In Progress: Vanilla Latte Socks Part 2

Apparently, this year's Labor Day festivities threw off my blogging game, as I've disappeared for nearly two weeks without updating. Oops!

Well, I'm back to share with you this picture I took a few weeks ago of another completed Vanilla Latte sock, PLUS a cute kitchener stitch dog tag I got in last month's KnitCrate package. I've entered these socks into Oh!Loops Detention for the #hpkal2015, so with any luck, I can finish these in time to be gifted and score some points for Gryffindor.

I know it seems like I'm slacking with these, but I'm actually so obsessed with making this particular brand of socks that I took them camping with me over the long weekend. And I finally named my YarnIt: meet Salvador:

#knitting in the woods. That's rustic, right? #camping #hickoryrun #knitter #knitstagram #instaknit #labordayweekend

A photo posted by Jenn DiMaria (@jenndimaria) on Sep 5, 2015 at 12:25pm PDT

That's all I've got for now! I'm almost done with this pair (I started knitting up the toe on the second sock last night), so I'm excited to weave in ends and pick up another WIP for the KAL. Nothing's more motivational than intangible rewards :)

In the meantime, I'm:

Knitting: Anne's Sweater
Crocheting: Cat Butt Coasters
Reading: A Clockwork Orange
Listening: Leonard Cohen - Nevermind

Save 50% During Interweave's Labor of Love Sale!

Hey, everyone! Just a quick announcement before I hit the road for a relaxing weekend of camping in the woods with some knitting projects and my book:

Interweave is having a 50%-off sale in celebration of Labor Day! If you're a serious crafter, you'll know Interweave produces a lot of the industry-standard publications about knitting and crocheting (and even spinning!) In other words, now is the time to hop on over to their website and check out their products because you'll be getting some amazing-quality items for half the price.

The sale is valid through Monday, September 7th, so make sure to incorporate a little selfish crafting into your holiday weekend plans :)

See you next week with some (hopefully) finished items. Also, make sure to follow me on Periscope (jennlikesyarn) for random live project updates and upcoming unboxings.

Snagged My #hpkal2015 Yarn from Oh!Loops

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

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!

Learn How to Knit Socks: Beginner Resources

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.