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Kneedles & Life

a little bit of yarn. a little bit of life.

February 18, 2021

The Best Yarn to Use For Knitted Socks You Can Actually Wear

I’m hard on my socks, guys. I wear them 24/7. Literally day and night. And I wash them in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer. If I can’t wash it, I don’t want it. Anyone else?!

Over the past year, I have found so much joy knitting socks. It’s so amazing to use tiny needles and yarn to create something so beautiful AND practical. Because of this, I have tried a lot of different sock yarn. As someone who actually wears their handmade socks AND washes and dries them, I have strong feelings about the type of yarn that’s actually best for socks. Since they take so long to make, I think they should be able to last a long time as well!

I’m sharing my absolute favorite sock yarn that I believe is beautiful AND high quality, won’t break the bank and will last for a long, long time. I’m also sharing some that did not work for me and I won’t use again. These are all just my own opinions, and you’re welcome to disagree if you’ve had other experiences. My only hope is that this helps anyone wanting to dive into sock knitting and is trying to pick out yarn!

Enjoy!

Read more

Filed in: Reviews, Uncategorized • by Kalley • 2 Comments

February 2, 2021

5 things your crochet or knitting business needs

Hey you! In this post, I’m sharing 5 things that have made my business a whole lot better and I think you need too. I hope you find this post helpful!

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. This means if you shop through my link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way!

Email List

If you’re like me, you probably do a lot of your own advertising and marketing on Instagram or Facebook. What would you do if social media disappeared tomorrow? Or your account got deleted and you lost all your followers and everything you’ve worked for?

Read more

Filed in: Business • by Kalley • 2 Comments

January 26, 2021

Too many shows but nothing to watch!?

I’ve been there! So I decided to make a long list of all the shows I think are worth watching and have grouped them into categories so you can look at what you’re in the mood for! Everything is on Netflix (USA) unless otherwise noted!

Dramas

Some of these are light, some are deep. Just do a quick google search to see!

  • Seven Seconds
  • Grey’s Anatomy
  • 9-1-1 (Hulu)
  • When They See Us
  • The Crown
  • Scandal
  • House of Cards
  • Designated Survivor
  • Girlboss (kinda funny)
  • The Flash
  • The Arrow
  • Stateless
  • The Punisher (kind of intense FYI)
  • The Resident (Hulu)
  • Revenge (Hulu)
  • Gossip Girl (HBO)
  • Big Little Lies (HBO)
  • Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
  • 24 (Hulu)
  • Looking for Alaska (Hulu)
  • Love, Victor (Hulu)
  • High Fidelity (Hulu)
  • The Royals (Amazon)
  • New Amsterdam (Hulu)
  • The Society
  • Greenleaf
  • Broadchurch

Feel Good Dramas

These are all fairly lighthearted dramas that you’ll want to rewatch over and over.

  • The Fosters
  • Parenthood (Hulu)
  • Gilmore Girls
  • Nashville (Hulu)
  • Grey’s Anatomy (putting this one in this section too because I love to rewatch it)
  • Friday Night Lights (Hulu and maybe Amazon)
  • Heart of Dixie

Comedy

  • New Girl
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Superstore (Hulu)
  • Community
  • The Office (not on Netflix anymore)
  • Parks and Rec
  • Schitt’s Creek
  • Jane the Virgin
  • Life in Pieces (Hulu)
  • Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
  • Trying (Apple TV+)
  • The Good Place
  • Atypical (kind of a drama)
  • Young & Hungry
  • I’m Sorry
  • Workin’ Moms
  • The Politician
  • Santa Clarita Diet (weird, dark comedy)
  • Dead To Me (dark comedy)
  • Insatiable
  • Good Girls (dark comedy)
  • Glee

Thriller and/or Dark

The category says it all. I enjoyed all of these but they aren’t for everyone.

  • Defending Jacob (Apple TV+)
  • How to Get Away With Murder
  • Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
  • Riverdale
  • Stranger Things
  • The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
  • Light As A Feather (Hulu)
  • 13 Reasons Why (trigger warning)
  • Mindhunter
  • The Americans (Amazon)
  • Mr. Robot (Amazon)
  • Homecoming (Amazon)
  • YOU
  • The Sinner
  • Jack Ryan (Amazon)
  • Alias Grace
  • The Act (Hulu)
  • Black Mirror
  • Ozark
  • Outer Banks

Documentary/Docuseries

  • Down to Earth
  • Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
  • The Social Dilemma
  • 13th
  • What The Health
  • Time: The Kalief Browder Story
  • CHEER

Reality

  • 90 Day Fiance + all the spinoffs (Hulu or on demand)
  • Love Island (Hulu)
  • The Bachelor/Bachelorette (Hulu or on demand)
  • Keeping Up With The Kardashians (Hulu or on demand)
  • Love Is Blind
  • Too Hot to Handle
  • Selling Sunset

Filed in: Self Help • by Kalley • 1 Comment

January 7, 2021

My easy and affordable skincare routine

Hey you! What’s one good thing you’ve done for yourself recently? Even thought 2020 was a pretty tough year, I think a lot of us started taking self-care a big more seriously as a result. Last year was the first time in my 28 years of existence that I FINALLY developed a consistent routine for my skin. I always thought skincare was expensive so I only used a cleanser and cheap moisturizer from Target. I would dabble here and there with masks I got at TJMaxx or free samples of things. I’m blessed to have fairly good skin, but pregnancy, postpartum, and just getting older in general has done my no favors and I’ve noticed my skin getting dull.

A friend introduced me to The Ordinary brand a couple years ago but I only bought one item. Last year I went a little crazy and now they are about 90% of the products I use LOL but it’s because they’re clean, high quality products at an amazing price!

I’m obviously no expert and you should only use what you’ve researched and found to be best for yourself, but I wanted to share what I use and love in case it helps you! I also purchase all of these products myself and have not been given anything for free. If you do purchase through one of my links, however, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me continue to share free content with you so thank you for supporting me and my blog in this way!

Morning Routine

  • First, I cleanse with the La-Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Face Wash. I have combination skin that errs on the dry side and this cleaner is gentle and doesn’t dry my face out. It’s also a pretty good makeup remover if you don’t have much on. I usually use it to take off mascara in the evenings if that’s all I wore that day.
  • Next, I use The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. I LOVE this moisturizer because it’s not oily or greasy and is great under makeup. It also doesn’t smell. The tube is pretty big so it lasts awhile.
  • The last thing I use before putting on my makeup is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution. This cools and reduces puffiness under your eyes.

Nighttime Routine

  • If I’m wearing makeup I remove it with a wipe. My favorite are the blue Neutrogena packs you can get anywhere.
  • Next, I use the same face wash I use in the mornings.
  • Then I apply The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. I bought this bottle 2 months ago and it’s only half empty so it lasts awhile. Just put some on a cotton ball and apply all over your face and neck. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest just trying a small patch because I have heard it’s strong. I have not personally had any issues. You should also only use once a day. I highly recommend reading about glycolic acid and its benefits!
  • After the toner dries, I apply The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. If you have ever used Rose Hip oil then you know it is so magical. It’s a great moisturizer, evens skin tones, and heals scars. Ladies, put this on your stretch marks! It’ll look and feel like you’re putting olive oil on your face so have fun with that ha! I know some people use this as a moisturizer in the morning but it’s just too oily for me so I only sleep in it.

Extra Products

  • I shave my whole face about every 2-3 weeks. You can read all about dermaplaning with a quick Google search but by removing the peach fuzz and dead skin, your skin can absorb the products you use better. Your makeup will also look 10 times better! I use these tiny razors from Amazon and watched a youtube video to learn how to use them. They’re gentle and I have never cut myself – just be careful around your hairline and eyebrows.
  • I use these tanning drops about once a week with my morning moisturizer for a little color and glow because I’m sure pale. I use the lightest shade. It may seem expensive but I only use 2-3 drops so the bottle is going to last forever.
  • I use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution whenever I feel like I need something extra. You put it on your face for 10 minutes and then wash it off. It makes your skin sooooo soft and clean feeling.
  • I use Palmer’s Coconut Sugar Scrub in the shower on days I wash my hair, so twice a week. I LOVE this stuff! It’s gentle, but cleans well and smells yummy too.

A few more tips…

I drink A LOT of water and I believe that really helps with having good skin. I also take biotin every day for my hair but it’s great for your skin and nails as well. Forget the hair/skin/nails gummies and expensive supplements, this is the main ingredient. Lastly, aside from the holidays, I almost never eat sugar, snacks or desserts. When I do eat a lot of these things I notice a change in my skin and start having breakouts.

Hope this post helps! If you use any of these products too, let me know in a comment!

XOXO, Kalley

Filed in: Self Help • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

December 28, 2020

How to knit your very own Weasley Christmas Sweater!

For Christmas, my husband asked for matching Weasley sweaters for the fam. The task seemed daunting but I’m so glad I went for it because they turned out beautiful and he was so happy. My 19 month old even loved hers because she’s become really interested in letters recently.

I searched high and low for a pattern and found literally ONE but wasn’t happy with construction. It was knit in pieces and then seamed together, and it also didn’t offer letter charts. So I looked for sweater patterns I could possibly use as a base and I found the perfect one I’ll talk about below.

I hope this post is helpful if you’re wanting to knit your own Weasley sweater! It’s so much fun and special too.

Yarn

I wish I had taken a picture of the yarn when it came because each ball is only 50 grams so it looked like A LOT and was super daunting. It was fun to go through so much yarn so quickly, though. If you’re a maker then you know how rewarding it is to bust a stash. 🙂

I purchased and used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Tweed for mine and my husbands, and Wool of the Andes Superwash for Madeline’s and the yellow letter. Full disclosure, this yarn is itchy, but it’s gorgeous and WARM. We just wore a shirt underneath and it was cozy. I used the superwash for Maddie’s in case I wanted to machine wash it.

For my husbands, I used the color Lighthouse Heather. For mine, I used Down Heather. For Maddie’s, I used Hollyberry and the yellow letters were stitched with Brass Heather.

Pattern

As I previously mentioned, I couldn’t find a pattern so I used a different pattern as a base. With Justyna’s permission, I used her beautiful Homebody Sweater and very slightly adapted it to look just like a Weasley sweater. You can find the pattern from Lady Jay Crochet on Ravelry here.

I want to pause and emphasize how important it is to respect garment designers and either check their policies or ask permission before changing anything their pattern. So much work goes into designing and putting a pattern out into the world and it’s just common curtesy to take their feelings and boundaries into account. Justyna was so kind and allowed me to use this pattern as a base with credit (and she said it is fine if you do too), but she definitely didn’t have to. Lastly, do not change a pattern and then call it your own! *steps down off soap box*

So! The good news is this pattern is literally perfect and is written in a wide range of sizes. The small change I made to each sweater was knitting stockinette for the whole body instead of starting with ribbing on the bottom. When I knit the neckline I also knit stockinette instead of ribbing. If you’re familiar with Weasley sweaters then you’ll see the bottom and neckline curl. You’ll want to take that into account for the length and knit a little extra. The cuffs are ribbed so I followed the pattern for the arms. If you want it baggy you’ll want to knit a size up which is what I did for my husbands.

For Maddie’s, I measured a sweater she had in her closet and just kind of winged it. I had already made mine and my husbands so I measured my gauge and figured out how many stitches I needed for the body and then the rest of the sweater is easy to just figure out with measurements, following the same construction from Justyna’s sweater.

For the letters, I used duplicate stitches after the sweaters were finished. You can tell if you look closely but it only adds to the charm of these sweaters. This was my first time doing a big duplicate stitch project so I was pretty proud of myself. I started with Maddie’s so if I made a mistake it would be smaller. Here’s a great tutorial on YouTube for how to create duplicate stitches.

Okay so here’s how I created a chart for the letters. I scoured the internet for Weasley sweater letter charts and surprisingly found none. I went to Stitch Fiddle and started my own chart. I selected Knitting > Colors > From Picture. Next you’ll want to find a letter you like online. You could blow one up to fill a page in a word document. I simply Google searched for Weasley sweaters with the letter I needed. Then I screenshotted the letter and cropped it as close to the letter as I could. Here’s an example of the T I used:

Next, upload it onto your Stitch Fiddle chart. Now you’ll need to measure the area where you want to your letter to go on the sweater and count the stitches across and down. Over on the left of the screen, click the box that says “exact size” and then type in the stitch counts (see picture below). Click “save chart” and it’ll create the chart for you! I skipped the signup but I guess you can save it for later if you do create an account. This was so easy and amazing to me!

I used a few stitch markers to mark the top, bottom, and sides of the letters on the sweater to help me know where I was when following the chart. Another tip is don’t try to do the whole letter with one strand of yarn. It’ll take multiple pieces and you can start and stop anywhere. I tied all the loose strands together on the inside to secure them.

One skein of the yellow yarn made all three letters with about half leftover. It doesn’t take much!

Blocking

I wet blocked my sweater because I wanted it to stretch a bit. After blocking, the bottom barely curled at all. For my husband’s and Maddie’s sweaters I only pinned the bottom down and steamed them. This relaxed the curl a lot but not as much as mine. So it just depends what you want – either blocking method will be fine for these sweaters!

The last step is to wear them on Christmas morning and make sure you say Happy Christmas! If you have any questions that I didn’t cover, feel free to leave a comment or ask me on Instagram!

Disclaimer: The links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase yarn through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way!

Filed in: Knitting Patterns, Pattern Roundups • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

November 18, 2020

HP Themed Gift Ideas for anyone you know

I wanted to do this theme because I LOVE Harry Potter and think wizard themed gifts are so fun! This is one of those categories that is pretty easy to gifts but I try to choose cute and classy ones! These gifts would be great for any holiday, birthday, or just because. 🙂

Just a heads up, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you use my link to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps me continue to create free content for you! Thanks for supporting my blog in this way.

  1. Sweatshirts. I love HP themed sweatshirts and thought these were really cute! Linking the “I solemnly swear” one here.
  2. Candle. LOVE this candle we got a few years ago! It burned really slow and smelled amazing. The shop is really fun too so check out their other candles!
  3. Socks knitting pattern. I haven’t personally made this pattern but I love the stripes and they would make the perfect house socks!
  4. Blanket. My husband gave me this blanket for my birthday and it’s sooo soft. I love how beautiful it looks on the couch but it’s also the perfect lap blanket.
  5. Mug. I gave this mug to my husband for his birthday as a little joke but our daughter is crazy about it LOL.
  6. Sticker. I used to have a sticker on my old laptop that’s not available anymore but this one is really similar!
  7. Coasters. I gave these to my husband when we were dating and we still use them today! They are great quality and look really nice in your home. I love a classy touch of fandom. 😉

Filed in: Gift Guides • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

November 12, 2020

Gift ideas for your cat, dog, or pet lover

This posts has a little bit for pets and their humans! All items are from Etsy so you can shop small. I think pet owners are pretty easy to shop for because there’s so many themed things out there. Do you buy gifts for your pets?

Just a heads up, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you use my link to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps me continue to create free content for you! Thanks for supporting my blog in this way.

  1. Personalized mug. I love these mugs from Type League Press on Etsy. Did you know you can get your pet’s face on the mug?? There’s also regular mugs too.
  2. Handmade Collar. I met the owner of this shop at a local market I was in the past two years. He makes high quality dog collars in lots of fun prints!
  3. Handmade Bow Tie. I bought one of the Rifle Paper Co bow ties for Winston when he was a puppy and it’s super cute. I can also say it’s amazing quality because he made it his toy eventually LOL.
  4. Homemade Dog Treats. These looks so unique and fun. They’d be a festive gift for any pup!
  5. Welcome Mat. I’ve always wanted a pet themed welcome mat. I think they’re so cute and funny. This shop has a lot of other great ones.
  6. Cat Mom Keychain. I love personalized keychains, how about you?
  7. Dog Mom Sweatshirt. I think I’m going to get this sweatshirt for myself because it’s classy and cute. It’s also my favorite colors! They also have a cat version.
  8. Cat Coasters. This shop has a lot of lovely artwork and items. I thought these coasters were especially unique and would be a fun conversation starter when you have guests over.
  9. Cat Toys. These speak for themselves LOL. I think there’s a dog version out there too.
  10. Christmas Ornament. I have a sticker from this shop on my car and I just ordered this ornament for our tree!

Filed in: Gift Guides • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

November 11, 2020

Coffee Lover Gift Guide

I’m back with another themed gift guide! This one is for the coffee lovers – you either are one or you know one, right?

Just a heads up, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you use my link to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps me continue to create free content for you! Thanks for supporting my blog in this way.

  1. Wooden Coffee Scoop. I purchased one of these for my husband as a gift a few years ago and we use it daily. It’s great quality and slides right on the top of a coffee bag to seal it! It’s handmade and ships from Canada pretty quickly. This would make a nice gift for someone alone or paired with coffee, and I love that it’s from a small business on Etsy.
  2. Milk Frother. This is hands down my favorite purchase of 2020. I didn’t know what I was missing before I started frothing my cream for my coffee! It’s quick and seriously makes it taste SO amazing. I use it with my dairy free creamer and my husband uses it with milk. Keep in mind you need to warm up dairy free creamer first so that it froths well.
  3. Yeti Mug. I have this Yeti mug in the new Ice Pink color and I am obsessed. It’s the perfect large cup of coffee and stays warm for hours. It comes with a lid you can use to lock in the heat even longer. We also have the copper color and love it too.
  4. Cozy Blanket. I feel like coffee drinkers just love cozy things so I included a beautiful throw from Target in this guide. It comes in a few colors and looks really nice!
  5. Enamel Pin. I love collecting enamel pins that show what I love. This coffee pin is cute and would be a sweet gift for a friend or stocking stuffer! It’s also from a small shop on Etsy.
  6. Keurig. This pink single serve Keurig is so stinkin cute and would be a great gift for someone who lives in an apartment or dorm! I always had a little Keurig in my dorm in college and would prep everything the night before so I could turn it on as soon as I rolled out of bed LOL. We of course have a big one in our kitchen now.
  7. NutPods Creamer. I LOVE NutPods creamer and am always trying to get my friends to try it! The holiday flavors would be such a fun gift with some coffee. They’re shelf safe so they’re easy to gift. I’m linking Amazon BUT I’m a brand ambassador so you can actually use my code KNEEDLESANDLIFE for 15% off your first order if you go through their website!

Hope you found a gift idea for the coffee lover in your life!

Filed in: Gift Guides • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

November 10, 2020

Cute toy and book ideas for playful toddlers

In this post I’m sharing some of the toys/books my 1.5 year old has been loving and plays with daily! She loves tv show characters the most so I shared some of her favorites. I think any of these would make a great gift or toy for your little one.

Just a heads up, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you use my link to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps me continue to create free content for you! Thanks for supporting my blog in this way.

  1. Blue’s Clue’s & You! Blue’s House Playset. I recently got this for Maddie just for fun because she’s obsessed with the show. She has been playing with this set nonstop. It comes with cute furniture, Josh, Blue and Magenta. It takes a little while to get out of the box and set up but it’s so worth it. It also folds up and stores itself.
  2. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Figure Set. Another show Maddie loves! I think these characters are really nice quality and she enjoys carrying them around and playing with them.
  3. Puppy Dog Pals Book Set. These are little mini books that are perfect for little hands. These were another recent purchase that have been a HIT. They also come in their own storage suitcase thing that she carries around. Another Puppy Dog Pals toy she loves is the Treehouse Play Set.
  4. Sesame Street Friends Books. I’m linking the Abby one which is our favorite but we have almost all of the ones they offer. These are cute books that tell about each character!
  5. Fisher Price Linkimals. I cannot say enough about the Linkimals. We’ve been adding to our collection over the past year and now have them all. These are hands down Maddie’s FAVORITE toys and I love listening to them sing and watching her enjoy them. My favorite are the moose and sloth but they’re all cute!
  6. Baby Shark Dancing DJ. If you’re kid loves baby shark, they’ll love this. It’s pretty big and sings all the songs. It also has a sensor that sees you dancing and will say things like “keep dancing,” etc. The best part is it has an off switch! 😉
  7. Foam Ball Pit. We got one of these for Maddie for Christmas and she was a bit too young. Now she gets in it herself and plays every day. This one comes with balls too.
  8. Mickey Bath Basketball Hoop. We love bath time and this little suction hoop is lots of fun! The balls don’t have holes so you don’t have to worry about water and mold getting in them.
  9. Canticos The Little Chickies. First of all, you have to watch Canticos on YouTube if you haven’t already! I love their videos more than anything else out there because they’re educational and not obnoxious. The animation is also beautiful. My husband loves them too! Maddie has one of these chickies and loves him. It sings a song in English and Spanish. We also LOVE their books!
  10. Melissa & Doug Wooden Coffee Maker. This one is for the wooden toy snobs LOL. But seriously, this coffee maker is so stinkin cute and also aesthetically pleasing! Maddie makes a pretty good cup of coffee with this hehe.

Let me know your toddler’s favorite toy in the comments so I can check it out!

XO, Kalley

Filed in: Gift Guides • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

November 9, 2020

Maker Gift Guide

Looking for a holiday gift for a maker friend? I love giving my maker besties something special and it’s usually a skein of luxury yarn. I’ve put together some ideas that I think any knitter/crocheter would love!

Just a heads up, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you use my link to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and helps me continue to create free content for you! Thanks for supporting my blog in this way.

  1. Maker hoodie and mug. Monica creates beautiful screen printed maker gear that is high quality. I have washed my mug many times in the dishwasher and it still looks brand new. I love sipping tea out of this mug and knitting.
  2. Needle/notion pouches. My friend Gina has a bunch of handmade bags and pouches in her shop and these are especially festive!
  3. Gina also dyes beautiful yarn. I have several of her colorways and they have all made beautiful hats and headbands!
  4. Stitch markers. I love the stitch markers Yesenia makes. They are delicate and beautiful and you can never have too many stitch markers!
  5. Knitting bag. It seems like most makers love Gilmore Girls and this would be a fun bag to gift one of them!
  6. Enamel pin. Pins are fun to collect and put on notion and WIP bags, as well as backpacks and other things. I have a few from this shop and love their beautiful knitting designs.

Comment and let me know if you’ve ever received a maker gift before!

Filed in: Gift Guides • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

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Hi, I’m Kalley!

Hi, I’m Kalley!

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