gifts wrapped in brown paper with red and white string. Tag says 'Made in Santa's Workshop'

Gift Ideas for a Handmade Christmas

by Evin // November 28, 2023 // No Comments

I am making nearly all of my gifts this year and isn’t as crazy as you may imagine. You could knit, sew, paint, or carve your loved ones something special. It doesn’t have to be exactly like something out of... Continue reading →

Choose Upcycled Bedding for Your Next Sewing Project

by Evin // April 20, 2023 // 4 Comments

I recently started sewing from patterns for the first time. Until now, I just made clothes based on measurements and tried them on along the way. It is especially easy for me to do that with alterations. Since most of... Continue reading →

Vintage & Second-hand Shopping in Cork City

by Evin // March 29, 2022 // 3 Comments

Leesiders love their style, fashion, and individuality, so it makes sense that we have many options for Second-hand Shopping in Cork City. Though most shops focus on clothing, a few carry books, accessories, curios, and household items as well. By last... Continue reading →

Four Memorable Visits to This Is Knit in Dublin

by Evin // August 3, 2021 // 3 Comments

Everyone loves their Local Yarn Store (LYS), but for me the two shops I most consider my LYS are not in the city where I live. One is Stranded by the Sea in Edmonds, WA (my mother-in-law’s LYS) and the... Continue reading →

Free Knitting Pattern: Taffy Twist Cowl

by Evin // March 4, 2021 // 12 Comments

Living in Ireland with the weather changing by the minute year-round, it is always the season to celebrate and wear transitional pieces and layers. For me, my Taffy Twist Cowl is just such a piece since it stays in place, adds... Continue reading →

Fishy Fishy Appliqué Baby Bibs

by Evin // September 19, 2017 // 1 Comment

Lately, I’ve been accepting the fact that having a knitting project not work out is a lot more frustrating than having a small sewing project go south. Maybe it is the time commitment or maybe it is that I accept... Continue reading →

Fish-themed Rustic Appliqué Baby Set

by Evin // August 1, 2017 // No Comments

When good friends have a baby it is a blessing and worthy of something special. To celebrate my friends’ son’s arrival in the world, I made Toby a fish-themed rustic appliqué baby set, including a Glub Glub Grub Bib, an Appliqued... Continue reading →

So Much Yarn, So Little Time: Stash Busting

by Evin // September 8, 2016 // 3 Comments

Six years ago, before I had my first child, I took out every ball, hank, skein, and cake of yarn in my home and put them in one place. And THIS is what I saw… This is about 250 skeins/balls/cakes of yarn. I... Continue reading →

How to Decide If It’s Time to Finish or Frog a Stalled Project.

by Evin // July 29, 2015 // 3 Comments

Not all knitting projects work out and some just stall or hibernate. Like a broken down car, I kick the tires and wonder if it’s worth sticking with it or perhaps it’s time to move on to something new, maybe... Continue reading →

Knitting a Cheeky Pistachio Shell Wrap

by Evin // April 20, 2015 // 3 Comments

Four years ago, I was in the States for a visit and started knitting a wrap to go with the dress. It reminds me of a vintage Hable Construction design (Chocolate Straws). Since at the time, I had never knitted... Continue reading →

Gnomes Sweet Gnomes

by Evin // April 6, 2015 // 4 Comments

They’re not just for your garden anymore, gnomes are making their way into homes everywhere with their effigy-like appearance and innocent looks. I know I am not alone when I admit that I love garden gnomes. It all started when... Continue reading →

Knitting a Foldover Baby Sweater

by Evin // March 23, 2015 // 1 Comment

It’s amazing what goes into a hand-knit baby pullover. Several years ago, my nephew received his belated Christmas gift and to this day I still marvel at it because it was the first knitting project I made with seams! But it is also... Continue reading →

Crofter Loganberry Fair Isle Effect Hat

by Evin // March 2, 2015 // 2 Comments

This post is about a very fun and easy hat I knit a few years ago but never got around to blogging about. In 2010, I knitted up a bit of chunky yarn to create my Faux Fair Isle Sock... Continue reading →

Midnight in Paris Trench Scarf

by Evin // February 23, 2015 // 3 Comments

Some projects feel like you just need to keep them, even though they are meant for gifts. One example of this is the Midnight in Paris Trench Scarf I knit for my sister-in-law in 2009. I love how this turned out... Continue reading →

Starting the Year with Joy and a Long Ravelry Queue

by Evin // January 1, 2015 // 3 Comments

That’s it. The holidays are officially over. It’s hangovers and laundry catch-up today then back to routine. I know, so grim a perspective. Don’t worry, I’m all about bringing joy into daily routine which is why I felt inspired to... Continue reading →

Ingenue Pullover

by Evin // December 28, 2014 // No Comments

In 2009, I purchased my first [of several] knitting pattern books. I immediately set about determining which of the patterns I would knit first. And a short six years later, I’m just getting going on the project. The book seems to really... Continue reading →

Creating the Perfect Care Package for a Knitter

by Evin // November 17, 2014 // 3 Comments

Knitmas is approaching and my annual anonymous gift parcel is about to be sent off and many care packages sent out regularly as my favourite hobby. I’ve considered what makes an ideal care package for a knitter and I wanted to share all... Continue reading →

Christmas Craft Workshop: More Handmade Gifts

by Evin // September 29, 2014 // 3 Comments

Some of my favorite holiday gifts have been the ones that I can enjoy again and again. A favorite gadget or beloved cardigan or, best of all, something edible or handmade. It is that little touch that truly defines the... Continue reading →

Knit an R2D2 Baby Hat for Your Jedi Infant

by Evin // July 1, 2014 // 3 Comments

After knitting New England Knit’s Whale Watch Hat, I decided to give it a go again. I love stranded colorwork, robots, and Jedi craft tricks, so the R2D2 Beanie by Lorraine Prior is a perfect chart to get my Star Wars knitting fix. Now,... Continue reading →

Crayon Case with Initial Applique

by Evin // June 22, 2014 // 1 Comment

This is a post about a project I made three years ago for my nephew. The stitches are uneven because the machine was new, the oilcloth was thick, the needle wasn’t up to the task, and the sewing machine’s tension... Continue reading →