Jil Eaton

Just a quick note.  You may find this blog interesting.  Jil eaton does many sorts of patterns but she is especially known for her kid patterns.  She often puts knitting tips on her blog.  Classic Elite carries her yarn line.

http://jileaton.blogspot.com/

Knitting guild of america contest

The April 27 entry deadline is approaching
to win beautiful FREE yarn  in TKGA Design Contests

{{ Your 2011 Entry }}

{{ 2010 Grand Prize Winner }}

You could win   hundreds of dollars in Yarnmarket.com certificates by getting your entry in before April 27 for the 2011 TKGA Member Design Contests.

 

Two Contests

The "Masters Contest" segment is open to members who have passed Level Two or Three of the TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program and who present a pattern with their entry.  And the “Members Contest” segment is open to ALL current members of TKGA and requires no pattern.

Judges for both contests include Jan Gratz from Yarnmarket.com, Penny Sitler from TKGA, and designer Nicky Epstein.

 

The contest rules and entry forms for each contest can be downloaded at www.TKGA.com. Finalists will be asked to provide their knit-up entries for final judging and display at the Summer TKGA Conference, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.KnitandCrochetShow.com).

okay so it isn't exactly about yarn

I recently got a newsletter from living crafts magazine and as I followed the thread I came to this wonderful arts and craft website.D blumchen and company
The czech egg shaped beads, the crepe paper, the doilies, etc.  are all so creatively inspiring.  The glass beads would  be a beautiful embellishment to a knit or crochet piece.

This has been a fun weekend.  I went down to the Joseph Saxton Gallery Sat night.  They were showing avant garde films of the 20s and 30s with live band accompaniment.  I am going to have to look up the films so I can understand what I saw more but it was certainly a visual feast.  Besides, the gallery has wonderful  photographs.  I often find that things that are not exactly about the art and craft you do, can inspire you to do more with your passion.   I got to talk to one of the bands' members and I am always struck by how the positive creative energy from one thing can flow to another.  I am definitely feeling inspired today!

I also went to Art is Alive on Fri night.  Canton was a hot town this weekend!! 

International care symbols

This little write up from Iowa state extension office may give you a good idea of what the symbols on your yarn package mean.  International care symbols
One thing to note is that while a yarn may be considered machine washable (acrylic, or washable wool for example), they will still benefit from being gently washed or put into a lingerie bag and then dryed over the shower rod.  A hand knit item will look nicer for a longer time if treated well.  Of course if you give the gift to someone (say a new mother), it is better they wash it however they want and at least use it.

selvedge blog

If you love textiles fabrics and just to get a  different source for  inspiration, check out the selvedge magazine blog.

latest interweave magazine corrections

I got an email recently given a specific correction to a pattern in Pieceworks and I will put it below.  Designers and editors try their best but there is always something that is missed.  Considering the level of detail involved in pattern writing, I am surprised more errors don't have to be published.  Anyway, if you are about to do a pattern from Interweave you may want to check the Interweave corrections website.
They do put corrections or clarifications on their website and it is always good to check before you start.  

If you purchased the January/February Annual Historical Knitting Issue of Piecework, please be informed that errors have been found and confirmed by Interweave Press.
Piecework - January/February 2011

Steeped in Orenburg Tradition: A Snowflake Scarf

Two chart corrections:

Chart A, page 16. Bottom Border, Row 16 should read: sl 1 pwise wyf, k8, k2tog.

Revised chart download here. (59 KB)

Chart C, page 18. Corner 3, Row 4 should read: k9, k2tog.

Revised chart download here. (52 KB)

Please note: There are a total of thirteen Snowflake motifs in the scarf.

video for yarn lovers

Just saw this cool video where yarn is raining into the street.
I found it because I was going through and checking my ravelry forums.  You have to sign up for ravelry (it's free) before you can look at things on the ravelry site but it is not necessary to sign up to view things in you tube.

I have created several vidoes and stored them on you tube for the yarniashop class takers.
Yarniashop videos.

You can also link to the videos and other items from the yarniashop website.

red knit kit for Valentine's Day

I have the red knit kit still in stock.  This would be the perfect gift for a needle work person.  The kit comes with tape measure, collapsible scissors, etc all in one neat little container.  You can see all the details on the vendors site.

online magazines Feb 2011

Weather is crazy outside so I am in and looking at online knitting magazines in between organizing.
I'm going to list some below, but you may also find the yarniashop links page on my website useful.
If you knit for kids Petite Purls will spark your creativity.  Their patterns are free.
Twist Collective has lovely patterns and articles.  You pay for the patterns but they are not expensive and you are supporting designers who will keep giving inspiration.
The latest Knitscene winter 2010/spring2011 came out recently.  It is an easy one to miss because Interweave has always considered it a special issue not a subscription issue so make sure you check it out.
Of course if you have a logon for Ravelry (and it is easy to get one.  You just go on and ask for one), you can view all sorts of patterns.  Find out where to get them and they are yours.
The new readers, apps for iphone, or droids can help you to carry that pdf you bought around with your easily.  If you are getting into online patterns, make sure you backup your hard drive (you can also store patterns purchased on ravelry on their site).  I like to store my patterns on ravelry  and download them to my computer. Your purchased patterns are an asset that you will want to protect.  You can also print them out and keep them in a notebook in case you have a computer failure.

Folding a fitted sheet perfectly

I know why would I care how to fold a sheet efficiently..... Because it makes more room in the closet so you can store more yarn behind the sheets.  Check out this wonderfully simple explanation on you tube for How to fit your fitted sheets.
While on youtube, check out the yarniashop videos.  I will be adding more.  I'm going to ask the knitting group for suggestions if anyone can get there in spite of the snow we are having.  If you like a particular person's videos you can subscribe to them.  There is suppose to be a nice handy button to add to your personal website but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. You can choose to get emails when new videos are added or you can just go to youtube and look. 

I have links to the various videos on my website yarniashop.com so you can always reach them via there too.

art splash 2011 canton oh

Art in Stark is a non profit organization that gives out grants, manages the Cultural Center, and runs the Annual Arts Campaign here in Canton OH. ArtSplash if coming up soon Jan 22, 2011 
ArtSplash Flyer