From The Craft Room

Archive for the ‘Patterns’ Category

I totally forgot to mention that the ball winder I ordered on Joann.com came this last week. They had a 40% off one item special if you order through their site, donchaknow? I also threw in the Paton’s Street Smart book so I could have the “Must Have Cardigan” pattern that everyone (including The Harlot) is raving about. I’m not near skilled enough to make it yet, but I will be and when I am, I have the pattern.

Of course, Marcus wasn’t home when it arrived and I wanted to wind so badly. I’m really bad at remembering to ask to have hanks wound when I purchase them and they’re absolutely everywhere. I mounted it to the bench in the craft room, put a skein around the back of a chair and away I went. It didn’t go so well - darned chair is too heavy to turn.

I explained the dilemma when Marcus got home that evening and he offered to hold some while I wound. He makes a better swift than the chair, but still couldn’t keep up with the winder. I’ve been putting it off, but if I’m going to make use of this winder, I’m going to have to make a swift (no way I’m paying $80+ for the umbrella kind). I found a site with instructions to create your own, so tomorrow I’m off to buy wood. I’ve got a couple of modifications in mind, so we’ll see if the hardware stores carry what I think I need, or else I’ll have to take a trek to the woodworker store.

These ornaments were really popular at craft malls and fairs a few years ago. I never bought any because I figured I could make them myself and I even had instructions to make them at one point, but lost them. Colleen posted a link the other day to an online Ribbon Pinecone Ornament tutorial that she found while looking for holiday crafts for her kids. Yay!!

I was over at Knitty.com and found the neatest pattern I want to try in the next bag I just started knitting. It’s called Little Slip of a Thing (designed by a woman named Diane at Felted Handbag Workshop) and has an interesting contrasting square pattern. I think I’ll try that technique in the very center stripe. We’ll see.

My first bag is done and I’ll get around to posting pictures later this evening after I take some.