Knitting and Crochet HD app

Remember me asking about the Knitting and Crochet iPad app?

Since I now have an iPad, my interest is piqued once again.

I've found it in the app store and took a closer look. It has 4 out of 5 stars, so it seems like it's worth getting. And it's currently $2.99 instead of $4.99.

But I still don't know if it's worth the cost.

Here's what it has:
- 20 patterns,though it doesn't say how many are knitting and how many are crochet and you can't preview all of them before you buy
- fix-it instructions with photos
- Stitch guides and how-tos

At $2.99 I'm tempted to buy it. Twenty patterns and a portable stitch guide sounds like a pretty good deal to me, but if it goes higher or back to $4.99, I don't know if I'd drop the cash.

It would be great if there was a way to upload patterns to take along too. That along with the stitch guide and fix-it tips would make this a very useful tool. Maybe the developer could hook up with pattern companies or sites, like Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting or Ravelry. That would be pretty cool.

The Knit and Crochet Show

The Knit and Crochet Show is coming to the Greensboro, N.C., area in September. Will you be there?

I learned about it from Ravelry friend hartroadhomestead. So, I've emailed Mom and my sis to see if they want to go to the Greensboro show, which is Sept. 23-25.

There's also a show in Minneapolis, Minn., in July. Might want to check that one out if it's closer to you.

The show features vendors of yarns and notions for knitters and crocheters alike.

There's also classes and several special events, like dinners and fashion shows.

I don't think we're going to take in any classes as they're pretty expensive. But we're talking about going at least one day to check out some yarn and other events.

Cost is $10 for one day and $5 for each additional day. That cost isn't too bad. Plus, you can grab a coupon off the event's website here.

You can register for the event here.

Hope to see you there!

FO: crocheted wool beret, other updates

I finished the beret in the past week but haven't been home during daylight hours to snap a photo for you.

Here it is. Please forgive the poor lighting; the funny, close-up of my head; and the bad photo styling. I'm doing what I can with what resources I have!

I think this would look better with a lighter weight yarn. This is also wool, so I'm sure some washing will felt this right up.

The pattern is by Jennifer L. Appleby and is from Interweave Crochet's Winter 2007 issue. I found it to be a fun, quick pattern, though there were a few mistakes in the pattern copy I have. Either that or I managed to create more treble crosses than the pattern called for, but that didn't mess up any of the other steps and the pattern came out without much trouble.

Here's a close-up of the brim and the treble crosses. I like the contrast between the two.

I would definitely recommend this pattern!

Using the same yarn (Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool) I'm making David A., a friend, a pair of fingerless mitts, using my Hubby's Fingerless Mitts pattern.

David's hands are longer and wider than my husbands, so I cast on 40 stitches (for a large size) instead of 36 (medium). I may knit more than 40 rows before beginning the thumbs and palm sections since David's hands are somewhat longer. I don't know how much longer I need to make it though.

A knitting/crocheting goal for the year: six sweaters! What's Needlin' Ewe, which I wrote about here, is hosting a 2011 Sweater Challenge and I think I'm going to participate!

The store is challenging knitters and crocheters to complete a sweater every two months through December 2011. That means six sweaters in 12 months. Only one of them can be a baby or child's sweater; the rest must be adult-sized garments. They can, however, be summer, winter or fall garments and that includes tanks and cardigans!

I have several patterns running through my mind and I'm trying to decide which ones I want to tackle.

New Publication: CraftSanity Magazine!

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of CraftSanity has published her first magazine!

This image belongs to CraftSanity and is from the Etsy site. Now, go buy a copy!

Jennifer and many contributors offer a variety of recipes and crafty projects in this inaugural issue. You can order the 'zine on Etsy in the print or PDF format.

I've followed Jennifer for a couple years now on CraftSanity and encourage you to check out her new product. I'm sure it's wonderful! (I haven't gotten a copy yet, but plan to.)

Canning tomatoes and sweater update

This weekend I canned 7 quarts of diced tomatoes and 3 pints of salsa, loaded with peppers -- jalapenos, a few cayenne, banana peppers (sweet and hot) and some green pepper.

 (All photos by E.A. Seagraves. Do not use without permission.)

One quart didn't get quite full of tomatoes, so I topped it off with water.

I also finished my sweater! I still need to wash it and block it before I wear it.

The collar is supposed to be stitched together in the front, but I didn't like it. So I clipped it and decided to let it hang.

The sweater is "Tanglewood Pullover" by Beryl Hiatt and Linden Phelps from the book "Handknit Style II."

Chris and I also picked out some fabric for some other Christmas present projects and I started crocheting other gifts last night. Here's the fabric we picked out (not sure why the photo is uploading sideways):

We picked the fabric up from Mountain Plain Fabrics in Hillsville, Va.. It mostly carries quilting material so the selection isn't that varied as far as fashion fabrics go, but the fabric they do have is beautiful and the staff is incredibly helpful.

I can't wait to stitch this fabric up and present them at Christmas!
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Here are the knitting book and preserving book for the projects above. I highly recommend both. The sweaters are superb and the Ball canning book is full of useful tips and recipes.

   

Some alpaca yarn for Christmas gifts

I bought two skeins of yarn and a crochet scarf pattern at Peaceful Alpaca Farm, Fancy Gap, Va. See pictures and read about my visit here.

I can't wait to see how the scarves come out!
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Here's some crochet and knitting patterns that feature alpaca fiber here:

  

Angry Chicken's emailorder and flowers

It's finally here! Amy Karol of Angry Chicken has posted eMailorder #11 — Potions and Concoctions — and it's ready for downloading.

Amy had asked her blog readers if we wanted a compilation of all her various homemade remedies and goodies. I've been looking forward to it for a bit now, especially the lip balm, deodorant and the shampoo recipes.

In Amy's description, here's what you can find in this new download: Mullein Oil, Shampoo and Detangler, Facial Oil, Eye Compress, Herbal Toner, Vapor Rub, Facial Cleanser, Bugs Don't Like Me Balm, Favorite Tea, Hair Spray, Lip Balm, Baby Bottom Spray, Plantain Poultice for Stings, Magic Tooth Cleaning Solution, Deodorant, and Elderflower Cough Syrup

I'll report back as I give 'em a try.

You can find the eMailorder here. You can buy it using PayPal.
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Also, check out this crocheted magnet Nannie made me. My grandma is one of the crafty ladies that retaught me how to crochet when I picked up the hook again a couple years ago.

Ain't it cute? Spring's on the way, folks!

I may make my own copy and post the pattern here for y'all so you can make your own.

Nannie created this cutie using one a friend gave her many years ago as a copy. Her flower magnet has been on her frig for years and she thought she'd copy it and give some away.

New Feature: Where to shop

Some colorful yarn found at What's Needlin' Ewe, a yarn shop in Mount Airy, N.C./ All photos by E.A. Seagraves

Go check out my feature on What's Needlin' Ewe, a Mount Airy, N.C., yarn shop owned by mother and daughter duo, Sharon and Natalie Johnson, on my blog Small Travels and Musings.

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

I'm finished! The shawl for my mother-in-law is ready to be dropped in the mailbox.

The shawl was knitted from yarn my mother-in-law already had on hand. Her mother gave it to her years ago -- the date on the yarn is 1977!

My mother-in-law has held on to the yarn, hoping to find a way to use it. She'd tried to crochet with it, and so did I, but the yarn was too difficult to pick up stitches. So I knitted it with circular needles instead.

I hope I can get this belated Christmas gift -- and a note -- in the mail tomorrow.

Review of final 2009 crafting

Here is a quick review of the final projects I hammered out in the final few months of 2009.

For me, there was the A-line skirt that laid around for months. I finally finished it when there was snow on the ground, way to cold to wear it until summer 2010 rolls around.

I struggled over how to sew on some fabric to make the back part of the skirt as wide as it needed to be. I finally cut out some fabric and just sewed a simple seam. I can tell where the additional fabric is, but the pattern is busy so it shouldn't matter much.

Since this was a remnant given to me by my grandmother, I shouldn't have been too worried if I messed up or if someone noticed where I added on the additional fabric. But I did. So I kept putting of completing this relatively easy pattern.

Now I don't know why it took my so long. This is made from Simplicity 2906.

I also made socks for myself from "I can't believe I'm knitting Socks," By Cindy Guggemos. I've spoken of this before and I love it. This pattern is the eyelet chevron.

It's a difficult pattern, but I liked it so much, I made my mom a pair for Christmas. And I plan to make my sister a pair too. Hers will be made in variegated yarn in beige, blue and brown.

I also made Mom placemats out of quilting fabric and a wide piece of double bias tape.

Since Mom, Dad and my younger sister and brother went to Hawaii a few years ago and really enjoyed the vacation, I thought I'd try to capture that. I went in search of a pattern with palm trees. But instead I found this and fell in love with it.

It depicts all things Hawaiian, from the islands and their names, to hibiscus flowers and ukuleles.

I also made some of Chris' family members how fiber treats.

For Anita, Chris' sister-in-law, I made her a sleeveless hoodie.

The pattern is from "Crocheted Sweaters: Simple Stitches, Great Designs," by Susan Huxley. I actually received that book from Anita and Richard, Chris' brother, last year for Christmas. I thought it fitting to make a gift from it. :)

I made a size medium and it fit Anita pretty well. It was a little snug, but that's what she liked about it. It wasn't big and boxy as some crocheted sweaters tend to be. I also made the shirt longer than the pattern called for because it seemed to be pretty short.

For Chris' dad I brushed up on my embroidery and picked out three designs to stitch onto handkerchiefs — a "B," a snowflake and a mortar and pestle, since he's a retired pharmacist.

I'm also finishing up a wool shawl for my mother-in-law. I didn't get it or my sister's socks finished in time for the holidays. But I'll get their presents to them as soon as possible. They know they're coming.

I also baked four zucchini, two sweet potato and two lemon poppy seed breads for

Christmas and gave them away with homemade peach honey. I've heard rave reviews all since Christmas. :)