Yes, I confess I'm being led astray from my New Year's resolution to buy NO yarn, unless it's for charity.
I just saw the pictures of the beautiful Waverly Bernat yarn on the site for the Bernat Mystery KAL/KAL. I've heard the chatter on all the forums. I'm being positively SWEPT UP by all the excitement!
Must be strong...must be strong...
Of course, if I DO decide to take the plunge, I can't decide if I want to do the KAL or CAL. Knit or Crochet? Knit or Crochet? Knitting an afghan is usually a massively tedious process, but the crochet version could be one of those weird, holey crochet afghans that make no practical sense.
I have a few more days to decide and take advantage of the Bernat discount. If you want to be wild and crazy, this is the link:
http://www.bernat.com/2012mysteryafghan/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bernat%20Waverly%20Promo%20Jan%202012&utm_content=
I, for one, am leaning toward the "Simplicity" colors...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Carrying the Message...of the Yarn!
I think my teaching skills are improving...slightly...
I've always admired people who are teachers, as I'm one of those people who doesn't have a lot of patience. I dread it when they want me to instruct someone at work. I sit there grinding my teeth as the person tries again and again to do whatever the task is. I fight the urge to say "Screw it!" and to do the thing myself instead.
Lately, I've had a few instances where people have wanted to learn...I'm going to say the ways of the yarn here, because in the first instance I thought I was going to be giving someone a knitting lesson, but she showed up in the cafeteria at work with crochet hooks. This first attempt at instruction was sort of a bust, as I think I whizzed through chaining a bit too fast for her. We ran out of time, and I ended up just giving her a link to one of those crochet sites online where you can see videos of different stitches.
The other day, I got another chance. My partner has a good friend who used to...now again, my partner wasn't sure if the woman used to knit or crochet, so I was in suspense until she showed up at our door. Sure enough, it was going to be another crochet lesson! This time, I tried to go a little slower. She caught on very quickly, though. I kind of went a little crazy and tried to teach her how to double crochet, but we both decided she should stick with single crochet for now. By the time she left the house, she was well on her way to making a nice sc afghan.
So, I feel a little better now, and I've managed make yet another convert! Do I get that toaster oven now???
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I've always admired people who are teachers, as I'm one of those people who doesn't have a lot of patience. I dread it when they want me to instruct someone at work. I sit there grinding my teeth as the person tries again and again to do whatever the task is. I fight the urge to say "Screw it!" and to do the thing myself instead.
Lately, I've had a few instances where people have wanted to learn...I'm going to say the ways of the yarn here, because in the first instance I thought I was going to be giving someone a knitting lesson, but she showed up in the cafeteria at work with crochet hooks. This first attempt at instruction was sort of a bust, as I think I whizzed through chaining a bit too fast for her. We ran out of time, and I ended up just giving her a link to one of those crochet sites online where you can see videos of different stitches.
The other day, I got another chance. My partner has a good friend who used to...now again, my partner wasn't sure if the woman used to knit or crochet, so I was in suspense until she showed up at our door. Sure enough, it was going to be another crochet lesson! This time, I tried to go a little slower. She caught on very quickly, though. I kind of went a little crazy and tried to teach her how to double crochet, but we both decided she should stick with single crochet for now. By the time she left the house, she was well on her way to making a nice sc afghan.
So, I feel a little better now, and I've managed make yet another convert! Do I get that toaster oven now???
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, January 13, 2012
Mutant Yarn!
Check out the mutant strand of white in my skein of "Medium Willow" Mary Maxim Starlette yarn! Weird... (cue the "Twilight Zone" music)...
Some might say email the company and get my money back or a new skein, but that's not how I roll...I just think it's hysterical!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Some might say email the company and get my money back or a new skein, but that's not how I roll...I just think it's hysterical!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Swifting Around!
Show of hands...how many of you just LOVE to use a swift and ball winder?
I know I do!
When I first started knitting and crocheting, I mainly used yarn that already came in pull-skeins, a la Red Heart. As I further explored my yarn options, I came upon yarn at the LYS that one needed to wind into balls. At first, I used the back of a chair. This took ages, depending on the yardage and the yarn thickness. The only one who enjoyed this method was our kitty Franklin, who would leap up into the chair and try to play with the yarn as I was winding it. This is his modus operandi for many human activities...
Later, I began to use the swift and ball winder at our LYS. I got a quick lesson from the owner. I used other people's swifts. I thought of buying one, but figured it was too much money for something I didn't think I really needed. After all, I could always borrow someone else's...
Then, one year, I got a swift and ball winder for Christmas! I was touched by my partner's generosity, but again, didn't really see where I'd use them much. A funny thing happened, though. Now that I had my own swift and ball winder, I was free to buy WHATEVER YARN I WANTED, without having to worry about whether or not I could get it wound. A whole new world opened up to me!
Below is my latest "whirlwind" purchase...Misti Alpaca, to be used for the Knitting Pure & Simple Bulky Neckdown Pullover for Women...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I know I do!
When I first started knitting and crocheting, I mainly used yarn that already came in pull-skeins, a la Red Heart. As I further explored my yarn options, I came upon yarn at the LYS that one needed to wind into balls. At first, I used the back of a chair. This took ages, depending on the yardage and the yarn thickness. The only one who enjoyed this method was our kitty Franklin, who would leap up into the chair and try to play with the yarn as I was winding it. This is his modus operandi for many human activities...
Later, I began to use the swift and ball winder at our LYS. I got a quick lesson from the owner. I used other people's swifts. I thought of buying one, but figured it was too much money for something I didn't think I really needed. After all, I could always borrow someone else's...
Then, one year, I got a swift and ball winder for Christmas! I was touched by my partner's generosity, but again, didn't really see where I'd use them much. A funny thing happened, though. Now that I had my own swift and ball winder, I was free to buy WHATEVER YARN I WANTED, without having to worry about whether or not I could get it wound. A whole new world opened up to me!
Below is my latest "whirlwind" purchase...Misti Alpaca, to be used for the Knitting Pure & Simple Bulky Neckdown Pullover for Women...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, December 29, 2011
New toy!
I'm happy to report that I got a new toy for Christmas...an iPad! I'd post a picture, but I haven't figured out yet how to do that from the iPad!
If any of you knitters and crocheters out there have any App suggestions for me, I'm all ears!
If any of you knitters and crocheters out there have any App suggestions for me, I'm all ears!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tall Cables Jacket complete!
I'm happy to report I've FINALLY finished my crocheted Tall Cables Jacket. It's a pattern from Herrschners. The cables were very easy to do.
You can find the pattern at Herrschner’s website:
http://www.herrschners.com/product.aspx?sku=911207&qid
The only thing that I had to do was to widen the button band and band on the other side a bit more than what the pattern specified.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Hectic Holidays
I find, every year, that this is a season of hustle and bustle—that has NOTHING to do with the usual holiday preparations people make.
Never mind the tree-trimming, wrapping, cooking, baking, etc. If you are a crafter of any kind, this is the time of year where stringent deadlines MUST be met. Knitted and crocheted items must be finished, washed, blocked, and, in some cases, shipped to other parts of the country. I have three things I’m frantically trying to complete for this year.
1) I have a baby blanket and baby sweater I made for a coworker that needs to be washed and dried. I have to find some sort of box for this, wrap it, and then find out if we are doing a shower for my coworker or if I should just give this to her. If this is the case, I need to find out her maternity leave date—unless I want to ship the entire thing to India.
2) I have an afghan knitted in washable wool that I need to toss into the machine and PRAY that it is indeed as washable as the label claims. It’s enormous, so I have to figure out somewhere to dry it, too. Then I have to find a suitable box, bring it to the post office, and hope it’s not too much money to ship to my niece.
3) I’m also engaged in selfish crafting. I’m finishing up a crocheted jacket that I’m hoping to have ready for the holidays. I’m still struggling to get the collar and button band crocheted correctly. You can’t tell from the picture (the model has long hair that is obscuring the collar), but it appears I’m supposed to be making a shawl collar. The pattern is a little fuzzy on how to go about this, so I’m actually winging it.
Next year, I plan to start this process in JANUARY…
Never mind the tree-trimming, wrapping, cooking, baking, etc. If you are a crafter of any kind, this is the time of year where stringent deadlines MUST be met. Knitted and crocheted items must be finished, washed, blocked, and, in some cases, shipped to other parts of the country. I have three things I’m frantically trying to complete for this year.
1) I have a baby blanket and baby sweater I made for a coworker that needs to be washed and dried. I have to find some sort of box for this, wrap it, and then find out if we are doing a shower for my coworker or if I should just give this to her. If this is the case, I need to find out her maternity leave date—unless I want to ship the entire thing to India.
2) I have an afghan knitted in washable wool that I need to toss into the machine and PRAY that it is indeed as washable as the label claims. It’s enormous, so I have to figure out somewhere to dry it, too. Then I have to find a suitable box, bring it to the post office, and hope it’s not too much money to ship to my niece.
3) I’m also engaged in selfish crafting. I’m finishing up a crocheted jacket that I’m hoping to have ready for the holidays. I’m still struggling to get the collar and button band crocheted correctly. You can’t tell from the picture (the model has long hair that is obscuring the collar), but it appears I’m supposed to be making a shawl collar. The pattern is a little fuzzy on how to go about this, so I’m actually winging it.
Next year, I plan to start this process in JANUARY…
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