What can I do with...?

I get questions from students and others about what can I do with my swatches etc.  To this end, I gathered from the internet a list of ideas for these.

Swatches aside (these should go into a journal of knit/crochet projects with the ball band pattern and a sheet of notes for the next time you want to make the project.  This is what the very organized knitter/crocheter does.  I'm not that organized.) granny squares and mitered squares can be used for many more things than just afghans.  Although this idea is a good one.

You can use a mid sized block for a dish cloth or hot pad, smaller ones make great coasters to protect furniture from drinks.  Fold one in half and you can use it for a cell phone cozy, tissue case, eye glass case and more.  Sachets from one or two  squares stuffed with either cotton balls dipped with a drop or two of essential oil or stuffed with dried flowers make nice gifts when you need a lot and are short on time.

Have 8 or 9 small to medium sized?  How about a "cushion" for the back of a wooden rocker or a seat cushion?  Double them with different colors on each side that coordinate and you have a reversible and possibly stuffed cushion.  Purses, totes, and backpacks are also good ideas.  Wallets can be fashioned from 6 squares.  Coin purses can be made from 2.

There are patterns for slippers from squares, You could join a few of smaller ones and make headbands, bookmarks or hat brims.  Have a bunch?  Ponchos are sort of still in style.  Baby cocoons are also popular rather than wrapping in blankets.

An update and a review

I have finished the cardigan for my level 2 Knit certification.  I mailed off all my swatches and other assignments.  I have gotten them back.  Pictures will be posted once I get better ones taken.  A heavy wool sweater is not something to be styled with shorts and 90* temps.  This was the way the first set was taken.  I look terrible.  The sweater looks terrible.  I was hot and itchy and miserable.  Now that the temps have cooled to a reasonable October range, I will get my husband to do better pictures.

I am now working on my level 2 certification for Crochet.  The final project will be for the nieces of my daughter in law.  They will be identical except for color.  It seems the twins are the same size almost and I only need one for turning in.  The girls are also much smaller than I.  It should go quicker.

And now for a review.  Over the years, I have purchased many needles and hooks.  I can attest to the fact that the anodized aluminum hooks and needles from Boye even withstand a house fire.  Don't try that at home.  However, my newest purchase was the Clover Takumi interchangeable bamboo knitting needles set.  

I have tried them out on several projects.  I know some good things about them.  I did an acrylic baby sweater for a new family on the size 10.5 with a medium cable length.  I have a cotton dishcloth going on a size 7 short cable.  The needle tips range in size from 3 to 13.  There are 5 cable lengths to choose from.  You can also connect some or all of them for some huge knitting.  According to the packaging, you can create up to 60 configurations.  The tips are tapered and are nice to use.  The smaller needles are not quite tapered enough for me but I can make do if I need the needles.  The joins are fabulous between the cable and needle tips.  The whole thing stays tight with only hand tightening.  They are incredibly light weight.  Being bamboo, the needle tips are sticky; the cables are not.  I would use these for slippery yarns like silk and the new Paton's Metallic so they don't slide off the needles.   The set comes in a nice case but it seems a bit big to me.  Perhaps I'm just being picky though.  There is a place for all the cables to fit and a few extra small tools of your choosing.

I didn't pay the retail price for them.  I had a coupon for that purchase, which brought it down to affordable to me.  Would I buy them again?  Yes, the smooth joins and flexible cables make them a joy to use. 

If you like circular knitting needles, try some of the non interchangeable needles from their company.  If you like those, treat yourself to a set or ask Santa.  You won't be disappointed.

Stress and Crocheting or Knitting

Something interesting came across my email this morning.  I subscribe to The Simple Dollar daily newsletter from  www.thesimpledollar.com and have for many years when I was attempting to find ways to cut our budget so we could do more things we enjoyed.  In reading today's offering, this was in the middle with the questions.

Q2: Handling work stress
Whenever I feel stressed out by work, I seem to unconsciously fall back into “retail therapy” as a treatment. The only problem is that it usually adds to the stress because now I have a credit card to deal with.
- Angie

The solution, of course, is to find a different way to deal with your stress.  The effective stress-reducer depends heavily on the person. For me, playing a game or reading a book reduces my stress, as does spending time with friends and alone with my wife. Escapism and human relationships work for me.  Try different channels for reducing stress. If you feel stressed out, try going to the gym and punching a bag or running.  You've just got to find what clicks for you.

It's been proven that the rhythm of crocheting and knitting will reduce stress levels.  Reducing stress is a good thing.  Keeping small projects with you in various rooms of the house, in the car, your purse, in your desk are all great ways to take the edge off when life hands you more than you can handle.

Learning the basics can be stressful at first for some.  Once you have them down though, the repetitive nature of forming the stitches can be like a rocking chair for small children or a boat on the waves lulling you into calmness without the motion sick factor. 

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.

Michaels Open House And a SALE!!

Just a note, all classes at Lebanon Michaels will be on sale for 50% off during our Open House on Sept. 21.  I have no information about other stores.  Let me know if there is something you want/need to learn and I will see if I can get it into the schedule before-hand so it can be gotten with the discount.  Added classes will probably be on Saturday/Sunday times due to my day job work schedule.  Kids crochet classes are normally $15 and on sale they are $7.50 and last an hour and a half.  All other classes are adult and normally $25, on sale $12.50.  Yarn nights are $5 normally, $2.50.  Warm Up America Joining parties are free all the time.  Please share this information with your friends.  It will be appreciated by all the teachers.

Here is my updated schedule.   Please note a few changes at the end of October in crochet classes:

Discover Single Crochet  All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm  
September 16
October 14
November 11

Discover the Tall Stitches of Crochet  All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 21
November 18

Discover Granny Squares   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
September 30
October 28
December 2

Discover Textured Stitches   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 7
November 4
December 9

Discover Knit Stitch Class    All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
September 19
October 17
November 14

Discover Purl Stitch    All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
September 26
October 24
November 21

Discover Pattern Stitches Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 3
October 31
December 5

Discover Cables Class All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 10
November 7
December 12

Discover Baby Crochet Class      All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
Textured Baby Blanket September 18
Baby Rattle  October 16
Textured Baby Blanket November 13

Discover Throws and Wraps in Crochet Class  Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
Granny One Piece Throw September 25
Lacy Wrap October 23
One Piece Granny Throw November 20

Discover Crochet Gifts Class      All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 2
December 4

Discover Time to Crochet Classes   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
Crocodile Stitch September 18
Tunisian Crochet October 9
Painted Crochet October 26 9:30 – 12
Broomstick Lace November 6
Hairpin Lace December 11

Discover Baby Knits Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
Kimono September 20
Blanket & Booties October 18
Kimono November 15

Discover Mitered Knitting Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
September 27
October 25
November 22

Discover Fair Isle Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
October 4
November 1
December 6

Discover Time To Knit Classes    All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm
Knook September 20
Mobius Knitting September 28 9:30 – 12
Entrelac October 11
Knook & Loom Knit November 8
2 Needle Sock   November 16 9:30 - 12
I-Cord December 13

Discover Kids Crochet 1  
October 5 9:30 – 11 am
November 2 9:30 – 11 am
December 7 9:30 – 11 am

Discover Kids Crochet 2
September 15 11 am – 12:30 pm
October 12 9:30 – 11 am
November 9 9:30 – 11 am
December 14 9:30 – 11 am

Discover Kids Crochet 3
September 29 11 am – 12:30 pm
October 19 9:30 – 11 am
November 17 12:30 – 2 pm
December 15 11 am – 12:30 pm

Yarn Nights are times for you to get a question answered about a stitch, yarn or pattern question that doesn’t require a full class.  You can also sit and stitch with me at this time.

September 14   1 – 4 pm
September 28   1 – 4 pm
October 12 1 – 5 pm
October 26 1 – 4 pm
November 16 1 – 4 pm
December 14 1 – 4 pm

Warm Up America Joining Parties are times to help join afghans blocks to help the homeless here in Lebanon with the donation of warm afghans.

September 22 2 – 5 pm
October 6 2 – 5 pm
November 3 2 – 5 pm
November 17 2 – 5 pm

My local shelter's needs

Warm Up America has started here in my neck of the woods.  Donated blocks are sorted.  Afghans have been bagged with joining yarns and instructions.  Joining parties have been scheduled  See the most current joining party schedule here.  I was also remembering a talk I had with some of the staff about what the needs are at my local shelter.

More than afghans and hats, they need gloves, not mittens or finger-less mitts.  GLOVES.  When I questioned for further information and thought more about it, here is what I have.  Mittens are nice for kids.  Most don't wear them since they limit mobility.  Adults won't wear them.  Finger-less mitts are a nice fashion accessory but don't do much of anything for people who are outside a majority of the time and need near constant protection.  

To this end, I thought, "OK, I'll run down to my local department store and pick up a bunch of the dollar or two gloves."  Then I headed home and checked my winter outdoor gear to see if I had any of them left from when my son ran cross country in high school.  As one of the few parents to show up on a regular basis, I had accumulated a sizable stash of hats and gloves for the colder months of practice and meets.  Most of these have disappeared over the years.  But I did find some of the gloves.  When I tried them on to make sure they were in good shape, I discovered 2 things.  One, either these things shrink or are small to begin with; and two, no two in my possession are the same size for pairing up.

I realize that I have largish hands for a woman.  I'm crediting my daily work (not knitting or crocheting) and genetics for this.  Men also have larger hands.  To this end, I would suggest that the dollar gloves that say they stretch to fit any hand are not going to suit for this purpose for any other than smaller people.

I would like to offer these patterns for this purpose and suggest not going the cheap route if you are donating to a shelter in your area.  There are not a lot of glove patterns out there but here are a couple of ideas.  Remember when donating to a shelter, some places may not have laundry facilities and appreciate dark or patterned color choices.  Adults in my area prefer subdued colors from what I have seen.  Plain workhorse yarns like Loops&Threads Impeccable, Lion Brand Wool Ease, Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, Red Heart are going to give ease of wash ability, wear, comfort and a wide range of colors.  Wool is my personal choice but, with so many having the opposite allergy of being allergic to wool, please don't use it.  It will also shrink if the recipient doesn't care for it in a gentle manner.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90370AD.html?noImages=

I also offer this link to a Christmas in July post about gloves.

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.