Thursday, December 20, 2007

Closing for Christmas

I'm sorry to say I'm going to have to "shut down" for Christmas. The blog itself isn't going anywhere, I just won't be posting until after Christmas, probably. I'm so busy! But, it's a blessing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Where to Go for Knitting Help

I can't get to my Ravenclaw Tie pattern yet, so instead I'm going to point you a good direction for getting, well, directions. On how to knit, that is.

I'm a visual learner, so I love to see video clips of people doing stuff I'm trying to learn, or at least some really detailed diagrams. KnittingHelp.com has great free online videos of all kinds of knitting techniques. Here is the link to the section on casting on. They have all kinds of other videos as well, including ones on how to fix your mistakes.

Give them a try soon.

Knit On!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Lost in Cyberspace

Somehow my Ravenclaw Tie pattern has been lost in cyberspace; it is my own fault as I left that old website alone too long. I have it saved somewhere on my old desktop computer. I'll go looking for it on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Things are starting to get busy here; doctor's appointments and school conferences are shoved in along with last minute pageant preparations.

I hope to make some big changes with my Spruz site after the first of the year. Keep checking in here and I'll keep you posted.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Busy Weekend

I still have to hope you hang in there with me, I'm not going to get a lot done this weekend. Wrangling six kids is about wearing me out already!

I've got several projects on tap and I'll start posting about those as soon as I can. I need to work on the Harry Potter felt dolls, some baby foot washcloths and make a layette set for someone for a gift. I'll have the Harry Potter and washcloth projects posted to my Spruz site as commissioned projects. I'll post a list of the types of projects that could be commissioned (although I certainly wouldn't limit myself to the list) probably before the end of next week. This is too close to Christmas to really do anything, but all this is very new and I hope to put myself in a very good position for next year.

I've also got some ideas for the Spring Fling at my church coming up in the, well, Spring. It's not just knitting ideas, I'll try to have a Spring Festival section in my Spruz site as well, for idea exchanges. I've got to try and salvage my Ravenclaw Tie pattern from my old website. That's going to take more concentration that I've got right now. Maybe later today.

Knit On!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Friday Blues

Knitting is really a big deal to me, so you know it's big when Knitting takes a back seat to my actual life. And, although I'm being sarcastic saying that, it's not as sarcastic as my hubby might like....

At any rate, please bear with me as I attempt to wrangle 6 kids this weekend and hopefully still have all my hair at the end of this.

I hope to dig out my Ravenclaw Tie pattern and have it up at my Spruz site soon. And get a working banner or at least a text link.

Keep checking back, and Knit On!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Properties of Bamboo Yarn

I know I've talked about Bamboo before, but I feel it is worth going a little more in depth into why I feel this yarn is an excellent choice. There are some cons to using Bamboo, but in my opinion, the pros far outweigh them.

I discussed before Bamboo's anti-bacterial properties. Apparently this stems (no pun intended) from the fact that the bamboo plants themselves can thrive without the use of pesticides. The yarn which results from smashing the bamboo up and making it into fiber that is spun retains those anti-bacterial properties. It retains those properties even after the finished piece is washed multiple times. It also has deodorizing properties. I can attest to that fact, because I have a washcloth I knit from bamboo yarn that I use every day in the shower, and I hang it back up after rinsing it out. I forgot about it for a while while I started to use my shower puff again, and despite being left in the damp shower, the bamboo washcloth did not start to get gross and smell like an old terry cloth would have done.

Bamboo is also soft, easily spun and earth-friendly. Bamboo grows pretty rapidly, so that makes bamboo yarn an easily renewable resource. Again, the fact that no pesticides are needed in the cultivation of the plant makes it earth-friendly as well. I'm not sure about what type of effect the manufacture of bamboo yarn makes on the environment, but already this is ahead of other types of fibers right off the bat. Bamboo yarn is also cruelty-free; obviously it has no connection to any animal products whatsoever, making it a fine choice for those wishing to avoid any animal products whatsoever. In addition, Bamboo yarn is nearly impossible to break by hand.

The only cons I can think of when using Bamboo yarn is that it takes a bit of care to make sure the garment/whatever gets back to its original shape after washing. I accidentally washed and dried my washcloth in the washer and dryer. It withstood the washer pretty well, but of course, it shrank in the dryer. This is definitely an item that needs a lot of care and drying on a completely flat surface and blocking to maintain its original shape. Also, the only kinds of Bamboo yarns I have seen so far have had a lot of plies and there was a tendency for the yarn to be split by the knitting needles. Recommendations I have seen say to use blunt ended knitting needles when using Bamboo yarn to prevent splitting. I would second that recommendation.

I'm not going to give Bamboo a "nose" rating since I've already done that. However, I will suggest that you try some soon!

I used these sites for information when writing this article:
Bamboo Fabric Store
Yarn Traders

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Taking the Day Off

Today's Sunday, trying to take it easy.

I know I said I'd have some info today, but I don't want to make today about stress, just about rest. Whatever cold the kids had, I'm starting to get, so I'll take it easy.

Happy Knitting, everyone.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

The Word Today

The word today is "tired," as in, "I am really tired." This makes it difficult to post something coherent, but I'll try my best.

I am trying to get things organized so that I can do some more holiday knitting, but I have so much excess "stuff" that it is difficult to get through it all. I think, once again, unless someone orders something specific, most of my knitting will have to wait until after the first of the year. I hope to try and get a few coffee cup cozies made.

Total exhaustion notwithstanding, I'll have some info for you tomorrow. I am really interested in bamboo and want to show you what I'm learning about this noble plant. I couldn't believe it when I found out bamboo yarn has antibacterial properties! There's lots of interesting things about this plant and only a little bit has to do with yarn or knitting, but it's great information anyway. Consider it an early Christmas present.

Knit On!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Not on Hiatus; Just on "High Stress"

Never fear, I have not abandoned the knitting community. We're just dealing with issues around here lately: sick kids, cranky kids, Christmas parades, teenagers leaving for a trip for a Robotics competition, tutoring issues and whatever else comes up. Yesterday's post got lost in the shuffle.

Finally I have my Spruz website resembling something that passes for a "real" website. Come on over and visit. I should have my banner up over here shortly, if not now.

In the meantime, take it easy. I sure wish I could.

Knit On!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Christmas Crafts Links

Okay everyone, I'm a little stressed, so I'm going to take it easy today and just scope out some sites for Christmas crafts. This is about all kinds of crafts, not just knitting. I'm not necessarily saying I tried and recommend these, I just looked around a bit and they looked interesting. Happy Crafting!

Christmas Crafts at AllCrafts
Just a page with links, but worth a look

Holiday Knitting Patterns
The gingerbread house looks cute

Knitting on the Net
Again, just links, but looks promising

Christmas Crafts at Kaboose

To do with your kids

More stuff later. Make something pretty for someone you love this year!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Bucilla Doodle-Loom Product Review

I recently purchased a Bucilla Doodle-Loom in the hopes of being able to make pom-poms for hats faster and easier. I had "graduated" from making my own cardboard pom-pom forms to using a cheap pom-pom making set from Wal-Mart; I'm not sure of the brand, but it had three little plastic circles that could nest inside one another. The instructions only partially made sense, but it didn't do too badly at helping to make a decent pom-pom, although it was a bit tricky to use. So, I purchased the Doodle-Loom at Hobby Lobby ($5.99 plus tax) in the hopes of streamlining the pom-pom process.

The packaging makes the Doodle-Loom look impressive. Mine came in a little plastic zipper "purse" with a little corded handle. The looms themselves come nested in a plastic form and you get the instructions and a "project worksheet." "No knitting knowledge required" says the package. Well, for a pom-pom, I wouldn't expect to need to know how to knit. But, the professional look of the packaging was encouraging.

I took the looms out in the van on the way home (my hubby was driving) because I was impatient and wanted to try the loom. There were 3 looms in the package, in small, medium and large sizes. The instructions are pretty clear, although they make me wonder a little bit. You'd have to read them to see what I am talking about. It's a little complicated. I used some Caron Simply Soft and was not able to make a satisfactory pom-pom. I've tried a couple of times and can't get either the small or the medium to make a satisfactory pom-pom. I think the main problem is loading the pom-pom loom with enough yarn to make a full pom-pom. Even if you fill the loom to the bursting point with yarn, you don't wind up with enough yarn to make the pom-pom full enough, although I came pretty close with the last one I tried to make. I think if I tried, I could make a good pom-pom with the Doodle-Loom, it will just take some practice.

All in all, how does the Doodle-Loom make out? The packaging is pretty good, although all the plastic and stuff probably contributes to the somewhat high price for a few bits of plastic. The Looms themselves seem pretty sturdy; they' re not going to break any time soon. The instructions are not great, but they're not too bad. It's hard to make a good pom-pom, but part of my failure is that I need to practice with the looms. The project sheet seemed like pretty much of a joke to me, I could have done without it. I can't give the product a totally bad review even though I can't get a good result because I believe part of the problem is operator error. Therefore, I can't recommend you buy this product yet, but I can say that the price is relatively low if you feel like taking a chance.

The product, on the whole, averages out to be about 3 noses (medium smelly) only because I'm giving it a medium review until I try a few more times to make a good pom-pom. I'll revisit this product in about a month to give an update.

'Tis the Season to be Knitting


Note on spelling: "Pom-Pom" is the way I have always spelled the word for those little fuzzy yarn balls you make by wrapping yarn around something, tying it, and cutting the loops.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Complete Christmas Wish List

Recently, I went over my yarn wish list. But there's so many more knitting and crafty-related products out there! The list goes on and on! Here are my top picks for what I would like to receive from Santa this year:

10. More Yarn. Any kind, but Bamboo or Alpaca would be nice. In all different colors. I'm going somewhere with this, so hang on....

9. A nice basket to sit in the living room for my yarn to live in. I actually saw this suggestion in a knitting magazine as a way to both store your yarn AND make it a home accessory. Did Martha think this one up? I guess not, but it sure is a "good thing" in my eyes.

8. Some more sets of bamboo or wood knitting needles. Maybe even some crochet hooks, too. A nice selection of straights and dpns would be nice. You can never have too many knitting needles! Some of the short dpns are good to put your hair up with, too.

7. More yarn.

6. Stitch holders, stitch markers, yarn needles, stitch counter, knitting needle gauge, any and all little gadgets that make knitting easier to keep track of.

5. Some knitting books. At this point, I'm not even going to be too picky on which ones they are! Sock knitting related would be nice.

4. Nice case to keep needles in.

3. Another big tackle box to keep case for needles and other stuff in.

2. More yarn.

1. A knitting machine.

OK, so I am indulging a little (well, maybe a lot) of the "gimmies" but, after all, it is only a fantasy list.

Again I would point out that there is a lot to do to give back to your community through knitting. Not sure where to start? I found this site today: Knitting for Charity. Take a look, there's so much information there, it could keep you busy for months!

Let's do some good with our knitting this holiday season, and on into the coming year!

Friday, November 30, 2007

Redeemed Red Heart Re-enters Rejoicing

I recently posted on Red Heart's lagging quality in the color department (colored yarn showing white spots on it). Let me say that my most recent project has renewed my faith in Red Heart as a fine low-cost yarn for quick kids' projects.

My youngest daughter's pink toboggan turned out quite nice. No white spots anywhere. It was a bit big in circumference, but that was on purpose to give her some growing room. I must admit, despite the problems with the color, the yarn itself has always stood up quite well to the punishment my kids throw at the items I knit for them.

On another note, look around for charity knitting projects this holiday season. It could be as simple as making little caps for newborns at the hospital, or more complicated, like sweaters for older kids or adults. Prayer shawls are popular right now, and don't forget lap afghans for those in wheelchairs. I'll try to post some links for resources and give some ideas for patterns in the next week.

As holiday stuff heats up for me, it's getting difficult to find time to buy products and test them. I hope to really get into that after the first of the year, but I will try to post something everyday, even if it is just a few ideas or an update on something I've posted about before.

I'm working on a new website, I hope to have that up and in great shape soon. I'll post about that when it looks OK, too.

Knit On, everybody!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Happy Hats for Winter Wearing

Almost done with hat Number Two!

I made a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG toboggan for Oldest Daughter, it turned out much longer than I was expecting, but I wasn't using a pattern and I didn't watch the decreases carefully. The only problem was I was knitting back and forth and not in the round so that wound up to be one massive back seam. C'est La Vie! But the un-seamed hat did turn out to be one long isosceles triangle. But the full tassel (with a little bell inside!) looks cute!

Now I am on to Hat Number Two for Baby Daughter. Different color, smaller hat, and trying to be a bit more restrained in the length. Still with the tassel and bell. The only problem with this hat so far is getting any work done on it when Baby Daughter is around because she has to stop me every few minutes to see how much progress I've made. She's really excited to have a hat like her older sister.

Hopefully, sometime this millennium, I will have access to a working camera, and I can have some pictures of the hats.

Just some notes on construction:

Knitting in the round would be easier, I suppose, at least for finishing, but it really is easier in my opinion to decrease on a flat piece of work and I think that's what really makes these long, tasselled toboggans work: the decreases (obviously).

I used a kitchener cast-on to make a really nice edge for the ribbing.

Mattress seam was, of course, used for the back seam. A really nice, full tassel was then sewn to the end of the hat, and a little Christmas Jingle Bell type bell was tied into the middle of the tassel.

Same procedures for both hats. Hat Number Two has more rows of ribbing. I hate this part of hats, I like getting to the more interesting bits pretty fast, and I have to force myself to make enough ribbing to fold over if the wearer so wishes.

Well, Happy Knitting, everyone, make yourself a hat. Any questions? Join me over at Knitting Foole's Crafty Pages where I am currently setting up my new website. It will have forums and everything! Not really anything there yet, but give it a little time.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Looking at Knit Picks

I don't know how or when I stumbled over to Knit Picks the first time, but I've been hooked ever since. And even when I can't be online, I can carry my knitty goodness with me, because I have the Knit Picks catalog mailed to my little metal mailbox. Looking in the last one I received, my eyeballs practically bugged out like a cartoon character. Lots of good stuff!

Taking random picks from the Holiday 2007 catalog:

Men's Ties! Two cute looking ties peep out at me from the pages. I don't know how wearable these things actually are, but they look nice. They're bias knit, so they don't look like your average bit of knitting, and one is made with a self-striping sock yarn so it's ultra-easy AND ultra-spiffy.

"Mosaic Knitting." Your obligatory Barbara Walker book. I think I checked this one out of the library one time. Still, it's nice to have some of her books in your library for reference.

Yarn, Yarn and more Yarn! I like the look of "Palette": 100% Peruvian Highland wool, fingering weight--$1.99 per ball. I especially like "Tidepool Heather" and "Fog"; but all the colors look good to me! Or how about "Andean Treasure": 100% Baby Alpaca, heathered sport weight--$4.99 per ball. I really want to try this yarn sometime. The "Wild Rose Heather" and the Summer Sky Heather" are really nice, but again, none of these colors are duds to me.

Neat tools and Gadgets. A yarn meter looks handy if, you're like me and you like to design your own projects...figure out how much yarn you're likely to use for something so you know how much to buy. Hooray! No more shortages! Of course, if you buy too much that's another matter.....

Wander over to Knit Picks and check out their selection. Overall, the prices look pretty good. I haven't checked into shipping and handling charges, though. I give this whole business 0 noses...not smelly in the least! Although your nose may get out of joint perusing all the things you want to buy.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Christmas Yarn Wish List

OK, so I've given up on the noses rating system temporarily. Just felt really out of it the last few days. I'll get back to it soon.

In the meantime, I'd like to present my Christmas Wish List, just in time for Thanksgiving, of the yarns I would most like to receive:

  • I would absolutely love to try yarn made from Milk Protein; it sounds fascinating! To see some examples and info, go here: instead of drinking wear it. This is far enough off the beaten pack to pique my interest big time.
  • Soy is another interesting idea in yarn. See Soy Silk. This would have the plus of not aggravating allergies, unless, of course, you are allergic to soy. But, I gather, that allergy is fairly rare? At least, if you want a "hypoallergenic" baby formula soy is always pushed first. At any rate, I would love to be able to find out how this yarn works up and feels.
  • One I have already used before and would love to use again is Alpaca. It was soft, and although I used a fingering weight yarn, the resulting socks were very soft, warm and comfortable. And I love to visualize the "cute" Alpacas milling around as I knit.
  • I have also used Bamboo. I loved the finished product, but with the particular yarn I used, the strands seemed to separate too much. I would very much love to give this yarn (perhaps a different brand) a second chance. Read about bamboo yarn here. It's anti-bacterial! I didn't know that! I guess it was a good thing I made a washcloth out of it! (I use it in the shower every day)
  • Cotton. No specific examples here. You've seen it around, it's a staple. It's great. 'Nuff said.
  • REAL wool, whether super wash or not. Superwash if you absolutely don't want it to felt, or else not, if you're interested in the felting adventure. (What size is it going to be???? I'm not really that experienced with felting yet......)
  • OK, I'm not picky. Give me any yarn at all. Lots of it and in ugly colors if you must. If you've got something stashed you want me to try, drop me a line and we'll work something out.
OK, just so you know, the sites referenced herein are not intended as testimonials or recommendations for specific products; I just did a little quick and dirty research so you could see what I was talking about. Please do your own research and shopping around and for goodness sake try and find a good LYS (local yarn store) and go in and look and feel and smell for yourself before you even try to buy yarn online. I haven't been brave enough to buy online yet, although for the milk yarn I may have to forgo the personal perusal and take a leap of faith.

You know you are really too far into yarn when you want to go to your LYS for SEX (Stash Enhancement eXpedition).

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Recovering nicely

I've been sick the last couple of days, and it's been impossible for me to post. I'm glad to be at least halfway up and running, and can sick up in bed and type away on my laptop.

To that end, I can't think of very much to review today, given that my head is aching and my stomach is still doing flip-flops.

The best I can do right now might be to post about some of my favorite types of projects.

Hats: For nearly instant gratification you can't beat a little hat. Some of the longer toboggans take a while, but a little plain knit with ribbing cuff hat is oh so short and sweet. The most complicated part of this is that I like to do a kitchener cast on so the cast on edge looks really good. Even better if you're familiar with it is knitting in the round so that you don't have a seam. Or, just knit a tube. It works. Believe me. I'll try to post on this later.

Socks: Not always instant gratification, but almost always nice to finish and wear. Especially when using natural fibers. In fact, unless you have some really soft and fluffy yarn you want to make something like a pair of slippers out of, I wouldn't recommend anything other than a natural fiber for a pair of socks. Especially alpaca. That stuff is tops. Knit from the toe up with short row toes and heels for maximum speed and ease.

Aran Sweaters: I have only made toddler size or smaller, but I am fascinated with Aran stitiches, and the "pseudo-history" behind them. Do a search on this and you'll see what I mean. Whatever you find does not diminish the artistry of these things: check out www.clanarans.com and you will see what I mean.

How about my least favorite project? That's easy: gloves. I made ONE pair. That's all. Never again. Making all the fingers individually was a pain.

Well, that's all for now, I need to rest and recover. See everybody later!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Wood vs. Aluminum; the Knitting Needle Battle of the Ages

I have always knit with aluminum needles. Most of my aluminum needles come from my grandmother, who some years ago, gave me most of her large stash of needles and crochet hooks. I also obtained are pretty fair amount from a garage sale one year where I purchased a large box of assorted yarns and all kinds of crafting supplies for $1. In the box were quite a few knitting needles as well. Jackpot!

I still like to use aluminum needles, but I have discovered the joy of using other types. I have some Britanny double pointed needles. Despite the name, Brittany needles are made by an American company of American birch (check out the benefits of wood hooks and needles here: http://www.brittanyneedles.com/bkwood.html). The are quite fun to use, although I find the tips of these needles tend to dull. I use a fine emery board on occasion to "sharpen" them. The yarn slides nicely down the needles but there seems to be a bit more "grab" to the wood and the stitches don't seem to slide completely off the needles quite as easy as with aluminum. With a little care, and making sure you don't spill your coffee on wood needles, they will last you a long time.

Bamboo is also nice to knit with. I like the feel of the bamboo, the stitches slide easily but not off as with wood, and they are incredibly strong. One thing I have seen, though, is that they tend to chip. My kitty got a hold of one of my bamboo needles one time, and besides the tooth mark, the bamboo fibers or whatever they are started to split off. A little work with the fine emery board and it was about like new again. As with the wood, I do a little touch up on the tips of the bamboo needles now and again.

All in all, I use aluminum most of the time because I was given a lot of them and they are incredible inexpensive to buy. I favor bamboo next and then wood. Here's the ratings:

Aluminum (remember "Every Girl Needs a Boye"?) 3 out of 5 noses (not too smelly)

Wood 2 out of 5 noses (not hardly smelly at all)

Bamboo 1 out of 5 noses (not smelly)

Friday, November 16, 2007

Red Heart Super Saver Starts Smelling Superfluously

I have been using Red Heart Super Saver yarn for years. It is one of the least expensive yarns you will find, barring the bargain bin at Big Lots. However, for general knitting for general type hats and scarves and stuff it has always held up well, felt pretty much OK to wear, and stood up to multiple washings from everything from baby spit up to ketchup to steak sauce. I have always felt for a quick project and especially anything I had to do for the kids' schools, Super Saver was an excellent choice. It is also supposed to be hypoallergenic (I say "supposed to" not because I suspect otherwise, it's just I read it on the label, but do not know first hand if this is true).

In the last two years, however, I have become increasingly disappointed with Red Heart's quality. Often, the dye does not seem to get through to all parts of the yarn and after completing a project I will often see white spots where the yarn was not dyed. This is especially apparent with bright or dark colors. Very often I will also see breaks in the yarn where it broke and they tied it together, sometimes very near the beginning of the skein.

Overall, however, the quality for the price is still pretty good. And, since I rarely use a product like this for a project for which I will receive payment, and usually use it for "disposable" hats and scarves for the kids that I don't mind so much if they get lost or ruined, I don't feel a big sense of disappointment in this yarn. More like a confirmation of this yarn's place in the whole "scheme" of knitting: you have to have some bargain basement yarns out there to buy when you're feeling adventurous and want to try out a new project or technique with little cash on the line. Or, if you're like me, and you want to knit a bunch of hats that will cause you little heartache if something happens to them, this is the yarn.

Even so, I am keeping an eye on Red Heart from now on. Shall they descend further into the depths of smelly-ness, or will they shower off and redeem themselves? Only time will tell.

Red Heart Super Saver yarn gets a rating of 3 out of 5 noses.

*0 noses being best (not smelly!) and 5 being worst (totally gross!).

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Starting all over again!

Here I go, starting all over again .

I was away for awhile, hopefully, I can keep up the pace this time. The ol' arthur-itis seems to be hitting hard right now. Maybe it is the change in weather.

Please keep looking to this space for reviews on yarn and knitting products or techniques.

Happy Knitting!