The Woolly Lamb, East Aurora, New York

The Woolly Lamb, 712 Main Street, East Aurora, NY

I visited this store on September 21, 2012.  The hours listed say the store was to open at 11 AM.   Believe me, I was there on time.  However, the owner (or whoever she was) was NOT!  So I decided to sit on a bench nearby for about ten minutes, and was going to leave if the store was not open by then.

It was!

I was greeted upon entering - as I would expect, so that was nice.  Some places do not do this, by the way.

My first impression of the store was that it was a bit on the sloppy side.  There were some areas where the yarns were piled on top of each other and in boxes and bags.  Nothing wrong with having extra in the bags, but it is nice to see them stacked nicely in my opinion.  I like to see a knitting shop that is neat and organized because it makes finding what I want much easier; also if a yarn is new to me, I am much more likely to check it out if I don't have to dig underneath another bag of yarn to get to it.

The shop has an excellent selection of yarn and a pretty nice selection of notions.  The woman who was there was very friendly and helpful.  I witnessed great treatment to another customer who had come in after me.  She was looking for a certain yarn that she had purchased before, but didn't have the ball band or something like that, and the shop lady was helpful in trying to find it for her.  I also heard the customer ask what time the store opened, and the shop lady said 11 but that she was often late.

This late bit I find kind of a bad business practice, but hey.  It isn't my store.  I am sure there usually isn't a line waiting for the place to open, however if your hours are 11 to whenever, then you should be there at that time.  I was ready to leave, and she would have missed out on my purchase.

At any rate, despite the few negatives I mentioned above, I would definitely go back to this store.  Good customer service far outweighs opening a few minutes late and being a little bit messy.  If you are in the area of East Aurora NY, I recommend stopping by The Woolly Lamb.  I even got an ink pen :0)


My purchase?  I got some Sublime angora merino - it was on sale!  So absolutely soft and wonderful, I can't wait to start knitting with it.

Below are a few pictures of the store, and the yarn I got.

Guest Post: Knit 1-2-3 Magazine

I invited my sister to do a guest post about a new knitting magazine that she spotted, as I have not seen it yet. There is also a crochet one. Since my sister both knits and crochets, she bought and wrote about both the magazines.
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I don’t normally look at the yarn when I am in Wal Mart because, quite frankly, 99% of what they sell is not to my liking and usually what few yarns they have that I might like well enough to use there’s always something that will prevent me from buying it. (Tangled up skeins, or FILTHY ones that look like they’ve been run over by a car a few times, things like that.) So I tend to just not even look. But today I decided to stroll down that aisle just for the heck of it.

Once I got to the end of the aisle, I happened to spot a couple new magazines – one for knitting and one for crochet. I simply assumed new issues of magazines I’m familiar with. But nope. These are actually BRAND new magazines, the first issues!

So, I had to get them. Don’t give me that look.

Both magazines have the same format. There’s a review section that gives short reviews of new knit/crochet books, yarns, notions etc., there are a couple articles and of course, patterns. I love that the ads are minimal in these. There are 23 patterns and 3 articles in Knitting 1-2-3, and Crochet 1-2-3 contains 24 patterns and 3 articles. Knitting 1-2-3 contains an article on adding color to your knitting in three different ways: stripes, 2-color slip stitch and fair isle. There is a series of articles called Gram & Me, and it’s about the author’s time with a granddaughter teaching her to knit. In Crochet 1-2-3, there is an article on crocheting in the round and then the same author of Gram & Me has a series with her granddaughter and crocheting titled Gram’s Hands. The third article in both magazines is an article about knitting (or crocheting) for charity, specifically for an organization called Warm Up America.

The web sites for the magazines are knit-1-2-3.com and crochet1-2-3.com (appropriately enough eh?) although the sites are small as can be expected from a brand new publication, they will grow quickly I am sure. The knitting one is not totally live just yet actually, but I would imagine it should be fully functional within the next few days. The release date on both magazines September 18th, though as is evidenced by my purchase, you might be able to find them now. I was the first one to buy these from my Wal Mart. I know because I had to open up the plastic wrapper on both stacks of magazines to get to them!

As you can see in the pictures, they are $4 each. If you subscribe, a one year subscription costs $13. This will be for six issues, as new issues of these magazines will be released every other month. I’m giving serious thought to subscribing to both!

Both of these magazines are available exclusively at Wal Mart. Or you can visit their web sites to subscribe. Again, Knit1-2-3.com is not currently fully functional but Crochet1-2-3.com is. I have no idea why one’s up and running and the other is just a ‘preview’ type page. But I am sure that within a couple days both sites will be fully functional and you’ll be able to subscribe to either magazine through their respective web sites.

Oh. And if you’re wondering… yes. Yes I do want to make several of the patterns from each of these magazines now.

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Knit a Triangle Shawl (Bottom Up)

One of my first knitting projects was a triangle shawl.  I've always loved shawls, and couldn't believe how easy it was to knit one.

There are many ways to knit a triangle shawl.  This time, we are going to cover going from the bottom up using yarn overs to make the increases.  I also show doing a KFB (knit front and back) increase if you want a less obvious increase.

This is just the bare bones of triangle shawls.  I am sure you have seen many beautiful shawls that are lacy, some that are cabled, and many others.

The shawls pictured here were knit years ago.  I am not certain what yarn was used.  I think the one on the right is Caron Simply Soft, but it could very well be something else.

Below are a few examples of how to do a simple triangle shawl.  Nothing fancy here.  A shawl is a great beginner project if you want something larger than a scarf, but still want to keep it simple.  You don't have to worry about gauge either.

These shawls are also a great project for seasoned knitters, because you can sit and watch TV and just mindlessly knit.

You can use any yarn and needles you like - the needles should be circulars though, to accomodate all of the stitches as the shawl grows.  I'd say you want a 32 inch minimum.  Of course if you are using a thin, lace weight yarn you could probably get away with a 24 inch circular; if you are using a thicker, bulkier yarn you may need to use a longer needle.  

A good place to start is go to the craft store or your LYS, find a yarn you like, and just swatch using the needle size recommended on the ball band.  If you find that you want a looser fabric, try a larger needle; if you want a denser fabric, go down a needle size.  There is no wrong way to do this, so don't be worried that you may be using the wrong needle for your yarn.  If you are pleased with your swatch, then you are using the right yarn and needles.

My shawls pictured above are just garter stitch, as are the samples in the video.  You can do garter stitch if you like, or stockinette - maybe even alternate a few rows of garter with a few rows of stockinette.

Below are only a few ways you can do a bottom up triangle shawl.  If you don't like any of these looks, play around and see what you can come up with.  I used a US size 10.5 Knitter's Pride Cubics needle in my samples, and the first three were done in Mulberry Merino yarn, and the last in Paton's Classic Wool.

The first sample is a mini shawl from cast on to bind off.  Yours of course will be much bigger.
Cast on 3 stitches
Knit across, turn
K1, YO, knit to end

Repeat the K1, YO, knit to end until the shawl is as big as you want it to be.  Bind off, weave in loose ends and block if you like.

The second sample is done by making the yarn over at the beginning of each row.  This makes a very decorative edge along your shawl.
Cast on 3
Knit across, turn
YO, knit to end
Repeat from YO, knit to end until shawl is desired size

Our third sample also uses a yarn over increase, and will create a wider border than either of the two above.  This also gives a less pointy tip to the shawl.
Cast on 5
Knit across, turn
Knit 3, YO, knit to end
Repeat from Knit 3, YO, knit to end until shawl is desired size

Maybe you don't like the look of yarn overs.  You can do any increase you like and are comfortable with.  In my sample below, I used the KFB increase - knit front and back of the stitch.

Cast on 3
Knit across, turn
K1, KFB, knit to end
Repeat from K1, KFB, knit to end until shawl is desired size

Here is a video showing how I did all of the samples.  I hope this helps those of you thinking about making a triangle shawl, but aren't quite sure where to start.

Bobble Cast On

If you like bobbles, you may want to try the bobble cast on for your next project. A great way to add a decorative edge to anything that suits your fancy.

If you want to know more about knitting bobbles, check out this post.

For the cast on, all you have to do is cast on however many stitches you need for your project.   Decide how you want the bobbles spaced, and knit across the row, adding bobbles as you like.

Keep in mind whether or not your pattern starts on the wrong or right side of the fabric.  You might need to knit another row after the bobble row in order for your bobbles to appear on the correct side of the fabric. Or, you can even just pop them out onto the other side.

Here is a video of the cast on. Happy knitting, and Enjoy!

Wind a Center Pull Ball of Yarn by Hand

You don't need any fancy equipment to wind your yarn into a center pull ball.  All you need is a toilet paper or paper towel tube cut to a comfortable size, and your own two hands.

Take the tail of your yarn and drop it down the tube until it pokes out the other end.  Hold it in place until you have wrapped the yarn a few times.  Just start winding the yarn around the tube.  Wrap at an angle after the first few wraps, turning the tube every so often.  Keep going until you have wound all of the yarn around the tube.  Then, pull the tail out of the center of the tube, and slide the tube out of the ball of yarn.  And there you have your very own center pull ball of yarn!  

Here is a short video showing how it is done.  Happy Winding!

Autumn Acorn Cowl

My favorite time of year is fast approaching - Autumn!  I love the smells, the colors, and the crisp feel of the air.

I designed a cowl for my favorite time of year that uses the Acorn Cable Stitch, and a yarn that reflects the colors of fall.  You can use any color you choose, of course!

The yarn I used can be purchased here:
http://www.herrschners.com/product/Lighthouse+Waves+Yarn+1.aspx


The pattern can purchased and downloaded here:

Source: Autumn Acorn Cowl via SapphiresnPurls on Craftsy

Chunky Blocks Cowl

I have both been wanting to dye yarn and knit a cowl for a while now, so I decided to combine the two, and came up with this.

I used Lion Brand Alpine Wool, which is a soft, squishy roving yarn.  I also did a brief video of dying the yarn, which you can use as a reference to dye your own yarn.

This is just for general reference, not an exact tutorial.

I used McCormick Neon food coloring, and doubled their instructions for Stormy Blue that is on the box.  I used about 16 cups of water.

I spit spliced the two skeins of yarn together,  and wrapped it around two chairs that were spaced out as far as I could put them.  Once that was done, I tied it off (loosely) into several sections.  This is to keep it from getting tangled, and also to give me a guide for how much to dunk into the dye at a time.  It really isn't crucial to have the yarn tied off at specific measurements, I just eyeballed it for even intervals all the way around.

Next, I filled the sink with a few inches or so of cool water and a little white vinegar for the yarn to soak in.  The vinegar will help the yarn absorb the dye, and you can even add a tablespoon to the dye pot as well if you want.  Just don't overdo it.  I have heard bad things happen if you use too much :0)

After about 15-20 minutes, I took the yarn from the sink, gently squeezing out the excess water as I went, and then wrapped it around a wooden spoon, which I let rest over the top of the pot.  This is so I could unwind the yarn a little at a time into the dye.  Just be careful that the yarn doesn't hang down the outside of the pot and get on the burner!!  (Also, you really don't want to move the yarn very much, or there is always the risk of felting it.)  I lowered the yarn into the dye a section at a time, at about 15 minute or so intervals.  Honestly, I didn't set a timer, I just guesstimated.  Incase you didn't know, I tend to let things happen as they may - I don't go for sterile, scientific practices.  Just be sure that you get all of the yarn into the dye before all of the color is absorbed, or you will be left with undyed yarn.  Unless that is what you are going for.

Once all of the yarn has been lowered into the pot,  and the water has reached boiling, turn down the heat to a low simmer, cover with a lid.  Then, when the water is mostly clear, turn off the heat and let the whole shebang cool off.   Once mine was cooled off, I just dumped it all into the sink, then rinsed it with cool water.  Squeeze out the excess water and dry.  I use a small wooden laundry rack to dry my yarn.   You can drape it over the shower bar, or any place else you have available.  I like to put mine outside so I don't have to worry about wet carpet.

If you don't want to go to all the bother to dye your own yarn,  there are some lovely colors available at the store.  You needn't dye your own for this pattern.  I am just including the info incase you would like to.

When my yarn was finally dry, I wound it into a ball and started knitting.  My first idea didn't work out well, so I had to frog and start over.  The second time was the charm.

The pattern is available for purchase HERE

Source: Chunky Blocks Cowl via SapphiresnPurls on Craftsy

And here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!

Istex Alafoss Lopi

Istex Alafoss Lopi

Knitting With Plastic Bags

Pattern for the Chilly Coaster is below

Hey everyone!  I have been wanting to do this tutorial for ages, and finally got around to it!  Below is the tutorial and video, and a free pattern for my Chilly Coaster, made from plastic grocery bags.  I call it Chilly Coaster, because it is meant for cold cups.  Also, this coaster is just for fun, not really to keep condensation from getting on your table.  So be warned, don't use this thinking it will protect an important surface.  And while you could use it for a steamy, hot mug of coffee, also know that the plastic may melt, leaving a nasty mess on your cup.  So, cold drinks only on water safe surfaces.

First, here is the video.  Below that you can print the tutorial if you wish, and the pattern.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!

Knitting With Plastic Bags Tutorial




Chilly Coaster Pattern

How to Knit - Brief Start to Finish Sample

I see a lot of questions from new knitters about how to start knitting.  Even though they may have watched videos about casting on, knit/purl stitches, and binding off they are still unsure of exactly how to put it all together.

The below video is a very brief video showing casting on, knitting a few rows with knit and purl stitches, and then binding off.   This video is not meant to teach specific techniques (see the "Free Knitting Videos" Tab at the top for more detailed, slower videos), rather it is just meant to show what to do once you are ready to begin working on your pattern.

This video is not meant to instruct on how to read a knitting pattern, although I have a sample pattern in the video.

This video is basically a "I have yarn, needles, and a pattern.  Now what?" demo.  It is meant solely to demonstrate the process of casting on, knitting, and then binding off.

JJ's Knitting Knook

I recently visited JJ's Knitting Knook, located on Stuarts Draft Highway in Waynesboro, VA.  Great little shop, full of beautiful yarn!  This place looks like it used to be a house - there are several rooms of yarn, books, needles and fibery goodness.  I was waited on by Teresa, who was very nice.... and very patient when, after I had already made my yarn purchase, I decided I also wanted to get The Knitter's Block.... and then remembered I had wanted to check out some rosewood needles too.  She very kindly got the needles for me, opened them up and allowed me to inspect the cables.  Very nice little store that I hope I have the chance to visit again!  I actually missed one of the rooms and wish I had gone back to look.  So if you go, make sure you look in all of the rooms!

Below are some pictures, and check out Episode 17 of the podcast to see what I purchased.  Teresa is in one of the pictures, by the way :0)

Sapphires-n-Purls Podcast Episode 17

Hi everyone!  Just thought I would take a minute to tell you about JJ's Knitting Knook, which I visited last week in Virginia.   Of course I have a few knitting magazines in my "to read" pile - I won't list them all here, you can find links to all of the magazines I show you up in the magazine tab at the top of the blog.  All this and just a little about what I have been up to lately.

The post with all of the pictures of the shop are HERE




Knitter's Pride Cubics Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Cocoknits Knitter's Block Kit - this is awesome!

Araucania Yelcho 

Sublime Tussah Silk DK

Kollage Cornucopia and Corntastic

I am almost positive I saw somewhere that the Cornucopia is discontinued, and the Corntastic is the substitute.  I can't find the website where I saw that now, if anyone knows feel free to leave a comment!

Knitting Needles

People often ask about the needles I use in my videos, so I though I would just do a video about needles in general.   Below are links to several different brands and types of needles you can get.  Needles really are a personal thing, and the only way to know what works best for you is to try them.  I think I have tried just about every type there is, with only a few exceptions. I almost always use, and prefer, addi needles.  

If you are a serious knitter, I do recommend that you purchase a set of interchangeable needles.  Yes, it seems awfully expensive.  However, if you were to add up the cost of buying each needle size, in each length of circular needles, that would be far more than the cost of an interchangeable set.  With the set, you usually get all of the most commonly used needle sizes and cord lengths.  Also, most manufacturers  offer add ons - you can purchase additional cords and/or needle tips to supplement your set.  It really is a wise investment. You can find some fairly affordable sets, so don't think owning an interchangeable set is out of reach. 

If you by needles in Wal-Mart, Joanns, Michaels, etc. you will typically see the same stuff - Boye and Clover, and usually Susan Bates.  There may be a couple of other brands carried as well.  Your local yarn store may or may not also have these brands, and in addition you can find addi needles, rosewood needles, Knitter's Pride, Kollage, Chiao Goo.... it goes on and on.  And of course, you can find pretty much anything online.  (My favorite online stores are in the 'shop' tab at the top, and I also have some listed in my amazon store, which you can find in the right side bar.)

Needles come in many different lengths, some very short and some very long. You can get them in all different materials, such as wood, bamboo, plastic, acrylic and even glass.  You can get the standard round needles, and even square needles.  The square needles are touted as causing less strain on your hands, and create more uniform stitches.  I own a set of square DPNs from Kollage and have to say, they do feel pretty good in my hands.  

Some needles are very polished and smooth, allowing the yarn to slide with ease.  Others have a little bit of grab to them, making the yarn a little more difficult to move.  For new knitters, it can be a bit of a help to have needles with grab, as there is a lesser chance of stitches dropping off the needles.  The good old fashioned aluminum needles have grab, as well as bamboo and wood.  There are some needles out there that are made of those materials that are more polished than others, and so the yarn will slide easier.  If you see a needle that is really shiny, chances of it being nice and smooth are pretty good.  Nickel plated needles, like addi turbos and the Knit Picks Options, are very slick and smooth.  Yarn slides like a dream on these needles.  Depending on the type of yarn you use, and how you hold it, you may find that needles that have that little grab to them still allow the yarn to slide easily.  For instance, I once knit with Lion Brand Homespun on acrylic needles.  It was awful, I had the hardest time moving the yarn on the needles.  

I am not a needle expert, by far, but I have used a lot of different types that are available.  I'll give you some links to peruse.  I will also post a video below, if anyone is interested.  This list is by no means everything out there.  There are many, many more.  I suggest asking at your local yarn store, or if you know someone who knits, to give you a few suggestions.  Knitting boards (such as Knitting Paradise) are also a good place to ask around, and you should be able to get a good idea of pros and cons of different needles.  Again, it is personal choice.  I adore addi needles, but I have seen people posting about their dislike for them.  There is no wrong choice - whatever feels the most comfortable to you is the right needle.  Don't let someone sway you from a cheaper needle, simply because it is cheap.  If you like the cheap needles, then use the cheap needles.  There is no need to spend $32 for a pair of needles if you enjoy knitting with a pair of $5 needles.  The whole point of knitting is for you to enjoy yourself and relax and have fun with fiber.  

A word on needle gauges: Most brands have a needle gauge.  If possible, use the gauge for whatever brand needle you are knitting with.  It is possible that different manufacturers may have needles that vary slightly in sizes; if you use a Lion Brand gauge to check the size of a Boye needle, it may not be exactly accurate.  This is another reason doing a gauge swatch is very important if you are knitting a fitted garment!

Straights:

Boye 

Aluminum (available in the standard round needles, or the Artisan needles, which are square)

Rosewood 

Plastic

Susan Bates

Silvalume (Aluminum)

Luxite (Plastic)

Crystalites (Acrylic)

Quicksilver (made from a special heat-treated aluminum alloy)

Clover

Takumi Bamboo (also comes in 13-14 inch sizes)

Double Points:

Boye

Aluminum (available in both round and the Artisan square)

Susan Bates

Silvalume

Quicksilver

Steelite

Brittany

Birch Wood

Clover

Takumi Velvet (highly polished bamboo)

Takumi Bamboo

All of the above also have circular needles, made from the same materials.

Interchangeable sets:

addi - you can see all of the interchangeable sets here.  

Boye - Artisan Wood and Nickel Plated system

            Artisan Nickel Plated system

Knit Picks Options

Denise

Knitter's Pride Cubics

Signature Needles - I am just providing the link to their main page.  They have single, double and circular needles, and you can "build your own" needles.  Choose the length, end cap, and point sharpness of your choice.  Pretty nifty needles, that carry a pretty hefty price tag!  

How to Knit Entrelac: An Entrelac Tutorial

At long last, here is the tutorial on Entrelac!  Below you will find a printable guide, with which you can knit a small sample of entrelac fabric.  When you feel comfortable with entrelac, you can use the directions here to create your own project.  Just substitute the number of stitches in the sample for however many stitches you want to use.

There is also a video demonstrating the small sample you can knit with the entrelac guide.  The video is in two parts, each about half an hour long.  I show the sample knit from cast on to bind off - how to knit the base or foundation triangles, the right side triangles/rectangles, the left triangles and wrong side rectangles, and finally the bind off triangles.

This tutorial is for knitting entrelac flat.  I also have a tutorial for Seamless Entrelac / Entrelac in the Round HERE.



This tutorial is just bare bones entrelac; there are many creative ways to expand on the basic entrelac I show you here.  As I mention in the guide, there are a couple of books on Entrelac that I know of (the first one I have), and a Craftsy class on Entrelac.  Here are the links:


Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting

Entree to Entrelac: The Definitive Guide from a Biased Knitter

HERE is the class on Craftsy, taught by Gwen Bortner

Entrelac Tutorial

And here are the two videos:

How to Knit Bobbles

I have recently started redoing all of my old videos.  Bobbles is one of those videos.  It was long and extremely boring, on top of being pretty hard to see.  This new video is still a tad on the long side, but at least now it is very clear!  And instead of written instructions scrolling through the video, I am putting them up here.  Hope everyone likes the new bobble video!

There are no set rules for bobbles, really.  You can make as many as you want, big or small, different colors (as in the photo above), and they can be placed anywhere you like.  If you are following a pattern, it will undoubtedly tell you where to place the bobbles, and how to make them.  

Below are a few ways I know to make bobbles, and I am sure there are more methods floating around out there. They all have a slightly different look, but the method of making them is really the same : increase into the next stitch, turn and purl, turn and knit, decrease.  And there is your bobble.  The typical bobble is 5 stitches, but you are free to experiment.  The video demonstrates stockinette fabric and bobbles, but you can really do anything with them.  Maybe garter fabric with a stockinette bobble, or the other way around.  Why not a seed stitch bobble?  Use bobbles as buttons.  Your only limitation is your imagination.

Decide where you want a bobble.  Into the next stitch, increase using any of the following methods:

1) K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

2) K1, YO, K1, YO, K1

3) KFL, KBL, KFL, KBL, KFL (Knit front/back loop)

Then, turn your work and purl those same five stitches.  Turn again and knit.  You can stop here, or purl/knit again.  The more times you do this, the puffier your bobble will be.

Now, you need to decrease back to one stitch, using any of the following methods:

1) Pass second stitch over first, pass third stitch over first, etc. until all extra stitches have been passed over the first

2) After you have purled and are ready to knit the stitches : K2tog, K1, K2tog, then pass the two remaining stitches over the first

3) Pass the second and third over the first together, then pass the fourth and fifth together over the first

4) Once you have purled/knit as many times as you like, continue knitting to the end of your row.  You will make your decreases on the wrong side of the fabric.  When you come to the bobble, simply purl all of the extra stitches together.  Obviously, this could become difficult if you have chosen to use more than five stitches for your bobble.  I wouldn't recommend this decrease for more than five stitches.  

And of course, here is the video!  Happy Knitting and Enjoy!

New Knitting Videos and Tutorial

Happy Friday everyone!  For those who don't follow me on Facebook, or maybe just didn't see the post, I have decided to redo all of my old knitting videos.  I have been making how-to videos since early 2008.  It is going to take a while to get them all done!  At the beginning, I only had a digital camera to record with.  The camera would record for 3 minutes and then stop.  So in addition to poor quality video, there were many stops and starts in the videos.  Not long ago, I got a real video camera! I am now able to record clear, HD videos from start to finish.  If you are familiar with my videos, I'm sure you noticed the difference!  I have also been playing around with different editing music, etc. on the videos trying to decide what I like best.  I think I finally have a format that works well and most people seem to like.  I will be adding these videos on the weekends, along with the regular stitch videos that I do.

So.  I have added a new tab to the top of the blog which will have links to all of my videos.  Not all of them are available right now.  It is going to take time for me to redo everything; I will be adding the links as I go.  The videos are not being done in any particular order.   Also, all of the stitch pattern videos I have done in the past will be going into a new tab on The Weekly Stitch.

I have also finished my entrelac project that I will be giving away as a free pattern to go with the tutorial.  I hope to have that up this weekend.

Hope everyone likes the new videos and tutorial.  Thanks for visiting my blogs.  Happy Knitting!

4th of July - Stars 'n Stripes Dish Cloth - Free Pattern

Hi everyone!  Here is a free pattern for you to knit for the Fourth of July, which is right around the corner.  This uses Lily Sugar n Cream self striping yarn, so all you have to do is knit.

The stitches you need to know for this pattern are:  knit, purl, yarn over, purl three together.  If you don't know how to do the star stitch, here is a video:

June 20, 2012 - I used my cloth for the first time tonight, and the red has bled a little bit into the white.  There is also a little bit of bleeding from the blue, but not much.  This doesn't bother me, but I wanted to let everyone else know in case it may be an issue.  


Stars 'n Stripes Dish Cloth

S-n-P Podcast Episode 16

Hi everyone!  Thought I would do a little video to show you some of the knitting goodies I have gotten lately, and of course the magazines I have waiting to be read.  Also a couple of projects that I am working on right now, both of which I plan to do tutorials on and offer free patterns.

If you didn't know, I recently put up a few tutorials on the blog:

Pom Poms with a pom pom maker, and Pom Poms without a pom pom maker (make your own as opposed to buying one)
Making Tassels
Making Beaded Tassels

All of the magazines I show you have a link up in the Magazine Tab at the top of the blog, if you are interested in subscribing or buying single issues, both current and back issues.

Today is the last day for the Interweave Hurt Book Sale.  I got some great deals on a few books, and none of them were hurt in any way.  Not that I would mind if they were a bit hurt, it's going to happen any how :0)  If you miss the sale this time around, I am sure they will do it again next year.  It really is a chance to get amazing deals on a lot of different books - ebooks are available also!

I grabbed four hanks of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK Onsies from Jimmy Beans.  I got two each of Dusk and Rose.  I plan to use these for a top down shawl.  I love Madelinetosh yarn!  Nice and soft and very easy to work with, and it has great stitch definition.  I used Madelinetosh yarn in my Star Struck Hat pattern that was part of the tutorial on converting stitch patterns to use in the round.

And, from one of, if not THE best online yarn shop, Knitty Noddy, I got the new addi Long Tip Lace Clicks, along with some Hand Maiden Silk Maiden yarn.  A yummy blend of 50/50 silk and wool.  Very nice and soft, and the colors are beautiful.

And the projects I am working on - two wraps.  One is done in the scribble lace or scribble knitting technique, and the other is an entrelac wrap.  So, tutorials on both and free patterns.  Those will be up as soon as I finish knitting.  Close to being done on both!

I think that about covers it.  Until next time, Happy Knitting!

Beaded Tassels

If you want to add a little glitz to your tassels, why not use beads?  It is really simple to do - the process is basically the same as making regular tassels, but you don't cut the bottom of the tassel.  Just pick some beads appropriate for your yarn.  If you aren't able to find beads that will fit your yarn, try using a complimentary, light weight yarn that the beads will fit on and wrap it along with the yarn used for the project.  Or you can just use the different yarn by itself.

Like regular tassels, you will need something to wrap your yarn around that is the length you want the tassel to be.  You also need beads of course, and scissors.  You will also need a needle that will fit through the hole in your bead with the yarn, or you can use a crochet hook to put the beads onto your yarn like I do in the video.

You can use as many beads as you like.  For the tassel above, I just kept one bead per strand as I wrapped.  Once you are done wrapping, cut the yarn.  You will need to cut another length of yarn to tie the tassel at the top so it doesn't fall apart.  Then, just slid the tassel off the cardboard or whatever you wrapped it around.  Do not cut the bottom of the tassel or your beads will come off.  You can then tie another piece of yarn around the top of the tassel if you like.  Attach the tassel to your project and trim any ends that may be sticking out.

Here is a video showing how I made the tassel above.