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

Renegade Craft Fair!

I'm slowly gearing up for the Renegade Craft Fair coming up in just 25 days (who's counting?). By this I mean I'm cranking out random half pairs of mitts here and there, but you would more or less find me asleep next to mounds of thumbless and half-finished glovelets. Within the past year or so of running my Etsy shop I've focused mainly on providing custom/made-to-order gloves, so trying to stockpile a huge amount of gloves that I only hope I can turnover is intimidating.

Right now my "glovelets here and there" strategy involves me moving my half finished gloves to a basket that I have yet to inventory. My hope is that I'll end up pleasantly surprised with the amount of gloves I've accumulated in my little basket, but I shouldn't be so ignorant. Time to fire up Excel and make my marketing professors proud.


If you'll be in the Bay Area on July 18th or 19th, please drop by! You can find me there with my two very talented coworkers, Jeanette and Michelle. Although Jeanette's shop is in pre-production, you can check out some of Michelle's work here.

Morning Fog Mitts

I love the weather of San Francisco almost as much as I love complaining about it. But since cool-weather accessories like fingerless mitts and cowls are my favorite things to cook up, I've been getting busy. My timing is obviously a little off as July is right around the corner, but I'm posting these mitts regardless. For all the folks out there still fighting chilly breezes and cool nights, today is your day! For everyone else, I'll see ya in the fall.

Shopping? These hand crocheted mitts are listed here.

100% merino wool
hand wash, dry flat
$24



Making a pair for yourself? Free pattern is listed on Ravelry (search: Morning Fog Mitts from K.M. Knits/Katelyn Cowan). If you're not registered for Ravelry, the PDF is available from Google Sites.

They use only a small amount of worsted weight yarn (don’t tell me I’m the only person with random Malabrigo leftovers all over the place) and can be worked up in no time. A perfect beginner project for newbies (and experts with fabulous taste). Work them up over a couple episodes of evening trash TV and face tomorrow morning’s cruel fog lookin’ fancy and fresh.