User:	craftgrrl (posted by bonniegrrl)
	Date:	2009-12-27 23:20
	Subject:	Mistle-TIE Fighter Holiday Craft
	Security:	Public

Decking the halls with boughs of holly isn't the only way to have fun celebrating the Christmas holiday.
Hang traditional mistletoe with this easy-to-make felt TIE fighter.

Learn how to make one here:
Mistle-TIE Fighter Holiday Craft
(via Starwars.com)

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by molasses)
	Date:	2009-12-27 20:28
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

first try




from
http://madewithlovebyhannah.com/WordPress/?p=80


i used a flat bottom glass marble because that's what i've got onhand.
i also have some round mirror i'll try next time, they were too big for this one.


happy.

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by chasingthenuns)
	Date:	2009-12-27 22:13
	Subject:	warming
	Security:	Public

I recently made a seed stitch neck warmer. It's a really great cashmere/merino wool blend and it's so soft.

	User:	novice_knitters (posted by piperki)
	Date:	2009-12-27 22:04
	Subject:	instructions help
	Security:	Public

I'm making a scarf and for Row 1 the directions are:
Slip first stitch as if to purl. Knit into front and back of next stitch (increase 1). Knit until 3 stitches remain on needle, knit two together (decrease 1), knit 1.

Can someone explain this in non-crafty English?
Slip first stitch as if to purl...so just move it to the other needle? Or something else?

Knit into front and back of next stitch...is there a video or something? Because if I knit into the front and move the stitch, how can I then knit into the back?

ETA: Thanks, everyone--the videos were very helpful. Now I'm thinking I don't like the way it looks--possibly my gauge or maybe something else, but I think I'm going to use different needles and possibly a different stitch for this yarn.

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by gore_gore_grrrl)
	Date:	2009-12-27 21:32
	Subject:	Collage
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	papercut
	Music:	Bobby Darin - loving you

I always make a mix and burn a bunch of copies of for my friends and relatives around Christmas time. I trace the insert of a cd folded out on a sheet of paper. Within that space I collage it with whatever scraps I've torn out of magazines and old books. Then I make copies, fold it, tape it at the top and bottom and voila! A paper cd sleeve. Afterward I pasted the original in my journal/sketch/scrapbook. Here's a scan of it...

( cut assunder )

	User:	knitting (posted by con_grazia)
	Date:	2009-12-27 18:42
	Subject:	Colorwork....
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	confused

I'm embarrassed to say that even with all the knitting I've done over the past few years the only time I've ever changed colors is a top band on wristwarmers or socks. It scares me. *blush*

I REALLY want to do this pattern: http://stitchnsnitch.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/jacobs-knucks/

I've looked at youtube videos on how to carry the secondary yarn and I get that, but do I really need to do that with the secondary color just being this little bit of paw? Or does it make sense to cut the yarn and weave in tails? I feel silly asking this, but I really have no clue when it comes to working in two colors. It seems like a waste to carry the yarn around for just this little bit, but I will bow to the experts here and do whatever I'm told. I'm easy that way. ;)

Thanks in advance! I'm headed out for the evening but will check replies first thing when I get home. :)

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by amburr)
	Date:	2009-12-27 18:44
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

two new scarves, and first try at polymere clay & button making behind the cut!

( Read more... )

	User:	knitting (posted by catalinacisne)
	Date:	2009-12-27 15:41
	Subject:	Stretchy Bind-Off
	Security:	Public

Hey all!

I'm playing with a pattern for a top-down hat, and the pattern says that after an inch or so of 1x1 rib to "bind off all stitches." I've played with three different bind-offs and none of them have stretched enough to get the hat easily on over my head. I've tried binding off knit-wise, binging off in pattern, and binding off with k2tog, slipping the right needle's stitch to the left needle, and repeating.

What bind-off do you recommend for top-down hat brims?

	User:	knitting (posted by lost_button8706)
	Date:	2009-12-27 18:28
	Subject:	blocking acrylic lace blankets....?
	Security:	Public

I got a gift card to WEBS for Christmas, and I really want to make Jared flood's Girasole. I've been debating which yarn to get, but I know I want to make the blanket version (so a worsted/aran weight yarn).  The yarns that fit best in the gift card amount  are the acrylic/ acrylic blends... if I used those would I be able to block the finished product to see the lace well enough? Or am I better off using wool, even if I have to pay extra out of pocket?

Thanks for any advice!

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by zbroy)
	Date:	2009-12-28 00:45
	Subject:	my moleskine graphic art
	Security:	Public

 

	User:	knitting (posted by lemon_says)
	Date:	2009-12-27 17:15
	Subject:	Camden
	Security:	Public

I made Knitty's Camden for my sister for Christmas, and I love it so much I want to keep it. (For some reason when you click the link, Knitty has it wrongly tagged as "Mangyle," but it's the right pattern.)

( Pictures and stats. )

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by phylsfrills)
	Date:	2009-12-27 16:37
	Subject:	Small Christmas project,
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	peaceful

I needed two more gift bags for Christmas gifts, but then remembered that I have some white bags from 'Stamping Up'. So I got busy with my Cricut cutter and came up with these. Have a look.
( bags here )

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by rat_speaker)
	Date:	2009-12-27 16:09
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

I'm looking for some advice, ideas, inspiration. I just purchased a medium-sized black sketchbook that looks like this:

( picture )

And I wanted to decorate it. Any ideas? I'm going to use this book to write all my goals for the upcoming year and then use it to document what I actually accomplish. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

ETA: Show me your journals/sketchbooks if you'd like!

	User:	knitting (posted by tsita)
	Date:	2009-12-27 13:30
	Subject:	Sweater ideas
	Security:	Public

My framily loves me. They really do. This holiday season has sucked in more ways than one. I've been unemployed for a little over two years now and have been knitting for about a year. My fiance was diagnosed with sarcoidosis (and they really don't like that diagnosis--doctors have been fighting over who gets to treat him)all about six months ago. This year has been hell in a handbasket.

But that's besides the point. My sister in all but blood got me thee hanks of Dyeabolical's In the Navy cotton slub sport weight yarn. Another friend of ours dyes this line. It's nummy in ways I can't describe. I want to knit myself a sweater with this yarn, but I only have straight needles, 13 inches in length.

What would be a good pattern for me to use? The only other things that I've knitted are a Barbie puke scarf for my soon-to-be sister-in-law, a baby bib, and several washclothes. Right now, I'm knitting a cowl with Noro's Cash Iroha yarn in color #93 (another gift).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by gore_gore_grrrl)
	Date:	2009-12-27 13:56
	Subject:	Finally, all paintings complete...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	relieved
	Music:	Ryuichi Sakamoto - Tibetan Dance

I wanted to post them as I finished them, but I was so stressed towards the end that I was BARELY finishing in time to present them for out annual Christmas Eve dinner. So now that all the Madness is over, here are all the paintings I did as gifts this year...



( Open Sesame! )

	User:	knitting (posted by girlx512)
	Date:	2009-12-27 13:31
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

I bought a Denise set and wanted to try my hand at using circulars for the first time. I also wanted instant gratification, so I used bulky yarn and made up a hat as a I went along :)

( Three pictures... )

	User:	knitting (posted by jlsjlsjls)
	Date:	2009-12-27 11:18
	Subject:	Anti-SAD socks
	Security:	Public
	Music:	CKUA

Continuing my campaign for brightly-coloured winter wear ...

Pattern: Temptation Top-Down Socks, a free pattern by Wendy D. Johnson (a basic sock pattern that I love because the heel doesn't require picking up stitches)
Yarn: Schoppel Wolle's Crazy Zauberball. This yarn not recommended for people who have an obsessive need for socks to be identical twins ... I'm addicted to the stuff because I love the fraternal twin look.
Needles: Two 2mm Addi Turbo circular needles
Details: Both socks were knitted at once using the two-circ method. A little patterning was added by borrowing the ladder and mock back seam sections of Katherine Misegades' Gusset-Heel Gansey Sock (another heel style that requires no picking up of stitches, BTW). I also once again used the final row of the Gansey Sock's heel instructions instead of the Temptation Sock's final row to avoid holes (there are more detailed notes on why I do this in my FO post for my first pair of Temptation socks in this community, and also on my Ravelry project page for those same socks)

While this is my fifth pair of completed socks, I consider them the first pair where I've really figured out the knitting side ... by dropping down to 2mm needles and then following the directions for a size larger than I would normally make, this naturally loose knitter has finally achieved a fabric with what I consider to be the right combination of firmness and "sproing" (I think the slick Addis help too ... they make me pull my stitches tighter in paranoia of them slipping off the needles ***grin***). I'll be doing the smaller needles/larger size adjustment for all my future socks.

( And now, the important bit! )

	User:	knitting (posted by laswa)
	Date:	2009-12-27 10:58
	Subject:	Wait... what?
	Security:	Public

I recently purchased a front loading washer and it has produced felted clogs with a problem.  The first time I felted a pair, I set the machine for extra wash, extra rinse, regular spin.  One cycle.  They ended up looking like little tennis balls (picture below, the green and yellow pair.)

The second pair, I put them in for 2 regular cycles, no extra anything (I used hot wash, cold rinse for all of these, and added jeans and towels for agitation).  These are the light blue with dark cuffs.  I have included a pair felted in my old top loader for reference. 

What I want to know is what I can do to prevent the increases in the soles from indenting and getting all bumpy like that.  I googled it and got the advice of  using everything from jeans and towels to flip flops and  tennis balls for agitation,  wash it all by itself, use a lingerie bag, don't use a bag, etc.  I expect I'll have to experiment in the end, but I'd like to have a clue to preventing that crinkling of the soles so I'm not wasting two days of knitting with each experiment...
( the visual evidence )

	User:	knitting (posted by laswa)
	Date:	2009-12-27 10:41
	Subject:	Follow-up to "manly gloves" plus
	Security:	Public

After the input I got here, I decided to use the  "Diamond Gloves" pattern ( www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-gloves) substituting the Chinese symbols for the elements in place of the diamonds. ( pictures, of course )

	User:	craftgrrl (posted by le_soleil_noir)
	Date:	2009-12-26 22:28
	Subject:
	Security:	Public

I found some really awesome silver foil damask wallpaper on sale today and wanted to use it as a wallpaper for a wall I didn't paint. Any ideas on how to attach it to a wall?

I can't use wallpaper paste as it is an apartment. I was thinking maybe staple gun? Because the pieces would have to be hung in panels, I was thinking of putting some silver ribon over the seams ...and the staples (which would only be stapled at the seams).

Do you think that would work/look nice? Or do you think it would look cheap? I would hang framed pictures up over it to break it up. Any other ideas on ways to attach it to my walls.

MAYBE spray adhesive, but I live in a city with high humidity 90% of the year, so it might not work very well.

Any ideas are welcome! Thanks!