Giant Granny Square Blanket Progress

I love this blanket.

When you give a stressed out person some thick yarn and a big crochet hook, things move pretty fast. Haha. I started working on this giant granny square blanket over the weekend and quickly discovered that it is a yarn eater. Is that a thing? The blanket "eats" it up so fast that I am almost out of the yarn I bought on Friday afternoon. After a certain point in the pattern, each round needs almost an entire ball of yarn! That's why the green yarn ball is so tiny. I need to stock up next time I go to the craft store. (The yarn I am using is Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Fleece, Pewter, Stone, and Spearmint.)

I wanted to share a few photos of my progress so far. I love how the colors look together! The next color round will be a navy blue and then I will start repeating the stripes until it is done. I think I will make it 84 in. x 84 in. square.

It is the perfect project to work on before going to bed each night. I am so glad I finally decided to start this blanket!

How are your projects coming along? Do you like to work on something before bed too?

Sponsor One Sheepish Girl in March!

This short month is almost over. Even though I am a weird, winter-loving person who will miss wrapping myself in thick sweaters and scarves,  I am excited about what is to come in the spring. A new month filled with new opportunities and adventures. A lot is happening behind the scenes right now and I look forward to the day when I can share it here on the blog!  I can't wait to grow in my creativity and continue trying new things in the upcoming season.

It would be an honor to have you as a sponsor this month! Large, medium, and small ad spaces are available for immediate purchase through Passionfruit on my sponsor page. I also have three month ad bundles available at a discounted rate. If you are ready to purchase today, and your ad is approved, it will go live on the sidebar immediately!

I truly appreciate your continued support. I look forward to working with your blog or business! Please email sheepishknitcrochet(at)gmail(dot)com with any questions.

I can't wait to share pictures of my granny square blanket progress and finished sweater makeover this week. I think it might be my favorite sweater restyle yet! :)

Weekend Baking - Jam-filled Biscuits

I am starting to realize that I have a thing for jam. Homemade jam, jam-filled macarons, jam-filled scones...I love it all.  Do you remember the episode from Friends when Monica decides to start a homemade jam business, gives some to Joey, and he eats it straight out of the jar? Haha. That episode was on my mind the entire time I was baking these biscuits.

The moment I saw this recipe on Honey Kennedy for the Grand Central Bakery "jammers" I knew I had to give it a try. I followed the recipe exactly and even made part of the dough the night before. That worried me at first because I never mix dry ingredients and butter together to sit overnight without the wet ingredients. Thankfully the dough came together and I enjoyed a jam-filled biscuit for brunch on Saturday. It was the perfect treat on a cloudy morning. Weekends are my favorite time to bake new things.

Have you tried any new recipes lately?

I hope you are having a great start to the week!

The Blush List - Color Pop

Knitting // Colorful knits and a scallop hat pattern from Muita Ihania.

Crochet // This crochet cluster cactus is a softer take on a prickly plant.

Etsy // Handmade patterned notebooks by Khristian Howell.

Style // Kris Atomic's vibrant photos from the Orla Kiely AW 2013 presentation are simply stunning. 

Art // Beautiful prints by Paper Moon Illustration

Food // I have never tasted a blood orange but this scone recipe from How Sweet It Is looks like a good reason to give it a try!


The colors in this Blush List definitely reflect my feelings about the weekend. :)

It is a beautiful day and I am already addicted to my granny square blanket.  My sweater makeover is coming along nicely too! I can't wait to finish it up. I feel grateful for this time to work on my creative passions and learn new things.

A productive weekend was just what I needed! I hope you all had a great weekend too. Are you going to watch the Oscars tonight? I can't wait for the red carpet!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Weekend Plans 2/22 - 2/24

This past week was filled with way too many craft disasters. The sweater makeover I started last weekend did not work at all. Thankfully I didn't ruin the sweater so I can try something else with it another day. I also worked on a few upcoming projects, each one resulting in frustration and multiple trips to the craft store for more supplies. This week knitting, crochet, and embroidery were far from relaxing. Unfortunately all of these mistakes happened when a few minutes of creative time would have been appreciated. Oh well. I learned from my slip-ups and hopefully this weekend will be much more productive. The cheerful colors in these photos have already lifted my spirits. Here's what I have planned...

- Since last weekend's sweater makeover idea didn't work, I am putting it aside and starting with something new. If all goes as planned (fingers crossed!) I think it will be really cute. Hopefully I can share it with you next week!

- After multiple redoes, I started fiddling with a new crochet project last night. I'm not sure what it will become, but I like the blue color.

- I can't wait to bake these jam-filled buttermilk biscuits for breakfast tomorrow.

- Even though the last thing I need is another project, throughout all of my craft failures this week I wished I had a big, relaxing, blanket project to work on. I broke down and went to Michael's this afternoon to get some yarn for the Giant Granny Square Blanket from Purl Bee. I have been itching to start for months now and I am just going to do it!


If you had a rough week I hope you have some time to relax or work on something you enjoy. What are you up to this weekend?

What's In My Yarn Bag? with Little Llama

After starting the year with a look inside my own yarn bag, I am excited to introduce a new "What's in my yarn bag?" interview with Alice of Little Llama. I met Alice on Instagram where she shares the sweetest photos of her style, crafting, and baking adventures. Today she is giving us a peek inside her colorful yarn stash and sharing what she loves most about knitting and crochet. Enjoy!

What do you typically keep in your yarn bag? 

My yarn bag is actually several baskets of yarn. I keep all my yarn in the baskets and store my needles and hooks in a separate jar, patterns in a separate folder and stitch markers, needles and other tools in yet another little box. My non-knitting/crocheting life is a bit crazy so I find that I need to keep my crafting items really organized. 

Are you working on any fun projects at the moment? We want to see! 

I have 2,738 projects I'm working on at the moment. That's an exaggeration but I always have multiple projects going at the same time, which is probably why it takes me forever to finish something. I'm currently working on a cozy wool afghan that I hope to have completed by this coming Christmas as well as a number of hats, scarves and wrist warmers.

What is your favorite yarn creation that you've ever made?

This is a tough one but I would have to say the summer afghan that I started two summers ago (again, an unfinished project). It's the first 'big' project I've done and I really love how it turned out. It's made of cotton and it's the perfect weight and lacy pattern for slightly chilly summer nights.

Do you like to carry your yarn bag with you and work on any projects projects in public? Where do you feel most comfortable yarn crafting?

I like to stash a ball of yarn and needles/hooks in a little bag that fits into whatever larger bag I'm carrying at the moment. I've worked on projects in public but I tend to knit at home most of the time just because it's easier for me to grab whatever tool I might need or switch to a different project if I feel like it. It's also the most comfortable place for me to work on projects because I can put on a record in the background or wait for a baked good to come out of the oven at the same time.

Do you like to knit and crochet? Do you have a favorite?

I like both. I started out knitting (my grandma taught me how to knit) and then learned how to crochet (my mom taught me how to crochet) and now I do both but I can't say which is my favorite. I love them both!

What do you love most about yarn crafting? 

I spend most of my weekdays and weekends studying and taking care of patients so it's a treat to be able to sit in my apartment and do something just for me. I also love that I'm able to make things with my own two hands and gift them to family and friends. After all, handmade is best.

Handmade is best! Thank you for sharing Alice. I can't wait to see your finished blanket!

I am looking forward to an evening with my yarn stash too. I hope you are having a great week so far. How are your latest projects coming along?

Sheepish Heart Bomb Results - Part 2

When I woke up Thursday morning, I didn't really have a plan on where I was going to leave my knit and crochet hearts. I kept everything I needed for the Sheepish Heart Bomb tucked inside my purse, ready to use when I found a place in need of some cheer. Whenever I finally mustered the courage, or found an especially isolated spot, I grabbed a heart out of my bag and tried to attach it as fast as possible. I went to the mall earlier in the day and left a few hearts inside for the Valentine's Day shoppers to stumble upon. I tied one to the railing near some stairs and another on a bench outside one of the entrances. Later that day I stopped by the park (where I left my knit heart bomb on the picnic table) and tied a few hearts to the chain-link fences and bridges.  

Here is the second half of your beautiful heart bomb creations from around the world! 

Row 1 - Courtney, Michaela, Laura, Doris

Row 2 - dospuntobego, Randi, Elise, Elle

Row 3 - Rhianna, Emma, Emma, Fox and Sparrows

Row 4 - happy_as_pie, Sophie, Jen, Holly

Row 1 - Melissa, Nancy, Natalia, Vicki

Row 2 - Rachele, reasterbrook28, Rebecca, Aly

Row 3 - Sally Ann, Samantha, shmarz, Gemma

Row 4 - Jill, Teresa, Whitney, Mary

Row 1 - Jennifer, Veta, Sashaimi, Museumjuice

Row 2: Joanna, Naomi, Amber, Ori

You can find part one of the Sheepish Heart Bomb results here. 

I hope you enjoyed this event! I had a lot of fun. I look forward to hosting the heart bomb again next year and watching it grow. It is incredibly encouraging to see a small act of kindness come together and impact people in different communities around the world.

The next time I am feeling down I will remember your loving, creative hearts and smile. :)

Sheepish Heart Bomb Results - Part 1

I am so happy that the first Sheepish Heart Bomb was such a huge success! It is really encouraging to see so many different people around the world take a moment out of their day to create something for the sake of making others happy. Your knit, crochet, and handmade hearts made people stop, smile, and remember that someone out there cares. I hope you enjoyed leaving little "heart bombs" around your town. 

I shared several hearts during the day last Thursday. I kept up my intarsia yarn bomb tradition with this knit heart and attached it to a picnic table in a local park. (I also shared a video of this yarn bomb on Vine!) It was fun leaving different hearts on benches, fences, and other spots around town. Even though this is my fifth or sixth time yarn bombing, I still feel strange attaching a piece of knitting to something in public. I tried my hardest to be stealth during each heart bomb, but after a few uncomfortable moments I soon discovered the problem: I am not stealth. At all. Haha. 

My favorite part of the day was looking at all of your beautiful photos as you went out and shared your hearts. You are so creative! I tried my best to get all of the #sheepishheartbomb photos posted on Instagram and Twitter together. I decided to split this post into two parts because so many of you participated! Here is the first group of heart bomb creations: 

Row 1 - Helen // Faith // Allison // Alice

Row 2 - Anita // Annie H. // Annie D. // Rebecca

Row 3 - Becky // Dominique // Bridget // Brigid

Row 4 - Erica // Claire // Corinne // Corrie

Row 1 - Elizabeth // Jaqueline // Jen // Julie

Row 2 - Julie // Rosemary // Krysta // Krystal

Row 3 - Laura // Deb // Liz // Lynda

Row 4 - Michelle // Meet Make Laugh // Megan // MK Carroll

I will share the rest of your photos and some of my other heart bombs tomorrow. Thank you again for participating and spreading the word throughout the weekend. I can't wait to do it again next year! 

What was your favorite part of the Sheepish Heart Bomb? Please share your stories below. 

I hope you are having a great start to the week. :) 

The Blush List - Black & White

Knitting // The big, beautiful knits featured in the Sister by Sibling collection at London Fashion Week are so inspiring. 

Crochet // I am in awe of this crochet feather brooch created by Queen of Carrot Flowers.

Wish List // This mug gets straight to the point. Fill it up. :)

Style //  A cozy sweater and a peter pan collar is my favorite combination. (via Isla of A Fine Day for Sailing)

Art //  Sweet prints of hairstyling tools from Rifle Paper Co. - comb, bobby pins, scissors, and hairbrush 

Food // Mmm. I think I need to use my donut pans again soon and try this baked cinnamon sugar recipe from Shutterbean.

I am surprised that my discoveries for this week's Blush List are a little less colorful than usual. Typically I am drawn to bright colors, but I really do love the bold contrast of black and white. The combination is clean and striking. Maybe I will stray away from my usual brightly colored yarns and threads for some upcoming projects. Maybe... ;)

This weekend was wonderful. I enjoyed looking through the last few heart bombing photos and working on last minute projects. I think an evening walk with my camera will be the perfect way to end the day.

I hope you had a great weekend too. Did you do any last minute heart yarn bombing today?

Also, I announced The Home. T giveaway winner here. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

Happy Sunday to you. :)

Weekend Plans 2/15 - 2/17

Happy Friday!

First of all, I am blown away by all of the amazing photos sent in for the Sheepish Heart Bomb yesterday! Thank you so much for participating and spreading the word. I love looking at all of your little hearts on Instagram and Twitter. It is amazing to see so many acts of kindness shared all over the world. I was surprised to discover that a Cambridge news website reported on the heart bombs in their town! Crazy! I look forward to seeing more photos this weekend. I will share the results of the Sheepish Heart Bomb in a blog post on Monday. Hopefully I can get all of the photos together. :)

I am thankful for yet another crafty weekend ahead. I have some Valentine candy to eat, projects to work on, and new bath goodies to enjoy. Here's what I have planned...

- I found a few rolls of black and white 120mm film in the back of one of my desk drawers. It is time to dust off Diana and snap some photos.

- Hopefully I will have time to finish the sweater makeovers I have been experimenting with for the last few weeks. I also have some creative plans for an old t-shirt.

- I have some spring knit and crochet projects to finish.

- New mugs for my morning coffee and evening tea.

- I can't wait to use my new Lush bath fizz, Ocean Salt scrub, and Dream Cream lotion. What a relaxing combination.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! What do you have planned?