Snagged My #hpkal2015 Yarn from Oh!Loops

September 2, 2015

I recently discovered the wonderful ladies of Oh!Loops thanks to Periscope (I know, I'm late to the party as always). For the ZERO of you who don't already know, they run the annual Harry Potter KAL, a three-month-long knitting extravaganza that includes challenges, swaps, friendly competition, and prizes. To enter into the KAL, all you needed to do was purchase a hank of their limited-edition Harry Potter-themed hand-dyed yarn.

Sounds dreamy, right?

So naturally, after one broadcast from Sarah showing off only a few sneak peeks of the yarn, I chucked all my crafty plans out the window until January and decided I wanted - no - needed to participate if I wanted to quell my FOMO.

Now, we were all told that the yarn would be posted at midnight Pacific Time (sidebar: I live on the east coast, so that's 3AM for me!) We were also warned the yarn would sell fast. And boy, was that ever an accurate prediction. By the time I woke up at 2:50AM, logged into Etsy, bought a beautiful hank of Knockturn Alley DK-weight, and went back to bed, most of the 100+ hanks had been sold. CRAZY!

And now the real fun begins. Once I receive my hank in the mail, I'll also receive a letter stating which house I've been sorted into so I can start collecting points. And since yesterday, I've signed up for the Holiday Swap and already have a partner, which means we'll be swapping three packages during October, November, and December - one of my favorite times of year to swap!

There's still time to join, so if you're interested, make sure to check out the rules and get ready to pre-order some Oh!Loops yarn (if there's any left)! In the meantime, I'll just sit here, twiddling my thumbs in anticipation :)

Free Trial: Back-to-School Craft Classes

August 31, 2015

Today marks the first day back to school for so many of us here in the US. While some kids (and parents, for that matter) are mourning our loss of summer, others are excited to get back into a schedule and start learning again.

But why let the wee ones have all the fun?

Creativebug is offering a free two-week trial of unlimited craft classes that normally come with a $4.95 monthly subscription.

Here's what you'll get with your two-week trial:

Classes taught by industry-leading instructors
One FREE class with lifetime access, even if you choose not to subscribe (pro-top: this alone is worth signing up for the trial)
Access to sign up for any number of crochet classes or knitting classes, including loads of beginner classes for those of you looking to learn completely new techniques
The ability to learn on the go with the Creativebug mobile app so you can enjoy your favorite classes anytime and anywhere you want

If you haven't tried an online craft class, then now's your time to seize the day and join our comrades in the back-to-school shenanigans. So pick up your hooks, needles, your favorite yarn, and get to crafting!

Start Free Trial

Learn How to Knit Socks: Beginner Resources

August 26, 2015

It's no secret that the sock-knitting bug has taken a huge bite out of me. I've been knitting socks nearly non-stop for about six weeks now, since overcoming my obstacles in the middle of July with my Rose City Rollers. And there's been no turning back.

But it wasn't without tears. I've been trying to knit socks for years now, and as I've mentioned in various prior posts, I'd just get so bored or flub up the heel turn or something that made me never complete an entire sock. It was frustrating and a bit devastating for me, a person who's a fairly advanced knitter. Well, here's some news:

It doesn't have to be that way.

Below, I've compiled what I think are great resources for those of you looking to knit your first pair of socks.

KnitCrate: By now, it's safe to say you know how much I love KnitCrate. I subscribe to their indie dyer package, which means I receive a unique yarn-filled surprise in the mail every month, plus a coordinating pattern, some type of knitting notion, and a tasty treat (like tea, candy, etc). What you may not know is that they now have a "Learn to Knit Socks" subscription. This six-month series will send you new HAND-DYED yarn every month, a sock pattern, and unlimited access to exclusive online tutorial videos that will teach you - step-by-step - how to knit socks using both DPNs and the magic loop method. Ready to subscribe? Make sure to use this link to get a 10%-off coupon on your first purchase.
Craftsy: If shelling out for a monthly subscription isn't your thing, then you can also pay a one-time fee for unlimited access to My First Socks from Craftsy, a seven-lesson HD video series that includes two sock patterns and personal instruction/Q&A with designer and author Lucy Neatby. Upload photos, ask questions, and show off your first pair of knit socks in a safe nest. I've taken several classes from Craftsy and love interacting with my fellow students. Click here to check out the syllabus.
Become a Bakery Bears Patron: Kay and Dan have just released a bunch of DPN tutorials for patrons of their podcast, starting with fingerless mitts and now moving on to socks. You can gain access to these tutorials (and lots more exclusive content) for just $2/mo. Plus, you know your money is going toward supporting independent creators who are re-investing that money into content you enjoy.

Full disclosure: This post includes affiliate links, but know that I would never recommend a product I didn't extremely love! The above links will take you to various learning platforms that I'm either currently subscribed to myself or have used in the past, all funded by my own money. I encourage you to check out each resource, whether you're a newbie knitter or so advanced that vanilla socks put you to sleep. You're guaranteed to find something drool-worthy.

Finished: Exploration Station

August 20, 2015

Two cat vomits and hours of work later, my Exploration Station is finished and ready for its public debut!

It was worth the time investment, though, and believe me when I say it's less daunting to knit than it looks. Each section is written clearly, so it was easy to both understand and memorize after a few rows. Plus, new techniques (like the brioche stitch, for me) are linked to well-explained tutorial videos conducted by the incomparable Stephen West himself. He does move a bit quickly in sections, but that's what the "pause" button is for.

This was my first time knitting an i-cord border and bind-off, and I have to tell you how much I love the final result; however, the bind-off was a bit time consuming, especially since I wanted it done at that point. It was worth it, though. Just anticipate plopping down for a bit while you're finishing the border and weaving in ends.

Now, all I have to do is wait for the temperature to dip below 90 degrees with humidity and I'll be all set. I'm starting to see a few signs of fall around, mostly in grocery stores who have been selling Halloween candy since the beginning of July, so I'm sure the day of wearing my shawl will soon arrive!

Guess I should start on all those Christmas gifts I've been planning...

In the meantime, I'm...

Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks
Reading: All the Light We Cannot See
Listening: Last Song (feat. Matt Berninger from The National)

Yarn Bombing at #Musikfest2015

August 18, 2015

It's no secret that "yarn bombing" has worked it way into the mainstream. The phrase, in fact, was recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary, further cementing our fibery hold on the universe.

Indeed, yarn bombing has not only brought people - observers and knitters alike - a lot of joy over the years, but it's also promoted an activity that many non-knitters thought was dead. I mean, it's only been within the past couple years that people have stopped telling me I look too young to be their grandmother - not realizing that they were insulting me, then asking me to make them something (usually for free) in the same breath. But I'm not bitter.

So you can imagine how fun it was to visit Musikfest (the largest free music festival in the United States) last week and see my local yarn shop, The Knitter's Edge, proudly participating in its own little yarn bomb. Being off the beaten path, the display presented visitors with a Wonderland-like feeling as they traveled from Handwerkzplatz to Polkaplatz (which I'm sure has a real name, but hey - it's Polkaplatz).

Anyway, here are some pictures I took of the yarn bombing over Musikfest's opening weekend. They've certainly added more since last year, and I'm hoping to get in on the action for 2016!