Vera's Crafty Blog

Go Go Gadget Girl! 4KCBWDAY6

Day Six (Saturday April 27th): A Tool To Covet

Write about your favourite knitting or crochet (or spinning, etc) tool. It can either be a tool directly involved in your craft (knitting needles or crochet hook) or something that makes your craft more pleasurable – be it a special lamp, or stitch markers. 

Is it an item that you would recommend to others, and if so for which applications/tasks do you think it is most suited. Conversely, do you have a tool/accessory that you regret buying? Why does it not work for you?

In nine--yes nine--years of blogging, I may I have repeated stories, but never reprinted a post, but I cannot say it better than a 2011 post that was inspired by Knitting and Crochet Week. Pretty much everything stands. 

I've done some minor editing (ABE--Always Be Editing), and my updates are in bold.

Take it away, ghost of Vera past...

***

 

I'm Just "Tool" Sensitive

I love the entire process of knitting and crocheting--scouting for patterns, caressing yarn, being smoothed by the click of needles and the pull of the hook, and of course, showing off my creations.

I'm also a bit of a gadget girl.

There's nothing like the marriage of a good pattern, yarn, and accessories. I love it when it all comes together.

Needles, hooks, gauges, bags, counters, boards, pads, pins, tape;  I'm all about a good notion. Like Alton Brown is to cooking, I am to my needlework. The tool must be right.

If it isn't just right, I feel a bit like the hypersensitive heroine of The Princess and the Pea *(Please see the story at the end of the post), and get irritated and struggle.

On the other hand, a  good accessory can make working on a project a joy forever.

Hang 'Em High

When possible, I prefer to work with circular needles, and Addi Turbos have been favorites from the beginning. However, they can be a pain to organize and store, and I'm glad that I got The Circular Solution from Patternworks early in my knitting life.

When I need a needle, I can just grab and go. 

Now if my straights and double points looked so good.

[I have since attached one of my beloved needle gauges to it so I can keep things on track.]

Measure It

I was so out of sorts when I misplaced my needle and hook gauge from Nancy's Knit Knacks that I went out and brought another one as soon as possible, only t0 find the first one. 

Bonus: I've got two.

I feel the same way about my Gauge Wizard ruler magnifier.  I haven't lost it, but I just want another one around, just in case.

Who says taking measurements have to be boring? Not my friend.

Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto.

The Secret

You can never be too rich, thin, or have too many stitch markers. My Namaste Buddy is kinda sweet too.

[I got this one from a sock club selection from The Loopy Ewe.  I also have a green one that I brought beforehand.  Now there's a Better Buddy case, and I want one in pink.  They are great.]

The same goes for Chibis.  I had such a difficult time with keeping tapestry needles before.  Well, I still misplace Chibis, but they are so much easier to find than needles, and cuteness does count.

Fixer Upper

Another early in my knitting life purchase is my dentist tool from Patternworks. The small hook is wonderful for picking up dropped stitches and the pick has gotten me out of a lot of jams.

Again, I covet a second one.

Bag Lady

My array of knitting bags is best saved for a future post [I really must get to that], but these Namaste Oh Snap! pouches are great! They make things easy to carry everything for an individual project and transport from bag to bag.  I like that I can see the contents of the bag and so does the TSA.

[In case you are wondering, the project is the He Said/She Said Cowl from Chic Knits]

Cipering Along

I have plain, circular, kacha kacha, bracelet, and even electric row counters, and they all come in handy depending on the project, but here is my go to way to keep up with patterns.

Yes, the self-proclaimed "Gadget Girl" goes analog, but this works best for me...

It works even better if it is a Hello Kitty notebook.

Remember, cuteness counts.

*Patrick is very sensitive to even the smallest speck of dust in the bed, and I've spent too way many nights being woken up so that he can shake out of some near invisible force was irritating him. Thus, I dubbed him, "The Princess and the Pea" to quizzical glances.  This went on for years.  One day, we spoke about it and I told him the fairy tale, and I realized that he thought I was calling him "The Princess and the Pee" all these years.  

Glad we cleared that one up.

Ah, marriage.

***

Thanks for the Earworm

 

You're welcome!

Girl on Film~~4KCBWDAY5

Day Five (Friday April 26th): Something A Bit Different
It’s the annual challenge to blog in a way different to how you normally blog. You may choose to create a podcast, or vlog, create a wordless post or write in verse. You've already stretched your wings with an infographic, now it's time to freestyle. You can post on any topic you like, but be sure to post in a style different from your usual blog presentation. There's not too much guidance for this one simply because the more varied the posts are on this day, the wider the sources of information for other bloggers will be. Bonus points if you manage to work your house animal in somehow.

No Makeup, No Script, No Problem

I knew immediately that I wanted to do a vlog or video blog. Thought it woud be nice for those who have never seen or heard me to do so. I never used the camera that I have on the computer, and was a little intimidated by it, but it turned out to be easy to use.

After a tiny bit of practice, I recorded this lightly planned stream-of consiouness chat on Wednesday night in one sitting. I did the annotations last night.

Take it away, me!

 

Overall it was a lot of fun, so I may do another vlog in the future. I'm really learning a lot this week!

In hindsight I probably should have fixed up more and been better prepared, but I suppose I wanted to give you my version of cinéma vérité. I'm shocked that I went over nine minutes. Patrick thought it was funny and a good first effort, but I said too many ummmms. 

Hope you like it.

Tomorrow:  A Tool to Covet

Shifting to Neutral~~ 4KCBWDAY4

Knitting and Crocheting Blog Week Day 4~~ Color Review

What are your favourite colors for knitted or crocheted projects. Have a think about what colors you seem to favour when yarn shopping and crafting.

Only after writing this part of your post should you then actually look to see what colors you have used in your projects. Make a quick tally of what colours you have used in your projects over the past year and compare it to the colors you have written about. Compare this, in turn, to the colors that are most dominant in your yarn stash – do they correlate?

Now think back to your house animal - do the colors you have chosen relate to your animal in anyway - if you are in the house of peacock, for example, are your projects often multicolored and bright?

What's Your Favorite Color, Baby?

I often close blog posts with a video. It's about time to start with one.

Let's rock! 

 

I don't think I have a favorite color, I tend to shift pallets. 

Hello Colors!

There was a time that gravitated towards pinks, bright blues and berries.  Here are some of my yarn purchases from some years ago.

First, some caveats...

• Yes, I should have made something with these yarns by now. 
• No, you cannot have the Wollmeise! The yarn at approximately 1 o'clock.
• I do plan to make the Just Ribbing Socks with the Apple Pie Laine (blue) yarn and Broadripple socks with the Cascade Fixation (the pink yarn in the center)
• This is just a small sample of my yarn stash.  I actually have enough start my own store. Please don't call Hoarders. 

 

It got to the point that my knitsibs and the owner of the LYS would set aside yarn for me in a my Hello Kitty pallet.

Still Life: Brown Girl in a Brown Sweater

The Vera Sweater changed all that. I was enchanted by her from the moment I saw her, but was baffled as to a color for her.  I felt a bright color would be garish, but I didn't want white or cream. The LYS owner suggested brown, but I was all like, "A brown girl in a brown sweater won't work." She mentioned that my skin tone has a red (or perhaps yellow, I'm unsure) cast, and the color would compliment.

I trusted her, and knitted one of my favorite sweaters brown.

Here she is blocking.

...And here I am modeling. How now brown...Okay, you get the point.

 

I adore this sweater so.  In fact, I wore her to work yesterday, but what the it did was give me permission to wear neutrals.  I still like loud colors for socks and hats, but I'm into earth colors now.

Witness some recent yarn purchase.

Seriously, don't call Hoarders.

Now, I'm all, "Earth mama--no drama."

By the way, I kind of dislike yellow and black together--with apologies to the House of Bee.

Still buzzing, though.

InfoMation Please! 4KCBWDAY3

The Trouble With Day 3

There are many ways of conveying information on a blog; text and images being the two most widely used. Many infographics combine both these elements to provide a visual way of presenting text information.

Make your own infographic (no fancy imaging software needed, you can draw it on paper and photograph it if you want) to convey any element of your craft(s). It can be just for fun or a thoroughly researched presentation of an idea/finding.

I'll admit, I was less than thrilled when I read today's topic for the first time. I can riff on my projects and music and Shakespeare and such, but my fingers get tongue tied at the mere mention of graphics.  I had no idea what to make a graph about or even how.

I refused to let either deter me.  I love infographics, even have a Pinterest board dedicated to them. Now I have a post title.

Now, for an infographic subject. I would be nice to do something on all the yarn I have and needles I have, but I didn't have the stamina to dig through all that.  Busy bee that I am, I didn't feel like gathering all my UFOs either.

Ravelry to the Rescue!

I've been a Ravelry member since 2007, and I'm generally good about putting my projects on the site, and I currently have 190 of them, so I decided to make an infographic based on my Ravelry projects.  If you are a Ravelry member, you can see my project page. 

A Method for Her Madness

Then I thought about looking for a quick and easy was to make a graph.  I know that the instructions said that I could make something on paper and photograph it, and while that method has its charms, I wanted something something better looking than my artwork, so googled about and came up with infogr.am.  It's free and and easy to use.

Knitting v. Crocheting Projects

Here's the relationship between the number of knitting versus the number of crocheting projects that I have placed on Ravelry. You can move your cursor on the graphic for the numbers.

Projects on Ravelry--Knitted v. CrochetedWelcome to Pro! | Infographics

Zoons!  I knew I had more knitting projects, but I have knitted more than I thought.   I really do love knitting and crocheting equally, I promise.

Here's what I have for categories of projects that I have placed on Ravelry.  Can you guess what I make the most of?

Projects on RavelryWelcome to Pro! | Infographics

Hats, of course!

I'd like to make more gloves and mittens.  I did make some during my BR (before Ravelry) days. I hadn't realized that I've made so many scarves and cowls.  Naturally, I have a fairly big number of UFOs, but that's kind of the way I roll.

What a fun and insightful excerise to see my own data graphically. Nice to have a new tool as well. That's what these blogging challenges are all about.

Note:  After looking at the blog, I noticed that the graphs are too big to fit the column, and I don't have enough skills to fix it quickly.  If you can, please let me know.  

Tomorrow: Color Review

 

The Secret Life of a Doily

Knitting and Crocheting Blog Week~~A Mascot Project~~4KCBWDAY2

Your task today is to either think of or research a project that embodies that house/animal. It could be a knitting or crochet pattern – either of the animal itself or something that makes you think of the qualities of that house. 

Alternatively it could be a type or colour of yarn, or a single button. Whatever you choose, decide upon a project and blog about how and why it relates to your house/creature.

What in the hive is a bee to do?

I decided to buzz about around Ravelry and found this.

It's the Busy Bees Doily by Elizabeth Hiddleson from the May,1988 issue of Decorative Crochet.

Ah! doilies! I love them so.  The thin thread and the steel needles.  They are so pretty, just works of art all. I've been through my bouts of doilimania--here,  here, and here. Perhaps it is time to do a new one.

While I have a small collection of old Decorative Crochet and Magic Crochet magazines (with a Crochet Fantasy thrown in for good measure), I didn't have this one, so I brought a copy on Etsy.

...And I dug up some size 2o DMC Cebelia an a size 8 (1.5 mm) steel needle. The pattern calls for a size 7 (1.65mm) with size 10 thread, so I want to go smaller. Naturally, I want and cannot find a 9 (1.4 mm), so I'll buy one. Perhaps, I'll stick with the 8.

Thanks already to the blog week for the inspiration!

To "B" or not to "B"

Today is William Shakespeare's 449 birthday and Talk Like Shakespeare Day, so to that purpose, I put this post on the Holy City Shakespeare page.  In the voice of Sir Patrick Stewart, of course.

Lords and ladies, all good greetings be upon you and your house this fair morn. 'Tis a noble enterprise (and devoutly to be wished) to have on this occasion, a celebration of the day when one known to us as the Bard emerged glorious (not untimely ripped) from his beauteous mother's womb some 22 score and 9 years ago.

Therefore and anon, let us rejoice by enunciating the lexicon as to the manner born!

Gentle people, I bid you adieu.

Since I can't get Sir Patrick to record my Shakespearean birthday message, here's a video  that ties "Bs" and the Bard together.

 

Zoons!

Tomorrow: An Infographic

The Bee's Knees

Knitting and Crocheting Blog Week 4KCBWDAY1

This week, I'm partipating in the 4th annual Knitting and Crocheting Blog Week.

During the week, I'll write about a specific assigned topic along with the other participants.  It's a good way to get back into the swing of blogging and to meet other knitting and crocheting bloggers.

Today's topic is to choose a house.

Here are the choices...Which one do you think suits me?

The House of Bee: Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their interest.

The House of Manatee: Manatees are gentle, calm and cuddly. Relaxed and unflashy they represent the comfort and soft side of knitting and crochet.

The House of Monkey: Intelligent and with a fun loving side, Monkeys like to be challenged with every project presenting them with something new and interesting.

The House of Peacock: Peacocks take something good and make it brilliant. Buttons, embellishments and a bit of sparkle prove that perfection lies in the details – like a Peacock's Tail.

As you probably surmised by the post title, I'm going with the Hive.

I love flitting about from project to project from knitting to crocheting and back again. 2012 wasn't beeseque, but out of the norm as I slowly regain my mojo.  Window shopping for projects is one of my joys in life as I currently have 309 projects in my Ravelry queue and 340 pins on my Things I want to Knit or Crochet Pinterest board.

Here are some projects that may come into fruition...

Just Ribbing by Apple Laine. I've had the yarn and pattern for years, and I'm starting to get an itch to make a pair of socks again.

BFF Socks by the fabulous Cookie A. I've made these before, but not for myself, and it has come to my own attention that I'd like a pair.

The Back to School Vest by Stefaine Japel. I'm not a vest person, but I love this one. It's still the #1 project in my Ravelry queue.  I brought some Dream in Color for it, but used it up on something else.  

 Hey Girl by Bonnie Marie Burns of Chic Knits looks nice and comfy, and I need a go to sweater.

The Seaside Shawlette caught my eye recently.  As off this post, the site is down for aa few weeks due to a family emergency, but once it's back up, I'll get the pattern.

I love this Latte Baby Coat.

 

...and then there's Rogue, the sweater I've always wanted to make.  I'm not frightened of her anymore.

What!?! No hats?

No hats.  While I do have hats in my queues, I tend to knit or crochet most of the hats I want to make.

Okay, I hear you. I still haven't made Dulcie by Woolly Wormhead. I have plemty of the hand staining Potluck by Cherry Tree Hill for it.

Tomorrow's topic: A Mascot Project

 

I Signed Up, Did You?

EskimimiKnits is hosting the 2nd annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week March 28 to April 3rd, 2011

It's a great way to promote blogging and fiber arts.  I'm really looking forward to participating in this event.  How about you?  Will you sign up, too?

 

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