Tag: knitting

New Tricks

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I’ve been crocheting for about 40 years.  I love crocheting but sometimes I get tired of the same old same old.  It’s always a pleasant experience for me when I learn something new.

The other night I was working on a project (gift for daughter) when I ran out of yarn.  Now normally I tie a knot with the new skein and work over the knot.  I tried this but the material is silk so the knot wouldn’t stay.  Recently I read about a new way to join.  I read a description of it and had no idea what they were talking about but I did a google search on it and found a YouTube video on how to do it.

I’ve been crocheting for a long time and sometimes I get in the mode of I know best and new stuff is not the “right” way of doing things.  Reluctantly I tried this new join technique.  I was thrilled with the result.  The material around the join was slightly thicker but overall it was a better join than the way I’ve been joining material for the last 40 years.  There were no tails to tuck in, the joins was smoother, firmer, and held better.

Now before I say I will use this join on all materials, I want to try it out more.  It was definitely a wonderful way to join silk and have a smooth invisible join.

Here are a few links to how to do this:

Lion Brand 

YouTube

Another YouTube

The nice thing is you can use this for any yarn craft – crochet, knitting, or others.  I’m looking forward to trying it with different materials.

End of Crafting Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

I’m back from my long weekend of crocheting with my daughter.  I got some stuff done and definitely organized a bunch of other things but I didn’t accomplish as much as I wanted to.  I have two shawls started for her and one I’m hoping to finish this week.

Tonight has been recovery from driving.  I’ve got my feet up but still in a bit of pain from the drive.  I’m trying to stay awake so I can take a second dose of Tylenol before I go to sleep.

It was great to sit at my daughter’s apartment and work.  I got some stuff done but the time with her was wonderful.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her.

She had all sorts of goodies for me including the softest most scrumptious afghan she knitted.  It is absolutely lovely.  I LOVE it.  She also made me a shawl and wristers and spoiled me thoroughly.

Now it is back to the regular schedule.  Spring break is over on Monday and I’ll be facing advising issues as well as registration issues which starts next Monday.  It will be a busy month for April.  I have a lot of work to get done for writing and crocheting.

My niece is getting married the beginning of May and my daughters are all going to be home for it.  This in and of itself will be wonderful but I want to have my oldest daughter’s afghan worked on so I can show her it – maybe finish it (it is complicated not holding my breath on that one).

I have two novels I’m working on and hope to finish sooner rather than later but you just never know how the creative flow is going to go.  However, my day job is going to be stressful and busy for the next few weeks with registration so crocheting is generally a better option.

It feels like this year is flying by and I don’t have nearly enough time to get all the things done I want to.  We are already at the end of March, a quarter of the year is gone.  How does this happen so quickly?

It doesn’t matter, I’m just going to work on balancing all the things I have going on.  Bridal shower, wedding, daughters visiting, us traveling, and so much more.  It’s all good.  I just have to keep it all straight and balanced… don’t worry I’m not holding my breath on it… just doing the best I can.