Hankering for Yarn

What your projects can teach you

I wish I had a picture of my ugliest project to show you, but I don’t. Wisely, I never snapped a photo of this hideous handbag that I made a few years ago.

I made it in purple variegated yarn, trimmed it in acid-green fun fur (*shiver*), stuck some handles on it and lined it with more acid-green satin. (I have absolutely no explanation for all the acid-green.) At this point, the bag is probably taking up room in a landfill somewhere because I decided not to keep it. It was fugly.

However, as with any other project I’ve ever completed (or not completed), the fugly bag taught me some things:

• How to sew a lining into a bag
• That I don’t like knitting with fun fur
• That I don’t like fun fur…period
• How to choose good stitch patterns for a more sturdy bag
• That acid-green isn’t my color

I know that sometimes, we make things that later make us question why. Why did I make this dishcloth/doily/shrug/toilet roll cover/unidentifiable object? Instead of wondering who you can foist these ugly projects onto, try to turn it into a learning experience.

You can learn something from everything you make. Projects can teach you not only the best way to do something, but the best way not to do something. You may find a new way to cast on that works for you the majority of the time, even if the project that taught you that ends up being a dud. You might nearly complete a Fair Isle hat, only to learn that stranded knitting isn’t your thing.

Whether you complete an item or not, the great thing about working with yarn is that you’re always learning something. Our projects, all of them, teach us new things all the time.

The next time you finish a project, or leave it languishing in the bottom of your basket, ask yourself what you learned. You just might be surprised by the answer.

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Your crafty resolutions

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been knitting or crocheting for 50 years, or whether you just started. There’s always something to learn.

With this new year still fresh and full of possibilities, have you made any crafty resolutions for 2009?

Maybe you want to try a new technique, but have always been worried about the results. It’s only yarn — you can unravel it and start over. If there’s something you haven’t tried yet, come on…what’s the worst that can happen?

Join a local knitting or crochet circle. Take a class if you’re a beginner and you just can’t figure something out. Teach someone the craft.

What are you going to do this year that you haven’t done before?

Image: Photos.com

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Free crochet pattern: Maggie’s Wrap

If you’re not yet a member at Knitting Daily, you should definitely consider it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a knitter because they also feature crochet and crochet patterns. And you don’t have to pay a dime…just register with your e-mail address.

This is a free download offered at Knitting Daily TV. It’s called Maggie’s Wrap and isn’t it cute?

Of course, its lacy prettiness isn’t going to keep you warm. This is more of a garment made to be noticed. The cropped design should work up pretty quickly and you can add your own unique flair by choosing the perfect button for it.

Scroll down to Episode 111-2 and download this free pattern as a PDF file if you’re looking for a cropped cardi crochet project, for yourself or for someone else.

Image: Knitting Daily TV

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Free knitting stitch patterns

There are quite a few stitch dictionaries available. Some hold hundreds of different stitch patterns in them for you to try. These are useful if you’re looking to incorporate an original design or add a unique border or hem to a project.

You can always invest in a stitch dictionary in book form, but you may find yourself needing two, three or more. That’s fine if you want to add to your knitting library, but this can get expensive.

You can also find free knitting stitch patterns on the Web. What I like about this particular site is that, as far as I can tell, all of the stitch patterns are accompanied by a photo, so you know exactly how the finished product should look. Many of the stitch patterns also come with a free pattern using that stitch.

Using stitch pattern resources like this allow you to try a stitch out to see if you like it and how you can use it in an original or modified design.

Image: Photos.com

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Organizing your yarn stash

It’s that time of year again — a time when many of us are getting in shape, getting more organized, clearing out the clutter…

Does this include your yarn stash?

If so, here are some ideas on how you can organize your stash for the new year. This way, you’ll know where your supplies are and not waste precious crafting minutes (or hours) looking for what you need.

Clear, plastic storage units are always popular and a good way to store and organize your stash so you can see what you have. With lids on, these boxes keep out dust and dirt, and possibly pets and kids.

Plus, you can easily see your yarn inside without having to open anything.

They come in a range of sizes and stack well. They work great for natural fibers as well as artificial ones, but if you store wool in them, consider adding cedar chips, cedar balls, lavender sachets, etc. — things to keep the moths away.

You can also make use of a hanging unit. These come in canvas as well as plastic and if you’re short of space, you can store one of these in your closet, which won’t take up a lot of room.

Again, you can easily see what you have without having to dig through boxes or a chest (my current dilemma).

With either of these storage options, you can organize in a few ways:

* By color

* By fiber content

* By weight

* By animal vs. artificial

The good thing about organizing is that you can do it however you want, in whatever way works best for you. So how about it? Are you organizing your yarn stash today to get a fresh start on the new year?

Images: Rubbermaid and Bed Bath & Beyond

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Happy New Year, Everyone!

So long, 2008!

You know, I really miss Dick Clark this time of year. As far as I’m concerned, no one has yet taken his place as the ultimate New Year’s Eve party guy.

If you’re going out to party tonight, stay safe and celebrate in moderation. See you in ‘09!

Image: Photos.com

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Your favorite project(s) of 2008?

As we approach the end of another year, I look back on my completed projects of 2008 and I can’t help but feel kind of disappointed. I’m not in a competition or anything with anyone (except perhaps myself), but I read a lot of knitting/crafty blogs and so many bloggers churn out projects all the time, while I’m lucky to complete something, no matter how small, in a month.

Then there are the projects that take me an entire year…

This is probably my favorite project of the past year, the Arctic Diamonds Stole from Interweave Knit’s Winter 2006 edition. It was a straightforward lacy project and I made it in Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere, which was a real treat. 

What about you? Care you share your favorite project(s) of the past year?

Image: © D. Sandeen

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Making crafty resolutions for the new year

With so many people vowing to start off the new year doing something differently, I wonder how many of us make resolutions related to our crafts.

I made several resolutions at the beginning of 2008 and I didn’t really meet them, so I’m steering clear this year (I think). Still, for others, writing resolutions down is a good motivation tool to:

• Try something new
• Use a yarn you’ve never used before
• Use a different technique in place of the one you’ve used forever

Are you making any crafty resolutions for the new year? What kind?

Image: Photos.com

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Do you ever feel un-crafty?

I know some people who knit or crochet every single day. I’m envious of that, although I know the reason I can’t sit and knit every day is because I work at home, I have three young kids who need my help and attention, I have other hobbies, etc. But still, I’m envious.

I know I’d complete more projects if I worked on them more (or had the time to work on them more), but there are also times I get immersed in a good book or just enjoy getting out into the fresh air more than I feel like picking up my needles.

I guess it’s because I know the yarn and the needles aren’t going anywhere. Or maybe I just get tired of using my hands that way, though I can almost always feel a yearning to go back to it when I’m busy working or helping someone with homework. However long my un-crafty breaks, I always go back to the yarn eventually.

Do you ever put projects aside because you don’t feel like working on them? Or do you always have a project in your hands?

Image: Photos.com

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Did you get more yarn?

Unlike previous years, I didn’t ask for yarn as a gift this Christmas. For one, I really do have a lot of yarn (it takes quite a lot of guts to admit that!), yarn that I probably won’t use all up in 2009.

Right now, I’m trying to see how I’m going to approach 2009 as far as being crafty. I want to try some new things; I want to use yarn I already own…and not just to make more room for new yarn.

Pictured is part of my stash (I’ll discuss proper storage for yarn another time), so as you can see, I’m pretty well-stocked. Did you get more yarn for Christmas? And if so, did you need it?

Image: © D. Sandeen

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