Claudia Hand Painted Yarns

A finished gift

Shepherd's HarvestLeave a comment

I wonder if there are knitters out there with wicker baskets full of custom made hats, mittens, hand warmers, socks, sweaters, boot cuffs and scarves? I will never be one of them. Everything I knit, I give away. I keep telling myself this will change. This is the year I’m only going to knit for myself and just buy a $5 hat for my kid already! Maybe 2018…that’s my year 🙂

Another note about knitted gifts: I usually finish them just in time for the giving, that same day. I often forget to take a picture of the finished product and then feel strange asking days later, “Can you please send me a pic of that scarf I knit you? I don’t have any pictures of it.” For that reason, my Ravelry account is pretty bare, though I’m trying to improve that!

Here are my mother-in-law’s slippers. Steamed and lightly blocked…the morning of her party 😉

What else is on the needles? Just about finished with the second skein of yarn (2 of 4) on the Shale baby blanket. I love covering my lap with it as I knit along, praying for that little, sweet baby girl growing in her Mama’s belly.

Tonight I begin the swatch for my first sweater. For myself! My parents got me a gift card for my favorite local yarn store with the contingency it had to be used for myself. Normally that gift card would be used up within days. This one was in my knitting bag for FOUR months before I spent it on the yarn for the sweater. Granted, I had just had our third baby and took a bit of a knitting maternity leave, but still. Four months! More to come on the sweater. Maybe it’s a sign that this next year will be my year of the full wicker basket.

Churchmouse Turkish Bed Socks

Shepherd's HarvestLeave a comment

I am finishing up my third pair of these cute little slippers for my mother-in-law’s birthday on Saturday, using Churchmouse’s Turkish Bed Socks pattern. This pattern is easy to follow and each slipper knits up pretty fast as it isn’t technically a sock with turning the heel and a cuff and all of that good sock stuff. I get about an hour to knit after the kids are asleep!!! Take what you can get, right?


The first pair I gave to my sister, Lindsey, as a birthday present and used Claudia Hand Painted Yarns – Addiction in “Circus Dancer.” The rainbow variegation suits her well, she’s a free spirit and not afraid of some color. I stuck to the pattern size as it was for a smaller foot (I believe she wears a size six). This fingering weight yarn is 100% very fine merino superwashwool and I love knitting with it. They fit her perfectly which is always exciting.


The second pair I knit for my BFF (yes, you can be 32 and still have a best friend) Katie. I chose this beautiful “Indian Turquois” color because if I love it, chances are pretty good Katie will, too. The occasion was her annual visit back to Wisconsin to see friends and family while her husband was deployed with the Navy. Katie is one of the most generous people I know, so knitting her a pair of these slippers felt like the least I could do to gift her some love back. I wish I had a picture of the final result! I forget to take those sometimes 🙂


Project Details: Fingering weight or sock yarn with US 3 double point needles. With this particular Claudia Hand Painted Addiction yarn, a 50 gram ball is all you need for two slippers. If you wanted to knit a pair of actual socks, I would recommend two balls, one for each sock. While the main foot part of the slipper is all stockinette stitch (or knit every round), there is an option to incorporate a pattern on needle 2 which is the top part of the foot but I haven’t done that yet. I like the smooth, classic look of stockinette. Some good skills to know and/or learn for the pattern are picking up stitches (both knit side and purl side) and the Kitchener stitch for the toe closure. These are a wonderful gift to give and all for about $15 for this lovely yarn.

Did you notice I was also listening to the Audible book Knitlandia by Claudia Parkes (2016)? More to come soon on that wonderful book!