Happy Birthday Mom!

Posting again today on honor of my mom's birthday!  She really doesn't know how much she means to me.  I didn't quite know what to get her this year, so what better than an Etsy gift card!  Accompanying this gift card, I created a treasury of items I thought she would like (though she obviously can spend it on whatever she wants).  Her favorite colors are orange and green, so the treasury includes a lot of items featuring those colors, both separate and together!  I also included some Finding Nemo finds (her favorite movie) and hand-made Western Michigan gear. 

My parents and I after one of my WMU Symphonic Band Concerts (2011)

I also suggested that she could buy some hand-dyed yarn with her gift card so that I could make her a truly one-of-a-kind item.  Who knows what she'll buy, I'm just so excited that we could celebrate her today.  She's definitely the best mother I've ever had! 

-MC

Favorite Shops: ColorShiftYarn

I haven't purchased anything from this shop yet, but I've been wanting to for quite some time.  Erica from ColorShiftYarn dyes multiple skeins of yarns in many different gradations so that you can create a beautiful spectrum of color in your knitted or crocheted pieces.  She offers gradients of one color and also a variety of beautiful multi-colored kits as well.  Here is one of my favorites from her shop which features a gradient from a bright coral red color all the way to black. 

 

Clearly, Erica does beautiful work.  I hope to soon purchase one of her gradient sets.  She also sells patterns featuring colorwork that display her gradients in a lovely way.  

Don't forget!

This whole week, use the coupon code SHIPJUNE1 for free domestic shipping on orders of $20 or more in my shop!  www.etsy.com/shop/mcadenzaknits

Mega-Post!

I went camping over the weekend, and put off posting instead of creating one that would upload automatically.  So today's post will be full of Inspiration and Mark-Downs!

First off, I'm continuing to give teasers on my line of knit goods inspired by famous works of art.  Lynda from FiberDyet has sent me a picture of what she has come up with for the Starry Night yarn.  Hopefully I'll be receiving a sample soon!  It looks wonderful and luxurious and I'm so excited to begin knitting with it.  The colors look great!

I'm very eager to get this line started and listed in the shop.  Especially with such beautifully dyed yarn.

Now for the Mark-Down section!  For this whole week, enjoy free shipping on domestic orders over $20!  Just use the coupon code SHIPJUNE1, which is valid until Sunday June 30.  Stock up for this winter, or get some one-of-a-kind beaded knitting needles! 

www.etsy.com/shop/mcadenzaknits


On another note, the fisherman's rib scarf is proving to take slower than I hoped.  Working hard to get it done for Friday's post!

-MC

Pattern Friday: Fisherman's Rib Infinity Scarf

It's that time of the week: Pattern Friday!  Last week's pattern was the Cabled Mini Scarf by tinkerknits on Ravelry.  I have to say, it turned out beautifully!  I didn't get the chance to take a better picture, but here is what it looks like artfully selfied on Instagram:

Mine ended up a lot shorter than the pattern instructed, but it fits perfectly!  I used some triangular buttons that I picked up from my LYS.  The Malabrigo Chunky yarn that I used is so soft and cushy, I really just can't wait until it's cold so I can wear it! (Well I can wait, summer can stay for awhile if it wishes :)). 


For this week's pattern, I've decided to continue a scarf I've already started.  It was mentioned last week in the footnotes of a post, but I'm going to finish the Fisherman's Rib Stretchy Infinity Scarf, which can be found on Cynthia Gilbertson's Ravelry page.  So far, I've only been able to complete about a half of a foot because of time, but I will finish it for next week.  Here is a picture of what the stitch looks like:

This pattern uses the technique of knitting in the stitch under to make the scarf squishy and warm.   When I started the pattern, I used needles a size smaller than directed and also cast on 2 more stitches.  If you do knit this, don't be too worried about the stitches looking loose!  They even out as you continue.  Happy Knitting!



Announcement: I added FOUR new items to my Etsy shop yesterday, including those beaded knitting needles.  Feel free to check them out here!

-MC
 

Inspiration: Beaded Knitting Needles

As promised yesterday, I'm posting the results of my beaded knitting needle experiment!  They turned out truly lovely, and some have already been listed in my shop!  I hope to make this a permanent addition to my shop; they are so fun to make!  Here are some pictures of the process and finished products:

Dark metallic grey beads, listed in Etsy shop!

Beautiful light icy blue recycled glass beads

Bamboo beads, listed in Etsy shop!

Beads with hints of pink, coral, and orange

We'll see where this new craft takes me!
-MC

Beaded Knitting Needles

Though there are several talented sellers on Etsy that sell decorative knitting needles, it still seems as though this part of the knitter's market is lacking(in quantity, not quality!).  In comparison to other knitting accessories (stitch markers, yarn bowls, etc.) there are definitely less options for cute knitting needles.  It's been a small goal of mine to be able to display an array of decorative knitting needles in a cute jar on my desk.  I've started my collection purchasing some cute needles from Kelli at DotDotSmile.  Her clay needle toppers are so cute and she was great at communicating quickly and efficiently.
Because of this lull in the knitting accessory market, I've decided to give decorative needle design a try.  I'm heading to one of my "local" yarn shops in a few hours to grab some needles and beads, and we'll see where my creativity takes me this afternoon!  I'll post updates as soon as I feel they are up to par with the wonderful sellers on Etsy.  Wish me luck!

-MC

My Favorite Things

About a year ago, I purchased 3 crochet patterns from Bees Knees Knitting and I am completely delighted with the product.  Unfortunately, I've only had the time to finish one of the patterns (the fox scarf).  Crocheting is definitely not my area of expertise, but these patterns are written in a way that even a mere novice like myself could succeed.  I was so excited to make this fox scarf for a friend (whose last name is, coincidentally, Fox) and it turned out great!  I also purchased a dog and cat scarf pattern that I'm anxious to try.  These animal scarves are so fun to make, and the patterns, though not beginning level, are written in a straightforward way.  I definitely suggest taking a look at this shop!

The scarf turned out great!

I made a matching headband with the extra yarn!

In other news:
 - Today is the LAST DAY to get the Scherzo Ear Warmer for a discounted price!  The sale ends   tonight at midnight. 

Mark-down Monday!

For today and tomorrow ONLY, enjoy the Scherzo Ear Warmer from my shop MCadenza Knits for a discounted price!  The headband, which usually sells for $26.99, is now available for a limited time at $22.  The sale will end on June 19 at 12:00AM Central Time. The Scherzo Ear Warmer is available in several beautiful colors and is a lovely addition to your winter wardrobe. 

If you're in the West Michigan area, and enjoy crafting, check out the Etsy West Michigan Team's Craft Party on June 20! All the information is here on the Facebook page.

I'm also starting a new infinity scarf using this pattern.  I think be very nice with my skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca.  I'll be updating with pictures along the way.

-MC

Sneak Peak!

A lot of things are falling into place, and very soon I will have my first sample skein of custom yarn for a new project for my shop!  Lynda from Fiber Dyet has dyed me some beautiful organic cotton yarn inspired by Vincent van Gogh's, Starry Night.  I'm extremely excited to begin working with this yarn, and hopefully this will turn into a successful line of knit wear inspired by famous works of art.  Other paintings I hope to pay homage to are Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, The Birth of Venus by by Sandro Botticelli, and The Scream by Edvard Munch.  My hope is, through this project, to find my niche in large and ever-growing Etsy market.

For something a little more light-hearted, here are some behind the scenes shots from my first photo shoot!  I'm so grateful to my models/photographer, Anna and Robby.  There were and always are lovely to be around. 

Robby's Signature Pout

A test shot in a beautiful courtyard!

Anna enjoyed making weird faces at me.

FIERCE

My scarves also serve as delicious mid-day snacks!

Pattern Friday!

Starting now, every Friday I will feature a different free Ravelry pattern on my blog.  These patterns will be for relatively small pieces that don't take too long to knit up.  Before the next week's pattern is picked, I will knit the piece and display it here for all to see.  You can join in as well, and we can all knit these together if you so choose.  So without further ado, this week's pattern is...

Cabled Mini Scarf (bulky) from Ravelry user tinkerknits.  She also has a blog that featuring posts about knitting and other crafts as well.

 I will be using Malabrigo Chunky yarn, and will probably end up making the scarf a little shorter than the pattern calls for.  I'm very excited to make this, I'm sure it will be a fabulous addition to my winter accessories!

The pattern can be found here!

-MC

Inspiration - Sky Scarf

One of my newest ideas for the Etsy shop is to create an infinity scarf with colors that cycle through the colors of the sky throughout a 24 hour period.  The idea struck after I found this post on tumblr:

I would use a simple pattern, so that the focus would be on the colors.  My biggest problem so far has been finding a yarn that has all of the colors required to make it!  The morning colors are the toughest; just the right shade of periwinkle and coral are essential.  I think I may have found a yarn (Cascade Brand) that has just the right shades.  Hopefully you'll be seeing this in my shop soon!

-MC

New Endeavours!

With my brand new Etsy shop, MCadenza Knits, up and running, I want to make every effort I can to reach those who enjoy yarn and needlecraft as much as I do.  Hopefully through this blog, I can really pinpoint my niche in such a vast eccentric marketplace.  On this blog, I hope to find an outlet for all of my ideas and thoughts, and receive feedback and support from customers and knitters alike.  I plan on posting patterns, both my own and ones found on Ravelry that I particularly like, and things that I find inspiring to my art.  I'll also toss in a few announcements and special offers from my shop.  So, here goes something!