Hello and welcome to Wanded Knit and Crochet Blog! I'm hoping I can share some of my favorite things here with you, and that you find it enjoyable and fun to stop in once in a while.
If you've been following me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll know that the featured design is my Veela Beanie and is one of my favorite ones to date. I consider this my "signature" and the story behind it.. well.. maybe I'll tell you one of these days. This one is near and dear to me, along with quite a bit of heartbreak, but it has made me who I am today. I hope to revisit some of my designs here, share some thoughts about yarns, offer some tips and tricks that I've personally found helpful, and maybe review a few books that I love (non-knitting/ yarn related ones too!). Basically, I'm going to write about whatever I want, ha!
Now a little bit about me and why I decided to venture into designing. One of my goals before my firstborn turned 3 was to learn how to knit. I had already been crocheting for years before. It was a huge learning curve because I couldn't remember what my grandmother had taught me long ago, and I had made tons of mistakes that she had fixed for me without me learning how to fix them myself. I started with basic knit and purl patterns, knit a lace shawl, made a few beanies, even a sweater.. but I was looking for more. While I appreciate the simple knit and purl stitches and the beautiful textures they create, I wanted something unique and fun, well-written, easy to follow, but looked complex. I've always been interested in crafting and creating, and I know I learn best when I am trying to figure something out, so it just seemed like the best "next step" for me.
My first design was a simple knit cowl, made with slipped stitches and eyelets/ lace. The design has since been retired because I felt like it was lacking something. I loved the simplicity and elegance, but it just wasn't quite right. My next designs became much more textured, full of cabling, twists, and elements and techniques that were new to me, and hopefully different enough for experienced knitters. I continue to learn new things and that is what keeps me motivated.
I love designing and making beanies because they are quick knits, and there is no "second hat syndrome." It quickly became clear to me that a beautiful crown is just as important as a carefully planned brim, a seamless progression to the body of the hat, and a pattern that stands out. I am, after all, team no-pom. I am not an expert by any means, but I do love how pretty a crown cake can be with a little effort and attention to detail, don't you? It actually makes me a little sad when something as cute as this is covered with a pom.
There are so many more things I want to do and accomplish in this journey. I set up a website last year for ready to ship items as so many markets were cancelled and I had only want to do ONE, so that was a huge feat for me as I am not tech savvy at all! This blog is also one I debated about - I've always said I should not be allowed to have a blog, for many reasons. Well? Here we go! Another one of the things I wanted to do was to design fingerless mitts. I'm proud to say that the Granger Mitts recently released is the first set and there will be more coming! I would also love to design a scarf/ shawl, and I know this will be personally more challenging as I do not particularly enjoy knitting flat panels. As for sweaters though - that's a big no way right now. It's a daunting task!
Alright my friends! That's a little bit about how Wanded Knit and Crochet was born and what's in store in the near future. Until next time - wands at the ready!