tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19928163114308354282024-03-05T21:01:51.129-06:00OmnicraftualAll the fiber crafts you know and love (and maybe a few you've never considered)Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-5349080425463655202012-10-27T18:41:00.001-05:002012-10-27T18:42:38.438-05:00State of the Crafting (part 1)Goodness, it's been a while since I've been around these parts! Since I've made some new friends who found this blog and declared an interest, I thought it was time I got around to posting. I've finished a few things and started a few things since the last time I posted, so I thought it would simply be easiest to do an overview of the general state of my crafting. Part 1, which you're reading right now, will cover all the things I've finished since the last time I posted. So, without further ado, lets get started!<br />
<a name='more'></a>So, around the time I last posted I got involved in a community on Ravelry called Nerd Wars. The concept is somewhat similar to the House Cup, which I explained in <a href="http://omnicraftual.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-to-come.html#more">a previous post</a>. Each month, a number of challenges are posted and we knit or crochet items to fit into the challenge. There's some 20 or 30 teams, each based around a specific fandom. For each challenge you complete, you earn points for your team, and if you manage to tie your project into your team's fandom in some way, you get bonus points. I'm a member of Team Shady Cels, which is for the animation and comics fandom. Most of the smaller projects I do are turned in to Nerd Wars, so you'll be seeing a lot of things inspired by various animated things. (Coincidentally, I've mostly stopped doing the House Cup, as people started taking it far too seriously for the game it is).<br />
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Anyway, first up we've got Dullahan.<br />
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This is quite possibly the most unexpectedly quick project I've ever done. It being an entirely lace scarf, I was expecting it to take most of the month to finish, but in fact it ended up taking only four days. As those who are up on their anime may have guessed, the name of the project is a reference to Celty Sturlson, the resident headless rider of DRRR!! It was meant to be a part of a series of challenge turn-ins featuring some cooperative storytelling between a friend and myself set in the DRRR universe. Sadly, due to real life obligations and our mutual inability to come up with an actual plot, it fell through. Still got a nice scarf out of it, though.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/fayfay">here</a></i></span><br />
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Next we've got another anime-inspired project.<br />
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Around the same time as the previous project, there was a challenge to create something inspired by the works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klimt">Gustav Klimt</a>. I don't know if any of you have seen the anime <i>Mononoke</i> (no, not the Ghibli film, the series), but if you're not familiar with it, the art style is basically what happens when you mix the styles of Klimt, Mucha, and anime, and add a sizable dose of acid. I had planned to make something to tie in to this anime from the moment I saw the challenge, but when I saw this yarn colorway in the store I knew it was meant to be-the colors in the yarn are very similar to the colors of the main character's clothing. Given the Edo period setting of the series, this wide obi-like belt was a perfect fit.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/grenadine">here</a></span></i><br />
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This next project is a completed WIP from last year when I was still more active in the House Cup. <br />
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Just a simple pair of socks with a nice lace panel down the sides, in my house colors of blue and bronze. These are one of those projects that would have been a pretty quick knit if they hadn't languished in the WIP box for ages.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/blackrose-socks">here</a></i></span><br />
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Next in the lineup, we have what is probably my favorite FO from the last year.<br />
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This one wasn't connected to either the House Cup or Nerd Wars, but rather something I simply started for the fun of it. Like the socks above, it languished in the WIP bin for many months, but this was a victim of subtitles rather than neglect. Most of my crafting I do while watching tv shows or movies. I don't own a television, so most of the stuff I watch is streamed on my computer and in either Japanese or Korean. While I have over the past year started to study both languages, I'm nowhere near the point where I can understand without subtitles so I've developed the skill of reading subtitles and knitting at the same time. Unfortunately, at the time I started this particular project I needed to level up that skill, as it were. The middle chart, where the color changes start, is highly asymmetrical and patterned on both the knit side and the purl side. Until about May or so I simply didn't have enough skill with knitting that I could knit that complicated a pattern and read subtitles at the same time, so this one gathered dust until I could. I finally finished it, though, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/percy-shawl">here</a></i></span><br />
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My last major FO is actually a pair of FOs<br />
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Back in July, my aunt gave birth to twins. They were earlier than expected, so I hadn't actually started yet. Luckily this was another lightning quick pattern and so I was able to get them sent off without too much delay. They zip up the back for easy dressing of the babies.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/zip-up-the-back-hooded-baby-sweater">here</a></i></span><br />
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Aside from those, I also made a few small household items<br />
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Nothing special here, just a few things to keep this place from getting too messy.<br />
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I do actually have one more thing I've finished just in the last couple of weeks but as it's a gift that hasn't been shipped yet, it'll get it's own post sometime later on.<br />
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That's it for my FO's, but there's still lots more I've been working on. Part 2, coming hopefully tomorrow, will cover everything that's still on the needles.Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-24244037190538207812012-01-08T21:37:00.002-06:002012-02-09T19:01:22.024-06:00It's pattern time!So, there's this anime that I am absolutely in love with. It's called Natsume Yuujinchou (夏目友人帳 or Natsume's Book of Friends, as the manga is published in the US), and it's about a boy named Takashi Natsume who can see mysterious creatures most others can't. Along the way, he acquires a guardian who spent many years trapped in a lucky cat statue and thus usually takes the form of a very fat calico cat. He goes by the name Nyanko-sensei. I've slowly been getting all of my friends who enjoy anime hooked on it. The first to fall was my friend Rae, with whom I practically share a brain. One day, she made an offhand comment that she wanted a Nyanko of her own to squish the way one of the other characters does. Not long after, a challenge appeared in the House Cup to secretly make something for another Cupper that they would like, and send it to them. Of course I knew what I had to do!<br />
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Some of our other friends were in on the plan, and wanted patterns, so I recorded everything I did and now I'm finally writing it up. Check it out after the jump!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Just as a note, you'll be seeing some Japanese show up here and there-not right away, but probably when I update this with charts. As Nyanko is a character from a Japanese series, and I am currently studying Japanese, I thought I'd make this pattern as bilingual as I'm able to. It's nothing different from what I've already said in English, so feel free to just skip over it. If you speak Japanese and notice I've said something wrong, please, please correct me! I will never learn otherwise :)<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Please note that at this time this pattern has not been proofread but anyone other than me or pattern tested. Make at your own risk, and if you run across any problems, let me know. </b>At this time the pattern is written instructions only, but charts will be coming soon.</span><br />
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That said, lets get started!<br />
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<div style="color: black;">You'll need:</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">About 190 yards of worsted weight yarn in main color (I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in white)</div><div style="color: black;">About 40 yards of worsted weight yarn in orange contrast (I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Pumpkin)</div><div style="color: black;">About 24 yards of worsted weight yarn in grey contrast (I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Onyx Heather)</div><div style="color: black;">a small amount of worsted weight yarn in some shade of red</div><div style="color: black;">embroidery floss in red and black</div><div style="color: black;">a jingle bell</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I used an F/3.75 mm hook for this project. All instructions use American crochet terminology. All pieces are worked in a spiral unless specified otherwise, so you'll want to mark the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker or safety pin or something.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">SC: single crochet</div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG: single crochet two together</div><div style="color: black;">CH: chain</div><div style="color: black;">FSC: foundation single crochet (I don't have a tutorial for this here, but there are plenty of great ones out there on the net! </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">BODY (make 1 using main color)</span></div><div style="color: black;">SC 6 in <a href="http://omnicraftual.blogspot.com/2012/01/tutorial-time.html">magic loop</a> <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in each stitch <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next two stitches* six times <b>(24 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next three stitches* six times <b>(30 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next four stitches* six times <b>(36 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(36 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next five stitches* six times <b>(42 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next six stitches* six times <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next seven stitches* six times <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next eight stitches* six times <b>(60 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next nine stitches* six times <b>(66 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">Work even for 16 rounds</div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next nine stitches* six times <b>(60 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next eight stitches* six times <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next seven stitches* six times <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next six stitches* six times <b>(42 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next five stitches* six times <b>(36 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(36 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next four stitches* six times <b>(30 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next three stitches* six times <b>(24 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next two stitches* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG six times <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">HEAD (make 1 using main color)</span></div><div style="color: black;">SC six in magic loop <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next two stitches* two times <b>(8 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in each stitch <b>(16 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next two stitches, SC2 in next stitch, SC in next four stitches* two times <b>(20 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first five stitches, SC2 in next six stitches, SC in next 9 stitches <b>(26 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC, *SC2 in next stitch, SC in next four stitches, SC2 in next stitch*, SC in next eight stitches, repeat from *, SC in next five stitches <b>(30 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 8 stitches, SC2 in next 10 stitches, SC in next 12 stitches <b>(40 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">work even for four rounds</div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next nine stitches* four times <b>(44 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(44 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next ten stitches* four times <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC in first six stitches, SC2 in next stitch, SC in next five stitches* four times <b>(52 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC in first six stitches, SC2 in next stitch, SC in next six stitches* four times <b>(56 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next ten stitches* five times, SC <b>(61 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next eleven stitches* five times, SC <b>(66 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">work even for two rounds</div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next nine stitches* six times <b>(60 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next eight stitches* six times <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next seven stitches* six times <b>(48 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next six stitches* six times <b>(42 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next five stitches* six times <b>(36 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG<b>, </b>SC in next four stitches* six times <b>(30 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next three stitches* six times <b>(24 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next two stitches* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG six times <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">EARS (make 2 using main color)</span></div><div style="color: black;">the ears are worked flat </div><div style="color: black;">CH2, turn</div><div style="color: black;">SC3 in first chain, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next stitch, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;"><b> </b>SC2 in first stitch, SC in next three stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(7 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next five stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn<b> (9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next seven stitches, SC2 in last stitch, Ch1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next nine stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(13 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next eleven stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(15 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;"><b> </b>SC2 in first stitch, SC in next thirteen stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(17 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">Fold each ear in half so that the short sides line up, and join the sides together using single crochet <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">as shown in the diagram below</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">FEET (make 4 using main color)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">SC six in magic loop <b>(6 sts)</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">SC in each stitch <b>(6 sts)</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">SC2 in each stitch <b>(12 sts)</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">work even for two rounds<b> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">work even for three rounds</div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">TAIL (make 1 using main color)</span></div><div style="color: black;">SC six in magic loop <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in each stitch <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2 in first stitch, SC in next two stitches* six times <b>(24 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">work even for three rounds</div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next two stitches* six times <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next stitch* six times <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG six times <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">HEAD SPOTS (make one each in orange and gray)</span></div><div style="color: black;">these are worked flat</div><div style="color: black;">CH6, turn</div><div style="color: black;">starting in second chain from hook, SC in each chain, CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC in each stitch after, CH1, turn <b>(4 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(4 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC in each stitch after, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next two stitches, CH1, turn <b>(4 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;"><b> </b>SC in first three stitches, SC2 in last stitch<b>, </b>CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next four<b> </b>stitches, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC in each stitch after, CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first three stitches, SC2TOG<b>, </b>CH1, turn <b>(4 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC in each stitch after, CH1, turn <b>(3 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">ORANGE BACK SPOT (make 1 in orange)</span></div><div style="color: black;">this piece is worked flat</div><div style="color: black;">CH12, turn</div><div style="color: black;">starting in second chain from hook, SC in each chain, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, <b> </b>SC in next 10 stitches, CH1, turn <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 11 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(13 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 12 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(14 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(14 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next 13 stitches, CH1, turn <b>(15 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;"><b> </b>SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(15 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(15 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 14 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(16 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 15 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(17 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(17 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 16 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 17 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2 in first stitch, SC in next 17 stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(21 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(21 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(21 sts)</b><b> </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(21 sts)</b><b> </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(21 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first 10 stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last nine stitches, CH1, turn <b>(20 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(20 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(20 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(20 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first nine stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last nine stitches, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(19 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first nine stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last eight stitches, CH1, turn <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(18 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first eight stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last eight stitches, CH1, turn <b>(17 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first eight stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last seven stitches, CH1, turn <b>(16 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(16 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first seven stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last seven stitches, CH1, turn <b>(15 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first seven stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last six stitches, CH1, turn <b>(14 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first three stitches, SC2 TOG, SC in next four stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last three stitches, CH1, turn <b>(12 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">*SC2TOG, SC in next two stitches*<b> </b>two times, SC2TOG, SC in next stitch, skip last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(8 sts)</b><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_SoundInfo1_ctl01_UpdatePanel1"><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_SoundInfo1_ctl01_phAudioPlayer"></span></span></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG, SC in next four stitches, SC2TOG, CH1, turn <b>(6 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first two stitches, SC2TOG, SC in next stitch, skip last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(4 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first stitch, SC2TOG, SC in last stitch<b> (3 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG, skip last stitch <b>(1 stc)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off<b></b> yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">GRAY BACK SPOT (make 1 in gray)</span></div><div style="color: black;">this piece is worked flat</div><div style="color: black;">CH10, turn</div><div style="color: black;">starting in second chain from hook, SC in each chain, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG, SC in next six stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts) </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first eight stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first nine stitches, SC2 in last stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(11 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC in each stitch after, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(10 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first four stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last four stitches, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b><b> </b><b> </b><b> </b><b> </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(9 sts)</b><b> </b><b> </b><b> </b><b> </b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first four stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last three stitches, CH1, turn <b>(8 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(8 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in each stitch, CH1, turn <b>(8 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC in first three stitches, SC2TOG, SC in last 3 stitches, CH1, turn <b>(7 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">skip first stitch, SC2TOG, SC in last four stitches CH1, turn <b>(5 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG, SC in next stitch, skip last two stitches, CH1, turn <b>(2 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">SC2TOG, CH1, turn <b>(1 stc)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut, leaving a long tail</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">COLLAR (make 1 in red)</span></div><div style="color: black;">there are two ways you can do this</div><div style="color: black;">CH55, turn</div><div style="color: black;">starting in second chain from hook, SC in each chain <b>(54 sts)</b></div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut<b> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><b>OR</b></div><div style="color: black;">FSC<b> </b>54</div><div style="color: black;">fasten off yarn and cut</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">ASSEMBLY</span></div><div style="color: black;">Stuff the body, head, feet, and tail with the stuffing material of your choice. Make sure to stuff them fairly firmly, or the shape won't be quite right. You may have to squish things around a bit to get the right shape. Close off the openings in the head, body, and tail, but leave the ends of the feet open</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Using the long tails you left (or another piece of white yarn) stitch together the head, body, ears, feet, and tail. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of the right placement. The assembly may be a bit tricky because of the way the patches fit together with all of the other parts, so you may want to pin everything together and make sure everything is fitting together right before you actually stitch everything on.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;">The ears are a bit tricky-what you need to do is fold under a small bit of the folded edge to the inside, and then hold the ear in a curve so it holds the right shape when you stitch it on. Here are some pictures of what I mean, and a diagram of the part you need to fold.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;">The ears need to be placed so that the narrow part of the patches fits exactly between them-the inner edges need to be about an inch and a quarter apart </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Next, stitch the two head patches together along the longer straight edge, and stitch them onto the head with the straight "tail" edge lining up with the seam between the head and the body. Then, stitch the two larger patches together as shown in the diagram and stitch them onto the body, with the rounded opening fitting around the tail and the straight edge lining up with the seam between the head and the body. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBByXtbWwN2O5zBBkeCkvGCz7DlopZ2eCt-tT80Ro6Ernllksg-RfyuYScj9tzeWKoNA5s5z_XRHFazd8OF7cigxTgyoN_CFwiqn9NP2H_1esBmrxBIPw4e3tQo2jp_giU9H6qu3oRO76/s1600/spot+diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBByXtbWwN2O5zBBkeCkvGCz7DlopZ2eCt-tT80Ro6Ernllksg-RfyuYScj9tzeWKoNA5s5z_XRHFazd8OF7cigxTgyoN_CFwiqn9NP2H_1esBmrxBIPw4e3tQo2jp_giU9H6qu3oRO76/s1600/spot+diagram.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;">You might need to stretch and tug on the sides of the patches to get a nice even line, but it should go into place with a minimum of fiddling. You can see how the gray should fall in one of the pictures above, and here's one of the orange.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzaR0eINFLw8wQqo5lHYuMqD8v-w_7_I3Ey_PHTURFYR4opZz3B2d_NW3wOFm85Yddk0yeNI0WODYx45hKPJpmHciifqi3oiZuKCKAtqDojV3m7UnKRKf4H04F9PdodH-J9baaU7lKVlI/s1600/P1010581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzaR0eINFLw8wQqo5lHYuMqD8v-w_7_I3Ey_PHTURFYR4opZz3B2d_NW3wOFm85Yddk0yeNI0WODYx45hKPJpmHciifqi3oiZuKCKAtqDojV3m7UnKRKf4H04F9PdodH-J9baaU7lKVlI/s400/P1010581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Put the collar around the neck and string the bell on the yarn tail, then stitch it closed.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Finally, using the embroidery floss, embroider on the face as you can see in the below picture, and you have your own Nyanko-sensei!</div><br />
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This project was an expression of my love for my friend, but also of my love for the series. I made it as a fan, and I'm sharing it for other fans. Distributing patterns of copyrighted characters is always a bit of a tricky subject, and I would hate to have to remove this, so <b><i>please, please don't sell anything you make with this pattern</i></b>! Thanks, guys : )<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The ravelry page for this project is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/super-secret-charms-thing">here</a></i></span>Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-5753585794693696832012-01-07T16:08:00.000-06:002012-01-07T16:08:50.712-06:00Tutorial time!Hey everyone! I don't know if I have any readers who I don't know personally yet, but if I do I'd like to apologize for the unannounced hiatus. I was working a job that ate my soul over the holiday season and somehow two months slipped by without my posting anything. Sorry! I'll try not to let it happen again.<br />
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Now that I've got that over with, it's time for a tutorial! Today I'm going to show you how to do a crochet technique called the "magic loop" or "magic ring" (not to be confused with the knitting magic loop, which is something completely unrelated). There's lots of pics, so I'm gonna go ahead and put the rest behind a jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The magic loop or magic ring is probably one of my favorite neat crochet tricks. It's a method of starting in the round without either a hole in the center or having to stitch into the same loop who knows how many times. You probably won't see it much in western patterns, but if you plan to make a lot of amigurumi or crochet from Japanese patterns you'll see it quite a bit so it's a useful technique to pick up. In western patterns, it's usually referred to by one of the names I've brought up already, and in Japanese charted patterns it is represented by the hiragana character "wa" (わ) in a circle, surrounded by the symbols for the stitches you make into it (you'll see both of these in action in my next post). It's a bit tricky to get the hang of, but once you've got it down you'll never go back to doing it the old way! (These directions assume you're right handed. If you're left handed, there are other tutorials out there on the net that can show you how!)<br />
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Start by wrapping the yarn around your left hand. The tail should be to the left, and the ball end to the right. The ball end needs to cross <i>over</i> the tail as illustrated in the picture.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Insert the hook under both strands of yarn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy-PJELvGsJ2bj5oftIc4Q4jg3oaU68DXHqkh6C08taggF7ot9RewxIX37sQlE8jlc6Bs0q7FU3-1Zl7RU1oxxsqCNifBxBocyVPpQRQhlIozGpAUyOie9oFHX09NN_81A-3a6Z4lrASd/s1600/P1010160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy-PJELvGsJ2bj5oftIc4Q4jg3oaU68DXHqkh6C08taggF7ot9RewxIX37sQlE8jlc6Bs0q7FU3-1Zl7RU1oxxsqCNifBxBocyVPpQRQhlIozGpAUyOie9oFHX09NN_81A-3a6Z4lrASd/s400/P1010160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Catch the ball end in your hook, and pull a loop up under the tail end<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yarn over...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR4FT258IEdMu0A_v4l5Puhug_NluikjM_bpU4WHzaEyHmJ5bG-qhpr3_0RwZu70QCJQ3doFslZMsxSYMx4dcNTHvAwLfVtJtZ79gbPYV0IeVFR0KfvMbmZw5a8gN4hYxyzUKJb86Kae7/s1600/P1010162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR4FT258IEdMu0A_v4l5Puhug_NluikjM_bpU4WHzaEyHmJ5bG-qhpr3_0RwZu70QCJQ3doFslZMsxSYMx4dcNTHvAwLfVtJtZ79gbPYV0IeVFR0KfvMbmZw5a8gN4hYxyzUKJb86Kae7/s400/P1010162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> ...and pull the yarn through the loop on your hook</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><br />
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I don't have a picture of this, but sometimes it makes it easier if you chain one more through the loop you have on your hook right now. It's optional, though so if you don't do it, don't worry about it!<br />
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At this point, you should only have one loop on your hook. Insert the hook back under the two strands of yarn (henceforth referred to as the foundation loop), just to the left of the chain you've started. <br />
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YO again, and pull up another loop. DO NOT pull this through the loop you already have on your hook-you should have two loops on your hook after this step, just like you would for single crochet.<br />
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YO again WITHOUT inserting your hook through the foundation loop on your fingers, and pull through the two loops on your hook. Congratulations, you've just made your first SC stitch!<br />
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Continue inserting your hook through the foundation ring, pulling up a loop, and then pulling a loop through both loops on your hook until you have the number of SC called for in your pattern. (I've got nine here, but it will vary from pattern to pattern how many you need)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8XiZVZ7GO3X55KOpfvLvDhvneg07wd_sM4ZevXQOb8NbjJr7wbZDYPkc7nJ-eBBxzP_57Kx7QPXONlNqKwxbQ2pjtR0_GD3GbsP2noR-lQS-JPx-z5M4uxZ5UEL2iAMUtkKOPgmtrpxC/s1600/P1010171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8XiZVZ7GO3X55KOpfvLvDhvneg07wd_sM4ZevXQOb8NbjJr7wbZDYPkc7nJ-eBBxzP_57Kx7QPXONlNqKwxbQ2pjtR0_GD3GbsP2noR-lQS-JPx-z5M4uxZ5UEL2iAMUtkKOPgmtrpxC/s400/P1010171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At this point, pull on the tail end of your yarn. If you've done everything right, your foundation loop should start getting smaller.<br />
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When your stitches have doubled back on themselves, insert the hook in the first stitch you made.<br />
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Pull a loop through both the stitch and the loop on your hook to join, and pull on the tail end until the hole in the middle has completely closed. You're now ready to continue on with your pattern!<br />
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Any time a pattern calls for you to chain two and stitch X times into the first chain, you can substitute this technique. Just stitch X times into your foundation loop rather than into into a chain. I've only demonstrated how to do it with single crochet, but you can also use double or triple or any other stitch you want. After you've made that first loop on your hook (where I say you can optionally chain one more in this tutorial), simply chain the same number of stitches you would for a turning chain (two for HDC, three for DC, four for TC, etc) and YO the appropriate number of times before inserting your hook back under the foundation loop.<br />
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Hopefully this explanation of Magic Loop or Magic Circle was clear enough! If not, watch this space-I'm hoping to add a video tutorial in the next few days.Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-16344949712802178332011-10-20T17:59:00.001-05:002011-10-20T18:05:58.701-05:00Journey of a Skein<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Some skeins of yarn are perfect when you buy them-exactly the right color for exactly the right project, and all is good. Other skeins. . .end up needing a bit of help. They're not quite the right color, or they can't find a project, or there's just <i>something</i> about them and they don't get a lot of love. This is the tale of one such skein.<br />
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This unfortunate skein started out its life destined not to be loved for what it was, for I purchased it about a year ago with the intent to use it in some tea dying experiments. My hope was that by experimenting with different colors of tea, I would end up with different colors of yarn.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ6XoYYeU51YK6Ml3f1mk25p46-s3lrnC4TAgIZh5u_1aTFc5Ne5nlRWKGZMo4K31agZdMxopj1Oq8wi2NqeF7dAClB2I5eu26AZtBXLd5k0SoJ2iLsJGUza7Ap9HYPn0ExbCNnp5rsJd/s1600/P1010219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ6XoYYeU51YK6Ml3f1mk25p46-s3lrnC4TAgIZh5u_1aTFc5Ne5nlRWKGZMo4K31agZdMxopj1Oq8wi2NqeF7dAClB2I5eu26AZtBXLd5k0SoJ2iLsJGUza7Ap9HYPn0ExbCNnp5rsJd/s640/P1010219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here you can see my experimentation in progress-I had high hopes in particular that the peppermint tea, on the far left, would produce a pale green, and that the hibiscus-based tea, third from the right, would produce a pink or mauve sort of shade. Unfortunately, as you can see in the swatches pictured here with the original un-dyed skein, they all ended up some variation on pale brown-ish.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRgezkmvn75ctELTeN7hwWvYxSQH_WEO5jIIu8Gb0tgkte9MUne0cjJyQnMrebWv7uR1JG_M6GJmnEV2Xsyct_K7FcjDDKBY-Mq60n-KW3-lP9Z3OqOfZfHLzuW8XnFRP8aaDOR7URWrd/s1600/P1010221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRgezkmvn75ctELTeN7hwWvYxSQH_WEO5jIIu8Gb0tgkte9MUne0cjJyQnMrebWv7uR1JG_M6GJmnEV2Xsyct_K7FcjDDKBY-Mq60n-KW3-lP9Z3OqOfZfHLzuW8XnFRP8aaDOR7URWrd/s640/P1010221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I decided on a blend of the two teas I liked best, and ended up with a reasonably pleasant but not overly lovable cafe-au-lait color<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/54101706/P1010243_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/54101706/P1010243_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
This was promptly balled and used to start a pair of beaded, cabled fingerless mitts. I got about an inch into them, decided I wasn't tremendously satisfied, and set them aside. They languished in the bag with the rest of my hibernating WIPs for a couple of months until I admitted to myself that I probably wouldn't finish them and frogged. They didn't even get photographed, so you'll just have to use your imaginations.<br />
<br />
The yarn sat in a ball in my stash, unloved, until a couple of weeks ago. One of the October prompts for the Cup (see my post on the cowl a couple back for an explanation of the cup if you don't already know what that is) involved Tunisian crochet, and I had just the pattern. This ball was the only thing in my stash that had about the right yardage, was about the right weight, and was not something I'd rather save for something else. I didn't feel like I'd get any use out of a cafe-au-lait scarf, though, so I decided to once again experiment with dying-this time with koolade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvw7uDnBCh2jAxpmYA3aBS7dljowcIgbmubUlLe6MNLrZp7bED_Z-rgnYQ0t1YqHNuLTf-ukJ7D2GTsgbU5TrRPNFQBCyuJzK5HeDUGTnX7_DW_tHNsdcUYnfa1rSNA3AFA2ar6vKC4j4/s1600/P1010514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvw7uDnBCh2jAxpmYA3aBS7dljowcIgbmubUlLe6MNLrZp7bED_Z-rgnYQ0t1YqHNuLTf-ukJ7D2GTsgbU5TrRPNFQBCyuJzK5HeDUGTnX7_DW_tHNsdcUYnfa1rSNA3AFA2ar6vKC4j4/s640/P1010514.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Armed with a tutorial from Knitty, several packets of powdered drink mix, and a microwave, I set to work. I wanted to end up with a deep, rich burgundy sort of color, so I used three packets of Black Cherry and one of Grape (looking back at my previous posts and thinking ahead to the next one I have planned, I realize deep reds seem to be somewhat of a trend, but really I do craft in other colors. The only deep red project I have going right now is my gloves. There will be other colors soon, really!). An hour and one strongly-grape-scented apartment later, I had this<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76487608/P1010520_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76487608/P1010520_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Not deep, rich burgundy in the least. More of a rusted dusty rose sort of color. On the other hand, unlike the cafe-au-lait, though my experiments didn't provide the result I wanted, they did provide one I was happy with, so I set out to learn Tunisian crochet (did I mention this is the first time I've tried it?)<br />
<br />
I crocheted. And crocheted. And crocheted. After a bit of "why won't this thing end" and "I swear this skein was almost gone a foot and a half of scarf ago" I weighed what I had left on the ball-nearly a quarter of it. I decided I was done, and cast off.<br />
<br />
Finally, the poor skein of yarn had been made into something lovable! Not only do I have a new skill and a nice scarf<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78219418/P1010558_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78219418/P1010558_medium2.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It also makes a rather nice belt! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78219436/P1010560_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78219436/P1010560_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>And the skein lived happily ever after. Or something like that.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/taras-tunisian-scarf">here</a></span></i>Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-33384728700572740802011-10-20T16:23:00.001-05:002011-10-20T16:25:26.987-05:00Success?Ok, ok, so it's way to early to declare a success. A glove and a half too early, to be exact.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78005086/P1010546_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/78005086/P1010546_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
But this time it fits! It's not way too small for my hand, and I thus won't be needing to frog back again and re-do the cuff to the largest size, and this is a Happy Thing.<br />
<br />
(There really are cables there, I swear. They even read in real life. My camera just hates them, especially when it's after dark and there is thus no natural light to be had.<br />
<br />
Also, for those who find the subtitle visible on my monitor in the background odd-it's from an anime called <i>Baccano!</i> and I promise it makes sense in context)<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/kingdom">here</a></span></i>Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-81606974088983866112011-10-16T13:00:00.006-05:002011-10-16T13:00:06.612-05:00Conversations with myself<i>Starring my tempting side and my logical side</i> <br />
<br />
<blockquote>TS: So, winter is coming. . .<br />
<br />
LS: Yes?<br />
<br />
TS: It's supposed to be really cold this year. . .<br />
<br />
LS: Yes? Could we get on with it please?<br />
<br />
TS: Well, it's been a few years since you've had a proper pair of gloves and I found <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTkingdom.php">this really neat pair in knitty</a><br />
<br />
LS: Oh really? Lets take a look. . .<br />
<br />
. . .wait, those are cables!<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">TS:</span> yeeeeeeees?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">LS: Didn't we decide we didn't like cabling after <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/stricken">those socks we did</a></span> back at the beginning of the year?<br />
<br />
TS: Yes. . . .but these are so <i>pretty</i>! Just look at them!<br />
<br />
LS: Well. . .yes, I guess they <i>are</i> pretty. But cables! We hate doing cables!<br />
<br />
TS: butbutbut, we learned to do them without a needle! It's not that bad that way, remember?<br />
<br />
LS: Well, I suppose, but-<br />
<br />
TS: And gloves! It'll be cold! We can get nice yarn with that coupon from our birthday from the LYS and they'll be warm and pretty and-<br />
<br />
LS: ALRIGHT! Alright, we can do the gloves! Don't blame me if you end up hating it though.</blockquote>So yeah, I started a pair of the oh-so-gorgeous Kingdom gloves last week. Here's what I have so far:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/77676841/P1010535_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/77676841/P1010535_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
. . .and here's the pile of kinky yarn from the, oh, half a glove or so that I frogged last night:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NXoI5jSF1jWEQDPqPvz3BC3Hibl4VM5u_MP58iTjlJLvAbyYrH_hERAB22FQZms7bqVkwk4dzFYbl9fmYX8f_Pf_XuA6Bt_TzCACevWI8f5BjbQ-AY4crNkbnw8k34tmi1em0Efftz6I/s1600/P1010542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NXoI5jSF1jWEQDPqPvz3BC3Hibl4VM5u_MP58iTjlJLvAbyYrH_hERAB22FQZms7bqVkwk4dzFYbl9fmYX8f_Pf_XuA6Bt_TzCACevWI8f5BjbQ-AY4crNkbnw8k34tmi1em0Efftz6I/s640/P1010542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Can we talk about gauge here for a second? Now, I admit that I tend to knit pretty tightly (probably as an artifact of the rather weird way in which I knit) but the recommended gauge and needle size here is kind of crazy. The pattern calls for a gauge of 7.5 stitches to the inch in fingering weight yarn on a size 0 (2mm for any non-Americans out there reading this) needle. This seems like absolute <i>crazy talk </i>to me, since I typically get 8 stitches to the inch on a size 2 (2.75mm), two full sizes larger.<br />
<br />
Of course, being me, I didn't really bother to swatch before I bought the needle for this (I'm trying magic loop for the first time on these-the pattern calls for DPNs but I had a bit of a laddering fiasco on my last DPN project, so. . .). Only after starting the cuff and getting to the end of the first chart did I realize that the size I was knitting wouldn't come <i>near</i> fitting around even my super-tiny wrists and think that checking the called-for gauge would be a good idea. Since I liked the fabric I was getting and <strike>shouldn't be spending money on more needles</strike> didn't feel like buying another needle on which to magic loop, I decided to just knit a larger size, as I've done in the past.<br />
<br />
So, I set out to knit the pattern as written for two sizes larger, and the cuff was perfect. The hand, on the other hand, was. . .not, so much. Of course, having a serious case of Knitter's Denial (otherwise known as "well, I'm sure it'll fit just fine after you block it!") I kept going, until I got to the end of the increases for the thumb gusset. This thing barely fit on my hand-no <i>way</i> was it going to be comfortable once the thumb was separated out and everything was done. So I frogged back to the cuff, and now I'm knitting three sizes larger than my actual hand. I hope this fits, because if it's still too small I'm going to have to re-do the cuff this time too.<br />
<br />
At least the cables are proving far less hateful this project around.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/kingdom">here</a></span></i>Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-25105732112871956872011-10-15T19:38:00.001-05:002011-10-15T20:32:54.813-05:00What's to come?<i>"</i><i>In terms of both snow and cold, this winter is expected to be the worst in Chicago."</i><br />
<br />
I read the words on my screen with trepidation. Several degrees colder than usual. As much, if not more, snow than last year (the year in which Snowpocalypse dumped several feet on us in a single day, virtually shutting the city down). It's times like these that make me glad I'm a yarncrafter, and prone to making warm fuzzy things for myself just because I can. Things like this cowl:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76494765/P1010533_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76494765/P1010533_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
It's soft. It's fuzzy. It's alpaca (one of my all time favorite fibers!). I can pull it up over my ears, like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76494837/P1010528_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/yasmatazz/76494837/P1010528_medium2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It's sure to be lovely and warm. Right now, we're just coming down off of what will probably be the last stretch of nice weather for the year so it doesn't feel necessary just yet, but if the weather is anything like what's predicted for this winter, I have a feeling I'm going to be glad of it in a month or two. Now pardon me, while I go back to hoarding the warm fuzzy yarn things like a squirrel hoards nuts...<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yarn and pattern details can be found on my ravelry project page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yasmatazz/cardiff-cowl">here</a></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Bonus for all my fellow geeks after the jump.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<a name='more'></a></span>So, I'm sure at some point I'm going to gather readers who aren't members of the Cup so first of all I'm going to take a moment to explain what exactly "the Cup" is. The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/hp-knitting-crochet-house-cup">Harry Potter Knit Crochet House Cup</a> is one of the many groups you can find on Ravelry. It's part crafting challenge, part fan group, and part roleplaying and collective storytelling, and all fun. Various sorts of prompts are posted each month and crafters, playing the roles of students at our own version of Hogwarts, are encouraged to craft items within these prompts and turn them in to earn points for their house. You'll be seeing a lot of House Cup stuff turning up here, since most of the things I knit and crochet are tied in with it in one way or another. This cowl is no exception. One of the activities currently going on is our own version of the Triwizard Tournament. This cowl was made for the second Triwizard task, which prompted crafters following the fire elemental path, as I am, to craft something inspired by either Charlie Weasley or a phoenix (the first task involved getting past a dragon). I got a bit more involved than usual in the storytelling for this one, so I thought I'd share with you all. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<blockquote><blockquote><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7664133586919941" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Successfully having passed the dragon, I pause on the edge of the arena to catch my breath. I move to follow a group of my classmates up to the Castle for a little bit of celebration, but before I can Charlie Weasley waves me over to offer his help on the second task. I thank him and hurry after my friends, but they've already passed beyond my sight. I sigh and decide to start my search in the Great Hall.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To my surprise, not only are my friends not in the hall, it is completely empty of all students. <i>They must all be having a party in the Common Room</i> I think to myself. As I turn to leave, I catch a glimpse of flame out of the corner of my eye. I turn back and hovering over one of the long tables is a magnificent phoenix. It wings towards the entrance hall and I get a strong feeling that it wants me to follow, so I do.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The phoenix flies out of the castle and onto the grounds. I follow it closely, not willing to lose sight of it, as night has fallen and the glowing flame of the bird's feathers is the only light I can see. The phoenix flies and flies, and I follow and follow. Some time passes, and I realize that, based on the distance we have traveled, we should be deep in the Forbidden Forest, and yet we are nowhere near. For the first time I consider how strange it is that the Great Hall was empty after so momentous an occasion as the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, and think that at some point I must have crossed the border between the real world and some sort of world of spirits.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once again, a glimmer of light catches my attention from the corner of my eye, and I'm brought out of my musings. This time the glimmer is a feather, fallen from the phoenix's wing or tail. Another. And another. The light from the phoenix dims as feathers fall and the bird grows frailer and frailer looking. Just as I fear that the light will go out and I will be stranded in this strange place, I see the embers of a great fire in the distance. The phoenix lands amidst the coals and is instantly consumed in flame and then reborn, it's former glory restored.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i></i></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>This is the birthplace of the first phoenix</i> I think. Just as before, when the phoenix wanted me to follow it, I know this to be the truth without really knowing how. I approach the pile of embers. It is pleasantly warm, but not overwhelmingly hot. I reach out and touch the coals before I can stop myself, but I am not burned. Intrigued, I collect some of them in a sample vial and stash it in my robes. The phoenix seems satisfied, and leads me back to the castle, where I find all the hubbub I expected and missed earlier.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*****</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Fiddlesticks!" I exclaim in frustration. Yet another fire protection spell had proven to be of little use, and the second task was mere days away. <i>Perhaps it's time for a rest</i> I think, running my hands through my hair and looking around the disused classroom I've been using for my tournament preparations. On a desk off to one side is the pile of embers, a gift from the phoenix. At first I was hopeful that they would be the key to the next task, but so far they have yielded nothing useful.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I try my spell again, casting a fireproofing charm on a small piece of cloth. I then cast a flame spell on it. As before, it ignites, but this time a draft blows the burning cloth onto the embers. Unexpectedly, the cloth is not consumed by the magical flames. Instead, after burning black as charcoal, the flames fade out and the sooty coating crumbles off, revealing the same piece of cloth beneath, unchanged and as good as new. I pull it from the embers not quite believing what I see. I grab another piece of cloth and set it on fire, foregoing the protection charm I cast on the last piece, and set it directly on the pile of embers. The results are the same. I begin to grin, and begin working a spell.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some time later, I pull a deep red cowl, flecked with black and ash grey, over my head. The cowl gives off a soft warmth and light, just like the embers from which it was in fact transformed. <i>Here goes nothing</i> I think, and take a deep breath. I slowly pass my hand, unprotected, through the flame of a candle, and am unharmed. Encouraged, I go over to the fire burning in the large fireplace and thrust my hand in. Just like the cloth, my arm is swiftly burned black as charcoal, but when I remove my arm from the flames, the blackness flakes away and reveals skin and hair, completely unchanged from before. Excited, I get my wand and cast the strongest flame spell I know on my left hand. This time, everything seem to be going the same, but suddenly I feel a burning and I quickly extinguish the flames. This time the blackened coating comes away with a smell of burning hair and reveals skin pinkened in places by a light burn.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Alright, so this thing isn't totally proof against magical fires</i> I think. <i>Still, it ought to be more than adequate to protect me against whatever it is I face in the second challenge!</i> I smile, silently thanking the phoenix for the guidance that led me to the embers from which to make this wonderful cowl that allows me to rise from the ashes, just like the mystical bird.</span></blockquote></blockquote>Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992816311430835428.post-72706569623836783372011-10-02T14:47:00.001-05:002011-10-02T16:29:58.027-05:00So, this blog thing. . .Hey, and welcome to Omnicraftual! I decided to start a blog to document all my projects in one place and share them with my friends (and the rest of the world!). You'll see finished projects, works in progress, planning, and a few other things too.<br />
<br />
What you will definitely find here:<br />
<ul><li>knitting</li>
<li>crocheting</li>
<li>sewing</li>
<li>dying</li>
</ul>What you will probably find here:<br />
<ul><li>millinery</li>
<li>bobbin lace</li>
<li>embroidery</li>
<li>tatting</li>
<li>recipes (cooking is a craft too!)</li>
<li>cultural commentary</li>
<li>nerdery</li>
<li>surprises</li>
</ul>Keep your eyes peeled, and enjoy!Yasmatazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09973200233610882132noreply@blogger.com1