Review: Quick Knit Baby Afghans
A month ago or so I bought Leisure Arts’ Quick Knit Baby Afghans by Evelyn A. Clark. The book’s been around for 15 years, but it certainly doesn’t show its age. It’s still a GREAT little collection of patterns that are–yes–quick to knit. I’ve made one afghan from the collection of 7 so far (pictured below) and I’m about 1/4 the way through a second. What makes them so speedy is using two strands of worsted weight held together and big honkin’ #15 circular needles. The patterns are easy but the outcome looks ‘experienced’. The pamphlet is available at Amazon ($5.50), but I went the JoAnn’s + 40% off coupon route. Love that!
How to NEVER miscount a cast-on ever again!
It happens to the best of us. We cast on dozens and dozens of stitches. We count and re-count to make sure we casted on the RIGHT amount of stitches.* When we’re satisfied we did, we start our border. Several rows later when we FINISH our border and start the pattern repeat and are approaching the end of our first row we realize we DIDN’T, in fact, cast on the correct number of stitches. ARG! What to do? Increase as necessary? Decrease as necessary? Frog it????
Instead of putting ourselves through the pain of having to decide what do to and doing it, mark off ten cast-ons at a time with a stitch marker. Counting in tens is MUCH easier than counting by 2′s to 100+, especially with your boo, your cat or your kid, demanding attention at a critical juncture in your counting. Making a habit of marking your 10ths is the best way to never miscount a cast-on ever again!
*Counting cast-ons can be especially tricky when using double strands of yarn, as I’m doing in the picture.
New Lamp Makeover
Okay, so I was on the hunt for new lamps for our bedroom. I didn’t have a particular budget in mind, but I did have a style. Minimal candlestick. I adore PB’s Chelsea lamps, but we already have two of them in our living room (a floor lamp and accent lamp), and I didn’t want the repeat. SO, on a whim I perused the lamp aisle at my local J.C. Penney and spotted a couple of brushed nickel lamps–on sale for 50% off– that nearly fit the bill. Only they were brushed nickel, albeit a little corroded in spots, and I wanted bronze. A peek at the price tag said they were regularly 80 on sale for 24 (should have been 40 a piece based upon the 50% off sign, right?). Okay, I thought, for 24 bucks a pop, I can sand them up, address the corrosion and shoot them with some Rust-Oleum oil-rubbed bronze paint.
I took them to the register. “That’ll be 25 dollars (and change),” the salesperson said. I gave her a hum-an-ah. “So they’re discounted off the sale price?” I asked. “Yes,” she beamed a smile at me. “Good deal, huh?” Aaaah….YEAH! Anyhoo, to make a long story short, here’s what the lamps look like now. And yes, I did spring for some PB shades. (Had the finials on hand.)
2-Strand Knitting Rocks!
I have no idea why I haven’t tried 2-strand knitting before. Maybe because I thought it would be too bulky? Or maybe because I thought working with two strands would be too unruly? Whatever the reason, I can now proclaim I AM A CONVERT. Especially for items like baby blankets, which seem to take FOREVER. I finished this cute cuddly–using one strand of 3ply variegated and one strand of 4ply white–in about two weeks. Keep in mind that I was only knitting a few hours in the evening and not every evening either! You can find the pattern, called Basketweave Baby Blanket, free at Lion Brand.
Paper & Bead: Notebook Re-Vamp
I’m a big fan of continuing ed. and seminars and such. I started a new photography class last week, and I have a writer’s conference on the 19th. Occasions like this always compel me to make some sort of portfolio or journal, as I’m a BIG note-taker. This time around, I decided to keep things super simple and just use stuff I had around the house to re-vamp a small spiral notebook. My goal was to create a stylish and secure notebook with a place to hold my pen/pencil (something I seem to misplace at critical junctures.)
First I covered the front and back of the notebook with some coordinating scrapbook paper using Mod-Podge and a foam brush. I chose to add strips of black grosgrain to tart the covers up even more. I used tacky craft glue to adhere them.
Then I used a spring punch to punch two holes at the edge of the covers. The holes are about 1″ apart from each other. Next I set grommets in each of the holes.
I cut two pieces of 1/4″ black elastic. I threaded one piece through the two holes in the front cover and stitched the ends together at the inside fashioning a loop.
For the back cover, I slipped a large bead onto the elastic and then knotted the elastic up to the bead. I threaded the two ends through the holes in the back cover and stitched them together as I did in the front.
To close the notebook, I slip the bead into the front loop. Because I kept the elastic a bit snug, it holds my pencil/pen in place.
Things to keep in mind if you do this project: The length of your elastic depends upon the thickness of your notebook. Also, if you use a spiral notebook and are prone to ripping pages out, your elastic will become looser as you do so. Since I’m using this notebook as a journal of sorts, that won’t be an issue.
