Knitting Archives - sweetstitchingcrafts

Handmade with Love: A Cardigan and Special Friend for a Baby

sweetstitchingcrafts — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:08:11 +0000

It’s baby season! At least, that’s how it feels. Several of my close friends are expecting babies, and from April through June my calendar has been filled with baby showers.

As each shower approaches, my creative mind immediately gets to work. What can I make that truly shows how excited I am for my friends as they begin their journey into motherhood? Handmade gifts have always felt more personal to me. They carry a little piece of the maker, and every stitch and seam tells the recipient, “I was thinking of you.”

If I’m being completely honest, these occasions also give me the perfect excuse to dive into the collection of baby knitting and sewing books I’ve accumulated over the years. Although I don’t have children of my own, that certainly hasn’t stopped me from collecting patterns for tiny sweaters, adorable toys, and cozy blankets. I’ve always hoped that one day I’d have the opportunity to make these beautiful projects, and now another chance has arrived.

After spending several evenings flipping through books, comparing patterns, and changing my mind more than once, I finally settled on my trusted favourite: Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s by Kristen Rengren.

For my friend’s gift, I chose the Rufus Textured Cardigan, knitting it in Loops & Threads Superwash Merino in a beautiful ocean blue. To accompany the sweater, I decided to sew a sweet little bear using a pattern from Katia Ferris’ Make Your Own Animal Friends. Together, they make a thoughtful gift that is both practical and full of personality.

Why These Patterns?

When choosing a handmade baby gift, I wanted to create something that would be useful today but treasured for years to come.

A knitted cardigan is wonderfully practical. It keeps little ones warm during cooler months, and with our recent cold winters, it’s something I know can get plenty of use. More than that, I like to imagine it becoming a keepsake—a tiny sweater tucked safely away after it’s outgrown and perhaps one day passed on to another generation.

Maybe that’s a little sentimental, but I think that’s part of the charm of handmade heirlooms.

The Rufus cardigan has a timeless design with beautiful texture that suits any little one, regardless of gender. That versatility is one of the reasons I love Kristen Rengren’s collection. Her patterns have a classic style that doesn’t feel tied to current trends.

Since this baby is arriving in the summer, I’m knitting the one-year-old size. By the time cooler weather arrives, the cardigan should fit perfectly and hopefully get plenty of wear.

Every Baby Needs a Special Friend

No handmade cardigan feels quite complete without a cuddly companion.

The little bear adds something extra to the gift—a comforting friend that can be hugged, carried around the house, and loved for years. One of my favourite features of this pattern is that the facial details are entirely hand embroidered. There are no plastic safety eyes or noses to worry about, making it an excellent choice for little ones.

Even though the pattern is available to anyone, every handmade toy ends up being completely unique. Each maker adds their own personality through fabric choices, stitching, embroidery, and those tiny finishing details that can’t be replicated.

For this bear, I chose a linen and cotton blend fabric, giving it a soft, natural look while making it practical enough to clean after inevitable baby spills.

I also like to think this little bear won’t simply be tucked away after the baby years. I can easily imagine it sitting on a bookshelf or floating shelf in a child’s bedroom—or even accompanying them into their teenage years as a treasured reminder of childhood.

Why I Love Making Handmade Baby Gifts

Whenever I make something for a new baby, my greatest hope is that both the parents and their little one will feel the love stitched into every part of it.

In a world where almost anything can be purchased with the click of a button, there’s something incredibly meaningful about receiving a gift that someone spent hours creating by hand. Every row knitted, every seam sewn, and every embroidered detail represents time, care, and excitement for the new life being welcomed into the world.

My hope is that these gifts become more than just a cardigan and a teddy bear. I hope they become cherished keepsakes, reminding a family that someone loved them enough to make something especially for them.

After all, the best handmade gifts aren’t simply made to last—they’re made to be loved for generations.

Stay tune to my Instagram account “sweetstitchingcrafts” for the final reveal!

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Reflections on Crafting: Late 2025 and Early 2026

sweetstitchingcrafts — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:57:52 +0000

Music credit: ‘Rise’ by Natalie Duque

Back to the Joy of Making

It feels wonderful to be getting back into the rhythm of making again. Even though I haven’t been sharing much about my projects during the latter part of 2025 and the start of 2026, I’ve still been busy creating. Life gets hectic sometimes and can pull me in all sorts of directions, making it easy to lose my footing. I really miss putting my thoughts on paper and connecting over my love for making. So, I’ve decided to jump back in—no guilt, just a fresh commitment to why this blog exists: to feel connected again and see where the journey takes me in the making community.

What Have I Been Up To?

Lately, weaving and spinning have captured my heart, especially working with locally sourced wool. If you’ve followed my earlier posts, you know I’ve been bringing raw fleece to a local fiber mill, Wool 4 Ewe, and getting it processed into roving to spin on my wheel. I spent much of last year and even this year spinning that fleece into yarn for weaving projects. One big goal was to spin enough yarn to use as weft for a couch throw I made for someone. After finishing that project on my larger 45-inch Leclerc Fanny loom, I felt inspired to keep spinning for more throws—and maybe even bigger projects like a twin-size coverlet measuring about 60 by 80 inches.

For my previous project, I used an 8/2 cotton warp set at 16 ends per inch, as recommended in a book about traditional coverlets by Helen Jarvis. The single-ply wool yarn I spun was about DK weight. After wet finishing and drying, the blanket had a scrumptious drape—cozy for chilly nights, and light enough to hang nicely on the couch.

On my smaller antique loom, I’ve been weaving hand towels using Venne organic cotton 8/2 yarn, a new discovery for me. I’ve been mixing purples in a shadow play pattern from a Nov/Dec 2021 Handwoven magazine issue. I often wonder about the difference between regular cotton and organic cotton. Honestly, after washing and drying on low, these towels feel so much softer in hand. I’ll definitely revisit Venne organic 8/2 cotton yarn—it seems worth the extra splurge!

Knitting has been a bit slower lately. I’ve been working on finishing a pair of socks using hand-dyed yarn from a swap partner (who dyed it herself!). I tried using the yarn in different projects, but didn’t love how it looked, so I boldly ripped it out and kept hunting for the right pattern. This lace pattern I’m working with now lets the yarn’s color variation shine without pooling too much in any one spot.

Looking Ahead: Goals for 2026

My main goal for 2026 is more spinning and weaving—no surprise there—especially using natural, locally sourced fleece in new weaving projects.

I also want to get back into knitting sweaters. I’ve spun yarn for sweaters before but sometimes get distracted by quicker projects. Although prepping samples and doing gauge swatches isn’t my favourite, I know it’s important for getting the right fit. Right now, I have some alpaca yarn from a local fiber mill that I hope to use. I have my eye on a few patterns, but I’m not rushing—finding the perfect sweater pattern for that yarn is part of the fun!

I’m sure there will be more projects popping up and joining my to-do list, since I like to keep things flexible and let my creativity lead the way. Until next time, happy crafting—and I’ll be back soon to share more adventures!

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Creating with Handspun Yarn: Endless Possibilities

sweetstitchingcrafts — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:06:46 +0000

If you’ve ever worked with handspun yarn—or are thinking about it—you’ve probably wondered: Is there a plan for what this fluff will become? The truth? Sometimes yes, but often no.

For me, spinning yarn is more about the process than the product. The rhythmic hum of the spinning wheel, the tactile pleasure of the fiber slipping through my fingers, and the anticipation of how the colors will blend together are the reasons I spin. Sure, I love seeing the final product—whether it’s a cozy sweater or a woven scarf—but by the time the yarn is finished, I’m often already dreaming about the next fleece or hand-dyed fiber I’ll spin.

Still, the magic doesn’t stop at spinning. The real adventure begins when you start working with your handspun yarn. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way, which might help you as you embark on your own handspun projects.

1. Understanding Your Yarn’s Structure

When using commercial yarn, we often choose based on its thickness or weight, categorized as lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, aran, or bulky. With handspun yarn, determining the weight is a bit more hands-on.

I use a wraps per inch (WPI) tool—a simple ruler will do! Wrap the yarn around the ruler for one inch, count the wraps, and compare it to a WPI chart to find its weight.

The number of plies also affects the yarn’s thickness and structure. A two-ply yarn is versatile and works well for most projects, offering a balanced feel and good stitch definition. For sturdier projects, like socks or outerwear, a three-ply yarn provides more roundness and strength. Even the way you ply matters—traditional plies versus chain plies can change the drape, durability, and overall look of the finished project.

2. Swatching: Your Yarn’s Test Drive

Swatching might feel optional, but it’s incredibly informative, especially with handspun yarn.

A small swatch can reveal:

Color changes: How do the hues transition from one to the next?
Stitch definition: Will the yarn’s texture shine in cables or lacework?
Drape: How does the fabric feel and move?

For knitters and crocheters, swatching helps you decide on patterns that highlight the yarn’s unique qualities. For weavers, a sampling step can help determine the fabric’s density (ends per inch) and ensure your yarn is suitable for the weave structure you have in mind.

3. Choosing Patterns or Weave Structures

When it comes to handspun yarn, the possibilities are endless. You can work with nearly any pattern—as long as you can match the required gauge.

Personally, I gravitate toward simple designs that let the yarn take center stage:

Knitting: Garter stitch and stockinette stitch allow the natural variations in handspun yarn to shine.
Crocheting: Simple, repetitive patterns enhance the yarn’s beauty without overwhelming it.
Weaving: I’ve found that using handspun yarn as weft yarn in overshot patterns adds stunning texture and depth. For single-ply yarns, plain weave structures beautifully highlight the yarn’s natural striping, especially when it’s multicolored.

A great resource for selecting knitting or crochet patterns is Ravelry’s pattern browser. You can filter by yarn weight, yardage, and even specific attributes to find a project that fits your handspun perfectly.

The Journey of Handspun Yarn

Working with handspun yarn is more than just crafting—it’s an exploration of creativity and texture. Each skein holds a story, from the fiber it once was to the fabric it will become. And as much as I love the finished products, it’s the journey—the hours spent spinning, swatching, and creating—that brings me the most joy.

So, if you’ve been hesitant to use your handspun yarn, don’t wait! Embrace the process, experiment with patterns, and discover the magic hidden within each handmade skein.

Happy spinning—and even happier creating!

What’s your favorite way to use handspun yarn? Share your experience in the comments below!

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Harvesting Creativity: Crafting This Fall Season

sweetstitchingcrafts — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:43:13 +0000

Music: Passage by Jakob Ahlbom & Trust in You by AK Silla

Nature is my go-to source of inspiration, regardless of the season. However, I must admit that the changing colors of leaves, the bright autumn afternoon sun, and the pine needles covering the forest grounds rekindle my imagination. I have a strong desire to recreate the mood of comfort, stillness, and crispness that I experience during my woodland walks in the fall. What crafts am I gravitating towards this fall to reflect this change of pace?

Rug Hooking

My current rug hooking project is from an older Buttermilk Basin pattern called Patriotic Sheep. Using primitive cut wool strips (1/4 inch wide strips of wool) in rustic colours such as burgundy, mossy greens and burnt yellows. As you can see, I still have the main body to work on. I have a variety of creams and white wool fabric waiting to be felted and cut into strips. The final project will be a 3-dimensional sheep that will hopefully decorate my craft room.

Weaving

Weaving with my multicolored handspun using a crackle weaving structure. The pattern is called the French pattern, and it is from Marguerite Porter Davidson’s book, A Handweaver’s Pattern Book. This book has a great compilation of older weaving patterns, but using this pattern along with my multicolored handspun is giving this old pattern new life while preserving the vintage feel and look. I will admit my initial choice of a gray color was more subdued, but I am glad I changed my mind. This fall season is bursting with color, and I wanted my current projects to reflect this.

Knitting

Knitting socks during this time of year, I am obsessed with staying warm and what I can make that will keep me warm. Naturally, my feet are the first part of my body that get cold quickly, and it is not even below 0 degrees. I start rummaging through my yarn stash to find the perfect yarn that is sturdy and warm enough to start a new pair of socks. Then, I finish all the last year’s sock projects by closing the toes and weaving all the loose ends.

Punch needle

It is not a craft that I often work on, but I do enjoy it immensely when I do. This pattern is a Michelle Palmer original punch needle design, and of course, I was drawn to it because of the cute sheep design. It was featured in a summer 2019 issue of the Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine, but I felt the color selections in this design reminded me more of fall leaves that decorate the forest floor instead of summer flowers in full bloom. I have the pattern stretched on some wooden bars for increased accessibility while I am cuddled under some blankets and sipping on a hot cup of tea.

Quilting

I find binding quilts takes a long time when I make blankets. But it feels good to be under the blanket while doing it. I usually bind quilts in the fall, after piecing them together during the summer when there’s more daylight. It gets too hot to manoeuvre the blanket while hand-sewing the edges. I feel good when I finish because I have a new blanket to keep me cozy during the winter while I work on other crafts.

What crafts are you drawn to when there is a change of season, especially when the weather gets cooler? Please feel free to comment below!

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