So, i have hats upon hats, so many that my dad wonders what I'm going to do with them all. I've made scarves, and mittens and fingerless gloves. I've made blankets and squares and socks! I honestly don't know what to make. If you guys could give me some suggestions that would be great. Tho, no sweaters(Not enough yarn), amigurmi(No fiberfill) and no clothes in general.

I buy yarn cause I like yarn. I blame this, on the yarn.

My cousin's baby shower is coming up and I'm making her a baby starghan but I'd really love to monogram it. I have no idea how to crochet letters into it, can anyone give me an idea of how to do this? The best I found was to crochet separate letters then sew them on but I don't really love that idea.

Also, I've never been to a baby shower before. The baby blanket seems like it's not enough. Is it cheesy to make matching caps and clothes too? Would it be worth it since the baby will be growing out of them so quickly? I'm sure other people will be getting her baby clothes too, so I just don't know.

What sort of baby things do you/have you crocheted?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

So I got a set of Hiya Hiya interchangeables (small, 2-8) from my sister for Christmas! I already have a set of Knit Picks Options that I have been working with almost exclusively this past year, but she only recently discovered how serious my knitting "habit" has become, and I think she thought she'd surprise me. ;D So sweet. I've been pretty curious to give these a try anyway, so I cast on a new project with the size 2s almost as soon as I got home.

And.... well, as I had commented my suspicion previously (I think to lakesidetiger, who also got a set recently?), I am indeed having a HECK of a time keeping the needles screwed down while I'm working!!! It seems like every WS row I need to retighten. And it doesn't seem to be any particular defect of the needle or cable; it just won't stay tight as I knit. So far I do like the swivel function of the cable end, but it doesn't seem to be doing as much to help keep the needle tip screwed on as I was hoping. Has anyone else with these needles experienced the same problem? Are there any special tricks for tightening the tips down that you guys have found helpful?

My version of a review of these so far:
- Tips are pretty blunt compared to the KPs; I would even say they're blunter than normal Addis. I'm a fan of sharper points myself.
- Steel finish needles rather than nickel plated, so they're not as slippery as KP Options or Addi Turbos.
- The swiveling cable join is GREAT!! And the cables are nicely flexible. But the join between the cable end and the needle tip is NOT as smooth as the KP join. No matter how tight I screw the needle tip down I still get a slight hitch/snag when I pass my stitches over the seam between tip & cable, and also at the cable end itself because of the slightly bulbed shape.
- Don't forget these needle tips are shorter than the KPs and Addis! As lakesidetiger said, it takes a little getting used to; the edge of my palm was a little sore after the first day. I feel like these put a little more stress on your fingers/grip because of the shortness, but YMMV.
- The beautiful carrying pouch is super handy! I've already transferred my KP tips into the extra slots, and the cables and end holders etc all into the little zip pouches. I'm a fan.
- Mostly though, as I was kind of expecting, not having a key to tighten the needle tip down is proving to be a real problem for me. I supposed I could use some plumbers tape or a dab of seam goo to help seal the screws temporarily, but it seems like such a PITA! I'm pretty tempted to switch this project over to a diff set of needles entirely. It could just be these size 2 tips in particular, and the larger tips may be easier to tighten, but I don't know how much use I'll be able to get out of this set as it stands.

Also! ( A couple of FOs so this isn't such a rambling text-heavy post! )

renaissance2010
Turning to photography as a creative outlet during a valiant fight with breast cancer at age 34, renaissance10 survived and set up a photo contest to help raise funds for the Lavender Trust, a nonprofit that provides information and support to younger women with breast cancer. In the first two years, the competition brought in over £65,000 (that's $107,260.73 U.S.!), with entries from 130 countries last year. Renaissance10 recently joined LiveJournal to meet other passionate photographers and find supportive friends.

curiouscupcakes
Holy buttercream frosting! If you have a sweet tooth for sugary goodness or a wandering eye for whimsical confection, this is pure ecstasy iced in deliciousness. Hailing the beloved cupcake as the artisinal canvas of choice, you'll enjoy recipes, photos, and bountiful tips to bake up a batch, whether your taste leans toward French classics or funky and flavorful.

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With New Years in the offing, it's an ideal time to reflect on past accomplishments, make peace with disappointments, and refocus the lens on future goals. This community welcomes you to create a bucket list of 101 things you plan to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. Offering support, guidance, and inspiration, this is a great way to jumpstart those pesky resolutions.

A friend of mine has requested some crocheted cotton dishcloths for her birthday. Now, I looked at the one she had and it was a pretty basic pattern. My question, though, is what kind of yarn to use. It looked like her dishcloth was made out of the same yarn you would use to make doilies, which I have in truckloads. But I'm wondering if that is the best kind of yarn to use or if there is something more heavy duty that would work better.

Also, are there any patterns for these more fine cotton dishcloths? I have a ton of patterns for the thicker, more colorful dishcloths, but not for this kind.

Thanks!

I've been crocheting a little over 10 months now and I've recently joined this community.

I finally got back into crocheting after crazy college finals week and I made my mom some gifts for Christmas. ( Presents Inside )

I'm embarrassed to say that even with all the knitting I've done over the past few years the only time I've ever changed colors is a top band on wristwarmers or socks. It scares me. *blush*

I REALLY want to do this pattern: http://stitchnsnitch.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/jacobs-knucks/

I've looked at youtube videos on how to carry the secondary yarn and I get that, but do I really need to do that with the secondary color just being this little bit of paw? Or does it make sense to cut the yarn and weave in tails? I feel silly asking this, but I really have no clue when it comes to working in two colors. It seems like a waste to carry the yarn around for just this little bit, but I will bow to the experts here and do whatever I'm told. I'm easy that way. ;)

Thanks in advance! I'm headed out for the evening but will check replies first thing when I get home. :)

So, I've been working non stop for the last few weeks to get all of my Christmas gifts done, and finally Christmas is over so I can post pictures!
The first is a blanket that I did for my niece. It's just plain granny squares, but the colors are bright and pretty so I thought I'd share :)
( Pictures )

Hey all!

I'm playing with a pattern for a top-down hat, and the pattern says that after an inch or so of 1x1 rib to "bind off all stitches." I've played with three different bind-offs and none of them have stretched enough to get the hat easily on over my head. I've tried binding off knit-wise, binging off in pattern, and binding off with k2tog, slipping the right needle's stitch to the left needle, and repeating.

What bind-off do you recommend for top-down hat brims?

I got a gift card to WEBS for Christmas, and I really want to make Jared flood's Girasole. I've been debating which yarn to get, but I know I want to make the blanket version (so a worsted/aran weight yarn).  The yarns that fit best in the gift card amount  are the acrylic/ acrylic blends... if I used those would I be able to block the finished product to see the lace well enough? Or am I better off using wool, even if I have to pay extra out of pocket?

Thanks for any advice!

I made Knitty's Camden for my sister for Christmas, and I love it so much I want to keep it. (For some reason when you click the link, Knitty has it wrongly tagged as "Mangyle," but it's the right pattern.)

( Pictures and stats. )

I just recently tried two new patterns and I thought I'd share!

Recently I asked for a cupcake purse pattern and got plenty of help. I asked because a friend of mine loves cupcakes, and asked me to make her a cupcake purse, as well as some armwarmers.

I'd never attempted either of these things but I'm pretty proud of how they turned out.

( Pics under cut )

My framily loves me. They really do. This holiday season has sucked in more ways than one. I've been unemployed for a little over two years now and have been knitting for about a year. My fiance was diagnosed with sarcoidosis (and they really don't like that diagnosis--doctors have been fighting over who gets to treat him)all about six months ago. This year has been hell in a handbasket.

But that's besides the point. My sister in all but blood got me thee hanks of Dyeabolical's In the Navy cotton slub sport weight yarn. Another friend of ours dyes this line. It's nummy in ways I can't describe. I want to knit myself a sweater with this yarn, but I only have straight needles, 13 inches in length.

What would be a good pattern for me to use? The only other things that I've knitted are a Barbie puke scarf for my soon-to-be sister-in-law, a baby bib, and several washclothes. Right now, I'm knitting a cowl with Noro's Cash Iroha yarn in color #93 (another gift).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I bought a Denise set and wanted to try my hand at using circulars for the first time. I also wanted instant gratification, so I used bulky yarn and made up a hat as a I went along :)

( Three pictures... )

Continuing my campaign for brightly-coloured winter wear ...

Pattern: Temptation Top-Down Socks, a free pattern by Wendy D. Johnson (a basic sock pattern that I love because the heel doesn't require picking up stitches)
Yarn: Schoppel Wolle's Crazy Zauberball. This yarn not recommended for people who have an obsessive need for socks to be identical twins ... I'm addicted to the stuff because I love the fraternal twin look.
Needles: Two 2mm Addi Turbo circular needles
Details: Both socks were knitted at once using the two-circ method. A little patterning was added by borrowing the ladder and mock back seam sections of Katherine Misegades' Gusset-Heel Gansey Sock (another heel style that requires no picking up of stitches, BTW). I also once again used the final row of the Gansey Sock's heel instructions instead of the Temptation Sock's final row to avoid holes (there are more detailed notes on why I do this in my FO post for my first pair of Temptation socks in this community, and also on my Ravelry project page for those same socks)

While this is my fifth pair of completed socks, I consider them the first pair where I've really figured out the knitting side ... by dropping down to 2mm needles and then following the directions for a size larger than I would normally make, this naturally loose knitter has finally achieved a fabric with what I consider to be the right combination of firmness and "sproing" (I think the slick Addis help too ... they make me pull my stitches tighter in paranoia of them slipping off the needles ***grin***). I'll be doing the smaller needles/larger size adjustment for all my future socks.

( And now, the important bit! )

I recently purchased a front loading washer and it has produced felted clogs with a problem.  The first time I felted a pair, I set the machine for extra wash, extra rinse, regular spin.  One cycle.  They ended up looking like little tennis balls (picture below, the green and yellow pair.)

The second pair, I put them in for 2 regular cycles, no extra anything (I used hot wash, cold rinse for all of these, and added jeans and towels for agitation).  These are the light blue with dark cuffs.  I have included a pair felted in my old top loader for reference. 

What I want to know is what I can do to prevent the increases in the soles from indenting and getting all bumpy like that.  I googled it and got the advice of  using everything from jeans and towels to flip flops and  tennis balls for agitation,  wash it all by itself, use a lingerie bag, don't use a bag, etc.  I expect I'll have to experiment in the end, but I'd like to have a clue to preventing that crinkling of the soles so I'm not wasting two days of knitting with each experiment...
( the visual evidence )

After the input I got here, I decided to use the  "Diamond Gloves" pattern ( www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-gloves) substituting the Chinese symbols for the elements in place of the diamonds. ( pictures, of course )

My room mate asked me to make a couple of hats he could give to friends. They're all finished and ready to be given away. It was nic to have a couple diversions from the mor involved projets I'm working on; including my first thread project.

He actually purchased a pattern for the cthulhu but I didn't really like how it as turning out so I frogged it and made up my own. It's pretty much a beanie with tentacles and wings. I didn't take a picture of the back but the wings are bigger and kinda bat-like. I based them on a leaf pattern at first and went from there. This was also the first time I had used a Paton yarn (wool in this case). I understand why it's so popular.


He also wanted me to make a gift for a mutual friend of ours. After browsing Ravelry, we decided on a dead fish hat and used this pattern. I made up the fins because the pattern just uses rectangles (the side fins aren't even the same size but it's hard to tell once they're on the hat... and I'm wearing it crooked anyway).