Quick and Easy Shawl Clasp

I haven't used this shawl because it wasn't long enough to stay securely on my shoulders, and I couldn't find a shawl pin that I liked. I had been looking for one that wouldn't poke into my skin every time I moved. So, I searched through my stash for a button with a large shank, and within a few minutes had a way to secure this over my shoulders.

It was easy to do - 

Read more »

1 comment knitting, tutorial

Knitting Projects - To Block or Not to Block

I only finished a handful of projects in 2021, blocked a few - but was asked by a fellow crafter whether it's really necessary. Take a look at this cowl & mittens -

Read more »

Leave a Comment knitting

Staying Crafty with Mini Knits

A lot has been going on since my last post in January! There hasn't been too much crafting happening here during the COVID-19 pandemic & shutdown -- I cast on a number of knitting projects, sewed some masks, and finished one crochet cardigan -- but it's been hard to focus so not too much to share. One project I took on & finished was an entry for Anna Hrachovec's 2020 Mochimochi Photo + Video Contest & I won a Bonus award for "BEST BIRDS IN FLIGHT"! This was really uplifting and a great thing to experience in September.

 

If you're not familiar with Anna's Mochimochi Land you're missing out - check her out at https://mochimochiland.com.

When I saw the contest this summer, I decided that a tiny project would be a great motivation for me to start & finish something within a reasonable amount of time. I chose her Bluebirds of Crappiness pattern as inspiration and started knitting....   

Eight birds later (one isn't pictured), I had to come up with a video theme! Of course I left this for the last minute so looking up at a decorative birdhouse on my wall, I came up with a plan for "The Great Escape".

Read more »

2 comments knitting

Holiday Gifts 2016

I can't make all the holiday gifts that I want to give this season. Well, maybe I could if I didn't wait until the last minute... and I can't talk about or share pictures of gifts I'm working on during this time either, so what to do? Well, at the bottom of the post I'll add some links to sites with great sales going on this week since I love to shop online. Of course I solicit local businesses, craft fairs and etsy.com - but traveling to the mall this time of year is out of the question for me.

In the meantime, I can still share my "other" projects here since I usually have a knit or crochet project that I carry around in my purse. These are always quick, repetitive patterns to keep me busy during long waits/car rides since the gift knitting that I'm working on is too complicated to carry around.

Read more »

Leave a Comment books, gifts, knitting

Teach and Learn Something New

When you teach any subject, it can open your eyes to new perspectives and experiences. For years I taught knit and crochet classes at my local yarn shop, meeting hundreds of wonderful people of all ages, teaching them the basics and exploring lots of yarn projects. Sadly, the yarn shop closed earlier this summer ... things haven't been the same since then. It's made me think a lot about the experience of teaching and what I've learned along the way.

A Good Teacher is Always Learning

Read more »

Leave a Comment crochet, knitting

Do Overs with a Difference

Sometimes you have a chance to do something over and make it better. For example, I've chosen to re-purpose some beautiful yarn, and have finally found the perfect project for it.

Do Overs - Fiction & Non-Fiction

As I've been working on this Hitchhiker scarf project, I was also reading the book "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson about a girl who has no choice but to live her life over and over again. Looking at all the odd balls of yarn that I was re-using for the 3rd time, I thought the coincidence of "do overs" was enough to combine a book review + knitting for this blog post.

Read more »

Leave a Comment books, knitting

Knitting Attitude

To the person that said:

"You're too young to knit."

or

"Only grandma's knit."

"When did you think your grandma learned to knit?" Grandmothers with free time happen to knit/crochet, so we see them at it. Young people who knit squeeze it into a busy schedule - on lunch breaks, late at night, on commutes to work. So keep an open mind. It took years of practice for grandmother to become such a great needle-worker, when do you think she started?

Knitting isn't just for grandma book suggestions:

• DomiKNITrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape
• Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook

What do you think? Have any other crochet or knitting book recommendations?

Leave a Comment knitting

Knit One, Crochet Two

For every project I need to finish, it seems as if I've started two more in the last few months. Been listening to audio books and knitting, cooking, painting, crocheting and thinking about more and more projects!

This is what I've got going on at the moment... chaos:

By the time I got around to blogging about the picture above, I'd managed to finish the purple sweater in the forefront - all it took was two evenings with an audio book to get the sleeves added and I've completed a tiny sweater for a 2-year-old:

Sweater pattern is Candy Twist from Petite Purls, and it knit up fairly quickly. If a child's sweater wasn't so time-sensitive (as they grow so fast), I don't think I'd have gotten it done by now. Before finding this pattern, I had started a few others, ripped them out and started over and over again until I found the yarn and pattern combination I liked the best. If anyone out there knows of cute toddler sized patterns, I'd appreciate a recommendation! Here's my link to the project on Ravelry.

When I started listening to audio books, I never imagined I'd get so hooked. Mostly I download them from the library, and they keep me company in the car, at the gym, while I'm cooking and cleaning around the house. If I don't have to pay attention to the stitches too carefully, I can listen to a book and knit - it definitely makes the time fly! Lately I've been hooked on Young Adult books, they're really entertaining. Honestly, I don't think I'd go to the gym as often as I do if I didn't listen to them. What I'm listening to now: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

If you're on Goodreads, I'm tamdoll. I've found it's a great place to keep track of books I'm reading and what I want to read next. (I used to keep a notebook, but this makes titles much easier to search and I can add books to my lists when I'm mobile, too.) I love books. If I had more time in a day, I'd spend it reading. Fantasy has always been my favorite genre and ever since I started trying to keep up with the books my kids are reading, I've been devouring the dystopian fiction titles I find in the YA section of the library or bookstore.

Next blog post I hope to have another project or two completed and maybe share what I've been painting, too. Instead of fighting the chaos and trying to get organized, I've decided to just "go with the flow" and work on projects as they come to me. I do have some big undertakings in mind for the future, but don't need the stress or deadlines right now so am just enjoying a laid back attitude to my creativity. For now

What about you? Have any favorite books/genres?

5 comments books, knitting

Vogue Knitting Hat Completed

I've been admiring this Vogue knit hat pattern while working with a student who needed some help with the ear-flap cables (I teach knit/crochet at a local yarn shop a few hours/week). Well, all it took was a short visit by my mother-in-law to get a look at it and say "I'd love that hat" -- I was off to pick out the yarn. It wasn't very difficult - just needed some concentration in parts. Here's the finished hat:

The cabled ear-flap was an adventure in knitting that I was able to complete fairly fast while flying a few weeks ago. The upturned tray of the seat in front of me on the airplane was the perfect spot to tuck my knitting chart for easy reading. The fear of flying and intense turbulence were perfect incentives to focus solely on the knitting and get the cables done within an hour.

Cascade Yarns Eco Cloud (70% Merino,30% Alpaca) was super, super soft and with size 7 needles it worked up pretty quickly. My notes on it are over at Ravelry, and the pattern is from Vogue Knitting magazine, Holiday 2011. You can also find it in Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book.

Knit Hat Completed, What's Next?

Yarny: I have half a 2nd fingerless mitten to complete and about 2/3 of a knit toy to finish - my goal is to wrap these both up by the end of this month. An ongoing project I really want to finish by year's end is a crochet blanket I've been putting off. August 1st I'd like to start a few gifts to give asap: 2 baby toys and a sweater for a 2-year-old. I'm looking forward to making those so that is my motivation for wrapping up the WIPs. Just pacing myself so I don't aggravate my hands - diagnosed with arthritis but not letting that stop me.

Drawing, painting: I have stalled on both of my online classes & will update here or at Flickr as I progress.

Finally comfortable with the routine of a new job and taking control of my health. Feeling better and more competent to get things done; taking charge and no excuses not to finish what I've started.

What does it take you to get out of a rut?

3 comments knitting

Logo Change and a Knitting Pattern

Well, didn't think I'd be blogging again so soon... but here I am. Knitting has been a hobby of mine since I was a little girl, it's exciting to start working on patterns for sale - so of course I had to blog about it!

Let's see if the feed goes as planned to everyone who subscribed to the previous site. New logo above, streamlined & custom. What do you think?

What I've been up to:
A knitting pattern for a lined hat, created exclusively for and available through The Spotted Sheep Yarn Shoppe in Goffstown, NH. I have a plan with the owners to develop a couple of patterns throughout the year - all lined garments. The soft lining really adds a level of comfort & luxury that can't be beat!

2 comments knitting