Moving Sale!

In honor of my sister and I (hopefully!) moving out of our apartment in the lovely yet very foggy Richmond/Seacliff district come October 1st, I have decided to put my entire stock of Morning Fog Mitts on sale. Get ready for winter and save a few bucks in the meantime! (But feel free to send good thoughts our way as our apartment hunt continues...)

morning fog mitts // gray and navy

morning fog mitts // lettuce green and cream morning fog mitts // emerald blue and gray

When I'm Not Making Gloves...

Occasionally I manage to actually start and finish a project for myself entirely outside of the world of Etsy. It's rare, but I think it's something worth celebrating. I've come to the conclusion that I am a hat/gloves/cowl making girl at heart (thanks, in part, to my terrible habit of never finishing large projects), but here's a peek of some of the projects from 2009 that have actually completed their cast-on to cast-off life cycles.

Jasmine

pattern: Jasmine by Kim Hargreaves, from Nectar

yarn: 5 balls Rowan 4-Ply Cotton, color 121 (Ripple)

needles: sizes 2 and 3 circulars

notes/modifications: It's no secret that I love Kim Hargreaves designs, but I have very little patience for the pointless and tortuous seaming that all Rowan patterns demand. I decided to modify the pattern so I would have to do little to no seaming. Not did I get away with it, but I was also able to basically avoid do any purling. No wonder I actually finished this sweater. Instructions on how to work this sweater seamlessly are detailed on my Ravelry page.

Kate's Cate

pattern: Cate by Kim Hargreaves, from Thrown Together

yarn: 6 skeins of Malabrigo Merino, color Polar Morn

needles: sizes 6 and 8 circulars

notes/modifications: I let this sweater hibernate for many months before picking it up and finishing it. Despite my hatred for seaming, I actually knit this sweater in pieces as the pattern called for (with the exception of the sleeves). I even knit a good chunk of this toasty merino wool sweater in the sweltering heat of North Carolina. That coupled with seaming set-in sleeves on reverse stockinette...? It really is a miracle I'm able to call this project a finished object. And if you can believe it, sleepy Chihuahuas don't help matters much.

I Gots Me a Flicka

Although it was a long time coming, I expect I have still have a long way to go. I'm not entirely sure what people do on Flickr necessarily, but I'm excited to be a part of it all. For now, I'm using my new Flickr account to provide customers looking to build their own gloves a way to view color swatches, button choices, and samples.

Watching slideshows of all those cute little circles make me glad I spent many delirious hours creating them and them editing them to make their colors look as true to life as possible.

Prepare to get your mind blown. Click here to see my Flickr page!

Introducing... Alpaca

I posted two new items in the shop today which I'm excited to say fall under a brand new sub-category of gloves: alpaca!

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LUXURY line // alpaca gloves (red and plum) $32

My love of alpaca dates back to what I consider to be my first legitimate and break-through knitting project (following 2+ years of dicking around making up scarves and ridiculous hats). It was a gigantic triangle shawl from Greetings from Knit Cafe, made from Blue Sky Sport Baby Alpaca. Although it was incredibly tedious and took months to finish, I love, love, loved it and I still do. It was the first project that required me to turn my back on Michael's and shop at a real big girl knit shop. I was instantly hooked on alpaca's incredible softness, warmth, and drape. Working with such a luxurious fabric made for an entirely different knitting experience. There was no going back!

Anxious to do something with some alpaca I had stashed, I worked up a variation on my traditional fingerless mitts one evening while watching some undoubtedly terrible TV. After several tries, I came up with a picot edging in scraps of merino wool that I was happy with. There they were, my brand new sub-category.

Welcome to K.M. Knits, little glovelettes.

"Summer" Promotion!

Since the promotion I ran last summer with the lovely Kim of At Sea Level was such a success, I was excited at the prospect of another run this summer. Her incredible coin purses and clutches made from 100% recycled plastic bags became free goodies for K.M. Knit's customers. It was a way for me to help myself get through the slower summer season while at the same time promoting another seller (who I came to know and love!) and getting her name out to a different group of Etsy buyers.

Kim also runs an Etsy shop under the name Midnight Design Studio.

I scoured Etsy one afternoon in hopes of finding another potential seller to collaborate with and thankfully I lucked out! I came upon a shop called Ornametal, and fell particularly in love with Lauren's Rubber and Silver Bangles. She was able to turn around an order of 15 for me within a couple weeks and I am finally prepared to offer them away! As long as I keep my promise not to steal any for myself. I may have overshot my "summer" promotion deadline thanks to my work overload and vacay time, so "farewell to summer" promotion it is!

One bracelet free to the first 15 customers who purchase 2 or more items from my shop. Those who participate will also receive unique Ornametal coupons available only to K.M. Knits customers!

Farewell Renegade!

After two 8 hour days, the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco is over. Following a month or so of cranking out gloves, freaking out at least once a day, but mostly getting excited, the fair seemed to come and go in a flash. It was my first experience as a vendor and hopefully not my last. It was wonderful to hear direct feedback from shoppers and get insight into what types of items they were (and weren't) looking for. But nothing made my heart swell more than seeing people try on gloves.

Although my shopping time was limited, I was able to find a few new favorite spots in the sea of boundless talent and cuteness. This list could not be complete without featuring my very lovely coworkers and boothmates.

New Leaf Knits features pendants and earrings hand knit with fine materials and ultra thin stainless steel. Along with a variety of designs and colors, New Leaf Knits offers the choice between sterling silver or gold fill.

Red Red Leaf Earrings, $24

You will find plenty of innovative crocheted accessories at Michelle McCoskey's Alligator Factory. She is most known for her line of alligator scarves, which will soon be available through her Etsy store. In the meantime, check out her website here.

Alligator scarf, $75

Adorable hand printed, eco-friendly tees from Mary Ink. Clean and cute designs, super soft and comfy tees, and friendly service. Browse Mary Ink's selection of tees and pick your size!

Organic T-Shirt in Bottle Print, $28

Yokomono Studio

offers an array of handcrafted goodies, including totes, lunch bags, wine carriers, and tissue paper cozies. They are so beautiful and well made that I'm convinced it will make you wonder how you ever lived without that hand sewn tissue box cover.

poipoi Big Tote - Yellow Mustard, $88

I had the fortune of being neighbors with Big Stone Head, two lovely gents who are happy to sell you any number of funny shirts, minibooks, silk screened pillows, and cards. Great ideas for gifts or treats for yourself. I promise they will make you popular (much unlike BSH's Avery Monsen and Jory John).

All My Friends Are Dead Shirt, $20

Upcoming Updates

Although it doesn't seem like it from the lack of shop updates, I've been a busy bee. While my poor camera is off in some warehouse having who knows what done to do to get it up and running again, I've been expanding my collection of accessories in order to stage a "grand reopening" after the Renegade Craft Fair is over.

What's in store? (No pun intended. Alright, who am I kidding? It was intended.)

1) More luxurious mitts.

I find so much joy in wearing and working with fine materials that I'm considering shifting my focus away from acrylic gloves and moving it more toward 100% merino wool. Acrylic has been great because it is easy to care for (machine wash and dry), perfect for those allergic to wool, and affordable. But the wool I've found is more durable (less pilling), softer, stretchier, more breathable, machine washable (!), and most importantly, gorgeous.


Although my cost of materials increases four-fold, I really think they are worth it. Because of this, they will run $32 compared to their $24 acrylic counterparts.


2) Expanded selection of Morning Fog Mitts.

I've so enjoyed wearing and making my OWN Morning Fog Mitts that I've put together over a dozen new color combinations. I love how versatile they are and how they help pull an outfit together. Plus they're surprisingly warm! And as I found out last week, they are even bar night approved.

3) An actual kid's collection!

I've been making tons of adorable, itty-bitty kid's gloves, but without a model to show them off, what's the point? I've secured a possible baby model and I hope to get that collection up and running before summer ends.

4) Eco-happy cotton gloves.

Although I'm pretty much cold most of the time, I do have to realize that it's summer most everywhere else. I'm brainstorming ideas for organic cotton gloves that are very light and worn for style over function. Think garden party-esque.

5) New pictures.

Easily the most important, but most daunting task. Item photographs are incredibly crucial, and I know I have a lot of work ahead of me figuring out which direction I want to take. Although I don't enjoy having to be my own model, it has been much easier than working around someone else's schedule. Plus, until we get actual curtains, I'm sure I'm amusing my boring neighbors.

I Heart: linkeldesigns

I always find that it's easy to get overwhelmed looking at jewelry on Etsy, so when I find a good shop, I stick to it. This afternoon I entertained myself at work by abusing the "Pounce" feature and I was lucky enough to find a shop (Linkel Designs) that offered adorable, affordable, and fun jewelry pieces. Although this mother/daughter duo don't seem to be strangers to sales, this shop still seems cozy and sweet to me. After much deliberation, I was able to narrow down the 14 pages and pick my favorite 4 items.

(click pictures to view listing)


Pretty Pale Rose, $10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cranberry Swirl Earrings, $9

Odette Necklace, $24.50 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cherry Blossom Ring, $10

Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don't eat meat, but I do enjoy dairy here and there. Regardless, I love vegan baked goods. Not only do I think they taste incredible (I find most baked goods overly sweet and indulgent), I love the challenge of substituting ingredients to make a healthier, but just as delicious dessert that could fool even the biggest critics (e.g. my 19 year old brother).

We have come to love having these cookies around our apartment, and after many batches, I have nailed down what I think is a winner. I just wish I felt bad about eating these for dinner.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 bananas, mashed (the riper, the better!)
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Beat together peanut butter and banana (no need for an electric mixer, by hand is fine!). Add honey, vanilla extract, and sugars and blend until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add dry ingredients bit by bit to the peanut butter mixture and stir until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. With wet hands, roll balls to smooth them out and then press to flatten them. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Good Morning!

I have the afternoon off from work and I'm hoping today will be a little more productive than my last day off. Unless taking Photo Booth pictures of my roommate's Pekingese isn't productive...?



On the to do list:
1) Make some mitts
2) Groceries
3) Make/eat cookies
4) Clean room
5) HGTV

Then this evening I'll be running a Knit, Purl, & Pedi event at Mani + Nanny, a fabulous salon for moms in Lower Pacific Heights. It should be marvelous.

On the Needles

To no one's surprise, my WIP collection is growing. I need all the encouragement I can get to move these projects off my needles.

1. Springtime Bandit (by Kate Gagnon)
free pattern here.

yarn: 2 sk. Malabrigo Merino in test color Silver (an ImagiKnit exclusive!)
needles: size 9 circulars
notes: First of all, the yarn is INCREDIBLE. I'm no stranger to Malabrigo, but particular colorway I'm working with is just amazing. Definitely wasn't an easy project to start, but once I learned my way around the chart, it basically flew off the needles. I'm about 18 rows from bind off and I'm still on skein #1.


2. Jasmine (by Kim Hargreaves)
from Nectar

yarn: 5 balls Baby Ull (Dalegarn)
needles: size 2 and 3 circulars
notes: I started off strong and fizzled quickly. The second front syndrome hit hard. All I have left is some edging, seaming, and blocking and I can't get myself to pick it up. Yikes.



3. Owls (by Kate Davies)
free pattern on Ravelry

yarn: 2 sk. Eco Wool (Cascade)
needles: size 10 and 10.5 circulars
notes: Started as a knit-a-long with my coworkers. Most of us failed miserably. I have two long sleeves ahead of me before I can start the cable pattern, but at least everything is seamless. The yarn is 1) cheap, 2) smells sheepy, and thus, gets an A+ in my book.


4. Skinny Empire (by Wendy Bernard)
from Custom Knits

yarn: 5-6 sk. Bamboo Silk (Ella Rae)
needles: size 5 circulars
notes: Modifying the pattern to work with this delicious DK yarn I was dying to use. I came upon this book following one too many tedious seamed projects and so far I love the classic top-down raglan construction. It looks itty-bitty, so I plan to try it on before I get any further.

I Heart: bayan hippo

I have always been a sucker for purses. Although the economic downfall mixed with the new expense of paying city rent have forced me to reevaluate my priority list, I still can't resist drooling over the endless amounts of gorgeous handmade bags on Etsy. This morning I rediscovered a favorite shop of mine (bayan hippo) where practical but fun summer bags are available for crazy affordable prices.

Some of my favorites (click to view listing):


Leaves in Grey, $35 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sailor Tote, $27

Everyday Purse, $25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Comfy, $35