tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300404412024-03-07T21:19:14.455-06:00JL YarnworksWhat else do you do when wool threatens to evict your family?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-17953826461300134762012-08-04T02:36:00.001-05:002012-08-04T02:46:11.933-05:00Growing Pains<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uZgGCgmIQmoasd9yzVDjYgHWzrYFpYdzYer9QGb2AhxGzaDKZSiFokQPzKmdy2GLEAG7cn2JbXlGBE_myIseMKToH1DLHQgZswZ5sd932OdNOQ3oJGN60MgqxIbSY7_rTp5a/s1600/website.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uZgGCgmIQmoasd9yzVDjYgHWzrYFpYdzYer9QGb2AhxGzaDKZSiFokQPzKmdy2GLEAG7cn2JbXlGBE_myIseMKToH1DLHQgZswZ5sd932OdNOQ3oJGN60MgqxIbSY7_rTp5a/s400/website.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's been a long time coming, but I've finally taken the plunge to move JLYarnworks.com to a new e-commerce company. The old company was inexpensive and did the job, but only just. As my sales incrase, not being able to do something as rudimentary as export sales data to Excel, or even print a sales report, has become too cumbersome. The old site forced me to enter each order individually to get info like individual items purchased, purchase price, shipping charges, etc. Eek!</div>
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Plus, as technology over the past few years has grown by leaps and bounds, my old e-commerce company didn't make a single improvement or offer a single new feature.</div>
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So...I've researched different options, settled on one that I think I'm going to love, and have signed up to transfer the whole shebang over to them. I'm guessing just the transfer will take a few days, and then I get to start from scratch, adding products and making everything pretty. I have no idea how long this will take me! lol</div>
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But...<a href="http://jlyarnworks.etsy.com/" target="_blank">my Etsy site</a> will still be going strong during this process. If you're wanting products I'm not supposed to sell on Etsy, like those oh-so-lovely bamboo tools by Karatstix, just contact me here or on Etsy and I'll get it all set up for you. Easy peasy.</div>
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AND...know that the new Dot Com should be amazingly better than the old one. I hadn't updated JLYarnworks.com in awhile, knowing this inevitability was coming...and that I'd just have to start over anyway. Frankly, I lost motivation...which is all the more reason to get this done now!</div>
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With any luck, I'll get it all transferred very quickly and be back and open for business soon. Best to get it done before the busy fall season at least, right?</div>
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Thank you for all your patience, your understanding, and your support!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-59330851569971028542012-05-22T17:25:00.000-05:002012-05-22T17:41:14.794-05:00Giveaway Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9Zqsc7kaXYAeBCaCGQpMd4gpPhAHxZblMOXcihzsIXTD8F0SUkixXrZY0QxaBuMkP0_Thq7RtqeIqnA5BHvFOcf5l32YRHKmq2w40vU95GyjGCYGneICQ7eB7w7NbDR-GEwt/s1600/aim+true.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9Zqsc7kaXYAeBCaCGQpMd4gpPhAHxZblMOXcihzsIXTD8F0SUkixXrZY0QxaBuMkP0_Thq7RtqeIqnA5BHvFOcf5l32YRHKmq2w40vU95GyjGCYGneICQ7eB7w7NbDR-GEwt/s640/aim+true.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A couple weeks ago, I launched a new pattern. I did so fairly quietly since I was on my way out the door to a show. Now it's time to share it with all of you! And why not give a few away while I'm at it, right?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_vZCEExRzjC7mXYSYrVsX9bwccNe67b2vIa0_69qlQXKbRidgEVgfWLR1xWActZaJUDxVxdJbuvsqLST3OKF5GVIOrLPkhbyFiMO4B1hUjxxEZ79nDTDcj6KsIS0TxD5MbYe/s1600/Aim+True+Sock+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_vZCEExRzjC7mXYSYrVsX9bwccNe67b2vIa0_69qlQXKbRidgEVgfWLR1xWActZaJUDxVxdJbuvsqLST3OKF5GVIOrLPkhbyFiMO4B1hUjxxEZ79nDTDcj6KsIS0TxD5MbYe/s320/Aim+True+Sock+024.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">These socks were inspired by The Hunger Games. Aim True features an arrow pointing forward down the toe. They'd not only be great for your favorite Hunger Games fan, but also for a graduate or anyone else taking a new direction in life. Let these socks lead the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Want to win a pattern (PDF version) for yourself? Here ya go...</span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-4314b21">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js">
</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-3336646142710760472012-04-11T23:25:00.002-05:002012-04-11T23:26:39.077-05:00Join In The Round, Being Careful Not To TwistAnyone who has knit something in the round has seen these instructions before, right? "Join, being careful not to twist." And we've all thought, "Duh!" Until we get overconfident and realize that we have, indeed, twisted it. (I can't be the only one.)<br />
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A blog reader asked me about joining in the round and not twisting your work in my <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2008/07/hermiones-cable-eyelet-hat.html" target="_blank">Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat</a> post. Rather than give a lengthy and boring text answer in the comments, I figured I'd give a quick and dirty tutorial on joining in the round.<br />
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<b>1.</b> Cast on the desired number of stitches.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Spread those stitches out along the length of the needle and turn your work so that the bumps all fall to the center of the needles when you lay it down on a flat surface. (This is MUCH easier to see than trying to point them all down while holding your work up in the air.) This helps you make sure that nothing is twisted. If the nubs wrapped around a needle like a candy cane, you'd have a problem that would need to be fixed before the next step.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGtY0CxTlm0wI3IH73vc_OZcJeqx9EoT-khR_mhJltP8MLbJG1FiPaksImOduRZrC3DjIAuMpSC3j-gALLlOZ7R8bQqbxa1-evvJOevNCm_0h5LpErYB4a8lJQRfCZgU09BdB/s1600/joining2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGtY0CxTlm0wI3IH73vc_OZcJeqx9EoT-khR_mhJltP8MLbJG1FiPaksImOduRZrC3DjIAuMpSC3j-gALLlOZ7R8bQqbxa1-evvJOevNCm_0h5LpErYB4a8lJQRfCZgU09BdB/s400/joining2c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>3.</b> Make sure your working yarn is on the right-hand needle as you look down on it.<br />
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<b>4.</b> Slide a stitch marker onto your right needle to mark the beginning of the round.<br />
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<b>5.</b> Pick up your work carefully, being careful not to accidentally twist your work at this stage. Knit the first stitch on the left needle. Pull this new stitch close to the last stitch on your right needle to close the gap.<br />
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<b>7.</b> Continue working around, per your pattern, slipping your stitch marker as you pass it on each round.<br />
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<b>Note:</b> You may notice a gap forming in the first couple rounds where you joined your work. Just take care to pull those stitches snug each time you pass them and that gap will close. When you tuck in your ends, you can further close any gap that remains at the cast-on edge, if necessary.<br />
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<b>Now, on to double pointed needles (DPNs).</b> The concept here is the same, so I'll abbreviate the steps further.<br />
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When you transfer stitches from one DPN to another, make sure you slip the stitches purl-wise. This keeps all your stitches seated appropriately.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Make sure your working yarn is on the right-hand needle as you look down on it.<br />
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<b>4.</b> There's really no need for a stitch marker when using DPNs since the beginning of your round will begin with a new DPN. And a stitch marker would just slide off the DPN anyway. Your yarn tail will tell you which join is the beginning of your round.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6Lti5eOvE9wR1XxhjhSvgS8x94lNI_jkiTmA1tFDjAconSrjx5-iJRuIUa2PojrU4HP7aZEmWxXU2geVXbtGWcq8WlGCOiRGggnDNotKkP54ttWun8AANsNYek4ncearJNDc/s1600/joining5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6Lti5eOvE9wR1XxhjhSvgS8x94lNI_jkiTmA1tFDjAconSrjx5-iJRuIUa2PojrU4HP7aZEmWxXU2geVXbtGWcq8WlGCOiRGggnDNotKkP54ttWun8AANsNYek4ncearJNDc/s400/joining5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>5.</b> Pick up your work carefully, being careful not to accidentally twist your work at this stage. Using a fresh DPN, knit the first stitch on the left needle. Pull your working yarn snug to tighten the first cast-on stitch, the stitch you just knit, and the stitch you're about to knit all nice and tight.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRIt5tNJlsbR8WfPBf_i-7asIOtWPD1pF7ygu54CNEPS5bX9BazLVPo44UGJfg_AZ640MZD1ft0HY-TYECaEnFor7QYiVQKyVT5TwJgYR_sWVnJA6MFOjINYUunsCwQg0iYqP/s1600/joining6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRIt5tNJlsbR8WfPBf_i-7asIOtWPD1pF7ygu54CNEPS5bX9BazLVPo44UGJfg_AZ640MZD1ft0HY-TYECaEnFor7QYiVQKyVT5TwJgYR_sWVnJA6MFOjINYUunsCwQg0iYqP/s400/joining6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>6.</b> Knit the 2nd and 3rd stiches on the needle, pulling each stitch nice and snug after working each stitch. Do this every time you switch to a new DPN on every row. It will become second-nature and will help you avoid ladders.<br />
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Make sure you check after your first and second rows to make sure everything is progressing as it should.<br />
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And there it is. It can be fiddly at times, but a little extra care at this stage can keep you out of trouble.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-8798081179940776972012-04-07T22:48:00.008-05:002012-04-08T01:48:44.532-05:00New RS/WS Stitch Markers<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've all done it. We need to remember which side is the right side (rs) or wrong side (ws) of our work, so we've clipped on a paperclip or tied on a bit of yarn and moved on with the project. Or, we're convinced that we'll remember which side is which, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, that was me until my latest project. I never really marked anything. Often, a pattern is distinct enough that I can figure out which side is the right side or wrong side. The right side has the pretty side of the cables, right? Easy peasy.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Photo - copyright Ashcroft-Hempsall</span> </td></tr>
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</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But now I'm working on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beautiful-cobweb" target="_blank">Beautiful Cobweb</a>, a gorgeous shawl by Ashcroft-Hempsall.<span style="font-size: 15px;"> I love the youthful scarfiness of this shawl. It seems so versatile and sophisticated. I absolutely cannot wait to finish it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Look at how gorgeous that is!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">But here's the problem. You begin by knitting a large garter stitch base. And both sides look almost EXACTLY the same. But on one side you do special increases that you don't do on the other side. Eek!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I definitely needed to mark my sides, and mark them well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Not only that, but you increase in the middle on one side in 2 different places. So as you get wider and wider, your markers get further and further away. So TWO rs/ws markers are essential. At least, for me they are!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I don't know why I never made these before. Maybe because I only make things I'll use and I'd never needed these before? But that has all changed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Here's my work so far.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwbGK9-LILaBvgwaRcnSNhd9lZANIhh49MLs7WeEEW0PIhuLSh135L2DvKXJrCgYV-2827Qe_fJTQn_KDDm5e7SOL6LjSR8XZZ9kGGVjVTon8MfgeBIBZmQ8TuX2_4LiJ6u09/s1600/RS+WS+Markers+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwbGK9-LILaBvgwaRcnSNhd9lZANIhh49MLs7WeEEW0PIhuLSh135L2DvKXJrCgYV-2827Qe_fJTQn_KDDm5e7SOL6LjSR8XZZ9kGGVjVTon8MfgeBIBZmQ8TuX2_4LiJ6u09/s320/RS+WS+Markers+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">(Like the brick pile? They're ancient (okay, probably 50 to 100 year-old) granite bricks from a local quarry. We're fixing our very screwy basement/foundation and have unearthed a little over a hundred of them so far.)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r5zt5asFiUy8Hu5F_N-LoGs2PMa4-aDTFwAEng1Bg1MdjlLnsvfaEZvDGHt4uWTm6r1NdAmu49n7UVgBLmBbASnSKgctDuQqqkyGl3Hwug0CM9JzYjfB0REPUFNbMKvfq8Zo/s1600/RS+WS+Markers+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r5zt5asFiUy8Hu5F_N-LoGs2PMa4-aDTFwAEng1Bg1MdjlLnsvfaEZvDGHt4uWTm6r1NdAmu49n7UVgBLmBbASnSKgctDuQqqkyGl3Hwug0CM9JzYjfB0REPUFNbMKvfq8Zo/s320/RS+WS+Markers+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">A close-up. If you look just to the right of the RS marker, you'll see the diagonal line where increases have been made. If I miss an increase, it'll show!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I move the RS marker up as I go, so it's easily visible as I work without having to search for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">(Owl stitch marker available <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81251243/owl-stitch-markers-earth-tones-set-of-6" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6OhduWknpKpfdo3bq98V3fv-ikbjXWe84ZV25vFkEcpaF7L4SL7xwFiQYNEoAewjzdmlSxECK9HEWgB8CyjXK2oEDHtQETiWkDUm3CPYJ1RaQYAvegTnH0zE1UuCuNkBmEZX/s1600/RS+WS+Markers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6OhduWknpKpfdo3bq98V3fv-ikbjXWe84ZV25vFkEcpaF7L4SL7xwFiQYNEoAewjzdmlSxECK9HEWgB8CyjXK2oEDHtQETiWkDUm3CPYJ1RaQYAvegTnH0zE1UuCuNkBmEZX/s320/RS+WS+Markers+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, of course, now this product is available in my Etsy store. They're simple and practical, but sooooo much nicer than a yarn scrap, no?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you need a set, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/97078591/knitting-or-crochet-right-side-or-wrong" target="_blank">here ya go</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'll keep you posted on my Beautiful Cobweb.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Oops, the Easter Bunny is here! I'd better make sure he gets the bunny picture Miss Kate colored for him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Happy Easter all!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-92049474465704330072012-02-15T09:39:00.000-06:002012-02-15T09:39:33.730-06:00It's Time For A Giveaway!I've been playing with Rafflecopter and it's just so fun that I felt the need to have another giveaway!<br />
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How would you like to win $25 in JLYarnworks' Etsy Store credit? That's enough for free yarn or a couple sets of those cute Fimo stitch markers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwmxrTL1R53EjG1fWJz5RD8KgGq6SvLoEFBe_MoxLAwPyUNsn8ctz0wyfdYfJ28i2jIw_-IinTB-8WsBWSSH61L4aom7L45KMTiQRicaOgUEAzKBbr9p5RwzNbnpF-M8_Da_0/s1600/raffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwmxrTL1R53EjG1fWJz5RD8KgGq6SvLoEFBe_MoxLAwPyUNsn8ctz0wyfdYfJ28i2jIw_-IinTB-8WsBWSSH61L4aom7L45KMTiQRicaOgUEAzKBbr9p5RwzNbnpF-M8_Da_0/s640/raffle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Entering the giveaway is pretty easy with only one mandatory entry...and that's just answering a question! Get extra entries for things like becoming (or confirming that you are) a Facebook fan or pinning JLYarnworks blog posts or Etsy items (get daily entries!) you're on your way to winning.<br />
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So what are you waiting for? Quit reading my blather and enter!<br />
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<noscript><a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.</noscript>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-64227176435237417802012-02-06T20:53:00.000-06:002012-02-06T20:53:58.173-06:00Yarn Stash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe6gOKb0nlkrlawsMig1C3l1-Pc8Chfz3DFBLbEh_QLqPW_SJAuV2iYq5OOHp_O_Bxd5z9QtzDPjaxAXWWNL49tGV8L6d0LqfykMn1m5zJ4lNSLlVLvFpwvYIU656kMo-Vlzl/s1600/yarn+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe6gOKb0nlkrlawsMig1C3l1-Pc8Chfz3DFBLbEh_QLqPW_SJAuV2iYq5OOHp_O_Bxd5z9QtzDPjaxAXWWNL49tGV8L6d0LqfykMn1m5zJ4lNSLlVLvFpwvYIU656kMo-Vlzl/s200/yarn+closet.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I posted this picture to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jlyarnworks" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a> yesterday. And it has me thinking. How big should a yarn stash be? Obviously, the bigger the better is the most popular answer! But for those of us with limited space, money, and knitting time, what's ideal? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, this means: What do I need to keep on hand to allow the creative juices to flow whenever they strike? How much is more than I can find suitable space for? I mean, if I have too much, will I be able to find it when I want it? Will I *gasp* forget about something luscious?!?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My answer to this question has evolved over the years, and while I'm happy with my current answer, the stash is still a bit out of hand. Especially when you add in all the hand-dyed yarn and yarn blanks I have on hand for JL Yarnworks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, here's what I currently have:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1) Worsted Wool: Worsted weight wool can be used for sooo much that I always keep an assortment of colors around. I like Patons Classic since I can get it easily at 3 different stores in town, it goes on sale often, and comes in a nice variety of colors. It's good for a quick hat or just about any felting project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2) Dishcloth Cotton: I have way too much of this stuff. It's cheap, dishcloths are mindless (sometimes needed when using knitting to unwind), and dishcloths are good for lining gift baskets of other handmade gifts like soap or jam. I also end up giving a lot away to knitting or crochet students.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3) Laceweight: Thankfully, I don't believe I've gone overboard in this category. Especially since lace takes so long to complete and I don't knit it nearly often enough. But I like to keep 3 or 4 skeins (or batches) of 800 yards or more in both solid and variegated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4) Sock Yarn: This is my absolute favorite category. I really don't think you can have too much. :) Sock yarn doesn't count as stash anyway, does it? hehe. I love having a nice variety of socks yarns so that my girls can head right to my stash and pick out the color of their next pair of socks. Needless to say, my assortment of sock yarns is heavy on the pinks and purples. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5) Awaiting their assigned project: This is stuff I bought with a specific purpose. The project they belong to is either in progress or in the queue. Since I currently have 3 afghans in the works, a lot of it is for those. This is a category that is overflowing at the moment. Mostly because I have an INSANE number of UFOs. I really need to get some of them wrapped up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6) I just loved it too much not to buy it (or I couldn't pass up the sale): This is actually a fairly well-controlled category. Most of it is alpaca/silk. This is my ABSOLUTE favorite fiber. It's so soft and smooshy and I can never pass it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7) Soft Acrylic: Yep, I have acrylic. Acrylic has its place. Really! I like it for amigurumi toys, for teaching, and for projects where color selection is really important. Sadly, cottons and wools are often limited in color range. So yes, one of the afghans I'm working on right now is acrylic. Afghans get really expensive quickly! So if you're looking for a good range of color and an affordable price? Acrylic can't be beat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that's just about it. I really think that if I get #5 under control, the rest will fall into place. It's the one that's truly taking over all my knitting space and spilling into other spaces. Guess this needs to be the year to tackle those UFOs and maybe even send some to the frog pond.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tell me about your stash! What does yours look like? Is it ideal for you? What would you change?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We'll talk about organization some other time. Really. This is NOT the time. *Looks nervously around yarn room.* No, definitely not the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-7705731628840837452011-12-19T07:39:00.000-06:002011-12-19T07:39:57.824-06:00Facebook Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUvGssL5JyH5kbMIfTbmrIcLgtEXdHU4CC8XgjSgBwbd1eEVJpVtjUBSGGUmSw9xZvIhwHYuYwY4LPjc9lZo3bxMZGXVg8iiRo9iAfA0Xe8EEceO5GuMP8Zgqu7CWlJphLtvF/s1600/RavBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUvGssL5JyH5kbMIfTbmrIcLgtEXdHU4CC8XgjSgBwbd1eEVJpVtjUBSGGUmSw9xZvIhwHYuYwY4LPjc9lZo3bxMZGXVg8iiRo9iAfA0Xe8EEceO5GuMP8Zgqu7CWlJphLtvF/s400/RavBanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If my JL Yarnworks Facebook page gets to 500 fans by Christmas, one lucky fan will get a $20 gift certificate to my Etsy store! Will you help? Will you win?!?<br />
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If we get to 600 fans, I'll even give away a second $10 gift certificate.<br />
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Head over to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jlyarnworks" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a> for more details!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-9697252206476104282011-10-25T21:58:00.002-05:002011-11-26T22:22:58.726-06:00Tutorial: Knitting With Silk Hankies<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjlyarnworks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F10%2Ftutorial-knitting-with-silk-hankies.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-gVIWkvduAhA%2FTqdbFyXOleI%2FAAAAAAAABy4%2F9tFiQJf8-IE%2Fs1600%2Fhankies%2Bpeel.jpg&description=How%20to%20knit%20with%20silk%20hankies" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal">Pin It</a><br />
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script><br />
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Silk Hankies seem to be the craze lately. I discovered them recently at <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2011/10/north-country-fiber-fair-2011.html">North Country Fiber Fair</a> in Watertown, SD. But many got their first glimpse on the Yarn Harlot's <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2011/02/02/mine_mine_all_mine.html">blog</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydHydCnUVXAmwCRKFZw-SBu8M38vbsqiqsMnHNTOXbhrixoU7VJYl_AiF9vtMk1b93fSfxoA0xh_St3M2yWdi4DHxctJsMctBLFr3ZtbeVk1eGwa_0kaD7FAjx2nvDSHc_ToC/s1600/hankies+stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydHydCnUVXAmwCRKFZw-SBu8M38vbsqiqsMnHNTOXbhrixoU7VJYl_AiF9vtMk1b93fSfxoA0xh_St3M2yWdi4DHxctJsMctBLFr3ZtbeVk1eGwa_0kaD7FAjx2nvDSHc_ToC/s400/hankies+stack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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But what do you do with this stack of squares? You can't knit with a square, can you?<br />
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Well, there's probably a way, but the trick with silk hankies is to first turn them into something resembling yarn.<br />
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How do you do that?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu78utQHJvN9GrsTH2beeOkyqzMnEDtof4shxl8qnhdp5IYh99DJ52eHPcZVkj0bCVN6-WKHGWHjcTHmkPFKE_8yiX6Am8YR1ycmqOT-iYMK8EkomTcMtN3L45Mhqvhkb6_Nw/s1600/hankies+peel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu78utQHJvN9GrsTH2beeOkyqzMnEDtof4shxl8qnhdp5IYh99DJ52eHPcZVkj0bCVN6-WKHGWHjcTHmkPFKE_8yiX6Am8YR1ycmqOT-iYMK8EkomTcMtN3L45Mhqvhkb6_Nw/s400/hankies+peel.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b>Step 1:</b> Peel away the smallest layer you can by grabbing a piece of the corner, and peeling it back. The layers like to stick to each other, so you'll feel a bit like you're ripping it apart. But that's okay!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCksJE7GcV02-nJONG_dESrHYo4vczjYaB9fPnbUL1BEzefGthrbl9mTdElXPbVatGt0gnwd0YlNTrk_5qrBxmWkJ15Cb8Dzr7WjZLcPOx3-AX9lVhPkIkmrsHbP5Nzo7vxixl/s1600/hankies+peel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCksJE7GcV02-nJONG_dESrHYo4vczjYaB9fPnbUL1BEzefGthrbl9mTdElXPbVatGt0gnwd0YlNTrk_5qrBxmWkJ15Cb8Dzr7WjZLcPOx3-AX9lVhPkIkmrsHbP5Nzo7vxixl/s400/hankies+peel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Notice how thin this layer is. You can see my hand right through the meshy layer of silk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsfJsQcMwgwUa7Av9zMcguV-CSf1AxsxyBA3Vd1ZgX8VLjdCBnkBrIfQ1u83TPMVd8SKV_Ji0HROEtFFhbMYUf3BTG_iAm_ajAT2bHiuNqmWFawmduXXClE9YHVwFd5AEOQKT/s1600/hankies+hole2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsfJsQcMwgwUa7Av9zMcguV-CSf1AxsxyBA3Vd1ZgX8VLjdCBnkBrIfQ1u83TPMVd8SKV_Ji0HROEtFFhbMYUf3BTG_iAm_ajAT2bHiuNqmWFawmduXXClE9YHVwFd5AEOQKT/s400/hankies+hole2.jpg" width="400" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Step 2: </b>Poke a hole in the center of your square. Yep, just shove your thumbs right into the center. Then using your fingers, pull from the center, outward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogrs3wqJmIyChgCoJrRDSLCIBuoM_NOuKfIxY7b29a6gI7dUwGnrnv8Vgv5euZcJMUNbzc_4I9TMakniOayXLpP_ZnF-yGI_16-umM_lYVKbplA6QKkchgMxKTnw_b4osRVCl/s1600/hankies+hole3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogrs3wqJmIyChgCoJrRDSLCIBuoM_NOuKfIxY7b29a6gI7dUwGnrnv8Vgv5euZcJMUNbzc_4I9TMakniOayXLpP_ZnF-yGI_16-umM_lYVKbplA6QKkchgMxKTnw_b4osRVCl/s400/hankies+hole3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b>Step 3:</b> And STRETCH!<br />
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Keep stretching, moving slowly around the loop of silk, working one section at a time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhEl9mY0H_dqACF-Mw6h88W47NjOmwwx2Kk5qXA46Gbp7vzFwvbk9M71v9YqPGJYOZRoCI4ftTaeZ8LItFDcMfer3Wk4KIMEuHgF4yoO2LlP9NrOHzUZISz9cfh53ESId6mni/s1600/hankies+stretch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhEl9mY0H_dqACF-Mw6h88W47NjOmwwx2Kk5qXA46Gbp7vzFwvbk9M71v9YqPGJYOZRoCI4ftTaeZ8LItFDcMfer3Wk4KIMEuHgF4yoO2LlP9NrOHzUZISz9cfh53ESId6mni/s400/hankies+stretch.jpg" width="400" /></a>If the section you're working on won't stretch, your hands are probably too close together. Move your hands further apart and try again. Silk fibers are long. Our aim isn't to break them all...it's to spread them out.<br />
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How do you know when you're done? Your loop should be a relatively consistent thickness. You'll probably want to make it somewhere between a DK and worsted weight.<br />
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Notice that there will be some bits of nubbiness. Your yarn may even have some thick-and-thin qualities. That's what makes it interesting!<br />
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So now what? You have a large loop of silk, all stretched out to the thickness you desire. But you want to knit with it, not wear it as a humongous necklace, right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5275SCTtvRJWuOg-KEmbBHOIaor07tGovWiK7kzx389r8Z969VGA02HtiecYzZuvQwdORj4T4jDPBGeKt_CwgbeU4g5EbYVL22IYDOe60-YDXReBNypNGezVog1CMPg3WwDm/s1600/hankies+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5275SCTtvRJWuOg-KEmbBHOIaor07tGovWiK7kzx389r8Z969VGA02HtiecYzZuvQwdORj4T4jDPBGeKt_CwgbeU4g5EbYVL22IYDOe60-YDXReBNypNGezVog1CMPg3WwDm/s400/hankies+break.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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That's simple!<br />
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<b>Step 4:</b> Break it!<br />
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Now you have a length of unspun yarn.<br />
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(If you wanted, you could then spin this, but for our purposes, we're just going to knit with it as-is.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pZsnsWYrlBdTBHkjZrPUhyphenhyphenkaSyIey5wwju2dGBcpXEJLtfpjDhTvhrWxIxMhP2Kb0L-sHgORisBqymsa4BlC_19kZn_Dlh2NKq8GyIKI3iE6rrRTVLYAUz9XWv6c-oBR7jV0/s1600/hankies+two+colorways2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pZsnsWYrlBdTBHkjZrPUhyphenhyphenkaSyIey5wwju2dGBcpXEJLtfpjDhTvhrWxIxMhP2Kb0L-sHgORisBqymsa4BlC_19kZn_Dlh2NKq8GyIKI3iE6rrRTVLYAUz9XWv6c-oBR7jV0/s400/hankies+two+colorways2.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>Step 5:</b> Start knitting!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How do you join strands? When you're done knitting up one strand, make another from another square. Overlap the end of your old strand with the beginning of your new strand. Roll them together a bit between your hands (almost as if you're spit splicing). They won't felt together, but the tackiness of the silk will help hold the pieces together. Knitting with them overlapped will help hold them together even more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Tip:</b> Break each square in the same place (within the same color section) each time for a smoother, less noticeable join.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sample here is a shawl knit on size US9s. (CO 3 sts. Then for every row following, k1, yo, knit to the end. Keep going until you have a large triangular shawl in the size you want.) I'm using two different colorways and alternating between them. One square from one colorway followed by one strand from the other colorway. Both of the colorways I'm using have green, so I broke each loop within the green portion for a seamless transition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7fV1n72d37mlBsmlshaJS-kSXW9Ytz0DUNUENyNCgNTcCToMfnW74rZuIaBheMaEL61AKFpoMFH6fwGoSWUc0Et5eTuZF0aiw31dwPgYGHm7W4RQoK5ogY8Wl-CIzmI-n6ak/s1600/hankie+sticky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7fV1n72d37mlBsmlshaJS-kSXW9Ytz0DUNUENyNCgNTcCToMfnW74rZuIaBheMaEL61AKFpoMFH6fwGoSWUc0Et5eTuZF0aiw31dwPgYGHm7W4RQoK5ogY8Wl-CIzmI-n6ak/s400/hankie+sticky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tip:</b> Bring lotion to the party. Silk in this form tends to stick to any rough patch of skin it can find. It seems to be less tacky once it's knit up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Note:</b> This is a great way to impress and amaze your knitting friends at your local knit night. Take a stack of hankies for show-and-tell!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Silk hankies will be available in the <a href="http://jlyarnworks.etsy.com/">JL Yarnworks store</a> later this week!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-83141547331033000912011-10-19T22:47:00.001-05:002011-10-19T22:59:06.388-05:00North Country Fiber Fair 2011NCFF this year was fantastic. Despite having the disco light over my booth that kept flickering in and out, we did better than ever! This was my fourth year (wow, time flies!) and not only did we meet more people and sell more goodies, but I actually learned something completely new! And now I have to share.<br />
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Have you gotten on the silk hankie bandwagon? Like so many knitting crazes, I'm pretty sure the Yarn Harlot had something to do with the near viral spread of their popularity. (See her really fun mittens <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2011/02/02/mine_mine_all_mine.html">here</a>.)<br />
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Well, I have a confession. Two actually, but we'll start with the first.<br />
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<b>Confession #1:</b><br />
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I'd never heard of silk hankies. Not this kind anyway. Only the kind grandma used to have. But these are totally different. This kind of silk hankie is made from layers of silkworm cocoons spread over a frame. They're also called mawatas. That's Japanese for spread around, or spread out, or an expanded cocoon...or something to that effect depending on who you ask.<br />
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First, I saw these hankies being knit up by the lady at the <a href="http://www.cornygoodness.com/">Corny Goodness</a> booth. She showed me how to poke a hole in the center of each hankie and stretch it out until it's the thickness you desire, and then knit with it! (I'll post a tutorial tomorrow.) So, of course, I had to buy a bunch and start knitting with it right away. As in, in my booth. And I had to show every customer that came in my booth how cool it is.<br />
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Now, an aside.... silk like this can snag on anything....like callouses on your hands. I learned this the hard way. Thankfully, there was a vendor selling lotion right across the aisle from me! Penny from <a href="http://www.444farm.com/">444 Farm</a> was a sweetheart. She has some great stuff too, so show her some love, k? (I kinda might have bought more than just lotion. I kinda might have bought a bunch. And it's all awesome. Just sayin'.)<br />
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Okay, back to it. So I'm <strike>grinning like a dork</strike> happily knitting up my hankies, when I find out that another vendor is not only selling silkworm kits (so you can raise your own!), but they're demonstrating how these hankies are made. Yay!<br />
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Which brings me to....<br />
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<b>Confession #2:</b><br />
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I didn't take a single picture at NCFF 2011. *facepalm*<br />
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But thankfully, Susan Stark (aka <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/WIHH">WIHH</a> on Ravelry) took some great pictures and was gracious enough to give me permission to use them here. Thanks, Susan!<br />
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So I ran over to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/dragoncraft">Dragon Craft</a>'s booth for a little demonstration. Loretta was kind enough to give me the Cliff Notes. First, you soak the cocoon in a warm soapy water to get rid of some of the worm spit.<br />
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Then you can snag a bit on one corner of the frame (there's a nail there) and carefully streeeeeetch it out towards the other three corners, like so.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6IJthoWywCpyvKt47cu2eILQAMfNQdTfOGhJda2wsCncbXDULmPji1BBhAZxZ_giTVSgePNbBfYdue8nnn0yv3cgJ1qjWuAM-uTkWPgjnTnlaeHP8hR5WXEVKKIoCkAoWXBn/s1600/ncffsilk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6IJthoWywCpyvKt47cu2eILQAMfNQdTfOGhJda2wsCncbXDULmPji1BBhAZxZ_giTVSgePNbBfYdue8nnn0yv3cgJ1qjWuAM-uTkWPgjnTnlaeHP8hR5WXEVKKIoCkAoWXBn/s400/ncffsilk2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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And like so.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRimGBsotvSWuj-xE4wE4T-nR-VsTEhrtoAbKS2Gdhhr5_NZNjw0pi5Y7_i73ubXetrm3ibdPC_o1XrujwTJ_r8KymL52B4QhOPSNF2ljRNzAAAPul2B0LfgNXkwIMhj9m8YOz/s1600/ncffsilk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRimGBsotvSWuj-xE4wE4T-nR-VsTEhrtoAbKS2Gdhhr5_NZNjw0pi5Y7_i73ubXetrm3ibdPC_o1XrujwTJ_r8KymL52B4QhOPSNF2ljRNzAAAPul2B0LfgNXkwIMhj9m8YOz/s400/ncffsilk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After you've stacked 10 or so cocoons on this frame, it's time to take it off. There may be some more processing after this part, but this is as far as we got.<br />
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Really nifty though, huh?<br />
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Now, Loretta assured me that raising silkworms is both fulfilling and easy. And I believe her!<br />
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But I think I'll be buying my hankies. Anyone who knows me, knows that I like doing things from scratch. But knowing it takes hundreds of cocoons to make one small garment? Silk hankies seem cheap compared to the time and effort involved in raising that many silkworms.<br />
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And really, we all know that my main interest is in dyeing them all kinds of pretty colors. Who wants to bet that I'll have some available for sale in my shop soon? ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-91587405028522329072011-09-07T00:00:00.001-05:002011-09-07T00:02:42.357-05:00RavelryI've loved <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> since just about its inception. It's practically perfect in every way. Just about every yarn and pattern catalogued in a nice searchable format. Forums buzzing with people who can answer just about any question you might have in the blink of an eye. And, the best, an easy way for the fiber elite (authors, bloggers, designers, indie dyers, and other "famous" yarny types) and their fans and customers to connect.<br />
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While I've never really considered myself to be one of the elite, I am a designer and dyer. And a very knitterly friend of mine has been urging me to create a fan group for myself on Ravelry. A place where customers, test-knitters, and other fans can come together and discuss my patterns and yarns.<br />
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So here it is. Please join us. This is the best way for you to influence the direction of JL Yarnworks. Be a part of the discussion!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-3Tikb7xVIH8mkjmSirPPeFaGzviJ5ih4X3vKJ9T4QUp7s5ZhE2bawUyBbFJQT9OqTHvYZqi5uxP_3-vNF3i2SWtY-0R-dK_9ixrV8bAKCa_mcl_5LxFDhK5zjk8HFw0ITB0/s400/RavBanner.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jl-yarnworks-fans">http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jl-yarnworks-fans</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-45188961341345349802011-09-01T22:15:00.001-05:002011-09-01T22:18:56.166-05:00Exclusive 20% Off Sale For Facebook Fans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jlyarnworks"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGJHAI6E26-eizQTVEBGeU2eoUFeCevLJKzx6lwCSJYZyHTEypDbn7KRB6anvyqaCoWS_CUua3RU3MErGWjjWC4HU-mhnc8CAZrH1jjreUs8dw7Malafluzw4IUGTQiFe1Q9t/s400/FacebookFan-300x211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Want to save 20% on your entire order on my Etsy site just by being a Facebook fan?<br />
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Sale starts now and runs until midnight Friday, September 2nd, 2011.<br />
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Simply go to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jlyarnworks">JL Yarnworks Facebook</a> page and either look under "Offers" or become a fan to reveal a coupon code for 20% off your Etsy order.<br />
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This is my first ever sale of this type and I don't anticipate doing them very often, so take advantage!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-42966071654356469272011-07-27T23:41:00.004-05:002011-07-27T23:44:22.609-05:00Never Leave Home Without It<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Is everyone keeping busy this summer? Sheesh! Ever since Mr. Yarnworks returned from Afghanistan in May, it's just been crazy around here! Between <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2011/05/shepherds-harvest-2011.html">Shepherd's Harvest</a>, spending mad quality time with Mr. Yarnworks and the kids, toting the kids to and fro to basketball camps, dance camps, and outdoor camps, and getting Mr. Yarnworks' ACL and meniscus repaired (finally -- he injured it a year ago!).....well, let's just say that I took most of the summer off from most everything except my family. And I enjoyed every second!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now it's time to gear up for fall. Mr. Yarnworks is walking without crutches again and can now drive himself to physical therapy. The kids are mostly done with their camps. <a href="http://northcountryfiberfair.wordpress.com/">North Country Fiber Fair</a> is right around the corner. And school starts in less than a month. Not to mention, I've missed you all!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, this summer, Mr. Yarnworks and I have had to attend a couple of weekend "Yellow Ribbon Events" put on by the National Guard. These are mandatory for the service member and optional for family members, but they're notoriously....well....boring. Brutal really. Especially for those of us with a few deployments under our belts.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">(I swear this is knitting related, just bear with me.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I mean, really, how many times can people who have never deployed explain to me how to re-ignite the home fires with my husband after a year-long deployment? Especially a month or two <b>after</b> he returns home? And don't get me started on the briefs put on by groups like the Department of Labor where the presenter is ill-prepared and doesn't even really know how to relate their material to veterans....something that always floors me about these things.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsgY6p6fYPi7JyP32IKg9oZFwM4VEYdiFKF7z53JKO7d8i4edSA0s2wv9szzxX748tSCW27pPjEwoBMhL16peKsB1NjgLJTRBr6rT8NyCg_w3v6OmdLo-zB2duXR6n1CeWsZj/s1600/sock1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsgY6p6fYPi7JyP32IKg9oZFwM4VEYdiFKF7z53JKO7d8i4edSA0s2wv9szzxX748tSCW27pPjEwoBMhL16peKsB1NjgLJTRBr6rT8NyCg_w3v6OmdLo-zB2duXR6n1CeWsZj/s320/sock1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="273" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anyway, so day one of the first Yellow Ribbon Event, I dutifully packed my knitting in my purse. I almost always have a project with me and this was no exception. (See? Told ya. Knitting!) During the big auditorium presentations, I pulled out my simple stockinette sock and worked a few rows. I love stockinette socks for times like these because I can work on them and still make eye contact. Later, in our smaller group presentations, I left the knitting in my purse. There were only 4-20 people in each group and it just seemed rude to pull out the knitting. You and I both know that I can and do pay attention while I knit, but most muggles just don't understand that, and I'd hate to insult anyone, ya know?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">On the second day, the schedule indicated that we'd have nothing but those small group presentations, so I looked wistfully at my knitting, but ultimately left it at home.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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Big. Mistake.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">See, on Day Two, most of the soldiers decided that the presentations were just too brutal, and most played hookie. Yep, including Mr. Yarnworks. We started off by wandering around downtown Sioux Falls, but since it was Sunday, most everything was closed. So we ended up mostly sitting around outside chatting with his war buddies.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOopIKgM_gZYFyfw0KP-Ys6ZC29mk2CsvUHagHiBVHuJNO9IhSebl1qWcP0NSEqx4sBG-KY4iMtyJnI6Qx0lUwKI50gYIBgxn-hH-Svu4lNOo1lkMMTZ0f1hBQtU1DpJUvyCtU/s1600/sock2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOopIKgM_gZYFyfw0KP-Ys6ZC29mk2CsvUHagHiBVHuJNO9IhSebl1qWcP0NSEqx4sBG-KY4iMtyJnI6Qx0lUwKI50gYIBgxn-hH-Svu4lNOo1lkMMTZ0f1hBQtU1DpJUvyCtU/s320/sock2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="232" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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Now I <b>loved</b> getting to know all these people he'd talked about so fondly since he returned. They were all just as fabulous as he'd let on. But it would have been ideal knitting time, wouldn't it? Sitting around outside on benches, steps, or at picnic tables, casually shooting the breeze with a bunch of people that don't really want to be there? Yep, that's the perfect time to pull out that stockinette sock.....that I left at home.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thing is, I knew better. I knew better than to assume that I'd have no occasion to knit. Yet, I left it behind anyway.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Have you done this? Do you solve this problem by just always bringing your knitting with you? Do you think about what your day holds and decide whether or not to bring your knitting based on that?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'll tell you this much -- I will always have some sort of knitting in the car or in my purse for times like these.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-42750376242412691592011-04-30T21:20:00.000-05:002011-04-30T21:20:51.499-05:00My sweet tooth nearly killed meOkay, so the title is a huge exaggeration. I didn't nearly die...though some days I was beginning to feel like it! But, I want to explain my absence lately and needed a catchy blog title! This is not a post related to yarn or fiber or knitting or crocheting or spinning. It's simply my story of the past 8 months. Maybe someone out there, with Google at their fingertips and a killer headache, will find this helpful. And, maybe you'd just like to know why I haven't blogged since New Years!<br />
<br />
Last August, not long before school started for the girls, I got a headache. No biggie, right? Well, two weeks later it was still there. The. Same. Headache. No relief. So I visited my doctor. He gave me a shot meant for migraines (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000918/">Toradol</a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000157/">Zofran</a>) and sent me home. On my way home (a 30 minute drive with a pit-stop to pick my 4yo up from a friend's house), I got loopy and tired and felt absolutely horrible. And worse, my headache was much worse. After a couple hours, I called the doctor to see if my reaction was normal (they'd assured me that it didn't cause drowsiness and I was fine to drive, so I thought not) and to find out how long it would take to kick in. Their response was that no one EVER reacts that way (later got a letter from my doctor that he'd consulted several of his colleagues and NONE have ever had a patient react as I did..though a quick Google search tells me it's a common side effect) and that it should have kicked in within the first 20 minuetes. "Is it not working?" the nurse asked me. Um....no? Why would I have called if it were? They told me to give it until morning and call back if I still had a headache, which they said they were certain would be long gone by then.<br />
<br />
Of course, the next morning, the headache was still raging, so I called back. They didn't want to prescribe anything else until I'd had a CT scan. Thankfully, they got me in right away and the CT scan was clear, so they then prescribed me something else. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000960/">Tramadol</a>. This time it was a pill, so I was able to get home, order some pizza, and then pop a pill. By the time pizza had arrived and I'd had a slice or two, I was beyond loopy. I could barely put a full sentence together and felt faint. I walked the kids across the street and asked my neighbors if they would babysit all three of us. They took one look at me and offered to call an ambulance. I was pale, groggy, and unable to think clearly. I declined the ambulance and asked them just to let me sit with them in case it got worse. At least I could relax, knowing my kids were safe. (If you recall, my husband was in Afghanstan, so the girls and I were on our own.) Roughly 4 hours later, I perked up. I was better able to follow conversations and began joking around and enjoying my visit. They could tell I was feeling MUCH better. I thanked them for babysitting me, and the girls and I returned home. I still had my headache (it had gotten worse again after taking the Tramadol) and it remained worse for a couple days.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I don't remember what happened next. I'm pretty sure I let my doctor know of my reaction, but I don't remember going back to see him right away. By this time my husband was on his way home for 2 weeks of leave, and I thought maybe the headache was just stress. It HAD just started right before the crazy back-to-school schedule, so I thought maybe having him around would relieve the stress and the headache. I even planned a weekend away at a lake with a couple friends while he was home. After my trip to the lake ended without relief, my husband went with me back to the doctor. It was then that he decided it was likely upper back and neck strain (I have a bit of weight to lose and a more-than-ample chest, so my back, neck, and shoulders are always tight). He prescribed a muscle relaxant and physical therapy.<br />
<br />
Mr. Yarnworks returned to the war and I dutifully went to PT 3x a week for 6 weeks. While I enjoyed the massages, they really didn't help the headache. Exploring my options, I also visited an eye doctor for the first time in....well, in my adult life. I'd felt that my vision was getting worse, but had avoided the eye doctor, so with the headache, it was time to go. Verdict? 20/20 vision....but it COULD be corrected to 20/15 if I wanted. So I got glasses. They greatly help with road signs and such, but didn't help with the headaches. So at least I ruled that out. The eye doctor was also a bit concerned about my field-of-vision test, which showed a blip on each eye where I couldn't see. The same spot on each eye, just mirror image. To her, that screamed of a pituitary gland issue.<br />
<br />
We're now into December.<br />
<br />
My regular doc scheduled an MRI and shipped me off to a neurologist. Here's where you can see my desperation. I actually HOPED it was a pituitary tumor (almost always benign). At least then I'd have a reason for this stupid headache and a solution! I read the list of symptoms and so many fit not only my headache, but a host of other symptoms I'd written off as part of getting older.<br />
<br />
When the MRI came back perfectly clear, I was so disappointed I cried. Four months of the SAME headache, and we were no closer to finding a cause or a solution.<br />
<br />
My neurologist put me on <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000524/">Indomethacin</a>. After 4 doses (a day and a half), I got a small rash all over the inside of my arms and stopped taking it. The day after I discontinued the Indomethacin, I felt terrific! The headache wasn't gone, but the mental fog and the depression that had followed after months of this same headache lifted. The headache was noticeably better and for the first time in months, I could actually THINK. I don't even think I'd realized just how much the headache had affected me other than the pain. Over the course of the next week though, without being able to take more Indomethacin, the headache returned. The neurologist suggested a couple other drugs, but both had side effects that I decided I wouldn't risk while home alone with my children. (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000998/">Topamax</a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000102/">Imitrex</a>) Since medication was the only thing the neurologist was interested in discussing, I was on my own. A friend of mine suggested trying the Indomethacin again (the one that gave me a rash, but helped the headache), but to lower the dose to see if I could get the benefits without the rash. It worked. I was able to start with a half dose and work myself up to a full dose and never got the rash again. And my headache, while it never went away, was at a MUCH more manageable level and I was able to function again.<br />
<br />
Now, I'd been on a diet before the headache started, but when the headache was in full swing, I fell off the wagon. I could barely think, let alone calorie-count and measure and weigh food. I'd regained everything I'd lost. Now that I was functional again, I decided it was time to get back on my diet. Maybe losing some weight would help whatever was causing this headache, right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3efPhq_F_PpTaOUbMo7DthyN1H0D-2K0v56iVV5qKb1oH-GE4kvCr-mH_F-4OCgOIMDMzg0nFGIOnTBCsaFxcklr46LqE_ffUFODpt8otkwKE8j-rSElk6UPuflEw4R5pwmZ/s1600/Misc+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3efPhq_F_PpTaOUbMo7DthyN1H0D-2K0v56iVV5qKb1oH-GE4kvCr-mH_F-4OCgOIMDMzg0nFGIOnTBCsaFxcklr46LqE_ffUFODpt8otkwKE8j-rSElk6UPuflEw4R5pwmZ/s320/Misc+007.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Well, after losing just a few pounds (with many more to go), my weight-loss stalled. I was exercising. I was eating right. There's no way after a month or more of dieting again that I should be losing less than half a pound a week. So I decided to give up my Diet Coke. I'd read that artificial sweeteners could actually lead to weight gain. And that they could lead to overeating, cravings, and all kinds of weirdness. Giving up my Diet Coke definitely wouldn't hurt, and just might help. I didn't give up all artificial sweeteners, just the Diet Coke.<br />
<br />
Here's where the magic happens.<br />
<br />
Not quite putting two and two together yet, I started trying to wean myself off the Indomethacin, and was able to completely wean myself off within a couple weeks. Yay! I still had my headache, but it wasn't horrible and I was still functional. I don't like being medicated as a general rule, so this was good.<br />
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A couple weeks later, I had a stressful week. I grabbed a 2 liter of Diet Coke and had a bit of a binge that led to a couple more 2 liters over the course of about a week. And my headache returned to a point where I needed to go back on the Indomethacin. This is when it finally dawned on me. It's the freakin' Diet Coke!<br />
<br />
Now, this isn't the first time the evils of artificial sweeteners had crossed my mind. Aspartame has lots of (at least anecdotal) evidence of causing migraines. And back in the fall, I'd given up Diet Coke for a week without seeing any benefits, so I'd ruled that out as a cause. But, as it turns out, I didn't give it long enough. Reading up on the topic, it looks like it takes 30-60 days to get out of your system. Plus, I'd only really given up Diet Coke (both times), but being on a diet, I was consuming TONS of other stuff with different artificial sweeteners in it.<br />
<br />
So I swore off all of them. Easier said than done. They're in toothpaste, medications, and just about anyting labelled "light" or even "healthy." Ugh. The idea is to get rid of all of them, hopefully totally get rid of the headache, and then try the different types one at a time to figure out which ones I'm sensitive to.<br />
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It's been a month now. No lowfat yogurt, no diet desserts or 100 calorie packs, no diet soft drinks, no Crystal Light, etc. I kept the toothpaste. There's really not a good alternative and at least I don't swallow that, right?<br />
<br />
I've had two oopses.<br />
<br />
First, about 2 weeks in, I woke up feeling great. I still had the headache, but just barely. Nothing that really bothered me. It was the first really great morning in a long while. Maybe even my best since this all began. I merrily woke up, got the girls ready for school, ate some breakfast, and ran out the door. About 30 minutes later, WHAM! What the heck?? I started trying to think back to the things I'd eaten to see if I overlooked an artificial sweetener somewhere. That's when it dawned on me. I'd had instant oatmeal for breakfast. I'd grabbed a packet without paying attention. It was "weight control" oatmeal. I checked the label and sure enough, sucralose (Splenda). Crap. So, it looks like not only aspartame (Diet Coke), but sucralose is also out.<br />
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Second, I'd had to switch my Northern Lite Latte at Caribou (very yummy btw if you can tolerate artificial sweeteners) to a regular full-sugar flavored latte. It's a treat a friend and I have after we work out. With only an extra 50 calories, the full-sugar variety is also very good and still isn't calorically horrible. But just yesterday my latte tasted a little weird, so I didn't drink the whole thing. And on my way home, the headache began. I'm guessing they used the sugar-free syrup by mistake. Their syrups are also made with Splenda.<br />
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So my headache isn't gone. In fact, it's still pretty bad from yesterday's incident. But I think we FINALLY have an answer. I just need to get more diligent in my label-reading and while eating or drinking out. I now have a cheat sheet in my phone of 21 different artificial sweeteners since I'm trying to avoid them all....even "natural" things like Stevia. It's not easy though. They seem to be hidden just about everywhere. But, with luck, this is it.<br />
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Of course, I have a HUGE sweet tooth AND I'm trying to diet. So I have no clue what I CAN eat anymore. After demonizing sugar and calories for so long, it's hard to go back to the real thing, especially while trying to lose weight. But I'm muddling my way through.<br />
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Mr. Yarnworks is returning from Afghanistan NEXT WEEK! And summer break is coming up. So the headache is SURE to go away completely very very soon, right? Please??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-4669082268122092192011-01-01T13:21:00.002-06:002011-01-01T13:23:09.036-06:00New Years ReflectionsI just reread last year's post: <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2010/01/resolve.html">Resolve</a>.<br />
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All I can say is....um....oops!<br />
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1. I'm getting more sleep, but only because I've had this insane never-ending headache since mid-August. And, well, it makes me really tired. So can we give that one half a checkmark?<br />
2. Finishing more projects and keeping the UFOs under control? I think I've started more without finishing much of anything. I'll work on that. Maybe.<br />
3. Weight loss and getting healthy? I was doing okay-ish until the headache started. I *am* recommitting to that.<br />
4. Getting the house in order: well, we DO now have dining room furniture. Gorgeous perfect dining room furniture. But the house itself is far from a well-oiled machine. It's never all that oiled when Mr. Yarnworks is deployed.<br />
5. Doing more with the kids outside the house: again, semi-check. We enjoyed more time outdoors, taking walks, going to the park, etc. But our mini field trips didn't happen as planned. Mr. Yarnworks wants to attempt that this summer. We're planning some major (and <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-month.html">unavoidable) home renovations</a> this summer, so we'll need to keep busy.<br />
6. I did not even work on the TKGA Masters program. Somehow it kept moving down the priority list. I think I'm going to save it for when Miss Kate starts Kindergarten and I have more child-free time. This year wasn't exactly rich in "me time."<br />
7. My book is still coming along, but sloooowly.<br />
8. I honestly have NO CLUE what this super secret non-knitting resolution was all about.<br />
<br />
This year? I'm going to keep it REALLY simple. I'm going to set one goal for each aspect of my life. Since apparently resolutions just incite excuses.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Personal:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">My resolution is simply to lose weight. I'm a smidge above a healthy weight and I need to get back to the land of healthy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">Business:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">My goal is to double everything. It's a lofty goal, but I'm confident that I can pull it off. Double the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JLYarnworks">Facebook Fans</a>, double the <a href="http://www.jlyarnworks.com/">website</a> visits, double the sales. This will allow me to NOT go back to a day job once Miss Kate starts Kindergarten. It will keep me home for the kids when I'm needed, and doing something I love.</span><br />
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I think getting healthy and working hard so I can stay home are very good goals...and easier to remember than last year's list! I'll work on the rest of last year's resolutions too, but I make no promises.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-60513375538327446102010-12-26T23:31:00.000-06:002010-12-26T23:31:55.421-06:00New Stitch MarkersI normally don't blog about every new item I list, but I'm just too entirely excited about a new line of polymer clay stitch markers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYW1VUgBX4O2G5KYuR54SNs5O86ULvWn7oWXElMqW6jJiOV_2zUFWjtAZO3WVf-l6dsBQGrhuD-jJuETPjU0hUI-VKMtly2Q5-xEKtgchzCZ6bgQiTDPeb7dxHWtCQY7HaHIo/s1600/Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYW1VUgBX4O2G5KYuR54SNs5O86ULvWn7oWXElMqW6jJiOV_2zUFWjtAZO3WVf-l6dsBQGrhuD-jJuETPjU0hUI-VKMtly2Q5-xEKtgchzCZ6bgQiTDPeb7dxHWtCQY7HaHIo/s640/Collage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
On the top row are my very new and oh-so-cute ice cream cones, your favorite candy-coated chocolates, and calorie-free s'mores! All are in sets of 6 for $12 a set.<br />
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And on the bottom row you'll see three of a few new Swarovski crystal stitch marker colors. They are in sets of 8, also for $12 a set.<br />
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You can find both lines in <a href="http://jlyarnworks.etsy.com/">my Etsy store</a>.<br />
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But the best part? This is just the beginning. I have plans to bring you many more varieties from both lines. 2011 is going to be a very exciting year at JL Yarnworks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-66186430390040763652010-12-17T22:55:00.002-06:002010-12-18T23:26:54.659-06:00Mr. Cute Bunny Hopkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgBrxxjy9bRbuxB1TYS7F6EWF2oFz_rRVZ4WgtNFXcAgfWIYVJrqWxUAoJMr5Gmou8LGPf1lNc81gTwgXewsVWWhyj7GxPZkk3Y9DkUiV2bdYGfZBwbzoqK2_-dvFWkWXRgOJ/s1600/hopkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgBrxxjy9bRbuxB1TYS7F6EWF2oFz_rRVZ4WgtNFXcAgfWIYVJrqWxUAoJMr5Gmou8LGPf1lNc81gTwgXewsVWWhyj7GxPZkk3Y9DkUiV2bdYGfZBwbzoqK2_-dvFWkWXRgOJ/s640/hopkins.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I think it's about time I introduce the newest member of the Yarnworks family.<br />
<br />
In September, my husband had the joy of accompanying me to North Country Fiber Fair. It was his very first fiber show. After helping me set up, he wandered the fair. Within minutes, he was back at my booth. "There is the cutest gray bunny in the corner over there," he said. He leaned over me a bit. I was sitting and he's 6'5". "And I *want* him."<br />
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I chuckled a bit, knowing I've been talking about angoras for the past year or more only to have him scoff at me.<br />
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Together, we ventured over to the two angora booths, admiring the different types. Finally, I saw the one he'd fallen for. A gorgeous black English Angora. He'd been raised by an 8-year-old boy as a 4H project and was being sold by the angora breeder for him. I've always been partial to the English Angora, so I looked at him and ever-so-coyly said, "He's very cute. If you really want him..."<br />
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The kids were thrilled when they found out we were getting a pet! They wanted to call him Hoppy or Hopper. Then they suggested Bouncer. *sigh* Finally, we came up with Hopkins. Then Miss Kate suggested that he needed "Cute Bunny" as a middle name. We settled on Mr. Cute Bunny Hopkins. Though we usually call him Hopkins or Mr. Hopkins.<br />
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He has free run of the living room. Really, he has free run of the house, but he never strays far from his cage. His favorite spot is behind his cage, looking out the sliding glass doors. He even has a wild bunny that visits him from time to time. We see the little paw prints in the snow! I wonder what they must think of each other, separated by glass like that.<br />
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Hopkins loves toys. He loves throwing them around and gets mad if you move things around. Just picking up stray toys in the living room will usually result in an angry foot thump from him.<br />
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So if we got Hopkins back in September, why am I just now blogging about him? Well, because he accompanied us to our Christmas photo shoot today! He's a natural! Waaaaay easier to pose than my children!!!<br />
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Here is my newest favorite photo:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlX4JRGMMJs7bq1Wjuk4UH3Ze-Szly1ATQzaY4fZLVOnvALY-4_ygId-GA4lbDYeAh6_E_GKwaRATwjgQvWgF7ppr7QWMq780mL09Lfy6KAmc8XI6viu4GkBlTBbi7eKltfoy/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlX4JRGMMJs7bq1Wjuk4UH3Ze-Szly1ATQzaY4fZLVOnvALY-4_ygId-GA4lbDYeAh6_E_GKwaRATwjgQvWgF7ppr7QWMq780mL09Lfy6KAmc8XI6viu4GkBlTBbi7eKltfoy/s640/DSC_0122.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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And the whole family...minus Mr. Yarnworks who is still in Afghanistan:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3JLWPY4oJsTl_qqfbuphgI_MxfVqTaVPc59dOdpWKEw5ZEtCSRACauaU9ML1sdNm3Jt1QqfhjWNGMjBFg8yRtX4McC-oJ6Xz0cFdV2kZsrO4vkJgDFgp4TkcfVMceirOkGy/s1600/DSC_0100b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3JLWPY4oJsTl_qqfbuphgI_MxfVqTaVPc59dOdpWKEw5ZEtCSRACauaU9ML1sdNm3Jt1QqfhjWNGMjBFg8yRtX4McC-oJ6Xz0cFdV2kZsrO4vkJgDFgp4TkcfVMceirOkGy/s640/DSC_0100b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-57852092537942781622010-12-13T14:03:00.000-06:002010-12-13T14:03:09.996-06:00Gift WrappingI spent my weekend shipping out special Christmas orders. I absolutely love this time of year! Not only do I get to spoil my own friends and family, but I get to help spoil yours as well!<br />
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Here's an example of an order that shipped out this weekend:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6kr8NLd64x2zneEUinzqA0MvQEKat040_1fWUjoVRY-YhUYQWF_gnH-Re0EsX9JzwDvTq30pgNxY626Gg3v9YX9KsCNtBuVbBO0UXTr2slUSmZHf3BHlpDUJ6Va-U1rf3L1A/s1600/giftwrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6kr8NLd64x2zneEUinzqA0MvQEKat040_1fWUjoVRY-YhUYQWF_gnH-Re0EsX9JzwDvTq30pgNxY626Gg3v9YX9KsCNtBuVbBO0UXTr2slUSmZHf3BHlpDUJ6Va-U1rf3L1A/s400/giftwrap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And guess what? This is a service that I offer FREE of charge! Whether it's Christmas or a birthday or a secret pal, I'll make sure your package is done up right! All you have to do is ask. And, please double-check that the paypal "ship to" address is the gift recipient's address.<br />
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There's still time for Christmas gifts! Order by December 18th to make sure that your gifts get there in time for Christmas!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-18016374698489482702010-11-17T20:58:00.002-06:002010-11-17T21:03:04.993-06:00And We're Off!The race has begun. There are only 38 days until Christmas. Which for a knitter or crocheter is NOT a lot of time, right?<br />
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I'm starting to wonder already if I've bitten off more than I can chew. I can't share too many details here for fear of ruining the surprise for the lucky recipients, but.... EEK!!!! And, of course, I'm finding more intriguing patterns just about daily.<br />
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I mean, just look at this gorgeous <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/evergreen-copse">trio of Christmas trees</a> by the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kristi-schueler">Fiber Fool, Kristi Schueler</a>. I spotted these guys around this time last year, and have yet to knit them up. The only question is, do I make them for myself or for someone on my list? Pretty sure I'm going to be selfish with this one! If I've been pining (pun inadvertent, but I'm keeping it) for a year now, they must be mine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScGzGHdGChA9GXx1zWj0Zu9b6lR4NKIq2I2A5z6y1qVP1kjUlziFKV7ukyHN7x1toGRXcD2sMqkLeDgFD2JE-2PioXuv-qcyi3PE45CQoHcOI9WR96-EiwjL-nXS7FLkCFa8B/s1600/xmastrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScGzGHdGChA9GXx1zWj0Zu9b6lR4NKIq2I2A5z6y1qVP1kjUlziFKV7ukyHN7x1toGRXcD2sMqkLeDgFD2JE-2PioXuv-qcyi3PE45CQoHcOI9WR96-EiwjL-nXS7FLkCFa8B/s320/xmastrees.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
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Of course, with snow looming, the chill is setting in. How can I resist knitting up the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/northman-cowl">Northman Cowl</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/desiree-bowman">Desiree Bowman</a>? It looks so versatile! I bet it would be great worn around the head as well!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kN7D_ME-1sVDN-gxyM0iN_4EzTxd5pyJtCP_zvuQhbgdzYqxPxj6cQ0apzeve0OMi3IQP6szVHf8CZHQQ5zek_xj4ri5wAbeHrOERnouws-yxr50p9tGWwtNS2w1CSS1SujD/s1600/cowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kN7D_ME-1sVDN-gxyM0iN_4EzTxd5pyJtCP_zvuQhbgdzYqxPxj6cQ0apzeve0OMi3IQP6szVHf8CZHQQ5zek_xj4ri5wAbeHrOERnouws-yxr50p9tGWwtNS2w1CSS1SujD/s320/cowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And another cowl I have my eye on....'cause cowls are the thing this year. The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/listado-cowl">Listado Cowl</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/laura-nelkin">Laura Nelkin</a>. Isn't it fabulous?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8INSCAYtzCkLXU8pFYbUQSAUDZXKQt_-dNMfOIZw8iNUFPedXmKFRCS1cxsaHyilwiyQsuB080IsnLVQ7q9lfpm2Efv3Y2D4xrud6reUvId31215w5_aRPq7v89nJUOq5Cga/s1600/listado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8INSCAYtzCkLXU8pFYbUQSAUDZXKQt_-dNMfOIZw8iNUFPedXmKFRCS1cxsaHyilwiyQsuB080IsnLVQ7q9lfpm2Efv3Y2D4xrud6reUvId31215w5_aRPq7v89nJUOq5Cga/s320/listado.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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There's something about the little belt and button on this hat that really calls to me. It's sweet and cute and sophisticated all at once. Vintage, yet trendy. It's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maggie-vintage-style-cabled-cloche">Maggie, Vintage Style Cabled Cloche</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tina-sanders">Tina Sanders</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VyDNQuQbklBxBYev4RAa_FDdKH1VW7iTwFzg5iHLVNMeP8h59NDqzqHKXC66xCaqlSOTi1GebnnT9HsXVpPNKyzoQTf7a0n54LyL18znxczD8B46heVARdRcRLsI0FWuEQ8y/s1600/straphat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VyDNQuQbklBxBYev4RAa_FDdKH1VW7iTwFzg5iHLVNMeP8h59NDqzqHKXC66xCaqlSOTi1GebnnT9HsXVpPNKyzoQTf7a0n54LyL18znxczD8B46heVARdRcRLsI0FWuEQ8y/s320/straphat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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And this caught my eye as well. My youngest is afraid of the shadows in her room....and the moving eyes of her toys after dark. We've found that a great solution is a sleep mask. We bought her one with embroidered monster eyes. Wish I'd seen this one first! Time permitting, it just may end up under the tree for her! <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jessica-schleicher">Jessica Schleicher's</a> "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eye-see-you-sleep-mask">Eye See You Sleep Mask</a>" -- just look at the detail in those eyes!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpC8ScY5mE5kN4ePJMwfxu7bjxszDGdK9jkcBJ8Rky6ngJR7tP5oHTS5JvDfiZym0Azf9c-vH9jxnaR6ecdqlq8FHJ2DnYK6P_5tfVzuW2J_NUz3Ubq17WcTankEBU4Wqlxsp/s1600/sleepmask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpC8ScY5mE5kN4ePJMwfxu7bjxszDGdK9jkcBJ8Rky6ngJR7tP5oHTS5JvDfiZym0Azf9c-vH9jxnaR6ecdqlq8FHJ2DnYK6P_5tfVzuW2J_NUz3Ubq17WcTankEBU4Wqlxsp/s320/sleepmask.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And if that wasn't enough cuteness for you, how about this little guy? <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cheeky-little-monkeys">Cheeky Little Monkeys</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tanya-brooks">Tanya Brooks</a>. Too. Flippin'. Cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xITYG_wvpgd1C0-9aynJAl1H5W8rIMshDUzV9N0UzrVaphF6S8QbpqqZPoMmyTwPWQFLHHJDw3dSkz_fh_lNTS4GAVxJY0N18Ghivglcjt5iwdvQvKE7WngRwTgZXPtuz7QY/s1600/monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xITYG_wvpgd1C0-9aynJAl1H5W8rIMshDUzV9N0UzrVaphF6S8QbpqqZPoMmyTwPWQFLHHJDw3dSkz_fh_lNTS4GAVxJY0N18Ghivglcjt5iwdvQvKE7WngRwTgZXPtuz7QY/s320/monkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Think there's time for it all? Probably not, but I aim to try!!!! Thankfully, some of these are selfish knits, so they can wait until after Christmas. Except for the trees. They may have to be done by next weekend when the Christmas decor goes up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***All photos used with permission of the designer. These are some fabulous ladies, seriously. Check out their pages on Ravelry (linked names) and take a peek at all the loveliness they have to offer.***</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-50043645942457678292010-10-30T20:48:00.001-05:002011-11-26T23:45:36.336-06:00The Red Scarf Project and a Free Scarf Pattern<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjlyarnworks.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fred-scarf-project-and-free-scarf.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_5FW11vWHab4%2FTMzHdXhRfZI%2FAAAAAAAABq4%2Fy37wAqMYaqs%2Fs640%2Fred%2Bscarf%2B140.JPG&description=Hurdle%20Stitch%20Scarf%20Pattern%20(knit)" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal">Pin It</a><br />
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script><br />
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I can't remember now how I stumbled upon it, but it's been on my mind ever since. <a href="http://orphan.org/what-we-do/programs/red-scarf-project/">The Red Scarf Project</a> run by the Orphan Foundation of America accepts donations of red scarves from September 1 until December 15, then hand them out to orphans who have graduated from the foster care system and are now attending college. They send out care packages to these students for Valentine's Day, thus the request for red (fire engine, burgundy, or variegated yarns including red, etc.) scarves. They also send them out randomly, so scarves should be unisex. There are some other considerations, so if you decide to donate, please go to the site and read carefully.<br />
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For some reason, this particular charity tugs at my heartstrings. I remember my first semesters away from home and how being able to make that connection back home sometimes saved my sanity. Imagine being away from "home" for the first time and having no one to call when you're convinced a professor hates you, when you swear that your dorm-mate staying up partying until 5am nightly will be your undoing, or when you first find out you've made the dean's list. *sniffle*<br />
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So I set out to find the perfect unisex reversible pattern...and an inexpensive, soft, washable yarn...'cause we all know college students probably aren't going to handwash...heck, they don't have time!<br />
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Then the solution sat right next to me at knit night a few weeks ago. One of my friends was making a scarf using the hurdle stitch. The texture was interesting, the pattern super simple, was completely reversible, and was definitely unisex.<br />
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So here is my red scarf:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1AV2S-ZPXoJ_Afo411zIY_snkE0B24wLbtzPtKGmzgnGesKNJ6WhAM52HIE9qapY-DF3p72DIS2vkiDeq2COm51BEnWmQlgTytckJ1q13hBpg02I9-8tlAI6n0-GRk1WtR9I/s1600/red+scarf+140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1AV2S-ZPXoJ_Afo411zIY_snkE0B24wLbtzPtKGmzgnGesKNJ6WhAM52HIE9qapY-DF3p72DIS2vkiDeq2COm51BEnWmQlgTytckJ1q13hBpg02I9-8tlAI6n0-GRk1WtR9I/s640/red+scarf+140.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Hurdle Stitch Scarf</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Yarn:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/needlework/yarn-baby-and-sock-yarns/i-love-this-sport/">I Love This Yarn-Sportweight</a> from Hobby Lobby in Red, or any DK or sportweight yarn; 2 skeins or around 460 yards.</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Needles:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> US 7</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Cast on 34 (or any even number of stitches for desired width)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Rows 1-2: Knit.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Rows 3-4: (K1, P1), repeat across.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Repeat rows 1 - 4 to desired length.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Bind off. Tuck in ends.</span></span><br />
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That's it. Super easy. The perfect project to take with you for knit night since you only barely have to pay attention. A tip? I used a detachable stitch marker to mark the right side of the scarf when starting row 1. This ended up on the right every other row, so I knew when to switch from knitting to k1, p1 ribbing.<br />
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I plan to make several of these scarves this year. I'll do black, gray, brown, blue, and olive for friends and family....and will finish up this one for the <a href="http://orphan.org/what-we-do/programs/red-scarf-project/">Red Scarf Project</a>. I hope you'll keep them in mind too...either this year or next.<br />
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Happy knitting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-45196947930378981452010-10-25T20:49:00.001-05:002010-10-25T20:52:45.232-05:00What's your favorite gift-giving pattern?In the spirit of my last post regarding <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2010/10/yarn-choices-for-gifts.html">gift-giving yarn choices</a>, let's talk about patterns for a moment.<br />
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Some people on our lists will occasionally get really complex time-consuming projects off our needles or hooks. But, for the most part, the idea knit gift will be something fairly quick to knit. Probably taking a maximum of 400 or 500 yards of yarn and a couple weeks or less of our time. After all, many of us have long lists of gift recipients.<br />
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Do you have a favorite go-to pattern? Have you been eyeing pattern that you want to try? I'm looking for specific patterns (with links, if possible...Ravelry project links work) to review.<br />
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Designers: here's your chance to plug your most giftable pattern! :)<br />
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I'll choose 10-20 to highlight in a future post. I won't be knitting them all, mind you, but I will add many to my queue!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-32528552433358812922010-10-25T10:02:00.001-05:002010-10-25T15:54:01.070-05:00Yarn Choices for GiftsWith Christmas rapidly approaching, I, like so many other knitters and crocheters, am faced with a dilemma. What yarn is best to use for creating gifts for non-knitters?<br />
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The criteria seems simple enough.<br />
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1. First and foremost, it must be machine washable. Unless I know the recipient well enough to know they don't mind extra laundry chores, like hand washing, I always use machine washable fibers.<br />
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2. Let's be frank...it also has to be economical. Especially at this time of year, there's always a strain on the budget. I think that's true for most of us.<br />
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3. It has to be gorgeous, soft, and just plain yummy. We aim to impress, right? Gorgeous is subjective, but while trying to be economical, I also don't want my item to fall flat. I want my recipient to feel pampered. Or at the very least, not turned off to the idea of hand knit gifts.<br />
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So what yarns do you use for knitting gifts? Acrylics? Cottons? Superwash wool? Blends?<br />
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What are some specific yarns you like?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcRm2z-1aZ03n7nBXHs3IAFY-Y2nuI2CHmcChyphenhyphenDrFakHheCwkhRV1mS-0471n3TOklSoeKk1PKdlkr5COGDAEBI9Dvkjjebn1MfKnockw4vtr1Qbr8ytfJbscDt11OCxKAA5v/s1600/ball_lace.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcRm2z-1aZ03n7nBXHs3IAFY-Y2nuI2CHmcChyphenhyphenDrFakHheCwkhRV1mS-0471n3TOklSoeKk1PKdlkr5COGDAEBI9Dvkjjebn1MfKnockw4vtr1Qbr8ytfJbscDt11OCxKAA5v/s1600/ball_lace.gif" /></a>I'll get the ball rolling with one I've recently found: <a href="http://www.patonsyarns.com/product.php?LGC=lace">Patons Lace</a>. (Ravelry link <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/patons-lace">here</a>) It's 80% acrylic, 10% wool, and 10% mohair. It's really more of a fingering weight with a mohair halo, so a little goes a long way. It comes in a few really nice colorways. I'm using "sachet." And it looks much richer than it is. At $6 or less for 398 yards, it's easily affordable. The high acrylic content also makes it easy to care for. Perfect for the top secret gift I can't share quite yet. ;)<br />
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So what do you like to use? Do you have the same criteria in your gift yarns?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-87419233992311468712010-09-01T21:20:00.000-05:002010-09-01T21:20:37.548-05:00Blog GiveawaysI just LOVE blog giveaways. The odds of winning are good. The people hosting them are often the sweetest you'll meet. And by helping to promote a blog giveaway, you're often also helping to promote a small home business or cottage industry. What can be better?<br />
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Well, winning! I just found out I won this fabulous <a href="http://plushdesignspa.blogspot.com/2010/08/giveaway-to-knock-your-socks-off.html">giveaway from KissMyStyle</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXQlMVV3B1_NjRiaNsXRR-zaiEqbn5NSGQNIfgDs8e06mkbNGS2ITyhpv5-k8kEziaImhUNqr0Xh-d2dh9f6qMPjpu4McXZHcFb7npOoOeOB7orTwJ-yFWirDL7xc0ybpfp1a/s1600/photo+3(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXQlMVV3B1_NjRiaNsXRR-zaiEqbn5NSGQNIfgDs8e06mkbNGS2ITyhpv5-k8kEziaImhUNqr0Xh-d2dh9f6qMPjpu4McXZHcFb7npOoOeOB7orTwJ-yFWirDL7xc0ybpfp1a/s320/photo+3(2).jpg" /></a></div><br />
Isn't it gorgeousness? Megan of KissMyStyle has more yummy goodies in her <a href="http://www.kissmystyle.com/">online shop</a>. From organic eyepillows to fun flower hairclips to simply elegant earrings. Just a little bit of pretty for everyone.<br />
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And do you remember <a href="http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-giveaway.html">this giveaway</a> I posted about a few weeks ago? That's right, I won that one too! I've been meaning to blog about it, but wanted to do it with a proper review of the book. For now, I'll just say that the book is lovely. But expect a more thorough review...eventually. Tina of <a href="http://peacefullyknitting.com/">Peacefully Knitting</a> is a knitwear designer you definitely need to know. I swear, every time I visit a new online knitting store, I see <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/arizonaknitter">her patterns</a>. And it's no wonder. Her designs are classic and stylish. She has <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42248990/maggie-vintage-style-cabled-cloche">this one hat pattern</a> that I'm definitely going to have to pick up as soon as I have time to make it. Do you see the way the little belt fits through the twist of the cables? It's those kinds of details that really make a pattern sing, don't you think?<br />
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So if you're hosting a blog giveaway, be sure to let me know! But more than that, when you see a blog giveaway, show it some love. If nothing else, you'll help someone build their business in this tough economy. And you never know. You just might win something phenomenal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-46560980527596129022010-08-10T17:26:00.000-05:002010-08-10T17:26:27.154-05:00Price Changes<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdTdIhDhyiwcDQiTPPYGqJU2mSxJObcQc3o2Ok_KNb-II8RFX6QPtbXbOkrNkfcCCcX-wbfh8XSXAYGZ5cXiz_LvIA7C5y0qMry5am5nFix26NRKXZHIu8lfjKZ6EIv8S0TT0/s1600/knitting+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdTdIhDhyiwcDQiTPPYGqJU2mSxJObcQc3o2Ok_KNb-II8RFX6QPtbXbOkrNkfcCCcX-wbfh8XSXAYGZ5cXiz_LvIA7C5y0qMry5am5nFix26NRKXZHIu8lfjKZ6EIv8S0TT0/s320/knitting+girl.jpg" /></a>On Monday, August 16th, I will be adjusting the prices of my <a href="http://www.jlyarnworks.com/category_27/Scrabble-Tile-Pendants.htm">Scrabble Tile Pendants</a>. They will be going up to $6.95 each and 18" chains will be available for an additional $4.95.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you were considering these for people on your Christmas list, NOW is the time to shop. I do have some chains already available, so if you would like chains, they're already available for $4.95 each, just <a href="mailto:jlyarnworks@gmail.com">email me</a> with your request.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-18352443935107590772010-08-09T13:17:00.001-05:002010-08-09T13:19:20.337-05:00Focus<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTy45kUlHKD0F3EYXUXO2fhM5YJlHA6SO3m8qiu7IZ-yL3-rnd0qubfz9WI4UcMFnNgPqOfA1JEGoRBsyQVCxnq0qqBrkaIP57FX5FFCpK-l-Jh4sTXm5yYgmqkZWBUnK9i-8/s1600/treasury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTy45kUlHKD0F3EYXUXO2fhM5YJlHA6SO3m8qiu7IZ-yL3-rnd0qubfz9WI4UcMFnNgPqOfA1JEGoRBsyQVCxnq0qqBrkaIP57FX5FFCpK-l-Jh4sTXm5yYgmqkZWBUnK9i-8/s400/treasury.jpg" width="400" /></a>I love waking up and finding myself in another Treasury! This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5f6c07d2856d91388735aa/a-melding-of-circle-and-triangle?index=0">Teardrop Treasury</a> features some of my stitch markers. I absolutely love that necklace too. I just may have to go back and pick that up for myself. Please show this treasury a little love. With any luck, I'll find myself on the front page again!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0h2oy8PQPoGuDmTHxZ9-rLY_6hd9tOye2j0v92hMA9KV_K6CPL_uu0YP8CNwFpTBT4yZ09a0xvLXYn1dPM1-ED3-s5CyZizfNSLRP1iyvtWbeOWl3f0gMAQxlLr8Uy90WfRB/s1600/scarf+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0h2oy8PQPoGuDmTHxZ9-rLY_6hd9tOye2j0v92hMA9KV_K6CPL_uu0YP8CNwFpTBT4yZ09a0xvLXYn1dPM1-ED3-s5CyZizfNSLRP1iyvtWbeOWl3f0gMAQxlLr8Uy90WfRB/s400/scarf+006.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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And I've promised a few of you a sneak peek of my latest crochet design. The design portion is now complete! I just need to finish the sample, photograph the sample, write up the pattern from my notes, chart the ruffle bit, and make it all pretty.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">No prob!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love the design process. Picturing something in my head, trying to create it with yarn. Then, as I create, it either bends to my will, or takes on a life of its own, turning into something I never imagined, but love that much more.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And that brings us to the title of this blog entry. Focus.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've been doing a little soul searching lately. A little yarn and business-related soul searching. See, I find myself forever coming up with ideas. Not just designs, but product ideas. Look at <a href="http://www.jlyarnworks.com/">my website</a> and you'll see the past 5 years of just a handful of those ideas. It all began with recycled yarn. Then I started playing with beads and stitch markers. Next thing I know I'm not only beading, but dyeing, pouring resin for Scrabble tile pendants, creating greeting cards with rubber stamps (so far these are only available at shows), making fabric-covered magnets, crocheting teeny tiny granny squares for earrings, etc.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thing is, I start feeling a little too stretched thin. There are vendors that specialize in only <em>one</em> of each of the products I offer. This is the story of my life. Jack of all Trades. I'd say Master of None, except that I do feel I've just about always held my own. Even back in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. My interests and talents were so varied. I was a straight A student, but had absolutely no direction. When I got to college, things didn't improve. Every time I took a new class, a whole new exciting world would open up in front of me. I had passionate interests in science, literature, psychology, and anthropology. But at the same time, none of these options fed my creative side. As exciting as they were, there was always something missing. And, at the time, I don't think I realized what it was. I ended up majoring in psychology and minoring in English. English was closest to feeding my creativity, but halfway through a semester of grad school for English, I realized that what I was really passionate about was writing. I loved the classics, I loved picking them apart line by line to try to find deeper meaning or alternate interpretations. But what really filled my soul was writing. Graduate school wasn't giving me that. Only writing could give me that. So between that discovery and some financial difficulties, I dropped out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I find myself at a similar crossroads. Certainly this business feeds my creativity. And surrounds me with other creative souls. But I find myself stretched thin, across a vast variety of crafts. So at my last show, I put everything out and decided that only my best-selling product lines would stay.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But um.....they all sold. And they all sold well. I sold more Scrabble Tiles than skeins of yarn, but dollar for dollar, they came up about even. So I kept it all. And they all continue to sell just about equally across the board.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, this summer, I've been contemplating where to go from here. I haven't come to any firm conclusions. And I've decided that, at least for now, I won't be discontinuing any product lines. However, I did come to a realization....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The creative process for me is as much about creating my business as a whole, creating product lines, and creative marketing. I enjoy challenges. I enjoy learning new skills. Put another way...I enjoy thinking of a new neat product, sourcing all the materials, figuring out the most efficient way to create large quantities, and creating different styles. Granted, once fully created, I start to lose interest. But, I've set myself up well and can manage a decent hourly wage from each product line I've created. And they all sell. Some faster than others, but it appears they're all worthwhile endeavors.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But, the products that keep my interest? That never wane? Dyeing and designing. Every new batch of yarn is a new creation. It's a new opportunity to play with color. And each new design is pure creativity. Even in the writing of the pattern there is creativity.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So my conclusion? To turn my creative focus towards designing and dyeing. With rare exception, I will not be adding new product lines, instead only focusing on the ones I already have.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is getting long, but I also want to share another issue I've been pondering. Craft shows. I sell primarily to fiber artists of some sort. Sheep and wool festivals are where my ideal customers hang out. However, living in the Midwest, there aren't many shows within a 4-5 hour driving distance. In fact, I only know of 4. And, so far, I only attend 2. But a friend has invited me to share a booth with her at a huge local general Christmas craft show. What can I offer the average shopper? Without spreading myself out even more?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My solution so far:</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Scrabble Tile Pendants with an expanded range of images</div></li>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Magnets with an expanded range of images</div></li>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Needle-Felting Kits (sold only at shows so far, but already made up and ready to go)</div></li>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Granny Square Earrings</div></li>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Possibly some other needle-felted items made from leftovers from blended fibers (another new product already in the works. Oops!)</div></li>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And um...that's all I got. I'm open to other ideas.</div></li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So that's what I've been doing all summer. Coming to this relatively simple conclusion. And pouring resin, beading, dyeing, designing, crocheting teeny tiny earrings, sewing, rubber-stamping,.......and parenting, gardening, running the household, etc. Seems like a lot when I put it that way. :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30040441.post-88919461002852519862010-07-27T22:50:00.000-05:002012-11-29T18:08:32.407-06:00Book GiveawayJust a quick post today to let you know about a blog giveaway on a friend's blog.<br />
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<a href="http://peacefullyknitting.com/2010/07/27/gifted-by-mags-kandis-book-giveaway/#comment-1701">Peacefully Knitting</a> is giving away <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681780/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596681780&linkCode=as2&tag=jlyar0d-20">Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit and Crochet</a> by Mags Kandis. It looks like a great addition to the library. I've entered. <a href="http://peacefullyknitting.com/2010/07/27/gifted-by-mags-kandis-book-giveaway/#comment-1701">Go check it out!</a><br />
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