Title needs to read FEBRUARY, 2023.
Can you fix that for me, Please? Thanks!
No, this thread isn’t becoming ‘Arts and Crafts 101’ but with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought some of these DIY ideas were cute.
100 Best DIY Valentine’s Day Crafts:
https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/valentines-day-crafts/
I like anything Mason jar related, I like garlands and anything floral or wreath-related. :)
Herrnhut stars: 20 pointed DIY 6” card stock stars.
Couple of months late, but not too early for next Christmas.
https://www.dw.com/en/herrnhut-stars-an-export-hit-from-saxony/video-64124933
Excellent instructions for the 20 pointed stars with print out pattern for 6” star on Etsy.com No financial interest, just a happy customer.
The hunt has been on for a knitted baby blanket pattern I like - so far, this one is leading the pack ... main body should knit pretty quickly - the borders will be trickier, but are very pretty. I'm still looking around so there's a possibility I'll find something I like better.
Only a 16 page download - LOL! She must have instructions for every single row!
My latest ‘challenge’!
I am knitting a pair of leg warmers for a friend’s Christmas present. Yes, Christmas .... the month of December was spent with dad in the hospital, so it’s as if I just skipped right over Christmas, now I’m playing ‘catch up’.
Anyway, I bought some 100% wool yarn that is really nice and the leg warmer pattern shows up beautifully. They should be nice and warm, too. This is a friend who really appreciates knitting & crochet (she crochets, but does not knit). I want the leg warmers to be extra nice and gift worthy.
The issue is the bind off. A regular bind off is not stretchy at all & the leg warmer needs to have some stretch. A ‘super stretchy’ bind off or a ‘suspended’ bind off result in a different look along the edge which I ‘could’ live with IF the edge didn’t “flare”. I hate the flared look ... want the bound off edge to be more like the cast on edge.
After scrounging through articles and videos, it looks like the “Tubular” (aka ‘Italian’) bind off is what I’m looking for. It’s a sewn rather than knitted bind off and very similar to the Kitchener stitch (ugh!), but looks terrific. Everyone who has talked about it in blogs, how to , etc. says it’s worth the trouble - I guess I’ll find out!
I’m knitting a k1 p1 ribbing swatch to practice on before I attempt it on the leg warmer I have finished (1 down, 1 more to knit) except for the bind off. I might have a glass of wine while I’m first attempting/practicing it (ha ha).
So here’s how you do it - great video btw, instructions are very clear:
Tubular Bind Off In the Round for k1, p1 Ribbing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jPMLIE7ac8
Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow - 100% rain all day, cold and “messy” for the forecast - sounds like a great day to do some knitting!
I personally find that knitting is particularly soothing/calming, much more than crochet, although doing crocheted prayer shawls had me in a different mental state while doing them.
Anyway, I saw this today .... Center of the Yarniverse is a ‘local’ yarn shop in a small town near me ... about a 30 minute drive through some pretty countryside. I’m not going to this one, but would consider it in the future - it would be nice to know how, in a more specific way, to view/use knitting & crochet as a meditation.
Center of the Yarniverse:
“It’s not too late to sign up for tomorrow’s Fiberside Chat with Mary Ann Gebhardt: Yoga for your Knitting & Crochet Rhythm!
Mary Ann will be sharing the healing aspects of knitting and crocheting. The class will cover gentle hand and shoulder movements to relax the muscles you use most. We’ll explore knitting and crocheting as a form of meditation incorporating the sounds of the Tibetan singing bowls. Join this class to combine your passions or learn a new compliment to your needlework!”