Yarn Crawl Part I: My take on Needles & Niceties

I actually started my yarn crawl in Upland, on Saturday, April 23, 2011. I went online and found Needles & Niceties. It was really easy to find. Just drive up Mountain Ave.

Needles & Niceties is run by a lovely husband and wife team, Bob and Ana. You may see their poodle hanging around the table.

The shop is a nice size, well lit, and an awry of products for all needle crafts. Most of the yarn comes from animals. I am sorry Vegan friends. For those who do not really care, they have beautiful, specialty balls; all balls no skeins. The price of yarn is fair for the market. It starts at $5.00 and goes up from there. Perfect if you want to purchase for a special hat or scarf. Or if you are looking for something that no one else has.

There are a lot of supplies for those who embroider. I know that the major chains are reducing these sections, so if you live in the area, you should stop by.

The reason I really went there was to learn about the classes that are offered. I take a lot of classes at JoAnn. In fact, JoAnn is the only place near me who offers classes and I wanted to branch out a little. What surprised me is the price of the class. It is only $5.00. That is correct, it is only $5.00. All that they ask is for you to purchase the supplies at the stores. Each student receives attention for the product they are working on. Just bring you’re your directions/instructions. Each class is small, just about 4-5 students, so please call to RSVP yourself a spot. If you have already purchased the yarn, and you still need help, call to have a one-on-one lesson. It is $10.00 per hour. That is a bargain.

Here are the class times:

Wednesday……………………..1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Thursday………………………..11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Friday…………………………...11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Saturday…………………………3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Are you ready to visit Needles & Niceties?

1655 N. Mountain Ave., Suite 116

Upland, CA 91784

(909) 985-6264

I took a break =D

I took a break from crocheting, I know I am a very bad girl. I just did not feel like working on my blankets. I also did not feel like writing about my experience at the different yarn shops, or editing videos. I will feel like it one day, I promise.

I did, however, sign up for twitter. That is correct, I am officially on Twitter. You can follow me @CrochetingJam.

I also wanted to make myself a bookmark. I just bought a planner to write a daily "TO DO LIST." I thought it would be cool to keep track of the page that I am on. So during lunch I went to Micheal's and bought the supplies. I made myself a pretty heart bookmark. I want to try the fan one tomorrow. I mean, the office should be quiet.

I will tell you something that is very interesting. I am taking an online class about the internet. This week, one of my assignments is to create a blogger account, and post two blogs. I think I am going to get full points on that assignment, what do you think?

The Claremont Yarn Crawl

I woke up this morning at 4:30. I worked my butt off to finish Every's blanket. Yup, it is done. Two down thirty to go. So, I decided to go to a new yarn shop in Claremont, California and they were having an event called, the Yarn Crawl. You visit the three shops in the area for an opportunity to win a basket of supplies.  How could I pass it up?

The shops are all within walking distance of one another, they each have different type yarns and supplies. I'll post a blog about each of the stores tomorrow.

Working on Avery's Blanket.

I have been so busy trying to ahow you on how to complete the pattern that I used for Brooklyn's and Jonathan's blanket, that I forgot to tell you about the blanket I am working on for Avery. I started it about a week ago, and I am almost finish. YAY!!!

I purchased 19 skeins of yarns, and as of this morning, I have 6 1/2 left. I think it will be done this weekend. OMG, I am so stoked. Then on to the next one. I promise not to get ahead of myself.

This is Avery's Blanket in the morning of 04/19/2011.

There were 9 skeins left.

I am on YouTube.

Information on Brooklyn's and Jonathan Blanket

As I promised, here is the information on the Diagonal Striped Blanket pattern that I used for Brooklyn's and Jonathan's blankets.

I originally found the pattern on Joann's website, however, the instructions were very confusing. So, I went to Lion Brand Yarn and found better instructions. If you would like to see the instructions on Lion Brand, you will have to sign up. Do not worry, it is free to sign up, and all the patterns that are listed are free so it is worth it.

The beginning of the pattern, you will crochet a triangle. That is correct a triangle. The side that you are stitching will get longer, and longer, and longer, and you will add more and more stitches. The 'ends' or the actually sides of the blanket will be relatively shorter than the side you are working. What you will have to keep in mind will be how long do you want the bottom. Why? The bottom will actually be one of the sides. So measure the sides.

The second step, you will make an oblong polygon. That is the only way I can describe it. You will continue to increase one of the 'side' This is actually the side of the blanket and it will become very long. The sides of your blanket will be determined by this long side. When you stop increasing, that will be how long the other side will be.

The bottom of the blanket will be complete, but you will start working on the second side. I know it sounds very confusing, just hang in there. While working on the side, it will be very short in comparison to the other side. You are actually decreasing stitches to create the angle.

The final step is to decrease on both sides. This will create the top of the blanket, and continue to increase the shorter side. Do not worry, when you finish, you will have a rectangle.

Brooklyn's Blanket

Pictures of Brooklyn's Blanket

Brooklyn's blanket was like a test blanket for me. I took it about about five different times, I and almost gave up.  I had to count the stitches in each row, and still made mistakes. My last weekend working on the blanket, I realized that I had the wrong amount of stitches, and had to take is apart. The pattern requires that you keep odd stitches in each row. No matter what!! If at any time you have even stitches, you made a mistake.

Also, I assumed that the pattern was a four row pattern, but in reality it is in eight rows. The pattern can be shorten or lengthen as long as you stop the increase on the eighth row. I stopped on the fourth row, so Brooklyn's is a little oblong. lol.

For the border, I played around. I think that it came out really cute, and I enjoyed working on it.

Johnathan's Blanket

Pictures of Jonathan's Blankets.

Jonathan's blanket to me has been a piece of cake. I mean, I had a lot of practice with Brooklyn's. lol

Continue to watch my progress on crocheting 32 blankets

I did it

I woke up this morning and I put myself to work. I made an introduction to YouTube and two tutorials. I am currently uploading them to my computer. I also took the time to take pictures of Brooklyn's completed blanket. I also took pictures of my progress of Jonathan's and Avery's blanket. Yippie! I am feeling very motivated this morning.

I am going to a dance recital today, I have to visit my Grandpa, and I have a homework assignment due tonigh. So tonight, or early tomorrow morning, I will start uploading everything. I guess that means that I will not be crocheting much today.

I am getting excited

Okay, yesterday, I did not blog. I laid down to take a nap, and I did not wake up. LOL. I did, however, get some crocheting in. I completed a skein for Jonathan's, started Avery’s blanket, and created a Flickr account. My goal in a few hours is to take pictures of my progress and get them all posted. Well, I will probably post them tonight.

I also spent some time looking at YouTube channels. I will tell you that there are a lot of channels out there that are devoted to needle art. So, I think I know how I want to run my channel. I am going to teach you exactly how I would teach a friend. 

I do have a dilemma, I am working on two separate blankets, so I have to get two tutorials up in a matter of a few days. I have decided that Jonathan’s and Brooklyn’s blanket will be posted at three different videos, because it is completed in three different steps. Avery’s blanket is easier and can be completed in on tutorial.

Now, that I have cleared my mind, I can now get some sleep. Yay! I am so excited, are you?

Crocheting with the Lovely Ladies at work.

Today at lunch, I crocheted with the ladies at work. That is right, we get to crochet at work. I have the best job =D

Any Hoot, I told a co-worker that I am going to make a different blanket for each member of my family. No one will have the same blanket as another except for Jonathan and Brooklyn. I also told her that I was thinking about posting how to crochet these blankets on YouTube. I think that it will be a really cool idea.

I know that it will be a lot of work, but I think that I can do it. I have a camcorder, a digital camcorder, and a web cam. What I have to decide now is how am I going to make myself stand out from others on YouTube? HHHmmmmmm.....Any Suggestions?

A little encouragement

So, I was looking online yesterday, and ran across a contest being held by Red Heart Yarn. It is call, Wednesday Night Stitching Challenge. I thought this would be perfect for me.

So here is how it works:

• First, you have to like Red Heart Yarn on Facebook. That was easy
• Next, you have to post a picture on Red Heart's wall of what you are working on. That is easy, I am working on Jonathan's blanket
• Then, you have to write a description of what you will be doing while stitching. Watching T.V. for me

Red Heart will then copy the picture into their contest Album. The five projects that get the most votes will receive: 6 skeins of Red Heart yarn, 2 booklets, Susan Bates needles & hooks, and a subscription to Crochet Today! Or Knitting Today!

So yesterday afternoon, I posted this picture of Jonathan's blanket.

The blanket for Jonathan

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150158824219654&set=a.10150151592664654.300002.139806024653&type=1&theater

Be a Doll and Vote for it.

I should have started earlier

I am starting this blog for one reason only, to keep track of myself!!!!

In February, I decided that I would crochet a blanket for all of my brother, sisters, nephews, and nieces for Christmas. I thought that it would be a piece of cake. I purchased all the yarn, started crocheting and felt like I could do it. Boy, what a mistake.

We are now in the second week of April, and I have only one blanket complete, and I have started three others. So, you are thinking, you can still do this. Well, I am here to tell you that I have 32 blankets to make. That is correct, I have 32 blanket to make and I plan on posting my progress on here weekly.

Every week, I will post how far along I have come on the blankets. I will also name them after the person that I am giving it to. (Note: I have changed their real name for security purposes).

Wish me luck.