Works in progress and nurturing new knitters

At a recent Christmas party, I had the great joy of helping a grand niece learn to use her knitting machine.  It's an updated version of one I received when I was about her age. Hers has more capabilities than mine did. My only complaint is it came with eyelash yarn.  This young lady let me know what I knew but didn't voice. This yarn in not easy for a beginner to learn with.  My solution? To give her yarn that I know I won't be using for whatever reason.  My problem? I could not find it anywhere. I just knew it was in certain storage containers. It took me three weeks and a nasty bout of stomach flu to find it. It was exactly where I put it. I had consolidated most of my stash in the way that makes sense to me.

Unfortunately the finding of stash coincided with some really cold (definitely Arctic) weather and our heat was lost. The air intake and exhaust were blocked by ice. No way was I going to pack yarn in 30* temps in my basement.  Now we have heat back and a new problem. But I can pack the yarn in relative warmth.   She will be getting a nice big box of assorted yarns and colors.

My new issue? We had a leak that is threatening our bedroom ceiling. My task is to clean out all the things I can so we can move the furniture out to replace the ceiling.  I'm finding projects I forgot about, projects I started and put aside, projects for classes, charity afghans for warm up America.

I decided to make two lists.  One of each UFO and who it is for, when it was started, when it is needed by.  The other list is who is on the gift list and three ideas for each.  Where I can I will be matching up these two lists.  So far I have almost twenty UFO s.

I also have an opportunity to put each project in its own bag. This will make it easier to grab something on my way out the door or as I sit down and relax.  When the list is finished, I will post it.  This might be better for holding me accountable and get things finished.

Christmas In July

It's that time of year again.  Time to think of what, if anything will I make for family and friends.  Even though the temps are 90+* for most of us and the last thing we want to contemplate is holding all that nice warm wool, we can think of what to make and gather patterns and materials.  Even I don't do much knitting or crocheting in summer.

Will you do sweaters?  Those do need time to complete.  Depending on how you work and what you do, a lot of time is required to finish a sweater.

Will you do quick and easy projects for more people?  Things like hats and mittens are quick and easy.  Slippers fall into this category.  

Are shawls and afghans on your hit list for gift giving?  Perhaps you have wee ones on your list who might like toys.  Possibly you and your recipients are of a practical nature and gift giving is of the use it up variety.

During this month, I will be linking to things of all types that might be on your gift recipients lists.  Some sites will require you to register to access the pattern.  All are free.  Most will want no more than your user name and a password.

To get us started and stay cool for now, try these ideas.  Pair them up with new cooking utensils or a set of pans.  Add these personal touches to a dinner basket that has all the fixings for a favorite meal for the cook in the family.  

Crocheted potholder  Knit potholder  Don't like these?  Try these links for more options.  One thing to keep in mind for this type of project of to use either wool or cotton.  Acrylic will  melt. 

More crocheted potholders   More knitted potholders

As always, if you need help with a project, either directions in the pattern or a specific technique, check with your local Michaels to see when your Knit or Crochet Instructor is available.

Christmas in July continues

I've been giving some thought to this once again as I listen to podcasts from KnitPicks.  One episode was geared to what one book has patterns that would satisfy most if not all of your holiday knitting.  I think you would have to know what you are planning to do in the general for each person you are knitting for before you can start pinpointing patterns.  One of the people quizzed said that she kept her knitting for holidays simple.  Choose basic patterns that you can do easily but with enough variety to prevent boredom and let the yarns you choose carry the project.  Another people quizzed said that you should pick projects based on the recipients.  In other words don't give something lacy to a person who really only likes and wears tailored items, a bulky wool sweater to someone who lives in the tropics.  However, you can give finger-less mitts to people who work in offices that are not heated as warm as our homes or feel so due to the sedentary nature of their jobs.


Today's patterns are all about finger-less mitts and mittens.  You can choose patterns that use yarns as fine as fingering weight (sock yarn) on up to patterns that use super bulky.  They can be knit or crocheted.  Mittens are appreciated by almost everyone and they can keep your hands warmer than gloves by keeping the fingers bunched together.


Some choices for easy patterns would be 


http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/cozy-knit-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/lacy-bobble-scarf-and-wristlets   C

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/really-easy-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/twin-cables-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-mittens-all   C

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/mittens-all   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/winter-crochet-wristers-0   C

These are all from Red Heart.  However, they were chosen for being easy to knit or crochet and allowing the yarn to give emphasis to the mitts or mittens.  Any pattern you choose can be done in any yarn as long as you remember to check the gauge of the yarn recommended and match that up to the gauge of the yarn you want to use.  As your math skills get better you can pick any yarn  to go with any pattern.

Christmas in July

I'm planning to do a link a day to something I think might be fun to knit or crochet for a Christmas present or two.  The links will mostly be items that are already out there but might have been overlooked.

I will also be figuring out what I'm doing for Christmas gifts this year and posting pictures of finished presents.  Things that will need to be done before all this knitting and crocheting?  Do I have the correct needles, hooks, knook, cro-hook for anticipated project?  Do I have enough yarn in the desired fiber and color?  If not, can I get more?  Will I need a complementary color?

Can I think of ways to keep presents from becoming covered in dog/cat fur?  What are the best ways to de-fur presents?  Will I have the stamina to complete big things in the dog days of August?

Let me know your thoughts on what you are planning?  Do you have ways to keep your projects free from "contaminants"?  For those allergic to animal dander, this could be of real interest.

broomstick lace and the mitts for the lesson

Here is the project I have completed for the broomstick lace class at the end of the month.  Fingerless mitts.  Quick and Easy once you have the rhythm down.  A little creativity for some extended wearability and these are set.  I used Bernat Satin in Flamingo that I purchased to help support Breast Cancer awareness and research.  These mitts would wear very nicely in October.