Hopster

New Blog Post at the WordPress blog.

You can see more of this guy:

New Post

Head on over to my wordpress for a new post all about grannys and how cool they can be.

New Post

New Post over at thecraftyhooker.wordpress.com!

I'm movin'!

Not away from Ann Arbor... but over to WordPress. Blogger has been a little too glitchy for me as of late. So go on over to thecraftyhooker.wordpress.com and there you shall find me.

Toodle loo!

photo from protonepedals.com

Mrs. Beans Famous Nutmeg Ginger Apple Snaps

My favorite movie of all time is probably Chicken Run. But in the last five years, my favorite move has been: The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

That movie is spectacular for so many reasons that to speak of them would be too much for this blog alone. But in one scene, two of the wee foxes come upon a batch of Mrs. Bean's Famous Nutmeg Ginger Apple Snaps.

I have discovered this recipe, thanks to Mario Batali (my favorite Iron Chef thank you very much) who wrote the recipe.

I used salted butter when the recipe called for unsalted and I didn't use 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger like I was supposed to, I only used 1. This recipe made... a gazillion cookies too which is always a positive.

So anyway, these cookies are pretty awesome. And by pretty awesome I mean EXTREMELY awesome. And now I am going to eat them. All.

for more info on The Fantastic Mr. Fox and more on the cookie recipe go to: rushmoreacademy.com

Look what my mom made

She totally showed me up...

Finished Products

Winter in the midwest... Oh how I dream of spring...

But now to happier thoughts! Like... my finished projects! Hooray!!! Exclamation Points!!!

First is my wine colored cap. Its long and its warm, but its not what one might call... cute. Its definitely comfortable and on those cold -13 degree days it does the job. Its just not gonna win any fashion prizes. Ever.

I loved working with the yarn though. Its the first time I've worked with bulky Cascade. The yarn is soft, but still has some body to it, which means its nice on the hands, and it doesn't just flop over. I did screw up the decrease, when I dropped a stitch and then picked it up with the wrong DPN, but my mom told me no one will notice so... fingers crossed.

I also finished the cutest damn baby hat ever. Working with teeny tiny metal hooks was really

rough on my fingers. I think my index fingers are bruised on the ends. I also had to give up on my scottish yarn when, while at a very bizarre superbowl party, literally ripped a stitch in half. Disheartened, I ripped the whole thing out, which was stupid but alas.

So instead of I used my sport weight Cascade in turtle and a dusty brown. This yarn was much stronger and just like it's chunky brother, was still very soft. It held up to my super, stitch ripping powers and still looks very cute. I like the color combo too.

And now to make some baby booties to match the hat!

Double the Double Points

I'm sure you heard about this snow storm that just hit Michigan (and like... 30 other states...). It was pretty weak up in Ann Arbor. In Chicago they got like 20 feet (I may be exaggerating), here we got closer to 5 inches.

So while everyone was flipping out, pulling their hair and generally acting like the world was coming to a close, I was spinning yarn and knitting. It was a nice alternative, let me assure you.

First up, my husband's cousin is having a little baby boy in

May which means... baby hats! Baby hats are so much more awesome than adult hats because they take half the time and they are so much cuter.

I'm using a pattern I got on Ravelry from Ulli S. Shibuya, of pure handmade. If you ever want to see an amazing tumblr go there. Its positively gorgeous.

Anyway, this hat is pretty simple and extra lovely and the yarn that I'm using is all the way from Scotland (care of my best friend who resides in said country). Its St. Magnus DK weight (from Orkney Angora). Its 50% angora and 50% wool and from Orkney Scotland so I feel super special using it.

Hopefully the little bugger likes his hat. Luckily it wont really matter if he likes it or not, it only matters that his mom does.

The other hat I am working on currently (cuz you have to have 2 projects at once... its like an unspoken rule) is made from my all time favorite yarn company - Cascade. I'm using the bulky variety in a gorgeous shade of red/burgundy/wine.

I'm using my bamboo needles from Hiya Hiya. How lovely. I like how earthy the wood feels, and these needles slide just enough so you don't have to yank the yarn, but you also don't have to worry about the yarn slipping off. I have put stoppers on the ends though, just to make sure that nothing catastrophic happens and I don't end up crying.

I like the feel of this hat already. It heavy and warm and the yarn is going to be gorgeous knit up like this. Well hopefully. Unless I drop a stitch and then start cursing and throw it at the wall.

Lastly today, I spun a little. A little off subject, but has anyone ever tried looking up a spinning

class and just found a ton of bike classes and gym ads? I always forget that not everyone in the world is looking for yarn related items. Jeeeeez google... don't you know that when I type something into your search engine its more than likely related to yarn...?

Anywho, I just started spinning in November and I haven't been the most dedicated student, but I decided today (after reading my friend Mandy's blog) that I should probably get back to work. My work isn't nearly as gorgeous as hers, and my yarn is a little uneven, but I'm getting the hang of it. Hopefully someday I can spin all my own yarn, on my own farm, in the middle of Idaho/Utah/Montana. That will be awesome.

Til then, I guess I'll keep knitting that baby hat....

Double Pointed Needles

I have tackled circular needles and I have used my straight needles to my best ability, and now I have attempted the scariest needle of all: Double Pointed Needles.

I have stayed away from these sinister looking tools for as a long as I possibly could. But then my mom and I were video chatting and she taught me from thousands of miles away how to knit a third way.

I have no plan with this lavender yarn, but I am enjoying playing with my new needles.

In case you were lookin for a pair of nice needles, Hiya Hiya Bamboo 6 mm needles are what I am using. I also really like using turbo circular needles (in case you were curious).

Now, the whole reason why I wanted to learn how to use DPNs is so I could start to use Lee Meredith's patterns to make my own sweet hats. So hopefully, now that I am feeling more confident, I can start knitting cooler things.

Bitches Get Stitches

I love blogs. They brighten my day and make fiber worth knitting and crocheting. So when I found Bitches Get Stitches a couple months ago, my week, no wait, my life was instantly a little brighter.

Steven is super sassy, and his work is gorgeous. He's a yarn snob and he's not shy about telling you about it. He takes beautiful photos, and he gets to go to NYC, Rhinebeck, Blue Moon Fiber Arts. In short, I am jealous of both his skills and his travels.

If you're in search of a witty blogger who updates constantly, will make you laugh, and will inspire you to blog more often, go take a peek at his blog.

In other news, my hat is still coming along. Its slow work, but I haven't given up yet, so I can still be proud of myself.

I also enrolled in a ceramics class and a painting class at the junior college by my house and today was my first day. Although I think the next few months will be a little messy... I think they'll be creative so that's a positive.

Its currently snowing like crazy outside and my dog is staring at the falling flakes as if they will run away from him and play fetch. I think he's getting cabin fever....

Warm and Happy Cable Love

I feel like I need to apologize to Ann Arbor for being too cruel in my last post. Its not so bad here. Though its flat and gray, the lack of winter time activities leaves lots of time for me to crochet which I can't really complain about at length.

I thought I'd update my photos, like I said I would. I also think I should update you on what's on my hook(s).

I am working on another Alpine Cables hat from Special Techniques in Crochet. I absolutely adore this pattern. Its complex and complicated and so much fun to make.

I think you can probably gather from my writings that I am obsessed with cables. I have learned to knit cables, and while they are incredibly easy, there is something so fascinating (and might I add, warm) about crocheting a cable. I like that I can actually see my cables getting moved around. Its like a puzzle, fitting together.

Plus, if you're using Cascade 220 in Turtle green, its so easy to get intoxicated by the whole process. Cables are like magic to me. Warm, yarny magic.

SLC Visit

As you know, I moved cross country to the fabulous Ann Arbor, MI (and I mean fabulous with all the sarcasm I can muster...).

Well my parents randomly moved to SLC right after I moved away from it. This is actually kind of awesome, because now I can always return to my beloved Utah (and no folks, I'm not LDS. I know you were thinkin' it). So I spent 10 days in the gorgeous blue skied, and 2 foot of powder covered, Utah.

And of course I visited Blazing Needles. If you live anywhere near Salt Lake City, UT and you haven't been to Blazing Needles, you are seriously missing out. This shop is my favorite place to buy yarn. Great selection, great people, great prices. I mean seriously. Could you ask for more?

Obviously I bought a TON of yarn. Mmm. Makes me so happy.

First and foremost I stocked up on Cascade. I bought 220, 128 bulky and sport weight yarns and I'm still completely in love with this yarn.

I also bought the last of the Lambs Pride they had. I guess they're clearing the brand out of their shelves, which is fine cuz I got it for 5 dollars and I have every intention of making a felted purse with it.

I also bought some baby alpaca by Mirasol called Miski. I love this yarn. Its heavenly and soft and really easy to work with. Its thick too, not sport weight which is often what I find with alpaca. If you can find this yarn at your local shop, I'd invest in a skein (or 3 like I did). I made Pete's nana a cabled hat for Christmas, like I told her I would last year. I suck, but at least I'm trying not to.

I would have put up more pictures (believe me, I took them) but Blogger is destroying my life currently. I've tried to post this 3 times over 3 days and have failed every time because of the site. Why do you hate me blogger??

Stay tuned for more pictures....

photo from Blazing Needles

FAQ

So I'm planning a new post all about my Utah vacation, but I thought I'd drop a real quick blog post since it's been 2 weeks since my last update.

I updated the last post, so the last few rows are correct. Sorry about any confusion with that. Anytime you see something like that, please don't hesitate to let me know! So thanks Awesome 4 for keeping me straight.

As far as resources go for learning to crochet and read patterns, the best bet for me was reading the back of a Crochet Today magazine and finally looking at drawings and a breakdown of abbreviations and stitches. It took me from a basic crocheter into a much more advanced one. You can always go to Ravelry.com and Crochetme.com for more resources. Ravelry's message boards are great and the people on there are pretty great.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm always on the computer, so I'll get your message and get right back to you!

-Sarah

picture from tmonews.com

What an interesting hat

So the other night I was all like "I wanna make a hat... Ravelry, show me a hat to make!" and Ravelry said... No.

So I was frustrated and decided, screw you Ravelry and your lack of hats to make instantly, I'll make my own.

Ta Dah! This crocheted hat is a bottom up hat, but with a sweet brim!!

This pattern is pretty simple, I'm not going to lie to you. But I think the end result is like a knitty/crochet-y hat. Want the pattern? Huh? Ok!

Notions:

Yarn: Worsted

Hook: H or however you can achieve the right size for your noggin. Yarn needle.

Abbreviations: st - stitch ch- chain ss- slip stitch sc- single crochet sc2tog- single chain 2 together.

Rd 1: Ch 5

Rd 2: Sc in each ch, ch 1 and turn (5 st)

Rd 3: Sc in back loop only, ch 1 and turn (5 st)

Rd 4-60: Sc in back loop only, ch 1 and turn (5 st)

*Note- you can always crochet more rows if you have a bigger head. I used malabrigo yarn which is a loose wool so I only needed 60 rows. But if you use more rows, you'll have to tweak the decrease, send me an email and I'll help you out with that should you need the assistance.

Rd 61 (This is the joining row!) Hold both ends together and ss to join rd 1 to rd 60. Do not fasten off, turn the brim inside out (which is now right side out) ch 1 and turn.

Rd 1: 1 sc at the base of the ch 1, and sc in each st. ss to join, ch 1, turn (60 st)

Rd 2: sc in each st. ss to join, ch 1 turn (60 st)

Rd 3-15 (or more if you need): sc in each st. ss to join, ch 1 turn (60 st)

Rd 16: sc in next 8 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (54 st)

Rd 17: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (54 st)

Rd 18: sc in next 7 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (48 st)

Rd 19: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (48 st)

Rd 20: sc in next 6 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (42 st)

Rd 21: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (42 st)

Rd 22: sc in next 5 st, sc2tog, Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (36 st)

Rd 23: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (36 st)

Rd 24: sc in next 4 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (32 st)

Rd 25: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (32 st)

Rd 26: sc in next 3 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (24 st)

Rd 27: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (24 st)

Rd 28: sc in next 2 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (18 st)

Rd 29: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (18 st)
Row 30: sc in next 2 st, sc2tog. Repeat 5 more times. ss to join, ch 1 turn (12 st)
Row 31: sc in each st, ss to join. ch 1, turn (12 st)

At this point in my hat, I fastened off and left a long tail. I then took a yarn needle and sewed loosely through each st around and then pulled the tail tight, bringing the hat together without that funny cone effect that sometimes happens with bottom up crochet hats. You can always just continue the decrease as well, whatever makes you happy.

Anywho, I hope you like my pattern! And I hope it works. Send me an email if you have an issue, or just leave me a comment. I'm pretty quick about answering.

Now to pack, so I can go home to the mountains for Christmas!

Ze Bag is Done

So after a solid week of crocheting away, I finished the bag I started last week. And it is all kinds of awesome.

I loved working with this pattern. I get bored super easily with single crochets over and over again. But this pattern was constantly moving, so I never got tired of it.

The one drawback to this pattern is how much yarn it takes to complete. The ravelry page says it takes 900 - 1000 yards of yarn. Ugh... But if you don't mind it, you can totally make it a scrap bag. I just went into the yarn cabinet and grabbed all the yarns I had that kinda went together (except that blue/yellow on the bottom, don't know where that came from....) and went to town with it.

The other great part about the bag is the strap. Its thick and continues the bobble pattern so it doesn't hurt your shoulder and it goes with the bag seemlessly.

Now I am off to bake all afternoon. Wish me luck with my Grandma Kolberg's wicked hard gingerbread recipe!

Bobblin' along

I've needed a new bag for awhile (I'm still using the purse that was my very first pattern). So I took to Ravelry to hunt for a good pattern.

I found this one: The Bobbling Along Aran Tote. Its super super cute and just complicated enough to keep my interest.

The pattern starts off really really hard to understand, and you will curse at it. In fact, after yelling at it and starting it 6 times, Pete told me I wasn't allowed to do it anymore, but I gave it one last shot and finally got it. Once you get into the groove with it, it goes by really fast and its a very easy pattern. As with all crochet patterns, this is a total yarn eater. I'm using scraps of yarn from my cabinet to make this guy, so it'll be a little mixed up but thats the way I like 'em.

In other news, I bought a sweet candle at Cost Plus today and now my house smells like a wicked awesome Christmas tree farm.

Walkin' the Dog Cowl

So while I was walking Cody this morning in the howling MI wind, I was thinking about how nice it would be to have a cowl around my face. So when I got home, and I finished my morning chores, I sat to work on a new project.

A cowl is essentially a scarf, but its also kind of like a hood and its

quite nice for winter mornings with the dog. Now last year, my mom sent me a care package full of yarn and inside was Lion Brand's Thick and Quick super bulky. I've been sitting on this yarn for awhile, and this seemed like the perfect project for it.

I used The Crimson Owl's Convertible Cowl pattern. This blog is adorable by the way. She's not strictly about yarn, she's more about craft in general, and she always has something cool on there.

The pattern is a little wonky on the join. In fact, I got half way through the pattern and realized that I went from 55 stitches to 44 because of the join on every round. I like the way the cowl feels though and its thick and warm and just the right weight. I used 1 1/2 skeins of the thick and quick yarn, and it wasn't quite enough, but I don't know that it matters. In fact, this pattern is so loose that small things like amount of stitches and amount of yarn doesn't really matter. As long as its tube like in the end, you're golden.

I couldn't get my husband to take a good picture of me in the end product to save his life, so I don't have a photo of me. But if you're bored and you're cold you should give this pattern a try. Plus, your neck will thank you on your next walk with the dog.

Knittin' Time

So I know I'm all hook happy and just a little stuck up about knitting... And I know I frequently rant about knitting, knitters, and everything needle-ish.

But I'm also tired of looking at awful, awful crochet patterns, and wondering "What the hell...?" And waiting for Interweave Crochet to come out, only to have the 'Carmen's Jazz Scarf' on the cover. What is wrong with the crochet world that this scarf is on the cover of our fanciest magazine? WHY?!

Look I'm all for motifs and funny colors, but no one in their god damn mind is going to wear this scarf. Unless you're 80. And if you're 80, then go ahead and stitch this, but, there is a whole new generation of fiber lovers out there and if crochet mags keep putting this crap on the cover, we'll never grow.

--End Rant--

Anywho... I started knitting because I want to make the cute patterns that I see on Ravelry all the time. I started by using wooden straight needles and just started knitting a scarf-y thing. After doing this for a week, I got the hang out of it, and I started to be able to read the stitches so I thought "Hat time!" Enter the "Regular Guy Beanie" from Yarnman Knits.

This hat is meant for double point needles and I used circular, but in the end, it came out really cute and with very little cursing. I used Vanna's Choice yarn (and by the way, knitting takes waaaay less yarn), so I could see the stitches well. If you're an avid crocheter and you're going needle-y, its important to learn to read your stitches before you throw yourself into a pattern and using a yarn you can see well is absolutely necessary.

And now I'm working on knit hat #2. I'm using Malabrigo yarn (drrrrroooooool). I'll keep you updated!

photo: Interweave Crochet

Hello again!

Alright, I know its been a long time since I've updated; but to be fair, I moved across the country...

I am now officially an Ann Arborite. Which is a pretty significant change from the Rocky Mountain Wonderland that is Salt Lake City, UT. There are no mountains here and while there is a blizzard raging against the Wasatch Front, its sunny and brisk here in the Great Lakes region.

Two months after we moved to Ann Arbor, my lovely man friend and I went to California and got ourselves hitched, and that was pretty life changing too. It was a very successful marriage and the weather was beautiful.

All this life changing stuff made it really hard to update the ol' blog. But don't think that I wasn't hooking and knitting and spinning. That's right... I was knitting too. Because I have no friends in Ann Arbor, I decided that my new best friend would be fiber.

First and foremost, I ventured into the land of home decorations and made a curtain for our kitchen. Living in an apartment complex is really f-ing depressing, and Pete and I didn't even have furniture until October, so anyway, I decided that yarn would make my kitchen feel better and it did.

I got it out of Special Techniques and Stitches and it worked up really really fast (I

actually crocheted it during my lunch breaks at work). It was a pretty easy pattern, but it did eat up a lot of yarn.

When I was done in the kitchen, I decided the try my luck at a new hat. Its pattern that's always evaded my understanding and patience, but I was feeling stubborn...

Its the Lattice Hat, by Sarah Arnold. Its a really unique pattern, and the hat you end up with is thick and oh so warm. But you have to really read the pattern. It gets a bit tricky when you first start to lattice, but once you pick up the pattern its easy and very quick. This is a yarn eater too, so make sure you have a lot before you start in on it.

The pattern also calls for an H hook for the body and a G for the ridge, but I went one hook bigger because 1) I have a huge head and 2) I crochet on the tight side. If you're a little looser, then by all means go with an H, but I would gauge this one out if you don't know your hooks terribly well.

Finally I went into Christmas land right around Turkey day and made Pete and I

Lauren Osborne's Stuffable Stockings to spruce up the fireplace. I got the Pattern from Crochet Today, and while their patterns tend to walk down the cliche road, this one is cute and not stab your eyes out with a blunt object annoying.

I used scraps from my yarn shed and they came out very nicely. When I did the first one it took me a solid five minutes to figure out why my sewing was being so annoying. I then realized I am left handed. And being left handed means sometimes (always) your patterns come out backward. So if you're crocheting on the left side of life, don't get disgruntled, and take a deep breath before you start to sew.

Anyway, I think that's all the space I have right now. But don't fret my friends, I will be updating regularly again! Being alone in the midwest makes fiber arts 1000x more important.

Keep on hookin'!

Wallets!

So I'm feeling a bit under the weather but I wanted you to see my newest creations. They're wallets! The blue and the multicolored ones use a basket weave stitch which is a really easy stitch but it makes amazing patches. The brown is just a back stitch crochet but I still like it.

Sorry this won't be longer but I'm afraid I'm allergic to SLC... Ugh...