Knit & Crochet Before the Yarn

Have you ever stopped to consider your yarn?  What is it?  How did it get into this usable form that we love?

Yarn, whether it's animal based, plant based, or petroleum based, is made of fiber that are spun. They are all treated roughly the same after a certain point.  

Animal based yarns are almost always made from the hair that is combed from, cut from or shed by the animal in question.  The only exception I can come up with is silk which is from silk worms.  The part used is the cocoon.  All animal fibers must be cleaned from veg matter.  Veg matter is bits of twigs, weeds, seeds and any other plant matter that becomes stuck in the hair as well as more unsavory items which we won't go into.  This last part is usually cut off in a process called skirting.

Plant based are actual parts of the plant.  I have not done much with plant fibers on the processing side.  I have done quite a bit with cotton on the knit, crochet, sewing and quilting sides. I'm working with linen and hemp.  I'd like to try other plant fibers but finding them locally is not so easy.  The plants are prepared according to their type which varies due to the part of the plant used.

The petroleum based yarns might have been originally mixed in test tubes but they are now mixed in vats.  These are designed to mimic various plant or animal yarn characteristics. The chemicals are mixed and fibers are created.

Now is the time when all varieties are treated the same, more or less.  The fibers or hairs are combed as needed to align them all nice and neat.  Now depending on the final yarn you are looking for, the fibers are separated into smaller and smaller sections (called pre-drafting, I think) and twist them.  This is spinning.  It can be done by drop spindle, foot powered spinning wheel or electric spinning wheel or in a commercial setting on huge machines that do multiple strands at a time.  The twisted fiber is wrapped on the shaft of the drop spindle or onto a bobbin on the spinning wheel.  This is called a singles.  Yes with an s.  Multiple singles are still called singles.  I don't know why.  I'm a beginner and have not asked all my questions yet to my teacher.  However, the twist creates friction on the fibers helping them to not just float apart.  To create even stronger yarn the singles can be combined with more singles and then they become plies.  Plies are twisted together in the opposite direction of the singles twist.  This makes the yarn stronger and helps prevent breaking.

So, in addition to purchasing new yarn or reclaiming yarn from finished garments that don't fit or flatter you, you can create your own from fibers from animals and plants.  The petroleum based fibers are not available to the home spinner, that I have found.  I don't know if we'd want to spin them if they were.  But I don't know that for sure.  All I can say is I wouldn't want to utilize them. 

Weeks 17 to 33 of A Year in Stitches

I am going to offer a bunch of different charts and stitches in  this post to finish the catch up from the spring to mid summer weeks when I was working on a wedding and a carnival.

The charts will be for both knit and crochet.   There will be color work charts, cable charts, and lace charts. 

There will be written stitch patterns.   These are harder to use universally without a lot of creativity and thought behind them.  However, I'm sure everyone will have fun with at least some of these.

Week 17

For knitting, work in stockinette/reverse stockinette or colorwork.  For crochet, work in fair isle or tapestry.  If you choose color work, you can do bands of colors or keep it 2 colors throughout.

 Week 18

As for week 17, the same applies here.  Have fun with this.  Can you make it a lace?

Week 19

Enjoy the weather with some fun spring/summer motifs.  Color work is the way to go for these.  The brighter the better.

Week 20

This would be great as a pillow, purse, or in an afghan as panels.

Week 21
Lots of fun motifs here for gearing up for the colder weather that is sure to come or simpler items.  All these can be done in texture or color.  Use fingering weight yarns or lace weight and make these into bookmarks or book covers for those books that you read over and over.

 Week 22

Play with tapestry crochet and make change purses, make up bags, pencil pouches.  Play with texture and have even more fun now that you know the charts better.

 Week 23

Week 24

I can see the potential for coasters, mug rugs, cup cozies and napkin/flatware holders in these.  Who wouldn't love a picnic when these beauties are on the table with yummy food.  Don't forget to put the picnic table's feet in bowls of water to deter ants from joining you and hang a red ball covered in sweet smelling sticky in a tree away from you to deter flies and bees.  The bowls of water can be pie tins for wider feet and the balls can be washed off.

Week 25

This could be an early gift made up when we don't even want to dream of hot cocoa or fireplaces.  The markings on the side look like yarn color names.  However, I don't know which company this came from to give credit.  Anyone know?

Week 26

Here is a lovely little block from Japan.  It's Crochet, done in one of the join as you go methods.  For Knitting here's a lovely Russian lace stitch.

Week 27

Here is a granny type square.  Imagine this in the colors of the summer!  That would be one smart tote bag.  This knit stitch pattern on the other hand reminds me of roses in summer.  This could be a beautiful baby blanket or a made into a sweet dress for your little girl.

Week 28

Here are a bunch more square and hexagon motifs.  Mix and Match them unifying them by color choice or pick one or two and go crazy with the patterns.

Week 29

Here's a fun little crown for the prince or princess in your life.    It's crochet.  Try in worsted weight yarn and you can do fewer repeats.  Glue "gems" around the band for a really regal look.

The Knitting stitch reminds me more of a flower I see growing along roadsides, Queen Anne's Lace.  But this isn't the name of the stitch.

Week 30

Architecture has given us some beaurtiful knit and crochet patterns.    This arches pattern is crochet.  I can see it as a pillow cover, afghan, baby gift.... What can you see it as?  Meanwhile the seersucker knit stitch pattern just sounds like summer.  Done in a light weight cotton, linen, hemp or silk yarn it could be a beautiful shell.

Week 31

Interlocking crochet has fascinated me for quite a while.  It shows a different stitch to each side.

Meanwhile the knit stitch below it is a fake Entrelac stitch pattern.  This is done with a trick of the eye and is in a fair isle type of knitting.

Week 32

Mitered, Ribbed, handy as can be for dish cloths, hot pads, potholders.  Do them in cotton for good heat protection.  Chain an odd number of stitches plus 1 for turning or cast on an odd number of stitches.  Mark the center stitch.  Using Garter stitch or single crochet, work to the stitch before the marked one.  Dec3tog or k3tog.  Continue to the end.  Turn.  If you are crocheting, crochet in the back loop only. Work even to the stitch before the marked one.  dec3tog or k3tog.  Continue to 1 stitch.  Bind off.  Weave ends.  Can be done in 1 row stripes, 2 row stripes with unused color carried up the side or almost anything.

Week 33

One of my other loves is quilting.  I happen to live on the outskirts of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, which has a rich history in quilting and frugality.  This is the Trip Around the World Quilt Pattern Or Sunshine and Shadow Quilt Pattern.  It depends on what you do with it.  Trip Around the World uses a variety of colors, where the Sunshine and Shadow uses shades of one color similar to what is shown.  The trip around the world is symbolic of travel. something most Amish don't do.   However, the Colonials, way back when, would trade fabrics or sometimes piece a quilt top for a friend who was leaving to pioneer either in the New World or out West.  One ring of fabric or even just a quarter of a ring symbolized that friend.  

In Sunshine and Shadow, the colors are kept to 3-5, going from a very pale to very dark (black or as close to as you can get) and starting over or fading back to very pale.  It symbolized that we can't appreciate the sunshine without the shadows, just as we can't appreciate life without death or separation.

Choose to do these in granny squares, mitered squares, or something completely different.  Start at a corner and work one block. Working in the join as you go, continue adding blocks in the colors your choose.

If you don't like the color choice given below, get your own 4 squares to the inch graph paper and a box of crayons or colored pencils and draw out what you want yours to look like.  Just remember, the colors need to be in concentric rings for this pattern.

Fleece, wool mills, and Mike Rowe

Today is Saturday. As I was eating my cereal,  I found dirty jobs with Mike Rowe. This episode was of particular interest to me. The Ohio Valley Natural Fibers was featured. OVNF is a woolen mill that is still cranking out yarn.  There was a bit of history,  some safety talks, and a lot of wooly goodness.

The machines they use (like many of the small woolen mills today, or so it seems) are turn-of-the-century.   Last century.  The point where I tuned in was when the fiber was coming out of a carding machine in that very thick fluffy roving that we have all seen in the ads for the very lush and cushy arm knit afghan.

I can imagine I probably missed seeing a sheep being sheared, the fleeces being washed after skirting.  There might have been more but maybe not. I found it just after the first commercial break. 

The machinery is huge, noisy and covered in fluff and oil or grease.  All machines need maintenance now and again.   I learned that from my husband long before we ever got married.   These are no different. Sadly though the wool fibers and the grease/oil don't work well together.  A surprisingly small clump (less than a gram from the looks of it) can stop  the machines quick,  faster than the stop button. 

It is also easy to see why there was so much child labor in the spinning mills. There are spaces that are very small for full grown adults but small children fit fine.  Thank God the machines have been redesigned. Thank God labor laws and safety regulations are in place to protect people.  While these machines are not retrofitted for safety, I don't think they are running as fast as they did when new.

But back to the yarn.  The fleeces are removed from the sheep, skirted (remove the parts that won't ever come clean and sweet smelling), possibly washed and dried possibly not.  The locks or maybe whole fleeces are placed by large armsful into the carding machine.  A very basic idea of a carding machine is the cat slicker brush we use on our pets minus the balls on the ends of the bristles. The fleeces are combed or brushed, depends on your point of view. This will align the fibers.  The fibers are then gathered into the fluffy rope of roving.  This roving was then fed into another machine that made the single plies we are familiar with.   This process was not explained well, but it appeared that the roving was divided into smaller sections of roving before being drawn out and twisted.  Each spool of singles was placed in yet another machine that spun the singles together.  Yarn is born.

How do we get the various yarns?  The amount of twist in the singles determines how fluid the final yarn will be in addition to how tight or loose the plying is.  So light twist plus very fine singles is a delicate yarn.  A high twist on more robust singles will give you a hard wearing and hard  to full yarn.

Happy Birthday Lion Brand!!!

Happy Birthday Lion Brand!

To celebrate, Michaels will be hosting birthday parties on Sunday September 22 between 2 and 4 pm.  Come on out and see me in the Lebanon store.  Yes, I do have a Warm Up America Joining Party scheduled for 2 - 5 pm this day but I will be in the same area to do both.  Come on out to help with this also.

Lion Brand will be giving away bonbons!  Unlike my husband, I'm sure you know and understand that these bonbons are mini skeins of yarn and not food.  The first 25 people will get a free bonbon.  I will have hooks available for anyone who wants to sit and stitch with me with this new yarn.  These minis are just right when you only need a little bit of a color and don't have it.

Check these out!

Brights

    

Pastels

Beach

Nature

Party

Celebrate

  

Crayons

 Some of the featured patterns on the Lion Brand website for the bonbons.

My sweater pictures

I promised pictures of what I'm working on.   Here is the first installment.  I'm really working to get this finished but things at my day job are complicated and I'm having to work longer hours than usual.  I know pictures of the rest of my projects won't happen until this is done.

I have finished the back.

I have finished the 2 fronts.  The wishbone cable goes to the center on each side.

 

 

I'm working on the sleeves.  I have finally reached the sleeve caps.  That part is not shown in the picture below.

 

Left to do? A collar, wrists and body hem, and button band must be added once all the sewing up is finished.  Buttons must be chosen.  As you can see, I am a user of stitch markers.  I put them in on the beginning of the rows when I increased.  I keep track of my row counts for the cable twists.  I have markers on the needle to remind myself (in the beginning) where the cable went.  I am doing the sleeves both at the same time to ensure they are the same length and have the same number of cable twists.  Nothing worse than being the same length but lopsided.

Also left to do is translate the mess of notes I have been making to write a pattern for this. 

 





What else I'm working on and for whom

Right now I have many things on my plate knit-wise and crochet-wise.  Some of it is for me, some is for others who are current friends or family, some for potential future friends or family through a charity of one kind or another.  I never say no to a new friend.

1.  I'm knitting a sweater that must get done for my certification level 2 from Craft Yarn Council of America.  (I have to do all of the crochet level 2 yet).  I'm using Paton's Super Wool that I got from a de-stash after a home yarn shop closed due to the death of the owner.  The color is a beige/khaki that I can wear in winter for teaching.

2. I started a ballerina style sweater for my new daughter in law for Christmas last year.  It hasn't been touched since I started it.  This is also being done in Paton's Super Wool in a magenta color.

3. I have worsted weight olive drab wool socks started for my son to replace his worn out ones.  He's in the Marines and these meet warmth requirements for wearing under his worn out socks.  He has size 11 feet.  The leg must be 12 inches or better.  I started these twice, the first time 2 at a time on 2 circulars, this time I'm doing them one at a time on either dpns or 2 circulars.  I don't have the brain space to keep track of 2 at a time right now.  I'm using Paton's Classic Wool for these.

4. I am working on a c2c baby afghan.  C2C is corner to corner.  This is a new fad on some of the fb boards featuring crochet.  I may have seen it on Ravelry also.  I've seen this before but loved the reminder.  I'm doing this instead of the "thermal baby blanket" I found in a 1960's era pattern book.  The recipient was the matron of honor in my son's wedding.  The thermal baby blanket that I had started was chains and single crochets in an elongated single crochet filet.  This is beautiful but very slow growing.  I'm using 4 skeins of Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Yarn in two colorways, Indigo and Pink Sugar.  I don't know if the baby is a boy or girl, hence the pink and blue combo.  

5.  There is a 3/4 Pi Shawl in the works.  I'm using Paton's Lace for this in bonfire.  I'll be posting how I did this in a future post.  This is a variant of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl from the book Knitting Workshop.

6.  There is a lace mystery shawl in Paton's Lace (colorway Porcelain).  I'm designing this triangular shawl but it's slow going due to having trouble with picking lace patterns.  This will be put up in the future too.

7 & 8.  8 inch swatches for the stitch pattern of the month being given out at the end of the month during a yarn night.  August's patterns are Feather and Fan (K) and Box Stitch (C).  For these, I'm using Lion Brand Fisherman wool.  I have one skein of each color  See the beautiful natural shades here.  When I reach August 2014, I should have enough blocks for an afghan.

9.  I'm also swatching a baby sweater.  I had been wanting to use it for my level 2 certification project but it didn't meet requirements.  I have the back and at least 1 front done.  I don't remember if I have a sleeve done or just thought our.  Pattern will again be coming.  For the swatch I'm using Red Heart Super Saver in Aran colorway.

10.  New projects to showcase new yarns.  I'm using free patterns from the yarn companies.  I'm doing a hat in Paton's Metallic, a partial scarf in Paton's Colorwul , a 1/2 size baby vest in Bernat Tizzy, a cowl for Paton's Cobbles yarn, a tiny heart pillow in Loops & Threads Fashion Fur, a cowl in L&T Fabulous Fur, and finally a project using LionBrand's bon bons yarn.  Pictures will be coming.  

11.  In hibernation, I have a yellow cotton summer top/vest from a pattern from Lion Brand.  The free pattern is here.  It's a broomstick lace in the round.  I started this 2 years ago on my 25th wedding anniversary trip.  I have the shoulder straps done and all joined in the round by at least 1 round.  The yarn was from a salvaged thrifted sweater.  I got it for the color.  It's a bright, bright yellow.  I like bright colors for summer.

12.  Always on the go for bedtime, cotton dishcloths done from Sugar & Cream or Peaches & Creme.  I don't have to think for this and can knit in my twilight zone.  I use size 6 - 8 US needles for this in circular.  Circs minimize me pulling the stitches off the needles when I fall asleep.  The points don't hurt when I lay on them.  The ball of yarn is not so comfortable.  I pick up balls of both brands when I see new colors.  I have a bunch of balls waiting to be made up but when I do these as just bedtime knitting, I don't get them done terribly fast.  

13.  I also started the Lion Brand Tranquility Knit along from this past spring.  I didn't finish it.  I barely started it.  I really like this pattern.  I like the yarn I am using (cotton worsted weight yarn in the breast cancer awareness pink ombre).  Again this could be a summer top or a vest for cooler weather.

Warm Up AMerica Joining Party

Today I held the first of the season Joining Party for the Warm Up America project.  I'm lucky to have enough blocks in assorted sizes to make 4 adult sized afghans and 1 child sized.  There are some pretty far out colors in some of the afghans (and some awkward sizes) but one of my former students came in and helped with the layout of some of the more challenging afghans.  Others were simple and all we had to do was count and make sure there were the requisite number to make the needed sizes.  

I have bagged and tagged the afghans so that all we have to do later is pull out a bag (complete with joining yarn and instructions) and get to work.  BL and I had a good time catching up while we joined after getting the challenges dealt with.  They will look great if I do say so myself.

I will post pictures of finished afghans and, if I'm lucky and remember, of the ladies and gentlemen who may be helping with the joining.  Our afghans at the Lebanon store will be going to Lebanon HOPES, our new homeless shelter.  Click here for the local newspaper article giving more details about it.  This was started last October (2012) and is a joint effort of the Jubilee Ministries and Lebanon County Christian Ministries along with several churches.

Thanks to all the people who donated blocks.  No matter the sizes, all can be used.  We may have to add to some or take away from others but every piece is welcome.  I'm willing to accept all the failed swatches that have no loving home as well as the practice pieces we all create then don't know what to do with.

Design Wars 4

Vote for your favorite designs.  There are 5 categories.  Share this on your fb page, and a few other things and you could win a prize pack from Red Heart.  Looks like in addition to yarn, you get Crochet Today and hooks and a Red Heart Shopping bag/project bag.

http://www.designwarschallenge.com/2013/08/14/dw4-vote-red-heart-yarns-prize-pack/

The website has this to say:  

"Thank you for supporting Design Wars, and our voting fun! There are 5 categories available and you get to vote for the design that you feel best suites each! Only one vote is allowed per person (per poll) for this round, so give these designs some serious though before your vote is cast! The design that receives the most overall votes will be named the Best Design Overall. Votes will be taken from 14-24 August, and we would be so thankful if you could please share this excitement with your friends after you vote please! Also, be sure to enter for a chance to win our Red Heart Yarn Prize Pack, below! Thank you!"

Christmas in July day 14

Ornaments.  This covers so many things  I know I am covering this on 2 days.

Today's ornaments will be the smaller things you hang on your trees or use as gift tags.  There are literally thousands upon thousands of patterns out there.  Let your imagination soar.  These are just a few to get you started.

There are snowflakes, do them in thread for a delicate look, do them in yarn and have a more robust look.  See these posts for more ideas with these http://wendyteaches-mrsscubafish.blogspot.com/2012/07/more-about-snowflakes.html and http://wendyteaches-mrsscubafish.blogspot.com/2012/07/idea-for-christmas-crocheting.html 

There are full on ornaments like we all think of.as well as more novel approaches to ornaments and for something different you can use something like these.  You can do a simple ball but change it up with novelty yarns.

And finally a popcorn garland that I can no longer find on the internet where I initially found it.

I use Red Heart Super Saver in aran because to me that looks like my popcorn.  You can add red beads if you want the popcorn and cranberry look or leave it plain.  I did mine plain.

Popcorn Garland

Red Heart Super Savor, 8 oz in color Aran
Size I hook

Ch 5, work 5 dc in 5th ch from hook.  Remove hook from last loop, insert in top of ch 3 and then back into the loop and pull through.  (popcorn made)

* Ch 8, (5 dc in 5th ch from hook, remove hook from last loop, insert in top of ch 3 and then back into the loop and pull through).

Rep from * until your garland is as long as you want.  Gauge for this project doesn't matter.  If you use the whole skein for this you will have around 75 ft of garland.  My knitting guild made these for a bazaar one year and we measured.  If you add the red beads, put them in the second chain of the 3 chains between the popcorns.

This is fast and easy (unless you do the whole skein) and can be kept from year to year unlike the edible version.  It also doesn't draw bugs or mice.

Christmas in July day 8

Today is all about cowls.  Small and quick to finish or larger and a little more time consuming, cowls are things with staying power.

bright-stripes-cowl

laras-cowl

fast and easy cowl

Amazing 45 minute cowl  I really like this one.  It works up in 45 or less minutes, looks fantastic and is great for fall or spring.

Grande Wrap  This is larger but still easily doable.

Do a bunch of these in different colors or yarn textures and have a bunch of gifts ready to go.

Christmas in July Day 4

Because today is the 4th of July, a day that holds a lot of meaning in America, I have something that will remind me of fireworks.  I remember as a child sitting on a blanket or possibly a lawn chair watching the fireworks display.  As I got older, the colors and shapes held even more appeal but were less visual since the store that sponsored them went out of business.  The community park that put on a display at the other end of town had very large trees obscuring the view that I discovered I had from the second story of my soon to be home with my soon to be new husband.  I still love seeing the reds, greens, blues, and bright whites of the displays.  I'm not such a big fan when the large BOOM!!! hits though.

Today's projects are holiday party appropriate and a nice reminder of this day.  The patterns for today are evening bags, those tiny little purses to hold just enough to get you through a party or a nice evening out.  This idea hit me when I read 
"Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split" by Laurie Perry.

 She has some really cute patterns in the back of the book.  Her pattern that I zeroed in on was for a lightly felted yet sparkly fun fur wallet sized purse hanging from a bracelet or two.  The bracelet idea really appealed to me.  Keeps things close that I may need and doesn't get in the way except for eating.

I took this idea and decided to run with it a bit.  What about holding 2 or 3 strands of sparkly yarn together without the wool for felting and using a smaller needle size?  Good just don't keep pens or loose change in there.  What about holding a strand or two of sequin studded yarn with or without the furry yarn?  Also good.  Either one of these with the wool?  Interesting.  I came up with all kinds of things.  Let your imagination soar with this.

Then I thought what else is out there for this???  I know I'm usually up for a nice new bag for a special occasion.  I don't always have something though.

Here are some links for your consideration.

Crochet Links                                            

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/mini-key-ring-purses         
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/beaded-knit-clutch-purse   
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/got-have-it-bag


  Knit Links
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/felted-tuck-purse
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/beaded-crocheted-circular-purse

Can I knit and crochet in summer???

The answer is YES!  Yes you can knit and crochet in summer.  You just have to choose your projects with a little more thought and care.  This is not to say that knitters and crocheters don't do this already, but in summer weather a little extra is required for your comfort.  

Summer is the time for working with cottons, linen, bamboo and rafia and tarn.  Tarn is yarn made from t-shirts cut into 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch strips.  The t's can be old that have stretched or faded, new ones or the fabric before the shirts are cut out and assembled.  Cottons can be the dishcloth cottons that are worsted weight down to the fine crochet threads.  Linen, bamboo and rafia are all plant fibers that have many different characteristics, most of which I won't go into.  Rafia can also be made from synthetics and have a sheen that borders on shine.

Summer is the time for small projects.  In the heat of July and August might not be the time to work on a large wool afghan that was started in the end of winter but didn't get done.  You could however, think ahead and if you prefer wool to plant fibers, work on small items like hats and mittens.  Mostly though, when I think of summer work, I want to do things like embellish flip flops and baseball hats, dish cloths, small purses, or beach cover ups.  I also think to do quick slippers and baby hats for donations.  I like quick to finish projects because so much of my time early to mid summer is spent outside.

Here are a few ideas along these lines.

I offer these ideas and can teach these during basic beginner classes.  Nothing shown here can't be done after a class or two.  Basic stitches, cotton yarn and flip flops are all that are required.

I also think of afghan squares or granny squares.  These are quick to make, not too hot to hold and easy for a brain that has been fried in the summer sun.  I do them with an eye towards the coming winter and those who are not as fortunate.  These blocks also give me a chance to practice techniques I want to learn or re-familiarize myself with.

Have a great summer!  Posts will still continue.  I'm also going to do a Christmas in July series of posts.  Keep checking back.

Yarn and How Much Do I Need?

As an ongoing part of the series of questions I get frequently asked, How much yarn do I need for X? tops the list right at the same number of times as What kind of needles should I use?

Yarn choices are amazing.  There are so many new things out there on the market to try.  But this post is to deal with How much not fiber content.  Although fiber content can make a difference, weight does make a difference in how much to purchase.

There are generalities I can point to for a quick answer but that doesn't begin to get an accurate number for how much do I need?  yarn yardage requirements is a quick link to Lion Brand Company's chart for very basic information for both knit and crochet.

You need to know your gauge with a specific yarn.  You need to know how big your project needs to be.  You need to know what kind of drape you want your project to have.  An example is you don't want a floppy drape-y fiber like alpaca would give you if you are doing a tailored jacket that needs to hold its shape.  You also don't want a crisp yarn when your project should be molding to your curves or cuddling baby.  All of these have to be taken into account.  You should also wash your swatch.  Your fiber choice could relax into an ocean sized puddle when gotten wet or shrivel like a prune.  Wouldn't it be better to have that happen to a swatch than an afghan or sweater?

But, you say, I'm using acrylic/polyester/super wash wool!  Even those fibers can react to water or even just knitting or crocheting in unexpected ways.  Please don't ever wash synthetic fibers in hot, hot water and then dry in a hot dryer.  You can kill the spring in the fiber.  

More will be posted on this topic in the future.  This is just to get you thinking.  If you have questions, post a comment.  It will be addressed.

simple work

Why would anyone ever work the plain garter stitch xxx?  Why would anyone just make a simple crochet block all the same?  There is nothing wrong with plain and simple.  For beginners it is all about practicing the new and that is great.  We all need to practice the new.  It's how we get better at what we are learning.

It also holds the power to soothe a troubled person.  Recently, my family had a minor tragedy occur.  Everyone is fine as in not in a hospital. Everyone is not fine in the respect that we carry on as before.  We see this all the time when major tragedy hit our country in 2001, when loved ones are lost, when tragedies strike whole communities.

Simple garter stitch, plain granny squares, double crochet squares, garter and ribbed slippers, all these are quick to craft but more importantly, they hold the rhythm that lulls us into not feeling overwhelmed, kind of like a rocking chair for some, back rubs for others.  They give the rest we sometimes need and can't get watching television or cleaning or any of the things we have to do to get through our days.

What has helped me?  Garter stitch dish cloths.  I now have quite a few and these don't wear out nearly as fast as those I bought.

Here is the pattern I prefer to use.  I don't have to think for any of it.

Materials needed:  worsted weight cotton yarn.  I use Lily Sugar & Cream and Peaches & Creme.  They are affordable and easily found in my area on store shelves.  Mid sized needles, with my favorites being US size 6 - 8.  Use whatever size gets you the density you desire.  When I'm stressed, I have been known to go up to size 11 or 13 to get a gauge that doesn't result in cardboard.

Cast on 3.
Row 1: knit1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1.  (5 stitches now.  This will increase by 1 stitch every row)
Row 2 - 35 -50:  knit 2, yo, knit to the end of the row.  
Next Row:  knit 2, yo, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.  (The yarn over keeps the pattern the same on the decrease side.   The first knit 2 together keeps the stitch count the same.  The second decreases by 1.  This row will decrease you back down to about 4 or 5 stitches.)
You decide when it's big enough.  Want a blanket instead?  Keep increasing.  Then continue down the other side.  For a blanket I would use something soft and easy to use that doesn't have a lot of "stuff" for me to think about.  But that is just me.  On better times, I might use a novelty yarn with an easy pattern.  I'm on familiar ground but still get something that looks different and unique.

Yarn and sewing machines and knitting machines

Yesterday I set about to clear some room in my sewing/craft room in the basement.  That sentence alone gives a hint of things to come.  The reason I needed to do this was a I have a big sewing project to do for my day job and wanted room by my machine.  I did actually get there.  I did not get the job done to my satisfaction but that is for another time.

I'm convinced that yarn balls, skeins, hanks, even fleece multiplies while left alone in a darkened room.  Silly you say?  Hear me out.  I found yarn that I do remember buying, yarn I have never seen before, yarn I have seen but don't know where it came from nor what I used it for.

Yarn I do remember buying I accept.  It was close out cottons for dish cloths and such.  It might have been part of a leftover ball from a Christmas present or worse whole skeins.  I try to keep fibers together and weights  in those broad categories, kind of like yarn departments.  I'm not lucky enough to have the nice bins.  But then I also don't have to worry about my pets nesting in them or having yarn get dusty before it gets used.

Yarns I have never seen before or don't remember where it came from or where I used it but do know I have are more perplexing.  I found the bit of sweater that needs frogging still that had been son #2's.  He has his finished sweater so all is fine.  I have found things that completely bewilder me.  Why would I buy that????  Where did I buy it?  What did I use it for?  What was I planning for this yarn?

I also clustered together the UFOs found.  I have all in their own bags, a shawl, a pair of worsted weight socks for a son, a baptism shawl that is no longer needed, 5 skeins of worsted alpaca for a Miss Lambert's scarf started on a guild retreat, 3 pairs of vanilla socks for me, cotton yarn and tulle kitted up for dish cloth and scrubby creation, pumpkin hats for a guild fundraiser started but not finished, mittens also for the guild but in mismatched sizes, a feather and fan prayer shawl, granny squares for an afghan, 3 unfinished quilts of varying sizes, a kit of yarn and pattern for pocket pals also for a guild fundraiser, lavender alpaca for a scarf for my soon to be daughter in law before discovering she hates lavender, an adult surprise jacket for me, 1/4 of a hippo (?????), and an unfinished dog sweater.

Some of these things are for classes.  Most are clearly guild related and should be finished.  Other things should just be finished so they are done and can be utilized.  The quilts are going to take time and lots of it.  

Once all the yarn is away.  Once all the Christmas decorations are also in their appropriate spaces.  Once I sort the summer clothes and get them where they need to go and the winter stuff has a place to go.  Once all this is done, I might actually be able to work in that room as I intended and get Christmas done early.

Saturday's Yarn Tasting Class

Saturday, there will be a yarn tasting class.  I will be featuring five novelty yarns, what can be done with them, and how to use them. These are the yarns and projects I plan to feature.

Premier Starbella yarn

Red Heart Boutique Chic yarn

Loops & Threads Pompom yarn

Loops & Threads Poodle Yarn

Red Heart Boutique Sashay yarn

Patterns and how-to's for each project will be in class.  Come check out the newest yarns and how to use them.