Confetti For Valentine's Day

A truly unique Valentine's Day begins with this mystery KAL from

I Live On A Farm 

The pattern is free through Ravelry till February 14

Confetti yarn seems to be the rage now--so grab yours soon!

This KAL features an easy to knit, lovely asymmetric triangular shawl worked in panels on a bias. There will be some garter stitch panels, some panels with heart stitch patterns, and some other cool visual interests and textures along the way.

You can knit the small or large version. There are two sizes to choose from: Small requires 1 hank (420 yards) of any Lucky Violet Color Co. fingering weight yarn; Large requires 2 hanks (840 yards).

The KAL will officially begin on Sunday, February 14, 2016 with publication of the first section of the pattern that morning. The first pattern section will be enough information for knitting at least one-third of the small version of the piece.

There will be two additional pattern sections released (for a total of three). Each release will be two weeks apart.

Along Comes The Count and William

Listen while you work is my motto---a good book that I never read before

is in my ears!

and on my time frame too--everywhere I go!

Craftlit

 I was never a Shakespeare fan until I found Chop Bard.  It is time for King Lear.........................

Are Grannys Square?

Franklin Habit is a genius!  Especially when it comes to something we think that is simple as a Granny Square--Who decided to call Grannys Square anyway????

According to a 1946 article attributed to the Oregon Worsted Company, the thrifty women of early America would carefully save scraps of yarn and fiber unraveled from old sweaters and socks.  As these scraps accumulated, they were crocheted into small squares; the colors combined on the whim of the craftsman.  The squares were then sewn together to make a blanket which was both functional and colorful.  Because grandma was no longer up for manual labor, she was often the one to sew the squares together, thus they became GRANNY SQUARES.  Thanks to Yarnaholic Confessions!  

Granny square

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A granny square worked in two colors and seven rounds. Cotton, 4 mmcrochet hook.

A granny square is a piece of square fabric produced in crochet by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade. They resemble coarse lace. Although there is no theoretical limit to the maximum size of a granny square, crocheters usually create multiple small squares (called "motifs") and assemble the pieces to make clothing,purses, Afghan blankets, and other household textiles.

Granny square apparel is a cyclical fashion that peaked in the 1970s. As Stitch 'n Bitch series author Debbie Stoller describes:

If you grew up in the seventies, as I did, you might fear the granny square--if only because, for a while, clothing was made of nothing else. Granny square vests, granny square shorts, granny square hats. Heck, I bet there was some kid out there who was forced to go to school wearing granny square underwear.^[1]

Although particular color and pattern schemes for granny squares change with time, this class of motif is a staple among crocheters. Multicolor granny squares are an effective way to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects and basic granny square motifs do not require advanced skills to execute.^[2]

What Charity Will Want My Knitted Items?

I have so many knitted items that I can't use--what to do with them?

Most are things I've practiced my skills and techniques on.

Some are lace and cables.

There are scarves and hats.

There are a couple of woven scarves.

Now, I'm on the hurt for that perfect charity that will take my items

and put them to good use.

I searched the world all over and came up with this list:

Worldvision

Craftsy

TKGA

List of organizations

Handcrafting For Love

Woolworks

Warm Up America

Do you have your favorite charity that will take knitted items?  Please let me know--I'm always knitting, weaving, etc.

What Are You Spinning?

Through the hands of spinners, the fibers slip easily from roving

to yarn onto the bobbin as it whirls....

There are as many wheels are there are 

spinners.

What are you spinning?

On A Spinner's Back

So many wonderful items that spinners create are worn on their back.  You must turn them around to see their handiwork.  So, during the January spin-in, I went around to take photos of spinner's backs!  You never know what you'll find when they turn around.  Here are a few examples of beautiful creations:

How About Some Color in Your Yarn?

It's time for the vendors to move into The Palms of Destin conference center for our annual

January Spin-in

and they have brought a wide variety of lovely yarns for

our spinners!

The theme for the year is "Cotton Candy" and this 

vendor set her booth with these yummy looking

cotton candy cones!  What a fun way to spin!

Oh my, which one to choose?!

And sock blanks!  Love these!

More blended braids to decide about

Since many are knitters as well as spinners,

this vendor brought wonderful color coordinated scarf kits.

Silk!  Silk! Silk!

We have you covered if you are a weaver!

Just try to choose what to spin this day!

And this is a 'sale' bucket!!

okay, I'm lost in these wonders!

Blends, wool, silk, exotic and yes cotton abound!

And if you are a weaver--the vendors have you covered!

Every year, the last full weekend in January, we sponsor

our January Spin-in.  You must be registered, we do not

allow walk-ins or shoppers.  You come for one day, two days,

or the full four days.  It's fun, learning and sharing time.

No workshops or seminars--just spinners being spinners!