No kidding on that title!

I'm not typically someone to put animals in sweaters if it's not necessary (My mom's dog with super thin fur taught me that in some cases, it definitely is necessary.). But a friend of mine asked me to make a sweater for her cat since they were doing ugly Christmas sweater pictures this year. I couldn't resist.

Mostly, I modified making a dog sweater and extended the arms a little to accommodate longer limbs on her slender cat. I used my cat as a model for sizing, because she told me he was big but slim. Based on some of the pictures I'd seen of him, they looked close enough in size to make the appropriate estimations.

I did not make it an ugly Christmas sweater. I used a deep red yarn, knitted a long neck in a rib stitch that could fold over like a turtle neck sweater, and used one of my weave knit patterns throughout the whole body.

I can't say the cat was very pleased, but it turned out well, and was perfect for what they needed!

Alright, my very first pair of boots is completed! I'm extremely happy with how they've turned out and how they have stretched over the past couple weeks. The first time I put these on, it was a tight fit! But knits have a natural stretch, so the fitting relaxed over time already. These have turned put to be exceptionally comfortable, decisively warm, and definitely water resistant after Minnesota's first big snowfall.

I've worn these to school, work, and to band practice in six inches of snow: there was about enough snow to reach the top of the fold, but the snug fit kept the snow from sneaking into the boots.

Since the outer layer is acrylic, these mostly repelled the mass amounts of snow that packed onto the outside (but kicked off quickly). With a cotton blend interior, these stayed plenty warm and kept my feet dry for the day.

Check out more after the break! 

It has been far too long since I posted on here! I've definitely missed getting on here and sharing my creations. With that, I haven't stopped working, and I'm glad to start putting some things back on here again!

So, without further delay, here is my first project: my first pair of boots!

Here is the first boot, in its completion. Since it's a prototype, I've kept it pretty standard with a seed stitch exterior. With the impending winter looming down on us, these are double-layered with a cotton interior for comfort and warmth and acrylic exterior for added moisture resistance.

I'm using a lot of similar techniques to the double-layered mittens that I made last year. But these are distinctly different in the sole.

I started with a decent quality flip-flop. It's match had a great sole, but it's top had been chewed through by none other than my cat, so these became the perfect candidates for my first pair of boots.

I'm actually really glad these get to have a second life, because these have good arch support, and fit my feet very well.

I am excited to finish the second boot and to start adding more detail once I have the liner completed. I especially like the fold over section (which can flip up to cover more of the leg) and the button details.

I can't wait to take these out of the house for a test drive. I'll definitely try to post more of how these test run so I can hopefully continue to make more!

My most recent project, another wedding creation, is a set of coffee cozies (complete with new mugs) for one of my dearest friends. We're both huge coffee drinkers, and even though she now lives in Houston, Texas, I know keeping coffee the same temperature is a great thing for both of us.

Click "Read More" to check out more after the jump!

Gold Pin Angels. These adorable angels are great as a tree ornament or just a coffee table conversation piece. 

Made with:
              Gold platted safty pins
              Gold wire
              Faux pears
              small gold painted beads.

I must say that I love making these dish cloths! I really wish I had been experimenting with this extremely simple pattern earlier. The weave is so great!

I've also been using materials that are so multipurpose. The yarn I used is heat resistant and slightly abrasive. So, these can be used as trivets, pot holders, or for scrubbing. These are just abrasive enough to get stuck on food off of dishes, but not abrasive enough to scratch stainless steel (something we've learned the hard way in the new kitchen on a few different cleaning mediums).

Overall, these are such a great and durable kitchen essential. It's multipurpose enough that I'm tempted to call it a gadget! Honestly, the orange set I made has turned out so well for that bride, this style may soon become a newlywed staple of mine.

But stay tuned, I have some weddings coming up! I can't wait to post the other things I have planned.

I am thrilled to announce that Exactly Handmade has officially had its first big growth spurt! I am extremely excited to bring on board my very dear friend Jacquie to the team.

Her specialties vary widely from mine, so there have already been some site expansions. You'll see the Beadwork and Chainmail section as well as her very own Shimmer Shop. I'm also thrilled that we may finally get to see some of her delicious recipes in the future!

Our About page has also been updated, so feel free to check out a little bit there too!

Welcome Aboard!
- Katie Swanson

After a brief intermission from projects over the past month, I'm back with more work for weddings. I'm definitely excited to get some things out for the wonderful ladies who are moving into the next phase of their lives.

This first project is for a dear friend who I have known for most of my life, and I am very excited to prepare some larger dish towels in the new basket weave pattern that I have been experimenting with.

Click "Read More" to see pictures and some new materials I'm working with!

After a long time, today I was given a plant. Honestly, it has been years since I had any, because one of my biggest skills is killing them. I can handle a dog, cat, and a turtle (and my husband too), but put a plant my way and I get nervous.

This time,I'm going to try it out. It's basil, so it also fits in with my desire to add useful things to my life. I love basil, and I already used a fallen leaf to spice my dinner.

I am a novice with plants, although it's not for lack of trying. I love plants: they help clean the air, make the room prettier, and this one is edible. I just don't know much about raising the to be healthy contributing members of my kitchen. So, I went to Gertens today, and I said that I needed a pot and some dirt. I'm sure the term normally used is "soil," but I just thought dirt better suited my planting history.

So,here it is. My little basil plant. Healthy, and planted in organic soil so my nice little herb can help keep me healthy and happy in more ways than one.

And who knows, maybe this is just the start and instead of houseplants, I'll eventually be living in my own herb garden.