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....

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

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'!

A new blog to look at

So while I was goofing around on ravelry, I found a woman who makes the cutest stuffed animals. And now I have to share her site.

The Roman Sock is one of those blogs that you fall in love with the minute you start reading. But to add to it all she has the CUTEST squirrel ever.

I mean look at this thing! I just want to make it. But she hasn't put up the link but she did but up a how-to on brush crochet that is a must read. It will make your furry stuffed animals look fluffy and sweet.

Anyway, that's really all I wanted to write about.

Happy hookin!

photo from the Roman Sock

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

Gloves Galore!

So I was asked to do a series of gloves for SLCitizen so that's what I've been up to since last we spoke. And man have I been busy! Lets see what's been on my hooks shall we?

This pattern is based off of Sue Norrad's design. I took off the fingers and the mitten top, left the thumb and there ya go! Its really easy and the perfect pattern for beginning glove makers. You can find it on Ravelry too, or Sue's website.

Next up is the Orchard Glove that was in Interweave's Fall issue. Its really easy (designed by a 16 year old no less!) and fun to do. Its got a spiked single crochet in it which adds a little extra umph to the pattern. It also makes the stitches pop out. I love this pattern. I make these gloves all the time.

Last, I made a pattern of my design. Its basically a tube with a thumb hole :) but it's warm and its ridiculously easy. When I have time, and I don't have a boyfriend glaring at me for wasting his tv watching time I'll post it.

I'm sorry about the poor picture quality on all the photos. The camera did NOT want to cooperate!

Anyway, That's what I've been doing! Hope all is well on your hooks!