Resources for discount wool yarn

When I find a good deal, I like to share it with you all.  As often as possible, I do like to patronize the small knit shops and keep them in business.  However, there are times when I just can't afford good yarn from these shops.  Especially if I have a large project or I am doing something crazy like knitting felted slippers for the entire family.  Then I look at these sites:

www.knitpicks.com  - lots of good wools, sock yarns, and a good assortment of colors.  They also offer free shipping on orders of $50.00 and over.

http://www.thesheepshedstudio.com/ - this site has Brown Sheep yarn and mill ends of wool roving from Brown Sheep, among other things.  I am impressed with their prices!  For those of you who know Brown Sheep yarn, their "Lamb's Pride" yarn, both worsted weight and bulky weight, are only $3.00/skein. 

http://www.paradisefibers.net/Discount-Yarn-mill-ends-s/125.htm - I'm just beginning to look through this one, but it does look promising!

When I find more, I'll keep you posted!!

Things to knit that you would never imagine knitting

I figured that I should add these websites to this page. There are patterns out there for knitted items that are unusual, to say the least.  I doubt that you would use any of these in a Waldorf Kindergarten.  I just enjoy the creativity!  There are some patterns that are too "out there" for me!

But here are a few to enjoy:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/08/how_to_knit_a_dissected_rat.html

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/01/dissected_fiber_frog.html

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/10/strange-knits-and-yarn-monsters.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/PATTveganfox.html

http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2007/05/scary_knitted_animals.html

http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=91821907@N00&format=rss_200

I just showed these pictures to a couple of eighth grade boys and received their approval.  Unfortunately, with just a few exceptions, the patterns are not online, but have to be purchased.  I suspect, however, that with just a little trial and error, most of these could be figured out by other knitters.  The Vegan Fox pattern is online and I am hoping to make one of these soon. 

How to make a book binder's awl

When I began teaching bookbinding, I needed to provide my students with proper tools, including a book binder's awl for piercing holes in each section of pages.  I couldn't afford to purchase enough for a class, so I decided to make my own.  It's ridiculously easy.  Basically, I just glue a needle in a cork. 

For each awl, you will need:  one cork - champaigne corks and corks from cream sherry work especially well, one needle - size 2 crewel needles, one pair of pliers, and tacky glue.

Using the pliers, make the hole in the cork for the needle by pushing the needle in point first.  Then take the needle out of the cork, put a bit of glue at the "eye" end of the needle and push that end in the cork, using the pliers.

What was so lovely is that I found these awls to be much, much better than the professional book binder's awl that I purchased! 

One more note:  I use the size 2 crewel needles to sew the books together, too.  By the time I've sewn two or three books, the needle is slightly curved.  This is what I want! 

Squirrel Pattern

I use a sport weight wool. A nice one that is inexpensive is Lion Brand Yarn Fisherman Wool.  It comes in an 8 oz skein and I found it for about $10.00.  I only found this in two colors - natural white and brown.  An 8 ounce skein will make an awful lot of squirrels!

Body:

Cast on 18 sts, size 2 or 3 needles.

Work in garter st (knit every row) for approximately 20 rows.

Bind off

Sew each corner together for legs. Stuff with wool fleece and sew up tummy.

Head:

Cast on 12 sts

Work in garter st for approximately 6 rows.

Bind off

Sew two sides shut, leaving one open for stuffing. When it is stuffed, thread yarn on needle, gather the bottom opening, and sew to head with one of the seam sides to the front.

Ears:

Leaving a 3-4” tail, finger knit for 1 ¼”. Pull through head so that about ½” of knitting is showing on either side of head. Now pull the ends of the yarn through, close to where the finger knitted ear comes out of the head and, leaving the finger knitting to be a tiny loop, loose the end of the yarn in the body of the knitting and trim the end. Repeat the last step for the other ear.

Tail:

I use a large stitch holder to make the tail.

Wrap yarn around the stitch holder thickly, to the desired length.

Stitch with yarn tightly down the center of the wrapping.

End with a strong knot. Cut the loops and fluff up. Sew to tail end of squirrel.

Snails and slugs

These are a perfect use for all the leftover bits of sock yarn.  I found a pattern for these to be knit in the round on double pointed needles, however, that sounded like torture to me.  I adapted the pattern to be knit on two needles.

Slug:

On size 0 or 1 needles, cast on 4 sts.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: Knit, inc 1 in 1^st and 3^rd stitches (6 stitches)

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: Knit, inc 1 in 1^st and 4^th stitches (8 stitches)

Continue knitting and purling till slug measures approximately 1 ½ inches long.

Pull yarn through needle and stitch opening, stuffing a tiny ball of wool in the end to create a head.

Finger knit for about 1 ¼” for horns. Pull through head and weave ends back through horns, losing the yarn in the body. Trim end of yarn.

Snail Shell (to go on slug):

On size 0 or 1 needles, cast on 12 sts.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: Knit, inc 1 in 1^st and last stitches (14 stitches)

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: Knit, inc 1 in 1^st and last stitches (16 stitches)

Row 6: Purl

Continue knitting and purling rows without increasing for four more rows.

Row 11: Knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit till last four stitches, knit two together, knit two together

Continue knitting and purling rows till the entire shell measures approximately 3 inches. Pull yarn through stitches and sew opening, stuffing lightly as you go. Twist into tight spiral and sew together. Sew to slug body.