Announcing 3 New Toys!

Gosh I have been so busy lately which is a good thing I guess!   Announcing my new Knit Elephant design today!  I have to say that it took me longer than I thought to make this pattern.  There is so much trial and error with designing but I do love every step and every frog!  Aren't they adorable!

Puppy toy!   This puppy actually started out as a request from a WONDERFUL customer.  This was my  introduction to the world of Waldorf toys.   Waldorf toys are simple and void of all facial expressions (yes, I left the face off on purpose) because they want the children to use their imagination when making up their stories.    More on this topic later.

I can always add a face if you prefer.  I knit these with recycled yarn.  This one was knit with so soft merino wool!!  Lightly stuffed for that squishy cuddly feel.  Many colors available.

Thrift Store Jackpot

I am so excited!  Today I went around to a few of my favorite thrift stores.  I am always on the look out for knitting and crocheting tools.  (The vast majority of my knitting and crocheting tools are used.)   I think that they have a greater appeal to me because someone used them.  Used them to make things for their daughter, grandchildren, sisters, friends, charities and the like.  I think about what was made with these simple tools.  Sweaters, hats, socks, scarves, mittens, Christmas stockings the list is truely endless.  I get a bit of comfort knowing there were used well and used often.  Much work, joy and love goes into something handmade.  It part of the joy of knitting.

So, today, I hit a jackpot.  I haven't in a while but today was my lucky day.  I got 37 stitch holders, 7 sets of DPN's, 2 sets of straight needles  and 2 crochet hooks (also a bit of yarn I could not pass up.)   All for the grand total of $4.  Yes, $4.

For those of you who are not knitters.  I can't get one pair of straight needles with a 40% off coupon at Michael's for $4.  Yeah!!!!   So, I suggest for those who are interested or might be interested in learning a new craft.  Check out your local thrift stores first.  You will be surprised at what treasures you may find.  

Upcycling/Recycling Yarn- My story

I find that today more than ever people are conscience of what they are throwing out. As a knitter, I thought about how I can contribute to recycling. Since college I have been an avid thrift store shopper and while picking through the craft items a light bulb went on in my head. I am sure we have all had those Ah-Ha moments in our lives mine came to me in my local thrift store. Sweaters!!! I wonder if I could take those apart and re-use the yarn? So, I ran to the clothing section and there before me was an array of beautiful yarn! Sweaters that were no longer wanted because of fashion or size tossed into the local thrift store for resale. Some see garbage from fashions gone by I saw yarn!! Lots of it in every color under the rainbow - cotton, wool, cashmere, alpaca my eyes were getting wide with excitement. So, I chose just a couple to see how hard and labor intensive this new idea of mine would be.

I already had what I now call the essentials tools for upcycling yarn.

1. 1.A seam ripper
   
   
2. 2.2. yarn winder
   
   
3. 3. 3. scissors
   
   
4. 4. 4. determination
   
   
5. 5. 5. love of yarn
   
   

I could barely wait to get home to experiment! I paid for my items and drove home. As soon as I walked in the door I ran to my sewing supplies grabbed my seam ripper, a pair of scissors and my trusty yarn ball winder. Plopped myself down on the couch, turned on my trusty craft light, grabbed my sweater and away I went ripping seems without a clue about what I was doing. I made a COMPLETE MESS. There was thread everywhere!! But I didn't care I managed to take the sweater apart. Now I had to figure out how to get to the yarn. After experimenting a bit I found that just cutting across the top seam to release the yarn was the easiest. So, I pulled and pulled and pulled and pulled until I had a nice little pile on the floor. I threaded the yarn end into my yarn ball winder by Strauch and began to wind. It was working! So I pulled some more and then I wound until the yarn was wound into a beautiful center pull ball of love! My arm nearly feel off from exhaustion but it worked!! I finished unraveling the sweater and winding it then realized I had over a pound of yarn! The next step was to wash it! (should have thought of this BEFORE I took the sweater apart!!) So I got out my niddy noddy wound the yarn around it made a nice skein and dunked it in sink. I let mine air dry without tension and it works great! Wound it back in a ball, this time with a counter that told me how much yarn I had from just one sweater. I was astonished. Thus began my love affair with what we now call upcycling yarn. I do it as often as possible with great results. I feel better about 'saving' unwanted items that would eventually end up in the garbage.

YARDAGE COUNTER

Well I finally got my “yardage counter” in the mail this week.  So, this weekend I decided to make the base to hold it.  I got this idea off of Knit Picks.  A site that I love to shop at but has some high prices to go along with there much wanted gadgets.  My brain starting clicking-How can I make this cheaper???  (This EXACT gadget goes for $49.99 on their site)  The search was on. 

As discussed previously on my blog, I found a site with this very idea. Mind you that I am quite handy and own my very own table saw.  Having the right tools make every job easier and more enjoyable.  Down in my shop I went.  Fortunately, we are installing a new front deck at my house (Thank you Michael, (he’s my brother)) and had some scrap 2x10’s laying around.  So, I measured it out, cut it on my table saw, screwed it together and sanded it down.  It took my about 15 minutes from start to finish.  Total price $15, just the cost for the counter itself.  It works perfectly.  I am so excited.

The Best Yarn Winder

First I have to give thanks to my mother for getting me this wonderful tool...  LOVE IT.  It is hand made by Strauch FIber Equipment Cos..  Constructed, with love, out of wood.  I have the Jumbo which will wind a center pull ball up to 1lb of yarn with ease.  I know that there are cheaper plastic models out there and some claim that they are just as good as this one or the dreaded “good enough.”  I am one of those people who only wants to buy things ONCE and would much rather spend a little more to have a quality item.  Again, thanks to mom, she made this possible.

There aren’t any gears for the yarn to get caught in, nothing to oil, doesn’t shake or, make noise.  It just works and works beautifully!  I had the delight of speaking to Mr. Strauch and he is such a wonderful man.  They forgot to put my bracket in the box with all the Holiday rush.  Not only did he return my phone call promptly he apologized and was so sweet.  He said that he would put it in the mail and I would have it before Christmas.  Mind you Christmas was in 3 days.  Well he did just that and I had it when he promised.  I have been winding ever since. 

So, if you are pondering a yarn ball winder and are on the fence about spending a little extra to get this winder, I say DO IT!   Well worth the extra money. Think of all the aggravation you will save yourself in the long run not to mention the time.

Yarn Meter

My dear husband broke one of my beloved Harmony Wood circular needle by accident.  He felt terrible.  So, I went to KnitPicks to order a replacement needle.  While there I decided to browse around to see what new gadgets they had for me to ponder over.  BINGO..Yarn meter with a retail price of $49.99.  Now I would love to have this little gadget because I am a gadget girl but it would be very helpful to have for my new found recycled sweaters project.  I have no idea how much yarn each sweater yields and this would do the trick.  The price, however, held me back.  Is it necessary: no.  Would I love to have it: yes!!!  I decided to do a little research as I always do before investing money in any gadget.  Voila, I found this old post which was discussing this very meter.  However, there was a cheaper way to go about it.  Fishing Line Counter- a fishing line counter what is this???  The search is ON! 

After about a half hour and a little frustration I found one on ebay for $15.  It’s the same exact meter but with out the base.  This counter was originally used for fishing to calculate how much line a fisherman has out in the water.   I bought it on the spot and I can not wait to get it.  I know that can build a simple base which would still be cheaper than the $49.99 model.

Here is how it works:  First you need a yarn baller.  Then run the yarn through this meter and then into your yarn baller.  As you wind the yarn it calculates how much yarn, in feet, you wound using these little balls inside the meter up to 999 feet.  Then it’s just a matter of simple math.  As soon as I get this up and running I’ll post a picture.  

Got Yarn

I am so excited.  So, I was online as usual and had this great idea.  Recycled yarn!  Okay so it’s not that new.  I got to thinking and decided to go to my local thrift store to see what I could find.  Well there wasn’t much of a selection but I did find a few sweaters in great condition in colors that I liked.  I bought them for $2 each.  Ran home. Washed them. Ripped them apart.  This was quite a tedious process but it’s getting easier.  Wound them on my yarn baller.  End result: A ton of great cotton for $2!!!  Now I had “the Bug” it happens to me every time I start a new project.  Out I went the next day to another store.  Found more great yarn, Angora, wool, more cotton.  Ran home & continued the process.  I have learned that there are some sweaters that are easier to disassemble but all yielded lots of great yarn.  Now I have to figure out what I am going to make with my new found yarn.  Oh the possibilities are endless.