Cooling down

The weather is getting to be so wonderful, it's making me want to play with wool. It's making me wish I had purchased my spinning wheel like 3 months ago when I had the money saved for it, but no I wanted to wait....... What happens when you wait? That money gets used up for something else. The dogs got parvo :( so I helped pay for that (with my spinning wheel money), fathers day got my man a barbeque grill (used more spinning wheel money), bought myself a laptop and a camera (thats my own fault, but you know what I needed it and I'm glad I got them both)........ The rest went to groceries and such because we have a larger household and a lazy boy who doesn't want to do anything but lounge around, eat, play video games, hang out with his friends and girlfriend (who isn't even nice and walks in our house like she owns the place - Rude much!!!)

Ok here is the wheel I wish to buy, it folds up when not in use which makes it great for traveling around ans well as those warm summer months when I probably wouldn't want to spin much. It even comes with a carrying bag. I've used this wheel before so I know how it works, and it is so smooth and just a breeze to use. I love it, I love it, I love it.


Kromski Sonata (my dream wheel)


So I want my wheel, I don't have the money to buy said wheel. So what do I do about it, I am going to have to not spend my little paycheck and save that money, go into production mode a start making more to put in my etsy store, I am going to plan a yard sale and get rid of as much as I can so I can make as much as I can for my wheel. Oh I am going to do a craft fair, splitting a space 3-ways to minimize cost (it was a great deal anyway). Finish scarves for a co-worker so she can pay me and I can pay the girl who knitting the scarves for me so I can stitch a design on them. I have my work cut out for me don't I. If I can't save enough for the Sonata I will go with the Fantasia instead, it's also a very pretty wheel but it doesn't fold. I really do need a folding wheel because space is tight. But if I need to I will go ahead and buy this wheel instead, but I really really want the Sonata.



Kromski Fantasia



Slow and Steady wins the race

I got my photo board done, decided to leave off the fabric I was going to glue on for my background. I may add it on later but for now I'm good with a plain white board, it is working out great for my wallets as you can see here. Pictured here is my "Blue Jax Wallet," I am selling them for $8.50 you can view the pictured wallet here http://www.etsy.com/listing/80119942/blue-jax-cotton-walletgift-card-holder
Plus see more, you might find the perfect gift for someone. Use the coupon code at the right of the screen to save some money as well.

Blue Jax Wallet

Jim did a really great job on the painting, we might add another coat later on because a little bit of it came off when he put clamps on the very edges. For now I'm not worried about that bacause that portion of the board is not visible in the area that is included in my photos. We got the board finished this weekend, went pretty quick and came out better than I was expecting. I'm slowly changing all my etsy pictures, because those first ones came out too dark.

I'll be mailing in payment for a craft fair pretty soon, then I need to get some things finished by october 15th which is the day of the craft fair. The price was really good, tables are provided. We'll see what happens. I'm going to buy some Home essentials canvas fabric at work to make a few bags to take along for the craft fair, maybe get some orders and a more steady flow to my etsy store.

I'm activated!

I just recently purchased a laptop, so I will now be more active. Couldn't use computer much in the past, this day was coming for a long time. Just a bummer it took so long to arrive. I've been doing soom work on my etsy store, I think it's looking good so far you tell me http://www.kmlamore.etsy.com/. My photos do need some work though, this I know and they will be fixed alittle at a time...... I may hve a laptop now but I still have a life. At left you will find a coupon code you can use in my store, they will be changing so use them when you see em' or wait for a better one to show up.

San Francisco Giants blankey

Show and tell! In my last post I mentioned a project I was working on...... A baby blanket, not just any baby blanket but a Saf Francisco Giants baby blanket, I finished it in a timely manner and it was delivered to the proud parents of one little boy by the name of Bentley. Here it is. The charts took hours to make but I got them done. I recharted everything on the computer because it was getting requests for the patterns, I have the charts (all the charts made for this project even the ones that are not used) up for sale in my etsy http://www.kmlamore.etsy.com/ use the coupon code at left to save some dough. Note that I only have the charts for sale not the layout, because I want you to come up with your own composition. Please share when you do make something.


I got alot of unsure comments when I mentioned what all I was putting on the blankey and how, apparently my judgement and taste aren't very trusted to some folks. Oh well, they all loved it when it was completed. I'm not a sports fan........at all.


Would you believe I thought the San Francisco Giants were a football team!?! I get alot of laughs from that one, but what can I say? I'M NOT A SPORTS FAN....


I've even gone so far as to assume that the Greenbay Packers were baseball. Now you know how much I know about sports. But I sure can come up with a design huh?


SF Giants baby blanket by Krystal 6, a photo by k_lamore on Flickr.

LYS closed, no surprise there. It really is a shame. I got October started off well, got the job I wanted at Joann. Week 2 down, and I am still enjoying myself for the most part. I am a touch burnt out on putting away fabric, and I am sure I haven't even seen the worst of it yet. I am enjoying working at the cutting counter, I saw a few old students (all in the same day, strange?) The new girl and myself have to vacuum the floor at night.....argh! I don't like to vacuum, never did, never will. And Vacuuming the floor of a store is like 100x less fun, and it gets stuck on things so I have to run back and forth. but dispite my late night in store vacuuming loathingfullness I really am enjoying having a "really real" job again, ya can't beat steady income. I mean come on......I HAVE HOBBIES TO SUPPORT!!!

I was going to be a vendur at a local Mill -in event at the end of the month, but SF Giants baby blanket, stirring big pots of candy, bunny bite to the finger, and work have prevented me from getting anything done. Well just a few things, not nowhere close to what I was hopeing for. I may or may not go anyway, unless I am working of-course.

I'm officially a spinner now, makes me wish I still had that Dead or Alive cd I usedto listen to in high school. Then I could play You Spin Me Round whilst I spin some fiber around. How fun does that sound?

You spin me right round baby right round
like a record baby right round round round

I can't get it out now. Dramn

Knitting projects on the needles.

• The SF Giants baby blanket - my own pattern
• First pair of Frankensocks

those are the ones I'm working on currently, others on the needles set aside

• entrelac baby blanket - my own design
• sweater for me
• sculptable scarf made with steel, silk, and wool. I will felt it when finished

I think thats all, hey not bad. Just 5 projects, thats pretty cool. On the wheel right now I have a Merino, silk, bamboo blend waiting to be plied. As well as some Suri Alpaca, but I need spin another singles so I can ply. Suri Alpaca is so nice and soft, but it does really shed alot...... while your spinning it anyway.

Knitting Books I Would Recommend

Here is my top 10 list of th best knitting instruction books, all of the following books have wonderful clear easy to follow instuctions. I highly recommend any and all of these books, there are also many other books that are really great.

1. The Knitting Answer Book - A must have for anyone begginer to advanced
2. Teach Yourself Visually: Knitting, Socks, Spinning, Knitting Design
3. Knit Speak - A must when it comes to learning how to read a pattern
4. The Essential Guide to Color Knitting - Everything you need is in this book
5. Harmony Guide: Knit and Purl, cables and Arans, Lace and Eyelets
6. Vogue Stitchionary: Knit and Purl, Cables, Lace, Color Knitting
7. Sensational Knitted Socks/More Sensational Knitted Socks
8. Socks From The Toe-Up
9. Two at a Time Socks
10. A to Z of Knitting - easy to follow with great illustrations

Complete List of Knitting Abbreviations, plus Link to Laundry Care Guide

On occasion you'll find yourself needing abbreviations, perhaps your pattern doesn't give them to you or you run into something you've never seen in a knitting pattern before. So heres a complete list of standard knitting abbreviations I have gathered from many books and magazines, it is all in alphabetical order. If you find a new one not in this list please leave it in a comment below, you never know when a fellow knitter might need it.

( ) or [ ].............do instructions within parentheses/bracket as many times as directed
*.........................repeat instructions from asterisk as many times as directed
alt......................alternate/alternating
approx..............approximately
beg....................begin/beginning
bet....................between
BO....................bind off
CC....................contrasting color
cm(s)...............centimeter(s)
cn.....................cable needle
CO...................cast on
cont.................continue
dec(s).............decrease(s)
dk...................double knitting - both a yarn weight and knitting technique
dpn(s)............double pointed needles
EOR/eor........every other row
est..................established
foll..................follows/following
g/gr...............gram(s)
g st................garter stitch
in(s)...............inch(es)
inc(s).............increase(s)/increasing
incl.................includes/including
k.....................knit
k2tog.............knit 2 stitches together (right slanting decrease)
k-b/k1b........knit next stitch in row below - or sometimes knit 1 in back loop of stitch
kf&b..............knit into front and back of stitch - increase
kwise............knit wise - as to knit
LH.................left hand
lp(s)...............loop(s)
LT.................left twist
M1................make one - increase
MB...............make bobble
MC...............main color
meas............measures
mm(s).........millimeter(s)
mult............multiple
ndl(s)..........needle(s)
oz................ounce
p..................purl
p2tog..........purl 2 together
patt.............pattern
p-b/p1b......purl next stitch in row below or sometimes purl 1 in back loop of stitch
PM..............place marker
psso.............pass slipped stitch over knit (or purl) stitch
pwise...........purl wise - as to purl
rem.............remain/remaining
rep(s)..........repeat(s)
rev ST st......reverse stockinette/stocking stitch
RH...............right hand
rnd..............round
RS...............right side
RT...............right twist
sk................skip
skp..............slip, knit, pass slipped stich over - decrease
sl..................slip
sl st..............slip stitch
sp(s)............space(s)
ssk...............slip, slip, knit - left slanting decrease
ST st............stockinette/stocking stitch
st(s).............stitch(s)
tbl................through back loop
tog...............together
WS...............wrong side
wyib............with yarn in back
wyif.............with yarn in front
yb/ybk........yarn back
yf/YFWD....yarn forward
yo.................yarn over

We have all seen those strange symbols on our yarn labels (even clothing) and if written instructions aren't givin we have trouble or find it impossible to translate them. I found a simple easy to follow one page guide that tells you exactly how to read those symbols. It took me over 4 hours to find this a few years ago and I want to share it with you so that you do not have to go through the trouble of trying to find them yourself. Enjoy, and share it with everyone you know!
http://www.carelabels.com/lguide.htm
http://www.carelabels.com/docs/lguide.pdf - PDF file