Crochet Weekend

Beth and her Seraphina Shawl

I attended three different Stitch 'n Bitch meet-ups this weekend! Phew! My crochet hand is aching! Saturday WeHo SnB at the Original Farmers Market in the morning was great! We had a nice sized crowd. I met up with Christine and a few others early for breakfast at Loteria Grill, then we headed upstairs to knit and crochet with the group.

The Fairview Knitters group in Santa Monica later in the day was really a surprise! There must have been at least 20 people attending. We usually have between 6 and 10 people. Wow! All of a sudden, we're popular. Shout out to Meri, Jenna and Brenda who shlepped across the City to attend!

On Sunday, my Sometimes Sunday crochet group met. By then, my carpal tunnel set it, so I decided to start yet another project with a larger crochet hook. I find that when I crochet with a large hook and ease up my death-grip, my hands appreciate it.

It's count-down time for holiday gifts. This year all my Knit Grrlz are getting shawls made from various sock yarns. Lately, I've been obsessed with Noro sock yarns. I've been working on a triangle shawl with a black, rust, gray and burgundy Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn, size "I" hook. I started this shawl using double crochet stitches and then after about 10 rows, switched to treble crochet stitches. LOVE the trebles! The shawl is very drapey.

Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn Triangle Shawl

After seeing Beth's Seraphina Shawl in progress (top), using Paton's Soy Wool Stripes yarn, I was inspired to start yet another Seraphina Shawl using more Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn in the most beautiful combination of colors. I'm using a size "G" hook for this shawl. Beth has only been crocheting for a few months. She's really taken to it and is always researching new patterns. I'm so proud of her progress. Thanks for the re-inspiration, Beth!

Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn Seraphina Shawl

Socksperiment

Awhile back I found this etsy website that will knit socks for you! I truly LOVE sock yarn. Since I'm primarily a crocheter, sock yarn is thin enough for thick crochet stitches while still producing a desireable weight fabric for garments. I have knitted socks before, I just don't have the patience for those teensy-tiny knitting needles. Much of my sock yarn is targeted for sweater, scarf and hat projects, however I do have a few skeins hanging around that really should be knit into socks. I believe that the socks are knitted using an antique circular sock knitting machine. Fascinating!

As soon as my etsy approval goes thru, I'll be sending this gorgeous Noro sock yarn, #185 colorway to Fernwood Woolworks for some ladies' socks! I'll let you know the outcome.

Mini Field Trip

Oh yeah...we went on a BIG field trip yesterday to the Griffith Park Observatory and Hollyhock House. I'll be talking about that later in the week.

Today, I was on my own. Yippee! I drove down to Gardena and checked out the Let's Knit Yarn Shop, 16126 S. Western Ave., Gardena. They have an amazing selection of Noro yarn. Also, they have the new Noro Sock Yarn! It's positively gorgeous. Of course, everyone knows that I'm collecting yarn for my retirement. I picked up some Silk Garden Light and some sock yarn.

After visiting with the ladies at Let's Knit I drove further south on Western Avenue into Torrance to the Mitsuwa Marketplace for lunch and a little more shopping. Lunch was a divine bowl of udon noodles and some cream brulee'. I picked up some great little crochet and knit magazines at the Japanese bookstore inside the Marketplace.

An excellent afternoon!

Another Obsession

You know that I'm obsessed with the magnificent color combinations of Noro yarn. I've made many items out of Kureyon, Kureyon sock, Silk Garden, Noro Chunky, etc. Lately, I've been obsessed with crocheting the Kureyon and Silk Garden sock yarns. I completed a shawl out of Kureyon sock a few weeks ago (above).

I recently finished another shawl out of Silk Garden sock yarn. I scored this yarn at Compatto Yarn Salon in Santa Monica for 30% off! I just love this pattern and this yarn!Here's Heather at our recent Fairview Knitters meeting, modeling the Silk Garden Sock Yarn Shawl for me:

Heather @ Fairview Library, Santa Monica

I just started yet another Kureyon sock shawl in earth tones (below). Looks like I'll be ready when Christmas comes around this year! It's August....time to start your holiday knitting and crocheting. What are you making for holiday gifts this year?

Albuquerque Yarn Crawl

Fiesta Yarn Outlet's Exterior is very different from the Interior!

On Monday morning, Shayne and I went on an Albuquerque yarn crawl.  Shayne is a some-time knitter.  She usually has one project on her needles, but she's not as obsessed as I am.  After our yarn crawl on Monday, I think Shayne just may be on her way to obsession.  Shayne has not really shopped in LYSs (Little Yarn Shops) often, so she was blown away by the variety of color, texture and content of the yarns.

There are some great yarn shops in the Albuquerque area.  We hit three on Monday.  I wanted to go to the Fiesta Yarns Outlet store first.  Always check out the discounted yarn before looking at the retail choices!  

Fiesta Outlet Interior - WOW!

Fiesta's Warehouse is in an industrial section of town.  It's very bleak looking from the outside.  HOWEVER, when you open the door to the tiny outlet store, you're met with a riot of color and texture.  All of the "seconds" are crammed onto 2-1/2 walls and into over-flowing baskets.  What makes this yarn only suitable to sell in the outlet?  Well, it seems that some of the dye-lots are not perfect and that some of the skeins may weigh less than advertised.  Well, that's OK with me!  

The dyes that Fiesta uses are gorgeous!  We spent awhile oooooing and ahhhhing all of the various yarns.  The prices are excellent.  I came away with some gorgeous worsted weight; Flake Cotton, a sweet little sample yarn and some surprise birthday yarn for my friend, Julie.

"Rusty" - mini sample skein

Our next stop was Village Wools.  This is a very large, traditional yarn shop that also includes supplies for dyeing and spinning.  

The selection at Village is amazing.  They had every yarn under the sun.  The prices at Village Wools is a bit better than many of the high-end shops in Los Angeles.  I purchased just two skeins washable Liberty Wool in yummy colors.

Village Wools, Interior

After a delicious lunch near the University of New Mexico (Greek food), we drove into Albuquerque's Historic Old Town and walked around their plaza.  This is a sweet little town center, full of craftspeople, restaurants and the obligatory Catholic church.  After the tourists and hype of the Santa Fe Plaza, this smaller, less touristy Plaza was delightful.  Of course, it was Monday and many of the shops were closed.  We wandered around looking for Fiber Chicks.  This colorful little shop is down a walkway, in the corner of a mini plaza. 

We found Fiber Chicks!

Inside Fiber Chicks

The talented and charming Lesley

The owner, Lesley was so much fun!  She showed us all of her samples and we talked Knit-Talk for a long time.  Shayne learned a lot at this little shop.  I hope she returns for a few lessons and pattern ideas from Lesley.  I bought a skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn and two skeins of this fluffy CaraCara yarn.

 

There are even more yarn shops in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas that we didn't have time to visit or they were closed on Monday.  Albuquerque is definitely a yarn lover's destination! Naturally, all of the yarn I purchased is considered souvenir yarn and does not count toward my vast yarn stash! Thanks for shlepping all around town, Shayne!

Sockcess!

Remember? I sent my Noro Sock Yarn #185 to Fernwood Woolworks so that Designer/Owner, Lynette could work her sock machine magic? I received my gorgeous socks in the mail yesterday. I L*O*V*E them! Lynette even matched the striping pattern on both socks! Incredible! She also returned the unused sock yarn. Woo Hoo!

Go for it! Order some for yourself. This is a perfect way to gain satisfaction from all that gorgeous sock yarn in your stash while you're working on knitted sweaters, hats and crocheted bags.

Yarn Crawl 2013

Amy, Nancy, Yuki, Barbara, Vickie and Suzette

 WeHo SnB Non-Yarn Crawlers!

Nancy, Yuki, Ellen and Barbara

 

I did not really participate in the 2013 Yarn Crawl.  I have sooooo much yarn at home that my house could have been one of the stops on the Crawl!  The 2nd Annual Yarn Crawl - L.A. County started on Thursday with at least 32 stores participating...stretching from "From Santa Monica to Santa Clarita, from Claremont to Long Beach and every square mile in between!"  The idea was to visit as many shops as possible and have your "passport" stamped by each shop.  At the end of the Crawl, you turn in your passport.  There are prizes for the most stores visited by one person, in addition to raffles and prizes at each individual store.  

I participated for one day last year and had a wonderful time visiting shops and having lunch with my WeHo Peeps. It's a great long weekend, communing with your yarny friends.  it just happened to be one of the busiest weekends for me this year.

Barbara at the YarnOver Truck

I only managed to make two stops, in-between SnB's on Saturday.   Saturday WeHo SnB was attended by seven non-crawling ladies!  I met up with Barbara at both places!  The Yarnover Truck was parked at Douglas Park in Santa Monica.  There was a line to get into "Little Debbie."  Only 5 customers at a time are permitted inside the truck.  Yes, it's a tight fit, but the owners have managed to pack a variety of yarn into this rollin' yarn shop.  Great idea!

Waiting in Line for the YarnOver Truck

My second stop was at Compatto Yarn Salon, just down the block on Wilshire Blvd.  There were book signings, fastest knitting contests, yarn tastings and tons of other activities going on in this cute shop.  I purchased my souvenir yarn of the Crawl...one skein of Noro Taiyo Sock Yarn.  Victory!

Repetitive but Colorful

Once again, I'm granny-obsessed. I just can't stop crocheting granny squares. I just finished covering another Trader Joe's bag (tutorial here). I'm almost done sewing the granny square cover to the T.Joe's plastic tote. I LOVE it! It's too cute to use for groceries!!!

What an excellent way to use up ol' ACK-rylic yarn!!!

On another granny-square related note, one of my groups on Ravelry is having a "summer of crochet" challenge. Many of the members are crocheting the Babette Blanket. Some are working up the blanket in Koigu sock yarn (the original pattern calls for this), others are using Noro Kureyon. I decided to keep reducing my stash of worsted weight acrylic. We're all supposed to start our crochet project on June 1st. Hey! It was a long weekend. All that yarn was staring me down. Sue me. I started early.

I was inspired by this blanket! Using Noro Kureyon yarn is an excellent idea, because of the long color runs. You never have to cut your yarn between rounds. HOWEVER, living in Southern California, do I really want a heavy WOOL blanket on my couch? Also, how do you wash a heavy wool blanket? For afghans, I like the ease and practicality of acrylic! Does anyone know of an acrylic yarn with long color runs like Noro Kureyon? Let me know.

I'm really glad to see that granny squares are so popular again. Granny Squares are the building blocks to fashion, you know!

BoHo Blocks Cardigan

BoHo Blocks Cardigan

It took me awhile, but I FINALLY finished my BoHo Blocks Cardigan!  I used Noro Taiyo Sock Yarn and a size "C" crochet hook.  This is an Interweave Crochet pattern from 2006.  Yes, I've wanted to make this sweater for 8 years!

I do love the colorway of this yarn, #23.  Mr. Noro is a genius (photo at left).  Each square is a little work of art.  The long color runs in Noro yarn make for very interesting motifs.

I still need to find the perfect buttons for this cardigan.  Don't judge me, because I will probably be wearing this sweater EVERY day during autumn!

It is easier for me to make a sweater with motifs.  I didn't have to carry around a big hunk o' sweater as I progressed.  Also, because this cardigan is modular, I could try it on and figure out how to make it bigger in certain places just by adding more motifs.  I think this pattern would look great in a solid yarn too.  The weight of the yarn (light) makes this a very comfortable sweater to wear year-round.

Looks even better on my chair!

Side Detail

Shoulder and Sleeve

In the beginning...

Noro-tastic

Just in case you haven't figured this out, I'm a big fan of Noro yarn. The color combinations that Mr. Noro comes up with just blow my mind. I also really like the long color runs vs. variegated color in most Noro yarns.
I have crocheted countless shawls using Noro yarns. I found a bit of leftover Noro Silk Garden sock yarn in my stash and decided to whip up a little scarf. I was thinking of giving this as a holiday gift, but I like it too much. Yet another orangey, reddish scarf added to my collection!

Obsession #185

Noro Kureyon Yarn, #185

I am obsessed with Noro Kureyon, color #185. I'm a 185-a-holic. I have lots of this colorway. I'm afraid that Noro may discontinue it one day. There's something about this particular combination of colors that just knocks me out. I suppose I could just put solid yarns together in stripes, using similar colors, but it just wouldn't be the same.

I have knit and crocheted many projects with this colorway.

FAN-tastic crocheted scarf

crocheted and felted tote bag

Fernwood Woolworks knitted socks

knitted striped scarf (#185 with #172, for variety)

unfinished cable knit handbag

in progress, crocheted newsboy hat

in progress, Seraphina Shawl, crocheted with sock yarn

Last night at the WeHo SnB, Lauren suggested that I fashion a costume for next year's Halloween Stitch 'n Witch where I become a skein of Noro Kureyon #185. Excellent idea, Lauren...thanks!

I will continue to knit and crochet with this incredibe colorway, as long as it survives. Cheers to #185, Noro and to you! Have a great weekend!