BabyKnits Frenzy

I have a confession.  

I think I actually may be addicted to yarn.

Yesterday, I went back to the store and came out with 8 skeins for new projects!  This time I bought some Debbie Bliss Fez in a Seafoam colour (7) & one of the Debbie Bliss Rialto DK's again.

If you haven't been following my projects that are completed and in progress on my HbyS FB Page, here's the first of my new BabyKnits line!

Basic Colour Block Bib

These bibs are bright & colourful.  It features 3 adjustable sizes around the neck & is totally machine-wash friendly!  Now that I've bought another colour in the same yarn, expect something more fancy in pattern/colours to be posted up soon!  =)

Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - superwash

I am working a personal project right now, knitting up a baby blanket.  I've never dared to make anything large.. like a sweater.  But I suppose if I got through the double knitted 38-hour scarf from X'mas time, I can commit to a blanket!

The Debbie Bliss Fez is pretty awesome too.  It's composed of Extrafine Merino & CAMEL!  Imagine that.  It's super soft.  The next fibre I'm dying to try is Possum from New Zealand - apparently it's extremely warm.

Debbie Bliss Fez - Project Baby Blanket

Right now, I'm half way through my first skein!  It's pretty crazy how many stitches I had to cast on.. seeing as I am used to 60 stitches maximum, usually.  SO... 6.5 more skeins to go!  I'll definitely keep posting progress photos of this - it's so exciting to watch it get bigger & bigger.

I'm just following a basic pattern that I found on Ravelry.  If you haven't been to the website yet.. you must!  The possibilities are endless - you can look up specific yarns and patterns for knitting and crocheting to make anything you want, basically! 

What are you making??  xx.

New BabyKnits Line!

Hello everybody!

I have some tremendously exciting news.  As a new season is about to start, Handmade By Sylvie is also expanding into a different line in addition my wintery knits!  

I will be starting a line of knitted/crocheted items called HbyS BabyKnits!  

From bibs & hats to blankets galore.. neutrals, multis & brights!

Most items will be made with superwash material that will be machine-washable for your ease of caring.

Actually, I just did some shopping at my favourite yarn store in Point Grey - Urban Yarns.

Debbie Bliss Yarns

Photos of projects to come.. stay tuned!!   =)


I also want to thank everyone for all of the support you have given me, it was been truly been a blessing!  xx.


[for further inquiry regarding HbyS BabyKnits, please send me an email - I'd love to hear from you!]

Spring Awakening

It is official - I think Spring is making it's way here in Vancouver!  The daylight lengthening, the weather milder.  

You step outside, your mind still & you take in that cool breath of air.  You feel that path of air travel into your body, to your heart.  & suddenly everything feels at ease.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Well, sometimes I get this feeling out of knitting.  Sometimes, I want to poke my eyeballs out with my precious Addi needles. 

"BAHHHH.. ripping out at least 36 rows & I'm not sure how many I've ripped out & oh my.. can even get all the stitches back on the needle the right way!? !*(@$&$@*" 

Extra Long Men's Double Knitted Cashmere Fisherman Ribbed Scarf 

Sound familiar?  You know what I'm talking about.  Went back to Bikram Yoga for the first time in a long time today with the intention of making it regular practise ;).  It reminded me how much stillness is needed in our lives.

Same goes for everything else, even knitting.  The times I'm trying to plow through orders with brain jacked up on "Must finish.  Need to Finish.  Must Knit Faster." chants, are the times.  My brain suffocates, you must allow breath to reach your mind.  

Believe that the work (knitting) will just happen on auto-pilot then.  It will feel easy and your projects will be completed before you know it.   = ) 

Completed in 38 hours!!

For me, Fibre Art is another channel of meditation for me & I hope you can find the same type of benefits through discovering your own art! 

Low & behold, then there are also the times that I'm just continuously watching "Beverly Hills  90210" ('90s seasons) on Netflix while working on my orders...  

Beverly Hills 90210 (Original Cast)

Do what works for you & remember to breathe.  Trust that you will get it done.  xx.

Fibre Favourites

With so many different fibres that are offered on the market.. I've only been able to try a handful of them (so far) in the 3 months that Handmade By Sylvie has been up & running.

From lower-end yarns from Michael's to expensive yarn that made my eyes widen in shock.  The most expensive yarn I've seen to date cost $100/skein!  I KNOW, right?!

Anyway... the material I've loved working with on a few orders is from Blue Sky Alpacas.

They have all these wonderful kinds of yarn like the Worsted Cottons and Bulky lines.  I go yarn petting often, it's such a guilty pleasure - but it helps you learn about all the texture and fibres that are out there!

In my last post, I mentioned the smooth & silky Worsted Hand-Dyes.  Composition: 50% royal alpaca, 50% merino.

Rib-Checked Scarf  [midnight blue]

Herringbone Scarf w/ Borders  [ecru]

DIY Custom: Boo Boyfriend Scarf  [denim, ecru, midnight blue]

This material knits up quicker than you think!  If you're the type of person who loves to make your own knits, but hates how long it can take to complete a project.. you should definitely try the Worsted Hand-Dyes.  They've got a lot of colours & any stitch work looks gorgeous. 

Blue Sky Alpacas - Worsted Hand-Dyes

Check them out here.

Let me know what you're going to make!  What's your favourite yarn?  xx.

First DIY Custom Pattern

I think the single best thing about creating knits, big or small, is that you can just let all your creative juices flow.  It's like drawing, painting or sculpting.

My DIY line blossomed when a woman came to me asking if I can help her with a scarf she wanted to make for her boyfriend for Valentine's Day!  So sweet, if you ask me.  = )

Boo from Super Mario Bros.

She wanted to feature the character, Boo, from Super Mario in a blue or black colour scheme.  I was shocked by the level of trust she had in me for all the materials and patterning -  this is one of the most exciting projects I've done to date.

After a few tweaks here & there, she was finished with the body of the scarf in just a few days!  I custom knitted up a tongue for her and attached it.  I've just been asked to upgrade the character to King Boo - so, here is also a picture of a little crown accessory! 

Crown Accessory

Take a look, her stitch work is gorgeous!!

Rachel's DIY Boyfriend Scarf

 

If you would like to order your own custom pattern to work on, send me an email. 


I would love to hear from you! xx.


Featured materials:  Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand-Dyes (denim, ecru, midnight blue)

Crochet Stuffed Owlie

For this project, I crossed over to the crocheting world.

I'm not so good at crocheting (I tried it before committing to knitting).. but I have some basic skills in my back pocket.  Thank you, Kyrra!  She makes lovely crocheted "Cupcake Hats", by the way.


Project Forest Ninja Owlie


Pinterest.  

The other week, I came across this adorable little owlie.  I posted it to my page & got a positive response & even an order!

[credit: Pinterest]

I started the project last night & it was rather quick to make.  It took some time to really perfect my pattern though, as usual.  First, it was too big to be "keychain size", then it was perfecto!!

Starting with a "magic circle", I just stitched the body using a series of single crochets (sc) in rounds, increasing until my desired size then just kept (sc)ing until I achieved the height that I wanted.  You can change the colours as you go as well.

Forest Ninja Owlie - Handmade By Sylvie

My buyer wanted a  "ninja"-esque Owlie.  I made mine starting with a black base and contrasted the top with a forest green.  Then I added on two rounds of cream for the eyes & crocheted 2 mini chains w/ 2 rows for its wings.

I'm still waiting to find some black buttons to finish off this little Owlie.

Easy peasy, stuff & decorate!


Recommended materials:  
Paton's Classic Worsted Weight Yarn, 4.5mm crochet hook, tapestry needle


I'll be starting to make some tutorials - let me know which ones you'd like to see up.  

I hope you enjoyed my first blog post!  xx.

Welcome!

Handmade By Sylvie is expanding into the blog-mesphere!

I'll be posting up lots of fibre art related posts, where you can also follow a bit of my process!

Whether you're new to knitting or not, there will always be more to learn & endless creativity.  =)

Thank you so much for all the Likes & followers of my artisan knits.   Serious love. 

Local to Vancouver, BC.

Handmade With Love.  Cozy up.  Spread The Word.

Granville Island, Vancouver, BC     [credit: Miss 604]