A Severe Case of Startitis

I've been knitting a lot lately. Big shocker, I know. I had a hernia repair mid-December. In the weeks leading up to the procedure, I was quite concerned about whether or not I would feel okay enough to knit or not. I mean, this was quite a gamble...I would either lose out on precious Christmas knitting time, or I would have extra time (and perhaps even knit something for myself in December...gasp). It turns out that I was knitting within a day or two, and though Christmas was soon over, my recovery was not as swift as I had hoped, and let's just say I had lots of knitting time on my hands.

You might think with all my unanticipated knitting time, I would be blazing through projects and turning lots of works in progress into finished objects. Nope. For some inexplicable reason, I cast on for a bunch of new projects. New year startitis, I guess. So what am I working on currently? Well, my husband has asked me to knit him a Captain America Hoodie, I have a Celestarium on the needles that I am knitting with my own handspun (more on that later), and also a pair of socks using the Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes pattern. I also have some leftover sock yarn that I can't bear to go to waste, which has become my portable project - a pair of Textured Tootsies baby socks - a free pattern available on ravelry. Here is the first pair that I made:

 I also just finished some socks for a friend. It's a basic sock pattern, and I used some Three Irish Girls Adorn sock yarn in the Nora colorway. The leftover yarn from this project is what I am using to make the second pair of baby socks. I also recently finished a super-fun knit toy for the kids...more to come on that later.

I also recently finished a sweater for my son:



The pattern is the Abernathy Sweater by Terri Kruse. The pattern was very well written, and it was a great knit. The best part was my son's beaming face because mommy had knit a sweater just for him, and he happily exclaimed that he would wear it forever. Melted my heart.

Asticou Cowl Sneak Peek

My next pattern that is waiting to be published is the Asticou Cowl.

This is a beginner version of the Romney Ridge Cowl. The main stitch pattern is very similar, but this pattern uses only one color of yarn, and has a cast-on edge and bind off at the finish rather than the provisional cast on and kitchener grafting that the Romney Ridge Cowl uses.

The pattern is being test knit and tech edited, and will be available for download soon!

Romney Ridge Cowl

I  am very excited to announce that the pattern for my Romney Ridge Cowl has now been published.

You can find the pattern for sale on ravelry and etsy. The design uses 2 colors of Romney Ridge Farm Blend, and it uses about 1/2 skein of each color - so this yarn will give you enough yardage to make 2 cowls.

This reversible cowl starts with a provisional cast on and is then knit in two sections of color. The wrong sides of the fabric are then folded together and the ends are grafted together. This results in a reversible cowl with a bit of contrast and the same pattern inside and out.

The provisional cast on and kitchener stitch make it an intermediate level knit, but there will soon be a one-sided version that is suitable for beginners. You can check out my video on how I make sense of the kitchener stitch on my YouTube channel in this video:

Welcome to my World on a String!

I have changed my business name from Elisha Cram Designs to World On A String Designs. It's just so cute and fun, inspired in part by the Frank Sinatra song.

Here is a sneak peek at my newest design, the Romney Ridge cowl...

It's a cowl pattern worked in 2 colors, and it's reversible. I love how the colors contrast, and it has the same pattern inside and out. Stay posted for updates. It should be released for sale in the next week, and I will update here when it's available!

Here it is! Romney Ridge Cowl

First on up the Christmas crafting list...

I have officially identified the first item on my Christmas crafting list. I want to make something for my niece, Madison, who is 3 years old. She's a cutie patootie, by the way. Her mom has recently started a cupcake business, so there's some serious baking to be had in that house. Now, what 3-year-old little girl doesn't want to be just like her mom? I think this little sugar pie NEEDS her very own girlie apron. I am thinking something like this: Tutorial by tidbits

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Maybe in a cutesy cupcake fabric.
But then, she needs her very own cupcakes, RIGHT? Check out these calorie-free indulgences...

Cherry on Top pattern designed by HappySeamstress and available for purchase at craftsy.com.

Yummy, right? Delectable knit and beaded cupcakes. Perfect for play and just downright scrumptious. You can purchase the pattern here if you just have to have some of your very own.

So, what's on YOUR holiday crafting list?

Welcome...

Okay, so here is my blog. I have decided that this shall be the place where I will share all my random thoughts and whatever super-cool awesome projects that I am excited about at the time. The first thing to share is that earlier this year I started publishing knitting and crochet patterns, so you should expect to see posts about those on a semi-regular basis. You can find my patterns at Elisha Cram Designs on ravelry. Of course, I do have the scattered eclectic mind, so the etsy shop is full of loads of other stuff aside from just patterns. All of my patterns at this point are self published. I am eager to put out a free pattern, and I am hopeful that may happen by the end of the year. I have a sketchbook full of exciting designs. There is no such thing as too much yarn or too many design ideas - there is only not enough time.

I have become totally smitten with Pinterest, by the way. Loads of creativity to be had, and I can even pin things and come back to them later. My craftiness has never known this much organization, pretty much ever. Usually I see something, think it's awesome, and then promptly forget about it. Now when I have some spare time, I hop on pinterest, decide if I feel like cooking or crafting with the kids or sewing, etc, pull up the corresponding board, pick a project and GO! It completely makes my day when Susan Anderson gets on pinterest - she is a very talented (and loveable) designer, and she has impeccable taste. You can find her blog here. I highly recommend following her. She has provided me with oodles of inspiration ever since the happy day I discovered her designs and blog.

Some of my other loves include ridiculously easy (and/or delicious) recipes, squishy soft yarn, anything that looks cute on my kids or gets them excited (they have the best smiles ever), and anything that in my opinion makes the world happier and/or a better place.