I’ve been slacking on updating! I have a few posts lined up, just have to type them out
My latest in loom knitting is this messenger bag! Made from yarn called Jazzy Stripes, this is a jazzy messenger bag! It is what I consider to be a “small” messenger bag in that it is made with my smallest long loom. I think my next project will be a medium sized messenger bag. The small messenger bag has been double stranded and is a bit thicker. This bag is big enough for you to carry the essentials when you go out, or if this is a gift for your daughter, niece, cousin, etc, they can carry around a few toys and must have items while you’re out and about!
tab lifted
The bag body
yarn!!
strap
Button close up
I also just got a dress form model Here’s a semi-decent example of what’s to come!
P.S. If you LOVE this bag and have to have it… you can get it HERE
Influenster is a new site I just signed up for a few months ago! I signed on shortly after seeing people raving about VoxBoxes and showing off goodies and sharing the news that they were rating things! Soon after joining (and realizing I had a decent score yay me!), I was asked if I wanted this box! I said yes and soon found out I was one of the lucky ones who received this VoxBox! It’s my first one and I can easily say I was totally psyched! Here’s an Instagram pic I got when I first opened by box! It is called the Sweetheart VoxBox 2013 and was full of epic goodies to try out!
I was excited! And maybe the pic cut out most of the Skinny Girl bar I got, but never fear I still had it!
First up I took out the Olay Fresh Effect, which included the cleanser AND the Contour cleansing system thingie. It is really easy to use! It made my face feel very refreshed and nice. The system even included a battery! I love it when items that need batteries come with some, I don’t like searching throughout the house LOL. I don’t have a pic of it in use unfortunately (my face is NOT camera friendly lately!) but it was really nice to use. The cleanser did not smell weird either! Some cleansers and acne stuff just smell funny and leave your skin feeling weird. This Olay stuff did not!
Next item up was the Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. I normally don’t do anything fancy with my hair. Just throw it up into a ponytail and call it good! So I gave this a try before a shower just to see how it went. It defitinitely gives you beach waves! I looked like I had just stepped off of the beach after playing in the water for a while! I don’t think I’ll ever buy this product thought, I really have no interest in making my hair like that. I usually cannot wait to get back and shower and get all the salt water out of my hair and the sand off me.
Now I have to say, the Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response deodorant was my favorite item. It’s so hot in AZ, I mean c’mon it’s the middle of the desert, so finding the right stuff that works for you is hard sometimes. I find that this one works really well! We had some really hot days lately and this deodorant really worked well. It smells like citrus too which is honestly a very nice smell My one gripe? It’s more on the expensive side, so unless I have coupons, I will not be able to get this. I really recommend this though for those who are able to afford it or find coupons! When I went back to my old deodorant it just didn’t feel the same. I used this when I had my craft fair, and I was outside all day (I have a sunburn/tan to prove it!) and it did not leave me stinky or feeling like I needed to reapply some quick and spritz myself with body spray!
The SkinnyGirl Daily On-The-Go Bars are pretty good! Only 180 calories and it appears they come in a lot of different flavors! I got a blueberry one, which was really yummy. It was about the same size as average granola bars are, and had yogurt on one side. It was a good snack. You can get a pack of 5 for $9.99 which is my only complaint about this bar. Again, unless I have coupons I will not be getting these! They’re comparable to the Quaker Yogurt granola bars which are 6/under $4 at Walmart. So all in all, it was yummy, but too expensive for this girl to get on a regular basis!
This VoxBox was super fun and I really enjoyed testing out all these products! I can’t wait to see what they send out next Thank you Influenster for sending this box!
If you’re curious about this, check out http://www.influenster.com and see how your score is! Sign up and give reviews, it’s actually really fun
*NOTE*
I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. This review is my opinion and my experience with the provided products.
I love custom orders! There’s just something about making a custom special item for someone that gets me excited! My latest two were done in the same yarn, Cold Mountain, which meant I was super happy when I found out I had just enough for both projects lol. Since then I have taken down my custom listings until I get all my yarn pictures updated, but never fear, they’ll be back soon!
First up, custom wrist warmers! These are special because the person ordering asked if they could be a bit shorter, and have a smaller thumb hole! I said “no problem!” and got to work
Next is this hat. I have not updated all the pictures, so this is the only one I have right now. I will of course come back and update this The order was for a custom ear flap hat with tassels! I love me some custom hats This hat is also special because it is not just an adult sized hat, it is an extra large hat to accommodate large hairstyles! *as a side note, no I do not charge more for an extra large hat, just let me know if it’s needed!*
With these two done and sent to their respectful owners, I am now working on my random projects! I always have at least two in my desk that are WIPs. I have also started working on some birthday gifts I cannot wait to show them off (after the person receives them of course!).
For this tutorial you will need:
Largest round loom in the set (mine is a 41 peg round loom)
Loom Knitting Hook
Crochet Hook (I used a size J)
Yarn (you can double or single strand, any size yarn will work)
To do this tutorial you will need to know how to make the following stitches: E-wrap method, knit stitch, purl stitch, and how to bind off/single crochet off (all of these stitches have been linked to YouTube tutorial videos for your convenience).
To begin, cast on and e-wrap your first row. E-wrap your second row and start your project just like you would a hat.
Continue e-wrapping and creating rows until your project reaches between 14 and 18 inches in length. The length is up to you, the cowl will just be shorter the less rows you make.
To finish your piece, simply take your crochet hook, and crochet off your project. Because it is a cowl, you do not want to completely shut off the other end. Be sure to make your stitches as lose as possible! This end will be a bit tighter than your beginning opening, but the looser your stitches, the more it will remedy this problem.
Make sure to tie off both ends. The two ends will have a rolled brim to them. If you do not want this to happen, you can do four rows of knit 2 pegs purl 2 pegs at the beginning of the piece and at the end. This will reduce that curling/rolled brim effect. I have done it both ways, and honestly prefer to the rolled brims on both sides!
And there you have it, and easy cowl/infinity scarf made on your round looms! If you want to make a children’s size you can always go down round loom sizes.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Here are some of my finished cowls to give you a small example
Hello there!
If you have been on facebook or twitter the last few days you may have noticed my name change! My store name changed and received a new look! It is now called Melli’s Yarn Works, and rebranding this blog is still being decided upon!
Until then… I did finish these two pieces! I was waiting for my new logo to be made to list them up and I have also been working on taking better pictures! Here they are, one is a cowl/infinity scarf and the other is a toddler hat! They are both available in my shop starting today! Enjoy and thank you for reading!
This order came to from an Army buddy of mine She requested two hats, a scarf and wrist warmers in purple and yellow which are LSU’s team colors! I was more than happy to make all of these, though I will admit it took me almost three weeks to finish!
Here are some of the final pictures I was able to get before shipping the items off to her
These were all made with two different yarns, both 100% acrylic. I’m pleased to say, she liked them a lot!
This is an update for everyone! My shop will be moving from Etsy to Storenvy! This new platform is where I have my jewelry store, and it will be nice to move to Storenvy for both of my shops! You will find all the items there and all new items will start only being listed in Storenvy!
If you don’t know about Storenvy, it is epic! 100% free to have a store, no fees, and it is incredibly user friendly! I should have started Mish Mash on that platform, but went with what I thought was the easier route of Etsy.
Anyway, take a look around, enjoy the new look and the new products there! I just listed this hat, so feel free to check it out!
It appears it is rainbow time! My two newest works are a rainbow ear flap hat with tassels, and a rainbow ruffle scarf! Also in the works is a set of neon wrist warmers Neon must be in! lol
Here are some of the pictures. I am still debating on listing these items or not. Both were loom knitted (yes the ruffle scarf was made on a loom!!!!) and are epically colorful and awesome!
It all started when my best friend showed me a picture of a minion hat. She said she would LOVE one for Christmas, and if I could make it for her. I have a pretty basic knowledge of crocheting, but nothing that would help me make such an intricate character hat. So I adapted the picture for a loom! I learned so many new things, such as how to make ear flaps, add tassels, and how to make a round using a circle loom. In all essence, this is what I ended up with, and my best friend LOVED it!
He’s not 100% perfect, and if I ever make another one, I know how to make it better If anyone’s interested in a pattern, I’d be more than happy to make a tutorial at a later date!
My brother also wanted a surprise for his girlfriend, so I made him a red hat with a pom pom on top Here’s that hat, it was pretty fun and simple to make!
Well, that’s what’s come off my loom most recently! I will be posting another post very soon with the custom LSU colored set! I’m just about finished with the wrist warmers, got a bit of ways to go on the scarf and need to start the hats
Until next time!
Don’t forget, if you use code HOLIDAY15 in my Mish Mash store, you will get 15% off! Happy shopping!
My other striped hat took a quick tour of my Etsy store for a day, before POOF! Someone scooped that bad boy up. So I made this guy to replace it with I added a different color and think it looks great!
I’m also getting ready for my craft show tomorrow! Be ready to read all about it in the next few days, I’m super pumped!! Just a little business talk- the storefront will be closed all day Saturday, December 8, while I attend the Holiday Boutique event (craft show) here in Buckeye, AZ! If you’re in the area, come visit me! There will be lots of games, vendors and things to do for everyone!
That aside…. here are pics of the new hat! I’m also working on a custom LSU colored set, that hopefully I can finish up next week! Besides that, I am working on Christmas Gifts and also a pair of neon wrist warmers! I’m planning on starting a cowl, so that I can make that tutorial several of you have asked for
This hat is also special because it is not just an adult sized hat, it is an extra large hat to accommodate large hairstyles! *as a side note, no I do not charge more for an extra large hat, just let me know if it’s needed!*
I cannot wait to show them off (after the person receives them of course!).
