Journey

I’ve finally finished the first design for my upcoming Autumn/Winter line and I realized just how time consuming it is to actually knit for a business rather than for pleasure (although I am knitting for the shop with pleasure). This experience of trying to start up and run my own business has really taught me a lot about “going with the flow” whether it be in design or life. In the beginning of everything, I have to admit, I had no idea what to do or where to start. Serious doubts always plagued me about the next step to take, how to achieve plan A or plan B, how I’m going to fund the line, so on and so forth. After a while, and I started to take the necessary steps to start, I realized a lot of continuing forward with what I want to do necessitates going with the flow. I realized that I had no say in what was to come, but all I could do is shift, move, compromise in order to make the best of whatever situation I found myself in.

This design started off as an idea for a simple, cable infinity scarf, but I also wanted it to reflect the journey I’m going through, the many crooked and curved pathways resulting in something beautiful. However, as I was researching cable patterns online, I couldn’t really find the “right” one, many were too complicated, too simple, or just didn’t look like it was going to help me make the scarf scarf I was imagining. That’s when I realized that my journey wasn’t just a pattern that anyone can use, it was my very own. The combinations of paths I’ve taken to get to where I am now isn’t made by someone and can’t used by anyone else. The journey of random twists and turns I’ve been taking all along has created something wonderful, and I wanted to celebrate that. Therefore, each and every single “Journey” scarf is created freehand, meaning that I don’t plan the cables beforehand, and simply create one wherever I see fit. This makes each and every scarf special, to reflect how each and every person has their own journey to where they are and where they want to go.

Also, a super quick announcement for anyone interested: I’m currently in the process of creating a new website to host my own shop (I’ll also still be continuing to use Etsy) and am also trying to rebrand, so look forward to more updates coming soon!

Thanks everyone,

Love Mel

Winter On My Mind

Senior year of college is coming up, and I'm starting to feel the heat. In the beginning, I've come into college as a Biology major, planning to become a doctor or researcher after graduating. However, as the school year went on, I was becoming less and less interested in science, and spending an increasing amount of time at my home knitting and designing my own knitwear. I didn't think much of it at first, but at the insistence of many, I began to sell the items that I would knit and later opened up a Etsy store in order to sell my wares worldwide. It was not until the middle of sophomore year that I realized that I wanted to put my all into my store and make it my career. Since then, whenever I wasn't studying, I would be knitting and working in my store. However, I always thought I had more time to do things later, to get serious later, etc. Only recently have I really put my everything into a project, which is my 2015 Fall and Winter line.

At the end of the post, I'll be putting up the images I've used in my moodboard as inspiration for my line. This collection will be consisting of knitwear with classic shapes with a little twist, with different and contemporary cables, and ribbing adding interest to classic knitwear such as sweaters, cardigans, and scarves. I'm also planning to use my love of  natural color, the way God meant it to be, by using natural, undyed super soft yarn.

I'm so excited to build up this line for all my supporters to see, but in order to accomplish this, I'll need everyone's help. As I'm a soon-to-be graduating college student, I'm tight on capital to invest into my business, which is why I will be extremely grateful for as many people as possible to help me to make my dreams, designs, and work to come into reality. As of today, I have opened up a "gofundme" page, in order to raise enough money to buy the yarn, store fees, domain name fees, and custom blog design, in order to make this line a success. Since handknits are so expensive and time-consuming to make, I will not be able to offer rewards for each donation. However, please know that any amount will be very close to my heart, and that I will be forever grateful for the support.

Anyways, here's the link to the gofundme page

And I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I do!

Photos from: 1 2 3 4(unknown)

Photos from: 1 2 3 4

Pictures from: 1 2 3 4(unknown)

Pictures from: 1(unknown) 2(unknown) 3(unknown) 4

Pictures from: 1 2 3(unknown) 4

Snapshot Friday

What I'm up to: 

-early mornings 

-reading + knitting

-watching "Friends" + knitting

I'm trying to come up with spring designs, but juggling school and work with the store has been difficult. I've been trying my best to wake up early so that I can get some knitting done before class and that's been helping a lot. 

Listening to: Heartache Fetish by Young & Sick

Strange Virtue

It's getting so hot over here in Southern California, I'm having a harder and harder time trying to incorporate knits into my wardrobe. I also wanted something to wear when I went to the beach or by the pool. I've made cardigans, but it was a challenge to think of a sweater that would still show off my bikini or my top underneath. That's why I made this sweater lacy and open, its perfect to show off a fun bikini top or adds interest to normal everyday wear. I kind of want to make one of every color just for myself...

My friend and I decided to just swap the sweater around to see who looked best...After running through the pictures I think her pictured needed some looking at and put it up in the listing. 

Top - thrifted // Shorts - Victoria Secret Pink // Sandals - American Rag

We took the photos at a nice little corner in a nearby park. It was a hot day, but iced coffee and laughs definitely made it memorable. 

The world is loud

This is the outfit I wore the last Friday while my friend Alex filmed a video for my store. 

this robe is one of my favorite thrifted finds. I love the bright patterns and how comfy it is. It's also nice and breezy, so it's pretty great for summertime. 

Patterned robe - thrifted// Wooden necklace - thrifted// Booties - INC// High-waisted shorts - thrifted and DIY-ed// Knit crop-top - my shop

Why be safe when you can be happy?

This past Friday, my friends and I went to a little cove in Palos Verdes to film a little something for the shop. Alex is a photographer and filmaker and offered to shoot and make little video for the shop. Alex made a great video and the models did an awesome job looking natural in front of the camera. Here's some photos from the beach, it was so pretty. I don't know about everyone else, but I think rocks are pretty cool, and the ones here were beautiful. 

The things I do for love

Recently I decided to begin listing "Ready to Ship" wear to fill up my shop a bit more. So in between summer school, I've been taking photos, modeling, editing, posting, etc. etc. etc. whew. Sorry I've been gone, but it's so hard for me to remember to blog. I'm doing my best promise! 

On another note, I wanted to talk to you a bit about my summer sweaters. Some people ask me why I would knit such a thing in this unforgivable heat (I live in Southern California), but my simple answer is that I love sweaters too much to get rid of them altogether, even for a season. That's why I decided to knit this with nice, soft cotton yarn. The cotton helps you breathe, but gives you the nice huggable feeling sweaters have (is that just me?). 

The sweater shown here is ready to ship, but customizable ones are available! 

Ready to Ship: https://www.etsy.com/listing/195810678/ready-to-ship-blue-green-summer-sweater?

Customizable/Made to Order: https://www.etsy.com/listing/191192181/hand-knit-oversized-sweater-cotton?

(P.S. I've been trying to edit my own photos, so they may be a little weird. Forgive me!)

Finally...An Update

I feel like I haven't been doing a lot with this blog lately...I think it's because it's a bit weird for me to just always be posting. I admit, the blog isn't really the first thing that pops up in my mind everyday. But here it is! I remembered! I have to show you guys (if anyone's out there) my two new items on my shop, a long sleeved cardigan and a short sleeved cover up. These two knits are definitely the most comfortable items I have in stock and I love the cotton yarn its made from, so soft and airy. Enjoy! 

Moths Day 1

These project posts are more like my thoughts to myself as I'm making this cardigan, but you're welcome to learn from it too! I decided to call this project "Moths" because of the nostalgic, old color. An old and warm feeling comes to mind when I look at this color, kind of like when I drink coffee. The old beauty of moths is definitely an inspiration for this project. 

For more detailed notes, about technical things, follow along on my project page: Moths

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has come around again and I am late with the present giving. But then again, my mom's over in Japan right now visiting family, so I guess it's alright. This year she asked for a cardigan, and I am happy to oblige. I'm going to knit her Reine by Alexis Winslow from the Wool People 3 collection. I've been waiting for an excuse since forever to knit something from a Wool People collection so I'm very excited. I'll be knitting this in Berroco Vintage yarn, very soft and plushy. 

Wish me luck!

An Uneventful Day

I don't know how, but for some reason I was able to only have class on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays this quarter. So yesterday, I spent an uneventful, but peaceful day watching documentaries, drinking coffee, and knitting. I wish every day was like this. 

Getting My Knit On

I haven't been posting on here lately because of school. It's finals week and I've been busy studying (or knitting mostly) for my tests. Here is my knits that I've made so far for the event I'll be selling at, and I'm hoping to post them up onto my shop next week. 

I've been praying and I have also decided that 15% of all purchases made in my shop (or at any event) will go to a charity called Samaritan's Purse, a charity that my family and I have supported since I was little and that is very close to my heart. Each item will go to a different project run by the charity. Here's the link if you want to check them out! 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

New Yarn!

I recently got invited to sell my knits at my church event and I'm so excited. I got to buy a bunch of yarn and it just came in the other day. Here is a picture of me with my yarn with my very content face. 

Goodbye for now, I'll be knitting.