The House That Yarn Built

OK, so I love this idea. Basically Christy from Confessions of a Misplaced Southern Belle realized that we knitters buy too much yarn, that we spend about $20 a skein on sock yarn and that if a whole bunch of knitters donated that amount to rebuilding houses in the 9th ward in New Orleans, we might actually be able to build a whole house instead of buying one skein of yarn. You donate to a program called Make It Right . (Yes, the one Brad Pitt founded.)

Now to really get you going, she's holding a raffle with a ton of yarns, a Namaste knitting bag and other goodies for people who donate. So, go to the Make it Right site, donate under the "House That Yarn Built" link and then email Christy to let her know you did. She'll enter your name into the drawing. If you're a Stash and Burn fan, let Nicole and Jenny know too - they're also raffling off a bag of goodies from Stitches West for people who donate. I've also contacted Christy about adding some of my hand-dyed yarns into the goodie pot - it is such a great cause!

Porcelain Knits

Here's an amazing Etsy shop I found on Poppytalk Handmade. Artist Alyssa Ettinger makes porcelain cups, bowls, vases, etc that look like they've been knitted. Some pieces are done in aran patterns, cable patterns, ribs, stockinette, everything. I'll just post a ton of photos because the work really speaks for itself.

If you're like me and these works of art are a little out of your price range, notice she also sells samples and seconds - basically they are just as fantastic with some very small, barely noticeable flaws.

Now I'm just holding my breath and waiting for her to make a mistake on a bowl!

Oh Martha!

Yes, Martha Stewart is the master of craft projects that I love but can't find the time to make. Often I get as far as buying all the supplies, I just never get around to actually putting them together. This one I will have to make time for because I love it!

This fluffy rug, so welcoming to bare feet, is made from hundreds of strips of denim. The frayed edges in shades of blue, gray, and white create subtle modulations in color.

Denim Fringe Rug Instructions: Cut a 30-by-54-inch piece of burlap. Tear about 200 strips from jeans (you'll need about 12 pairs); make each 1 1/4 inches wide and the length of a pant leg. Align first strip 1 inch from burlap's edge; with the zipper foot attachment on a sewing machine and a denim needle, stitch down center. Snip any remainder from the end, and use it to start the next row. Sew strips 1/8 inch apart, until 1 inch of burlap remains. Fold burlap edges under, and hand-stitch.

See her website for more info.

Maybe I'll make it when I live in a house with a mudroom. Oh how Pottery Barn and Martha Stewart's crafts make me long for a mudroom!

Knits that make me laugh

Ah yes, I think all of us knitters have made things only to see them a while later and wonder what in the world we were thinking. That pattern, that yarn. Here is a wonderful blog that is dedicated to finding those terrible projects that should be hiding in the back of someone's closet or frogged or burned. Of course the best part is the biting commentary. It is no longer an ongoing project, but they left it all up so we can go back and get a laugh.

You Knit What? http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/

Yarn that Inspires - Rowan Big Wool Tuft

Thought I'd share one of my current faves. I love this yarn! It is so unique, bulky and has big tufts of wool plied on with rayon thread (hence the name). I don't think I'd knit a sweater from it, but it is perfect for small projects like scarflettes or for trim on a larger project. It is soft merino and comes in lovely colors. The scarflettes I knit for my Etsy shop out of it sold very well this holiday season. For you knitters out there, here's how to make your own (not for selling!)...

With 1 ball of Rowan Big Wool Tuft and size 17 needles CO 10 stitches.

Odd Rows: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2

Even Rows: P2, K2, P2, K2, P2

Knit to desired length or until you're almost out of yarn, Bind off.

Sew a 1" button to the upper right hand corner of the right side, it will slide through the knitted fabric wherever you like it for different looks.

A fantastically fast, ridiculously easy single skein project. This would be great for a last minute gift - and I mean your friend is driving you to the party as you knit, that kind of last minute. It seriously takes about a half hour!

The only downside - this yarn is now discontinued! But I still see it on ebay and a few other places, so stock up while you still can!

Etsy Love - Pictures of Lily

I found this etsy seller when she featured one of my items in a treasury she put together and I'm so glad I did! Her tags are so beautiful they make me want to give people presents just to have something to put them on. I love it when I find etsy sellers who photograph their work so well. Her work and the way she shows it off both inspire me to improve my own shops.

So check out picturesoflily at etsy!

Resistance is Futile

OK, so by the title of this post I've already revealed that I grew up in a family where we watched StarTrek pretty frequently. But if I'm going to do this blogging thing I figure I've got to be honest with myself and perhaps with the 2 other people who might ever read this!

So anyway, I've finally decided to give in to this new technology and blog. Just admitting that it took me awhile to succumb makes me feel old, and I'm really not that old! I'm under 30, but I must be getting older because technology is starting to get confusing and all teenagers look like punks.

But at least when I did a search for StarTrek on Etsy, loads of items turned up! I don't watch anymore, but the trekkie items on Etsy were really quite fun, like this Spock pendant from sweetheartsinner.

I have always loved all kinds of crafting, but knitting takes center stage. This blog is dedicated to the things that inspire the artist in me - knitting patterns and yarn of course, but all kinds of art and design. I'll feature some other Etsy sellers, and just fun things I find on the web. I hope to make this a regular thing, but the realist in me knows that I'll probably post in spurts. But who knows, I actually miss writing papers since I graduated from college so this can be my new forum to write. I'll try to keep it light and avoid topics related to International Political Economy and Development but no promises!