Confessions of a Yarn Fiend

You know how I like never update tumblr anymore? Its cause...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:22:18 -0500

You know how I like never update tumblr anymore? Its cause I’m completely consumed by attempting to plan a wedding on top of passing my classes and keeping up with my Etsy orders. I’m also trying to knit a few things for the wedding :) Anyways, I put this on our wedding website and some Catholic family members are making a big fuss, and a lovely friend of mine wrote about it on his blog…which you can read if you click on the screenshot.

Just wanted to say hi. I very much enjoyed and agreed with your designers "disclaimer" post. I feel pretty much the same way. I don't usually follow knitters; I focus strickly on crochet BUT I am now following you. Your work is gorgeous.

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:32:30 -0500

Thanks! I’m not super active on tumblr now that I’m back in school, but it makes me really happy to hear that people are still finding that post. Its a very contentious issue because so much misinformation is being spread. Following you back, and if it makes you feel any better I crochet a lot too!

Finished hand-dyed yarn!

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:44:44 -0500

Finished hand-dyed yarn!

The yarn is cooking!

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 16:44:24 -0500

The yarn is cooking!

Guess what I’m doing!

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:16:15 -0500

Guess what I’m doing!

Patterns That Complement Multi-Colored Yarn

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:44:09 -0500

I loooove yarn that gradually changes color. It’s my favorite. And I have too much of it. 2013 is supposed to be a de-stashing year for me, so I’m trying to find lots of patterns that will really show off this yarn. Do you have any suggestions? Most of the examples I’ve found are shawls, which are great because I need one-skein projects, but I want to make other kinds of projects too!

Here are the Ravelry links for some of the awesome patterns I’ve already found:

LazyKaty Shawl

Stripe Study Shawl

Akimbo Shawl

Wingspan Shawl

Be sure to check out the projects page as there are often examples that are even better than the original designer’s pictures.

4:00.

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:04:32 -0500

4:00.

2:00 and I’m running out of room on the desk!...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:07:32 -0500

2:00 and I’m running out of room on the desk! Unfortunately I forgot my compression gloves so I have to take a carpal tunnel avoidance (lunch) break.

1:00. Almost halfway through the workday.

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:04:05 -0500

1:00. Almost halfway through the workday.

12:00!

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:04:26 -0500

12:00!

11:00. This hour wasn’t as productive because the green...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:01:50 -0500

11:00. This hour wasn’t as productive because the green is difficult to work with and the new pink had to be wound into a ball before I could start.

Hey, I think the cardigan you just completed is absolutely adorable! Great job! I was just wondering where you got the pattern from?

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:25:13 -0500

Thanks! I’m at work on my phone so I can’t link it, but search “blackberry cable cardigan” on Ravelry. It’s an excellent pattern; this was my first sweater and I had no trouble following her instructions.

How much of this chaos afghan do you think I can get done at my...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:04:38 -0500

How much of this chaos afghan do you think I can get done at my temp job today? I’m working from 9-6, here we are at 10:00.

I finished my cardigan!

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:51:45 -0500

I finished my cardigan!

Atonal Ginger Thoughts and Creations: yesterday I bought a tinted moisturizer. It said it worked like a...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:43:08 -0500

Atonal Ginger Thoughts and Creations: yesterday I bought a tinted moisturizer. It said it worked like a...:

agthoughtsandcreations:

yesterday I bought a tinted moisturizer. It said it worked like a foundation. Cool.

Picked the one for light to medium skin tone with pink undertones because…that’s my red cheeked self.

It had a bronzing effect. Just subtle enough that i didn’t feel I needed to wash it off but noticeable enough…

I have the same problem, plus I hate the smell and texture of cream or liquid foundations. Have you tried Mary Kay Mineral Powder? I use shade Ivory 2 and it really evens me out but it doesn’t look or feel like I’m wearing foundation. They make it so that you can use just a little for a sheer look or layer it on for full coverage, so if you don’t use a lot your natural tones show through.

2 new techniques in 1 project. Intarsia is hard. Double pointed...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:59:00 -0500

2 new techniques in 1 project. Intarsia is hard. Double pointed needles are strangely satisfying…like garter stitch was when I first learned to knit.

Still lots to do, but its starting to resemble a cardigan!

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:43:00 -0500

Still lots to do, but its starting to resemble a cardigan!

Yarn Review: Universal Yarns Classic Shades

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:06:00 -0500

This might not be my most objective review ever, because I’m so emotionally involved with this amazing yarn! Let me tell you a story about this yarn…

Once upon a time, I loved to knit, but the only yarn I ever used was acrylic from Michael’s because that was where I worked. I thought I was getting such a great deal, first to grab the yarn that went on clearance, getting an employee discount on everything else. SO MUCH HOMESPUN.

Then one day, I was on a roadtrip and I saw a billboard for a yarn shop. I immediately demanded we stop at the yarn shop, and that was where I discovered Universal Yarn Classic Shades. Its 70% acrylic, 30% wool so it was more affordable than most LYS yarns, and comes in such pretty colors! I bought 3 skeins in the Tutti Frutti colorway and happily knit away for the rest of the road trip. This is what I made.

When I returned home from my roadtrip, I wanted more of this yarn and I knew they didn’t carry it at Michael’s, so I googled it. That was how I discovered WEBS. And that was the first step towards a yarn stash that looks like this.

No more big box acrylic for me, I buy nice yarn online now, thanks to Universal Yarn Classic Shades. For more reviewy information: This is 70& acrylic so it’s no luxury yarn, but its soft, affordable, machine washable, and comes in pretty colors. It’s suitable for pretty much any project you can think of, and its super fun to knit with. My fiance bought me every color for Christmas last year:

Here are my previous (slightly less narrative) yarn reviews:

Plymouth Yarn Boku

Elegant Yarns Kaleidoscope

Knit Picks Chroma Worsted

I don’t know how to do this! My magic loop cord is busy...

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:46:00 -0500

I don’t know how to do this! My magic loop cord is busy & I need to knit in the round…this will be an adventure.

Do you take commissions? I want to see it finished first but I might love the sweater you're making and maybe want one. Also, I just learned to knit. What is blocking? How do I do it? And what is the point? (Also you're really awesome at knitting and I want to learn how to be as good as you =) )

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:17:00 -0500

Thanks for asking :) I do take commissions in my Etsy shop, but this cardigan has taken me since June and I’m not even done yet, so another one would be several hundred dollars. Since you’re learning to knit, I encourage you to work towards making your own :) Sweaters are a great learning experience! This one was made with the Blackberry Cabled Cardigan pattern. That pattern link goes to Ravelry which is the best knitting resource on the internet if you haven’t already found it! It’s free and there is a great community of helpful and enthusiastic knitters, plus a huge pattern database.

Blocking helps even out your stitches, flatten out any curling, and get all your pieces to matching measurements after you’ve finished knitting. Blocking is super important for things with multiple pieces to be sewn together, and for lace…I never block for hats, scarves, or mittens but some people do. There are a few different methods, but I like to dunk the piece in a pot of room temperature water, gently dab it with a towel to get off excess moisture, and then pin it into the shape I want it.