two of my favorite things

If you belong to any online crochet groups, sooner or later you hear of an online swap. It might be granny squares or scrunchies, could be patterns. I have particpated in a few and I have to say the one I have been happiest with is Crochetholic Deb's organized swaps. There's lots of reasons, but I'll give a few right here.
1) There's a theme. It may be Christmas or Mother's Day or maybe springtime. It helps to focus on what you should be doing for your swap partner. There are specific items (maybe hot chocolate, or maybe a handbag pattern) you give (and receive) with your swap partner.
2) It's a month by month thing. I've signed up for long term swaps before, but they seem to fall apart at some point. Let's face it, everybody is busy and life throws you a curve ball once in a while. You have no way of knowing in January that your company is going to lay off half the staff in April and still keep the same amount of work - and you'll be expected to pick up the slack. So month by month works well for me because I can sort of anticipate what will happen on a monthly basis. Not always...but it helps me
3) There's a list of likes and dislikes for your swap partners. So instead of shipping out a box of mohair yarn to your partner, you can check and see if she's (generally it's a she) allergic to mohair. Or whether she'd prefer cotton to wool, kintis or crochets, that type of thing. What I may think is the coolest yarn in the world (I have a serious weakness for Redheart's varigated yarn) my swap partner might hate - and vice versa.
4) It's great to get spoiled when you don't expect it. Sometimes my partners seem to know just when I need the package the most. All my swaps on Crochetolic Deb's have been great, I don't get that feeling I've had with some other swaps - you know the one where you think "what moldy basement did _this_ come from?". I do know that not everybody has the same financial means, but that still doesn't excuse moldy yarn.
If you want to check it out for yourself, here's the website:
http://crochetswapblog.blogspot.com/

There's a tv show on that has nothing to do with crochet but also fits into one of my favorite things. "Corner Gas". So why mention it here? Because one of the actors, Janet Wright, is almost always knitting or crocheting on camera. The show is set in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada and everybody knows everybody else's business. Janet Wright plays Emma Leroy, mother to Brent Leroy (Brent Butt), the current owner of Corner Gas. M's Wright will knit or crochet at the local cafe or tavern. You'll see her beautiful afghans on the back of her sofa. Her hobby does not really play into the show except for two I have seen so far. In one, she makes a bet with her son, Brent, where she will give up her knitting if he gives up his coffee. Her husband, Oscar (Eric Peterson) gives her lots of support on that choice;). On another episode, Emma teaches Hank (Fred Ewanuick) how to knit and somehow gets booted out of her own knitting group. In the U.S., it's on the WGN Superstation. If you get a chance to check it out, you should definitely do so and not just for the needlework action. In my opinion, it's one of the funniest tv shows in years. Check out cornergas.com

_enjoy_

Apple jacket

On some list I am on, somebody posted a picture of a knitted "apple jacket". There was much laughter about it, but the apple jackets are selling for $18 each.
http://store.roseandradish.com/product-exec/product_id/1596/nm/Jacqueline_Dufresne_Apple_Jacket

So I thought, what the heck, I bet I can crochet one. So I did. I used Lion Brand Nature's Choice cotton
http://cache.lionbrand.com//yarns/naturesChoice.html

I finally got around to taking a picture of it and posting it here. I haven't sold any, but I also haven't offered any for sale. I made the pattern up, so it's all mine;)

So if there are any requests, I'll write up the pattern and make it available. The apple in this jacket happens to be a large Gala apple which is going to be sacrificed shortly as a midday snack. It must be hard to be a model in the cruel world;)

_enjoy_

Another freebie Monday

Here's the cure fo the Monday blues - freebies;)


for Halloween, little bats:
http://www.sweaterbabe.com/freepatterndownload.htm

Another Halloween one - ghosts:

Click here: Halloween Ghost Applique Pin or Magnet

more Halloween - a crocheted skull
(wouldn't this be cool in glow-in-the-dark yarn?)
http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/2007/09/crochet-skull.html

a really cool crocheted bag:
The Amelia Bag - Crochet Pattern

a great looking hat:
http://jessicasuzanne.com/craftypants/category/free-patterns/


a beautiful crocheted bracelet
http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/07/crochet-beaded-bracelet_30.html

These last 2 items aren't really "freebies" but I thought I'd pass them along, anway

and if you remember last week's entry about knitting being hazardous to your health, here's someone else's view of the situation:
http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/barlow/s/1017693_congleton_hospital_dont_do_stitches

And for the marine biologist in you, here's an article about the crocheted Great Barrier Reef
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/ourtown/071004/crochet/


_enjoy_

it just proves what I thought all along;)

A hospital in England declared knitting a "hazard". Apparently somebody thought the knitting needles and the yarn were dangerous to visitors as well as patients. I'm not surprised. Many the times I have used my knitting needles to "sword fight" with my sons. I have also used them to pierce the noise box of a particularly annoying toy. I have tried "sword fighting" with my cat Spike, but he is more interested in holding on to the knitting needle.

so here's the article:
ttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/s/1016599_knitting_declared_a_hazard

I guess crochet escaped notice because the hooks are shorter and there are no sharp points. We crocheters are luring people into a false sense of security. Soon, we will take over the world;)
(oops, I think it's past my bedtime;))

October 1 freebie Monday

I have one for you today, the "Happy Yellow House". There is a lot of free crochet patterns listed and it's also a mailing list. She even states you can sell the completed item _BUT_ not the pattern itself. I love the name "Happy Yellow House". For a part of my childhood, my parents house was yellow. (Later it was formstone, but hey, that's Baltimore for you.)
http://www.happyyellowhouse.com/crochet.html

Another mailing list I like is "Knitting Daily". Yes, I did say "Knitting Daily". There's a few reasons why - sometimes it has crochet patterns/info and some of the things discussed about knitting can be used for crochet. For instance, Sandi Wiseheart did a column called "The Four Knitting Truths". It could be called sewing truths or crochet truths because it would fit those catagories, also. She explains how to measure yourself properly for a garment. If you're planning to make apparel, this advice is essential. There is also a later article dealing with lining a knitted bag. That info can be used to line a crocheted bag.
http://www.knittingdaily.com/about/

Suppose you feel like a quick to make pattern, something you could wear tomorrow or give as a gift - here's one for you - earrings.
Crafty Crafty - http://www.craftycrafty.tv/


_enjoy_

"Craft" and carving your own crochet hook

If you see this magazine* in the store, you may think it's a bit pricey. I would suggest that you use one of the 40% coupons that a lot of craft stores advertise if you feel it's a bit too high. It really is not expensive for the amount of projects you get in each issue. It has almost every craft you can think of and if it's not there, it probably was in the last issue or will be in the next issue. Similar to a 50s/60s craft magazine (I bought a few on a whim) "Craft" presumes that you wouldn't only want to work a needlepoint pillow, but you'd want to do copper etching or glass blowing or perhaps make new bookshelves. Apparently in the 1950s, people had more time and energy to devote to crafts - probably because cable tv and the internet hadn't been invented yet;)

So what's that got to do with crochet? On the cover is a "crime scene" knitted scarf. Somebody who is clever with their hook and wants a crime scene scarf can probably easily figure out how to do it in crochet (and sell the pattern, too). But I promised how to hand carve a crochet hook, didn't I? Turn to page 130. There's an article by Jim Price on how to make a hand carved crochet hook. And who is Jim Price - here's his blog: jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.com

now you see what I mean. I have never carved a hook, but I do have a hook one of my younger son's friends** carved for me. It is massive and really too big for my hand and I have often thought of making some changes to it but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. I've never used it for a project because it's so big. Reading this article gave me some tips on how to approach that project. And If I chicken out of carving the hook, well I can always buy one carved by Jim Price at his blog.

Think about creating your own custom hook. It could have a thumb rest (which I like) or not have a thumb rest. You could make the throat as shallow or as deep as you could want. Plus you could experiment with various combinations and sizes. If you ever wondered how to create a hook that would be uniquely yours, I suggest strongly that you check out this magazine. It is much cheaper if you subscribe - here's their info craftzine.com/subscribe .

There's a lot more articles in this issue I want to explore. There's the sourdough bread baking as well as the crochet cocktail ring. I have had a lot of success with yeast breads, but my sourdough bread has never been successful and a look at the recipe given might have a clue for me. Every other recipe I tried called for using yeast as well as the sourdough starter. There's tessalations as well as a stained glass grocery cart. (wouldn't that be cool to take to the yarn shop?P That almost makes want to go grocery shopping. It's just a great read and a great thought provoker.

*"Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts", Volume 04, newstand price $14.99 US, $17.99 Canadian.
I did not receive any kickbacks from any of these folks, but I can be bought. If I am ever bought, I will definitely declare it so you will know I'm shilling for a product. I hope you check out this magazine, it is _cool_

(I wonder what happened to Ben? His family moved away quite some time ago. He definitely should be working in fashion designs, he could do amazing knitting and crocheting.)


Payton update: He is doing okay and there was a recent fundraiser for him. Here's that link:
http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=78760672

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Start saving up your money for a yarn splurge because the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is May 5th and 6th, 2007 at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Maybe you don't want to buy a sheep (it probably be energy efficent for your lawn), but there is a lot more to see and do at Sheep and Wool.
This is the 34th annual Sheep and Wool . Nope, I haven't attended all 33 of them;) But I have attended a lot of them and generally enjoy myself immensely. There's lots of yarn and animals (llamas, alpacas and rabbits as well as sheep) and lots of friendly people willing to show you various techniques.
If you intend to go, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. There is a good deal of walking on sometimes uneven surfaces and it's not the place for your stilleto heels - unless you're comfortable in them. Make sure you take a hat or sunglasses or something to block the sun - generally it's a warm (bordering on hot) sunny day and you will need the shade. Sunscreen is a good idea, but I always forget to bring it or if I bring it, I forget to use it.
No pets are allowed at Sheep and Wool. The only dogs allowed are service dogs. They are very strict about that rule. So if your dog is not a service dog, please keep him/her home. It can get very hot in a car and generally it's not a dog's idea of a good time to be cooped up in a hot car all day.
Bring cash as well as plastic. Lots of vendors take plastic, some don't. And some have minimum amounts you have to charge on your plastic. You may just want one of those fork recipe holders for a few bucks, so it's just easier to have the cash. You might want to take address labels or an ink pen with you - some places have sign ups for their mailing lists and you might want to join them.
I'd advise bringing a large bag. You might even want to tuck some water or a snack in it. Yes, you can buy the festival bag with the cover art on it at Sheep and Wool. But it's usually a tremendously long line to get one. And don't worry, if you don't get a chance to buy one at the festival (or the t-shirts /jackets /mugs), you can buy it online after the festival. That gives you a bit more money to spend.
The book you are given when you go into the festival has a map in it. You can check out and decide where you want to visit first. I usually walk up and down the aisles in the same way each year. Sometimes there are returning vendors in the same spot. One display that always amazes me, no matter how much I see it, is the woman spinning the angora yarn right off the bunny. The bunny is so docile while she gently plucks the fur and spins it.
Don't worry, there's a lot more types of yarn than just wool. There are some amazing hand dyed skeins that will just knock your socks off - well, at least they knock_my_socks off. There is almost any kind of yarn you might want to buy, yes, even Red Heart. I got a bag full of chenille for $5 one year, all it needed to be untangled. If you are interested in spinning your own yarn, they have bags of roving. It's a total yarn experience.
If you go, you might want to make a list of books you want - I always find something new there. Plus you don't have to special order it or pay postage and handling. Or you can look them over and think "hey, maybe I don't want this after all".
There are places to eat and drink at the festival. They sell lamb burgers, as well as regular burgers, fries, ice cream, the usual festival stuff. I think they even sell a deep fried Twinkie, or they did at one time. I'm definitely not that adventurous in the food department.

So there you are, all sorts of info on Maryland Sheep and Wool. Did I mention it is free admission and free parking?
here's the link:

www.sheepandwool.org