Back to the Future

Let's face it: Kids look adorable in baby sweaters, but getting a pile of clothes on Christmas morning is not what every kid wants.  If you're looking for the perfect gift for the special little one in your life, look no further than your own childhood.  Babble has a list of the top 35 vintage toys (and tells you where to get them).  These are all toys that were sold in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and are still on the market now (although sometimes in a slightly different form--my beloved Strawberry Shortcake is much sexier than I remember her). 

I had so much fun looking at Babble's selection.  I remembered every single one--and think I actually had most of them.  Lite Brite?  Check.  Cabbage Patch Kid?  Her name was "Kerrie Merrie."  Care Bear?  Several.  Pogo Ball?  Loved it!  Snoopy Sno Cone Machine?  Perfect for hot summers. 

November Special Offer

In honor of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday--and to help you get ready for the holidays, save 20% on gift certificates this weekend.  Gift certificates are available in the Etsy shop in $50, $75, and $100 denominations, but shoot me an email (yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com) if you want a different amount. 

Use coupon code NOVEMBER11 at checkout to save 20% on gift certificates.  The code is valid Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28 only and is valid on gift certificates only.  

FAQ on 10% Photo Offer

I get a fair number of questions about the 10% Photo Offer (that’s where you can save 10% on a future order if you send a picture of a little one in a YHK sweater), so I thought I would put together a little FAQ. If you have other questions, feel free to email me at yellowhouseknits[at]gmail.com.

Q: Do I have to have purchased the sweater? Does it have to be my child?
A: Nope. The only requirement is that it be a picture of a child wearing a YHK sweater. You don’t have to own the sweater, and it doesn’t have to be your kid.

Q: Does it need to be a professional picture?
A: Definitely not. Snapshots are great.

Q: How many pictures can I send?
A: Well, you can send me as many pictures as you like—more is always better! But you’ll get a discount for each unique sweater/child combination you send. So if you photograph the same sweater on your kid and the kid next door, you’ll get two discounts of 10% off (see below on combining them). If you have three sweaters and photograph all three on the same child, you’ll get three discounts. But if you send four pictures of the same kid wearing the same sweater, I’ll love you for sending so many pictures, but that’s still only one discount.

Q: How do I redeem the offer?
A: When you send the picture, I’ll send you a discount code, which you enter when you check out on Etsy. Super easy.

Q: Can the discounts be combined? Can they be transferred?
A: The discounts can be used separately or stacked. So if you get three discounts, you can combine them for 30% off a single sweater. Or you can save 10% now and save the others for later. Or you can use one yourself and give the other two to friends. (That would make you a very nice friend.)

Q: Can the discounts be used with other offers?
A: In general yes, they can be used with other offers, like the Semi-Annual Sale and the monthly special offers. But read the offers carefully—occasionally I may say that the offer can’t be used with other offers, which includes the 10% Photo Offer.

Q: What will you do with the picture?
A: I’ll post it on the Inside the Yellow House blog and on Facebook so the rest of the world can see how cute it is. But I won’t use it in any other marketing materials without your permission. And I don’t have to use your name or your child’s name if you don’t want me to.

One for ME and One for My Baby (Sister or Brother)

I finished up these sibling sweaters last week and think they turned out adorably (although the color in the pictures below isn't quite right--those red buttons look downright orange).  The sweaters are a gift for a little girl and her little brother or sister, who is due to arrive any day now. 

Since we didn't know the gender of the new baby, we opted to make both sweaters gender-neutral. I love that they coordinate without being too matchy-matchy. 

Because the new baby is a November baby, and sweater season is already here, the sweater had to be really, really tiny. I had such fun making a miniature little sweater (and it knit up so fast!).


Fingers crossed that Mom and Dad send pictures!

Happy 15th Anniversary Mr. Bullet!

Today is my 15th anniversary with my beloved Mr. Bullet (my best friend and trusted knitting assistant (of sorts)). I can't believe it's been 15 years since he first came home with me from a shelter in Elgin, Illinois.  I was a senior in college back then (and I drove across Chicago to adopt him because the local shelters wouldn't adopt to students).  So much has changed in those 15 years.  He's been such a steady rock for me in those years. 

The picture below reminds me of one of my favorite times with Bullet.  (Do you see him about half a block ahead of me?)  It was during the Snowpocalypse last year.  We were shut in the house for days but managed to sneak out of a few hours for a walk through the streets (literally) of Capitol Hill.  He had such fun romping in the snow, and the whole world felt so peaceful.