The tools I use
As I’ve become more immersed in the knitting world, I’ve invested in quality tools after much research. Below you can find my reviews on the tools I’ve chosen to work with:
Needles
Chicagoo Twist Tip interchangeable needle set
So far, I love it!!! Pricey, but totally worth it as an investment set plus the range of needle sizes, notions and cords are awesome. And hopefully I won’t have to buy another pair of needles again!
Pom maker
Clover XL, large and medium pom maker.
The XL is very much extra-large - it’s a fun touch, but honestly I probably wouldn’t have purchased it if it’d seen how large it actually is in person. For some reason, the measurements didn’t click in my head, but it wasn’t worth returning. The large and medium, however, are perfect for adult and children’s size hats respectively.
Very Pink Knits tutorials
My go-to for any new knitting technique. Stacey gets straight to the point and is a great teacher!
Etsy is my go-to marketplace to find small shops with unique products, and as an added bonus, I feel good supporting! I’ve started searching Etsy for holiday gifts for loved ones and a few special treats for myself as the close of the year nears.
Welcome to my latest venture, Bellchase Ruby - an intentional curation of goods that are intended to fill your home with joy using eco-friendly materials by supporting my fellow small businesses.
Bellchase Ruby will encompass two specific elements. First it will feature small businesses that I am excited about and believe in. These include businesses with ethical, small, local and/or environmentally friendly products and missions and I'm excited to introduce you to their stories along with their products in the new shop for you to purchase. Secondly, I want to leave behind the pressure of creating and the pressure to profit off of my passions. Instead, I will value my projects for what they are worth, while at the same time, making an impact in causes and organizations I care about in a more selective manner.
With the transition from EB Knits to Bellchase Ruby, I can enjoy knitting and my other passions for me, with no pressure to produce for anyone or anything else. And, yet, I will be able to share my love of certain small businesses, share their products in my shop. And every once in a while, I might feel the urge to offer handmade items made by me, as well!
2021 has been the year of exploring adjusting my routine, trying new products and implementing new habits. Including experimenting with more environmentally-friendly household products! I just updated by last post in which I recommended certain eco-friendly adjustments with my thoughts now that I’ve been using (or not using) each for almost 6+ months. And now I wanted to share a few more of my simple household adjustments and products that I just purchased from Earth Hero!
Have you seen hand-dyed or handspun yarn??? *Heart eyes emoji* Hand-dyed yarn is a stunning combination of colors by professional independent yarn dyers. These are luxury yarns so they’re more conducive to personal projects than items for EB Knits, but wow, are there tons of stunning yarns out there! I’ve only purchased a few skeins of hand-dyed yarn as of June 2020, but I can’t wait to support other yarn dyers as I grow in my knitting journey and find more time for personal projects!
It’s time for another small business round-up of my favorite items! This time, specifically in the Spring spirit I think, I’m drawn to all of the flowers and lots of jewelry (which is abnormal for me!) I discovered all of these on Etsy and I’ve checked to make sure each shop is rated well. I’ve also created several lists on my favorites page to organize my top picks.
All, well, most of, the links, references, yarns, patterns and more linked from the latest EB Knits podcast episode!
Over the last few months, I’ve delved into exploring watercolor and I’m loving it! I’ve never been the most creative person in the room, but within the past few years I have enjoyed working on some DIY projects and crafting more and more. In December 2020, I made my sister and grandma some birthday cards then I just kept going.
I want to share some changes that I’ve made in 2021 and plan to take throughout the remainder of the year along with some of the products and brands I’ve discovered that make these changes even easier! Of course feel free to pick and choose any of these switches, but I wanted to share some relatively easy eco-friendly changes to make to help the planet because even the smallest of changes make a big difference if a score of people take part!