Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Treasured On Etsy

On Etsy there is a section that lets the people make collections of items they love

I am feeling the love this week! 

Follow these links and check out these beautiful treasuries.

Find these at Marshmallow.

Find these at Natural Patriotic..........

*Double the love!* Find these at 6 PM Sunday Afternoon.

Find these at Blossoming Forth,,,
*Double the love!* Find these at American Woman.



Thank you! Thank you! NoonToTwo.Etsy.Com and HandmadeByAde.Etsy.Com

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Knitting Socks

          I love hand knit work. I love knitting until I mess up. I can't even count the number of times I have had to just start over! Yuck. Trying to 'back-knit' to my mistake often causes me more mistakes. So, I thought socks would be a wonderful project. Small, quick, easy . . .

          Here are two great book I am using. These are images from Amazon where you can purchase your own. I borrowed mine from the local library to test them out first. I do like them so much that I am going to have to buy both for myself.






          I like how the 'Toe-Up 2-At-A-Time Socks' knits with only one needle and both together. I tend to be a procrastinator. I think if I were to knit one sock, I might ever get to that second sock! She also does an excellent job in walking you through the steps.

          In 'Socks Toe Up' there are even more lovely designs. The best part I found to this book though is how the author gives you the basic blank sock and once you've figured that out you can then create your own sock patterns. I really liked that!

          Since this is a new adventure for me I tried to keep cost at a minimum. I bought my first set of circular needles and a quite inexpensive skein of yarn. Since I'm doing the basic pattern I mentioned, I bought a self patterning yarn.

          Once home with my yarn, I then had to unwind it to make two balls. Here's another smart tip from the book, 'After winding the skein into one large ball, then you start a second ball. Once the two balls are equal, cut, and continue winding the original ball to make another ball. If you do not continue winding you will end up with one self patterning going up the foot and the other self patterning going down the foot.' Here's my work so far.


          Remember how I said, "Small, quick, easy . . ." It is small. Can I just tell you that these two toes took me an entire day. So, ummm, not quick! But it's also not too difficult. I am enjoying knitting them and look forward getting back to work on them. Maybe I'll be able to post a finished pair of socks some day. ;)

          Side note, I love working from my beautiful piece of pottery here. I've been spotting some very cute yarn bowls Etsy. Maybe, if my knitting takes off, some day I'll splurge. Check these out at Darrielles Clay Art!