Freebie: Care instructions and parody gift tags link

As a member of the NYC Crochet Guild, I get a flurry of crafty emails full of ideas, suggestions and just plain fun. Here is a link to some truly useful gift tags for your craft items. http://undergroundcrafter.com/blog/2011/12/03/freebie-care-instructions-and-parody-gift-tags/ There are downloadable pdfs that you can print out and attach to projects given to loved ones (reminding them of all the love [and toil] that went into them).

An item to check off the bucket list

I am a graphic designer who never had the courage to become a fiber artist. I back-burnered my interest in weaving, until now. I am a member of a spinning and weaving guild, having gone to meetings for almost a year I finally decided it was time to get started. I bought myself an Ashford Knitters Loom on the recommendation of a guild member and I am on my way. I am so excited to learn how to make lush and beautiful fabric. This is my first attempt, much to learn and a long way to go, but I will report in from time to time on my progress.

This is so cool.... ;-)

This from http://knittaporfavor.wordpress.com/ posted 11/7/2011 who got it from http://mixingreality.com/ WOW!!!!! makes me just wanna crochet ALL THE TIME!!!!

Seventeen Evergreen - Polarity Song from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.

And this from Mixing Reality, Dutch product designer Merel Karhof uses the wind to knit a scarf?

NYC Crochet Guild meeting - November

Last night I attended the crochet guild meeting in Manhattan, it was a packed house. Jack from Lion Brand Yarns was there showing, among other things, the new Martha Stewart line of yarns. VERY NICE. Saw a lot of natural fiber yarns in yummy colors, making me want to knit knit knit! Ok, so I don't need a whole lot of inspiration.... but wow. a good time was had by all.

A highlight of the evening was the show and tell, take a look at these ANGRY BIRDS crochet hats. When I got home I googled the subject and found this great youtube video

Good deed for the day

Inspired by the ladies in the Staten Island Spinning and Weaving Guild, I made a few hats for donation to the battered women's shelter. Did some stash busting, and found a great use for the left over superwash sock yarn with the preemie caps.

Good time had by all at Mets Stitch N Pitch, 'cept the Mets-- they lost

Go team, stitchers that is. How cool is it that a crowd of crafters can gather and celebrate their handiwork? Here's a shot of the knit banner for the event sponsored by The National Needle Arts Association and Warm Up America! Free needlepoint kits featuring the Mets or Yankees logos were distributed to the first 200 attendees... and they "sold out" -- yeah! Free yarn and knitting needles were handed out so attendees could make 7x9 inch squares for Warm Up America afghans that are donated to charities. Of course the colors were blue or orange, in chunky yarn from Lion Brand, it worked up fast and 2 cartons of squares were donated... MANY THANKS to all participants.

Here's a shot of Lily Chin sporting her Big Apple outfit, it had HOME RUN worked into it. Notice the crochet baseball glove on the gentleman sitting next to her, the "baseball" scarf and baseball cap--all crochet in the Mets colors --- now that is team support. ;-).

There was yarn bombing all over the stadium, you can see examples wrapped on the railing. There was a beautiful moon over the stadium, the weather was close to perfect.The night was sublime.

---

By the way... I found this http://craftzine.com/images/extras/113/baseballsocksinstructions.pdf -- great socks if you are a baseball fanatic!

Happy Day!

My niece had a baby shower on the 13th of August. I thought I had at least another 2 months of knitting time. Nothing like a deadline to get things done. YEEKS! So I switched into high knitting gear and plowed thru. Driving to the shower with a few rows to go, and I finished it off at the party. Whew! My wrist was a little sore, and I had to ice it for a couple of days. But it was worth if for this smile.
Got a lovely thank you card from Erin.... for a gift made with love... ;-)

Yes, it was, and hope and joy and best wishes.

---

Here's to free patterns on the Bernat website, and this lovely Knit Baby Blanket (fyi, you have to sign up to get access), done in Softee Baby, which is Machine dryable and Machine washable. The pattern is a simple 5 row repeat, and it feels great. The yarn had a tendency to pull, but with a tug or two restores itself.

On the train...

Quiet time, away from it all (well, as far as one can be -- with technology), I finished this cutie for Amanda W.. I love Amtrak and took advantage of the 2.5 hr ride to finish up a gift piece. I took last week off (almost...) to read "Cathedral of the Sea" and knit. Spent some quality time with a dear friend.

Caught up on movies... All About Eve (what a ruthless story) - loved Bette Davis, she was really beautiful. The Hangover - far better than I expected. Tried watching The Red Shoes, but couldn't finish. Snatch was great fun as well as The Fifth Element, but my dear friend thought it was not so hot... viewed thru her eyes, I guess she's right. It has become a cult viewing in our house, as my husband LOVES TFE. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. You could call my week off the "Austen Week"... for I watched as well Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley on the train headed to AC. Watched more movies this week than I have all year.

Starting the next baby project--a blanket, for a baby boy due in October... stay tuned for photos. Happy Knitting.

To Rip or Not to Rip, that is the question

Okay, we all get faced with this... a big stupid mistake. The thought of ripping this time was too much so I dropped stitched and got out my handy-dandy crochet hook and remade the rib pattern that I had forgotten to continue after I turned the heel. I was not focused on this pair, it took me a long time to get one done. I think because I really didn't like the color and feel of the yarn. My gamble worked, the ribbing is restored and --other than those of you who read this confession-- no one would know. ;-)

I have managed to complete yet another pair of socks since this green pair and now the garden calls. My beans are just popping through the soil in a miracle of new life. My onions are almost a foot tall. Garlic is on it's way and I wait with excitement for my organic flowing potatoes to sprout. I pray the weather is amenable and the garden flourishes. More to come...

Whew! better late than never

Hey, Erin, Happy Belated birthday!!!!

Erin's birthday scarf is finally done. and now to get it packed up and sent off... only a couple weeks late. The yarn is a beautiful nylon microfiber from Tess Designer yarn . The wavy scarf pattern is created with dropped yarnovers. The pattern as written is a narrow scarf, if you want wider, increase in multiples of 10 stitches. I discovered Tess at the Vogue LIVE! event at the NY Hilton in January. The yarns are breathtakingly beautiful.

Mary's gift for Carol

I am sharing a project completed by my friend Mary.... it is lovely, medallions of flowers with glass crystals clustered together, from Vogue Knitting 2007 Fall 25th Anniversary issue, on the cover! oh, i really should be knitting! I have a scarf to finish for my niece. It's for her birthday, but alas it is late.

obsession

This winter has been rough. Okay, having a BAD week, so I did more knitting. this time a variation on the one i finished on the 2nd, in Wool-ease in a taupe and mustard gold.... the picture does not do it justice. This is beautiful, and with a ceramic button from my stash that I wish I could remember where it came from. OY.

The scarf is going to be a birthday present for a dear friend. It can wrap around the neck to keep her snuggly WARM!!!

The weather outside is frightful, but the knitting is delightful

In the middle of winter, battling fatigue, I decided to take a half-day for me. I finished my MaggiKnits scarf from the Vogue Live event. A silly and delightful project to cure what ails you, it has 3 different yarns and a cute button. A couple of first for me... 1. knitting with "tape" and 2. making little "tube" fuzzies that remind me of wooly bear caterpillars. The rag look was created by cutting the tape in short lengths and tying them together before knitting. Back to work!

As my friend Jack said, "There is no guy equivalent"

I had a DELIGHTFUL weekend at the Vogue Knitting Live! event at the NY Hilton last weekend. It was a "gathering of the tribe", and what a gathering! All my friends were there, surrounded by the most beautiful fibers, and colors and inspirations. We laughed and explored, and spent too much money.... but worth every penny. Thank you Vogue! And thanks to all the contributors to the Save the Children Caps for Good baby hats... your generosity was amazing.