Halloween Buddy Bags!

Trick or treat

Smell my feet

Give me something good to knit!

With halloween at our doorstep, I couldn't resist knitting up a couple of spooky Buddy Bags for my little Jujube and Lolo to trick-or-treat with.   I used my original Buddy Bag pattern to knit up

 the drawstring backpacks.  

I knit Lolo's to spec, but made Julian's a little larger by casting on an extra 20 stitches and knitting for 10 inches before working the eyelet row.  I also made his I-cord a little longer so that it would fit well (and hold more candy of course)!

I came up with three new spooky pocket/buddy variations.  First there's the witch in her cauldron with optional logs and flames!

Then there's the glow-in-the dark one-eyed goblin in a jack-o-lantern.  If you haven't seen this glow in the dark yarn yet, head off to Michael's, Mary Maxim or Zellers right away!  It's the coolest thing ever.  Nasty to knit with to be sure but it really does glow quite brightly.  Julian's been sleeping with a ball of it waiting patiently for me to turn it into something funner.  It's made by Bernat and is simply too cool for school!

And then, perhaps spookiest of all is the ghost in a tombstone.  Boo-ooo-oo!  It doesn't have a face yet but I plan on getting some of that glossy fabric puff paint to 'paint it on'!  If it works, it will completely revolutionize my approach to eyes on knitted toys.   I'll let you know how it works out ;0)

As a special holiday treat (and thank you) to all my patrons, I'll be including the pattern for all 3 halloween variations with my Buddy Bag pattern at least until the end of the month. That's all 7 variations (4 original + 3 halloween) for the price of 1!  Ravelry downloads going forward will also include all 7 variations.

Already bought the pattern?  No problem.  Check your e-mail, it's on it's way to you too ;0)  I am sending the pdf pattern file with the halloween buddies to everyone who bought the original Buddy Bag pattern.  Due to quotas from my e-mail provider though, I can't send them all at once so you might need to be a little patient.  If you haven't received the new pattern by Sunday night, send me an e-mail at anny {at} jujubeandlolo {dot} com and I'll hook you up.

Happy {early} Halloween from Jujube & Lolo!

Snug as a bug...

...in a Trellis! Yup, that's right. It's a zillion degrees and I've got the air conditioning on full blast so that I can enjoy my little lemon drop in his trellis while it still fits!


I don't know why I haven't knit a trellis until now. It's a terrific pattern and is simply delicious knit from Rowan All Seasons Cotton. Bonus: it's a lot easier than it looks. Double bonus: it knits up surprisingly fast in aran weight yarn.


I knit the 6 month size with less than 4 balls from the stash and as soon as I finished it and ascertained that it was a little snug on my growing bundle of warmth, I did what any crazy obsessed knitter would do: I got online and ordered more of the same exact yarn so that I can knit another in the 12 month size because at this rate he'll certainly outgrow this one before the weather cools down enough to wear it ;0)


This little guy is growing way too fast. My knitting simply can't keep up. It's all 12 month plus sized knits for him from here on in. And it makes me really sad because there are so many cute little baby things that I wanted to knit for him. Then again, it's been so warm that even if I had knit all kinds of cute little baby things, they wouldn't have been practical to wear in the summer anyway so I really should give myself a break.


Ah, knitting guilt. Just like parenting guilt. With more fibre ;0)

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And now for something completely different! Many of you have asked about the mechanics behind self-publishing a pattern. I'm a complete newbie of course, but have managed to learn a few tricks already with my Buddy Bags pattern. So here's how I did it:

1. I took careful pattern notes as I knit, then took a zillion shots and made a rough copy using Microsoft Publisher 2007. Once it looked the way I wanted it to, I used Publisher's "convert to pdf" feature to make a pdf.
   
   If you don't have Publisher, I've heard great things about Primo. It's a free download that allows you to convert documents from any program into a pdf. You can read up on it and download it here.
   
   
2. Once you have a pdf of your pattern, you'll need a place to host it and if you are going to charge for it, a way to accept payments. You can easily do both for a minimal cost using the e-junkie service (there are others like payloadz, but my hubby and I found that e-junkie's offering was much more reasonable fee-wise).
   
   
3. If you choose e-junkie, the rest is really easy. You upload your pdf, set your price and give e-junkie your paypal email. E-junkie gives you code for a "buy now" button you can post on your blog (in a post like I did or a sidebar button - whatever). And that's it!
   
   
   Buddy Bags
   
   an annypurls original pattern available as an instant download for $6
   

   

   Buyers click on the button, pay through paypal, and then are taken directly to a page where they can download the file (it is also e-mailed to them). All this takes but a few seconds and is completely automated so that you don't have to do anything else. The money is deposited in your paypal account instantly.
   
   
4. That's all there is to it!
   

Hope this helps and inspires you to make your original patterns available too ;0)

Cheers!

The good one ;0)

We were sitting on the bottom step together yesterday, hurrying to put our shoes on so we wouldn't miss daddy's train when Julian totally blew me away. This two year old of mine was doing up the velcro on his runners and said, "mommy, I put on my left shoe". And it was! So I asked him what his other foot was? "The good one," he replied. "You mean, the right one?" I asked. "No mommy, it's the good one!"

Stephen was on vacation last week so we were busy little bees, soaking in the sun, visiting the sites and of course running some errands! We took the boys to the Montreal Biodome with grandma and grandpa and it was a lots of fun. Julian got to see penguins, and porcupines, and a moose, and a cougar, and giant jungle birds, and even an alligator! He was very impressed. Logan on the other hand was most smitten with the fish. I was carrying him in the bjorn and could literally feel his breathing patterns change as the aquariums soothed him. Magic!

We also got to do something a little strange...we went to a Stanley Cup parade in our little suburban town! The goaltender for the Ducks is from our little town and brought the celebrated cup over for an impromptu Monday afternoon parade.

It was strange to go for a neighbourhood walk in the deeps of suburbia to participate in a Stanley cup parade when our home team didn't even make the playoffs! It was great fun nonetheless. Giguere (the hometown hero) rode on an old fashioned fire engine with the cup, preceded by the local kiddy teams and followed by what seemed like all the kids in town on their bikes cheering and waving. It was a really cool suburban moment.

Julian was trying really hard to keep up with the parade on his little tricycle. He was so focused and determined, trying to go really really fast... despite his best efforts though, he was the very last kid in the parade. Here he is being tailed by the police escort. So cute ;0)


I did get a little knitting done, too. I started knitting a trellis of my own for Lolo and honestly it's such a fabulous little quick knit that I really don't know why I didn't knit it before. I've got half a front and sleeves left to go before I can consider this one an FO. I just hope it fits Lolo when it's done... I knit the 6 month size but it looks a little small.


The story of the week though...Buddy Bags! The response has been so heart-warming. Knitters are so wonderful ;0) For those of you who have purchased a pattern, you may want to go download it again using the same link you were sent. A few knitters send some minor errata which I have reflected in a new update (any new buyers will receive the revised file).

Here's the errata:

• The row numbers in the 'Birdy wing' section should be even-numbered starting with row 2...(all odd-numbered rows should be as indicated in row 1) - thanks Renee!
• In the basket instructions, Row 20 should read (P5, K3) - thanks Jessica and Renee!
• I added needle size info throughout to make it clearer
• I added a note up front about how the pattern is for your personal use only and should not be sold or distributed. I also ask that you not sell any Buddy Bags you make, though you can knit and give away as many as you like ;0)

Next time, some Q&A for anyone interested in self-publishing a pattern. I'll share my research and experiences with software and online tools...

Happy knitting!

Everywhere Buddy Bags!

It took a wee bit longer than I had planned {doesn't everything?} but I did it! I created the perfect quick'n'easy and full o'whimsy gift for those tricky-to-knit for toddlers and pre-schoolers (though older kids might like them too, heck I want one ;0). Introducing an annypurls original: Buddy Bags!


Meet Buggy, Bunny, Bear-y and Birdy, the adorable finger puppet buddies that adorn these sweet little backpacks. The inspiration came to me as my little neighbourette's 4th birthday drew near... I didn't have much time left to knit her something special and was also confined by the stash. Plus, let's face it, it's really hard to tell what size one should knit for a toddler or pre-schooler unless they're your own ;0) I can't tell you how many times babies have outgrown knitted gifts and garments before I finished making them!

This is where the beauty of these little treasures lies - they really are one size fits all, and with all the variations, I'd say they'd be cherished by little girls and boys. After all, every child has a little treasure they like to carry around ;0)


1. Birdy Buddy Bag, 2. Bear-y Buddy Bag Lining, 3. Bunny in a basket, 4. Buggy finger puppet, 5. Buddy bag linings, 6. Buggy Buddy Bag - detail, 7. Bear-y in a sailboat, 8. Birdy finger puppet, 9. Birdy Buddy Bag - detail, 10. All 4 Buddy Bags, 11. Bunny finger puppet, 12. Bear-y Buddy Bag - Stuffed!, 13. Bear-y finger puppet, 14. Bunny Buddy Bag - Stuffed!, 15. Birdy Buddy Bag - Lining, 16. Buggy Buddy Bag

These are perfect to tuck a little book, toy and snack in for busy kiddies on the go. And anywhere they can go too - the mall, restaurant, church or even just to play with around the house! Just pull on the strings to draw it closed and wear it as a backpack. Can you tell I'm loving these?

Extra bonus, you probably already have everything you need to make one in your stash right now! Knit from acrylic or washable cotton, they are easy to care for and will take some loving wear. I had enough odds and ends of worsted weight acrylic in the stash to knit all four!

I'm just pleased as punch with how they all turned out and hope you'll love them too. I plan to knit more as gift wrap for those gifted baby sweaters (a gift for now and another for later - who doesn't love that?) The pockets and buddies would be great on their own to adorn a simple sweater or baby blanket. Ahh, the possibilities...

The 6-page pattern includes detailed instructions for the 7x9 inch bag, all four finger puppets (buggy, birdy, beary and bunny) and all four pockets (leaf, nest, sailboat and basket). It also includes lots of photos and tutorials and even instructions for lining the bag. (Actually, I'm almost as proud of the presentation of the pattern as I am of the bags!)

The pattern is available for $6.50 as an instant pdf download (payment is through PayPal).

Happy knitting!

Ahhh, meditative knitting!

See this? Nice, eh? I'm still fiddling with my buddy bags but took some time to do some needed meditative knitting. You now, while I sort out my ideas for the buddies.


It's the Noro Striped Scarf from Brookly Tweed. Though I'm knitting it in Kureyon (rather than Silk Garden) which may have been a mistake because it's a little scratchy against the neck. It's a little, whats-the-word, rustic! But it's fun watching the colours play out against one another and it's nice to knit something you don't have to think about whatsoever!


I'm still chugging along on my Buddy Bags though and your positive response so far has been very encouraging! I'd say I'm about 85% done and my new goal is to make the pattern available this weekend. In the meantime though, here's a preview (above) of the Birdie Buddy Bag.

It's my new favourite! Actually, I put the finishing touches on the Buggy Buddy Bag since my last post: embroidering eyes, dots and adding antennae. And it's my favourite, too ;0) Actually that's what's slowing me down a bit. I want to include 4 alternatives with the pattern but want each to be the cutest ever and live up to the other ones and I think I set the bar really high with the Buggy Bag. I can't tell you how often I've ripped appliqué's this week. It's a good thing this yarn can take the abuse ;0)

Happy Knitting!

Big week!

I had planned to finish my mystery project, write up the pattern and make it available yesterday but I keep getting better and better ideas for it and can't stop knitting them (plus it's been a really eventful week for my children, more on that later)! They're so much fun to make if I do say so myself. Here's the first one almost done (I need to finish the ladybug embroidery and line the bag):

It's an annypurls original and the pattern for it and 3 other variations will be available in my etsy shop just as soon as I get them done and pdf the pattern. I call it the Buddy Bag. It's a simple drawstring knapsack perfectly sized to hold a child's treasures like a board book and a friend or a snack or even as packaging for a knitted baby sweater to be gifted to a lucky baby or toddler.

Each one will have a different whimsical pocket buddy. Pictured above is the Buggy Buddy Bag with it's leaf pocket and ladybug finger puppet buddy. I just love how it turned out. Love, love, LOVE it!!! I'm still working out the other buddy/pocket combinations (I'm making 4 variations for the pattern). One of these will be gifted to my neighbourette and the other 3 (if I can part with them once their done) will go up in my etsy shop as well ;0)

Here's a preview of the Birdie Buddy Bag (there will also be a Bunny Buddy Bag and a Bear-y Buddy Bag):


Aren't they charming? I'm so stoked and am looking forward to see what kind of response these get. I'm so proud of them!

But not nearly as proud as I am of my two year old delight who yesterday went potty for the first time! We bought it a few weeks ago and started including Mo Willem's "Time to pee" in our bedtime story rotation and doing the same with the Bear in the Big Blue House "Potty Time with Bear" video. We haven't actually tried to get him to use it yet nor have we gone with big boy underwear. He's still little and we're still trying to figure out how we want to do this.


Anyhow, yesterday he came to get me and asked me to take off his diaper so I humoured him. He went to sit on his potty and I gave him a few books to look at and continued tidying up the house. Next thing I know, he's walking around naked in the living room and there was a nice big peepee in his potty! Seriously, my proudest day ever! I mean I was already super impressed with his colouring earlier in the day:


Clearly he was trying to colour in the lines. Until this morning he had been mostly scribbling lines and zigzags on every page with his favouritest crayon - the brown one! Weird, eh? That his favourite crayon is brown? Shouldn't it be red? or Blue? Incidently my favourite is the orange one ;0)

Plus, this week, he started falling asleep on his own in his big boy bed. Same routine as usual except after stories and nursing (yes, I'm still tandem nursing and I don't know how to stop without making him feel less loved than Lolo...help!) I say night night and leave instead of laying with him until he falls asleep. Worked the first time! Not a peep. And yes, I know I'm blessed ;0) Double plus: Lolo started smiling...lots! And cooing too!

So you can see why even super cool knitting took a back seat this week!

More on my buddy bags next time...