Darning needle holder

 My brain works in weird ways. I opened a packet of Sugru (moldable putty glue) and didn't use it for what I intended so I was trying to figure out what I could use it for before it set up. 

 So I got a cap from a dried up marker and cut it down (it was to long) and used it to glue the cap to my lamp by the chair I sit and knit in. 

 And that's how I made a darning needle holder so they don't fall off my stand when not in immediate use and are at the ready.

Easy cheap yarn sacks.

I do love my knitted yarn sacks. But let's face it, if I spend all my time knitting cozies for my yarn I won't have as much time to knit/crochet with all the yarn in knitted cozies!

So I went to the lingerie section of the store where they sell stockings and bought one of those big packs of knee high stockings. You get a bunch in a box and they're cheap.
Bonus is if you wear them, this is a great use for the ones that are either mismatched or have runs in them. You can also cut the feet off the full stockings you can't wear anymore.

You can then place your center pull cakes and skiens inside the stocking and it will help hold it together as you work and it gets floppy as the nylon will compress  the yarn. It's also great to protect those super soft and delicate yarns that can get nappy from being taken out and stufed back into your project bag. It also keeps it clean oif it falls on the floor.

Reduce, reuse recycle!

Caron Simply Soft Vs. Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee Soft Secret

I recently ha to pick up yarn form Hobby Lobby. I really don't like shopping there but it was across from my knitting group and I needed yarn. They have been slowly pushing out other brands and replacing them with their own. Most recently they have gotten rid of (or are in the process of getting rid of) Caron Simply Soft (CSS) yarn and replacing it with their brand Yarn Bee Soft Secret (YBSS). At a glance they look similar, thin weight yarn, lovely sheen, vibrant colors.

Would I recommend YBSS? NO!

My skein of CSS heather grey had 315 yards of yarn. the YBSS had 370 yards. So by yardage there is more yarn. But this yarn is very loosely plied which causes it to compress to a smaller size.

Here is a closeup of a blanket I am working on. This blanket is a collective blanket so I do not know what the square are made from because they were sent to me from around the world. But I am assembling them in CSS grey heather. I purchased the YBSS in the rainbow colors. This is how they crochet together. I used an I hook.

*click on the images for an enlarged view.

Here is a side by side of the CSS (grey) and YBSS (blue and purple) yo ucan see the ply is looser.

 

 Here I split the plies of both yarns. you can see the CSS is spun much tighter and is a 4 ply yarn. the YBSS is only a 3 ply yarn and is spun much looser.

Also when walking through the store the and when I put the yarn on the counter it had left lots of lit on my shirt.

I would not reccomend this yarn. If you like CSS stick to CSS and don't bother with the YBSS

Spinrite buys out the Caron yarn line

Don't know if anyone reading this has heard yet but Spinrite has bought Caron. Spinrite is the Canadian company that currently owns Bernat, Paton’s, Lily, Pisgah and the Michaels house brands of yarn. They are the company that bought Peaches n' Cream earlier this year.

Now Caron will no longer be an American company and will be moving to Canada. I will be looking to see what this means for the Caron line of yarns, particularly Simply Soft which is my favorite yarn for my lace scarfs.

I will also be keeping an eye out to see if this means they will be liquidating their US stock like they did with Peaches n' cream.

Michigan Fiber Festival 2011

So I went out to the MI fiber fest today and had an amazing time! We had really nice weather for it, not to hot and breezy.

I scored some mill end yarns. the bright pink one is a hand dyed and was only $8 and the cone was only $6 ( it's cotton).



And here are some photos I took from the barns and booths









I love this photo!

They had a costume parade which was really cute!

Peaches & Creme HUGE SALE!!!!

P&C is having a HUGE sale right now. 50%-70% off balls and full cones of yarn.

Just had to pass this info on incise anyone is interested. Peaches & Creme is the yarn I love to use for my hair accessories and all my kitchenware.

The sale is going for a total of 10 days and ends 6-25-11

Peaches & Creme website

Yarn ring

This is something I came up with when I changed the way I held my yarn when I learned to knit. Before I learned to knit I held my yarn between my 1st 2 fingers (kind of like a cigarette). When I learned to knit I learned continental and changed my yarn hold so that it wraps around my pinkie and up and over the back of my hand and index finger and this is a much better hold for me.

For the longest time I had problems holding my yarn in the same spot on my finger. To solve this I created yarn rings. I would get scraps of yarn and tie them into loops around the yarn I was working with. I would make the loop large enough to stay between my 1st and 2nd knuckle.

I then put the ring on my finger and my yarn still runs across the back of my hand and over my index finger but the yarn ring keeps it from slipping off. This is also hand when working with more than one color as you can make a separate yarn ring for each strand it it will keep them from crossing.

Here are a couple photos of the yarn ring in use. They don't need to be tight, it's just a guide. I don't need it like I used to because i have become accustomed to holding my yarn secure but it's a handy tip to pass on for anyone who is having problems keeping their yarn in the same spot on their finger.

Yarn babies

If your SO ever wonders why your stash keeps growing....

Yarn get's lonely and an unattended stash of yarn set quietly in a corner or tub will reproduce. Acrylics don't always produce acrylics, and natural fibers don't always produce natural fibers. If acrylics and natural fibers are stored together and left alone some strange and fun yarn babies may soon pop up.

Now some yarn babies are rather simple and plain. Others may require more attention and be higher maintenance then their parents. Some may not like your trusty hook or needle and my cry for some new tools. It may help to try different things to find what they want and nurture them. Also some yarn babies may not want to be like their parents. They may require some new patterns you never thought of making. You may need to learn some new stitches to help build their character.

Stash growth is not limited to the creation of yarn babies. Some times old family members will return home when they hear there are new arrivals and you may find a reunion on your hands. This may come in the form of some vintage yarns.

Stashes also tend to migrate towards each other. You may find odds and ends making their way into your stash from the strangest places and different corners of the globe. Diversity is good, it breeds a healthy yarn environment. And don't be ashamed of those crazy family members that pop up in the form of novelty yarn. They may seem to wild and crazy, but fun fur and ribbon yarn deserve love to.

Be aware that your stash may also draw you to other stash owners. This should provide endless opportunities for yarn bonding amongst fiber and friend.

So love your yarn, and your yarn will love you back!

Ohhh that yummy yarn!

I won this wonderful yarn and my mind is whirling as to what to do with it. I was initially thinking of making a doily pattern that was a sunflower into a throw using this for the flower. but the colors are so deep and rich and my mind is into artsy mode and I'm considering using it for a crochet wall hanging of my own design one of my "make it as it goes" designs, I have this way of seeing things in my head and then trying to make them happen in thread/yarn. This would be perfect for the changing colors of leaves on a tree... or even a sunset.... hmmm the possibilities!
You can find the blog of the talented lady who made this yarn at La belle Helene She defiantly as an eye for color!

Michigan Fiber Festival

I took my boys and picked up my Aunt Joy and we went to the Fiber Festival today. it was really interesting to say the least! A festival dedicated to the art and craft of creating yarn. They had sheep herding demonstrations, sheering demonstrations, various work shops, contests for best skein and tones of other goodies for the yarn lover! It was just sooo fascinating!

Here are my photos from the day. It was a short tip. my aunt is recovering from back surgery and, well, I had kids at a fiber festival... not exactly the funest place for kids so they got antsy fairly fast. it was a hot day. But if I didn't have the boys and my Aunt was feeling better we both agreed that we would be in each stall checking it all out.

I didn't shrink any of the photos so if you want to look at them closer just give them a click. i used my new camera which is 10mp so they should be very good to see.

Oh, and my aunt says she has a HUGE braided rug that I can have that will be plenty large enough for the living room! We have all hard wood and I mentioned that I needed to get a new rug and she said she had one I could have. will have to post those when/if I get it!

photos from the animal barns
Raw fiber

Such beautiful work!

Yarn, yarn and more yarn!

One of the bunnies they had out for PPL to pet. they had a whole area of rabbits for sale.

These are form the sheep herding demonstration

Such beautiful yarns! amazing colors!

Spinning anyone? They had a HUGE assortment of spinners, large, small and everything in between. PPL were carrying around their spinners!