Well the cast went up on Monday I just got the chance to listen to it today! There are a lot of great tips on relieving stress . . . → Read More: Yarncraft Interview up!!]]> A while back I was contacted by Zontee at the Yarncraft Podcast and asked if I would be interested in an interview. Of course I said yes!

Well the cast went up on Monday I just got the chance to listen to it today! There are a lot of great tips on relieving stress on your body and arms while you knit or crochet!

Also of course the interview with yours truly.

You can listen to it here: Yarncraft Episode 98

Ok … it’s still hard to listen to myself on recordings even though I had to do it weekly at my last job!! It was sure fun to do the interview!

In any case if you haven’t listened to it yet enjoy! Let me know what you think!

I am    so   finished with this last year!!

What a difference a year can make. Last year it was my 40th birthday and the day was filled with figuring out how to apply for state insurance for the children, while figuring out just how poor we needed to be to get . . . → Read More: Finished Friday: What a difference a year makes.]]>  

I am    so   finished with this last year!!

What a difference a year can make. Last year it was my 40th birthday and the day was filled with figuring out how to apply for state insurance for the children, while figuring out just how poor we needed to be to get and keep them on it while still being able to pay the mortgage and eat.  We also downgraded my phone to the older cheaper one and ended up cutting out cable and many other things later that week.

This year.. I have my better phone back, and the day was spent getting Brian ready for a business trip for his new job that pays significantly more than that one he was so rudely dumped from a year ago. Again I spent some time recently figuring out insurance for the family.. but this time we are paying for it and CAN pay for it. Our freezer is so full of meat I struggle to find room to put anything in there! My cupboards are full to the brim (If the rapture does happen tomorrow anyone left reading this had my permission to come and help themselves.. just please feed the dog and cats K?)

AND the mortgage which did slip over the last year is caught up and actually is at this point one of 3? outstanding debts we have. We have donated our old car to charity and look forward to getting a nice used 4 wheel drive something and paying CASH for it.

I have to tell you. There is nothing that makes you pray more than having 4 children to feed and not a whole lot to do do it with!!  And prayer works.. even for you skeptics out there it can serve also as a solace, God is a shoulder to lean on. Sometimes that is all you need, sometimes more.

And yes. I did more than pray. I also learned a lot more frugal skills.. as if I wasn’t doing it already. Couponing has definitely cemented itself into my routine! I love all the save $100 a week lists.. I already was doing them all in spades!!

Some other things that happened over the year.. I got another book written.. but you all knew that already. I got a job, and have now left it.. A great job! I actually enjoyed it even though I was stretched so thin with work homeschooling and writing a book! I met some really nice people and I do think I was able to show them a glimpse of God’s love which brought me through the tough times.  I sure hope so.

All in all it has been a difficult year. There is a happy ending, and I look forward to a good year ahead..

I have made it a goal to start blogging again every day! I have several projects that I need to share. Some techniques I  have ‘unvented’ that I would like to do videos of, and just generally need to get back on track with my blog! Look for some upgrades changes and improvements!!

So here we go!! I am going for the 365!! wish me luck!

And here is my silly birthday present!! LOVE IT!!

How to Knit Fashionable Scarves on a Circle Loom: New Techniques for KNitting 12 Stylish Designs

This would be the reason I have not been blogging much lately!  I have been just a tad busy . . . → Read More: Finished Friday! It’s a big one!!!]]> Well I was trolling around Amazon this morning and I was quite surprised to see this:

How to Knit Fashionable Scarves on a Circle Loom: New Techniques for KNitting 12 Stylish Designs

This would be the reason I have not been blogging much lately!  I have been just a tad busy you see! It’s been a roller coaster that ended this week with me heading out to the publisher to coordinate  a photo shoot for the techniques in the book. Thanks to everyone in my family for putting up with me over the last 3 months!! And everyone at work who kept asking me.. shouldn’t you be knitting?!!!

You can find and download the free tutorial by just clicking here!

Print yourself out a copy to tuck in . . . → Read More: Have another look at the I-cord Tutorial!]]> I wanted to pull up the I-cord tutorial for you all again as it is used for two of my sweater projects that are featured in the new Loom Knitting Pattern Book.

You can find and download the free tutorial by just clicking here!

Print yourself out a copy to tuck in the book, and you will have a little extra resource as you work! For full disclosure the I-cord cast on instructions were erroneously left out when the book went into print so here is the text that should be in the pattern notes of both patterns:

I-cord cast on: Make an I-cord the number of rows directed in your pattern. Hold the I-cord behind the pegs of the loom, and parallel to the base of the loom. Using the knitting tool, lift one leg of the stitch on the first row of the 1-cord up and onto a peg from behind. Work up one row on the I-cord, lifting stitches from the I-cord onto the loom. Work two rows of the I-cord, skip one and work two more. Continue in this manner until the desired number of stitches has been cast onto the loom.

You might want to highlight that text, right click on it and print selection and tuck that in your book as well! These things happen but not to fear, we have it covered!

I will be working on an publications page that will have pdf’s of the errata from my books so look for a new tab to pop up over the next few days!

Many moons ago, my Mother gave me some lovely hand spun yarn she had bought at a local festival. It sat forever in my stash. Some how hand spun gives some knitters knitter’s block and that is what this yarn did to me! It wasn’t until I found a 100 year old loom knitting book that I decided that the yarn was perfect for a stitch found in that book!

Well luckily for you, you don’t have to go searching out old books to find the perfect project for that hand spun yarn that catches your eye.

A new book A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns by Lisa Lloyd is the go to book for this purpose. Lisa gives descriptions of many different fibers and their qualities by creature, also giving tips as to what sort of project each is suited to. She also gives tips to spinners on choosing and spinning the yarn with a particular project in mind.

The patterns are broken up in to different categories exploring themes:

All the patterns are beautiful. I don’t think there is one that I wouldn’t like to do given the time.

My first impression  of this book was to think it would be another ‘knock off’ of The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, but it is far from that. It is definitely a companion guide for spinners that can stand on it’s own!

The second book Tweed: More Than 20 Contemporary Designs to Knit by Nancy J. Thomas. This is a nice little volume devoted to the tried and true yarn that is tweed.  I know that tweeds often throw off people. They don’t quite know what to make of it, or with it. It is so thoroughly engrained in the weaving side of things that often knitters do not consider it.

This book will definitely change your opinion and give you some great history of tweed, as well as some great knitterly things to do with it!

I know my biggest fear with tweed was that I thought that I would have to just do miles and miles of stockinette, I thought that any pattern stitches would get lost when worked in a tweed yarn. Nancy quells this fear, by giving great tips on pattern stitches with tweeds and then goes on to give  a boat load of examples of stitch patterns that work with tweed. All in all this is a great little volume and would be a great addition to any knitter’s library!

And my loom knitting friends… This one is coming soon…!!! I can only say right now that I know it has 3 great designs in it by someone you know well ..hehehe oh .. well ok… I am sure they are all great!

Looking forward to getting it.. That afghan on the cover is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Looks like it is not quite available yet.. but Annie’s Attic has it up on their site here. So you can keep an eye on it!

Congrats Isela!!!!

And for those of you who are avoiding the Black Friday shopping frenzy.. I found a new site to check out.. The Apronista!

pop on over they are having a great little givaway!

Oh.. and check out the lightning deals on my Amazon widget there on the left sidebar! I have seen a few sweet deals pop up there today! They change hourly!!

My mission for the next bit is to do some reading and learning. I also plan to get some ‘official’ knitting credentials on my resume starting with the CYCA certified knitting instructors program. With that in mind the following books have been procured and added to my library..

I will have to share some of my other goals tomorrow.. let the learning commence!

Here are some little tips to help you loom for less!!!

First up! Annies Attic is having a big 4th of July sale!

Hmm lets see.. My book..

$3.95!!! Check it out!

I might even pick up a few copies at that price!

Of course there are other things on sale.. like there is a S-WEEEET price on some wool yarn on page 8 of the sale items..

On page 14 there is a super deal on Lanscapes yarn… great for felting!

Next.. you should check out Create For Less!!

They always have low prices and sometimes they are ridiculously low!

When you are shopping online ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do a search for discount or coupon codes before you hit that checkout button! I have saved quite a bit online by doing this simple thing!! From free shipping to multiple discounts it pays to look!

Also take time to sign up at your local craft store for their newsletter or mailing list. Quite often you will get some great coupons for mailing list members only! 

And don’t forget the dollar stores, Big Lots, Ollies, and other discount, closeout stores! They are usually hit and miss but sometimes you hit on a great deal!!!

So keep your eyes open, and your ears to the ground and let me know if you have a money saving tip that will help us all loom for less!

 I’ll just uh, step out of the way now so I don’t get trampled…Enjoy!

Well thanks to a tip from Isela here is some info on The Quick and Easy Loom Knitting Set.

Weighing it at 128 pages with a hard cover it looks like it could be promising. It’s put out by Reader’s Digest and I generally find their books to be really good! It lalso looks like it will be a kit perhaps a loom and some yarn. Who doesn’t need another loom and some yarn to add to their stash??

I personally will be digging into this:

this weekend. A Yoga Mat Bag to carry my new pink softball bats in will just fit the bill!! Woo Hoo!! Add a little buttoned loop at the top to hold my glove and it’s softball with style!

There is also another project screaming to be made..the window in our walk in closet needs something..so out comes the knitting board to the rescue.. just wait till you see what happens with this one!!! Brian bought some supplies for this project a long time ago and he will be saying it’s about time!! However there is one more thing I need to get at the store to make this little project happen.. stay tuned!

Another window that needs an upgrade is the one in front of you, I am working on a blog makeover so if you see something weird or wonky or get a sneek preview of my new look well pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain!