Wednesday is craft day!

I'm very happy with myself today. I actually crafted! I saw some work by some ladies where they took bluejeans and cut them up and made material out of it. I liked the idea, because I've been wanting to recycle and jeans can look a bit....well....naff in some projects. I've been wanting to make a bag that I could carry my embroidery around with me. I had a freebie that worked really well, but I needed to replace it. So here is what I've been doing. All material is from the same pair of jeans, just one side. I wanted the checkerboard effect more then the stripe, but though both sides don't have to look the same! I've zigzaged around the outside and then used a thiner zigzag on the horizontal lines. I don't want it to be perfect and so I've left the vertical so it can fray. My idea now is to use a fabric for the top and use another piece of jean to sew the bottom together. I want it to have a bit of a box like bottom to it. My scary part will be the zipper, but I found a good tutorial I've been saving here.

So Hurray for Crafting Wednesday!!!!!

Snow 2009

How cool is this??? Was so surprised when Rich said there was lots of snow on Monday morning. Just walked out and was amazed by how beautiful it was....of course I'm bored of it now! Now that I've had to walk to the train station in it!

Right....it is about time I get on the stick....

I'm starting to sort myself out. Since I'm feeling so much better, the house is getting a bit on my wick....but we are getting there. I can't believe that I've lived in this house for so long with out redecorating more then just the bathroom!!! And that took about 4 years......

I'm going to try and get back to crafting again. I've actually went through my room and cleaned it out, I was so impressed by how little time it actually took. I got rid of just a few things. Now I'm starting to think of how I'm going to arrange the room when I move it to the big room...so watch this space. Wednesdays are the days. I've had a lot of stupid appointments on Wednesdays and with the boiler not working...seemed like I never stayed home long enough to actually craft.

I have been knitting like crazy for Christmas, but no pics....

Few things to tell you about though.....


Met this Layla in Much Wenlock and fell in love with her stuff. We hit to off and I can't wait to work with her a bit. I bought the above print for one of my nephews. They are so lovely.

Well, off to try and get some more embroidery done!

World unraveled.....

This is awesome...you must see it......

Franklin Habit

Last night was the best. Went to London and had a bit of shopping and then to I Knit London tot to meet Franklin and Tom and have my book signed. It was wonderful. Here is a pic taken by the guys at I Knit to prove it....

It is a small world as always, turns out Tom has family that live around Mattoon where my Grandfather has owned a cabin on the lake there for ages. So it was really good for me to get a little of Illinois for a very homesick girl!

I bought stuff of course....couldn't resist. I'm going to make this hat for one of my sis's....(scan down a bit and see the red hat.) I also bought some orange yarn to make me some gloves. We saw some really nice ones at Liberty's....but I just couldn't buy them when I can make them......especially at that price!!!!

Sorry no real pictures. I'm going to get myself a more compact camera so that I can actually carry it around with me more.

Websites to check out

While sitting here all covered up in upteen blankets and clothes I've been trying to catch up on some web goodness. I've found a couple things I want to pass on....

Yarndex Yarn Directory is a website where you can look up yarns and see patterns that go with them, reviews and also substitutions. It looks like a great help. I need to do a bit more scouting around but found out about it through Cast On.

The other cool site is the Knitting Scholar. This has reviews of knitting books and should be a really good source for those of us (yes me!!!) that should go on a bit of a book and yarn diet......I found out about this through Franklin Habit's blog Panopticon. I can't wait until next week. I'm going to go to the store I Knit in London and meet him!!! He has a new book out called "It Itches" which feature his cartoons. I love his work...and well....he is from Chicago...so is a bit of home.

Oh I'm so stressed about the election. I hope that everything turns out ok....nail biting stuff.....

Sick of being sick

Yep, here I am....bedridden with a nasty cold....messing around with the internet trying to get caught up and maybe...just maybe a bit organized. If any of you visit me on Rav...you will see that I've stashed a bunch of sock yarn I bought this weekend. I couldn't resist...I told hubby it was the virus that made me do it. I went several times to visit The Web of Wool stand, and by stitching their pattern for Mitt-Glove-en pattern in a bright pink/green/orange/blue Regia yarn....I sent many people their way. I love enabling (as many of you know.)

So where was I that I was buying all this yarn? At the Creative Stitches show in Cardiff helping at the NNA at booth for Poetry in Stitches 2. The pictures they have are gorgeous. The idea is that you take a poem and then interpret it through fibre. Sorry I don't have any pictures...but if you look on here....you can see some of them. The Otter if my favorite though during the weekend I kept changing my mind.

Anyway, I bought some jewelry supplies too. I keep hoping that I'll sort out my room soon and be able to get somethings done.

Last Secret Pal package

How great is this package. The yellow skein I think she died herself. How great is that. It has been a good secret pal, but I don't think I'll do it again for a bit.

Ra'Net has changed

I decided that I didn't like the pattern I was using for the scarf...so I've started over. Believe it or not I wanted something smaller......am I nuts.....well this blog isn't called crazy for nothing! I like it though, and it is going well. I can do a motif while I'm on train between home and work, so that is good. Should get a few done that way anyway.

I gave up on Henry, the yarn I was using (alpaca) split very badly and I couldn't get my count right. I hurt my back terribly doing it. It was so tight and stressful since there were so many slipped stitches. Hopefully, I find another pattern to do for my Dad.....really wanted a scarf for him!

I'm excited about teaching a crochet workshop. I hope that it goes well and I can do more. I'm going to teach a Granny patch that uses all of the crochet stitches that are most commonly used. Hopefully it will be great fun! I have several friends that have signed up....so that will be great.
'

Secret Pal

Here is the last package I got from my secret pal. Sorry the picture is too dark. The yarn is all purple and lush. It will be really nice knitted or crocheted up. Might need to start another blanket!

Projects - Scarves

I'm having fun working on scarves for Christmas. Above is the start of Henry which is a Knitty pattern. This one should actually go to my Dad, MOM KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF! I should have checked out Ravelry before I bought the yarn....most people said it was hard and took a lot of time. Oh well....never like me to back down from Alpaca, which is tearing up my fingers. Didn't know I was allergic to it. I like the alpaca though, it is Artesano 4ply.

Below is the start of a scarf for one of my sister's. I made up the motif and thought I would use some of the fab yarn I got from I Knit show.

I Knit

I had a great time with the girls at I Knit. Above is a few things I picked up. I also picked up an
Elizabeth Zimmerman book, which is something I've always wanted. I decided to make scarves for my sisters and that is what most of the yarn will go for, see if I get them done now.

Secret Pal question

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

Well, this is an interesting one. I have to say that my proudest knitting moment was my first sweater. I had never made a sweater for myself because of my big arms. But I was able to get it to fit and it is nice and bright and a wonderful sweater to wear.

On the flip side are socks. I've tried several times to make me socks, but they are always too small. The last ones were given to a friend because they ended up being a 4 (6 US) instead of a 8 (10 US)....so.....I keep trying!

Thanks Secret Pal

I thought I had already posted about these....aren't they beautiful? I've got another package to post about when I get a chance to take a pic.

Been busy reorganizing and hanging new curtains in the living room. I'll have a pic of that soon too!

Secret Pal Question....

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? NO!!!
Would you ever consider it? Not on your life. They do have what they call "Shows" here per county. But you have to be so perfect that there is no way I would put myself through that! Long ago, in a time far away, I was in 4-H and my grandmother helped me make a skirt and headkerchef.....hmmmm...that was the 70's ya know! I one blue ribbon, though I didn't think I sewed it up very well, but my cookies that everyone loved got a second......go figure!!!! Put me off!

What have I been up to?

I picked up a couple rug kits while we were on vacation. This is locker hooking, which I'm enjoying very much. I hope you don't mind the YouTube link, but it really shows you how to do it. I'm using some green fabric that I had tried to make a rug from before and some shirts that I've "grown out of". Actually, I need some more...might have to do some charity shopping tomorrow!

Secret Pal Question #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

Hmmmm....I would have to say BBQ. I miss that actually, because we don't have one. Corn on the cob...with chicken or a burger with BBQ sauce....making my mouth water....sigh...another thing I miss the US for...yes I know I could have a BBQ here...but it wouldn't be the same, especially with all the rain we are having!

SP questions

I've missed a couple while I was on vacation... but here are the new ones

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? Everywhere. I love to knit at Borders with my friends, out in the garden with the cats playing around me, and in bed.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting...
Having what I need at hand, and not searching for the scissors or the tape measure. Problem is, I'm not that organized. So even though I buy lots of little organizers and buy all the supplies (and buy cute stuff to boot....) I still don't usually have what I need when I sit down!

Anyone else like this? Or is it just me!!!!

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Another secret pal question....this is hard really...because of course stash is SO important. I find that now that I can afford a bit more yarn, I'm buying a lot. I've decided that I'm stocking up for the time when I can't buy anymore....which has worked for a bit. But now I've decided to only buy for projects...which is a bit better...but I've got a lot of projects in the plans also!!!! So the money is still being spent!!!! Especially at my not so LYS Ippikins!

Hello Kitty fun

Here are a couple of presents I've made recently. I love the top pattern book the most. But I like the way you stitch on the face on the bottom picture. My Niece Paige got the Kitty and her mom told me she took it to a sleep over the next night. I had to make something for her, when we visited last everything that was knitted in my suitcase she would ask..."Did you make this?" Her brother is getting a doggie, and possibly more from the easily found book below. It uses a type of chart for the directions which is handy.
Off on vacation now. Taking a bag and a basket full of crafting goodness. Wonder if I'll get any of it done?