sunflower granny square

Granny squares are so fantastic to make, I adore them. They're pretty much the only thing I'm willing to crochet.

This sunflowery one is from the book 99 Granny Squares To Crochet, and it's #97, made from acrylic yarn.

That book has some classic granny squares in it... I think it's a hard book to come across, but if you can find it, get it. There are some great recommendations in it! It's one of my favourite pattern books, when it comes to yarn crafts.

dog sweater drive

I know that this is a crazy time, everyone's knitting and crocheting for the holidays... but, if you happen to have some time and yarn available, dog sweaters would be greatly appreciated!
I'm collecting sweaters of all sizes, preferably for dogs that are 60lbs or less. Here is what I'm looking for:

- the sweater must wrap around the dog's front legs at least, please stay away from 'cape' looking sweaters. Sweaters that cover the chest as well would be ideal.

- use a warm, machine washable yarn. If it's not machine dryable, that's ok, but at least machine washable. Many dogs are rescued in the winter and suffer from frostbite and hypothermia, so a warm fiber content would be needed for these dogs

I would like to be able to create a care package to donate for around the holidays or by the end of this year, if I can, at least 25 sweaters. These will be going to local shelters, in southern Ontario, Canada. Any colour(s) would be great.

If you could help, that would be wonderful. Please contact me for my mailing address, at purplespirit1 <at> hotmail <dot> com (title the email 'dog sweater donation').

I know, again, that it's late in the year and we're all busy, but this would make a great destashing project, if you have some extra yarn laying around the house and you're not sure how to use it up!

cooking & knitting

I don't know why this idea has been stuck in my brain the last few days...

Wouldn't it be neat to have a knitting themed cook book? I, being the knitting dork that I am, thinks so. A few months ago I was watching Martha and saw a woman making knit-looking sweaters out of marzipan and thought that was simply brilliant. But what other knitting and crocheting themed items can be made with food? Is there a special knit-tini? Something involving crocheted spaghetti and meatball pompoms?

Have I completely fallen off my rocker with this idea, or what?

it's been so long since I've crocheted...

Lately, I've only been using my crochet hooks for weaving in ends. I have to admit, it's been a while since I've crocheted anything.

I came across someone destashing a copy of 99 Granny Squares to Crochet, and I remember seeing it when I was working at Lewiscraft once upon a time. To this day I don't know why I didn't pick it up back then. But, I did buy it off this fellow raveller, and finally arrived in the mail today!

I got two squares made - it's #93:

I'm using up some Red Heart Super Saver I have laying around the house to whip these up. I don't have enough to make a full blanket, but I'll do as many as I can with what I have, and if need be, I'll swing by Walmart or something to pick up a few extra balls of these colours to finish it off!

random things that I found, pt 2

The other day I posted a bunch of flickr pics that I found, mostly knit themed, so I thought I'd rummage through the site again to find some other really fun pics, just to see other people's really great creations.

Sundae Crochet is a cleverly made ice cream sundae - yum :) - despite the cooling weather, this I think inspired me to maybe make sundaes for dessert tonight!

Crochet Taffy Apples is another creation by the same artist, also looking decadently deeeelicious!

I love this crocheted Laughing Buddha - fantastically made!

The work that must've gone into these hyperbolic kelp and hyperbolic cacti must've been incredibly time consuming, but they look wonderful.

Now, I never knew this place existed, but there's actually a Crochet Museum out somewhere called Joshua Tree, which I assume would be in Arizona or California or something, which looks like a very fun place to visit! (For sure during the next road trip that DH and I take!)

Spider Dishcloth (crochet)

Materials needed:
- 4.5mm crochet hook, or size recommended on skein band
- 2 skeins of dishcloth cotton, 1 black and 1 white.

Tension: not important for this project

Finished measurements: approx 7.5” wide, 8” tall

Terms used:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
qc – quintuple crochet – do as a double crochet, but wrap yarn around crochet hook 4 times instead of once; crochet yarn through project then first loop, yo and through next two loops repeatedly throughout.

Forming body of spider in center:
With black, ch 25.
1st row: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc 8, twist chain row in front to form an ‘8’ and have 9 sts for the head, 1 hdc in first head ch, 1 dc in each of the next 3 ch, 2dc in 1 sc (top of head), 1 dc in each of the next 3 ch, 1 hdc in last ch of head, continue to dc down chain, 2dc in last chain, join.
2nd row: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in next stitch, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1hdc, 1dc, 2 dc in same stitch, 2 dc, 2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6dc, 2 dc in last dc, join. Finish off.

Forming spider legs:
3rd row: Continuing with black, start yarn at previous row’s hdc just below the neck. Ch 5 for 1st leg; *ch3, 1qc in 2nd dc from last leg*, repeat btwn ’s two more times; ch 10; 1 qc in 5th stitch from last qc, *ch 3, 1qc in 2nd stitch* 3 times, ch 8, 1 hdc in center stitch of head, ch8, join at beginning (1st leg).

For dishcloth granny square webbing:

Join white, and continue with white throughout.
4th row: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc 2 more in previous row’s ch3, *ch2, 3dc in previous row’s ch3* twice, ch2, *3dc, ch2* three times over previous row’s ch10, *ch2, 3dc in previous row’s ch3* three times, ch2, *3dc, ch2* five times, centering 2nd dc in 3rd rep in last row’s hdc, ch2 and join.
5th row: ch5 (counts as 1 dc and 3 sc), *3dc in space, ch3* around, finish with 2dc, join.
6th row: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *ch3, 3dc* once, ch3, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch; *ch3, 3dc* three times, ch3 (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, *ch3, 3dc* twice, ch3 (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, ch3 and join.
7th row: ch5 (counts as 1 dc and 3 sc), *3dc in space, ch3* twice, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, *3dc in space, ch3* four times, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, ch3, *3dc in space, ch3* three times, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, ch3, *3dc in space, ch3* four times, (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in previous row’s 3ch, ch3, 2dc, join.
8th row: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2dc, *ch2, 3dc in last row’s 3ch* twice, ch2, 4dc in last row’s 3ch corner, *ch2, 3dc in last row’s 3ch* five times, ch2, 4dc in last row’s 3ch corner, *ch2, 3dc in last row’s 3ch* four times, ch2, 4dc in last row’s 3ch corner, *ch2, 3dc in last row’s 3ch* five times, ch2, 4dc in last row’s 3ch corner, ch2, 3dc, ch2, join and finish. Weave in ends.

© 2007 by Sabrina Thompson - original design and pictures. Please do not sell pattern or materials made thereof, or copy my pictures. Pattern cannot be distributed for sale, or as a 'free pattern' promotional tool for selling yarn or knitting supplies. If posting Finished Items on personal blogs, please link back to this blog and pattern, thanks. :D

Spider Scrubbie (crochet)

Materials needed:
- a bit of white and black cotton
- 4.5 mm crochet hook
- blunt tapestry needle

Measures: approx 3.5" wide

Stitches used: dc (double crochet), sc (single crochet), ch (chain), dc2tog (double crochet two together)

How to:
with white, crochet 5 sts and join.
row 1: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 9 dc around (10 sts)
row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 19 dc around (20 sts)
row 3: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2dc, 2dc in same stitch, *3dc, 2dc in same stitch* around to end, join. (25 sts)
row 4: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3dc, 2dc in same stitch, *4dc, 2dc in same stitch* around to end, join (30sts)
row 5: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1dc, 2dc in same stitch, *2dc, 2dc in same stitch* around to end, join (40sts)
row 6: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc around
row 7: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1dc, dc2tog, *2dc, dc2tog* around to end, join (30sts)
row 8: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc2tog, *1dc, dc2tog* around to end, join (20sts)
row 9: ch1, dc2tog around to end, join with 1st dc2tog (10sts)
row 10: ch1, dc2tog around to end, join with 1st dc2tog (5sts)
row 11: tie off, leaving at least a 1" tail. Bring yarn through both centers to bind in the middle, knot, and weave in ends. Sc a little handle (10-15sc) through the top if desired.

to make spider:
1) with black yarn, ch20 and join
2) ch1 (counts as 1sc), 9sc, 2sc in 1 stitch, 9sc, 2sc in last stitch, join (22sts)
Tie off and leave a 1.5" string. This chain will form an almond shaped body; use tail to join (in back) center of almond, about 1/3 of the way down. Stitch body to white scrubbie, and use tapestry needle to sew 8 legs from torso to through side of the scrubbie, through the center of it so the bottom of it is hidden into the scrubbie, and back through the torso to continue with the next leg. Continue around and tie off.

© 2007 by Sabrina Thompson - original design and pictures. Please do not sell pattern or materials made thereof, or copy my pictures. Pattern cannot be distributed for sale, or as a 'free pattern' promotional tool for selling yarn or knitting supplies. If posting Finished Items on personal blogs, please link back to this blog and pattern, thanks. :D

lacy crochet squarish dishcloth

(squarish because it looks rectangle once done, but squares after blocking)

terms:
dc - double crochet
ch - chain

Hook: 5mm/H
Yarn: any dishcloth-cotton worthy yarn, preferably variegated or ombred for kicks
Finished Measurements: 8" x 8"
Tension: 20sts = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch

1) Ch 32 sts. Turn.
2) 1 dc in second ch, dc across in each ch. (31sts) Turn.
3) Ch 1, 1 dc in each of the first 3 sts, *ch1 skipping over 1 dc, 1 dc in the next dc* across to last 4 sts, ch1, 3 dc. Turn.
4) Ch1, 1 dc in each of the first 2 sts, *ch1 skipping over 1 dc, 1 dc in the next ch* across to the last 2 sts, ch 1, 2 dc. Turn.
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 until entire piece is 7.75 inches long. Every dc will be done in the previous row's ch through the center of the dishcloth. End with a row 3. Turn.
6) Ch1, dc across last row to finish.

© 2008 by Sabrina Thompson - original design and pictures. Please do not sell pattern or materials made thereof, or copy my pictures. Pattern cannot be distributed for sale, or as a 'free pattern' promotional tool for selling yarn or knitting supplies. If posting Finished Items on personal blogs, please link back to this blog and pattern, thanks. :D

a scrunchie dishcloth

It's been a while since I crocheted, and missed it. Thankfully I came across this Spiral Scrubbie pattern which is just too cute, IMO. And, it's a great way to use up more of my cotton! I made this one in an ombred green with the intention of gifting it to my MIL, who loves green.

Pattern adjustment: I crocheted the entire thing in hdc instead of sc, because I loathe doing single crochet stitching! It's not much bigger than the one in pattern, around 4" across.

I made this hat for my brother

From this pattern I made this hat for my brother - he requested it over a year ago but I was unable to find the pattern until recently, via ravelry. The only change is that I crocheted the head part instead of seed stitch. Tee hee, and it fits me too :D (This was done precautionarily in case he didn't want it.)

Help Make Blankets AND Win Stuff 2008!

I have this originall posted here, for the sake of reference. Be sure to email me at purplespirit1{at}hotmail{dot}com with email titled '8 inch squares' or 'charity blanket' for my mailing information so you can send the squares. I'm now accepting squares measuring 8 through 10 inches.

I'm still looking for knit or crochet squares. I have started a few blankets, although they need to be finished. I'm trying to peice together same- or similar-coloured squares to have matching blankets, so more squares are needed.

These completed blankets are going to be donated to local shelters in the Toronto area. I'm also planning some road trips to visit friends in Edmonton, Alberta and Kelowna B.C. some time in the future, so some completed blankets will be taken with me on these trips and donated to local shelters in those towns as well.

Contest: Every 3 months in 2008 (March, June, September, & December) I'll do a random draw for people who've sent me 5 squares in the same envelope. That person will win a knitting-or-crocheting themed prize valued at around $20. Every 5 squares that you include in your envelope will add your name again into the draw. (So, if you send 25 squares, you'll get your name in the draw 5 times for that 3 month period.) If you want your name re-entered in the next 3 month draw, send another 5 squares. Be sure to include your name, email, blog address, and full address so I can send your prize, if you win. At the end of the year, I'll include everyone's name who has not won that year but has sent their minimum 5 squares for a second prize, valued at around $15. (I haven't decided yet what the prizes will be, but I promise it'll be good and knitting or crocheted themed.)

Warmth is needed. Every knitter and crocheter has scraps. There's that one pestering ball of yarn that you just don't know what to do with. Those can be made into squares. Please destash your scraps, combine 2 or 3 colours or different yarns together to make ecclectic squares.

The type of yarn(s) you use is not important. Neither is/are the colour(s). Nor the tension. I don't care if it's sock yarn or the bulkiest chunkiest yarn in your stash, or anything in between, it can be made into a square.

Basic knit square pattern: Check your yarn's knit gauge over 4". Using recommended needles, double it so you're knitting across 8". Stockinette stitch the whole square or knit every row until you've reached 8" long, then cast off.

Recommended 8" Square Patterns, Knit or Crochet

(although feel free to use your own too!)

log cabin square 9", knit

knit 9 inch square

cabled knit 9 inch square

some sort of lacey-leafy 9 inch knit square

interesting cabled 9 inch square

cabled border 9 inch square

another granny in the middle square 8", crochet

arches 8", crochet

circle of friends 8", crochet

stained glass 8", crochet - great if you've got variegated yarn

circle in a square make the 8" version, crochet

daisy in a square also 8", crochet

Again, feel free to make the design you wish. I just put these in as easy-access links to this partigular blog. Prizes will be distributed as long as I get a minimum of 2 people sending me 5 squares before end of march, june, september and december of '08, starting today. So get stitching. Post your questions and comments below. Extra scraps you have beyond this that are sent will help stitch squares together.

eco-holiday/destash yourself

I've been wanting to write an eco-knitting/crocheting themed post for a while, and I figured now's as good of a time as any. Y'know, since those gosh-darned holidays are coming up. So, here we go:

seven ways to green yourself this holiday season

(and still knit or crochet)

1. Go through your current yarn stash and knit it. If you're like me and virtually any other knitter or crocheter, you've got way too much stash as it is. With less than a month to go (eek!) now's the ideal time to reduce your stash. Knit 10 scarves. Or 10 pairs of wrist warmers. Or ten hats. Entirely out of your stash, no store bought stuff. Set a goal to have these 10 items done within 2 weeks and you'll not only alleviate your stash, but you've got 10 gifts already made for the holidays.

2. Don't buy extra needles or hooks. One (or one pair) of each size is all you need. Buying extra needles and hooks means that more new ones (all made from new materials by the way!) are going to be made. REUSE your needles. If need be, finish your WIP's in order to move on to the next project with those needles.

3. Look for eco yarn. Organic stuff. Yarn made from recycled materials. Every once in a while, your LYS will have it. Substitute that for whatever yarn your pattern calls for, if you can.

4. Minimize the yarn you need to buy by looking for the maximum amount of yardage. If you can buy 7 skeins instead of 10, that's 3 fewer yarn labels that need to be made for that project. I know that Walmart sometimes carries those 1lb bags of yarn, check those out to see if you can use that for a project.

5. Recycle packaging. All those pesky yarn labels, plastic bags, and casings that your knitting supplies come in, make sure they get in the blue box.

6. Rummage through thrift stores and garage sales. Once in a while, they'll have craft supplies. One knitter's surplus is another knitter's treasure. Also, check out what ugly sweaters can be frogged into new beautiful clothes.

7. Save your scraps. All of your partial balls of yarn can be blended together to make ecclecticly striped scarves, hats, and blankets. (Interesting tidbit: the origins of granny squares comes from using up scrap yarn to make afghans!)

There's much more beyond this, but this is a good start for now. Go through these as often as possible to make your knitting and crocheting ecological, and save some money in the process.

I just listed these three auctions:

purple PopCorn yarn lot x3
Bernat Galaxy yarn lot x 4

Bernat Chunky yarn lot x 3

Shipping discounts (in addition to combined shipping) are listed with each auction, so anyone who's looking at stocking up on yarn, now and with these auctions would be a good time to do it. I'm hoping that with at least one or two of these auctions, it'll help relieve some of the huge inventory I have in my store.

Thanks for looking!

closin' up (ebay) shop

Well, hasn't it been a while since I posted! I've been very preoccupied with finishing kitchen renovations (honest to goodness this time that it's almost done!) + ravelry's been keeping me very busy!

So, my news: I'm starting to grow out of ebay, and will be closing my ebay store towards the end of December. Beyond December, I haven't decided what I'm going to do just yet, but in the meantime, I need to clear out as much of the yarn inventory I have in there. My store's link (again) is: www.stores.ebay.ca/Knits-Yours-Knot-Mine

If you know anyone who's interested in stocking up on yarn either for projects for this upcoming holiday season or in the near future, now's the time to pick it up. I don't charge handling fees, just the cost of shipping, because 95% of my packaging is reused (clean) boxes - very eco-friendly.

I'm pretty good at getting boxes out within 2 or 3 days of purchase, and ship world wide. If you happen to live locally and want to save on shipping, local pick up can be arranged within a few days of purchase! Let me know! Take a gander!

mmm... pizza....

This is what happens when mindless hands, excessive acrylic yarn, and crochet hooks do when they come together:
I finally broke into the 4000 mark on the ravely waiting list:

You signed up on July 14, 2007
You are #16435 on the list.
4961 people are ahead of you in line.
14862 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far

I'm not sure what else to write about today. I've begun knitting my first pair of socks for christmas, my goal is to have at least 3 pairs done between now and the end of november to send to my parents and grandmother. Kind of make a dent in the box of sock yarn I have. Realistically, it may not get done, but who knows.

My kitchen renovations are practically done. The breakfast bar has to be finished, and the walls painted, some minor electrical work has to be completed, but otherwise, we're set. Cosidering that we've been doing this since April, I'm thankful of where we are right now.

Dealing with DirectBuy has not been easy - I know I haven't vented about this in my blog but it's just a whole messy ball of wax that I don't feel like getting into on here. Let's just say that it's gotten to the point where we've had to contact their head office and in the process of dealing with the Better Business Bureau. Oh, and we've currently had to go out of pocket $600 via DirectBuy due to their being absolutely impossible, and another $200 shopping @ Home Depot and Ikea to finish the last bits of the kitchen that should've been taken care of by DirectBuy. It's just madness. But I digress.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of vegging at home - yay!

crocheted fingerless mitts - again!

i just finished crocheting these yesterday - I love making them because they're not only a great way to use up less than 1 ball of yarn, but I can whip up a pair in less than one day! (and they're great for keeping my hands warm! woot!)

International Knitter/Crocheter Yarns-n-Stuff Exchange

Edited June 11th: The swap will only exchange 1 box, not two. If, though, you wish to swap two boxes, please email me to let me know, otherwise I'll assume that you only want to swap one package.

Be prepared to send out 2 boxes, and in return receive 2 boxes! This swap is open to ANYONE living in ANY COUNTRY!

Well, the goal is 2 boxes per person. Each person will receive 2 names and addresses, + info of that person (answers to questionnaire). I will do my best to pair up knitters with knitters & crocheters with crocheters, although a crocheter may end up swapping with a knitter and vice versa.

3 rules of swap:
1) You must have an active blog where you post a minimum of 3x a month
2) You must mail out both packages on time or you’ll be banned from future swaps
3) You must answer the questions below to the best of your ability, so that whomever has you has a good idea of what to send you
4) Package value: $20 not including postage, or whatever $20 is equal to in your currency from wherever you’re from ($20 CDN or US)
5) Packages MUST include at least 2 balls of yarn of any kind, + whatever else you deem interesting to fill up the package.

Upon receiving your packages, please post on your blog! Be sure to mention and plug your sender’s blog as well in thanks. Keep in mind that we’ve all put our best effort in putting these swaps together, so despite whether you got what you wanted or not, give your sender a positive plug anyway! It’s a big effort!

Swapped boxes should include the yarn, as posted for rules - otherwise, you're free to fill the boxes as you wish with gifts and treats, based on the answers you receive in the questionnaire or whatever else inspires you.

Questionnaires, emails, addresses, etc must be submitted within one email by SATURDAY JUNE 16, 2007 and not a day later! Everyone will get their swapping partners by Wednesday, June 20th/07. Both packages must be sent out by Saturday June 30th/07, and hopefully received by July 31st/07. THIS IS NOT A SECRET PAL SWAP, just a regular swap :)

Email me (purplespirit1 {at} hotmail {dot} com) & copy/paste this questionnaire & the answers: (title email Swap Exchange please!)

Knitter’s / Crocheter’s Swap Exchange Questionaire

Name & full mailing address including country and postal code: (this info will stay between you, me and the person you're swapping with)
Blog name, URL, & email address:

1. Do you knit, crochet, or both?
2. What other crafts do you enjoy?
3. Do you prefer to swap within your country, within the continent, overseas, or does it matter? (I’ll do my best to keep your swaps to your request in this question, although depending on who signs up, there are no guarantees!)
4. What are your favourite and least favourite type(s) of yarn? Any fiber allergies?
5. What are your favourite colours? Which colours do you dislike/hate?
6. a) What do you enjoy crocheting or knitting the most? b) Do you find yourself knitting more for yourself or for others?
7. What is your favourite scent?
8. Do you prefer coffee or tea?
9. What do you collect? (doesn’t have to be craft related!)
10. Do you have a sweet tooth? What is your snacking related guilty pleasure? (note here if you’ve any food allergies, in case your swap pal wants to send you a treat!)
11. Do you prefer knitting or crocheting with bamboo, aluminum, plastic or other needles or hooks?
12. What is your favourite holiday?
13. Do you subscribe to any knitting, crocheting, or other crafting magazines? If so, which ones?
14. a) Do you spin or dye your own yarn? b) Are you a sock knitter?
15. Do you like receiving handmade gifts?

My Rant Regarding Fiber Snobs

Yes, I knit with acrylic and acrylic blends.

And guess what: I like it!

I'm not always particular about wool. I absolutely will steer away from the yarn that the pattern calls for, if it means that I'll save a couple dollars, the colour is pretty, and as long as the tension is right or close-enough.

Close enough is good enough. You know what? Close enough is even fantastic.

For the last month or so I've bounced myself into a couple of knitting-themed posting boards and chat rooms, and more often than not I get quite the reaction when I dare mention the letters a-c-r-y-l-i-c in that order as a word. Why would you use that stuff? What were you thinking? How dare you, even?

And don't even get me started on using feathery looking yarns like Bernat Boa or any sort of eyelash yarn. Yes, I love knitting with those too. If I can incorporate a row or two of this funky swag into my knits and knots, you better be for damned sure I'm going to.

For those elitists who look down on me from their bamboo-needle-and-mohair-knits towers, I say bah to all of you. The only person who truly cares whether your scarf is wool or an acrylic-wool blend is you.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have my own couple pairs of wooden needles, I've spent the extra couple dollars on a beautiful ball of handspun, hand-dyed alpaca wool. I've knit my share of hat + scarf + glove winter sets out of some beautiful mohair wool. I've scoured my LYS's and throughout online for that one very hard to find brand of yarn and knit a beautiful shawl or two. I've even put the effort into spinning and dying my own yarn and knitting a hat-and-scarf-set of my own from it, and gained a few compliments on it.

But despite that, despite how much I loved knitting with those beautiful yarns and beautiful needles and crocheting with designer crochet hooks, at the end of the day, I still love my tried-and-true aluminum needles and acrylic-wool blends to knit another brightly coloured scarf in a basic stockinette stitch. I'll even knit a few rows of eyelash yarn stripes. It's still warm, it's still unique, it's still handknit, and it even gets compliments.

Do I care, then, if my yarn is bought from Walmart instead of my LYS? Of course not.

...Does it matter that I've picked up a few balls of yarn from the discount bin? No way!

.....Do I care if my yarn is some sort of Himalayan Handspun Organic Mountain Grown Free Range Grande Mocha No-Fat Soy Latte Sheep-Who-Can-Floss-Their-Own-Teeth-And-Can-Read-Aramaic Wool? Naturally, no. Do the Fiber Snobs? Most certainly! And goddess knows I'm going to be condemned for using anything less than that!

So, I guess my point is this: no matter what your level of experience in knitting or crocheting is, enjoy your craft to its full potential, and no matter what you knit with or what tools you use to put it all together, take pride in what you've made.

since it's Friday the 13th...

I've decided to post some random facts about knitting and crocheting... enjoy :)

~ People magazine's "Insider" column reported in early 2001 on a very special baby shower for Camryn Manheim (The Practice) given by celebs and friends. The focal point of the party was a knitting lesson. Friends then each made a six-inch multicolored square for a baby blanket for Manheim
~ Younger women are picking up the craft. Since 1998, there has been a 400% increase in the number of women under 35 years old who crochet and knit
~ 1 out of 3 women knows how to knit or crochet. The number of women who do these crafts increased from 34.7 million in 1994 to 38 million in 2000.
(facts from http://iwpshopinfo.interweave.com/Knits/Judy%20Swartz/knittingfacts.htm)
~ The term sweaters began to be used for knitted pullovers formerly called ganseys or jerseys after they were used for athletic clothes. It is said they were called sweaters because that's what the athletes who wore them did -sweat!
(from http://escproductions.bizland.com/stonesneatstuff/knittingtreasury/index.html)
~ In the medieval Europe hand knitting was an important industry and had developed into an advanced craft by 16th century.
~ The oldest known knitting needles are double-pointed needles. They are normally used in sets of four or five as depicted in a number of 14th Century oil paintings.
(facts from http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/patterns/knitting.html)
~ During World War I President Woodrow Wilson allowed sheep to graze on the White House lawn. When the sheep were sheered, the wool was auctioned off and the proceeds went to the American Red Cross war relief fund.
~ American Red Cross knitters were still supplying the military with wool helmets as late as 1964. The men at remote arctic military outposts like Thule Airbase in Greenland and Goose Air Force Base in Labrador preferred the hand knitted wool helmets to the machine made synthetic varieties supplied by the army. The soldiers claimed that they kept your face warmer, longer in sub-zero temperatures
~ 1946 the North Atlantic Area chapters processed over 3,000 pounds of olive drab wool for the supplementary items for the military.
(facts from http://www.afghansforafghans.org/red_cross.html)
~ The Name "Crochet" comes from the word "crochet" meaning hook in the French language.
~ The Granny Square was orignally published by the Weldon company in London, as a pattern to use up leftover yarn.
(from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/21758/crochet_facts_and_fun_filled_information.html)
~ Wool is comparatively stronger than steel.
~ Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture, and is fire resistant.
(from http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/ansc442/Semprojs/wool/wool_facts.htm)

Duke: O, fellow! come, the song we had last night.
Mark it, Cesario; it is old and plain;
The spinsters and the knitters in the sun,
And the free maids that weave their thread with bones,
Do use to chant it: it is silly sooth,
And dallies with the innocence of love,
Like the old age.

ShakespeareTwelfth Night. Act ii. Sc. 4

a scarf for my husband

This is not only the first item I ever made for my husband (knit/crochet-wise) but also the first item that I've put in any sort of pattern into it.

I was inspired by a sweater with flames on it that was published in the Stitch n Bitch book, which was designed for a guy... the whole car/flames thing, but my husband wouldn't've worn it, despite if I had put the effort into making it or making him wear it.

So, the flame pattern was adjusted a bit, and instead of knit, it got crocheted ~ soleley because I had, at the time, an easier time to change colours with crochet than knit.

Despite it being acrylic (knit with Patons Canadiana) it's warm, largely due to the thick texture that crochet gives, and the fact that the scarf is wide (about 5 or 6 inches).