~*~ Yarn Craft Check-In ~*~

musicalsilver

Hopefully yarn craft is general enough for all the crocheters and knitters out there ;-)

For those of you aspiring yarn-crafters, here are a couple sites to get you started!  If anybody has better suggestions for places to look, just let me know!  I learned knitting from a combination of the Stitch n Bitch book and random assortments of YouTube videos.

Crochet:

There's the Crochet School:

Which I keep meaning to start myself, being crochet-challenged.

Knitting:

Here's an Instructables Site:

As I said, I don't have experience with either of these personally, so others who've found good online resources, please share!

Now for our first project!!  Everyone who's interested will be making some toy blocks - the kind that don't hurt our LO's when the inevitably bash themselves in the head with ;-)

For those of you interested in crochet, here's a pattern to try:

And for those of you looking for a very basic knit pattern:

I've included the pattern below so you don't have sign up for lion brand yarn if you don't want to:

GAUGE: 9 stitches = 4 in. (10 cm) in Garter stitch (knit every row). EXACT GAUGE IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THIS PROJECT

BLOCK (make 2) Sides (make one in each A, B, C, D, E and F) Cast on 10 stitches. Work in Garter stitch (knit every row) until piece measures about 4 in. (10 cm) from beginning. Bind off. FINISHING Sew 4 Sides together to form a strip. Sew ends of strip together to make Block sides. Sew remaining Sides to each open end, stuffing Block with fiberfill before finishing last seam. Weave in ends.

For those of you who hate sewing seams and are able to maneuver around a slightly more complicated pattern:

For those of you with mad skillzzzz in the crochet/knitting department - decorate your blocks with fancy intarsia or cool textures!  Or crochet/knit an even cooler toy for us all to ogle :-D 

I'll try for a check-in next Monday to see how everyone progresses (or another day if enough people care to change it).

For now - post if you're interested in the challenge, if you'll be doing crochet or knitting, and if you plan on getting all fancy with it!!

Cricket81

I'm in! I will be trying the more advanced knit blocks. I need to go see if I have the right needles, though. I'm hoping to use up yarn that I already have. Can't wait to see other b's projects!!

cafecreme

I'm going to try this, but we'll see how it goes. I'm buying supplies tomorrow. 

https://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2013/3/14/whits-knits-baby-jumper.html

Cricket81

@Beary+Ghastly‌ Cute things like that make me hope for a future DD to knit for!

cafecreme

They had super cute vests for boys...maybe you could knit a lightweight one for spring? 

https://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2009/5/14/whits-knits-cabled-baby-vest.html

FSUwxgirl

Oh this sounds like fun! I'm going to crochet the blocks and I have some ideas on how to make them "fancy" but need to play around with it first. 

cafecreme

I started on the girls jumper. Man, I got a lot done while C's been napping. All I have to do is add the straps and I'm done. It's a little uneven, and I had some difficulty with some stuff, but overall it looks pretty good. I used a glittery pink yarn.