From The Craft Room

Archive for September, 2007

A woman at the yarn shop yesterday was wearing the cutest top that she had made from a pattern she found on a web site named Knitty.com. I wanted to make a note of that to remember to check it out.

Better late than never, I’m posting this as part of Cass’ Online Craft Club.

After giving my hand a rest yesterday, I got it the bag to the point of needing further help this morning. This afternoon off I went to The Knitting Habitat for additional instruction. The shop owner was in and showed me how to finish off the top edge. After I did that, she taught me how to make what they call icords. These are going to be the handles. After I get 2 of them at 36″ apiece, I get to do what they call felting it. I guess you wash it in the washer in really hot water under much agitation and the wool stitches become like a big piece of felt. It looks really cool. Then it has to dry stretched over a cereal box covered in plastic. Once that’s done, I’ll go back and she’ll show me how to attach the handles.

I may try to work some more of the ribbon thread into the bag before I felt it. I haven’t decided yet. We’ll see how the icord making goes.

Anyway, here are some pictures. The first is the point I was at after my first class last Saturday. The second is one that Marcus snapped after I got settled in to work on it here at home. The third is where I am at after today’s class.

Hopefully next week you’ll all get to see the finished bag!

I’ve long used an OTT-LITE® to read by that my father gave me for my birthday years ago. I saw them on Aleene’s Creative Living television show and just had to have one. Right now it is on the headboard of my bed. I also have a second desk lamp that is on my PC computer desk. I just purchased an OTT-LITE® True Color™ task light with a magnifier to make my cross stitching easier (Maggie the Messmaker will be started this fall!).

What’s great about these lamps is that they simulate natural light so that you can see colors and small details accurately. They don’t produce the glare or heat that normal bulbs do, you don’t get that fatigue or eye strain that you feel being too close to a common lamp. I can’t praise this product line high enough. I can suggest that if you do any type of crafting, design, writing or reading, though, you should really invest the money and get one. We even use them at work to match colors, so you know if they’re good enough for a professional shop, they’re good for us crafters and creatives.

I had planned on showing some progress pics of the cute little bag that I’m knitting that was the project from the class I attended last Saturday, but I’ve been a real slacker about posting anything on any of my sites lately. I don’t know…my heart is just not in it lately, I guess.

Anyway, I had planned to have it done today to the point where I head back to the store for a lesson on finishing it and making icord handles, but my body decided that wasn’t to be. I had about 12 more rows to knit when my carpal tunnel syndrome started to flare up (I had to use a crappy mouse at work last week). Then something in my hand popped and I was out of commission for most of the day. I wrapped my hand in an ace bandage, took some ibuprofin and went to bed to resist the temptation to use it and next thing I knew five hours had passed!

I worked on it for awhile before dinner, so I only have about 4 more rows to go now. I’ll get it finished up tomorrow and then there will be pictures!

OK, I started this place with the intentions of it motivating me to craft more. Well, life got in the way and that hasn’t happened. I’ve been pushing my projects to the backburner and I’m really sorry I have done so. As my friend Cass said the other day (at least I think she said it as I can’t find the post amongst her many blogs), you have to make time to craft. So making time I am.

This afternoon I’m taking my birthday money from my company and going to take a knitting class. I’ve been wanting to knit for years and Marcus’ mother even bought me a knitting kit for Christmas 2 years ago. I’ve tried to read the book and watch videos online, but for some reason I just don’t “get it” yet. I can do the stitches, I just can’t get a project cast on. I need a seasoned knitter to show me how to get started.

Speaking of Cass, she has started an Online Craft Club that takes place every Friday. I’ll be a day late, but I’ll participate this week with the results of my knitting class.

I’m so excited!!!