It's time to start making crafty holiday decorations, so you can have them up by December 1st...or today, if you're a crazy person like me. I put up our Christmas tree today, and I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween. I can't help it! 
These crocheted snowflakes are soooo easy to make. I can hardly crochet anything, and I can make about a million of these in a day. You can make ornaments out of them (these make a nice simple gift for coworkers), or a garland, which is what I'm working on.

 If you are new to crochet, or would like to learn, you should try this pattern. You only need to know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet and slip stitch, and I'm sure you can find youtube videos demonstrating each of those steps for you. In fact, I'll find them for you!
There! Now you know everything you need to know to make those awesome snowflakes.

What holiday crafts do you like to make? Could you share a link with instructions?
 
When I first started knitting, I made this scarf that I was very proud of. I worked on it for months. It was my first pattern I created myself and it was a combination of moss stitch and ribbing. 
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That was the only time I wore the scarf, posing for a picture! It was too bulky and not very interesting to look at. So, after sitting in a box for almost 3 (!) years I decided that yarn (Cascade 220) was too nice not to use for something more suited to my current tastes. 
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So I unraveled the whole thing! It was a lot of fun, because instead of mourning the loss of my first big knitting project, all I could think was "Yay! Free yarn!"
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The new pattern, inspired by a sock pattern from Knitted Socks East and West, features subtle lace work, zig zag triangular shaping interrupted by garter stitch columns. I love it!
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This is all I have so far, I love the fullness of the zig zag stripes. I plan to knit it until it is normal scarf length and then sew together the ends so it forms an infinity scarf. I'm hoping it will have a full yet airy appearance. We'll see! If it doesn't, I can just unravel it again and try something new.

Have you ever unraveled a project to make something better?
 
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I am so happy with this Kindle cover! I knit it up this weekend as I marathoned Naruto episodes. Nerding out: just what I needed to relax this weekend!

I'm going to perfect the pattern before I make more for my etsy shop. I'm thinking I can knit it in the round next time so there aren't as many ugly seams. My favorite part is the knotted cables. I wanted the cover to have sort of illuminated manuscript character and the knots evoked a Celtic sense to me. Do you see it, too?
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And, my item was featured in another treasury list! This has been a good month for Art of Ariadne! The lists haven't resulted in more sales, but I'm happy for the compliment nonetheless. Remember, the coupon just for requies readers is still available!
 
Today Jared's brother Nathan and his wife Michele are being blessed by a baby shower to celebrate "little Peanut," our soon to be nephew! I wish we could be there! Thankfully, I was able to complete my gifts in time. Here's what I made!
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Aren't you glad I finished this blanket? Now I can stop talking about it so much! Michele requested the Shale Baby blanket, a) because it's beautiful but also b) because she wanted to encourage me to finish one of my 26 before 27 goals. She's pretty sweet, right?
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Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I promise that will be the last picture of the Shale Baby Blanket I post. So get a good look at it. I totally understand if you want to save it and maybe it make it your desktop background or something, I'll probably do that. *stares at lovingly, one last time*

Ok, moving on. I also wanted to give something for Little Peanut that would be a surprise to his parents so I made this!
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*Squeal* Isn't it cute?! When I saw this pattern from Wild Olive I knew I had to get it because Little Peanut's nursery has an otter theme. The white stitches around the edge are to keep a piece of felt attached to the back to cover up the messy stitches.

Like I've mentioned before, I love makings things for babies. While I was working on these items my cheeks hurt from smiling so much! I can't wait to meet the little guy!
 
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I added a new coffee cozy to my etsy shop, Art of Ariadne! I love the pumpkin color, I think I'll knit one just for me! Is it sad that I'm so ready for fall? I've been day dreaming of carving pumpkins and wearing jackets. The weather has been a lot cooler and I am loving it. I feel ashamed though, like I'm rejecting my Texan roots by being sick of the heat.

Anyway, if you have an etsy account I would be ever so grateful if you favorited my new cozy. And while you're at it, favorite all my other items too! : )
 
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Remember how much I love baby blankets? I love love love them! I'll explain the selfish reasons first: 1) Most hand knit gifts are given to the individual, but baby blankets are usually bestowed at baby showers, which results in a room of women oohing and ahhing as soon as the blanket is unveiled. It's a very rewarding moment! 2) I love hearing stories about how much the baby loves their blanket and how they can't sleep without it. Makes me tear up a little bit!
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You know, I think I'm just going to stick with the selfish reasons. 3) They are so darn fun to knit! Behold, the Shale Baby Blanket! Faithful readers will remember this from my 26 before 27 posts. Check out that feather and fan motif and how it magically forces the fabric into a scalloped edge! Get a load of those wrapped eyelets! Gah, I love it so much! After every 4 rows I lay it down and take a good look at it (and make Jared look at it, "No Jared, take a good long look at it!"), I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever knit, easy! I think I'll go work on it now!

A few notes about the pictures. The first blanket was knit with Lion Brand Organic Cotton Yarn for baby Nialah. Our church worked with Care Net to throw a baby shower! Care Net provides counseling and medical services to women with unplanned pregnancies. Time Magazine describes organizations like Care Net as "the new face of an old movement: kind, calm, nonjudgemental." 

The second blanket is being knit with Cascade Superwash Wool for Little Peanut, our soon to be nephew! My camera had difficulty catching the color, it's not cerulean, it's a beautiful deep royal blue.

Oh, and Happy 4th of July! I'll probably spend most of the day inside knitting!
 
Remember the Perknitious knitting pattern give-away I told you about earlier this week? Well, I actually won that giveaway. Ha! It's the first blog giveaway I've ever won, and it's given me new resolve to enter as many giveaways as I can. I'll be sure to share more with you in the future so you can enter them too!

Using my friend's pattern, I knit the fabulous Laura Cowl this weekend and wanted to show you some pictures of it. 
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I think it turned out great! It is so warm and makes you feel glamorous! You can buy the pattern for $2 at the Perknitious etsy store. While you're there, check out some of her other goods, too! Like these arm warmers for instance, which I particularly like. She is a grad student so don't be afraid to fork over the cash! Know that your purchase will help fund much needed coffee and tea runs, the acquirement of expensive scholarly books and other noble pursuits.
 
 I love knitting things for babies. As I knit, I can imagine the little guys cuddling beneath the blanket, or hugging the stuffed animal, or their little feet being warmed up by knit booties, or their sweet chubby arms fitting through the arms of a sweater. Don't you love babies?! Here are a few things that I have knit for the babies among my family and friends.
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Behold, the coolest sock you ever laid eyes on. 
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