Provisional cast ons! They are great for when you know that you’ll be pulling out that cast on out later.
Monthly Archives: April 2015
Bad Cats Never Take the Morning Off
This morning I woke up at 5:30. I don’t usually get up quite that early but there was thunder and lightning and I opened my eyes and sneezed (stupid allergies). Blam. I’m awake and its a whole hour ahead of when my alarm usually goes off. You think that would get me out of the regular morning feline persecution. Nope. Bad cats never take the morning off.
The Weekly Rec - Make Handknits for Crocheters
Happen to know someone who crochets but doesn’t knit? Let me tell you what I’ve learned: that person is the perfect target for your next give-away knitting. Perfect.
I really enjoy making a handknit something-something and giving to a person who only crochets. The only-crocheter understands the value of what you are giving them.
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This Is A Work In Progress
Did you know that you can post pictures in the comments on this blog? I didn’t, not until quite recently. Of course the list of things I don’t know about blogging is miles long. I’m pretty much making this up as I go.
But I keep plugging away. Every now and then I learn something. When I learned that my readers could post their own pictures, I had an idea.
Handspinning is not Hard… Except the Vocabulary
If you’re getting into handspinning, or if you want to talk about handspinning with anyone, you will quickly fall into the dreaded mire of spinning vocabulary. Spinners have a lot of vocabulary. To make the experience extra painful, they fight over it. Not fist fights. No one gets a black eye over these arguments (I hope). But if you hang out in a spinning related forum on ravelry long enough you are bound to come across a fierce debate over whether not a bag of fiber is sliver or top, combed or carded (and then slit into long lengths to look like combed). These spinners care deeply if their yarn is from a semi-worsted prep and spun semi-woolen or if its a semi-woolen prep and spun semi-worsted and what it should be properly called.
I, on the other hand, read these debates while throwing french fries at my screen and yelling “Oh just go freaking spin something!”
Continue reading Handspinning is not Hard… Except the Vocabulary
Ripplet!- A free knit pattern
Back 17 years a few months ago, I started spinning up a bag of fiber called Karaoke Rainbow. Its was mighty colorful stuff and its was colorful in the way that made your eyes hurt a little. But that’s okay. If you have the right pattern even color-riot-yarn can be fetching.
Sunday Stitch - Testing a Fiber Before You Spin
I was planning a video (or two) on provisional cast-ons for this week*. But then I came across four or five mentions here and on our Raverly thread made by crafters who have decided to give spinning a try. Well. Since one of my nefarious plans is to turn all my readers in to spinners I had better nurture that hadn’t I?
Testing A Fiber Before You Spin It
Before I get started with a new spinning project, I test out the fiber to see how it drafts and how it takes twist.
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We Are The Makers Of Things
Wrapping up Our Contest
So our Revive-A-Vintage contest is over and I had a blast. It was so much fun on my end to watch the patterns and projects get added in ravelry. I stayed up past my bed time more than once browsing pictures and reading project notes. But, I have to admit, I had a secret agenda. I hosted the contest so I could find The Makers, the ones who will sit down with yarn and needles/hooks/shuttles/looms and actually make things. And I did.
You all are just like them… except maybe you don’t have those awesome legs. I sure don’t!
And The Winners Are…
Wow its hard to pick winners! Do all judges feel this way?
Our Winning Projects!
But Jess and I managed. Here are the winners and even though I didn’t do any of the work on these at all, I still feel very proud!
For the Best in Historical Romance Look to Georgette
If you’re not burnt out on all things vintage I have an author for you that you might enjoy. Georgette Heyer published her first novel in 1921 and her last in 1975 (after her death) and she is credited as the founder of the Regency Romance. Her books are chock full of accurate historical details. More importantly, her books are fun.
Continue reading For the Best in Historical Romance Look to Georgette
