I finally finished this cardigan that I had been avoiding sewing up forever! I got the pattern from the book "The Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits" and the yarn is Rowan Polar in "Stony." The best thing about this yarn is that after it's washed, it has a beautiful drape and softness. The pattern was very simple too! I nixed the buttons that the pattern calls for because (to quote a wise woman) buttonholes really *are* bastards!



I really am happy with it--it's so comfy! And finished just in time for my trip to Maine. Also perfect for the office I work in which, for some reason, is always kept at what feels like subzero temperatures.

Hello all,

I've been thinking a lot lately about starting some sort of craft group in San Diego. I'm really inspired by groups like the Church of Craft (www.churchofcraft.o rg), and I think it's high time San Diego had some sort of forum like this for people of all ages and backgrounds who are into DIY, being crafty, learning new things, but most of all, just love to get together with like-minded craftsters and make things! Some potential things that could happen with this group would be charity craft drive, workshops, and craft fairs. But I think a great start would be to find a big space where people could meet and craft in a monthly "craft-on."

Does anyone have any interest in this, or brainstorms for how to make it happen? Respond here or send me a personal message!

xoxo and happy crafting!

Gertie

Hello, all! I have just completed my first inkjet transfer project, devoted to the beautiful Jon Stewart. This is a Christmas gift for some equally obsessed coworkers!



and the back:

I used a free pattern from chicknits.com to make this cute, quick hat. It's called the "2 hour hat" but mine knit up in less than an hour! I cast on right before turning on "Lost" at 8 p.m., and finished before the closing credits--which is really saying a lot, since it was quite an engrossing episode! I'm going to give it to my sister-in-law for Christmas. (I might have to make one for myself too!) I used Colinette Point Five (I believe the color is Mixed Berries) that I found very cheap on Ebay.



I was hesitant to try this pattern for a long time because there are no pictures of it on the site. But I'm pleased with the results. Here is the link to the pattern:


http://www.chicknits.com/h2ohatpattern.shtml

[Since the chichknits.com pattern is no longer up, here's a pattern created by Craftster member woolgathered that you can use: http://www.woolgathered.com/basichat.html]

This is a rad book! It's similiar in a lot of ways to Stitch n Bitch, but is a general home ec/crafting book. It's full of recipes, patterns, and ideas--i.e. a knitted bikini pattern, an a-line skirt pattern, natural cleaning products, crafty gift ideas, etc. I especially loved the intro, where the author discusses being a Bust-era feminist, a crafty gal, and a wife and mother.

Does anyone else have this book? Has anyone tried any of the recipes?

I'm planning on trying the almond soap recipe for Christmas presents.

Okay, people...I have the perfect yarn in my stash for this project. But...I must admit I'm having trouble understanding this one special direction:

DBO2: Drop next stitch, lift up resulting ladder, k into front of ladder, k into back of ladder, BO first stitch, BO next stitch.

Ack! Alright, how do I "lift up the resulting ladder"? With the left needle of course, but from the front or the back?

And then how would one bind off? Because after you've done the knitting into the front and back of the ladder thing, you have THREE stitches on the right needle (because you've already been knitting before the DBO2). How the heck do you bind off three stitches? Arrrggh!

Any help would be very appreciated!

p.s. I frickin' looove this book!

Here are two projects I just finished from one of my favorite new books--Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson (who owns Purl in NYC). It's a very yummy book with lots of wonderful projects.

The first is a cotton hat I made for a toddler--I think it looks kinda like a little flapper girl hat. Very Dorothy Parker!

The second is an alpaca/silk drawstring gift pouch--I filled it with a bottle of wonderful Philosopy bath gel that smells like cinnamon buns to give to my mom.

Has anyone else completed any projects from this fabulouso book?

Well, on an impulse I ordered two skeins of beautiful Lobster Pot 2-ply cashmere in Salt Rose. It's very tiny--knits up at about 8 stitches to the inch. I'd actually been coveting the worsted weight Lobster Pot cashmere, but luckily talked myself out of it--it's $38 per 100 yds! The fingering weight version is a much better value--the same price for 440 yds.

But, I have no idea what the heck to do with it! Perhaps a nice lace shawl? A little camisole? Any ideas out there, crafty hipsters?

Hi all--Sorry if this question has already been answered, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

I've never used these inkject transfers, but I would like to make some spiffy Jon Stewart for President 2008 t-shirts for some friends. I don't have a fancy program like Photoshop, so I figure I will have to use Word for the text.

Now, how do I flip text in Word? Is it even possible? If not, is there another way to do it? Can anyone help this poor crafty hipster?

Thanks!

I just had to share my scary jack 'o lantern! Granted, it's all thanks to a Pumpkin Masters kit and pattern, purchased from Target, but I'm still very proud of what my hubby and I accomplished. (Especially since we did this *after* comsuming a bottle of wine!)

I would love to see everyone else's!