Keep sane this semester

On Monday, I'll be starting my graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh.  Woo hoo!

And I'm trying to overcome my ADD, non-structured, completely random nature but actually scheduling a crafting event on a regular basis.  There a super little coffee shop in my neighborhood called the Sugar Cafe.  They are really supportive of community based groups and so I'll be hosting a yarn-in every-other week there.  Maybe every week if I can find a co-host.  Yay! Community yarn-ins!

Bring the joy of yarn to my hood

Now that the semester is over, I need to build in a little more structure to my "free time." So I'm resurrecting my hopes for a local yarny group in my neighborhood. I had one meeting (pre-football season) last fall and we had a lot of fun. However, we lost our location to the football game and the restaurant's big-screen TV. I needed a new home and thankfully Sugar Cafe opened just down the main drag in my hood of Dormont. After getting approval, Kelly James, owner and yummy-food-creator, has open her doors to this "crafty idea." The first gathering will be on June 5th at 2pm.

If you are interested in coming (yet, may not be free on Sunday), leave a comment so I can add you to the mailing list for future events.

My new Scarf-lette

Here it is. The pattern's directions will follow soon - stay tuned...

I'm back!

It has been far too long. I have been thinking to my self, "Oh, I should be sharing this" "Oh, I need to take a picture of this - it's so cute!" etc... And I have done nothing!

In reality I have been a busy student, worker and wife and a sometimes knitter. With this new year I decided to begin exercising in earnest - and I did! I was trucking along and doing over two miles a day on the treadmill and belly dancing (in the privacy of my own home, of course). And then a few weeks ago my leg started hurting - really hurting. I thought I might have shin splints from running or perhaps a fracture. Oh that would be too simple for me...no...I have an (as of now) unknown nerve issue in my ankle.

So, now I am on a restrictive diet of sitting around and that energy has to go somewhere - back to the knitting/crochet addiction! (Hee Hee Hee Hee).

I have been planning on writing more and so that is what I shall now do...more to follow...

4th annual yarn ball

Yeah! Another party! This time it is the Three Rivers Crochet fundraiser - the Yarn Ball (pun intended). If you are free on Novemember 14th and looking for some great gifts or just some fun come on out! Here are a few items up for auction...

Location and special information...

Host:
Three Rivers Crochet
Location:
Bridgeside Point, 5th Floor100 Technology DrivePittsburgh, PA 15219 US View Map
When:
Saturday, November 14, 7:30PM Add to my Outlook Calendar
Phone:
412.521.1918

Yes, it's that time of year and we are getting ready for our Fourth Annual Yarn Ball. Join us for an evening of fiber fun, benefiting Rwanda Knits and the local VA Hospital! We'll be in a new venue this year, with great views of the Monogahela River and downtown Pittsburgh. You won't want to miss it.
There will be raffles, door prizes, live music, handcrafted items for sale and lots of good food (you can sign up to contribute to the potluck when you RSVP). You can see some of the raffle, auction and sale items at www.threeriverscrochet.blogspot.com--one special prize this year will be a knitting machine! An impromptu fashion show will be the highlight of the evening featuring your knitted and crocheted items. Wear something you've made and show it off! Some people dress up for the ball, others dress casually--whatever is comfortable for you is exactly what you should wear.
We will have a collection basket for hats, scarves, preemie hats and afghans, and as in the past, you may also donate unworked yarn from your stash. We will use your yarn to make items and donate them to the VA Hospital or other local charities. We may use your yarn to make items featured at next year's Yarn Ball. So get stitching and we'll see you at the Ball! Karen, Diane, Rebecca, Becky and the rest of the 3RC gang

Gamers/ Yarnies

Well, I don't know why I'm surprise but I had a friend comment on my latest project -

I knew that "katamari" seemed familar, but I could not place the name. So I Googled the word and found I was already familar with it - a video game of the oddest making. My husband had been playing it over Spring Break - "Katamari Damancy." I remember the music mostly as each level has the same cheesy Japanese pop song repeated several times till you finish that level.

I was suprise to find so many crafts connected to this one game. If you go looking for more game inspired knitting/crochet/sewing you will be consumed in an avalache.

I know that my husband did envision some old-school Atari characters on pillows for his game room. He is not the only one...I saw this scarf with PacMan ghosts all over it... they're everywhere!

Baby patterns

Ah!!!! There are babies popping out everywhere! So I'm feeling like I should really get going on making some presents but I like to do something other than socks this time. How about a toy!

So here is what I found a nice site called the Daily Knitter. some of the patterns are okay or too complicated for my taste but I did find a little jem at MyBootee Knits. This turtle is so cute!

Then there is the always useful Crochet Pattern Central. This site has scoured most of the Web for free patterns. This includes patterns from yarn companies to the average blogger. It's a must have in your favorites.

But one of my favorites is Berroco's free patterns. They are so differnet and fun and hip! In fact I'm currently working on two pattern I got from here.

Winter projects

Well, this hat was long in coming. I had to drag my husband to the craft store to pick his colors. After that, I had to fit it to his head. This took about 8 tries and several hours of pulling my stitches out (along with my hair). I also had to re-design the pattern he liked. I finally got it going and then couldn’t get the top right. I pulled this out several times as well. Finally it was done and I told him he had to wear it for the rest of the year’s cold weather. I think he only wore it once. The final issue was that the pattern seems skewed – because I did it in the round. Errrrr. No more hats for Schmoopy!

This lovely wool yarn is from Spain (El Gato Negro) in Madrid. I did a search on Google maps and found it. I also did a search to learn if there were any especially good types of yarns or shops in Madrid. I made my non-yarny brother go into this shop and pick yarns as per my instructions. He did a pretty good job I think on the color selections. I haven’t decided what to make yet either. I’m thinking that a swatch is in order first to find out how it felts and such.