vagueGirl

I love etsy.

Here’s my new favorite seller:  Lost Mitten.  A lot of their items are made out of those silly kid bead things you melt with an iron to fuse together – no, not those aquadots that kids were eating and having seizures from – the fun ones that are supposed to be non-toxic.  And they even make fun buttons and knitwear – their shop is like one I might create in the future, though I’d be much heavier on the knit and crochet-side.

Take a look!

I must say that the above Pac-man Coaster set is my fave of what I’ve seen from Lost Mitten so far.

Here are a couple more:
For those that remember what mix tapes were: Lost Mitten’s Pink Cassette Tape Business Card holder
For those that spent their childhood attached to their NES:  Lost Mitten’s NES Controller Business Card holder

Cheers!

~vG

p.s., if I want to open an etsy shop does this mean that someday I might be evil-good, too?  muah ha ha

I’m going to have to see this movie…
Just because of this poster (lit up kind) we saw coming out of “Burn After Reading” (which was another incredibly funny, quirkily truthful, and subtley dark Coen brothers film that everyone should see, now):

It made me stop in midstep, point, stare and giggle like crazy.  Tee hee hee!

Okee.  I’m tryin’!

I made this shawlette a while back but didn’t know who would be the recipient.  Found out today (yesterday) who that would be.

Grandma D (boyfriend’s grandma)    I think she really appreciated it (she is a knitter – er, used to knit and has been thinking of getting back into it – perhaps I will turn her on to ravelry!) and will actually use it (shock!).

I suck at images right now.  I’ll figure it out.

Oh, and I used my boyfriend’s phone camera to take these because I can’t find my digital… bad when you’re in the middle of moving!!!!

Free Pattern (may need to sign up with Knitting Daily)

cheers!

Hmmm…

Somehow I don’t think this blog thing will ever work out for me, but as I told my boyfriend before, I do think that if it were my job or a part of my work/job/money-making endeavour, that I’d find the time to do it regularly.  I do know that there are folks out there that are waaaaaaay better at keeping up with their blogs all the while feeding multiple children, keeping hubby happy, working at a j-o-b, knitting/crocheting/scrapping/crafting/spinning/dyeing up a storm, and finding time to eat and sleep.  They’re just better than me!!!  ;P

But I’m-a-gonna do my best.

I’ve joined a group at ravelry called The Traveling Scarves.  I’m so excited about starting that I think I’ve begun my scarf already:

More pics later!  Gotta run.

(eta:  finally fixed the silly pic.  grrr)

(eta – again!:  Link to free pattern for this “Meandering Rib Scarf” Notes: you may need to sign up with Lion Brand Yarn for this and I only used 1 to 1.5 repeats of pattern for what I needed)

Okay.

I said I wouldn’t do it but I did it anyway. I went over to the knit side. So far:

• Socks for my mom using a modified take on this Wavy Ribs pattern*.
• Random Persian and Homespun size 50 needles scarves that I made up a pattern for.
• A lace wrap pattern* from Lion Brand Yarns using black acrylic lt worsted weight yarn.

*You have to have a login to see these patterns. Lion Brand is just an easy-peasy sign up, plus they have loads of other free patterns to look through. The other one is way more complicated, but if you email me, I’ll send you my login email address so you don’t have to deal with signing up for it.

Oh lord. If you’re a first time knitter (or first time in 30 years knitter like me) don’t start with socks knit on size 2 DPNs (double pointed needles) and a lace pattern wrap with multiple ‘yo’s and ‘k3tog’s (when you have to look up what that means) using dark yarn. I seem to have started with the worst, so maybe it will get easier as I go.

Don’t get me wrong – I love how my items look and feel! Just expect to spend a lot of time frogging (ripping out) your work to fix problems or start over until you really get the hang of it.

Cheers!

~vague.Girl

I’ve been addicted to many things, but I never thought my addiction could be a positive thing! Warm up America is a great way for beginners and experts alike to crochet (or knit) AND make something for charity at the same time. What can be better than a warm blanket to help someone in need.

What you do:

• Crochet or knit sections of blanket in a uniform 7″ x 9″ rectangular size. They can be made out of anything you want and in any patterns you want, but it is recommended that they be machine washable and dryable to make care of the blankets less complicated for the future owner. (I also personally recommend that the sections be pretty “solid” rather than “hole-y,” ‘cuz I think it makes the blanket warmer and more durable and less prone to odd stretching.)
• Get together with your friends, family, co-workers, random strangers, churchfolk, your knitting or crochet group, passersby, or anyone else you can find to make these sections (called ‘blocks’ or ’squares’) and/or put them together into strips (7 sections long, 7″ x 63″) or even blankets (7 x 7 sections or 49″ x 63″).
• Send in your sections or strips or blankets to Warm Up America so they can give finished blankets to organizations that would *love* to receive such a wondrous gift for those in need.
• Find a worthy cause to donate your finished blankets to in your local area.

What they do:

• Provide a central location to go for ideas, patterns, inspiration and anything else you’ll need.
• Finish up those sections and strips that you couldn’t quite do yourself or with those locally and get them out to the folks who need them.
• Came up with the idea to begin with!
• Work with charities across the country to help those in need.
• Branched out into a campaign to knit and crochet preemie baby caps.

Why it’s so great for you, too:

• Test out new stitches and color combinations and make something useful at the same time.
• The sections are small enough they don’t overwhelm you.
• It’s quick and easy — or it can be as complicated as you want to make it. It’s like the ultimate swatching project! And coming from one that hates swatching, that’s amazing.
• Feel good that you’re helping someone while feeding your fiber obsession.
• It’s absolutely GREAT for beginners – And blankets made in pieces are forgiving of minor blips and bumps when you put the pieces together. (This is a super project for Girl Scout/Boy Scout Troops, Church get-togethers, after school programs – anywhere there are lots of kids that need something to do.)
• Use up your machine washable stash and odds and ends from old projects you didn’t want to toss.
• It’s great for that quick break of something different when your mind is being numbed by over-complicated or over-simple stitchwork.

I think I will stop before I overflow with reasons why you should do this.

But, just one more point…

You know that one ball of that color you thought would work in your project but just did not and now it sits waiting for a purpose. Or that one ball of horrendous neon almost blue acrylic yarn that has been in your stash since you started that someone’s great-aunt Hattie gave to you because she heard that you knit. Those colors will find friends to hang out with – they will blend into the rainbow-colored tapestry of a well-loved warm blanket – they will find a purpose – and they will be beautiful!

Cheers!
~vague.Girl

Okay, I admit it. I’m addicted to yarn.
Combine this with an addiction to clearance and you have a stash explosion problem of immense proportions.

I only started really crocheting about 9 months ago. My stash is already out of control.

At first it was just filled up with clearance yarn. I love hitting the mass merchandisers when they are resetting their aisles ‘cuz that means they will be getting rid of some yarn that’s not staying around any more. Ahh… clearance + yarn = Happy vague.Girl. So I bought some of the usual cheap acrylics and cottons at 50% off or more to keep around for various projects in the future. How could I resist 75% off machine washable and dryable fluffiness? Visions of charity projects danced in my head. (This was last summer.)

Then I discovered JoAnn’s random clearance. I found it quite by accident in a JoAnn I hardly ever went to. That back corner where they keep the old lines of Sensations they’re getting rid of? If you wait long enough, you can get them for under $1 a skein. I’m proud, though. I’ve used up most of the stuff I bought in the clearance vortex. *pat on back* Well… at least that clearance vortex.

Next, I discovered eBay and mill ends. Uh oh. Do I need to explain?

All this time, I filled up with mostly acrylics and acrylic blends. Yes, yes, for those fiber elitists, acrylics are just a step above raw grass. or petroleum. or dirt.

I went in search of the happy fibers.  I bought some handpainted stuff made of wool and silk.  Yummy!  I found out just how soft bamboo yarn is.  And how lovely soy can be!  Organic cottons were rubbed on the face.  Soft wools, cashmeres, angoras – I think I’ve finally touched them all.

Ahh… And as if by some strange coincidence of life/fate/the master power, I found Webs.com .  And then I found Knitpicks.com.  I think the circle is complete.  And the rest is history… *sigh*

The stash is out of control, but I am truly happy.  I welcome all the yarns to join my family.

~vague.Girl

Oh me, oh my.

Why?

Why did Target have to have that nail polish in a pretty pink color at 75% off clearance?

Why did I have to go with my boyfriend to get him his headphones so that I’d have to buy that nail polish that was 75% off clearance in a pretty pink color?

Why did I put it on as soon as I sat down?

Why didn’t I realize that my nails would have to dry completely before I could crochet?

Oh, gee. Silly me!

~vague.Girl

I have this wacky list of things I want to make, just in the next month and a half. Will I be able to do it all? ;P

Done (or mostly done and just needs something like buttons): Thread sandals, stuffed bear, soy onesie, dog sweater, one of a pair of matching scarves,

To finish: The second of a pair of matching scarves (50% done), felted wool potholders and hotpads

To start: Baby booties, more baby booties, some amigurumi

To get yarn and start: Alphabet baby blanket (eyeing some bamboo and some soy – deciding which), Shawl for myself for a wedding outfit, Some kind of wedding gift for my friend, some slippers or a shawl for my new sister-in-law

Distracted by: Spiderweb blanket (80% done), Simple pattern afghan (20% done), Socks (online yarn 1/2 off at Webs – not started yet), more socks (went a little crazy at Webs – finished one pair)

On the back burner: Three Hollywood walk of fame afghans I started last fall for my nieces which are ending up as Christmas presents for this COMING year, ha ha, (each 90% done and waiting for stars and edging), potholders and hotpads for a waaaaay late housewarming gift

Oh, lordy. I’m not even done listing and I can’t take it any more. Must crochet! (But watch the end of Project Runway first!)

~vague.Girl