Month: December 2021

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On Hooks and Needles: The Bae Bag

Sometimes when I design something, I get a twofer – an item to sell and a pattern to make it. On hooks and needles this go around is a twofer. The Bae Bag. Both the item and the pattern have been in the shop for a bit and I really don’t know why it’s not selling off the shelves.
It’s a pretty straight forward knit. A feather and fan stitch that can knit up fairly quickly.

If you want to by one ready made go here.  Wanna make it yourself, go here.

The bag is made from cotton – though it can be made of another fiber. It can also be lined and the handles changed to make it more of a purse than a grocery or farmer’s market tote.  I believe I used Big Twist cotton. There’s a review. 

This would also make a nice project bag. It can hold an insane amount of yarn and the pattern or pattern book. It looks smallish but it has a great deal of stretch. An afghan project would fit with no problems. You might want to make sure the needles and hooks are secure. There are openungs in the pattern and a loose hook or needle might be able to slip through.

If you’re looking to make useful gifts or you want a fun easy knit for yourself. The Bae bag is just the thing.

 

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Peace of Mind

Yarn brings me peace of mind.

Knitting and crochet are an important part of my life but yarn, on its own, is kinda important, too. I wouldn’t have the stash if I didn’t knit and crochet. But I have more yarn than I can use in a year…or three. But the yarn calms me.

Lest you think there is something off about thinking of knit, crochet and yarn as mental health advocates, read this article about the Healing Power of Yarn

Yarn surrounds me. My yarn room at the condo is much bigger than my yarn room at the house. But still yarn controls the space.

Certainly if I designed the room with the cute cubbies that are shown on YouTube and in blogs but there’s no way I am actually going to keep my room that kind of neat and there’s no way I am going to spend that much money. I have bins – lots of bins – there are 19 in the outer room. There’s about 9 more and 16 bags in the closet.

There are some natural yarns but it’s mostly acrylic. The point is that it is mine. Bought and owned. Unless I have a huge falling out with my knitting needles and hooks, this craft and the yarn can be relied on. I can create things and sell them. I can give them away. My day could be filled with creative activity. The craft provides much more than just something to do.

Boredom has not taken over and I don’t suspect it will. The different yarns keep me interested just as the different projects do. Being surrounded by yarn creates an oasis and a place to run to. I connect with God and with myself. It hasn’t been just a hobby for some time. Peace of mind is no small thing.

 

 

 

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I Would Pick Knitting

If I was told I had to choose between knit and crochet, I would pick knitting. Don’t get me wrong, crochet is growing on me and I look forward to crochet projects – but maybe for the wrong reasons.

Crochet is faster and less complicated. These are good things. When I need a crafting sugar rush, I would reach for a crochet project. Crochet is more sensual and it does satisfy. I talk about the differences of knit and crochet in this post.

But the strengths of crochet is also the reason I prefer knitting. It takes more of my brain to knit.  Despite the fact I can knit with my eyes closed but I need them open and looking at the fabric when I crochet. The end result of knitting is almost always worth the effort put into it. Holding on to two, three, up to five needles requires dexterity of hands and mind. The hat, blanket or sweater is a monument to the work.

I love the smoothness of the knit stitch – even when it is textured. The rhythm of the stitches catches my eye. I appreciate it so much more.  Getting the same spiritual satisfaction from crochet involves smaller stitches so the texture can be eye pleasing. Crochet stitches are naturally more textured and bumpy. My favorite stitch is the half double crochet because it gives a smoother appearance. Double crochet, unless used in a pattern, throws me a little.

For a different perspective, here is an article why crochet is better and they give pretty good reasons – but still. This really isn’t a battle. I do both. I love doing both. They both speak to me. It’s the feeling when I’m done that rules. Knitting makes me feel better.

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Doing Good

Doing good around Christmas isn’t that hard a lift for most folk – that’s a guess on my part. I get there by thinking there’s honor among thieves so when they steal something, they’re trying to steal something really nice for someone they love.

At the best of times, it’s probably not a good idea to compare the deeds things with any crafter. A crafter sniffs out the holiday season sometime in May. Plans are made and executed.

During the holidays, there is always a call for donations of items crafters create. Among them are hats, scarves and gloves for children in foster homes to adults in assisted living centers. Yarn sales start at the beginning of fall and great deals can be had all the way to Valentine’s Day. But for some especially crafty people, they get more than just fiber when they fill up at the local craft or yarn store.

They get plastic bags. Those bags are turned into plarn – plastic yarn. Plarn gets turned into sleeping mats. The West Orange News has such a story about those mats.  Mats are made from the plastic bags gotten from grocery stores, craft shops and just about any place that sells anything. They save the bags from the landfills and the oceans and create a useful item to be used by someone who needs it. This project has been around for years. If you want to see a video on how to make sleeping mats, check out Knitsville U.

The need for these items don’t begin and end with Christmas. This is a idea for a year long project a craft group can handle. StitchCraft doesn’t currently do it but there is no reason not to bring it up as something we can do several times a year.

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The Name Game

The Name Game in creating patterns can be a stressful thing. One never really knows what to call a pattern. Could I actually get away with hat pattern No. 43 as a name as opposed to this?

It became so bad I had to create a work around so I wouldn’t get stressed out. My solution: name patterns in alphabetical order. Boy, girl, gender neutral; didn’t matter. I picked the letter and started reading the meaning of the names and if one struck me with what I wanted that pattern to convey, then that was the name.

Even if I am using an established pattern, if it doesn’t have a name, I will rename it on my design board and give the item that name when I sell it. The original pattern is given full credit when I do write about it publicly. Ain’t stealing nobody’s work.

I suppose I could go through the dictionary and find a word that works for a name. I might try that the next time and see what I come up with. Right now, the next item will begin with N. Instead of going to the baby name sites, I will open the dictionary and just start reading until something clicks with me. It would be funny if the next item was called the Nomenclature.