Progress, Plans and Selfish Knits

Good day, friends! Welcome to another entry into the diary of HalesBee Handmade happenings. I have been slowly making progress on a couple of WIPs, and have also made a few selfish knitting plans.

28081391_1621542651228510_931438253_o — Richard’s cardigan with just buttons left to go!

My man cardigan for the hubby is nearly ready for wear! Knitted in Brava Sport Yarn from Knit Picks in Cobblestone Heather and Canary (yellow). Since last entry, I have completed the sleeves, picked up and finished the collar, complete with button holes and finished off the pockets. Now I just need to find suitable buttons and throw it in the wash! Not to worry, it’s been intentionally knitted with acrylic for easy care!

I’ve also been at work on mom’s special request: the Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli. This is a large, comfy fit sweater; so, I do have quite a larger number of stitches each row. Still, I am plugging away and loving the fabric I am getting! I am using my own hand dyed yarn in my Jack Frost colorway from my HalesBee Handmade shop on Etsy (affiliate link). I have also been testing out my new Knitter’s Pride interchangeable Zing needles from my Melodies of Life set I just treated myself to. I promise to review them later!

I got my Knitter’s Pride set on eBay (affiliate link), where you can find some reasonably priced sets. Brand new sets of the same Melodies of Life needles are available on Amazon also, and for very reasonable prices. Here’s an Amazon affiliate link: Knitter’s Pride Melodies Of Life “Zing” Interchangeable Needle Set-9 Pairs / 4 Cords / Accessories

Selfish socks for me! Done in my own hand dyed yarn.

I’ve also felt a need to cast on a few selfish knits. All this working on sweaters for mom and hubby, and after the holidays!? I need something for me. I went ahead and chose a couple of skeins from my shop – again! I may need to slow down using my own inventory – but I do love some of my colorways!

The sock I’ve started above is using my Pick Your Poison colorway, which will be used for the cuffs, heels and toes of the socks. The main body of the sock will be done in my Always Carry Antidote colorway. See what I did there? I know, I’m so clever 🙂 Both of these are on my TwistleBee Sock Base, a high twist sock yarn. They are both available in my HalesBee Handmade shop on Etsy (affiliate link).

More selfish knitting in my DK hand dyed yarn. Bag from KnitForBrainsDesigns on Etsy.

Last in my entry today is a bit of enabling from Instagram. I saw a knitty friend had completed the Touchstone Shawl by Laura Aylor in three colors rather than one. Loved it! Had to plan one for me! I selected a few more HalesBee Handmade DK colorways (there I go again!) and popped over to Ravelry to get the pattern. My plan is start with my Remnants, do the middle section in Coffee and Pie Oh My!, and finish out with my Chateau de Bleu colorway. I’m so excited to have a shawl for me!

Well, that’s all for this entry, folks! I had better get back to knitting if I want to have more to show later 🙂

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into the HalesBee Handmade life. If you have clicked on the links marked affiliate and made a purchase (which gives me a small commision) then I thank you from the bottom of my HalesBee heart!

Happy knitting! Love from HalesBee!

February 13, 2018 0

My Favorite Hat Pattern

Well, my favorite hat pattern at the moment! If you are a true crime fan and have not yet listened to the My Favorite Murder Podcast with Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff, you are seriously missing out.

For those not familiar, My Favorite Murder (MFM) is a true crime comedy podcast. How could a true crime podcast be funny? Well the true crimes themselves are gruesome, disturbing and overall not funny. Georgia and Karen, however, are absolutely hilarious! Granted, they each admit some of the laughter and joking is out of the anxiety and terror brought about by the subjects they discuss. This, though, is what makes them just my kind of people.

As a fun tribute to my favorite ladies of death and despair, I have designed this simple colorwork hat. The MFM Hat is available as a paid for pattern on Ravelry, as well as in my HalesBee Handmade shop on Etsy. Georgia and Karen frequently encourage makers to sell their MFM wares on their podcast, so I like to think its ok!

The hat is knit in my own hand dyed DK weight yarn. I used my HeartBurst colorway as the main color and my Blindfold colorway for the lettering. Both are available in my HalesBee Handmade shop. I used US size 4 needles for the ribbing, and went up to a size 6 needle for the colorwork. The pattern has just two adult sizes, but you can go up or down in yarn weight and needle size to create a larger or smaller hat as desired.

Again, for those who do not yet call themselves ‘murderinos’ (fans of the MFM podcast and true crime in general), the hashtag SSDGM stands for their now famous tagline “Stay Sexy! Don’t get murdered!”

I have to add here my appreciation for Georgia and Karen, not just for staying sexy, but also for their ability to always maintain focus on the human element. They speak often of their own therapy and anxieties, the fears they have that may well be part of their obsession with true crime. They always make an effort to honor the memory and trauma of victims and survivors, reminding listeners of the various advocacy groups out there trying to make a difference.

Georgia and Karen also remember to consider, difficult though it may be, the humanity of the people who commit awful crimes. Often lamenting the stigma of mental illness, its vast under-treatment and how many who become killers suffer from some kind of mental or emotional illness or distress. And all while finding a way to crack a smile and allow listeners to do the same.

Clearly, I do recommend that you give My Favorite Murder a listen. Even if you are not a true crime fan, you may find yourself just as addicted to Georgia and Karen as this murderino.

And of course, if you are already a fan, I recommend my MFM Hat pattern on Ravelry.

I hope you have enjoyed this entry in the diary of HalesBee’s handmade adventures! Stay sexy!

Love from HalesBee!

February 11, 2018 0

Hi Friends!

Welcome!

I’m Haleigh, the dyer and maker behind HalesBee Handmade on Etsy. I’m a lover of yarn, an obsessed knitter, and I’m starting this little blog as a way to continue exploring my creative ambitions.

I live in North Carolina near Raleigh with my husband and our tiny dogs. I dye my yarn in my very own little kitchen and dry it in the North Carolina sunshine on the front porch. My craft room and home office is bursting with yarn, beads, cross stitch supplies and my many various crafting exploits. It is from here that I begin my blog, a diary of yarny goodness and hand making.

Part of my intent in this blog is to find a way to be more connected to the knitting and crafting community. I’ve always been amazed by how supportive and kind the members of this wide crafting community are, particularly in a virtual world that is often ugly and unwelcoming. My hope is to provide content that will entertain, inform, and most importantly, enable fellow knitters, crafters and makers wherever you may be.

So thank you to all who give my little knitty dream a look. Happy knitting and crafting!

Love from HalesBee

January 17, 2018 0