It seems that most of the time we rush around and never have time even for a pleasant thought or memory to flood into our heads. This past weekend my Grandson Elijah, who is now 6 years old, and totally boy, wanted to come visit me, his MawMaw Jean. They get past that age all too soon, I know cause I have two others that are older and two Granddaughters older, also. So that felt pretty good. I'm sure in years to come that's one of the memories I hope to have pop up now and then.

In days past we used to add tiny little touches to our homes, treasure boxes and memory books. We've forgotten how nice it is to open a book and see the past in pictures or mementos, like a single curl of hair, a tiny tooth, a pressed flower from our best beau. Even smells can remind us of times paste and future dreams. Strawberries in the summer, favorite flowers that you've worked so hard to cultivate, the back of a baby's neck, your husband's aftershave.

Remember when the trend was to place small sachets in our drawers or hang in our closet? Today we spray, spray, spray everything, but we can still add a touch of thought provoking scent to our homes. I checked one of my favorite free pattern sites and of course found a few free patterns on http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/, that you may like to try. Stuff them with your perfume, dust bath powder on cotton and fill the tiny net bags, add potpourri that has a past, present and future. Hang them in closets, drop them in drawers, put some over vanity mirrors, in your bathrooms and boudoir. Make them for friends and family and then they will have memories of you.

Below are some links to free patterns listed on CrochetPatternCentral:

POTPOURRI ROSE:

http://www.geocities.com/mooncat48/Patterns/Misc/potpourrirose.html

PEACHES & CREAM SACHET

http://members.optusnet.com.au/we2/peachesandcream.html

SHELL STITCH SACHET: http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/sachets/f106001_shellsachet.shtml

CAKES, MUFFINS & CUPCAKES WOW!:

http://www.normalynn.info/freepatterns.html

LACY SACHET:

http://www.baycrochet.com/patsoap.htm

SWEETDREAMS:

http://www.crochetsal.com/sweetdreams.html

LYS Visit Last Week

I've lived in this area (La Grange, KY) for about 18 months and I knew there was a LYS in town, oh, about 7 minutes from home. Since I sell yarn (Mill Ends) on eBay and buy tons also, I've never ventured in to Friends and Fiber. It's right smack on our tiny Main St, with all of the other great little shops. A train track runs right through the middle of the street, talk about atmosphere!!!! We have trains several times a day that delay people crossing the street and stops vehicle traffic at the crossings. But, it finally makes you sloooowwww down a bit. Anyway, there's lots of shops and restaurants to keep you entertained in case your car just happens to be on the other side.

I entered the shop with trepidation, cause I knew I would buy yarn that I didn't really need but, just absolutely had to have. And I did. But when you're known as the yarn lady at the local Traders Mall, you don't know what your reception will be like. Since I sell yarn that is remainders and sometimes still on cones and at very low prices, you wonder how they will take to the competition.

BUT SHAME ON ME!! I've known knitters, crocheters and weavers for more years then I care to count. It was such a warm welcome. The lady behind the counter and I chatted for some time and I told I was the local Yarn Lady. She immediately said there used to be a mill end shop on such and such street in Lyndon KY which used to me mine, before we moved. She remembered it because she had bought almost $100 in yarn in one visit. So much for not feeling like I fit in or being surrounded by yarn snobs. I should have known better. Knitters, crocheters, weavers and yarn lovers have a special bond. It doesn't matter what you make or what you make it with, find your local yarn store, visit, rest, relax, sit in on a get together and I guarantee you'll feel the love.
I'll be going back to Friends and Fiber soon and if you're in the area make sure you stop in. The yarns are luscious and the owners and employees are super to talk with. And don't forget to stop in at Traderbaker's Mall on US 53 and make sure to ask for the Yarn Lady Booth, we have yarns, too. Next visit, I'll take a pic of the shop and post it for everyone to see, just how quaint and comfy the shop is.

Trying to get back to it

I love to knit and crochet both. But, time is always an issue, as everyone knows. I live by "round to it's" and never have enough. I'd ask if anyone has extras to send me, but I know better then that. The more modern and convenient things become the more things we have to do and less time to do it.

Sooooo, I thought I would post some pics of past projects and hopefully would get some inspiration to finish some of the ones I have half done. (Yep, I'm like that, too).

The lime green and navy knit top is one of my favorites. It was made using a strand of sport weight yarn and a green and navy railroad. The floral piece is a pin that can be moved to another location or not used at all. Lightweight, great for summer. The irony is, most of the things I make I can't wear. I have what is called a full figure (big boned) oh all right plump, overweight, fat maybe, but I'm working on it. Weight Watchers is every Wednesday morning. All ready lost 16.2 pounds. YEAH!!! But, I digress as usual!

I love making pretty things, whether they fit or not. I have quite a few items completed and will add some more later. If I get another "round to it" I've always wanted to list some items on etsy to see how well they are received. If anyone reads this and has had a good response, drop me a comment or note. I'd love to hear from you.

Got questions about what size to knit?

Think about this. Whenever you shop, you may try on 6 different pieces of clothing, all similiar and they all fit differently, even though they are the same size. Difference in the manufacturer and fabric can have a definite impact. So can selecting the right size for your knit garment. The measurements included may be confusing, but check out the schematic (the drawing of the garment and look at ALL the measurements, example shown above), then select a sweater that you like and that fits just the way you want it and compare inches to inches. Bust width, bust circumference, length from underarm to bottom edge, sleeve length and so on. This way you can make an educated guess on the size you want to make and you'll be much happier with the finished product.

You can always make slight adjustments to the knitting as you go along, because once it's knitted you should never try to block pieces to make them longer or wider. Knitting has a two way stretch, so blocking wider will make your sweater shorter and you may not want to show your tummy or vice versa and the result can be a very tight fitting sweater.. You can also run lovely yarns by overblocking, mohair and wools can become matted and almost fulled (felted). Acrylic can become flattened and limp and some yarns have memory and you might have the perfect fit until you launder the garment for the first time and the fiber will spring back and you will loose the shape that you worked so hard to achieve.

It all comes down to planning ahead. I totally understand, because I'm one of those knitters that wants to jump right in and start and I've speant a lot of time over the years, RESTARTING.

Interchanging Yarns or Substitutes

Since we sell Mill Ends and Remainders on our website, we like to help our customers and hopefully future customers with some information on using other yarns with patterns that they want to try.

If you're new to knitting or crochet, for best results, substitute a yarn with one that has the same weight, type and preferably the same fiber blend. Wools, acrylics and such have more give and moderate stretch and cottons and linens if worked tightly have less. They can also grow in length if knitted loosely.

The best solution is to make sure to check the gauge in the printed pattern. You want to find the right combination of yarn and needles to produce that gauge. Not just stitches per inch, but pay attention to the rows per inch, especially if working over a pattern. You may end up with a garment that is way too short or too long. Always make sure to make a swatch piece, even if you are buying the yarn suggested in the pattern. We all have slightly different techniques and tensions when we knit or crochet.

To have a great end product, make sure to TEST BEFORE YOU START.

My Facination with Yarn & Fiber

I've always loved yarn and fibers, since I was very young. My Aunt Hi taught me to crochet a chain with my fingers, I'd make it so long it would get tangled, then we would ravel it out and I would start over. And so I was hooked. Years ago I started selling patterns, etc. on eBay and it soon followed to sell Mill Ends.

I found these were great for me. We lived in a small town with (can you believe it) no yarn stores. Only the dime store, I'm sure someone out there remembers dime stores, they carried the Red Heart brand of yarns and only a few selections of that. With no internet and no stores to buy yarns, I resolved to find something different to work with. With the few needlework magazines back then, I would send a letter for info and swatches and soon found that mill ends were the best for me. They were inexpensive and were different from the regular worsted yarns found at the dime store.

I've added a few pictures below of some of the yarns I sell now on eBay and on our small website, but I also knit and crochet with much of this type of fiber.

Thank Goodness I Had My Knitting Bag!!

Ever been on a short trip, an errand, doctor's visit, traffic light, etc. and wished you had brought along your knitting bag? Mine usually has 2 to 3 projects started so that I don't get bored and thank goodness I had mine this week. Our son graduated from the Army Reserves and we traveled to Columbia, SC to share the experience with him, his wife, our grandchildren and our daughter-in-laws parents. It's been great, the weather, the pomp and circumstance and getting to see John, Jr. for a while.

Yesterday, (March 21, 2009) after the official Graduation, we met at the hotel where the Grandkids were staying with their other Grandparents and we were preparing to hit the road. It's a 9 hour drive back to Kentucky and we just knew we could make it by 10 or 11 pm.

But, low and behold, ALL and I mean ALL of the antifreeze and water ran out of our car. Right in the parking lot. A water hose broke. Called AAA, had the car towed and it turned out to be much, much worse. 32 hours and $1,700.00 later our car was repaired and we were on our way home. Finally.

Yikes. Like I said it could be worse and it was, BUT, I had 3 knitting projects in tow, so I had something to do while we waited and waited and waited. Always make sure you have that little something tucked away, either in the car or right next to your purse. Grab it as you go out the door, because you never know when you'll have a few minutes or more to knit or crochet.

Thank Goodness I had my knitting bag this time. Whew!!!!