Holidays :)

It is that time of year again. I always underestimate how busy we will be during the holidays. I am scrambling to get my gifts done and finish up the customs I am working on now. I am finding myself frantic trying to get everything accomplished. So I have decided that I am going to take a break until January.

I am finishing up with my current custom.....and working on a couple pairs of longies with issues :) After that, I will be on vacation.

My family deserves to have a great holiday and having their mama frantic and stressed out is not making for a Merry Christmas.

I will get started on the remainder of this list after the new year! Thank you all so much for being such wonderful customers! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!!!

HandmadeByMama Customs Pricing

Customs Pricing

~HandmadeByMama Pricing~

All prices include First Class Shipping

Standard Wool ~ I offer two choices for my base pricing wool. Cascade 220 (a great basic wool that has every color you can think of) or Owool (a wonderful and slightly heavier organic wool, with fewer color choices).

For color selection ~

Owool ~ http://www.o-wool.com/hkyclassic.html

Cascade 220 ~http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220.asp

~Base price~
Soaker: $20 ~ Shorties: $35 ~ Capris: $45 ~ Skirty: $50 ~ Longies: $50

Base price includes one (1) option from list below…all additional options are $10 extra, per additional option.

~ Embellishment Options ~

Embellishments (pics on bum, legs, etc.)
Stripes (only $5 for shorties)
Polka Dots
Ruffles
Yarn upgrade ($20 for Large)
Bead Work
Skirty add on (to longies) ($20 for Large)
Inseam longer than 12″

Scrappies pricing ~ $55 ($10 extra for Large)...if I use my scraps, your scraps are yymn
Hat ~ $15
Legwarmers ~ $15

YYMN Pricing

Newborn (W15;R15;I5)
Soaker ~ $15 Shorties ~ $20 Longies/Capris/Board Shorts ~ $25 Skirty ~ $25

Small (W16;R16;I7)
Soaker ~ $17 Shorties ~ $22 Longies/Capris/Board Shorts ~ $30 Skirty ~ $30

Medium (W18;R17;I9)
Soaker ~ $20 Shorties ~ $25 Longies/Capries/Board Shorts ~ $35 Skirty ~ $35

Large (W20;R18;I11)
Soaker ~ $25 Shorties ~ $30 Longies/Capris/Board Shorts ~ $40 Skirty ~ $40

Extra Large/Toddler (any inseam over 12″)
Soaker ~ $30 Shorties ~ $35 Longies/Capris/Board Shorts ~ $45 Skirty ~ $45

Sweaters/Vests/Mittens ~ pricing available upon request

Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding pricing!

Please contact me!!!

A month or two ago, I lost my mac. It was very sad. And with it I lost a lot of stuff. And somehow, when we were trying to save my email, several folders were deleted. Including my upcoming customs.

Now if you are on my list and I have your user name for DS or S13, you are fine. But the following people, please email me at handmadebymama@gmail.com.....

Megan
Serendipity601
Kristen
lovemygi44
shelley
Jessica

Thank you so much for understanding and I look forward to hearing from you!

Action shots make my day!

I love action shots! Seeing kiddos in my handmade items really make me happy. I love it that something I made is being worn and loved!

Here is a recent action shot from Amy. Her Jonathan in his City Scene longies. I loved making these longies. They will soon be recreated for my Matthew, lol.

If you have an action shot you would like to share, please send to handmadebymama@gmail.com.

If you have any objections to your pic being posted here on my blog, please let me know when you forward the picture.

Thanks so much for sharing Amy! Jonathan is too cute!

Your a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.......

Need some Holiday Longies?

Now is your chance to get a pair of One of a Kind longies for your little one for the holiday season! The longies pictured above are my little guy's from Christmas last year. They feature the Grinch on the bum and Maxx his dog on the front leg.

Have a great idea for a pair for your little one? Rudolph? Frosty? Grinch? Santa? Anything goes for this custom slot.

Auction starts on Wednesday at 4pm and runs to Thursday at noon.

HandmadeByMama Custom Auction

Holiday Stocking on Congfu!!!

HandmadeByMama stocking at Congfu on Wednesday!!!!!!

Holiday and Gift stocking on the 4th at 4pm! Come in and check out all the cute holiday items and gift items stocking!

Ella the Elephant Longies and fabric swatch.....

New Design!!!! The Twiggy tunic! Super soft and thick. Cute as a short sleeved top or over a long sleeved turtle neck or t-shirt!

An organic sweater set would make a great gift! Nuturing Threads "Iced Giraffes" colorway on Aria Organic Merino....super soft and yummy.

I am also stocking some Bella Mittens and some Mosaic Moon Lollipop Fingerless Gloves!!!!!!

Congfu

Come and see!

Need a pair of longies.....NOW????

There are three pair in stock on Congfu right now!!!

I'll Meet you On the Darkside of the Moon.

This mama was so sweet and I felt like an idiot after selling her my Matthew's Darkside Longies and promising to add to the inseam to make them longies.....I realized about an inch into it that it just wasn't going to look right. So I started from scratch because all Pink Floyd lovers need Darkside longies.

American Girl Doll Little Miss Hat

My daughter is six and loves her American Girl Doll. She named her doll Delilah and due to my youngest inability to say her entire name, we have dubbed her as LaLa. I am making Anna a Little Miss version of the Holly Hat hat for the winter and it will match LaLa's. It only took about 30 minutes to whip up this doll sized hat.

Pinafore

Knitted for a sweet friend :) Love Katy!!!! Pinafores don't have to be knitted with handspun yarn. This is Licorice Twist and was so easy to knit up and so gorgeous and light-weight. I knitted a matching Little Miss version of the Holly Hat!!

I loved this pattern and can't wait to knit one up for my Anna .... and maybe one for myself!!! It is the Handspun Pinafore pattern from Sweet Mama Small Suger (SMSS).

The Holly Hat

This pattern has been living in my head for quite a while now and I thought I would get it down in writing for all to share. The great thing about this pattern is that you can make a bunch of different hats with the same pattern (with just a few tweaks) and the same size needles.

Sizes
NB(Baby, Toddler, Child, Adult)

Yarn
Any worsted weight yarn anywhere from 1oz to 4oz

Needles
Size US9 16" circs (5.5mm)
One set of US9 dpns (5.5mm)

Notions
Tapestry needle, stitch marker, scissors

Hat pattern:

Using circular needle, cast on 48(56, 64, 72, 80) stitches. Join to work in the round, do not twist your stitches and place your stitch marker here.

For a rolled brim hat, work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) for 4 1/2(5", 6", 7", 8") from cast on row with the edge unrolled. See Rolled Brim Hat below (with Sprite Like Versions' decreases).

For a seed stitch brim hat, work seed stitch (knit the purls and purl the knits) for 1 1/2"(2", 2", 2", 2 1/2") from cast on row. Now work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until your piece measures 4 1/2(5", 6", 7", 8"). See Seed Stitch Brim Hat below (with earflaps and braids)

For a garter stitch brim hat, work garter stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 1 1/2"(2", 2", 2", 2 1/2") from cast on row. Now work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until your piece measures 4 1/2"(5", 6", 7", 8"). See Garter Stitch Hat below (with earflaps and braids).

Single rib brim hat, work single rib stitch (K, P, K, P repeated) for 1 1/2"(2", 2", 2", 2 1/2") from cast on row. If you wish to fold over your brim for your hat, just double your brim to 3"(4", 4", 4", 5"). Now work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until your piece measures 4 1/2(5", 6", 7", 8")

For Double rib brim hat, work double rib stitch (K, K, P, P repeated) for 1 1/2"(2", 2", 2", 2 1/2") from cast on row. If you wish to fold over your brim for your hat, just double your brim to 3"(4", 4", 4", 5"). Now work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until your piece measures 4 1/2(5", 6", 7", 8"). See Double Rib Brim Hat below.

For the Little Miss version you will start a little different. Cast on 56(64, 72, 80, 88)...which is 8 extra stitches for each size. Work in garter stitch knitting flat (alternating knit and purl) for 1/2"(2", 2", 2, 2 1/2"). On the next round bind off 8 stitches and join for knitting in the round. Now work stockinette stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until your piece measures 4 1/2"(5", 6", 7", 8"). After you complete the decrease rounds attach the flap to the hat and sew on a button through both layers. See Little Miss version below.

Now work your decreases rounds. You will need to switch to your dpns when the piece is too tight on your circs.

Round 1: K6, k2tog; repeat to end
Round 2 and all even rounds: Knit
Round 3: K5, k2tog; repeat to end
Round 5: K4, k2tog; repeat to end
Round 7: K3, k2tog: repeat to end
Round 9: K2, k2tog; repeat to end
Round 11: K1, k2tog; repeat to end

Break your yarn leaving a tail and using your tapestry needle, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and remove them from the needles. Pull these stitches tight and poke the tail to the inside of the hat and tie it off securely and weave in your ends.

If you would like to make the sprite-like version of this hat, follow the pattern for the roll brim hat and then work your decreases like this:

First Decrease Row: K6, k2tog; repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Second Decrease Row: K5, k2tog; repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Third Decrease Row: K4, k2tog; repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Fourth Decrease Row: K3, k2tog: repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Fifth Decrease Row: K2, k2tog; repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Sixth Decrease Row: K1, k2tog; repeat to end
Knit 8 rows.
Seventh Decrease Row: K2tog; repeat to end

Continue Decrease rounds of K2tog til you have 3 or 4 stitches remaining. Work icord for desired length, bind off.

You can put all kinds of fabulous things at the ends of your hat. A tassel, a ball, a leaf, a heart. There are lots of fun patterns out there to try :)

Want earflaps on your hat for those cold winter days? Easy.

I like to use the seed stitch version of the hat for the brim (but the garter stitch brim works great as well). Find the middle/back of your hat. From the middle, count forward 6(8, 8, 10, 10) stitches. With your dpns, pick up in seed stitch (Knit the purls, purl the knits) 10(12, 12, 14, 18) stitches. Turn and work seed stitch across 6(6, 6, 8, 8) rows. Turn your work and seed stitch across to the last two stitches, k2tog. Continue the last row until you have 3 sts.

Now you can work a 3 stitch i-cord for your ties.

Bind off and have no ties, just earflaps.

Bind off and cut long strips of coordinating yarn. I like to hold three strands together and have three sections. Send each 3 strand section through the bound off stitches on the bottom of the earflap. Double them up, giving you (3) 6 strand sections and braid them together. Tie off tightly at the bottom of braid.

I also like to take a contrasting color and do a simple single crochet row around the bottom of hat and earflaps....just gives it a great finishing touch.

I have worked this hat a ton of times, but have not worked every hat in every size, every pattern. I would love for you to post your pics of your finished objects here and of course, if there is a mistake, please let me know :)

I don't mind if you make this hat to sell, but would like credit for the pattern. Please contact me at hollypitcock1@mac.com for more info about this. Thanks so much!

Western Sky Knits

"London" colorway on Cestari Super Fine.

I love this colorway and love that these were for a dear friend who loves this colorway so much!!!!

Mosaic Moon Woodland In Spring

Mosaic Moon yarn is amazing. This Woodland in Spring was dyed on Targhee, which in my humble opinion takes dye exceptionally well and is soft and thick and has a beautiful texture.

Some Halloween Fun

Some custom Halloween longies.......and a fun group shot :)



Cheshire Cat, Nightmare Before Christmas and Witchy

Flower Garden

These are for my dear friend Christine and her adorable Scarlet :) I had to teach myself this style of embroidery for this project, but WOW it was fun!!!

Ladybug Lover

My latest custom was really fun. I love the way these turned out really clean and simple. These were my first attempt at an enclosed drawstring....not only was it easy but it was really fun. I am for sure going to be knitting more longies like this and offering it as an option for my customers.

Hoodie for me :)

It is pretty rare when I knit something besides longies or hats.......but I did recently complete a sweater for myself. It is the Heather Hoodie Vest by Debbie O'Neill. Super fun to knit and it moves along really quickly because of the bulky yarn and big needles!!!

Scrappy Love

Why do mamas obsess over scrappies? I know why I love them.

1. they are a great way to enjoy a lot of different colorways without buying a pair in each colorway

2. they match EVERY shirt you can find

3. they are OOAK

4. they are a great way to use up leftover wool

5. they look incredible with a Hudson Hat :)

6. they are just adorable

Are you Ready for some Football?

Football season is here. If your hubby is anything like mine, he is often MIA for any household projects on Sunday afternoon :) But team love is everywhere and there is no shortage of Eagles fans in the cloth diapering world.

Thomas

These were a lot of fun to do and my little guy loves them!!! It will be interesting to see if he will let me ship them out :). They were knitted with Cascade 220, Red and Blue and feature a Thomas duplicate stitch design on the bum.

Are you ready for some football....

For a super sweet mama that is a huge FSU fan!!! I used Garnet, Gold and Black Cascade 220 and hand embellished the bum!

Where the Wild Things Are...

A very talented yarn dyer friend asked me to surprise her and this is what we came up with.......

A Frog and A Lil ND Fan

For a sweet mama that just had a baby boy to join their family. Both are Cascade 220 and one features a frog on a lily pad on the bum and the other pay homage to Notre Dame. The fave college team in this house too.

Peace Bus

Extra wide legs, VW Bus, and peace signs make these the perfect little hippie longies :)