we've all had days like this, right? well, this has been my week... I hate technology.

secondly....

these two are just the cutest! I found this pic on www.youknitwhat.blogspot.com, they're just too cute! and by the by, I find nothing wrong with knitting animals sweaters. Except for cats and goldfish, that's just weird.

what NOT to knit or crochet

http://whatnottocrochet.wordpress.com/ & http://whatnottoknit.wordpress.com/

I've been hooked (*smirk*) on these two sites the last couple of days, accidentally stumbling on them as I was looking for a couple of particular patterns. Even though I agree with some of the monstrosities that have been made and posted, I'm sad to see that there are a few great things there too.

That being said, it must mean one of two things: a) I've bad taste, or b) I'm just being defiant.

Probably a combination of both, although the latter is more likely!

But it got me thinking. With all the things that I've made and given as gifts or worn myself, could any of these things have made it on their lists? I admit, I've spent the better part of my life with a poor sense of style, which mainly came from the fact that I could never afford anything trendy, but has that poor sense oozed into my twenties, and into my knitting?

Am I overdoubting myself?

Ah, who knows for sure. Nonetheless, these two sites have inspired me to find more creative patterns. And yes, I do think that knit Footsie Pillow or crochet Cornecopia are simply kick-ass, and despite how much the bloggers of these sites may dislike all the knit patterns that are posted, at least have the courtesy to tag the pattern to go along with them.

Don't knock kitch. One day it'll grow on you, and those matching camoflauge sweaters and crochet broom covers will be made for everyone on your christmas list!

yay for cables, yay for Stitch n' Bitch book!

Alright, I adore Debbie Stoller's Stitch n Bitch books, there are a few great patterns in all of them. This is my newest creation, it's the cabled hat, although I forget the name of it in the book. I knit this one with black Bernat Berella 4 and Red Heart in grey.

The reason behind my knitting it, is a week ago my husband came home asking me if I had an extra hand-knit touque laying around, because a co-worker friend of his was wearing a hat that day that was falling apart. I didn't have the hat, but I did have extra yarn. I've no idea why I had black and grey yarn in my stash, they're not colours that I would at all knit for myself. But, this became a good excuse to use some of it up!

I love the way cables look on anything, and this is my first official completed project of cables made on circular needles! ~*~ yay! ~*~

fuzzy chemo hats ~ warm, great for sensitive heads, and, obviously, fuzzy!

- When my mom found out she had breast cancer a few years ago, it was a huge shock to all of us - as I would imagine a cancer announcement would be to anyone. But to my family especially, since my mom is one of the healthiest people I know. Luckily, the cancer was removed, and after her doing all her chemo treatment, she has completely recovered from cancer and is now as healthy as ever.
- It wasn't until after her treatment was over had I learned to knit, and not until recently did I discover how to make these fuzzy chemo hats after just doing a google search for knit hats in general. I've knit up a few from some leftover fuzzy yarn I had, and sold them with much success.
- What I didn't expect was the feedback afterwards. The people who wore them - the ones who've lost all their hair due to the chemotherapy - loved them. Not simply because they're colourful and unique, but also because the soft textured yarn is easier to wear on their heads than wigs and some headscarves.
- Since then, I've always whipped up a few and posted them in my ebay store. As sad as it is that we've not yet gotten rid of cancer, at least we've got the techology to help get rid of a lot of it. And little things like a softer head-covering just makes the ride a little easier, right?
www.stores.ebay.ca/Knits-Yours-Knot-Mine if you're interested in ordering any. I currently have these and others in different colours.

crochet market bags

I must admit, I adore market bags.

Very eco, very colourful, very hippie.

Crochet from varigated cotton, probably one of the easiest things to make.

How to: Single crochet a chain long enough to make the width of the bag. From there, dc along the one side of the sc chain, and then dc along the other side of the chain, then join. This forms the bottom of your bag. Dc a few rows at the bottom, to make an inch or two to make a strong base.

The pink one I made 1 dc, then 3 sc all around. The blue/green one was all sc for the body, with every 5th or so sc joined to the last row to hold it all together. Handles can be crocheted any which way.

Easy to wash, durable, unique and environmentally friendly... everyone that I've given one of these to, so far has loved them.

knits for charity

Sorry, no pics for this post.

I just wanted to voluntarily plug this knitting charity: http://www.fireprojects.org/dulaan.htm “The Dulaan Project is a cooperative effort of Flagstaff International Relief Effort (FIRE), Mossy Cottage Knits, and the Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) Buddhist community of Sedona. The project seeks to inspire the generous spirit of the knitting community to help meet the urgent needs of Mongolia's impoverished people.” (quote from site)

I've already collected knit and crochet items made from scraps of yarn from my own basket, as well as collected knit and crochet items that friends, family, and fellow posters from www.hipforums.com had sent me, also made from their yarn leftovers. I sent a box out with a total of 40 items on December 30th, which should go to their next visit to Mongolia during this upcoming summer.

Anyone who knits has yarn leftovers anyway. Combine 3 or 4 colours. Combine 8 different kinds of yarn. Just weave it together somehow and send it to them, they need it.

Out of the 40 items from that package, I think I only made (at most) 15 items, so people in my social circle and at www.hipforums.com, that's a very huge contribution on all their parts, so thanks!

I currently have another box that's 90% full, which I'll easily be able to top up with 1 or 2 more items and send to them.

Knit for your local charities. But, also knit for more impoverish countries. As sad as it is that we have people who are at/below the poverty line in Canada/USA, we at least have the benefit of having things like welfare, food stamps, soup kitchens, good health care, thrift stores etc to help those in need. Countries like Mongolia don't have these priviledges, and their poverty population is considerably higher than ours.

Lava Lamp Cozies

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what happens when you have both too much time and too much yarn on your hands.

The lava lamp cozies on your left were made with a combination of different acrylics, wools, and a teeny bit of fuzzy yarn, and the beastly one on your right was made with some sort of black eyelash yarn & Bernat Matrix, I think the colour was 'wines' or something.