Creative Outlet

Sometimes the bargain bin just screws you….

The Bargain Bin can be a great place to get yarn to increase your “stash”. They tell you the weight of what your getting (oz & lbs.) , but not necessarily the weight of what “it” is ( yarn weight, 1,2,3…etc). Currently, I’m perplexed as to how to use this….

. The colors are great fall colors. I’m thinking of trying to use it for a wrap or cowl or maybe a shawl of some sort. Who knows….. I have roughly one pound of it. But I can’t tell what size it is…. Is this considered a thread?, lace weight?, a number #1 yarn…….?!?! Who can really tell?!? certainly not me…..

Now I’m not resting on my laurels, I’ve looked at a few different things to try to help me figure it out. Things like this:

and this :

These can either be an invaluable tool or a curse:

Alas, I’m drawing a blank. I don’t think I’m dumb, but this is trying to prove me otherwise…..

Creative Outlet, Crochet

A crocheter’s muslin

Okay, I have watched my Mother sew for many years. From time to time I noticed her working with this white plain ole fabric. Well one day I asked her what it was, she kindly replied “muslin“. O.0 … 0.o … She went on to explain that she used it to do a “mock up” of a difficult pattern, especially when the fabric that is to be used for the project is expensive or delicate. Me personally I think my mother is the best seamstress in the world. She’s a perfectionist and her standard motto is “I don’t make junk”. That being said, her word is gospel about all things sewing in my eyes.

Back to this muslin…… Since I don’t sew, (I know, I know, it just takes up too much space to do it right……) and I got this desire to “get crafty”, I’ve found a need for some “crocheter’s muslin”. What is she talking about?!? Ohh, where is she going with this?!? Let me show you…

This is what I call my crochet muslin. A cheap yarn find that I got out if AC Moore’s bulk bin. Why you ask?!? Cause you can’t always practice on pretty, delicate, expensive yarn!!!!

Example. I have been wanting to learn how to do the Foundation Single Crochet (fsc). Cheap light colored yarn is the best thing to practice on. It slows you to see your stitches, I also find it easier to see the errors….

Crochet Muslin because using expensive yarn to practice is just uncivilized…..

Creative Outlet, Crochet

Passing Time While I Mend

Little known fact: I started crocheting this year. In March to be specific. I was taught how to chain & single crochet and that was the extent of what I was shown. I thank the co-worker that introduced me to it, because I had been looking for some type of creative outlet for a while. Everything else that I have learned has been self taught or I have learned from the Internet and reading. To date I can single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), half-double crochet (hdc), and Triple Crochet (tr). I can read patterns, although I still have to look up terminology from time to time. …… All that being said…… I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO KNIT TOO!!!! I keep seeing these cute dresses, and wouldn’t you know it 95% of them are knitted….. So it’s time to teach myself how to work with some new tools.