I know that I'm not alone in my thinking that people who spend time with fiber (what ever form it's in, no matter what they do with it) are the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. This has been my experience over and over again.  Social media plays an important role in keeping me connected to my fellow enthusiasts. I know that it sometimes gets a bad wrap.  We hear that that we spend too much time interacting virtually instead of in the "real" world.  That it is a impeding our ability to build healthy relationships.  While that may be the case for some people, it certainly hasn't been my experience.  For me social media is a happy supplement to my daily fix of fiber!  I get to see what people are making. I get pattern recommendations.  I'm inspired to try something new. I get assistance when I get stuck. I find new resources - and that's just in one visit to my FaceBook and Instagram accounts! So what does all of this have to do with today's post?

Well, through Facebook I became friends with DyeNamic Yarns, (who I recently learned is a lovely woman from Canada named Kim)! We don't really know each other, but I enjoy looking at the pictures that she shares of her hand dyed sock yarns.  A few weeks ago Kim posted a status indicating that she would send a sample of her sock yarn to the first 10 people who responded.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time so of course I responded. Who am I to pass up the opportunity to sample hand dyed yarn? Kim immediately messaged me for my address - and to ask if there was any color that I absolutely hate! There's that niceness again! 

A short time later my mailman delivered my samples. Two mini-skeins, one in soft shades of pink and the other a fresh lime sorbet and blueberry mix that looks good enough to eat.  I grabbed my crochet hook and made myself a granny square.  The yarn is soft and smooth with a slight sheen.  It is rather elastic and moved easily over my hook and through stitches.  The colors are consistent and true with no real blending between them.  I think that this means the stripes on your socks will be nice and defined. As I sat there holding my finished square I decided it would be a shame to just set it aside.  I sewed a small square insert, stuffed it with poly-fil, and using the last bit of yarn that was left stitched the corners of the granny together to make a sweet little pincushion!

Let me say that I am by no means a yarn expert.  In fact it is only recently that I have found myself in a position to sample and purchase what I consider to be gourmet fibers.  Most of my projects are made from acrylics, cottons or commercially produced wool blends that you find at department and craft stores. My new obsession with knitting socks has brought me knee deep (sorry!) into the word of sock yarns!  What I am learning is 1) there is a huge, amazing on-line sock community; 2) there are spinners and dyers who specialize in sock yarn; 3) self-striping yarns are incredible - color changes without changing yarn! 4) because you generally only need one skein to make a pair of socks it is an affordable way to indulge yourself with a special yarn.

I am very thankful to Kim at Dyenamic Yarns for sharing her wares with me. When I'm ready for my next sock yarn purchase I'll be visiting Kim's shop, that is if her FaceBook posts don't tempt into an impulse buy first!  You can find her on Etsy at DyeNamicYarn and on FaceBook as - you guessed it - Dyenamic Yarn! Stop by and tell her Robin sent you!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time,
Be Blessed and Stitch & Read with Love!

Greetings!
It's a well established fact that I have crafting ADD.  I am physically unable to to work on one project at a time.  I don't think that I have ever finished anything without starting something new or spending time with a WIP.  It's fine with me.  It works.  My husband doesn't understand - just like he doesn't understand why I insist on leaving the house at the very last minute - no matter where I'm going (I'm not usually late, but I am never early!)

As I was gathering the pictures for this post it dawned on me that my insatiable desire to try new things is  actually good for me.  Every time a publisher sends me a book to review it's an opportunity to feed my need.  What I mean is ... if I were to only work on one thing at a time from start to finish it would take me ages to prepare for a review.  Working on multiple projects at the same time lets me get a feel for the patterns and in turn the books much more quickly while at the same time stimulating my creative serotonin.  It's my happy way of multitasking!  

Let me show you what I'm working on today: A basic ankle sock from Happy Feet, a book devoted totally to tootsies!  I'm giving the two circ method  a try and hoping that I have finally found the right project for this pretty yarn I won from Danielle at A Stash Addict well over two years ago (more about that later!)

Next up is a little knit pear pincushion from 50 Pincushions to Knit & Crochet. It's my first attempt at knitting something small and round(ish). My initial impression: crocheting small round things is way easier!

And to wrap it up for today it's the Triangle Tulip Shawl from Lovely Knitted Lace. I'm quite pleased with my progress on what the book describes as a "perfect pattern for beginners". The first pattern I tried was a scarf using the yarn from A Stash Addict.  Turns out I'm not quite ready for knitting nupps with skinny yarn and tiny needles!!

Of course there are more, but we can talk about those another time!
Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be Blessed and Stitch & Read with Love!

Hello Friends!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood and while we may be smack dab in the middle of summer Mother Nature is finally cutting us a break!  When it's hot out I tend to lean towards small thread projects to keep me busy.  Lately I've been focused on pincushions.  When I came across this little gem in the April 2013 issue of Crochet World I knew I had to make it.

The original pattern is for a tape measure holder/pincushion.  Of course I didn't have the same kind of tape so I needed to find something to use in it's place.  At first I thought about just stuffing the bottom, and then I remembered the little jar in my sewing box that I'd been keeping stray buttons in.

As it turns out it was just about the same size as the tape and minimal modifications were needed to make it work.  I figured if I made the pincushion into a jar topper the bottom could be used to hold notions like a needle threader, safety pins, small spools of thread and even the stray buttons, making it into a handy sewing kit perfect for those little mending jobs.

I followed the pattern through Rnd 8 of the Hat Bottom which is just a basic circle.  I added one more round (following the established pattern) so that the circle was the same size as the top of the jar.  Then I worked a round of sc in the  front loops only.  This give you the edge and you can start working down the sides.  I worked 4 rounds of dc in both loops until it covered the top. I finished with a round of sc worked into the front loops to form a small lip.

For the hat I followed the pattern again through Rnd 8, adding one more round just like I did for the base.  This way I knew that when I sewed them together I'd have the same number of stitches on both pieces (54, I think).  I did make one more modification.  I used a different flower than the one indicated.  I'm a fan of the traditional crochet roses so that's what I made using 3 different shades of pink. 

It's a fairly easy project - the magazine says "Confident Beginner" and I'd agree.  Even with the modifications it only took a few sittings.  I almost forgot.  I used a bit of fabric glue to secure the pincushion to the jar top. That way when it stays put when you open and close the jar.  I'm quite pleased with the whole thing.  It's quite charming and will certainly make a lovely gift. 

Well folks that's all for now!  Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends!

Last week one of the projects that I showed you was the totally groovy peace sign granny square from Petals to Picots.  My mission was to turn it into a pincushion for lovely young lady named Phoenix who volunteers at our library.  As you can see it was a terrific success and I'm overjoyed with the results.  It's a simple project that came together in just a few hours.  I made mine using Sugar 'n Cream Cotton in Sunshine, Hot Green and Psychedelic and a G hook.

Here's how:

1.    Using the granny square pattern, make just the peace sign.  For the base make a basic circle working in continuous rounds moving the stitch marker after each round. 

2.    When it's the same size as the peace sign work one round into the front loops only.  That forms the little edge and allows you to start working up.  Work 4 more continuous rounds making it about an inch and a half tall. Don't finish off.  To give it a bit more structure using the peace sign as a template, cut a piece of cardboard to fit snugly in the bottom. 

        To make the cushion, using the cardboard circle as a guide, cut 2 pieces of fabric about a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch larger than the cardboard.

3.    Put the wrong sides of the fabric together and using a basting stitch sew around the circle.  Leave 1/4 inch seam allowance and an 1 1/2 - 2 inch opening.  Leave the needle and thread attached.

4.    Turn the circle right side out and stuff with fiber fill.  Over stuff so it's nice and firm and puffy.  Fold the edges of the opening in and stitch closed.

5.    Plump up your cushion and stuff it into the base.  It should fit snugly.  You could stop right here and have yourself a great little pincushion.  In fact, that's exactly what we're going to be making at the next YA craft class at the library!

6.    To finish, attach the peace sign to the base by single crocheting through the back loops of the base and the front loops of the peace sign.  Fasten off and weave in the end.

Well that it'll do it for me today.  I have all kinds of projects to share with you so please stop back and visit again.  Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me,
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Hi there!

I don't know if it's hot where you are, but in north central Massachusetts the mercury has blasted through the top of the thermometer and the humidity is residing consistently in the "tropical" zone.  As far as I'm concerned this weather is inappropriate for anything except exotic plants and certain members of the animal kingdom.  Humans (especially this one) not included!

At our house we have one air conditioner.  It's centrally located in the dining/living room and we gather around it in hopes of maintaining some margin of sanity.  So far so good, yet I question how long we (my family and the A/C) can hold out!

The one thing that the heat has not stopped me from doing is starting new projects.  It must be some sort of condition that I suffer from that causes me to thrive on juggling multiple tasks .  It's not just in the crochet world, but in the book world too, as I always have at least two novels and one audio book going as well as the reviews that are in the works.  It used to worry me, now I just go with it!  Eventually things get done, and those that don't must not have been that interesting anyway.

Turns out I never did get to that Yarn Along post.  I will tell you that the book, The Sisters Brothers is a quirky delight.  It's a western set in the 1800's and the main characters are outlaws.  But truly they are the most endearing hired guns you're likely to ever encounter!  Good reading if you like off-beat humor and unconventional sentence structure.

There is one more project that I've been toiling with this week - Hats. Specifically for the My Mountain project (more on that soon!) I'm working on some designs that combine my favorite granny square and doily components with traditional cloche styles.  I finished one that's good, just not perfect - yet... but don't you worry, I'll be sure to show you what I come up with!

So that's what's in my project bag today.  How about you?  What do you like to work on when the temperature hits broil? I'd love to hear how you stay cool.  I was also wondering how many of you work on multiple projects simultaneously.  And if you do, what's your secret for getting them finished?!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Even though it's Thursday, I'll be linking up with some of my favorite Wednesday blogs!  Scroll down the sidebar to see who I'll be visiting with.
Until next time friends,
Stay cool, be blessed and stitch & read with love!