needyl
knitting, among other things
Fulfilling Your Pattern Needs
There is no logic here
Published by Shana | Filed under Food
Amazon sent me enough vanilla beans and bottles to make a lifetime supply of vanilla extract. This is despite us already having at least a year’s supply of good stuff.
There is no logic here. Rationalization and self-delusion, sure, but absolutely no logic.
Who doesn't need a quart of vanilla?
Vanilla beans are one of those weird ingredients where you see 3 beans for $8 in a store, but can get 50 beans for $20, so perhaps they are the perfect specimen for backward logic projects.
There are 7.7 million tutorial on how to make vanilla extract, but in short – 3 beans per cup of vodka. Cut beans in half. Add vodka. Put both in jar for two months, shaking every once in a while.
I have about a month left before my quart of is ready. Send recipes.
Men’s Scarf Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Free, Knitting, Patterns
I like to pretend that I’m a selfish knitter, meaning I only knit for the ‘knit-worthy’ – those that would both help you move a body and truly understand the craft and time and love that go into hand-knits (and quilts, for that matter). The idea rose as a backlash against that jerk acting like they are doing you a favor by requesting that you make them something and that other jerk that informs you that you can buy socks already made at Walmart. Very helpful.
No, this isn't for me.
Crochet Christmas Stockings Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Crochet, Free, Patterns
Warning: Christmas is coming.
If you haven’t been to a store in the last 2 weeks, let this serve as your warning that we are within the 2 month mark for Christmas.
The people who wisely buy their Christmas presents are rolling their eyes and scoffing about how much time is left, but the crafters are panicking. The impending doom hit me like a ton of bricks about a week ago, and I realized I have nothing to decorate for Christmas. This seems VERY IMPORTANT this year, so I made stockings.
Crocheted stockings.
Despite how it may appear, I don’t crochet. I don’t have any idea how to write or read a crochet pattern. I’m completely unfamilar with typical terms. I contemplated not putting this up here, because sometimes crafters can have high expectations* for stuff they get for free, and I don’t have the time or desire to learn how to make this perfect.
If you’re not familar with crochet, you probably want to get a pattern written by a pro. Ravelry has tons. If you make this one, I’d love to hear specific improvements. Whiney tirades are welcome with an attached donation of $100.
*”Have high expectations” is a euphamism for “be self-righteous jerks”.
Imagine these say "Shana", "Pico" and "Doug". Or, if you so desire, "Lady Kick ass", "Lord Barkington" and "Sir Awesome"
Pucker up Cowl Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Free, Knitting, Patterns
I bought this yarn with every intent of making something for the fella. But then I got sick and needed something effortless to work on while laying in bed watching an entire season of Breaking Bad. So now I have a cowl.
Cowls are one of those things, much like shawls and fingerless gloves, that knitters love, but I’m not sure how much the general population embraces them. My coworker, however, told me I did not look stupid wearing it, that they were trendy right now, and people call them infinity scarves. So there you go – one unverified source suggesting that I am hip.
Yep. Here I am. Standing in my backyard. Staring at Doug. Like you do.
Productivity
Published by Shana | Filed under Knitting
I lack inspiration to post an update, so here is what I’ve made lately.
Suds
I made soap. It’s not difficult. About as tough as making soup, though if you mess up, you get a chemical burn. So, there’s that.
It works fine. Suds up great, is nice and hard (which means it’ll last longer), doesn’t dry out my skin. Only down side is that it kind of smells like an old man’s apartment. If I smell like AARP in the upcoming months, please do not shun me.
I put oatmeal in some. I don't know why.
Read the rest of this entry »
An act of lace
Published by Shana | Filed under Knitting
After 85,000 stitches, 12,000 beads and four months, this is what I have to present to you.
Oooo... ahhh...
I am assuming that you are gasping with delight and are thoroughly impressed will my skills. I will accept your compliments below.
Except, you know what, lace is really not that hard. It’s knit stiches, yarn overs, and decreases, with a bead slipped on here and there. That’s it. As long as you just keep going, you get something impressive. Not complicated, especially with a few years experience under your belt.
Knitters often have this weird fear of projects that look more challenging than work they’ve done in the past. They’ll hem and haw on message boards and digitally wring their hands over they challenges that they could never rise to. Read the rest of this entry »
Stripe Seven Knit Blanket Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Free, Knitting, Patterns
Friends. Please go have babies. My backlog of baby gifts is getting concerning. I’m two blankets away from crossing the line from ‘being prepared’ to ‘stockpiling’.
The destash purge continues, and I knocked out six skeins of some of the oldest yarn in my stash. I might have had to buy 3 more to do this project, but I’m netting out ahead. I actually knit this using Rowan RYX Luxury Cotton yarn, but I’m suggesting Cascade 220 as an alternative for a couple reasons. It’s cheaper, easier to find, and I think it’ll hold up better. The Rowan is very nice and drapey (it has silk in it), but let’s be real – even the most speshul snowflake baby doesn’t need a silk blanket.I just really wanted to use up this yarn.
I am considering doing another version of this blanket doing each stripe a different color. Being seven stripes, it’s begging to be made into a rainbow.
texturrific
Read the rest of this entry »
How to Resize a Quilt Pattern
Published by Shana | Filed under Quilting, Tutorials
Following someone elses’ patterns will only get you so far in life and quilting. Knowing how to take what someone else has put forward and bend it to your whims opens you up to a ton of potential. Here’s my rough guide for how to resize a quilt pattern to the dimensions you want. All you need is a calculator, scrap paper and a smidge of determination.
A note of warning: This won’t work with all quilt patterns, but should work for the majority of patchwork designs.
A note of encouragement: Math isn’t scary. Your high school math teacher was.
To resize a pattern, you need to decide the following:
- What size do you want the quilt to be?
- Do you want to change the number or the size of the blocks? (changing the number is easier)
Read the rest of this entry »
Anything You Can Do
Published by Shana | Filed under Food, Tutorials
Over and over lately, I’ve been having this nagging voice pointing out that people used to make staples – yogurt, bread, butter, soap. I know. I am the world’s most observant person.
But when you start looking at the world that way, grocery shopping becomes far more interesting. All of the things you used to just buy become challenges (post about soap coming soon!). Sure, I could buy a pound of butter and then go home and butter things with complete convience. Or I could pick up the locally produced, non-GMO, grass-fed cream, make my own, and have a one person finer things club.
How to Make Butter
Before you begin: Confirm that you actually like butter enough to want to eat it when it’s done. I accidentally forgot this part (anyone want some butter?).
One: Cream!
Buy heavy whipping cream. I recommend going with the stuff whose only ingredient is ‘heavy whipping cream’, because if you’re making your own butter, you might as well be preservative free.
A heavenly choir of angels sings.
Read the rest of this entry »
Offending Your Delicate Sensibilities
Published by Shana | Filed under Free, Knitting, Patterns
If you’re offended by things like f-bombs, you make want to a) stop reading or b) start clutching your pearls.
Since it seems to keep butting it’s ugly face into the lives of people I care about, it seems like high time to send a clear message to cancer. Specifically – “No one likes you, so GTFO.” And I don’t know how better to send this message than through knitwear.
Well, that doesn't seem so bad...