My favorite designers are on Ravelry and Etsy. I mostly like amigurumi but fake food is another love. Don't ask, I don't know why. I've also gone on hat and scarf binges. Twinkie Chan is one of my favorites for scarves. You can see her blog here, her Etsy page here, and her book is on Amazon here. Her stuff is super cute and the patterns are very easy to follow. I've made myself the sushi and cookie scarves so far. I get so many comments on the sushi scarf when I wear it, it's so unique.
Another huge favorite is Ana Paula Rimoli. I have all 4 of her books now and everything is just so cute. Her latest book Amigurumi On The Go has some of my favorite patterns. I really love the lunch bags and whale duffle. And who doesn't need a jellyfish purse?
Other designers I like are Needle Noodles, Skymagenta and Melbangel. All can be found on Etsy, all worth taking a look at and all great to buy from!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
I'm On A Roll
My Tiny Bunny Horde
My Bundrop prototype. The face was a little hard to get right but it wasn't my main concern.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Random Acts of Cuteness Part 2
This is a post for those who have found the little goodies I'm going to start leaving around. Please post your item's number, name (if it has one) and where you found it. Feel free to leave a comment about what you did with your found item :)
August 2nd 2013: My latest batch of buns are not named or numbered. It was too much to do 200 bunnies! By the way, for my buns abroad, they are made by hand in Aloha, Oregon, USA :)
August 2nd 2013: My latest batch of buns are not named or numbered. It was too much to do 200 bunnies! By the way, for my buns abroad, they are made by hand in Aloha, Oregon, USA :)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Random Acts of Cuteness
I found a Ravelry group today called Tiny Bunnies Movement. The idea is that one would crochet (or knit) a tiny bunny and leave it in a random place like a park, office or train with a card saying "Take Me Home!" A random act of kindness to brighten someone's day.
I've been making these little bunnies while watching movies. I didn't get very many done but in my defense I was watching subtitled movies :) I plan on making a whole army and Bun Bun Bombing Beaverton! I'll leave them at stores and the library and restaurants. I just have to decide what I want to put on the cards I leave with them.
I'm also going to make some Cotton Rose Rings to leave around. I have some scented Lily Sugar'N'Cream cotton to use up. I was wondering what I'd use it for. Since I'm a yarn whore, I just got it without a project in mind. I made 2 of these rings the other day when I found the pattern.
The one on the left is regular cotton and the one on the right is rose scented. I'll put the scented ones (rose and lavender) in little zippy bags with a warning in case someone may be allergic.
I encourage you all to make many rings and hordes of bun buns to spread around.
I've been making these little bunnies while watching movies. I didn't get very many done but in my defense I was watching subtitled movies :) I plan on making a whole army and Bun Bun Bombing Beaverton! I'll leave them at stores and the library and restaurants. I just have to decide what I want to put on the cards I leave with them.
I'm also going to make some Cotton Rose Rings to leave around. I have some scented Lily Sugar'N'Cream cotton to use up. I was wondering what I'd use it for. Since I'm a yarn whore, I just got it without a project in mind. I made 2 of these rings the other day when I found the pattern.
I encourage you all to make many rings and hordes of bun buns to spread around.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Crocodile Rocks!
A new stitch! Well, ok, not a new stitch but whatever. The Crocodile stitch has been around forever and has been the basis for many an ugly hat and misguided scarf. I never paid attention to it because the only examples I'd seen were hideous cloche/beanie hats and ugly small drawstring bags. While I'm sure these suit some people, they just are not my style.
Anyway, a few weeks ago on Ravelry I came across a pattern for a crocheted Alligator Handbag. It's unique, super cute and super easy (I bought the pattern and am in love with my bag)! While it's a creative take on the scales, it got me thinking about more scale-like scales on a bag. That's where the Crocodile stitch comes in, it's made to look like scales, duh. I went to Youtube and found some very helpful tutorials on this stitch and am pretty confident that I can make something that won't make my eyes bleed. So now I am attempting to make a dragon purse, very loosely based on the Alligator Handbag.
I will post progress pictures as I go and make a written pattern for it. So far I like the colors I chose and how the scales are turning out. I figured I'd break the scales up with a section of single crochet so it wouldn't look like those horrible drawstring bags I mentioned. Wish me luck, this is pretty much my first big project without a pattern.
Anyway, a few weeks ago on Ravelry I came across a pattern for a crocheted Alligator Handbag. It's unique, super cute and super easy (I bought the pattern and am in love with my bag)! While it's a creative take on the scales, it got me thinking about more scale-like scales on a bag. That's where the Crocodile stitch comes in, it's made to look like scales, duh. I went to Youtube and found some very helpful tutorials on this stitch and am pretty confident that I can make something that won't make my eyes bleed. So now I am attempting to make a dragon purse, very loosely based on the Alligator Handbag.
I will post progress pictures as I go and make a written pattern for it. So far I like the colors I chose and how the scales are turning out. I figured I'd break the scales up with a section of single crochet so it wouldn't look like those horrible drawstring bags I mentioned. Wish me luck, this is pretty much my first big project without a pattern.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Oh, The Hype Of It All.....
Ok, so I finally broke down and got some Noro yarn. Noro seems to be the Sacred Yarn of Valhalla and there was so much hype around it I was afraid to get any! What if I dared make something frivolous? A stuffed animal? A wristlet purse? I would shame my family and the crochet community and have to go into hiding with my hooks.
Anyway, I went to the only LYS that carries Noro Karuta. I found the yarn, I looked, I petted, I agonized over color! I got a nice purple one. The ball is only 54 yards though, so I have no idea what to do with it. Some sort of small neck thing? By the way, Karuta is 40% silk, 30% wool and 30% cotton for those of us who were wondering.
A major gripe I have is this super spiffy yarn I got isn't even as soft as some of my soft acrylics. It's also uneven and looks like my cat was playing with it. Then why did I get it you ask? The brand name hype! I spent too long hiding in the shadows with my Malabrigo yarn and Clover hooks! It was time for my day in the sun! To dive into the pool of super fancy yarns! Turns out it was more like an overcast wade through a kiddie pool in the backyard. Perhaps I got a bum ball? Or maybe I'm just not posh enough to own Noro.
I think I'll make a nice wristlet purse and see what happens. Maybe I'll grow to like the yarn, or maybe I'll grow to never want to see it again.
Anyway, I went to the only LYS that carries Noro Karuta. I found the yarn, I looked, I petted, I agonized over color! I got a nice purple one. The ball is only 54 yards though, so I have no idea what to do with it. Some sort of small neck thing? By the way, Karuta is 40% silk, 30% wool and 30% cotton for those of us who were wondering.
A major gripe I have is this super spiffy yarn I got isn't even as soft as some of my soft acrylics. It's also uneven and looks like my cat was playing with it. Then why did I get it you ask? The brand name hype! I spent too long hiding in the shadows with my Malabrigo yarn and Clover hooks! It was time for my day in the sun! To dive into the pool of super fancy yarns! Turns out it was more like an overcast wade through a kiddie pool in the backyard. Perhaps I got a bum ball? Or maybe I'm just not posh enough to own Noro.
I think I'll make a nice wristlet purse and see what happens. Maybe I'll grow to like the yarn, or maybe I'll grow to never want to see it again.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
What Did I Do Today?
I went to one of my "local" yarn shops today. Well ok, I live in Beaverton and the yarn shop is in Portland, so it's not really close to me but I find I like the overall attitude and atmosphere better. So, this gave me the idea to start reviewing my local yarn shops (LYS) from a crocheter's point of view.
The shop I'm at today is called Twisted. You can visit them at twistedpdx.com. The workers are always friendly and helpful, even after they learned I crochet and don't knit. As far as I can tell, the whole staff is very well acquainted with all the yarn in the store as well as the accessories. While they don't have a large selection of hooks or crochet books, they DO have a great selection of yarns. And if you like sock yarn, this is the place for you!
They carry quite a few fibers from local artists and farms, always a plus. Most of it is super soft sheepy goodness. So you can always claim that you aren't buying more yarn, you're supporting your community!
Another bonus is that they are never so busy that it's unpleasant to be there. Sometimes you can't find a seat in the front if the local knitting group rolls in but there's always some place to be.
They carry so much yarny goodness supplemented with handmade bags, spinning accessories and shirts and sweatshirts with the Twisted logo on them. They also have plenty of shawl picks, ceramic yarn bowls and snacky foods.
Yes, snacky foods. This is one of those cool shops where you can sit with your yarn habit and enjoy a nice cup of tea and a scone or cookie. They have a large tea selection and will also custom blend one for you. Or if that's not your thing, you can grab a cold drink as well.
The store itself has a nice set up too. Big front windows as well as good lighting, you know, so you can actually see the color of the yarn you're fondling. The aisles are not crowded in either. You actually have room to move and haul around armfuls of yarn without bumping into anything.....not that I would do that.....
So, how does it add up? (Out of five stars)
1/5 for crochet book selection. They have Creepy Cute Crochet and Twinkie Chan's book but no other good stuff. I don't really hold this against them, it's all supply and demand.
2/5 for hook selection and other accessories that can be used for both crochet and knitting.
3/5 for a nice place to sit and crochet.
5/5 for yarn selection, I always find something I just can't live without.
7/5 for yummy teas!
Worth going to and going back to! No snarky "knitter's attitude" from the staff (though you may get it from the other customers) and there's bike racks right out front too.
The shop I'm at today is called Twisted. You can visit them at twistedpdx.com. The workers are always friendly and helpful, even after they learned I crochet and don't knit. As far as I can tell, the whole staff is very well acquainted with all the yarn in the store as well as the accessories. While they don't have a large selection of hooks or crochet books, they DO have a great selection of yarns. And if you like sock yarn, this is the place for you!
They carry quite a few fibers from local artists and farms, always a plus. Most of it is super soft sheepy goodness. So you can always claim that you aren't buying more yarn, you're supporting your community!
Another bonus is that they are never so busy that it's unpleasant to be there. Sometimes you can't find a seat in the front if the local knitting group rolls in but there's always some place to be.
They carry so much yarny goodness supplemented with handmade bags, spinning accessories and shirts and sweatshirts with the Twisted logo on them. They also have plenty of shawl picks, ceramic yarn bowls and snacky foods.
Yes, snacky foods. This is one of those cool shops where you can sit with your yarn habit and enjoy a nice cup of tea and a scone or cookie. They have a large tea selection and will also custom blend one for you. Or if that's not your thing, you can grab a cold drink as well.
The store itself has a nice set up too. Big front windows as well as good lighting, you know, so you can actually see the color of the yarn you're fondling. The aisles are not crowded in either. You actually have room to move and haul around armfuls of yarn without bumping into anything.....not that I would do that.....
So, how does it add up? (Out of five stars)
1/5 for crochet book selection. They have Creepy Cute Crochet and Twinkie Chan's book but no other good stuff. I don't really hold this against them, it's all supply and demand.
2/5 for hook selection and other accessories that can be used for both crochet and knitting.
3/5 for a nice place to sit and crochet.
5/5 for yarn selection, I always find something I just can't live without.
7/5 for yummy teas!
Worth going to and going back to! No snarky "knitter's attitude" from the staff (though you may get it from the other customers) and there's bike racks right out front too.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Welcome!
YAY! The launch of my first blog. I'm still working on the colors and layout, so be patient!
I love to crochet and was thinking that is mostly what this blog will be about, but we'll see! Don't look for anything super complicated about crochet in my posts. This will mostly be for beginners if I review or show how to do something.
Having said that, I thought I'd start with a review of a few hooks. I've tried almost every kind of hook there is, trying to find the most comfy one for me. I hold my hook sort of like a pencil, so a comfortable grip is mostly what I look for.
From the top! Brittany hook. Wood, sleek, decorative......Not as great as I thought it would be. The decorative tip is so sharp it could give my cats a run for their money and the yarn kinda sticks on the shaft (the part between the hook and thumb rest). I was told to use hand lotion on it, I'll see if that works.
The dark wood one is palm wood I believe. It's easy to hold and looks really good but the shaft is about a half a millimeter long and I just can't deal with it. As soon as the yarn gets on the hook, it stops and kinds sticks.
The green one is your run of the mill aluminum in-line hook. "In-line" just means there's a groove and the shaft and hook are the same circumference. In-line hooks usually have a blunter tip on the end and a really broad, sharp hook and can split the yarn when you pull it back through the fabric you've made.
The gold one is another run of the mill aluminum hook. This one is a "regular" style hook. That just means that the neck (between the hook and the shaft) is tapered. The hook tip is usually more pointy than the in-line ones. I have no problems using these style hooks and would recommend them to anyone wanting an easy to hold and/or "beginner" type hook.
Last but not least the Clover hook. It has a larger plastic handle and an aluminum (?) hook. This is my favorite type of hook to use. For me it's super easy to hold, the rubber thumb rest is great, the yarn doesn't get caught, it's all the yummy crochet goodness I could want in a hook.
Try these out for yourself, see which one works best for you. And another thing, always remember, there is no wrong way to hold your hook and yarn! If someone tells you different, well, they can kick rocks!
I love to crochet and was thinking that is mostly what this blog will be about, but we'll see! Don't look for anything super complicated about crochet in my posts. This will mostly be for beginners if I review or show how to do something.
Having said that, I thought I'd start with a review of a few hooks. I've tried almost every kind of hook there is, trying to find the most comfy one for me. I hold my hook sort of like a pencil, so a comfortable grip is mostly what I look for.
From the top! Brittany hook. Wood, sleek, decorative......Not as great as I thought it would be. The decorative tip is so sharp it could give my cats a run for their money and the yarn kinda sticks on the shaft (the part between the hook and thumb rest). I was told to use hand lotion on it, I'll see if that works.
The dark wood one is palm wood I believe. It's easy to hold and looks really good but the shaft is about a half a millimeter long and I just can't deal with it. As soon as the yarn gets on the hook, it stops and kinds sticks.
The green one is your run of the mill aluminum in-line hook. "In-line" just means there's a groove and the shaft and hook are the same circumference. In-line hooks usually have a blunter tip on the end and a really broad, sharp hook and can split the yarn when you pull it back through the fabric you've made.
The gold one is another run of the mill aluminum hook. This one is a "regular" style hook. That just means that the neck (between the hook and the shaft) is tapered. The hook tip is usually more pointy than the in-line ones. I have no problems using these style hooks and would recommend them to anyone wanting an easy to hold and/or "beginner" type hook.
Last but not least the Clover hook. It has a larger plastic handle and an aluminum (?) hook. This is my favorite type of hook to use. For me it's super easy to hold, the rubber thumb rest is great, the yarn doesn't get caught, it's all the yummy crochet goodness I could want in a hook.
Try these out for yourself, see which one works best for you. And another thing, always remember, there is no wrong way to hold your hook and yarn! If someone tells you different, well, they can kick rocks!
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