What better use for my "Lost in the 60's" wool (I used it doubled for extra, extra warmth), than cute little baby hats?
The one on the left is adult sized because the website mentions warm clothing will allow an "adult to go to work" so I'm hoping to make my box half & half, kids & grown-ups. The hat on the right is by far the thickest & warmest (crocheted) so I believe I'll make several more of those. After all, a hat that would work for our 20 to 30 degree weather might be a little wimpy when faced with 40 below. I made up the patterns for all three hats - this project is great for trying out new ideas. :)
Fickle me finally settled on a new project last night....Tobacco Cardi. I've been looking at that Araucania Nature Cotton on my stash shelf for months now, dreaming of the cardi I wanted to make, so yesterday I thought, "What the heck am I waiting for?" It'll be my mindless TV kitting for the next few weeks. It's a basic stockinette cardi (more on the pattern next time) but hopefully I won't bore you to tears with my progress reports.
I got the new "Crochet Fantasy" in the mail yesterday and once again, a stitching magazine underwhelmed me. The only interesting thing I found was the fact that the publishers of INKnitters just acquired Crochet Fantasy so it won't be going out of business as previously thought. It will, however, be going to a quarterly format with 100 pages instead of 68. I believe the first issue under the new format will be in May. Should be interesting to see if the technical expertise and interesting patterns transfer over from INKnitters.
Bogged down with stash: That's the way I've been feeling lately. As well as a little spring-cleaning in reference to my projects, I feel the need to spring-clean my stash closet. I'm putting some things on eBay, giving away a few things, and I have to admit, I'm feeling a lot better. Dylan was honest & admitted he really didn't care if I made him a sweater or not (that "To The Cottage" pullover disaster from last year made him sweater-shy) so I'm getting rid of the Softee Chunky I had on hand. My 8 balls of Fiamma are going as well as 17 skeins of Encore Colorspun. I have 4 huge hanks of rayon boucle I purchased from "Over The Rainbow Yarns" that I haven't used in over a year so I doubt I ever will. There's also some Endless Summer Sonata that needs to go....hmmm...I'm thinking of more as I type! The clearing out is really giving me a new lease on knitting & crocheting - I feel free to contemplate new patterns & yarn without worrying about "what I still need to use" in the closet. :::Grin:::
Tomorrow I'm subbing another science class at a middle school, so I'll be back on Saturday. Have a good one!
Just poppin' in. I crochet but love knitting blogs as well. Just wanted to say I agree with you on the Crochet Fantasy issue. P.U. is all I can come up with. It better improve in May or I'm not wasting my money. Cool hats, by the way!
~ DAWN
Posted by: Dawn | February 24, 2005 at 07:24 AM
I worked with the Araucania cotton last summer and I really liked it. I'm also liking their wool, of which I'm aquiring way more that I'll probably ever use.
Posted by: Larry | February 24, 2005 at 08:39 AM
Okay, now tell me the secret to getting eerything listed fast on eBay. I have several items ready to list. Plus I have several more wherer I need to take their photos before listing. Have you checked out Norma's yard sale? I am thinking that this might be another way to destash.
Posted by: mia | February 24, 2005 at 09:28 AM
The hats are wonderful! Will you be posting the patterns? I'm going to broach the subject of charity knitting/crocheting to my Sunday craft group and it would be fun to have patterns available by blog friends. (I'm also introducing them to the knit blog underworld MMMWWWWAAA.) Enabling, I am.
Did you mention "Over the Rainbow"?
Posted by: Marie | February 24, 2005 at 10:57 AM
Thanks for dropping by, Dawn. Glad to hear someone else disliked the issue too! :)
I haven't tried their wool yet, Larry. I do know my LYS has a bunch. Good thing the store is waaaaaay across town. :::Grin:::
Hey Mia - I use Inkfrog for my image hosting & auction management. It's easy & fast if you have lots of the same type of thing to list. :)
I could definitely write up the patterns, Marie - I'm always ready to enable an enabler. And yes - you heard correctly - "Over the Rainbow." If you'd be interested in lots of yardage of purple/green/icey blue/tealish boucle, give me a holler & you can have first dibs.
Posted by: Bron | February 24, 2005 at 04:40 PM
I love all of those hats, Bron! I'm with Marie, please do write up the patterns when you can!
Posted by: Donna | February 24, 2005 at 07:30 PM
Oh, GREAT Job on the hats! Wow, you must have made them fast!
Bron, I'd be interested in your yarns if you would send me photos and price list please.
Eva at BellaOnLine says she loves the Crochet Fantasy issue. Am hoping to find it at the store to have a look and decide for myself. One thing about having a magazine subscription is that you get what you get, like it or not. When you buy an individual issue at least you can look it over first.
Posted by: Margaret | February 25, 2005 at 09:27 AM
Perhaps INKnitters can salvage Crochet Fantasy from the hell it has been in. Underwhelmed is the nicest word for what I felt when I read that mag. Needs a swift kick in the pants to get it into the present/future
Posted by: Knittykim | February 25, 2005 at 10:56 AM
Donna - I'm glad you like the hats! I'll be posting the patterns soon. :)
Margaret - already answered your email and thanks for the hat compliment! :)
Kim - I hear ya. For once I'd like to see a consistently good crochet magazine. Obviously, my search continues!
Posted by: Bron | February 26, 2005 at 07:01 AM
Great hats! Yes, we should be mindful of making things EXTRA warm to deal with that extreme weather. Doubling is good!
Posted by: Norma | March 09, 2005 at 02:04 PM