Hands Down

The full grasp of winter is upon us here in the Midwest and one of the benefits of living in this frozen tundra is the constant battle with dry skin. The air outside combined with the heat inside really takes a toll on my skin every winter and it starts to get noticeable with my crochet work. My hands can get so rough that I find them snagging the yarn. I’m not a big nail polish wearer and don’t often have time for a professional manicure but two products that I’m using this year and absolutely love are Curel and Seche Vite.

Curel makes an inexpensive line of moisturizing products that work great, are not greasy and a minute after I’ve applied it, I’m ready to hit the yarn again. Check out their site at http://www.curel.com/

My second must have is Seche Vite dry fast topcoat. If you’re going to polish you must get this item. When I do polish it’s base coat and two color coats – a lot of layers to dry. Apply this dry fast topcoat and you are good to go in 5 minutes. In all honesty, I wouldn’t crochet after 5 minutes, but you’re able to grab keys, type, etc. Maybe 15-20 minutes before I’d pick up the hook and yarn. Unlike the Curel, Seche isn’t cheap. It’s about $10 at Ulta, but SO worth it. Grab an Ulta coupon off the web or in the Sunday paper and make it an even better deal. Check out Seche at http://www.seche.com/

Your hands will thank you.

Crafting Controversy

by Kelly

I recently read a post on Stacy Trock's Fresh Stitching about the new Susan Bates Silvalume design, and it reinforced something that I've been thinking for some time - that knitting and crochet groups are just as likely to split into opposition parties as politicians or religions.

Even in my short time as a crafter, I've seen a lot of comments on knitting and crochet forums that seem awfully fervent for something that's supposed to be a pleasant pastime. On the subject of yarn alone, there is quite a bit of controversy. Some crafters won't use acrylic yarn, some are opposed to wool as that's an animal product (although shearing doesn't harm an animal, they are opposed to keeping livestock in general), and some believe that using recycled materials is the only responsible path to take.

Meanwhile, crochet hooks and knitting needles are another sore subject. Some prefer wood over any other material, some prefer a particular brand. I, myself, don't mind the soft, metallic clicking noise that my aluminum  knitting needles make, but years of listening to rock music may have reduced my hearing slightly. To someone else, they may sound like fingernails on a blackboard. And while I prefer my Susan Bates Silvalumes, I'm not going to say that they are the only ones I'll ever use, because I haven't tried very many brands. I will say that I prefer smaller sized crochet hooks to be metal, rather than plastic, because I'm always afraid of breaking small plastic hooks.

Honestly, though, I think that all this division and controversy is just human nature. Whether for good or bad, I think that people in a group feel as though they should support each other, and one way to do that is to defend the majority opinion. And if someone from another group feels differently, watch out!

I actually hold any number of strong (and often unpopular) opinions, but not about crafting. How about you? Have you tried the new Silvalumes? Is there a big difference? Or do you feel that one hook is just as good as any other?

50 More Crocheted Afghan Borders

by Kelly


We're going to be having a giveaway soon, and one of the items in our contest is a book. If you're a regular visitor here, you know that I love
me some books. 

I'm always delighted to give books as gifts, because then I can check them out before wrapping them. One year for Christmas, I bought the Twilight series for someone, and read them all before The Big Day.  Luckily, I have inherited my mom's ability to read a book without cracking the spine or leaving other evidence behind.

The book to be included in our giveaway is 50 More Crocheted Afghan Borders  and has, of course, fifty beautiful borders. But two in particular caught my eye, so I had to try them out.

First up, a simple pink heart pattern, which I think would work beautifully as a border for anything made for a little girl:

then there was this slightly more complicated flower border:

I'm glad to report that these patterns are easy and fun. The directions are clear and the pictures are beautiful and encouraging, even when the pattern is a little challenging. The book stays open when you're working from it, unlike some pattern books that I have in my library.

Our giveaway is scheduled to begin January 30th, so be sure to visit us then for your chance to win a copy of this book!

Color Me Happy

Though I am hard pressed to figure out what Pantone, Inc. actually sells, apparently they are the authority on color (who knew) and every year they decree what the Color of the Year will be. This can have far reaching effects, from paint companies to couture clothing and now to those of us busily stockpiling yarn for our next project. Are you ready for the 2012 Color of the Year?

Tangerine Tango!Not a huge orange fan myself, but this shade has a lot of red in it and an overall warm and sunny, Spanish feel that I find appealing on these frigid winter days. Lots of yarn companies are adding shades of tangerine to their collections including this stunner from Jimmy Beans Wool - http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/ManosDelUruguay/StriatedDyedWool.asp?showLarge=true&specPCVID=34311

What kind of projects would look good with this color?

Branching Out

Another crochet goal of mine for 2012 is to stretch my comfort zone a bit. I certainly spent more time in 2011 crocheting than I had previously and mastered a few new things - like simple clothing and such. I think, like Stephany, I really enjoy making afghans the most. Scarves are great for a quick accomplishment, but there's something about looking at the size of a finished afghan that makes me feel like I've accomplished something big. I came across a beautiful pattern for a strip afghan called, Irish Lace and Roses. It's worked in strips, then joined using the looping technique that Donna used a while back. It also has white crocheted roses appliqued over all. I decided to jump in (not unlike me) and quickly needed the Donna hotline. The strips are shells with picots in between and while I had done picots I must have been reading the pattern incorrectly and was chaining across instead of up. Naturally, my shell count was off but Donna straightened me out quickly and I'm off and running. I thought I'd post occasional updates as I go. There are 6 panels of green shells and picots, which I am currently doing. Each panel is 110 rows and I am about 70 into the first one. I'll post again when I start tackling the looping - not before an emergency call to Donna I'm sure :)

Shopping Day

With the holidays over and done with, my couponing king is back. For those who don't know - my DH (Darling Husband) is a bit addicted to couponing. The holidays set him back a bit, no time to devote to his second favorite hobby (baseball ranks #1), but back he is and with a vengeance! He did a number of shopping trips this weekend and I'll post his big haul momentarily, but first I have to show this one...

This may not look too impressive until I tell you that he spent 69 cents for it (95% savings).

• 1 roll foil


• 1 roll plastic wrap


• 1 box of potatoes


• 2 seasoning mixes


• 20 string cheese

Wow! I was impressed. The bigger trip looked like this...

• 9 twelve packs soda


• 4 nine rolls paper towels


• 10 salad dressings


• 4 dishwashing liquid


• 3 boxes Wheat Thins


• 2 boxes dishwasher tabs


• 3 boxes (45 ct) trash bags


• 5 boxes freezer bags


• 4 pouches potatoes
  

Retail was $210 - DH spent $65 - for a savings of 69%!

He's back baby...

Craft Cruise

Is it wrong to ask your husband to spend his 15th anniversary on a crochet cruise?

I really hope the answer is no because after much searching and hoping and letter writing, my wait is finally over - the perfect craft cruise!

http://www.craftcruises.com/ offers some amazing knitting cruises. I have been stalking their site for over a year waiting for a crochet cruise. I even resorted to writing an email to them to ask if they were doing any crochet cruises this year. Well here it is...

A 6 night Bermuda cruise featuring guest host Drew Emborsky (aka The Crochet Dude)! Pink Sand, Afternoon Tea and Shorts! Plus the cruise leaves from Baltimore (an easy drive for us), we've been wanting to do a Bermuda trip and it's over our anniversary - sounds perfect to me. It's on Royal Carribean Enchantment of the Seas (we just went on a Royal cruise in November and it was great). They will have classes on board and yarn shopping excursions - I mean really, what's not to love.

All aboard?