Squirrel Picnic

Handmade with Love and Stuff


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Hodge and Podge Are Going to New York City!

Hodge and Podge and I are very excited about our trip to the Big Apple this weekend. None of us has ever been. We’ll just be three little wide-eyed squirrels in the big city. Luckily I have some very nice friends who will be looking out for us. We’re going to visit the Vogue Knitting Live marketplace at the Marriott Marquis near Times Square, the garment district (can’t wait to step foot in Mood!), Chinatown, High Line, Battery Park, and the World Trace Center Memorial Plaza to name a few. We can’t wait to get there and hug our friends and explore the city! But first we better pack.

Hodge and Podge Go to New York

Hodge and Podge have packed their bags for their big trip to New York City. What are you bringing, Podge?

Hodge and Podge Go to New York 3 “I’m bringing a book on how to knit. I can’t wait to check out all the goodies at the Vogue Knitting event.
Better brush up on my knitting skills first!”

And Hodge what are you bringing?

Hodge and Podge Go to New York 2

“I’m bringing a donut.”

Huh, I see. Well, I guess we’re just about set then. New York City, here we come!

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Super Comfy, Super Quick Knit Scarf: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Super Comfy, Super Quick Scarf free knit pattern by Squirrel PicnicI love this time of year. It’s so much fun digging out all the scarves, hats, and mittens. This year, I’m digging way back to December 2012, when I posted the pattern for a Super Comfy, Super Quick Knit Scarf. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a fast knitter. Right now I have three knitting WIPs that have been on the needles for over a year (one of them a sweater in laceweight yarn–what was I thinking?). Because I’m so slow, bulky yarn is a dream come true for me because with it you can finish a project in a weekend, or like this scarf, in an afternoon.

Super Comfy, Super Quick Knit Scarf Free Pattern by Squirrel PicnicThe Super Quick scarf was my answer when I needed to bring a gift to a party and I only had one day to do it in. Using size 35 (19 mm) knitting needles, bulky yarn that is doubled up, and a fairly simple stitch pattern that is repeated for every row makes this a pattern that should fly right by.

Well, some knitters didn’t quite have the experience I had expected. And revisiting the pattern this week, I could see why. It’s a weird stitch pattern–not too complicated, but just different. So I decided to go back and create a step-by-step photo tutorial for the pattern. I’m hoping that this will help ensure that anyone who starts this scarf project will have it done in time to give it to someone special this Christmas, or for them to wear it themselves at the first snow.

Squirrel Picnic Knit Scarf 15I discovered while knitting the swatch for this tutorial that this scarf is so much fun! Once you get the knack of the stitch pattern, the needles just start to fly. And because of the bulky yarn and large knitting needles, I knit this whole swatch in about twenty minutes! The texture is so unique and the fabric is thick and luxurious. Now I want to knit one for myself. I think I know what will be on my needles as soon as I’m done with the book. And this will be one of those rare knitting projects that isn’t sitting in a bag for a year before I finish it.

So pick up some giant knitting needles and some bulky yarn and whip up this scarf for Christmas! You still have time to make it.


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You Made This!

It’s so cool to see projects from people all over the world. Thank you all for choosing my patterns and for taking the time to share your finished projects with me.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to these awesome folks, whose projects are featured below: Virginie Homemade, Marta of Hama Style & Amigurumi, Flo, Astrid Der Kinderen, Amanda Thorpe, Jenny McCoy, Sarah Fuller, Beth Turner, Elsa, Theresa Pearson, Anne Hanson, Heike Röhserxxcatalopexxregenbogengarne, Linh Do Khanh, Marina Walker, KleinDari, Louna, alovelygorilla, CowSaysMoo, and curlyfro.

If you’ve made something awesome with one of my patterns, I’d love to include you in a future installment of You Made This! And if there’s anyone I missed, I’m terribly sorry. Let me know and I’ll include you in the next edition. Please send a photo of your project to squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com. Continue reading


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Welcome Back, Spring! Squirrel Picnic’s Banner Diorama Explained

SquirrelPicnic.com

Spring, how we have missed you! I put the spring banner back up for the blog header a whole month early because the snow and cold temperatures were starting to depress me. I hope that, wherever you are — even if it is warm there — you have enjoyed the image of Hodge and Podge having a little picnic in their garden.

I get a lot of requests from people around the world for the patterns to make the items in this banner. What better time than the first day of spring to share with you where you can find the patterns to make some lovely flowers, birds, and butterflies. Continue reading