November 18, 2008
Barter
I love to barter! (and haggle, and deal, and trade) Tonight I found something that combines three awesome things: bartering; knitting; and writing. I was surfing through Ravelry when I found a stunning lace shawl pattern. More surfing brought me to The Family Trunk Project which is too amazing for my own words. Go check it out. You can write about your family in exchange for a great knitting pattern. I'm all over that!
In much less exciting and definitely dumber news, I had to redo the second glove I'm making for my dad. I had ripped out the first one at least three times and I finally thought it was suitable. So I was very careful to model the second one after it, making sure I had the same number of stitches, rows, etc. I was so intent on making them identical...that I did! I made two left hands!
Had I not taken someone's advice and moved the thumb toward the palm by a few stitches, this would have been a non-issue. Fortunately, I just had to rip out the two fingers you see above. I am already past the point on a correct, right hand. I hope to finish them tonight!
What is your most awesome crafting blunder?
In much less exciting and definitely dumber news, I had to redo the second glove I'm making for my dad. I had ripped out the first one at least three times and I finally thought it was suitable. So I was very careful to model the second one after it, making sure I had the same number of stitches, rows, etc. I was so intent on making them identical...that I did! I made two left hands!
Had I not taken someone's advice and moved the thumb toward the palm by a few stitches, this would have been a non-issue. Fortunately, I just had to rip out the two fingers you see above. I am already past the point on a correct, right hand. I hope to finish them tonight!
What is your most awesome crafting blunder?
November 12, 2008
Oh Joyous Day
Friends, Candy Cane Joe Joe's are back. If you've never tried them, I want you to stop reading now and go to Trader Joe's. I shall not even compare them to the "O" cookie, because that other cookie doesn't deserve it. I bought a box today and tonight I'm making Joe Joe Truffles. Mine will be covered in dark chocolate, not white "chocolate" which is the wax of the devil.
Last week I remembered it was my youngest niece's birthday so I found the sparkliest yarn I had and whipped up a little lacy shrug. It's fun, purple and stretchy so even though I haven't seen her in months and don't know what size she wears, I'm confident it will work. It's hard to see the sparkle in these pics, but I carried along a metallic yarn with the plain purple you see on the ruffle. All the details on Ravelry.
What is your favorite last minute knit?
Last week I remembered it was my youngest niece's birthday so I found the sparkliest yarn I had and whipped up a little lacy shrug. It's fun, purple and stretchy so even though I haven't seen her in months and don't know what size she wears, I'm confident it will work. It's hard to see the sparkle in these pics, but I carried along a metallic yarn with the plain purple you see on the ruffle. All the details on Ravelry.
What is your favorite last minute knit?
November 01, 2008
Keep one meaningful thing
Here we are again, celebrating our Dead. I didn't even really plan on it, but I wound up spending my evening with my great aunts' favorite possessions and mine--their crafting supplies.
I had many great aunts in Ireland and some who moved here. The one or two who are still alive are in nursing homes now, so the family has slowly been taking care of their homes and things. I inherited all the crafting supplies. And I mean all. As proper ladies of that time and place, they were into every civil and dainty form of handiwork and now the boxes of their supplies are taking over my apartment.
I am sharing most of the goodies with anyone who cares to partake in my etsy shop, but there is one thing I have set aside that has fascinated me since I unpacked it.
They are 12" long, made of flexible plastic and approximately a US 2, or 2.75mm. I don't know why, but I friggin' LOVE the measurements and writing on these needles. I'm sure they were printed this way for totally utilitarian reasons, but they are such a curiosity now!
They are bent like any serious knitter's plastic needles should be. They obviously used them, but to make what? I have pictures of me and my brother wearing tiny wool aran fisherman's sweaters as babies. Did those intricate works of art come from these exact needles?
At first I felt a little bad for listing all these vintage notions for sale, but now that I've decided to keep these needles, I know I will have something by which to remember them.
I had many great aunts in Ireland and some who moved here. The one or two who are still alive are in nursing homes now, so the family has slowly been taking care of their homes and things. I inherited all the crafting supplies. And I mean all. As proper ladies of that time and place, they were into every civil and dainty form of handiwork and now the boxes of their supplies are taking over my apartment.
I am sharing most of the goodies with anyone who cares to partake in my etsy shop, but there is one thing I have set aside that has fascinated me since I unpacked it.
They are 12" long, made of flexible plastic and approximately a US 2, or 2.75mm. I don't know why, but I friggin' LOVE the measurements and writing on these needles. I'm sure they were printed this way for totally utilitarian reasons, but they are such a curiosity now!
They are bent like any serious knitter's plastic needles should be. They obviously used them, but to make what? I have pictures of me and my brother wearing tiny wool aran fisherman's sweaters as babies. Did those intricate works of art come from these exact needles?
At first I felt a little bad for listing all these vintage notions for sale, but now that I've decided to keep these needles, I know I will have something by which to remember them.
