos in my stories! Enjoy your knitting!

xo Emily

Take a Tour of my Living Room Sewing Studio

Welcome to my upstairs living room sewing studio! I’m so thankful for this room and I’ll tell you why. I love being able to sew and not be secluded from what the rest of the family is doing. With my studio space right in the middle of our upstairs living space, I don’t have to feel shut away or disconnected from my people.

My husband built me this huge and beautiful sewing desk that fits perfectly into the corner of our a-frame room and has been such a great space for all my fabric and supply storage, cutting and ironing, and of course room for lots of sewing!

Our house is an a-frame, which means this upper room has that awkward triangle ceiling that can be challenging for certain furniture arrangements, and impossible for wall art. But this wall of windows with an ocean view makes up for it all! The natural light up here is amazing. It can heat up, but the curtains I made out of white sheets helps so much when the sun gets too intense in the later afternoon.

My work space is constantly evolving as my projects do. One of my latest improvements to this space is adding all the storage baskets to my sewing desk. It makes this space look much less cluttered, and more cohesive. I found all these at the thrift shop and spent less than $5 each!

I love having all my yarn on an open shelf. For years I kept it in plastic bins, and it was so hard to feel creative when all those colors and textures were hiding behind each other and smushed. This shelf keeps me inspired. I may not keep it super tidy, but even messy ends have a certain charm of their own, don’t you think?

I actually do still keep a plastic bin of yarn under my sewing desk. It’s all the yarn that I no longer am inspired by, or pieces that are too small for a size run of bonnets. I keep this older yarn around for our little friends who come visit. Most of the kids who come to my house know that there is yarn upstairs and a friendly lady (that’s me!) ready to teach the next stitch whenever they ask!

You can see how this space has evolved in these older blog posts…from when we first moved in and I was still sewing on an old fold out table to when my custom sewing desk was brand new.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Emily

4 Easy and Quick Knit and Crochet Baby Bonnet Patterns for You to Make

It’s been a dream of mine for a few years now to have a collection of patterns available for you. This is just the beginning, because in my dream, there’s going to be a lot more where this came from!

Here is a round-up of the baby hat patterns I’ve made this last year and I’ve been so thankful for the wonderful response from all the people who have bought and made these patterns with great success!

Both knit and crochet patterns are available as well as FREE patterns and lessons to get you started!

Crochet Baby Bonnet Patterns

Heirloom Bonnet Crochet Pattern

This simple Heirloom Crochet Bonnet is a great beginning bonnet pattern. Mostly made with single crochet stitches and an easy to read pattern. I highly suggest using Magnolia and Oak Fibers Baby Alpaca yarn, once you do, you’ll never want to crochet with anything else! See this blog post for more details: Simple Crochet Baby Bonnet Pattern Blog post.

Crochet Shell Pixie Bonnet Pattern

Any child who wears bonnets definantly needs a pixie bonnet in their collection! This Crochet Pixie Bonnet pattern is crocheted with a shell stitch that creates a beautiful texture. See this blog post for more details on this pattern: Make Your Own Crochet Baby Pixie Bonnet blog post.

Free Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

For those of you who really want to make one of these crochet bonnets, but need to learn still, or want an easier project to warm up with, then grab this FREE Crochet Dishcloth Pattern, and visit my Blue Corduroy Crochet Lessons Series. You CAN do this!

I find that I equally love knitting and crocheting. Anything with yarn, people! But I’m well aware that many of you prefer one to the other, or have only learned one so far. For those of you who are knitters…

Knit Baby Bonnet Patterns

Knit Garden Bonnet Pattern

Bonnets are so quick to knit up that they are the perfect project for learning new stitches and techniques. This sweet Garden Baby Bonnet uses a technique called stranded colorwork, where you use two strands of different colored yarn to create a color design. See this blog post for more details: The Garden Lattice Knit Baby Bonnet Pattern.

Knit Checkerboard Bonnet Pattern

Knitting is really just different combinations of Knits and Purls, right? Well this Checkerboard Knit Baby Bonnet Pattern uses knits and purls to create a classic checkerboard texture. For more details you can read: Knit Baby Bonnet Pattern :: A Chunky Checkerboard blog post.

Free Knit Scarf Pattern

Need to warm up your knitting needles? This FREE Scarf Pattern is a great way to get your groove back, and learn a simple new stitch in the process. Complete with video tutorial to help you every step of the way.

I truly hope at least one of these patterns gets you excited and motivated to CREATE! When you finish your project, I’d love to see it! You can tag me on Instagram @emily_bluecorduroy.

Sign up for my newsletter and get %15 off your next purchase in my shop, including patterns! And be the first to know when new patterns and products are released.

xo Emily

more pom poms!

As promise, more pom pom hats are available.  This batch of kid sized pom pom beanies comes in an assortment of fantastic colors and super cozy too!    Perfect for after surfing, chilly mornings, or just to look good in!

new baby pom pom beanies!!

Here's my first batch of knit beanies for the shop!!  I can't get enough of the pom poms, I want to put one on everything.  These come in a few different sizes for baby because they just don't stop growing.  Made from super soft acrylic yarn for an itch free experience.  Blues and greens for the boys...

Pinks and oranges for the girls...The color combo's of the diamond patterns are super fun and lively.  The ombre stripes are a classic look you can wear with anything.  Babies are sold separately.

Coming soon:  Kid and adult knit beanies!

Super thanks to Toni Weber Photography for the beautiful photos.  And thanks a million to my precious baby models and their parents.

in love with knitting again...

I used to knit in college.  I knit all my surfer boy buddies hats.  I loved stripes.  I even made myself a few sweaters.  And then at some point, I stopped.  Years later I picked up crocheting and loved it.  I didn't knit for about 10 or 15 years.

 I bought myself some new bamboo knitting needles.  I used to use my friends grandma's hand-me-down metal ones.  I love the click click click of the metal ones, but I love the smooth glide of the bamboo ones.

I love knitting again....and I love crocheting still.