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.

Sorry!!

So I know I've been terrible! No posts in two weeks. Geeeez. So first of all I wanted to update you on the Revolution Hats. Here are two of them. I've made four in all so far and they all have tags on them which is kind of a big deal.

After using Chloe Nightingale's pattern so many times, I have to insist that it's still one of my all time favorite hats. Its a tight gauge and its so warm and cozy, perfect for climbers out in the cold.

I used Cascade Eco Wool which is a really awesome yarn, especially for a project like this. Its a 250 gram skein (478 yards) which is a good hunk of material, so you have to be in love with the color but if you find the right color... this is a great buy.

The second thing I was going to write about was my new stuffed

animals. Just in time for Easter I made a bunny rabbit. I used Vanna's choice which is a good, solid yarn for making stuffed animals.

People keep asking me if he's an amigurumi pattern. That would be a negative because I despise amigurumi patterns. He's my own creation. His name is Percy. I also made a fat little bird too. I haven't come up with a name for him.

Anyway. Sorry it's taken me so long! It won't happen again for awhile. Promise!

Happy Easter!

Wishlist Number 2

Oh how I enjoyed working with you Cascade 128. I used the Cedar and the Turtle. Mmmm.

So I told you guys that I would do a Two Buck Chuck Wishlist. Yeah. I suck. Its been awhile, and now its not in time for Christmas. But its here!

1. Vanna's Choice: So I've gone on at length on the wonders of Vanna's Choice. If you're gonna go cheap that this should be your choice. The colors are vibrant, the yarn is soft and easy to work with. Unlike other acrylic yarns, this one doesn't hurt my fingers when I use it at length. It doesn't itch and it doesn't feel cheap at all. This is the best of the best cheap yarn. In my humble opinion.

2. Sugar and Cream Cotton: So if you're looking for the best yarn for purses, wash clothes, towels and any other creations that needs a lot of sturdy yarn that's still easy to work with and isn't too stiff, this is your yarn! Sugar and Cream was my first yarn. I used a ton of it when my mom was just starting to teach me to crochet. Its great for beginners because you can see your stitches clearly and it holds up and to lots of frogging.

3. Patons: is lovely. Just lovely. My favorite is the Classic Wool. This yarn feels good and its felts really easily. There are some wools that take a few washings to felt up well, but in my experience with Patons, its felts easily. One wash and I have a felted stuffed animal. Which is great when you make a ton of animals and you don't have a lot of time for multiple washings. Its also sturdy. A kid can grab on the leg of your stuffed chicken and yank forever and Patons will stand up to it all, which is a good feeling when you're selling a lot of chickens.

4. Impeccable: This is a good all around yarn. Loops and Threads makes softer yarn, but the Impeccable yarn is great for household goods. Its heavy and thick and so its sturdy. I use it for kids toys because it's washable and durable and drool proof.

5. Knit Picks: So I love Knit Picks (I have some issues with them that I'll rant about later). Its a great site and their Wool of the Andes is by far the most affordable yarn on the site. Its great, if a little rough, but it works up really nice and its felts easily. Word of warning, they don't have a whole slew of colors at Knit Picks. You really have to settle sometimes, for a color that you don't actually want. But you're paying a really good price for high quality yarns, so you deal.

So that's my top 5 best affordable yarns. I hope you all had a great Holiday and that your 2010 is better than 2009. May all your yarn dreams come true!

Photo Credits: yarn.com, Lionbrand.com, Sugarncream.com, patonsyarns.com, michaels.com, knitpicks.com

Lets take a moment to think about Lion Brand

So we all know how I feel about Vanna and her fine choice in yarn (and

isn't this picture awesome?). But I feel like I should do a blog on Lion Brand's website, because if you're not on Ravelry, you should check out Lion Brand. They have an ENORMOUS library full of great patterns and good tips and their newsletter (with its Michelle Obama tidbits) is great as well.

I have been making gloves like crazy recently (for SLCitizen as well as for a coworker) and I could not for the life of me find a good mitten recipe for kids. There are thousands of really weird fingerless mitts on Ravelry, but no good ol' standard mittens, especially not for toddlers and kids. Its annoying. So I went to the ol' standby, LionBrand.com. This pattern is great for babies, kids and adults, and the mittens are suuuper warm. Its not worked in the round like most mittens, so be advised, you'll have to do some darning but they're quick and easy. The pattern isn't super well written, so you'll have to be creative where it gets tricky.

And this is the 1 problem with Lion Brand's website. Their patterns are great, but they are sometimes really poorly written. They can be hard to follow and they leave out a great deal occasionally. Now, if you like the pattern, and you're willing to sacrifice, then its alright, but I get annoyed easily (especially if you're a company who specializes in yarn, not just a blogger helping out other crocheters by sharing a pattern). I'd rather surf ravelry buuuut, LB is still a great resource.

Keep them hooks hooking!

Photos from lionbrand.com and zimbio.com

Two Buck Chuck

www.endlesssimmer.com

So when I think of Vanna White, I don't instantly think "yarn that is soft and light and oh so nice!" I think of a bad game show with a bad host and a woman in gowns turning glowing letters.

Well, since I sold 12 chickens and 8 hats to SL Citizen, I needed a ton of yarn fast and I knew where to go. Vanna's Choice Yarn. Its soft, its durable, its actually quite nice to work with and best of all? Its super cheap!! 2 bucks a skein. You know, Trader Joes has a wine selection that's cheap called two buck chuck, well that's Lion Brand to me baby!

I think we all need to take a big deep breath and get over our issues with cheap yarn. The whole world can't afford $25, 50 gram, skeins of silk yarn people. And I think yarn shops should reflect the growing change in Lion Brand and other discount yarn producers. They make high quality, beautiful yarns that even the poorest crocheter can use. Hike up your knitted britches kniting world, and get over yourselves when it comes to the cheap stuff (my mom did, and you should see the gorgeous stuff she puts out with... gasp... Sugar and Cream!).

Sólás Caomh

So this is my current project. Its a baby blanket designed by Jodi Euchner.

This blanket is intense, I'm not going to lie. To undertake it, you'll have to be well versed in front and back double post chains, and it would be best to have played with cables in other patterns first.

Once you have a good grip on the stitches though, this blanket works up fast and easy. Its a really fun pattern to work. Plus, Jodi makes gorgeous blankets, and this blanket will not let you down.

I went on the less expensive side of yarn for this project with Lion Brand Wool Ease. Each blanket takes 6 skeins, and with the pricey stuff, I could have ended up spending waaaay too much money. I like Lion Brand, and I ain't no snooty yarn freak. Ok, so I am a snooty yarn freak, but I still really like Wool Ease.

My plan is to have 4 of the baby blankets sewn together to make one enormous to blanket. Two panels are Avocado green and two are Forest Green Heather.

With a border of Zinnia around all the panels. I think the Zinnia give the whole thing a little bit of a contrast, but its only a single crochet border so not a huge splash of red.

Right now I'm 50% finished, having 2 panels done (as seen with Poe the cat on top of them). The only problem I'm having at the moment is once I finish blanket, I have a really hard time picking up my hook to get another one going. And then I distracted by a pretty new skein of yarn and forget about it.

Oh well, its always good to have a project in your yarn basket right?

photos of yarn from lion brand.