My First Yarn Crawl

My Haul (limited myself to wool for current felting projects,
self-ruffling yarns, & one light wt Madelinetosh)

This past weekend the Local Yarn Stores of the the Portland, OR Metro area hosted the 5th Annual Rose City Yarn Crawl. "An annual Portland experience, the Rose City Yarn Crawl is a four-day event for knitters to explore the many knitting Shops in and around Portland. 2012 marks our third year of celebrating Portland as a yarn and knitting destination." Um. Yeah. Let's ignore more than half the fiber craft population! Many of these stores have yarn and fibers for crocheters, spinners, and felters too!

Several fellow "hookers" came down from Seattle, including the Fearless Leader of the Crochet Liberation Front and Craftwich to represent the hook at this obviously needle-centric event. We were joined at various points along our travels by a dozen or so other fiber friends and managed to hit 15 yarn stores in just 2 days.

We did a little online research ahead of time, reading the descriptions of each store and their websites. We wanted to be sure to hit any stores which made it clear they supported crocheters. Out of 19 stores, only TWO offered a crochet pattern as their special yarn crawl freebie pattern (Angelika's and Wynona Studios where the owner's daughter was even crocheting!). I did talk to several of the store owners who were interested in offering a crochet alternative for next year, and am already lined up to design at least one of them. I also talked to a few yarn companies, encouraging them to have crochet patterns designed with their yarns.

I was somewhat appalled by the complete lack of crochet samples and patterns in so many of the stores! Don't the store owners realize that crocheters buy yarn too? Several store owners carefully explained that they simply do not sell many crochet products, but they will carry more if they sell more. But when a crocheter walks into your store and sees not one single sample made from crochet and walls and books of knit patterns, why would they come to your store again?!

At least now I have discovered a few new favorite LYSs for when I'm hunting the perfect fiber for a new design, and have a better idea what each store has to offer, and does not have. I even ended up giving impromptu crochet classes in two different stores on crocheting with ruffle yarns and reading stitch diagrams.

It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's Valentine's Day!

It's that time of year again, time to make Valentines. My son and I have dhand-made Valentines since he was 2 1/2. We pulled out the Valentines issue of Family Fun Magazine to get some ideas, and Griffin was really excited to make the Caped Cute-saders.

We had everything else on hand except the Tootsie Pops, and made a few changes to the instructions to streamline the process of making 2 dozen Valentines. I printed the Template, blew it up 10% to fit our rubber stamp, glued five copies of the Cape and Mask to a sheet of paper, and copied them onto Red Card Stock. Griffin cut out the Capes and I helped him a little with the small curves of the Masks.

I did not trust Glue Sticks to hold the flat masks onto round Pops. So we ran the Masks through our mini Xyron Sticker Maker which gave Griffin a sheet of Mask Stickers he could easily peel and adhere. Hopefully they will not pop off before his classmates get to eat them.

Knowing my 6 1/2 year old would not be up for writing a message on each cape/card, I used an interchangeable rubber stamp which allows us to create any message, "YOU ARE A SUPER FRIEND", "YOU ARE A SUPER TEACHER", and "FROM GRIFFIN" for the back of each Cape. Since they were all going to be the same we decided not to write in the other kids names, easier for passing out to a class full of kids.

Finally we punched holes in the tops of the cards. Using a 3-hole punch Griffin decided we could punch 3 cards at a time, very efficient. Then he slipped on each superhero's Cape and his Valentines are ready to take to school in the morning.

Year after year he comes home from school with a pile of generic, store-bought Valentines, but the few handmade ones always seem the most special. We enjoy this ritual every year, and I hope Griffin will continue to want to make his own Valentines. So far he has never asked to buy store-bought ones, he just assumes cards are something we make ourselves.

Our 1st Donation of 2012

Healthy Baby Dorian Snuggling in his Crocheted Blanket

In between new crochet designs, family tragedies, and getting through the holidays, I have been busy prepping another dozen crocheted afghans and quilts to donate to the local Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in memory of our little Rowan.

I gave a full bin of blankets to friends who recently stayed in one of the NICUs we have donated to in the past. Thankfully their baby is healthy and home after 10 days in the NICU. But I figure by now they know everyone in the NICU, and might enjoy bringing the blankets in for our Remembering Rowan Project. They delivered them yesterday and told me they loved them.

These blankets included several of the Rowan's Sampler Afghans we made during the Crochet-Along last summer. I gifted the original mint and aqua Sampler I designed for the CAL to little Dorian, who did not get to take home a blanket after his stay in the NICU.

I suppose most of the blankets we donate go to the Bereavement Department, for those babies who do not get to go home. Perhaps we need to get busy making more blankets so that every baby who stays in the NICU can go home with a blanket...

My Very First Award!

Thank you so much to Barbina, over at Little Things Made With Love. Check out her blog! She was the first crocheter to finish my Sampler CAL this summer. She gave me the Liebster Blog Award. What a sweetie!

The award goes to lovely blogs with less than 200 followers, the rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks for the award and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people in the blogsphere - other bloggers.
5. And, best of all – have fun and spread the Karma.

Now that I got through the holidays, sent in several magazine submissions, and my About Crochet contest entry, I can finally do my part to spread the good Karma... It is my pleasure to pass this award on to these 5 very talented ladies!
I enjoy visiting your blogs, reading your posts and admire your beautiful work!

Jill over at Stocki
Alisa at Y(arn) O(ver) Mama
Karen's Crocheted Garden of Color
Jenn at Creatively Crafty
Liz at Crochet in Color
Now it's your turn to pass on the Liebster love...

10 Ways To Wear a Sharf (Shawl & Scarf in One)

Now for the many ways to wear my "Watercolor Sharf" made for Elisabeth Andree's blog contest... The long thin triangular shape and the stretchy fabric of the single crochet chain stitch makes it easy to wear as a Shawl or a Scarf!

As a Shawl it can be worn...
Around Shoulders
With a Collar











Over the Shoulder
Take special notice of the lovely Shawl Pin hand-carved by Jimbo Price, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Crochet Liberation Front retreat last October. Check out his blog, Jimbo's Front Porch, just 2 more days to enter his Hook Give Away and Auction!

The long ends can be wrapped around and tied into a Shrug...











As a Scarf it can be worn...
Wrapped once
Wrapped Twice
Pulled Through










As a Hood
A Cowl










Or even a skirt!

I am sure there are many more ways to wear this garment I have not even thought of yet, the possibilities are endless...

Watercolor 'Sharf' (Shawl & Scarf in One!) - Contest Entry

Elisabeth Andree of About Crochet challenged 20 bloggers to design a scarf, shawl, mitts, or cushion cover using one of three stitch patterns with "Chain Single Crochet", also called "Extended Single Crochet". I tried all three stitch patterns and decided I liked Pattern #3 best.

With three recent losses in my family, I have been thinking a lot about designing Comfort or Prayer Shawls. I have also been intrigued by the recent trend toward long thin triangular scarves worn bunched around the neck. So I decided to combine the two.

By starting with just a few stitches in one small corner, I slowly increased every other row on just one side to the desired height of the triangle, then decreased. The final Sharf measures 74 inches wide by 18 inches long. This shape combined with the natural stretch of the stitch pattern makes it easy to wear spread across the shoulders as a Shawl or bunched together as a nice warm Scarf. The long, thin ends of the triangle allow the wearer to tie the ends together when worn in a variety of ways.

This design used three skeins of Lion Brand Tweed Stripes yarn. The long self-striping colorway worked perfectly with the ridges formed by working in the front loop only. I tried to join each new skein so the colors would blend without interrupting the pattern, and began the decreasing rows at a point where the color stripes would mirror each other from the midpoint.

The Tweed Stripes yarn is a thin #5 Bulky weight which I worked up with an I hook. Another #5 yarn which was a bit thicker created a stiffer fabric with an I and worked better with a J hook, so it would not require as many rows to get a similar size.

I debated adding a border to the bottom edge, but thought it worked better as a scarf without the added bulk. I also found that working into just one loop of the turning chain at the end of each row, created sort of a natural shell edging.

I love the versatility of this design which can be worn as a shawl, scarf, cowl, hood, and even a shrug! I had so much fun finding new ways to wear this simple triangle, that I had to create an entirely separate Blog post on 10 Ways To Wear a 'Sharf', check it out!

I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn and design with a new stitch. Thank you Elisabeth for running this fun contest. I cannot wait to see what everyone else came up with!

Making Holiday Cards...

Every year I wait for creative inspiration before I can begin making and sending holiday cards. Sometimes this means they become New Year's cards. This year I was off to a good start, inspired by the annual "Stowell Report Card" my Grandmother sent out every year. I jotted down the highlights of each month from the year of 2011, and added several small pictures to print on the inside of blank cards.

I wanted to include my kids in the process, but it was a bit of a challenge to find a craft enjoyed by both my 6 1/2 year old and not quite 2 year old. I found felt stickers at a local craft store of snowmen, trees, gingerbread boys and girls, penguins with santa hats, and snowflakes. With a little torn white cardstock glued on the bottom of the card, the kids created fun snowy scenes, and I just added a few loopy dashed lines to make the flying snowmen and trees look like they were doing flips.

My Grandmother passed away the day after Thanksgiving this year, so after nearly 60 years, there will be no more "Stowell Report Cards" (called the "Stowell Newsyear" before my Grandfather passed away, because they always read Newsweek). Each year she summarized the happening of her children, grandchildren, and an ever increasing number of "great-grands", to send to her many friends and acquaintances around the world.

As the co-founder (along with my Grandfather) of Amity Institute, and many years volunteering at the International Center at UCSD, she touched the lives of countless people. I hope that I am able to continue her tradition of sharing my family's experiences each year with those who have touched our lives. Most were mailed before the new year, but a few had to wait until after my trip to San Diego for my Grandmother's service last weekend.

Holiday Cards Kids Can Make:
Materials - 5"x7" Cream colored Blank Cards and Envelopes, White Cardstock, Glue Stick, Felt Stickers, and Fine Black Pen

1. Print your message and/or photos on the inside of the Blank Cards.
2. Cut White Cardstock into 2"x7" strips.
3. Tear Strips in half to form Snow.
4. Glue snow to bottom edge of front of Card with Glue Stick.
   
5. Place a few Felt Stickers to make a picture.
6. Add dashed lines with Fine Black Pen from ground or through the air to indicate stickers are flying or flipping through the air.

Depending on their ages, kids can complete most of these steps on their own. I helped with tearing the snow and adding the dashed lines.