Victoria's Best Knits: September 2011

About me from the beginning...

Well, I guess I should start with an introduction of myself. I first started crocheting when I was about 16, my mom's been crocheting like forever and passed it along to me. I picked up knitting from my sister at about 21 yrs old and fell in love. Don't get me wrong, I love crocheting too, but I feel with knitting there is much more diversity in what can be made. Before I started driving, I would do my knitting on the train and people all the time started to ask me questions and I would show them patterns of things that can be made, they saw a particular pattern, and would usually say "Wow, I would love to have this made!" and I was getting offers and phone numbers of people who wanted for me to make them stuff. People who are non-knitters do not realize the time, effort, and money that goes into making a particular item. Sure, you can walk into any department store and buy a sweater for $20, but with knitting, most of the time if you want a nice sweater, the yarn alone can cost up to or more than $80, not to mention the labor put into making the sweater. So, I started making things for people as gifts because I didn't really have the nerve to tell someone that if I charged them $150 or more for a sweater made of some very luxurious yarns, I would feel like they would laugh in my face. However, they are people out there who do appreciate a one-of-a-kind hand made garment, and my knitting has expanded to pretty much everything. So, I am starting this blog to show people some of the items that I have made, if they are interested in anything to be custom made for them, I would be more than happy to discuss what you would like done. This bag here was the first bag that I created. I've used it to carry school books and other stuff and it's held up great. As you can see in the middle pic, it has a small inside pocket that can carry an ipod, mp3 player, or other things (The pocket size can be adjusted to your liking, of course). I used a very thick wool yarn for this bag, and it was the first bag that I meandered from a pattern with. Basically, I modified the pattern(as seen in "Stitch 'n' Bitch" the original book. Everything can be adjusted with bags and I love to make them. Small, big, backpacks, you name it! And there are so many variations of yarn that can be used, but generally speaking when making bags, you want to use a good sturdy yarn. The next pic of this bag is just to show how it looks being worn (kinda blurry, sorry that's my webcam!) This next item I made is just to die for. I also made it from the Stitch 'n' Bitch book, but I used similar (and less expensive) yarns that look practically identical to the finished product. It is a turtleneck poncho that is ribbed at the neck and designed with straps of furry yarn (lion brand fun fur, along with the basic yarn) and it's a perfect poncho to wear on days that are a bit chilly, but not too chilly, like now in days before spring, or on a nice spring night. This poncho has stripes of purple and red in a charchol wool base yarn and has a tie (optional) with two little pom poms at the end. I don't know if you can really see, but it ends in a "V" shaped fashion. Very nice to wear for a night on the town, or for any chilly day. Keeps your neck super warm, too! Anyway, I make all types of items, and the cheapest and quickest things to make are: hats, glovettes (fingerless gloves) cell phone covers, or ipod covers, thin decorative belts or scarves. If you want something made, have an idea of something you may want made for a loved one, we can chat and do some brainstorming. If you want to meet in person, I live in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, we can meet in person, if you like, or if you want to chat online my email is: vickys2133@yahoo.com Thanks for reading! PS-I am adding a photo album that shows all the projects that I spoke of.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Back to my Plastic Canvas Roots...

I'm currently making the 'Lidsville Hat' from Debbie Stoller's book 'Son of Stitch N Bitch', and I had loads of plastic canvas sheets. Unfortunately, my 'yarn stash' was becoming out of hand to say the least, and I threw away tons of plastic canvas sheets (tons of clear, as well as colored! Darn!)

So, I had to get a plastic canvas sheet and got a great deal of ebay. Instinctively, this brings me back to my 'plastic canvas' days.

Before I started to knit & crochet, I did cross stitch & plastic canvas a lot, until I got bored from making tissue box covers. However, since I now have extra sheets, I took a look through my book collection and found this awesome jewelry box pattern, in plastic canvas that I thought I should share with you.

My scanner is horrible, I know that, but you just click on the picture, and are able to zoom in, & see the entire pattern clearly, as well as print it. If, for some reason, you're not able to see the pattern by clicking on it, then send me an email if you're stuck at something and I will be more than happy to help you! I just simply love this pattern, it's different from other jewelry boxes because it has 2 levels inside the box. As you can see in the right side of the first picture, it has a handle with a case for items like necklaces, or it can be used to secure earrings by putting the earring through a space & secure it on the opposite side with the holder or clasp. Underneath the first level, are 6 seperate compartments to keep important jewelry together, like sets, and it minimizes the 'tangling' of chains. I love this box, and it would make a great gift for anyone, and an even better gift for yourself! Enjoy!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Current projects...

I'm working on this gorgeous crochet shawl/wrap that is made with Patons Lace, that you can see on the right. For those who have never worked with Patons Lace, it's a fingering weight yarn, and it's made from acrylic, mohair and wool. It feels absolutely great! However, this is not a weekend project, since the yarn is so thin and worked on a size D crochet hook, it takes a lot of time to make. The book where this pattern is in, called Patons Lace Breathtaking has 12 gorgeous items to knit & crochet. Since the yarn comes with over 400 yards, some items need only one ball to make an item. This particular item on the right, takes 2 balls to complete, which may seem like a little bit, but when you see the size of the balls, and how thin the yarn is, you can just imagine that it takes a long time to go through one ball!

I simply love this pattern, and I would like to have it done by the end of the month, since this coming autumn would be the perfect weather to wear a wrap like this in! Till next time...

Recommended videos to watch for Beginners...

I have accumulated a playlist on YouTube, in my opinion, of some of the best ways to start knitting & crocheting. I am screening videos and adding more everyday. For those who wish to learn how to knit, please learn how to make a slip knot, then casting on (in whichever method feels comfortable to you), the knit stitch, the purl stitch, reading a pattern (I would suggest something VERY simple for your first project, like a scarf), and binding off. For those who wish to learn to crochet, please watch making a slip knot first, then making a chain, then learning how to read a pattern (start off with something simple like a scarf) learning how to single crochet, double-crochet, half-double crochet, triple (aka treble) crochet. Also, like I said, I am adding more videos each day, so please keep checking and if you are stuck on something, feel free to contact me! You can also click the "YouTube" link on the toolbar at the bottom of this page to view the collection of videos, as well, or Click Here to see Videos!