Learning to Crochet

Over a month ago, I saw on the Craftzine blog that Crafty Daisies was hosting a Learn to Crochet 12 week course on their site. Crafty Daisies is a blog, much like ours, where four friends share their crafting endeavors. I kept meaning to begin when the lessons started, but I only just completed the first two lessons last night. Lesson #1 introduces people to abbreviations, directions, and words that one might find in a crochet pattern. I will definitely be referring back to that page as I plug through the homework squares that are assigned after each lesson. Lesson #2 takes the learner through some basic skills such as double crochet, half double crochet, and crochet in the round. This lesson did not include videos, as lesson #1 did, so it was a little more difficult to follow, but I persevered. I am excited about this new skill and craft and am anxious to get started on the homework squares. The goal of the 12 lessons is end up with a lapghan, so the homework squares will be combined in the end. I'm also excited to see that they have established a Flickr group so that folks can post their progress and have a forum to discuss questions. It's an exciting time to be a crafter with the web at your fingertips. It's definitely a lot of fun and clearly educational. I'll be posting my first crochet efforts later next week.

-B

1,000 Views!

Well, it officially happened. Today celebrates the 1000th view of our blog. We have a total thus far of 674 unique views, but an overall total of one thousand. Very exciting for us here at knitting harvest. We have also joined the Monthly Dishcloth webring, so welcome to those who have found us through the ring. Have a great day, stay cool, and knit something today!

-B

Three More FOs

I finished three more dishcloths recently, and have the pics for all tonight. The first is a rescue dishcloth because the washer ate its original form of the unicorn dishcloth. So, I did a redo as a grandmother's favorite dishcloth. It's a little sad looking as the cotton has already been washed, but I'd rather reuse. Sadly, another dishcloth bit the dust in the washer, but the cotton was not salvagable. Hmmmm...what is the washer saying to me?



The second cloth, and its detail shot, is the mid-monthl KAL from Monthly Dishcloths. I am pleased with this pattern and would love to do it in a scarf or as a detail on a sweater trim.



The final cloth is the Rachel's Knitting Room pattern for June. It's a cute one, although they recommended doing it with a variegated yarn, and I'm not sure that was the best recommendation as the message gets a little lost. Maybe done with a more subtle change in variegation it comes out better, and I am anxious to see how others had their cloths turn out because I do heart KALS.



Coming soon, a poncho update!

- B

Hokie Healing

I had promised that I would take pictures of the sewing party for the blankets for the victim's families for the tragedy at VT. Unfortunately I had some technical difficulties (camera battery dead) this morning. So instead of stealing pictures from another blog, I'll link to Mosaic's post that has all kinds of pictures.

http://mosaicyarnshop.blogspot.com/2007/06/knitting-for-healing.html

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudSSWuLGQRVwoFXf-H8nvWSznJ_FVOAaO4YWGKeGuZHTpYRozHAMEkNLkZP6ERr0x75KjIF2-HAEGUj0lOBBiqPRXCNRs05JwTTKyepTu79JPT-Cc186JRDk3QiEGMsbp7u51AsaeNXs/s1600-h/DSC02174.JPG

The link to the picture of the afghan is the first blanket we finished. We had pieced 8 strips when I left this afternoon.

It was a good day, healing. Good to know that the so many people have had the Hokies in the hearts and sent squares and that so many great knitters showed up to sew the squares together on a beautiful Saturday.

S

Knitting Daily Goes Live!

Interweave Press has been building an online knitting community for a few months. Today, was the launch day for Knitting Daily, and I am very excited about its potential. There are many of the free patterns that used to be available to the magazine subscribers only, and a posting area where people can share knowledge and ask questions. I'll be curious to see how it compares to the future live version of Ravelry. Speaking of which, we are awaiting our invite and will be thrilled once we are able to join and support that new site as well.

-B

Book Review: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off

I recently finished the Yarn Harlot's latest effort, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off. Much like the other books that she has written, this one is filled with humor and insight into the mind of a knitter. While her last book, Knitting Rules, dealt with stories about techniques and methods for knitting, this book explores the culture of the land of Knitting. The Yarn Harlot uses her wit and wisdom to explain who knitters are and why they do what they do. She explores the complexity of stash, the different personalities of knitters (those who start projects, and those who finish to name a few), and the cultures of various knitting destinations (yarn shops). I thoroughly enjoyed her newest book and would recommend it to knitters and those who love them. I can always measure how well her humor transfers by how much my DF laughs when I read him excerpts. She has a wonderful way of encapsulating our neuroses as knitters, and making us laugh at ourselves.

-B

Damn you, Martha!

I had noticed a few weeks ago that the local Michael's was restructuring the stationery section. Now, I'm not a scrapbooker. We take a few vacations, but not enough that I've been compelled to start yet another crafting addiction. I also can't say that I have been swayed by the fluorescent and glitter styles that seem part and parcel with most scrapbooking accoutrements. However, that may have changed today. While trolling through Michael's looking for mini-baseball bat holders (wedding related, we're huge baseball nuts), and purchasing my crochet needs to start my lessons over at Crafty Daisies, I happened upon the paper section.

Oh, and what a paper section Michael's has. I had been speaking with S last night, and we were discussing how I had just maxed out my thank you card pile, and am in need of some new ones. I found $2 a box ones with ten in a box at the clearance section of Staples today, by the way, but have been tossing around the idea of creating my own. So, I snuck over to look at the blank cards to see if any of the companies make them of recycled paper (no luck thus far). I was impressed by the opportunities that may be out there for making my own cards. I noticed that there was a lot less glitter and fluorescentness than I had originally thought there was, and was leaving the store very energized by the possibilities.

As I turned toward the checkout counter, some subtle colors, streamlined designs, and a familiar name caught my eye. I oohed and ahhed over the new section that had been part of the restructuring. Perfection, thy name is Martha. Damn her and her cleverness. Damn her, and her staff for creating such beautiful papers, ribbons, stamps, punches, and storage boxes. I stayed strong though, and did not purchase anything. I kept repeating must buy a house first, must buy a house first, in my mind in order to get out of the store without blowing the whole paycheck. But, I shall return to the aisle that is Martha Stewart Crafts. The link prior will take you to the newest potential addiction for me.

P.S. RIP Unicorn Dishcloth. You tried to make it through your first ride in the washing machine, but to no avail. I shall frog you and try another style of dishcloth so that you my have a second chance of happiness in this house.

-B