For me, DIY runs through my veins — whether it’s doing my own bookkeeping, taxes, and accounting; planting my own garden; dreaming up wild wedding gifts and seeing them through, visiting the Portland Homestead Supply Co. on my day off to buy a gallon of coconut oil so I can make my own salves and lotions, using only homemade counter spritzer and foamy hand soap in my kitchen, or, of course, designing my own yarn and building a dress from scratch.  It’s the idea that, while mass production of consumer goods certainly does have its perks (hey, I’ve got an Amazon Prime account, I won’t lie!), the majority of things we buy, order, or pay someone to do for us are all things that are totally do-able ourselves.

Of course, but who has time to grow their own food, sew their own clothes, change their own oil, AND work 50 hours a week?!  Not I.  For me, DIY is phasic.  I baked my own bread every week for five years, and then stopped.  I used to buy milk by the gallon and culture my own yogurt…but now I am perfectly happy to buy big tubs of Greek yogurt at Grocery Outlet on the cheap.  And who knows?  Maybe someday I will outsource my tax preparation and free up weeks of my life in March to do other things (but who am I kidding…probably not).  Even though I may not have time in my life to learn each of these new skills and practice them consistently, the point is that I can still look at an injera roll when I’m out for Ethiopian food and think, I know how they did that.  For me, it’s about having a connection to the things you’re using or consuming, knowing how to break them down into their core components, and appreciate them.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of DIY for me revolves around the kitchen.  I’m trying out the gluten-free thing for awhile, so my bread-baking days are on hiatus.  But, of course, this has ushered in a whole new slew of DIY food projects to try.

Like chickpea-flour flatbread.

Why yes, that is a grocery-store-size shelf display quantity of garbanzo bean flour.

And caraway sauerkraut.

Ha! Note the unintentional cones in the background of my kitchen.

And pineapple-pepper shrubs.

And smoked salmon salad with greens from my garden.

That’s also the reason why, when I’m thinking about what to make one of my best friends for a baby present, I want to go further than just finding a cute pattern and buying the yarn to match (not knocking good old traditional yarns here — still totally DIY!!).  I want to think about all the different properties I want in this theoretical yarn — thickness, drape, softness, washability, color — and design it myself.  Figure out all the math and determine how many ounces I’ll need to have 375 yards of it.  Wind it up on my one-of-a-kind machine and end up with a cute little cone.  And then cast on and see what happens.

What about you?  How does DIY play into your life?

Nearly identical shades of bamboo, merino wool, and cotton are blended together in this soft, drapey sport weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 46 bamboo / 39 merino / 15 cotton
• Yardage: 500 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sock/Fingering Weight
• Wraps Per Inch: 12 WPI
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Machine wash / dry OK
• Knitting Pattern Suggestion: Garter Yoke Baby Cardi
• Crochet Pattern Suggestion: Butterfly Winged Shawlette

Also available in our online shop!

This week…

Designed by Stephen West, and available in the shop!

Silvery grey bamboo and a dark grey wool-nylon are paired in this neutral, versatile yarn — it’s got drape, some elasticity, subtle color depth, a wonderful sheen, and will match just about anything you put on!

Also available in our online shop!

And I’ve had ample opportunity.  Last weekend was a triple-header of barbecues, the second of which was in our backyard after a long day of house and yard work.

So on those afternoons when I get a text after work that friends are hanging out in someone’s backyard, here’s what I’ve been reaching for to toss in my pannier lately:

A simple crocheted afghan for our couch — 100% bamboo, and easily alternating between single, double, and triple crochet rows (no pattern to glance at necessary!), with a shell pattern border on either end.

A little table runner that I’m making out of the leftovers from my Falling Leaves Cowl.

The left front piece to my After Dark Robe.  Someday, you will be finished.

Oh, and this.  Super secret soon-to-be-revealed project!

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying this early summer that’s landed on my doorstep, where the days are long and I can work out on my back porch and watch my garden grow.

Speaking of which, look at this hilarious turn of events that transpired when we had fend-for-yourself dinner the other night.  (Hint: Jesse had the pizza.)

Bamboo chenille is the dominant fiber in this blend — soft and fluffy but still with that bamboo heaviness — studded with dark brown and gold metallic, this yarn would make a wonderfully cozy blanket!

Also available in our online shop!

This week…

Designed by KIS Designs, and available in the shop!

• Fiber Content: 51 bamboo / 49 cotton
• Yardage: 405 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sport
• Wraps Per Inch: 15 WPI
• Amount on Cone: 6 oz.
• Care: Machine wash / dry OK
• Knitting Pattern Suggestion: Toujours
• Crochet Pattern Suggestion: I Promise You Pineapples

Also available in our online shop!