Kniting during the Holidays

If you are like me, you have knitted your way through the holidays, gifts, and enjoyed yourself very much! Do not get burned out, but take some time to think about your self now.  In January, I find it is the best time to work on your own sweater, cape or skirt.  It is me time now, and what better way, than to find a great wool, and make some short work of it!

Find some great patterns, and buy a new book.  There is nothing like having a new knitting book, and sitting in your lazy knitting chair, with some tea, and working through your next dream.  Find your pattern, and decide.  Wow, isn't that hard?

 So many patterns, so little time!  Make a decision, and then make a second decision, just in case your wool or silk or cotton is not available.  You can find great wool online, but it is fun to really see and feel the wool.  Keep your plan, bring the book, and get help at the store on how much wool to buy.  Be sure to buy two extra balls, as you can not come back and expect the same dye lot, but you can always return the extra.

Now, take your time with the pattern, and learn some new steps if you can.  It is for you after all!

Holiday Gifts are Best when Handmade

Making holiday gifts is always best when you can do it by hand!  You can make something that everyone will love, and here are some great ideas!

If you are crocheting, use cotton yarn and make:

1. Washcloths
2.  Eyeglass cleaning tool
3.  Eyeglass case
4.  A cute fun long crochet tassle to hold curtains back, or a long belt!


If you are knitting, use wool, and make:

1. Mobile Phone Protection Case
2. A Long thin scarf for your niece in a bright color
3.  A pair of mittens lined in polar fleece
4.  A brightly colored square hot plate trivit.

Do not let time stop you, you can always start with one gift and see how quickly you can complete it.  The time you spend thinking of your gift receiver, while you make the gift is a great way to send your love.

Moose Valley Winery: Our Journey in Home Winemaking: Beaujolais Nouveau

Moose Valley Winery: Our Journey in Home Winemaking: Beaujolais Nouveau: "I had no idea what this was until a few years ago when my aunt brought a bottle of this to Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a tradition for her ..."

How do you create a new row of color?

If you are knitting or you are busy with your crochet, you are going to want to end one color and join in another!  This is scary for a new knitter, or happy crochet queen, because you are actually going to have to cut that beautiful wool yarn...it always makes me cringe.

The thing you need to do, is end a color at the count of the row, or at the end of the row.  Then, just bring into your work the new color.  Keep the old color long and still tied to your yarn ball, and just work in your new color with a new stitch or a a new hook.  It is that easy!

Once you have the yarn new color worked in, and you like what you see, you can clip that old color.  Or, bring the old color up and create a series of stripes.  It is nice to have the variance, and this is great practice.  If you are worried about the end, tie a snug knot, and then at the end of your knitting or hooking performance, bring it up and work it again.

Do not worry too much about your finishing until you get there.  The real test of any crafting project is to try new and different things, find a challenge, and give it go! 

Stripes are great fun!  Enjoy yourself!

My Nephew's Crochet Blanket

This blanket was so much fun to make!  I made the pattern up all on my own, by doing some single crochet, some double and triple crochet.  I started with just four colors, and just kept it with those 4, to keep it natural and simple.  The big blocks of stitches are all single crochet.  They are all added together with 50 stitches in row.

Then, in the middle I did do something fun and very open, and used a shell hook pattern.  This is a really easy stitch which you use a second crochet stitch, and just keep going to the same spot to start say 5 stitches.  It makes a pretty fan!

Here's a close up of this stitch.  It is upside down from where you would start, but it is pretty isn't it?  The entire point is you can create your own blanket with some innovation and some new ideas.  The mix of patterns is very nice, and adds a lot of texture to this blanket!

Creating New Crochet Projects

It is not too hard to change up your single crochet (sc) foundation into a double crochet (dc), slip stitich (sl st), half double crochet (hdc) and treble crochet (tr).  You already have the great start of a single crochet, and you can simply replicate this into any of the stitches above.

They make your crochet more interesting, and you can bring into your crochet project more texture, variety, and it also makes the project "grow" at a fairly rapid pace.  In this way, if you add in a single crochet for say 25 rows,  and then add in double crochet for 5, and then continue with shaping your piece for the back of a sweater, you are adding some great visible texture with the yarn.

Do take any crochet pattern, and try adding a simple line of any of the above basic 5 stitches. It is important for you to keep your project interesting, not just for the final product, but for your creative and crafty soul to enjoy.  The more you allow yourself to be creative, the more  you are going to enjoy it.

How is your Knitting Project Coming Along?

If you are having some trouble keeping up with your knitting, do not feel bad!  The project you are working on, may just be one for the unravel pile.  You may have discovered that the project you were working on, was the wrong size needle, wrong size yarn, or you just hate it already.   That is OK!  It is part of knitting, and sometimes, you pick a project because someone tells you to try it, or you think it will be good for a gift.

Stop knitting that project right now.  Start one that fuels a fire in you.  It is the only way you will be happy with your progression as a knitter.  You need to find a project that makes you happy.  Maybe you need to spring for some really nice wool or silk, so that the feel of your project is a pleasant one.

Maybe you bought all of the acrylic yarn, but it stinks working with it.  Take it back to the store if you can.  I am a big believer in buying the best yarn you can afford.  Why spend another moment knitting if you are hating the yarn.  You have to love the yarn.  Not hate it.

And, sometimes you are happiest with scarf creation, mittens or gloves.  Maybe hats are your thing!  Try one.  See if you like it!  I found I am a big knitter, sweaters and blankets are my thing.  I hate working on the little stuff. Do not ask me why, but maybe it is because I love how the final product drapes all over your body.  I love it!

I have worked with wool, and for me it is my favorite natural fiber.  It also works well to shed off animal fur, and if you know me, I have lots and lots of fur babies, so that is important.

So, if you are stalling, do not sweat it.  Start again.  Unravel that nightmare, and buy some materials that float your boat so to say.  I want you to keep knitting.  I want you to try crochet.  Keep at it!  Enjoy it.  Find out what you love to create, and you will be rich in mind and in final projects.  Knitting is a beautiful and kind mistress, she will keep you sane in these crazy days.  Enjoy it!