Review: 2015 January KnitCrate

This review is a little bit belated. Why? Because I was having so much fun finishing up December's KnitCrate project (Lapidary) and working on orders that I wouldn't permit myself to indulge myself with much drooling over these new goodies:

The Yarn was two hanks of beautiful, hand-dyed Tweed DK from Jorstad Creek. While there were up to four colors shown in the sneak peek, the good folks at KnitCrate sent me the teal, which I'm in love with. I'm not sure if you've noticed from all my recently completed projects, but I've been a tad obsessed with jewel tones lately, so these fit right in. The yarn isn't an obnoxious tweed, either. I'm not sure if yarn can actually be too tweedy, but I've seen a number of yarns that look like they just puked tweed. These aren't like that; they're lovely.

The Patterns make for some wonderful future projects. The featured pattern (ie: what we're expected to use with our yarn) is the Cedarbury Cowl by Jann Hopper, which can be made in two sizes. So basically, you can use both hanks to make the larger size or one hank to make the smaller size, saving the second hank for a matching hat or fingerless mitts. I love that KnitCrate thinks ahead like this and gives us not only enough yarn to complete a project, but to also have some extras left over so we can coordinate other accessories.

We also received a bonus Noro pattern book, full of over a dozen inspirational designs that'll make your fingers itch for long and bright color changes.

Our Fun Extra was the Color Grid by The Kangaroo Dyer. This will definitely come in handy for me when I'm looking to make something with specific colors, but don't have one or both colors in stock. Sometimes, I know I want to make something in a certain color, but need something that contrasts it and just can't find it in my stash. Now I'll know exactly what will work well and, having studied Color Theory, can find it in a cinch.

The Soothing Extra was Harney & Sons Fine Teas: Winter White Early Grey. From the website:

A perennial favorite that combines beautiful Chinese Mutan White tea, making it lighter than traditional black teas, with natural lemony Bergamot. It is a pleasure to drink during any season! Reuse that tin for notions or more yummy tea.

And boy, will I ever be reusing the tin. It's fun and small. The little tea sachets are so cute, too. Most importantly, the tea is delicious. I've already had a couple cups and definitely enjoyed it.

As you know, I also purchase the Add-On Minis each month. For January, we received five gorgeous assorted mini skeins of more Jorstad Creek. Once again, I was thrilled with the jewel tones and can't wait to add them to either an upcoming Cosy Memories Blanket or my Beekeeper's Quilt.

Overall, I'm once again blown away with the wonderful items awaiting for me in my monthly red envelope. I've been telling people that subscribing to this delivery service is surprisingly saving me money (now that I have pre-determined projects to use my yarn for, I no longer buy as much fiber just to have it sit around) and encouraging me to finish projects so I can show them off to fellow KnitCraters.

You'll love it, too! Click the link below to join KnitCrate and get 10% off your first purchase. Or you can try a KnitCrate and see if you like it. This month's featured Try A KnitCrate is the Indie kit, which is what you've been seeing in my reviews. If you like what you've seen, then make sure to visit the site to try it on for size. It's worth the investment!

Free Crochet Pattern: Really Easy V-Stitch Beanie

Cute and simple, this free crochet hat pattern uses basic hat construction to create a great-looking accessory while experimenting with different stitches (I wouldn’t want you to get bored!). It’s perfect for beginners looking to crochet something a bit more advanced, but more advanced crocheters will enjoy how fast this hat works up.

Free Knitting Pattern: Winter Waffle Hat

Where I am, winter has been a long time coming. Finally (or unfortunately, depending on how you feel about it!), it has arrived, leading most of us to cuddle under blankets, blast the heat, turn on the wood stove, and chug tea like it’s our jobs.

I sat down to design a hat and originally picked up a thin (but beautiful) yarn. Just as I was about to start the stitch pattern, I decided I wanted something that was going to be quick and - perhaps most importantly - warm! This Winter Waffle hat is the result. Check it out:

Craft: Knitting

Level: Easy

Materials:

• Super Bulky weight yarn (I used one skein of Bernat Roving in the color Teal)
• Size US 10 circular needle and DPNs (you can use the DPNs for the entire hat if you'd like; otherwise, you'll just need them for decreasing at the top)
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch marker

Abbreviations:

• PM: Place Marker
• K2tog: Knit 2 Together: Knit the next two stitches together (right-slanting decrease)
• YO: Yarn Over
• st/s: Stitches

Notes:

• Slip stitch marker at the end of each round so you know where the next row begins

Pattern:

CO 58 sts

Ribbing Pattern: *K1, P1* around, PM

Repeat Ribbing Pattern for 1"

Row 1: *YO, k2, pass YO over 2 knitted sts* around

Row 2: Knit around

Repeat rounds 1 + 2 until entire hat measures 6" high, ending on R2

Decreasing for top of hat

Note: Switch to DPNs once hat is too small to fit on your circulars.

Row 3: *YO, k2tog, pass YO over the k2tog st* around

Row 4: Knit around

Repeat rounds 3 + 4 until 4 sts remain, ending with an R3 row.

Finishing:

Cut yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and tug. Weave in ends and enjoy!

5 Valentine's Day Crochet Patterns to Warm Your Heart

The day is quickly approaching where we can add some color back into our wintery white lives. Indeed, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to reincorporate a hint of reds, pinks, and other pastels to our otherwise dull and dreary February months.

The wonderful folks at Blitsy have provided us with plenty of opportunities to stock up on yarn for such occasion, but what can you make for the holiday? Why, delightfully bright Valentine’s Day decor, of course! Here are some of my favorite items to make with yarn you can often purchase at Blitsy:

2015 Knitter Goals (and some crochet, too!)

Okay, so I'm a little late to the party on creating my 2015 goals list. Part of that is procrastination (is anyone surprised?), but another part of that is making sure I was actually interested in the goals I wanted to accomplish. In other years, I've created a list of things to do that I didn't particularly want to do, or knew I already wasn't in the right frame of mind to get done. 

So this year, I took a different approach: I created goals based on what I've already started doing. I'm hoping this means I'll see a result - for once - come December 31st. I'm really good at accomplishing goals on the job, but not so much in my personal life, which is a bit more relaxed and flighty. I could use the structure.

Without further ado:

• Conquer drop spindling. I took a Craftsy class awhile ago and never quite mastered the art. I think the fiber I purchased in my first kit wasn't easy to work with, attributing to much of my problems. I've since purchased fiber packs from Etsy that seem to pre-draft easily, so I may be able to do something with this obsession that I was forced to give up due to wool issues.
   
• Learn counted cross stitch. I bought a couple beginner kits on sale at Hobby Lobby over the Christmas holiday. Many of the knitters I stalk also do counted cross stitch, and some of them (particularly the Once Upon a Time sampler) have me drooling. I'm not one to sit idly by and watch everyone else have the fun, so I plan to dive in.
   
• Add my stash to Ravelry. This is something I've started doing in the new year, and it's also something I've been horrible at updating in the past. I've realized that if I add my stash to Ravelry, it makes pattern hunting easier. For example, when I decide I want to make a pattern, the Ravelry pattern page recommends something that's already in my stash based on the necessary yardage. I don't have to look at the hank to determine whether I need enough, nor do I need to buy more yarn for a specific project (especially when I've forgotten that I own something). I get excited to add my stash enhancements now, plus time is saved in the long-run. I need to keep up the good work!
   
• Finish one freaking pair of socks. Do you know how many socks I've started and never finished? It's no question that I can make them; I just get so bored. I don't know if I need to find more thrilling yarn or a more interesting pattern, but I need to stop losing interest. It's driving me nuts. I don't want to be a sock knitter, per se, but I do want to finish a pair because I feel like that means you've "made it" in the knitting world.
   
• Start a "Cosy Memories" blanket. Yes, that is the British spelling. The name is given from the "A Homespun House" podcast and is based off this Knitted Patchwork Recipe pattern.
   
• Finish (3) of the following WIPs:
   
  • Corner Start Entrelac Blanket. Started as a gift for my Pop when he was placed in a care facility, he unfortunately passed away in December before I was able to complete it. I couldn't look at it at all during Christmas, but my Nannie would like it, so that's given me incentive to bring it out of its project bag again.
     
  • Mystic Spiral Socks. Because if I finish this one, I kill two goals with one project.
     
  • Mario Star Blanket. I was unexplainably into this for quite a few weeks in the early fall, but it got put on hold when my shop went crazy with orders and I needed to work on Christmas gifts. This is going to look awesome in the man cave, which is where my husband and I play all the Mario games.
     
  • Hitchhiker. I couldn't even tell you why I stopped knitting on this. I think I had to put it away because we had visitors one weekend and, you know, out of sight, out of mind with me.
     
  • Daffodil Filet Table Runner. This would be a total time commitment, and I'm not sure I'm up to the task. But it's still sitting there three years later with its original hook, so I should either keep going to frog the darn thing.
     
  • Creamy Textured Stocking. This one's an easy out if I'm getting nowhere. I ran out of yarn in the middle of completing the toe, so I literally only have about five more rounds of decreasing crochet before it's finished.
     
  • Tailgating Blanket. Won't be hard to finish as long as I just sit down and work on it. It's so stupid easy and looks great when done.
     
• Make a Zuzu's Petals. I have the yarn already picked out for this, so all I need to do is wind it up and actually make it.

I'm going to stop here before the list gets out of control.

Notice how there's nothing here about stash-busting. I just always fail at that, so there's no point in even trying. Plus, with my KnitCrate subscription, I automatically lose unless I make that an exception - which I don't feel like putting extra rules on myself when I don't need to. This is supposed to mostly be fun for me; I just want to be better at the "fun".

What are your goals for the new year? Have you started any and how are you progressing?