Landon's Sweet Baby Blanket - FREE PATTERN

Landon's Sweet Baby Blanket

Well, it's a good thing that I actually kept notes and wrote myself a basic pattern for the blanket I made for our family friend's baby named Landon, it seems he's gone viral overnight!  I posted his picture last night on the Midwest Yarn Facebook page upon receiving the appreciation photo - actually, my husband got it texted to him with a follow up saying that the picture was too cute and he might want to hide it from me (because I love baby pictures!).

So Landon's Sweet Baby Blanket is quite simple to do and it's a perfect weekend project to whip up if you have a short deadline like I did.

Gauge:
5 sts per in on US 6 or size to obtain gauge

What you'll need:

• 40" US 6 Circular Needle or size to obtain gauge (I used a US 5 because I wanted my stitches to be tighter together - big or loose sts mean little fingers can get tangled up in there)
• Five 50g balls of Main Color - Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo Color 157
• Two 50g balls of Complimentary Color - Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo Color 169

Glossary:
MC: Main Color
CC: Complementary Color
slm: slip marker
pm: place marker

Instructions:

Cast on 140 sts in CC.  Work in garter st until blanket measures 2" from cast on edge.

Switch to MC.

Row 1: Work first row of letter chart, pm, k to end of row.
Row 2: Purl to marker, slm, work next row of chart.
Row 3: Work next row of chart, slm, k to end of row.

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until letter chart is complete.

Continue in st st in MC until blanket measures 28" from cast on edge, ending on a WS row.

Switch to CC.

Work in garter st for 2". Bind off loosely.

To complete borders, pick up about 3 sts for every 4 rows along side of blanket. Work in garter st for 1/2". Bind off loosely. Repeat on other side.

Weave in ends. Lightly steam to block.

L - Chart

Feel free to request a copy of a chart for a different letter by emailing me at info@midwestyarn.com, I'll happily send it to you in JPEG format and post a copy here for everyone else.  

Also, if you make this blanket and are on Ravelry.com, make sure to link a project to this free pattern.  I'm interested to see finished projects from this pattern and to know how you like yours.  :)

Update
Here are the charts for the letters that have been requested:

It's Worth It

When I was pregnant with Peanut, I managed a small women's clinic which was a 45 minute drive from my house.  It was the middle of my 3rd year at that location, so the scenic drive through southern Wisconsin was monotonous.  I loved to spice things up by singing or stopping off at local small shops or restaurants on my way to and from work.  So, it's no surprise to me now that Vincent loves to ride in the car, sing along to my favorite music, and even have the occasional mother/son dance party at the shop and at home.

Vincent saying "smile" instead of actually
smiling for the Boys Will Be Boys photo shoot

Lately, I've had to start calling him Mr. Sassypants, because, like his mommy, he can be quick to respond to comments with a roll of his eyes or a, "Don't even go there."  I can't decide if it's annoyingly entertaining or entertainingly annoying.  My answer will change depending on the day.  Like most moms, especially ones that stop into the shop, it really depends on what's going on that day, or how sassy he actually gets.  Three going on 13, Vincent may even lecture me on how I'm supposed to be organizing things in the shop.  Maybe he takes his title of VP of Sales and Marketing a little too seriously (then again, he did insist upon that title).

Am I giving a little too much credit to my son's intelligence?  Not in the least.  For almost 2 years, I've been his interpreter.  I picked up what his nonsensical babbling meant from an early age, and you cannot imagine the relief it was for him when he noticed that I was starting to understand.  It's almost as though he was learning English as a second language.

With all my projects going on, I've had to come up with my own way of communicating with myself in order to keep track of everything.  I've never been one for writing anything down, drawing diagrams, but I did like making lists.  I occasionally ask Siri to remind me to pick up my medication, but a lot of it just stays in my head.

On the Lido Deck of the Carnival Legend cruise ship
wearing the All the Stops Dress that took
about a year to knit

It's been a process: teaching myself how to sketch an idea so that I don't forget about a cool design; remembering to eat my breakfast, even though it's sitting right in front of me; and yes, responding to emails and writing a journal or blog entry.  As someone notorious for taking on too much at once, I'm learning how to say "no" to more projects, or putting some things on the back burner while I work out other, more pressing items.  I believe they call that prioritizing.  Meh.

I don't like things to be too structured, that's just not how I function, but I know that if one day I'm obsessed with knitting a certain project, I have to tell myself, you only have until midnight before you do something else or you can only work up until this row on the chart.  Then, I make myself take a break, go to bed, take a shower, etc.  

And so far, it's working.  I've got one pattern in testing, three that are in the sample stage (knitting a sample/taking notes in order to write the rough copy for testing), and quite a few sketches that are currently just ideas that are looking for the right yarn, colors or designer call.  Is this what professional designers end up doing?  If only I could talk to someone like Debbie Bliss or Jenny Watson, or anyone who churns out more design ideas than I'd know what to do with.  

Could those same designers also run their own yarn shop while caring for a toddler and keeping up with other fiber related hobbies?  Who knows?  I feel like I'm barely holding on to sanity at times, but all I know is that I'm enjoying it ten thousand times more than all my other jobs combined.  And part of owning a business is about taking the risk, not knowing if your gamble will inevitably fail or if it can continue to sustain itself indefinitely.

Me dressed up as Aretha Franklin after the
Carnival Legends show with the cruise ship dance
staff member assigned as my "escort" for the evening

I wish I could know that one day all these days of struggle would mean something.  Will I be able to make this a career or will this just be a couple of years where I tried something that didn't work?  It's worth the shot.  Though word on the cruise ship was that, if all else fails, I'd probably be able to make a good living as a singer.  :)

No One is Perfect

I often forget that things cannot be as "perfect" as you want them to be, something which causes a lot of stress if I let it.  Today, after finding my son building a fort with the blocking mat pieces I brought home from the shop, in a moment of weakness, I pulled myself into my bedroom and cried for 5 minutes.  

When my husband noticed I had disappeared, he asked, "What's going on?"  I explained that I didn't want cat hair all over blocking mats, which led to him saying that the cats had already had a field day rubbing their faces all over them.  As he talked, I realized, that wasn't the only thing that was bothering me.  So, of course, tears welled up in my eyes again.

"Ok, now what?" my husband asks.  

"That's not the only thing bothering me," I say.  

"What else is it?"  To which I respond with the next thing that happens across my brain - I am a bit overwhelmed with Vincent being so ornery lately.  And Mr. Fix-It responds with, "Well, I gave you a list of day cares and pre-schools, why don't you call and set something up for Vincent?"

I shook my head, knowing that tomorrow I'll feel differently, because I just cannot seem to give up my little peanut.  And then, another wave of tears hits me.  "Did you just save a pile of issues to deal with?" my husband asks.  I shook my head.

"Next thing?"  

"Nothing," I say.  "Same s**t, different day."

"You want another baby, don't you?"  and I sheepishly shook my head.  He smiled, rubbed my back, and made a promise to me - it won't happen right now, but, he'd agree that another one can come along.  Something we haven't been able to agree on for a LONG time.

The moral of the story is...no one is perfect.  

In spite of my fear of losing another battle with anxiety, the anxiety still gets the best of me from time to time.  Right now, I choose to think of it as: I've been working very hard for the past several months, all hoping to find that perfect, happy place.  

Perhaps it's not perfection that I seek, not happiness, but satisfaction.  Satisfaction that my time has been well-spent.  That my son is comfortable and content (he'd be happy living in a cardboard box, as long as it was warm and had mommy and daddy by his side...let's face it, kids are pretty easily amused at age 3).  That my shop continues to grow.

What have I done so far this year:

• Helped proof a pattern book
• Released a 2-pattern e-book
• Gone on vacation
• Knit 5 projects from beginning to end
• Finished another project in hibernation
• Worked on a few designs
• Hosted my best friend's bridal shower
• Was Maid of Honor in my best friend's wedding

And the usual day to day stuff...I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Oh well, at least everyone had a good time and things turned out great!  

Yes, I'm more than happy to add a newborn into the mix if and when the time comes, but for now, I'm working on being content with my work and staying healthy for all the things I have in front of me.  I'll even continue to shower Peanut with hugs and kisses every day while we enjoy our daily dance party in the shop (it's a great way to start the day or break up the monotony of a slow day).  :)

Smashing little boxes...

In the wake of the USOC cease and desist letter and subsequent apology, had a thought: I hate stereotypes. In a world where we must define everything, from the name of the particles that make up the air we breathe to the ethnic categories we claim on the census, it's preferred that everyone and everything fit nice and neatly into its own little box.  Speak a hybrid of Spanish or English two equally different boxes?  Then you now speak a new language called Spanglish.

Peanut and me at the shop
Photo by Jennifer Kresse

I am not too particular about stereotypes for obvious reasons, but the main one is the fact that, because I do not fit into one box on a number of levels, I can make people uneasy (or curious...it all depends on the person).  I mean, really, as a girl I was supposed to love the color pink, love cooking and cleaning, right?  Nope!  Give me a tricked out Honda Civic and I'll be the first girl in line to race Vin Diesel in the next Fast and Furious movie, because I'd be more interested in the sleek lines of the interior than the actor's chiseled muscles (though, as far as preferences go, the muscles would be at a very very close second).  :)


So why do knitters and crocheters get the stereotype that we're all grannies, spinsters, or just plain old women with a house full of cats and nothing else to do?  I mean, when I first presented the idea to my husband that I wanted to open a yarn shop, he asked me why I wanted to be in an industry full of old ladies.  And the fact that the USOC so quickly issued (and re-issued) an apology to our community of fiber fanatics means that we have more pull than the average person may think.

Green layette
I designed and hand knit this one

This is why I do what I do.  I want to pass on this craft to people who want to learn, join our powerful community, and have fun doing something that can make the world more beautiful, one stitch at a time.


So, with a successful grand opening of the brick and mortar shop, a growing number of wonderful customers, and my design mojo back, I will keep working hard and travelling on this path.  I'm designing a few patterns now, working on getting more new items in the shop, and keeping us in the Bay View area for as long as we can.

Peanut models The Wonderful Wallaby
I wanted him to have something fun for the fall
and practiced raglan yoke at the same time!

Knitting: Good for Your Health

Spiders.  Flying.  Toilets.  You name it.  No matter how bizarre, I was probably afraid of it.  It was a terrible way of going through life, and it hit a boiling point right around my sophomore year of college - on September 11, 2001.  When so many people were experiencing loss and the trauma of the images they'd seen on tv, I feared random acts to the point, I was afraid to leave my home (a tiny little private dormitory).  And in fact, I didn't...for an entire month.  Somehow, I had been scared from generalized anxiety to PTSD.  After years of doctors and many therapy sessions, being told to relax did not help.  


And then one day, I stumbled across my mother's stash of yarn.  I picked out this fuzzy black yarn.  I hadn't done any knitting in a couple of years, so I fumbled over a cast on and knit myself a scarf in one sitting.  The world had melted away and nothing else mattered.


Fast forward another few years and countless projects later.  I finally figured out why knitting commands so much from me.  It changed my life.  When I couldn't meditate on my own, repeating k2 p2 in my head as I finished each row of a ribbing, I was, in a sense, meditating.  If I focused enough, I could lose myself in the fiber.  So, no matter how many battles I had to fight with horrible bosses, unruly patients, or my husband, I could calm myself with knitting.


I'm proud to say that eleven years after that turning point, my panic attacks are few and far between, PTSD is a thing of the past, and I'm starting to claw my way in to the fiber arts industry.  Standing in the shadows is not an option for me anymore.  


I have been groomed for greatness my whole life, it's about time I finally got there.  Even if it's only in my own eyes.  Starting this business will hopefully only be the beginning.  What has knitting done for you?

A Call to Arms: Setting Up the Shop

The shop on the same day we got the keys...

Since I didn't want to complain about EVERYTHING, I haven't posted.  I could have posted about the 10 hours a day I spend in the shop with my curious 2 year-old (who insisted on giving me hugs and kisses while I was lifting heavy items).  I could have even posted about how tight the money is since we are spending our own money left and right to get things moved in and fixed up.  But why stay positive?  Because that's what gets me through the day!  In spite of all the bumps in the road, I know that this yarn shop is something I want to do and it will work out the way it should.

How one area of the shop looked as of yesterday.

We funded this business out of our own pockets.  That's admittedly the scariest thing about starting the yarn shop.  There's so much on the line.  If it fails, it will take a long time to recover.  I'm starting to feel the same strain that I did when I worked at my last job, I made good money, had great health care benefits, but hated the job.  I was torn because working their benefited my family, but I was losing my sanity.  Now, I'm doing what I love, but this has the potential to not be a good thing for the family.  Then I just pick up and start knitting an item for my Etsy shop or stare at pictures of the LYS and feel a sense of calm.  See?  Yarn is good for your health.

When we got the keys almost two weeks ago and I began moving in, the space looked empty.  Then, a week later, the furniture was moved in and I could barely move around without hitting a box or getting a bruise from the corner of a fixture.  My husband, his brother, and a friend moved all the large items in and I ended up moving everything where it needed to go.  That meant I had to tramp up and down the basement stairs with heavy boxes and bins of things from our storage unit and the basement of our home.  

The other half of the front area.
Today, all of the yarn was finally put out...

So now I'm stressing about all the other little incidentals that need to fall into place before we open the doors.  You know, the final touches to make this business launch.  The sign is the most difficult item to do, because I cannot do it myself (grrrr...).  You'll find out quickly that, while I am a team player, I love my independence.  

Peanut finds all the running around amusing.  He's got a stash of toys and plenty of things to get into while I have my attention on something else.  He's even noticed that UPS delivers "mommy's yarn" so now whenever he sees a UPS truck, he proudly exclaims, "That's mommy's yarn!  Mommy, we get yarn!  Mommy, we go yarn shop, get yarn!"  I see another yarnie joining us in the future...

Why is this a call to arms?  Well, it being a bit of a slower time for yarn shops in general with warmer months coming, internet sales have slowed to somewhat of a stand still, so we need your help.  I implore my followers to continue to patronize the online shop, tell your friends and family about us, and if you're in the area, come in for our Grand Opening so that we can keep up with the demand.  :)

What you'll see shortly after Midwest Yarn opens are classes, craft demos, knit alongs, open knit sessions, and some great promotions that will keep you coming back for more.  If you're a crafter or an artist interested in selling your items at our shop, contact me at melina@midwestyarn.com for more information.

Still Here!

Sock Madness Round 2 - Submitted last night

After a week of knitting and planning to exhaustion, I'm happy to sit at my computer to take a break.  I found out this morning that I've made it on to Round 3 of Sock Madness!  After completing the first sock using US 0 sized dpns, I nearly kicked myself because I'd forgotten that gauges change with cables.  My right sock ended up way too small around my ankles, but fortunately was long enough for me to continue without frogging the sock.  I plunged forward using US 2 dpns and ended up with a sock that didn't cut off my circulation a day and half later.

My first "official" pattern - Garter Stripes Cardigan
for 0 to 24 months

This particular round was interesting, as it featured an afterthought heel which I'd heard of, but never tried before.  I used to be one of those who, after reading the specs of a pattern, would not attempt a pattern if it featured a technique I didn't know.  After this past year of picking up skills left and right, I've changed that behavior.  I guess I've found that it was much easier to learn something new than it was to find a pattern with techniques I'd already mastered.  Not to mention that it makes me feel better if I make a mistake because, hey, I'm learning.

My favorite design - Falling Leaves Jumper

I'm also in the midst of putting together crafts and yarn for a few craft/vendor fairs.  One has already passed and a HUGE one is coming up on April 24 at Potowatomi Casino in Milwaukee.  I'm very excited about this one, as I'll be setting up an area almost like a booth at a yarn trade show in hopes of raising some additional capital for the shop.  After the first show, I did figure out the yarn capacity of my car and got some very funny looks while travelling.  


And as if I didn't have enough to do, I've been convinced by my mother to write a book of patterns for baby clothes.  To raise money for that venture I started a Kickstarter campaign, so if you like my designs, please contribute to the cause (and there are some great rewards out there too).  I've got quite a few sketches ready and some other ideas that need to make it onto paper, but funding is mainly to get materials for testing patterns, making swatches, paying a photographer, etc.  I have also made plans to attend the publishing workshop at Stitches Midwest in August.  I will be booking the class soon, just have to price hotel stays etc.  Wish me luck!

My son, Peanut, modeling a few of my impromptu
child hat designs.  Above - Groundhog ; Below - Packers/Sport Beanie

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there!  As we get started, just know that we love all you needle crafters and hope that our Grand Opening will be a HUGE success.  Don't forget to spread the love and tell your friends about us. 

I was so happy that our knitting needles arrived!  Clover Takumi Velvet dpns, straight, and circular needles are all put away and ready to be shipped.  Some crochet hooks and other knitting accessories should be coming in next week as we get ready.

I have been working hard building the website, using Yahoo! and I'll be available for questions via email or phone as everything gets going.  I'm building and maintaining it myself to keep costs down.  We will be using PayPal to accept payment and you don't need a PayPal account to order from Midwest Yarn.  You will also be able to register an account with us, and your information will be protected by Yahoo! Security.

I'm trying to make the website as user-friendly as possible, including categories for yarn sorted by fiber, weight, and brand.  As we grow, the website will evolve with us.  So, make sure to tell us what works and what doesn't.  And don't worry, ordering online won't go away when a brick-and-mortar shop opens.

Shipping will be available via UPS (for US customers) and USPS (for international customers).  Orders over $50 to US customers will receive free shipping during our Grand Opening months (through August 2012).  Various other offers and savings will be offered throughout the year.

I also want to share an excerpt from my blog at Cherished Moments about this endeavor and my hopes for Midwest Yarn:

"I guess online yarn shops are somewhat taboo in the LYS industry.  I knew that, but I'm still plunging forward with the Midwest Yarn project.  I keep telling myself, 'You're not WEBS, not Yarn Market, you're Midwest Yarn.  You're online to raise capital for the brick-and-mortar shop.'  I'm hoping that this mantra will help me through the Grand Opening jitters.  This is a HUGE investment and I don't want to fail.  Small business profits go to feeding families, not paying for undeserved bonuses or padding the bank account.

I'll still be knitting, I'll still be designing, and at some point, maybe I'll be able to hire an assistant or bring on a business partner to allow me to be more involved in the industry.  My mission is to promote the longevity of needlecrafts like ours.  I don't want to step on any toes, I want to bring people my age and younger on board...
Let's get my generation and the next into the mix!"

With that being said, I'm committed to making Midwest Yarn successful, getting to know my customers, creating innovative ways to teach knit and crochet, and providing excellent customer service.

Welcome to Midwest Yarn!

We will post when our website is set to go live.  It should be up and running by mid to late February.  Until then our Ravelry ads will point you to the blog.

Welcome to the Midwest Yarn blog!  Midwest Yarn, a Cherished Moments company, is a small business operated out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My name is Melina and I am the proud owner of this wonderful yarn shop.  Over the past few years, I have been operating Cherished Moments, dreaming about the many different options available for needle artists when it comes to yarn.  And then it hit me, OPEN A YARN STORE!

Our goal is to provide the highest quality yarn to knitters and crocheters alike.  There's nothing like proudly wearing a handmade garment and feeling how soft and luxurious the yarn is.  We carefully select our yarns to make sure that we only stock lines made from natural fibers. Silks, wools, cotton, and their blends make wonderful fibers to work with. 

You may not see yarns from nylon, acrylic, or polyester, but you will see high end brands like Noro, Debbie Bliss, and more. We will also carry yarn made from organic fibers and are working to find spinners and dyers who would like to sell their natural fiber yarns as well.

 

To start we will carry some great new yarns and some favorites like:

• Noro
• Louisa Harding
• Sirdar
• Juniper Moon Farm
• Ella Rae
• Debbie Bliss 

We will do everything we can to provide excellent customer service, support for your projects, and a welcoming environment for yarn lovers everywhere. All the comforts of your local yarn shop without having to leave your home.

If you do love the atmosphere of your local yarn shop, don't worry!  My goal for Midwest Yarn is to also open a brick-and-mortar shop as soon as possible.  Until we reach that goal, check out what we have to offer and let us know how we're doing.

I will be using this blog to support other knitters and their projects, keep you updated with what's going on with our store, and offer you special deals.  For now, make sure you follow our blog.  Ravelry group (Friends of Midwest Yarn), blog, Facebook page, or Twitter (@midwestyarn) followers receive a 10% discount - more details to follow.

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL:

Enjoy 20% off your first order using the coupon code WELCOME20 at checkout. 

Otherwise, any order over $50 shipped in the US will receive free shipping.