Thursday 28 February 2013

How to: Make an Awesome Project Page on Ravelry

One of the features I use most on Ravelry is my Project Page, I think it is brilliant! If you put in the few minutes it takes to keep your project page updated, you really will be thankful in the long run! For example, you may make a few changes to a pattern you're working on, adding these changes on the note section of your project page will help you next time you, or someone else knits/crochets up this pattern (like this, for example). Here is my guide to creating a perfect ravelry project page!

You Will Need:

  • A Ravelry Account (if you don't have one, you can create one here)
  • A Project
  • Stashed Yarn *(Optional)
  • Photographs of your project (*Optional)
Let's Get Started! (don't forget, you can click each picture to make them larger!)

Step One:

Log into your account, and click Notebook


You'll then find yourself at your Project Notebook


Step Two: 
Click Add Project


Step Four:
Fill in as much information as you can!


Then click Continue


Choose the correct pattern


Step Three:
Fill in as much information as you can! 


Click Save Changes



The following steps are all optional, but if you can, please follow them!

Add Your Yarn!


                                                           Click Add Stashed Yarn


Add your yarn from the stash, when you find the yarn you want, click Use


Repeat this as many times as needed


Then write down how much yarn you've used (if you can!)


then click Save Changes


Option 2:

If you don't have your yarn stashed, don't worry! Just add it on the project page like so:

Click Add Yarn


Fill in as much information as you can!


Click Save Changes


Add Your Photographs!

Click on Add Photos


Add your photos, in whichever way you want!



C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

You have created an awesome project page on Ravelry!!


That is this weeks tutorial, next week we'll be learning How to: Use the Ravelry Pattern Search!




Wednesday 27 February 2013

Granny Square Eyes

Past few days I've been very ill indeed, but I'm slowly on the mend. I've managed to come off two of the 4 mega painkillers, so I'm just dealing with two now. I'm still on a puree/very soft food diet, but I hope to be able to eat some normal food tomorrow. I have been far too sick to knit, unfortunately. So, I've been sat watching Lost! I don't sleep much, so I'm already on Season 3 ep 3, and you could say I am a little  addicted. I love all the characters (except Ana Lucia, she was a pain!), but my favourite has to be Jack. I found myself sobbing at 6am this morning as I watched Jack go through his divorce. Now, whether it was because I was emotionally unstable from being weaned off a load of medication, or it is because Matthew Fox is an awesome actor, I'm not sure. Probably both. But what it does mean is, I really need to start crafting again.

So today, I did a couple of rows of the Seven Seas Blanket. I'm now onto a new colour, and what I've realised is this baby isn't going to be wide enough. I should have done two balls of each colour for the stripes instead of the one, I never realised it was going to be this wide! So, I'm thinking of adding more colours, but I'll have to talk to Mum again and see what she thinks.


The yarn is King Cole Big Value DK in Pot Pourri (296), which Deramores no longers stocks unfortunately. It has a slight wooly feel to it despite being 100% acrylic, and knits up nicely. 

And now it is time for a first on An Accidental Knitter - A crochet project appearing on WIP Wednesday! *trumpet fanfare, squeals and giggles of happy children sound all around* Hurraaaaaaaay :D

I would love to master the basics of crochet so I can move onto a 'proper' project, so I thought the best way to begin to learn, is by making a granny square blanket. I love granny squares. I love how they look, I love creating them, and I also love how quick they are to make! (I think my high score so far is crocheting one in 15 minutes). So today, after a few episodes of Lost, I had a dig through my stash box and bagged up most of my DK scraps (I have a few more looming near the bottom, but by the time I got there, the temptation to start making something was just too strong). 


Most of yarn in the scrap bag are remains from previous projects, some are skeins of yarn I hate (but I can never sell/throw yarn away, I have to make something with it), and the rest are tiny skeins of acrylic crap I got in magazines. I really want to use it all up, so I have more room in my stash, so I thought I would use these scraps for my crochet blanket endeavor.

I made 5 of these granny squares today, which brings my square count up to: 7. I'm going to try and make one or two a day, and see how that goes. I've noticed that it is a brilliant way to test out colour combinations! I'd like to make no two squares the same, but I can't see that happening somehow.

My Mum has said she'd happily sew them together for me in the evenings while she watches telly, and as you know I am rotten at sewing up so I quickly jumped at her offer.

So that is all from me, before I send you packing to Tami's, just a little reminder that I have a giveaway going on my blog, so you should go check that out!

Hope you all have a lovely evening x


Monday 25 February 2013

I Wish I Could Cast On... The BFF Cowl

BFF Cowl
© Marc Smollin
If I could cast on any project today, it would have to be the BFF Cowl by Ysolda Teague and Stephanie (from Tiny Owl Knits). These two clever gals took the concept of a friendship bracelet and completely ran with it; the finished result is a gorgeous interlocking cowl I would both knit and wear any day of the week.

How does it work? Well, you knit both link designs in your colour, then your friend does the exact same but in a different colour. You swap a link each ,then graft them together and hey presto! You have a gorgeous BFF cowl to treasure forever.

I'm fortunate enough to have two best friends, both of which can knit. One can knit jumpers (she is making one in a gorgeous brown colour, she's been working on it for years, I can't wait to see it finished!), and the other is just learning (she's making her own brain fog blanket, designed by moi - yay!). Neither of them are up to the challenge of a lace cowl, parts of which even I find rather daunting (grafting, for example). So, if I were to do this project, I'd have to knit them by myself. Not that I'm complaining, I'd love to take up the challenge!

If I were to make BFF cowls for both of my best friends, it would mean: 4 different colours, 6 different links, and a lot of audiobooks to get me through it!

M O L L Y   &  C H A R L Y 
B E ST   F R I E N D S  F O R E V E R



The two colours I would use for this BFF Cowl, would be Artesano Aran from Dragon Yarns in two colourways: Birch (left) and Laxford (right). I am quite into earthy tones, such as Birch, and Molly, well she just looks stunning in purple! I will be looking for substitutions for these two yarns, as I would need 2 skeins of each, and that would end up costing £34.76 for one project - yiiiiiiiiiiiiikes!

A B B Y  &  C H A R L Y
B E S T  F R I E N D S  F O R E V E R


I adore these soft tones, they work perfectly together! Abby and I both suit soft pink, which is why I chose Adriafil Carezza from Dragon Yarns, in Ecru (left), and Rose (right)! 

As soon as I get the chance, I will make these cowls, they would be such wonderful knits to wear! If you could cast on any project today, what would it be? Tell me in the the comment section below, or even write your own blog post (if you do, don't forget to leave the link in the comments below)!

X


Sunday 24 February 2013

An Interview and a Giveaway!

On Tuesday I featured the I Love Jane Austen washcloth by Lisa Millan on my Jane Austen Knits post. I got talking to the lovely Lisa, and she agreed to an interview! Here is how we got on :)

How did you learn to knit?

I Heart Books by Lisa Milla
©DigknittyDesignr  Flickr
Lisa - I took a class at Michaels. I just learned the basics... how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. It was easy enough to do a few projects. Like easy scarves and dishcloths.  

What got you into designing your own patterns?

Lisa - I started practicing using free dishcloth patterns with pictures in them. I had designed crochet graphs previously and thought knitting them would be fun. I had met a really nice knitter online who taught me how to read a graph in knits and purls. After that, I was hooked!

What inspires your designs?

Lisa - Everything! I get lots of requests and suggestions from people. At first I just started doing what appealed to me. As time went on, I tried to cover every category I could. 

How long does it take you to design a washcloth?

Lisa - It depends. I've done some in as little as a few minutes. Some take much longer. I've had a few haunt me for awhile, because I am obsessed with getting every detail I can into the pattern. I want people to be able to really see the picture.

My favourite design of yours is the I Love Jane Austen washcloth, do you have a favourite?

Sunflower Knit Dishcloth by Lisa Millan
©DigknittyDesignr  Flickr
Lisa - One of my favorites is the Sunflower pattern. It was one of the first ones that gave me a really hard time to get it the way I wanted. 

Are washcloths your favourite things to knit?

Lisa - Well they were for a very long time. I knitted them compulsively for about 3-4 years. I think I burned out on them. So I've been knitting cowls and scarves lately. The repetitive, mindless knitting relaxes me. 

Which knitted item that you've made are you most proud of, and why?

Lisa - I am equally proud of all my knitted projects, but the ones that please me the most are the ones that teach me a new technique, or give me a new favorite stitch.

If you could give us any piece of advice or a tip about knitting, what would it be?

Lisa - Don't give up if you can't figure out something right away. If you get frustrated, put it down for a little while, and then go back to it. If all else fails, there's always a YouTube video that will be able to show you what you're doing wrong. I've learned many things using the videos available there. 

As well as this lovely interview, Lisa has offered to do a pattern giveaway for you all!! Ok, here is how it'll work:

Head on over to Lisa's awesome Ravelry pattern shop, Digknitty Designs, then leave a comment below telling us which pattern you'd love to win. Please also leave your ravelry username in the comment, or an email address I can reach you on! I will leave the give-away open until next Sunday, then using a random number generator I will pick a winner!

Details: One Entry per person

Opens: Sunday 24th February 2013 at 7am GMT (London, England time)
Closes: Sunday 2nd March 2013 at 12am GMT (London, England time)

Extra info:

Don't worry if you don't win, Lisa has several free patterns available on her shop!

Never Forget 911 Washcloth

Autism Awareness Washcloth 

Be the Cure Washcloth 

I Love You Rose Knit Washcloth

Thank You Rose 

Witch's Hat & Broom Dishcloth

Recycle Knit Dishcloth 

9 Patch Quilt Block Knit Dishcloth

Who Would Like a Leg? Dishcloth

Candy Apple Knit Washcloth

Drink with a Twist Dishcloth

Un-smelly Skunk Dishcloth

Imma Crochet Fan Poncho

Saturday 23 February 2013

Colours of Spring (2013)

This Spring is going to be brighter and bolder than years previously. That's right, Spring 2013 is now the season of Technicolour! It is scary enough using bright colours in your wardrobe, never mind knitting and crocheting with the stuff! So, I thought I would collect together this season's colour trends that are safe, yet modern, choices to use in your Spring 2013 knitting & crochet.

Y E L L O W

Inspiration:

Source: Color Trends 2013 by  Fab Sugar
Yarn:








B L U E

Inspiration: 

Source: Color Trends 2013 by Fab Sugar
Yarn: 





All the yarns featured in today's post are hand dyed (some are even hand spun!) by a selection of amazing yarn dyers that you can find on the internet! Hand dyed yarns are perfect for special projects for you or your loved ones. Could you imagine the True Blue by Ewe & Me Yarns as a Monarch Shawl? Or perhaps Amethyst by Haute Knit Yarns as a pair of Polly Jean socks? I've knitted with hand-dyed a few times now, and it is the best stuff to work with. Even if you're stuck with 4 inches of 1x1 rib on 2mm needles, you won't get bored, as the colours are so inviting. 

I couldn't find complete yarn matches for all the colours, but I tried to get as close as I possibly could! As you could imagine this post took me forever, but I hope that it has inspired you to try some new colours this spring, either in your wardrobe or your knitting/crochet! :)

PS,

I advice you not to spend too long admiring hand-dyed yarn on the internet, your purse will be the worse for it ;) 



Thursday 21 February 2013

How to: Stash Your Yarn on Ravelry

Last Thursday I told you why Ravelry is awesome, and I promised you some tutorials on how to make the most of this website of awesomeness. This weeks tutorial is 'How to Stash Your Yarn on Ravelry'. I know that most of you will already know how to do this, but for those who are new to the website, or those who need some encouragement on getting organised, here is how to create your very own online stash (remember, to make a picture bigger on this tutorial, just click on it!).

You will Need:

  • A Ravelry Account (if you don't have one, you can create one here
  • Yarn to Stash

Here we go. 

Step 1:

Log onto Ravelry, and head on over to your stash:


then


you'll then find yourself here


Step 2: 

Click add new yarn


Step 3:

Fill in as much information as you can


Step 4:

Choose the correct yarn


Step 5:

Fill in as much information as you can!


Step 6:
Click save


Step 7: 
Click photos


Step 8:
Add your your photos!


=


You should then end up with something like this...


Well done! In future weeks I will show you how to use your online stash to the best advantage, such as finding patterns to use with your yarn. Next week, you'll be learning 'How to: 'Create a Ravelry Project Page', which goes hand in hand with this weeks tutorial :)





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