Traveling with pegs and needles!

Isn't traveling fun! I have done a lot of traveling this summer and fall (hence no blog updates) and have made many wonderful memories. So I'll start with Paris.

Ahh, Paris - (add music in your head): I love Paris in the Springtime ... I love Paris in the fall... and I never knew how much that song would be true for me. The quaintness of the little streets, the flower shops, the bakerys ... and yes, the closed for the summer yarn shops - ahh Paris - sighing with a smile of memories. We saw the typical sights, but Monet's gardens and house stand out with inspiration for me. Yes, I felt inspired! I had many plans to come home and garden. everywhere. at work, in the backyard, in the front yard, with friends. But let me remind you, we live in the Mohave desert and, until last week, the temp has been well over 100 and the flowers that I did have in had scorched by the time we got back. So reality set in upon arriving home. Anyway, back to topic.

Yarn shops - my husband was so happy to come tell me he had found a yarn shop right down the street from our little condo we were sharing for the week with friends. It was closed, but it was Sunday so it should be open tomorrow. Monday - stopped by, still closed. Tuesday, stopped by, still closed, oh, but looking in the window made me drool! So full of yummy stuff! Wednesday, sadly the baker next door told Pop they were closed for their summer holiday.

On to Vienna. I looked online for yarn shops and found 6 recommended, with directions. A couple were in the main shopping district so we thought that would be fun. We take a cab to Mariahhilfer and start walking. Yes, we were easily distracted but the numbers were clear so we came to an 'alley' of sorts with the range of numbers we wanted and right there was a simple little shop with this sign:

Now who wouldn't know that was a yarn shop :-)

They had a wonderful sales bin out front with yarn for 1 euro each, and I got some for my dil, and me. My friend also got some for a crochet buddy and we had a wonderful time. Did you know that yarn from Turkey - which here I spent $11.50 a 'spool' for just before I left, is much much cheaper there. I assume because it doesn't travel so far. I tried to buy some Austrian spun yarn, but with the language barrier, it was a bit hard. I did end up with some treasures, though and I love looking at my goodies, I just haven't decided what wonderful things to make from them! (If you have any ideas, leave me a thought in the comments) Here is my 'booty':

I have enough for 2 sweaters and a scarf - or I could break it down even more! How's that for 50euro? (Lot's of other Vienna memories - convention, meeting people, etc - but that's way off topic :-)

Back Home to Stitch and Pitch with the D'backs! My first MLB baseball game and I loved it. It had the added feature of Yarn and vendors and crocheters and knitters - how could we go wrong! Oh, and it was in Phoenix, AZ and we were with our kids - just perfect! My son, Ben, knew how much I wanted to go to a game and to go to Stitch and Pitch, so he got us great tickets and great seats, really close to the action! But, he didn't know that to get the free D'backs bag, you had to have the special 'Stitch and Pitch' ticket - which was way up in the nosebleed section. He was so nice that he stood in line for about 20 minutes when we got there and bought a 'special' ticket for 3yr old Kyler, just so I could have a bag! Isn't that sweet! But there's more! Of course, Lindsey, too, wished for a bag, sooo about an hour into the game, Ben took off and showed up with a bag for Lindsey! Yes, he went and bought yet another ticket so she could have one. Now that's a great guy!

It was fun looking through the vendor section and I bought, yet again, another new project. The girls from the Fiber Factory in Mesa, AZ were demonstrating knitting socks on a 9" circular needle from HiyaHiya. As you know from my continuing sock saga (Next blog will expand on that) I really want to make socks. So, I did have to buy it, and the same yarn she was using. It looked like something I can do, so I'm willing to give it a try. How could you go to a vendor section and not buy anything? [rhetorical question]

If you go to Ravely (www.ravelry.com if you're not a member, join, it's great!), there are more D'backs Stitch and Pitch pictures posted in the group Arizona Knitters, under the forum discussion 'Stich and Pitch'. They are great!

Now, last but not least Canada! We had a wonderful time using up our expiring timeshare in Camore, Alberta, Canada. We met our daughter, Tesia, and her husband, Jeremy, there and thoroughly enjoyed the Beautiful scenery of Banff and Canmore - and I could do another blog about that, but, again, it's off topic. Here we found the well stocked Knit & Caboodle yarn shop. (there should be a picture here of Knit & Caboodle's shop, but Tesia has it on her camera) Tesia and I had so much fun looking through the bins and asking questions - it was a perfect mother/daughter time. Tesia had said on the phone that she wanted to learn to crochet, so I brought all the goodies to teach her, but when she saw me knitting my 2nd sock on the little HiyaHiya needle, she decided that's what she wanted to learn. So we went to the shop, hoping to get her a needle and some yarn so she could be on her way. Well, they didn't have that size, so I ended up giving her mine and showing her on that (futher explained in the upcoming next blog). I, however did get some yummy Canadian spun and hand painted yarn to make my husband, Pop, a pair of socks. Tesia and I also got some beautiful DK weight yarn for more socks and I can't wait to get started on them! Hopefully before the next sock saga blog. Oh, and since she went home with my HiyaHiya 9", I'll have to find another one for that project. Anyway, here's my Canadian booty (with my finished pair of Pop's 'Canada, Eh' socks in the pile):

Well, my traveling's done for a long time, and now I get to enjoy all my 'booty' for a long time to come! Oh, and if you are flying, it doesn't matter if you have measured and they are okay, put your scissors in your checked luggage. Right away in the Phoenix airport, that girl checking us in asked if I had scissors, etc. I said yes, but they are the right size and she advised that when traveling in Europe, they will need to be checked. My crochet hook was fine on the plane. I complied and took them out of my carryon and stuck them in the checked luggage and had no problem. Going to Canada, I had my little HiyaHiya needle with me (no scissors) and was never questioned. The needles on that circular are very small, so I didn't worry. Also, the flight home, I was using my new Addi turbo 32" circulars, and they were fine, too.

Next blog will be on my continuing sock saga ... so until then Keep on pegs and needles!

Book Review: Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan

I love this book! Oh, do I start a book review like that? Well, it just burst out of me. What do you say about a book, or a designer, that changed the focus of your craft?
The book itself invites, "Whether you're a crochet newbie seeking inspiration or an old pro looking for a new take on this fun craft, Everyday Crochet is packed full of innovative designs for stylish, up-tp-the-minute crochet clothing and accessories." I fall somewhere in between a 'crochet newbie' and 'an old pro' and this is absolutely true! This book really inspired me.

I found when I was browsing around for patterns to start doing clothing, most often the ones I liked that others had done were from this book. So I had to get it. My first impression was, "I can't do that!" "That's too advanced!" Then I thought, I know how to read directions so I got a cup of coffee, sat down and just read it.

Wow, how did I crochet all these years and never know that I could make these beautiful things. Doris Chan explains a solid way to start a project with her 'Base CH/SC', with clearly illustrated how-to's on page 139. Her patterns all start with a base design and the garments take on their individual personality from there. If you are a garment seamstress you've seen the spot on paper patterns that say "lengthen or shorten here", well in Ms. Chan's patterns there's clear direction on adding 'short rows' for fuller bust, wider hips, etc. Very innovative as the book cover says.

Let me tell you another wonderful thing about these beautiful sweaters - they all start from the top down and there's no seaming. You try on as you go along, so it does fit! When you're done, you either already have an attractive, solid tie attached, or have the option to add her In-Line Links shown on page 137. Beautiful button closures that, to my surprise, made up in about 10 minutes and really add to the look of your design.

Don't hesitate to advance your crochet. Stop wishing you could knit - you can CROCHET beautiful sweaters that people will stop you on the street and ask, 'Where did you get that?"'!

What have I made from the book:


LINDSEY'S 'MEI-MEI'

The cover picture is a cute shrug called the Mei-Mei. My daughter in Law loves shrugs and looks so cute in them that I thought this was the perfect gift for her. Pink is also her favorite color, so it had to be pink. I made the extra small, using a J hook, but it came out more like a size 8, I would say. I made my sample for guage but I think I loosened up a bit as I went along. But the nice thing about this project is it has a SC border that the pattern suggests you do in a smaller hook, that snugs it up a bit. I could've 'snugged it up' a bit more for Lindsey, but it was a surprise and I didn't have her as my model. She says it still fits her and claims to love it so I'm happy. I started it about noon one day, and it was done about 7pm. Of course, I'm not really addicted to crochet (she says sheepishly) so I actually did get up a time or two in that 7 hour period. One thing I do wish about this project. I wish I had spent more on the yarn and gotten a mohair, or something with a natural fiber that would have allowed better blocking and shaping. What I did use was still a pleasure to work with, it's just all acrylic so it's limiting in the shaping department.


Oh, and I did make the button closure. I forgot to leave a spot for a buttonhole so I did attach the buttons, but still followed the elastic beaded closure that Ms. Chan describes. It was so easy and made it all look so pretty!

I have also started another project from the book. At this point it's still a "Jewel", but from here I can decide to make a "Runaround" or a "No Sweat" or a combination of all of them.

Don't be intimidated by the beauty of the designs in this well made book. You CAN do it! If you are like me, you will really love this book!

Taking a Break from Everything!

Have Fun! If you enjoyed this game, let me know by leaving a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

For more Word Whomp go to Pogo to play 100s of Free Online Games!

For more Word Whomp go to Pogo to play 100s of Free Online Games!

Ravelry has turned me into a crocheting maniac!

crochet, crochet, yarn, yarn, yarn, crochet

Yes, I do mean it. Before ravelry, I was content to crochet on a project for a little while, set it in 'the box' and pick it up in a few days, months, (or years as the case may be). Every year I would do a few scarves, maybe a pair of slippers, do a granny square or two. But now - I see all the wonders that a hook can do in everyone's wonderful pictures, and I have a list a mile long of what I want to do. It's as if my record's stuck - (does that age me?). I can be happily walking down a block, doing important stuff, and I'll see a plant blooming and think, 'hmm, would my new project look better if I photograph it hanging on that? Speaking of photos, what have I finished lately? Well, hold on, I've done a lot:

On my needles (and hooks): I finished my Pioneer Bag. I started it in Portland, OR last Feb while visiting my daughter but since the last felting I did turned out a bit wonky (and still waiting for me to revise) I kind of put it on hold. Then I decided who it was for and what I wanted to do with it and I was off! It's done, pictured above and set to be sent to Tesia ... along with...

On my hooks: I finished another Lacy Top Cardigan by Doris Chan. I heard of a wonderful

yarn while listening to the podcast nevernotknitting, dyed organic cotton, and I knew this is what would work for Tesia, my 'green' girl. Well I didn't know the pleasures of working with this wonderful cotton. It feels like hmm, a cloud? yes that's it. It feels so soft, like what you would picture a cloud to feel like. It's from Blue Sky Alpaca, dyed organic Cotton and if you go to http://www.nevernotknitting.com/ she has a link to a shop that for this month is offering a special to her blog readers. And have a listen while you're there - you won't be disappointed.

Also, I made my dil, Tiff, the same top and this time it only took me 2 days (or evenings). Wow, it was fast and fun. This one I made from some Vanna's choice in my stash. I wish I had bought more of the organic cotton to make hers from this. In the picture it's blocking, which I've discovered fixes a lot of shaping quirk's. Blocking is not my favorite but I'm learning is about the most important part of the end presentation! and it's not as hard as I've always thought.

On my pegs: Yes, still the sock. But I did work on it at the Dr.s office - amid oohs and ahhs about how 'great' it was and 'how do I get one of those' so that was fun.

I have new projects to start - a gift for ... shhh, she doesn't know yet ... and for ... oh, and she doesn't know either, but the yarn feels yummy and I can't wait to finish to show you all!

On my pegs: I want to make a pair of socks. Yes, socks. So I saw this loom - it has to be easier than knitting, right? Well, the claim is made that it helps people who have pain, like arthritis and such - so this must be for me! I bought the loom used, $20.00 - good deal. I bought the sock yarn at our friendly local yarn shop - about $8.00. I figured I'd fly through the first pair and want to make a second right away so I bought enough for a 2nd pair. Two skeins, nice yarn, about $5 each. So far I have about $38.00 into my new sock making career! Well, that was over a month ago and I really do work on them. Did you know that it takes about an hour to loom 1 inch of sock? Yes, it does. For me anyway. Can it really take that long to use knitting needles to knit one? Well, I have made progress. I have done the heel and am halfway to the toe, of the first one, that is. That is the beginning saga of my $38.00 pair of socks, or sock as the case may be.