We learn to do a simple cast on at the beginning of our knitting career. For me it was the backward loop. When we are new knitters we are so happy to get through a row that we don’t necessarily investigate other cast on options. I just downloaded a free ebook from knitting daily entitled The Essentials of Casting-On and Binding-Off. The book shows various methods of both and suggests uses for each. Pictures show you what each looks like which I find very helpful. If you subscribe to knitting daily they periodically offer nice little books like this. If you don’t subscribe yet, take the time to do so. They are a great source of information for knitters.
Crochet Thursday – Love of Crochet Magazine
I don’t want to talk about the frogging I did yesterday. All the ways back to the six border rows. So today I purchased a subscription to a magazine by the people who publish Love of Knitting. Love of Knitting is one of my favorite magazines. It always has a variety of patterns at different levels and I always find myself trying at least one. So when they sent me an email about their crochet magazine I was interested.
One of my recent goals is to improve my crochet skills. I think I’ve found a pattern to try in the Spring 2013 issue of the magazine.
It looks simple and I’ll let you know when I get started with it. I’m looking through my stash for yarn to do this project. Should have enough. We’ll see.
Florida Trip
I will return to my yarn agenda soon but I just returned from a nice and productive conference in Florida. I haven’t been able to travel much lately and so I wasn’t sure that I would be able to attend. Thanks to my husband who Mom sat, I got away for a few days. Nice resort geared to golfers. Good weather and nice company. We can all use a change of scenery!
Grounds of the Sawgrass Marriott
One of four pools
Beach in Ponte Vedra, Florida
Sunday Weekly Review
Well this week I was determined to start and finish Building Block #7
Block # 7
from Knit Purl Hunters afghan book.
Building Blocks by Knit Purl Hunter
I went to my group class with Kari the wonder woman at my Local Yarn Store Knitknack in Maplewood, NJ and thought I had it all down. Well for some reason it turned out to be harder than I thought. I put a large F in the word frog this week. A four row pattern and I had to start over three times before I got it right. In row three you reduce ten stitches and in row four you put them back. I had a different number of stitches every time I did row three and four. Well I think I finally have it down. We’ll see.
My Block # 7
Friday Night Reading Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2013
I saw a preview of this magazine early last month. Even though I said I was through with magazines, I waited impatiently for my LYS Knitknack in Maplewood, New Jersey to get copies of it. When I went to my monthly building block class Wednesday they had it.
Among other patterns there is one for a black and white dress that I love.
And a really cute cardigan.
I can’t wait to start on one or the other. I’ll let you know. There are so many pretty patterns in this book I was really impressed.
Monday Yarn Review – Captiva Yarn by Berroco Yarns
Today I knit and crocheted swatchs with Captiva yarn by Berrocco. The yarn is 60% cotton, 23% polyster, 17% acrylic. The colorway is #5520, which is called Honey. The yarn is shiny and would make a nice necklace or bracelet or can be knit or crocheted into a dressy top. It comes in a 98 yd. hank and a size 8 knitting needle and H crochet hook are recommended. I would say that the yarn is about a dk weight.
I love the way the yarn looks but wasn’t so impressed by the way that it works up particularly how it knit. Even with the acrylic and polyester, the cotton stretched and some of the stitches were elongated. I believe that I would try the jewelry before I would make clothes with it. It comes in beautiful colors.
knitted piece
Crocheted Piece
Sunday Weekly Review
Mikey from the Crochet Crowd released his new Afghan Challenge using Red Heart yarn and their Ocean Waves pattern. I think that I am going to make this one. It will be fun to see the different combinations that people come up with. It will also be the first afghan that I finish. That’s of course if I stick with it.
I crocheted a small pouch for my purse because I always have to scrape the bottom looking for my necessary small objects. I am attempting to line it and we’ll see how that goes.
Pouch for my purse
It’s time for my next building block square and as usual, I haven’t finished the March square. Usually it doesn’t take more than a few hours so I should be able to finish tomorrow or Tuesday.
March building block square
Saturday Research — Pinterest Yarnie tips and tricks
I ran across a great a wealth of information that can be very helpful to yarn crafters. The Source is a Pinterest board belonging to Coggie TM entitled Yarnie tips and tricks. Coggie TM has taken the time to put this together and I know that you will find something there that is valuable to you! Take a look.
Bergen Crafters Meet Mayoral Candidate Baraka
After leaving the children’s reading program at the Clinton Branch Library, Newark South Ward Councilman and candidate for Mayor Ras Baraka stopped by and spent a few minutes with the Bergen Crafters! The group offered to teach him to crochet when he has time. Lol!
Candidate Baraka and crafters
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Candidate Baraka and the Bergen Crafters at the Clinton Branch Library
