I'm always game for trying new ways to play with yarn, so of course I was excited to get my hands on one of Leisure Arts' new products: The Knook.
Read Moremary maxim's santa face crochet pattern is back!
Yes, I know it's just the beginning of August, but I was very excited to spread the news.
Some of you may remember these little Santa face magnets I make every year:
Each time I post photos, everyone either wants me to make them or find out where I purchased the pattern. For years, I've had to tell people that the pattern is no longer available for purchase, and I'm just not the type of person to photocopy a pattern and mail it out to everyone.
But there's good news. I received the latest Mary Maxim catalog a couple days ago and was browsing through it this morning. You can't imagine how excited I was to see that they're selling the pattern again!
You can claim the pattern for your very own by clicking here. It includes the pattern and yarn for only $9.99. Make sure to check out their other stuff, as well. I just ordered their Little Blossoms Blanket Kit to Knit on Wednesday, and I'm so excited to get it. For those of you subscribed to their mailing list, you'll also know that they're offering free shipping on all orders over $60 until end of day today.
Some of you may remember these little Santa face magnets I make every year:
Each time I post photos, everyone either wants me to make them or find out where I purchased the pattern. For years, I've had to tell people that the pattern is no longer available for purchase, and I'm just not the type of person to photocopy a pattern and mail it out to everyone.
But there's good news. I received the latest Mary Maxim catalog a couple days ago and was browsing through it this morning. You can't imagine how excited I was to see that they're selling the pattern again!
You can claim the pattern for your very own by clicking here. It includes the pattern and yarn for only $9.99. Make sure to check out their other stuff, as well. I just ordered their Little Blossoms Blanket Kit to Knit on Wednesday, and I'm so excited to get it. For those of you subscribed to their mailing list, you'll also know that they're offering free shipping on all orders over $60 until end of day today.
i designed my own hat with robyn chachula!
I wanted to wait until I had made a couple more of these for troubleshooting purposes, but I don't think that's going to happen for a couple more weeks :)
Anyone who follows Robyn Chachula knows that she recently released a DVD tutorial set called "Design Your Own Crocheted Hat." I've been coming up with some of my own simple patterns for years, so I decided to buy these instructions and learn how to do more complicated things. I was tired of guessing at the math and having to rip everything out all the time.
Her instructions are clear and easy, and I've started reading off charts more. If nothing else, they really help in designing your own projects because you can create a visual map of where you think you're going to go instead of throwing something against a wall to see what sticks. It was very helpful!
I also learned that it doesn't have to be perfect - a lot of it is just adding stitches where it's going to look best. All these years, I thought it was an exact science; it's not. That revelation helped me loosen up and face my fear of starting my own advanced hat designs.
After watching the video, I sat down and tried to make a hat out of a random pattern in any crochet stitch book I own. Yes, my floating head now has white hair. It was an impromptu purchase that I thought would help keep people's attention on the color of my hats instead of how long and flowing the model's hair is.
I chose some stash yarn I had that I'll probably never use, so the quality's not as nice as I'd like it to be for a hat. I'm also not a fan of the colors. And I hate the way the bottom came out - it looks more like a brim when I wanted it to be more fitted. I might use a smaller hook and make it crocheted ribbing instead.
Pretty much, those are the reasons why I wanted to make a couple more - I wanted nicer pictures to show you! I guess those will come when I post the pattern for you one of these days! But overall, I'm happy with the design and am confident that I can now turn almost any stitch into something you can wear on your head :)
Anyone who follows Robyn Chachula knows that she recently released a DVD tutorial set called "Design Your Own Crocheted Hat." I've been coming up with some of my own simple patterns for years, so I decided to buy these instructions and learn how to do more complicated things. I was tired of guessing at the math and having to rip everything out all the time.
Her instructions are clear and easy, and I've started reading off charts more. If nothing else, they really help in designing your own projects because you can create a visual map of where you think you're going to go instead of throwing something against a wall to see what sticks. It was very helpful!
I also learned that it doesn't have to be perfect - a lot of it is just adding stitches where it's going to look best. All these years, I thought it was an exact science; it's not. That revelation helped me loosen up and face my fear of starting my own advanced hat designs.
After watching the video, I sat down and tried to make a hat out of a random pattern in any crochet stitch book I own. Yes, my floating head now has white hair. It was an impromptu purchase that I thought would help keep people's attention on the color of my hats instead of how long and flowing the model's hair is.
I chose some stash yarn I had that I'll probably never use, so the quality's not as nice as I'd like it to be for a hat. I'm also not a fan of the colors. And I hate the way the bottom came out - it looks more like a brim when I wanted it to be more fitted. I might use a smaller hook and make it crocheted ribbing instead.
Pretty much, those are the reasons why I wanted to make a couple more - I wanted nicer pictures to show you! I guess those will come when I post the pattern for you one of these days! But overall, I'm happy with the design and am confident that I can now turn almost any stitch into something you can wear on your head :)
Knit and Crochet Haul Goodness
It's not often I get to indulge in purchasing yarn these days. Not that I don't want to, but all I have to do is take one look at my giant stash to feel guilty about the 10lb bag of yarny fun I lug home with me every now and then.
That's why I've been giving in to my cravings lately. Sort of. I tend to save up my purchases for when I visit my other crafty friend down in West Chester. We have a problem where we visit her local yarn store and buy way too many knit and crochet supplies. At least the husbands don't really know about it because we go without them and just hide the goods within our current stash.
Here's some fun stuff I bought this weekend at Garden of Yarn in Chadds Ford, PA, and Joann Fabrics:
My friend is preggo with Baby #1, so I have plenty of projects for wee ones in the Ravelry queue right now. Don't have any of my own, so I might as well spoil someone else's! Together we picked out this Little Sailor pattern and some yarn (Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK). I even spoiled myself with some new bamboo needles from Plymouth Yarn Company. Apparently I had money to burn.
While at Garden of Yarn, we found a really pretty tube scarf that we both enjoyed. After making a quick trip to Joann's, we both wound up purchasing some Patons Lace Sequin to make our own. I'll have to block the darn thing on the edges, which I hate doing, but oh well. It looks great so far and I absolutely love the color. It's stockinette in the round, so it's perfect for days when I want to come home from work and not think about anything while watching mindless TV (I never said I wanted this summer to be productive).
So here are all my new toys:
Plus, if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I procured myself one of these lovelies:
It's the new Leisure Arts Knook! That is, a combination knitting needle and crochet hook. Unlike tunisian crochet, this method of crocheting produces fabric that looks exactly like knitting. I'll be testing it out this week and posting a review soon, so stay tuned. Needless to say, I'm a little excited.
Less than a month left until classes start up again, so I have to work all this craft stuff out of my system before then. I think I'll manage :D
That's why I've been giving in to my cravings lately. Sort of. I tend to save up my purchases for when I visit my other crafty friend down in West Chester. We have a problem where we visit her local yarn store and buy way too many knit and crochet supplies. At least the husbands don't really know about it because we go without them and just hide the goods within our current stash.
Here's some fun stuff I bought this weekend at Garden of Yarn in Chadds Ford, PA, and Joann Fabrics:
My friend is preggo with Baby #1, so I have plenty of projects for wee ones in the Ravelry queue right now. Don't have any of my own, so I might as well spoil someone else's! Together we picked out this Little Sailor pattern and some yarn (Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK). I even spoiled myself with some new bamboo needles from Plymouth Yarn Company. Apparently I had money to burn.
While at Garden of Yarn, we found a really pretty tube scarf that we both enjoyed. After making a quick trip to Joann's, we both wound up purchasing some Patons Lace Sequin to make our own. I'll have to block the darn thing on the edges, which I hate doing, but oh well. It looks great so far and I absolutely love the color. It's stockinette in the round, so it's perfect for days when I want to come home from work and not think about anything while watching mindless TV (I never said I wanted this summer to be productive).
So here are all my new toys:
Plus, if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I procured myself one of these lovelies:
It's the new Leisure Arts Knook! That is, a combination knitting needle and crochet hook. Unlike tunisian crochet, this method of crocheting produces fabric that looks exactly like knitting. I'll be testing it out this week and posting a review soon, so stay tuned. Needless to say, I'm a little excited.
Less than a month left until classes start up again, so I have to work all this craft stuff out of my system before then. I think I'll manage :D
Hubby feeds my addiction
In case anyone ever doubted me, of course I'd be able to find the only yarn shop within a 100 mile radius.
A couple weekends ago, Hubby and I visited the PA Renaissance Faire's Celtic Fling weekend with a bunch of our friends. One of my friends teaches at an Irish dance studio and her class was performing that weekend. It was a lot of fun because I'd never seen them perform before and I actually do enjoy Irish dancing. Throw in lots of drinks and yummy food, and you're in for a good weekend (even if some random guy in a kilt walks up to you and just sticks his face in your sangria for no apparent reason).
While wandering around, we came across a shop by the KareDan Farming Initiative. Lo and behold, they were selling handspun, hand-dyed yarn. Hubby was nice enough to buy some for me because he knows I have a problem.
Here's the hank I chose in all its glory:
I love the colors - now I just need to find a project :) It's about 100 yards, so it'll definitely have to be knit, and it'll most likely be a hat. Maybe I'll whip something up after I mail out this current round of Traveling Scarves.
I'm also excited because I'll get to use the ball winder Hubby got me for Valentine's Day. I tried using it on a hank of sock yarn I bought awhile ago, but being that I didn't read the directions, I only managed to create a huge knot. For many hours, I sat in Knitter's Hell trying to unknot everything, but it was of no use. I finally just gave up. Hopefully this goes a little better for me!
Summer is in full swing here. We just got back from a wedding in Long Island and this weekend brings a trip to NYC. We're pretty busy the rest of the summer, and then I have some dental work coming up next week that I'm really not looking forward to. Ugh. What I am looking forward to is relaxing for a weekend sometime in the distant future :)
A couple weekends ago, Hubby and I visited the PA Renaissance Faire's Celtic Fling weekend with a bunch of our friends. One of my friends teaches at an Irish dance studio and her class was performing that weekend. It was a lot of fun because I'd never seen them perform before and I actually do enjoy Irish dancing. Throw in lots of drinks and yummy food, and you're in for a good weekend (even if some random guy in a kilt walks up to you and just sticks his face in your sangria for no apparent reason).
While wandering around, we came across a shop by the KareDan Farming Initiative. Lo and behold, they were selling handspun, hand-dyed yarn. Hubby was nice enough to buy some for me because he knows I have a problem.
Here's the hank I chose in all its glory:
I love the colors - now I just need to find a project :) It's about 100 yards, so it'll definitely have to be knit, and it'll most likely be a hat. Maybe I'll whip something up after I mail out this current round of Traveling Scarves.
I'm also excited because I'll get to use the ball winder Hubby got me for Valentine's Day. I tried using it on a hank of sock yarn I bought awhile ago, but being that I didn't read the directions, I only managed to create a huge knot. For many hours, I sat in Knitter's Hell trying to unknot everything, but it was of no use. I finally just gave up. Hopefully this goes a little better for me!
Summer is in full swing here. We just got back from a wedding in Long Island and this weekend brings a trip to NYC. We're pretty busy the rest of the summer, and then I have some dental work coming up next week that I'm really not looking forward to. Ugh. What I am looking forward to is relaxing for a weekend sometime in the distant future :)