The Merced County Fair

We live in what many would consider a small town.  It doesn't seem so small some days, on others when I run into someone I know every where I go, I think, sheesh....this is small town living.

One of the neat things about our town and county, is the Fair.  It seems like everyone is abuzz with Fair anticipation.  The week of the Fair, the questions being lofted are all Fair related...have you been, did you see, when are you going, did you get your exhibits in?  There is something nostalgic about the whole Fair atmosphere.

I belong to a Needle Arts Guild, so the frenzy is on.  We need to get our projects done and in on time.  Then once the Fair begins, we of course want to know if we've won anything.  There is almost childlike excitement, the feeling is akin to the first day of school.

Saturday, I finally was able to head to the Fair, I'd heard other Guild Members had won ribbons, and I was anxious to find out how I'd done.  I was gobsmacked!  I had entered six items, one third place, five first place and one best in division.  I had to stop myself from skipping!

I'm a Packaging Geek

I'm Marina, and I'm a packaging Geek.  There, I've admitted it.  I'm not sure how many other people ooh and ah over take out containers, bakers twine and chalkboard tags.  I do!  I am always thinking about how I can use those cute little clothespins and where I can put a sticker.  I wonder if it's a disease or if there's a 12-step program for it.

Recently, I decided to organize all of the "packing supplies" I've accumulated.  Initially, I thought I could put it in one bin.  But, then I realized it would be easier if I divided it up and was event specific, such as Valentine's Day, Birthdays, or Christmas.  I'm sure you can get the idea.  So armed with plastic bins, and my label maker, I began to sort.  Twelve bins later, I had a better handle on things, not a great handle, mind you, just a better one.

There I was surrounded by bins filled with wonderful packaging, and I solemnly promised, that was it, I would purchase no more!  Well that lasted until the next day, when I found these wonderful Kraft mailing containers on clearance and just had to buy at least three, because wouldn't they be great to use to send to David when he was at Scout Camp this summer.  Well of course, you just can't have a plain container, so I searched the sticker aisle for "camping" stickers, and sure enough, there were some on clearance.  So much for my solemn promise that I would buy no more.

Recently, I've discovered Amigurumi, and I made some fortune cookie key chains.  But, can you just sell the key chain?  How could I make it better?  Enter my packaging habit.... and this is the final result-

So, how cool is this -

I think I'll let my Geek Flag fly for a while.

Back to Life!

I abandoned this poor blog about two years ago.  There never seemed to be enough time and I was constantly over stressed and busy.  I didn't abandon knitting and crocheting, I could never do that, it would mean I'd abandoned my sanity.

Well, what's changed that I've come back to this poor lonely blog?  We've purchased the mailbox and shipping store, I've left a job I hated behind, and I've gotten older.  Perhaps it's the advancing of age that made me decide I could no longer get up and do something that was emotionally and physically draining.  You just have to be happy with your life choices, otherwise, why bother living?

So, now I'm at the shop for 4-5 hours a day, and in between customers I stream Netflix and stitch away!  Life couldn't be better!  Our customers are always curious about what I'm working on, and many of them purchase items as well.  I spend some time explaining the difference between crocheting and knitting, but I love that they ask.  I see people my age and sometimes older smile and a far away look comes into their eyes as they tell me their mother or grandmother used to do that.  It brings us together, and their smile becomes my smile.

I'm still selling online and am stepping outside of my comfort zone and joining facebook groups as well.  It's a new world out there, even though my craft is old.  If you're interested these are my store sites:

https://handmadeartists.com/user-home/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FromtheHeartWest?ref=hdr_shop_menu

So, beware.....I'm Back!

All Done!

I've been working on this baby blanket for almost a full month.  That is actually a long time for me.  Generally I choose projects that will not take more then two weeks.  However, I absolutely fell in love with this yarn.  I swear it was whispering to me from across the store.  Since we don't know the gender of the baby, (keep in mind I'm in my 50's, so it's definitely not for me), I've had to do a lot of neutral colors.  This looked so fresh and springlike, I just had to have it.  I had a pattern in mind, and then I saw the pattern on the skein wrapper, and all sense left me.

Once I got started, I realized this was not going to be a "watch TV and knit mindlessly" project.  It was a lot of counting, and bobbles, and then the cables.  Hence the one month time period.

Last night I finished weaving in all the ends, and was so thrilled by the results.  It was well worth the extra time.

And here it is:

A Free Pattern!

I posted the first hat that I made on Facebook, and got a few messages asking for the pattern.  I didn't really have one, since I made it up as I went along.  So, I decided to go ahead and jot down notes and make at least another one.  By the time I got to the brown and pink one, I think I finally nailed it.  So here's the pattern:

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn ( I used leftovers here, so I'm not sure exactly how much, less than 1/2 a 3.5 oz skein)
Size H Crochet Hook

I used the Magic crochet loop to start. The single crochet rounds are continuous. I used a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: Chain 1, work 6 sc in ring – 6 sts.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st around – 12 sts.
Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) – 18 sts.
Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) – 24 sts.
Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts)– 30 sts.
Round 6: Sc in each st around.
Round 7: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) – 36 sts.
Round 8: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts) – 42 sts.
Round 9: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts) – 48 sts.
Round 10: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join with slip st to
top of ch 2 – 48 sts.
Round 11: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts) – 54 sts.
Round 12: Repeat Round 10.
Round 13-14: Repeat Round 6.
Round 15: Repeat Round 10.
Round 16-17: Repeat Round 6.
Fasten off.

With right side facing you, slip stitch contrasting color to the sc before the join. Ch 1, sc in same stitch and single crochet around the entire hat.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

The Heart

I tried both the magic loop and the chain/form loop method to start the heart.  I like the way the chain/form loop hat looks.

ch 4, slip st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 12 dc in ring – 13 sts.
Round 2: Sc in each st; turn.
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, 2 dc in next 3 sts; turn – 21 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, skip first st, 2 sc in next 4 sts, sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next 4 sts, slip st 6 sts across the top of the heart – 36 sts.
Fasten off

Whip stitch the heart to the front of the hat.  I did them off center and tilted, you can do it anyway you want.  I might add a button or other embellishment next time.  

So, there you have it.  My finished hats were 16 inches in circumference, so about a 3-6 month size.

Please let me know if you have any difficulties with the pattern, and feel free to post pictures!

JKS

Size Matters!

Well, at least when it comes to knitting needles.

When I started knitting, back when Adam West was Batman, I used metal, 14 inch needles.  I was a child, so as you can imagine, it was a whole lot of needle for me.

Now a trip to the yarn shop yields a plethora of choices.  Needles are aluminum, plastic, bamboo, rosewood, and some incredibly beautiful hard woods.  They still come in pretty standard lengths, 14 inches or 9-1/2/ 10 inches. So, where do you begin to choose?

When I teach knitting lessons, I advise my students to purchase bamboo needles, no longer than 10 inches.  I have several reasons why I make that choice.  First of all, we begin on smaller projects, and 10 inches is perfect.  With 14 inch needles, before long your arms are getting involved in the knitting and you start looking like a bird in flight.  For larger projects, such as afghans, sweaters, and shawls, I advise students to use circular needles.  So, I can't think of any time in the last 10 years that I've actually used a 14 inch needle. Secondly, I prefer bamboo.  Aluminum and plastic needles are too slippery for me.  I hate to put down my work and my stitches are sliding off the needle.  Bamboo has a little bit of "teeth" to it, so your stitches aren't so likely to slip.

My students often tell me that the price on bamboo seems to be prohibitive.  I advise them to use their coupons for those purchases.  I know in our area Michaels and Joann Fabrics will take competitors coupons, so with a 40%-50% coupon, the price is about the same as aluminum or plastic.  I have also purchased needles online from eknittingneedles.com.  I like their site, the needles are inexpensive and you get free shipping if you spend $15 or more.  I've even been known to purchase needles on E-bay, if the price is right.

The bottom line, is to find needles that you're comfortable with.  Personally, I never use single point needles any more.  However, that's a whole different post.

JKS

Just Taking a Leap

I've battled with how to begin this Blog for about two weeks.  I finally decided I was giving it way too much thought, and should "just take a leap".

This Blog is about knitting and crocheting.  Its about what I've learned, practiced, done, found out, hated and loved about knitting and crocheting for almost 50 years.

If you follow me on this journey, you'll get lot's of tips, some reviews of yarn and patterns.  You'll get to see what inspires me, how I put things together and what I do when I totally hate the results.

My hope is that this Blog will be a quick reference for beginners, intermediates and yes, even some of you experts.

You can follow my little company on Facebook (I'd appreciate the Like), or purchase finished items and patterns at my shop on Craft Cafe. I'll add these as gadgets as soon as I figure it out.  I'm great at stitching, not so much at technology

https://www.facebook.com/pages/From-The-Heart/448978455147420

http://craftcafe.co/shop/fromtheheart/

JKS
(Just Keep Stitching)