Great Community
There’s lots of groups and networks for whatever your knitting or crocheting heart desires. Ask questions in the forum, look for pattern help, plug in and make some new friends, share your expertise, or simply post your completed projects for the whole community to see. Trolling the groups is also a great way to get a birds eye view into the knitting and crochet subculture.

Great Tools
There are lots of great tools too like a project tracker, stash manager, needles and hooks manager, you can favorite your favorite projects, place them in a queue, keep track of works in progress, and check out what others have to say about the pattern you’re working on. And the tools don’t suck. All the yarns actually link to the manufacturer, colorway, etc. You can even include when you bought it and the price. They’ve really thought of everything.

For crafters who also sell their handmades online, it’s a great way to maximize your exposure. Kind of like Facebook but for Knitting or Crochet only!

What I Like Best
The really advanced pattern finder. You can search for very specific things from hats for kids in worsted weight yarn only to all free patterns for skirts to only projects using Size I9 hooks or US SIze 5 Needles. It’s really handy. For crafters looking for just the right pattern or some inspiration it’s really one of the best pattern finders out there. Simply because it’s crowd sourced!

You can also find lots of helpful pattern insight. For example, if someone or some people have already worked on your pattern and posted it up, you can find it there, check out their comments and errata to see if they’ve stumbled across the same problems you have! There are so many projects and patterns, especially free ones found online, that it’s probably been done by someone on Ravelry! Yup, it’s that great.

The only cons are you must be logged in to see anything. So someone cannot simply link to a page, me on Ravelry, and just see some content. Which I find really restrictive. They should make some pages public or at least partially public like on Facebook! It would at least give people a taste of what they might be signing up for before they sign up. Other than that I hope they never change how well it works or how many great features they offer!

It’s Free!
Ravelry now has 3 million users! So it’s popular and definitely a powerful resource. 3 million knitters and crocheters from all over the world is in itself a cool concept. It’s really a knitter or crocheter’s dream online buddy. For those who are especially organized, it’s got everything you need to satisfy your obsession. Really. If you’re not already on there, check it out. It’s free to join, and you’ll find there’s something on there to suit every fiber need from dabblers to die hards!

Download OMG! Heart on Kindle Blogs right from Amazon just like you would any Kindle book.

I love the Kindle too! I love to read but it wasn’t until a couple years ago that I finally caved and decided to try a Kindle. It took me awhile to give Kindle a try, mostly because I not only like books, I like real books.

Real books have a sense of character and history. Cover design, book bindings, paper, fonts and layouts, and smell! Especially used books and books my friends lend me. I wonder, who’s read this book before me? Where’s it been? This one’s surely been hanging out pool-side or been a coffee cup coaster at some point in its life. What has it seen? The weary business traveler awaiting his next connection? The grade school wallflower head buried in a book all by his lonesome during recess? Frazzled career woman relaxing in a hut by the beach? The newly imported runway model who goes to my gym? Grandma sitting by the fire with her fave cup of tea? The 30-something curled up in her favorite chair? Prison cell, highway motel…

But once I got the Kindle I was addicted. I chose the most basic model, it’s the smallest and the lightest of them all. You can have as many books as it can fit, over 1,000, at your fingertips anytime you want. It’s now like a safety blanket for me. I bring my Kindle anywhere and everywhere. You never know when you’ll be stuck on the train, waiting in line, stumble upon a nice little spot you’d like to duck into. It’s so light, compact, and handy that you can have a book with you at all times! It fits so easily right in your purse. And the idea of a book lover never having to be without a book. Ever? Awesome.

Pros:
-Super slim, low profile, compact. Pretty light, under 6oz. Holds over 1,000 books!!
-Fits easily in your back jeans pocket, purse, clutch etc.
-The battery lasts pretty long. I spent most of a 2-week vacation (half without Internet) doing lots of reading. And when I got back it was still going, although without that much juice left.
-I added the Leather Book Cover so I can hold it just like a book! It barely adds any bulk. $39

All that for $69 really isn’t bad considering that will buy you about 6 books. You can carry over 1,000 books at a time. That sure beats bringing several real books on your next trip since it’s a huge space saver. Imagine having to lug Infinite Jest or Illuminatus around on your next beach holiday? Or just on the train? Or a trunkload of books during your 24-month Peace Corps mission?? Your next deployment to Afghanistan?

BONUS! There are loads of Free Kindle Books, mostly Classics. Get 10 of those or more and your Kindle pays for itself. The free books are always rotating too. Sometimes they’ll offer some books free to download for a limited time only. It’s kind of like a fun book lottery. Daily Deals and 100 Books Under $3.99 are also constantly rotating. Lastly, almost every Kindle Book has a FREE SAMPLE! So you can always download a free sample of any and as many books as you’d like right onto your Kindle.

Cons:
Kindle books can be expensive. $9.99 is the standard price and it goes up from there. Why? Considering there are no materials or physical products to manufacture, ship, or display? Sometimes the actual book itself is the same price! Publishing rights can’t be the price of book itself. I’ve even seen some that are more expensive than the actual book… e.g. The Kindle Edition of Illuminatus costs MORE than the version in actual book form… BOO! Also, the Leather Book Cover is highway robbery at $39.99.

Amazon would not let me give it away for free. The minimum purchase price to download my blog is $0.99/month but you do get a 14-day trial to start and can cancel anytime. Post your comments and reviews, good or bad, right on Amazon too! My Review: My blog looks slightly crunchy on the Kindle since it’s very image heavy. But not much I can do!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

PS. For other book lovers out there, the Pierpont Morgan Library right here in NYC is my dream library. J.P. Morgan, founder of J.P. Morgan & Co., also loved books and was an avid book collector. His collection is housed in a library he built next to his home on 36th Street. The original library itself and the museum built around it is open to the public and a wonderful visit for any book lover.

Yup! St. Louis, Missouri. It was my first time in the true Midwest! I’ve been to Chicago, Ann Arbor, even drove through Indiana briefly! But that’s pretty much it. I was excited to get the chance to visit and stay with my friend, Marlene, who had moved out there a couple of years ago to help open a coffee shop. Although I didn’t get to check out the “yarn scene”, the trip is worth a mention because how many people write about their trip to St. Louis? This not so popular travel destination has some quintessential American Culture that makes it really worth visiting. In short, I loved it. Here’s a rundown of all the wonderful places I visited!

Sump Coffee, South City
This is my friend and her boyfriend’s artisan coffee shop! A short hop from Cherokee Street, they roast and brew their own coffee in-house. The shop had a modern feel, with some industrial undertones, and a hint of steam punk. Open and airy, it featured handcrafted tabletops and is great for bringing a good book, chatting with friends, or surfing the internet.

I’m not much of a coffee drinker (I like tea!!) and thought that this coffee might be too fancy for me. But even I liked the coffee! I had the same “roast” every day, some sort of blonde roast, that had a really complex flavor I couldn’t figure out. The beans were light brown. I had the same roast in both “black” brewed by Marlene and as a latte pulled by Scott! It was delicious! In the back of the shop there is another shop! A bike shop run by their friend Matt also under the same name “Sump” where he offers motorcycle restoration services. Thanks Scott and Marlene!

Moolah Movie Theater, Lounge, and Bowling Alley, Midtown St. Louis
Not only does this movie theater have a bowling alley too but it also has a full bar! And instead of regular seats, you sit on couches! So you can have a drink while lounging on a comfy couch while watching your movie! We saw Oz, The Great and Powerful in 3D (It was meh but fun)! The theater had an old fashioned atmosphere. Located in an old Masonic building with matching architecture. Think NY City Center here in NYC, just slightly less grand plus decor from “yesteryear” in a way.

Courtesy Diner, Tower Grove
3153 S Kingshighway, St. Louis, MO 63139, (314) 776-9059
This roadside diner had a really great local feel. A place for “regulars” that serves solid honest comfort food. They are famous for their “slingers” which is a dish made of a hamburger patty, hash browns, eggs, chili, cheese, and onions. And other wonderful things like Frito Pie, which I always wanted to try but never have, and tons of pie pies!

I loved the food at this greasy spoon so much we went twice. MMMmmm. Everyone from the counter ladies to the short order cook were really friendly. The short-order cook, Dan, made us a pancake shaped like a mushroom! It’s Toad! A Super Mario Bros. mushroom to be exact. Pancake art! I had just the simple bacon and eggs breakfast. I dunno what they do to the bacon, eggs, and hash browns but it’s soooo good. Bacon, eggs, hash brown, and toast about $5.

La Vallesana Tacos & Ice Cream, Cherokee Street, South City
My favorite place to eat during this visit. Best. Mexican Food. Ever. Located on Cherokee Street, I had a huge mango drink that was actual mango. And the chicken and beef tongue enchilada. MMMmmm. It came with all the fixins and was about $15 total. Guacamole and chips too. They also sell homemade ice cream and ice cream popsicles in wonderful flavors like Horchata and Coconut. This casual eatery is great for lunch or a fun casual night out.

STL Style House, Cherokee Street, South City
Also located on Cherokee Street, we stopped in to check it out and I bought some t-shirts for my mom and brother. You can choose from pre-printed t-shirts or pick a design from the wall, choose a t-shirt, and they’ll print it for you on the spot. The space is really neat with hand drawn murals, art, and another room for events. It had a record store feel. We met Will there who was super nice and was telling us all about St. Louis.

Cherokee Street, South City
My favorite “neighborhood” that I visited. After we had La Vallesana we strolled down Cherokee Street. It seemed like an artist area with a hodge podge of stores. We came across some great characters and some unusual storefronts like a store selling only Mexican Wrestling Masks. La Lucha Libre! It could be a movie scene in say Gummo. This area was colorful but was also somewhat depressed with rows of boarded up houses.

Taste Bar and Restaurant, Central West End
AH-MAZING drinks and decadent tapas or small plates in a modern yet old-timey saloon feel. Hipster-y but without the attitude. The food was delicious and a special drinks menu from a guest bartender. My friend had the most amazing drink that tasted like cinnamon. Clams in white wine and Wild Mushroom Salad were my fave. A place like this could be found in Brooklyn or perhaps West Village, Tribeca. Definitely worth a visit for a nice night out without being too stuffy.

City Museum, Downtown St. Louis
How to describe this museum? As incongruous as St. Louis! The inside was a giant playground of sorts mixed with a museum of oddities feel. Visitors, mostly kids, can crawl through the maze of “art cages” kind of like a jungle gym but built into art installations. They can also browse through the collection of door knobs or vintage carnie art and tchochkes. A hall of mirrors, a giant hamster wheel. Outside there was “MonstroCity”, a playground built in and around the building itself with a giant yellow bus hanging off the side of the roof! Explore the other attractions too like a small ring “circus” theater, indoor jungle gym, old timey coffee shop set inside an old arcade decorated with giant underpants and an oversized chair. Must see, great for kids. There is a small Aquarium located inside too. Read all about what’s contained in this mad wonderland here. $12.

St. Louis Arch and Museum of Western Expansion, Downtown St. Louis
After hitting the City Museum we headed over to the Arch to ride the Tram up to the top! Located in a park right along the Mississipi River right on the border of Missouri and Illinois, the monument representing St. Louis as the “Gateway to the West” was a beautiful structure. But the experience itself sounds better than it actually is. The tram capsule, a tiny retro futuristic all white pod with 5 small seats, is fun for about 5 seconds. The ride up to the top was un-scenic rickety and lasted 4 minutes. The top was a claustrophobic, cramped, crowded, and head-ache inducing sliver of space with a sloped floor no less and tiny viewports to look through. Then back down in a capsule on a 3 minute ride. The waiting area was a small mini museum of the history of the Arch and how it was built. This comes with your ticket. The lines here are long and there’s a lot of waiting. Tram Ride $10, Museum Free.

The Museum of Western Expansion was conveniently located right in the lobby area of where you take the tram! So we stopped in this small little museum area to check out some Native American and Pioneer scenes. Best part, the animatronic exhibits!! See an old Civil War General robo through a taped recording. Or some old shoemaker tell you about his job. Awesome. Not bad since it’s free too.

St. Louis Art Museum and Forest Park, Forest Park, Midtown St. Louis
This stop was my favorite during my visit. Love this museum. Also known as “SLAM”, it sits atop a hill overlooking Forest Park. Small yet chock-full of great stuff is the best way to describe it. Unpretentious and not at all exhausting like how some giant museums can be. We saw it all, took our time, and still made it out in about 2 hours or so. And guess what? Admission is entirely free!

And Forest Park was really lovely. Fountains, hills, small bridges and ponds. Hidden beside the museum I spotted a peculiar tree sticking out that from far away looked as if it was made of ice! Closer inspection revealed it was made entirely of aluminum. Loved it especially because we had almost the entire big wide-open beautiful park to ourselves. A luxury for someone who’s used to crowds where there’s anything worth going to.

St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, Midtown St. Louis
We did not go to the St. Louis Zoo but it was right down the hill from the museum and also located inside Forest Park. It’s supposedly the best zoo in the country! And guess what? It’s free too.

About St. Louis
St. Louis, the “Gateway to the West”, is known today for things like craft beer, home of Anheuser Busch and Monsanto (yes, the GMO people), and lots of German stuff. It was a lot of wide open space, rows of boarded up houses and storefronts from old eras, and sparsely populated. Abandoned. Empty. Forgotten. Weird. In some areas it felt as if the whole town had abruptly been deserted, like last week or something yet longer than that maybe decades ago. I felt like I was on the set of a Walking Dead episode but in real life. We drove by many a venue where Grimes and his crew could have holed up. Or stumbled upon Michonne and her jawless (and armless) zombie minions inside one of the abandoned boarded up houses. On the outside it seemed desolate. Dusty shop windows barely revealing outdated furniture and wares, no pedestrians. Eerie. Post-apocalyptic. However, not all areas were like that and stepping inside any one of its open establishments revealed a very much alive, warm, and welcoming atmosphere.

I also found “Middle America” not at all what I expected. Perhaps it’s because St. Louis is a microcosm unto itself surrounded by a sea of actual middle america, or I saw a very narrow slice of STL, but it was not at all like the stereotype you see in movies or television. No ignorant hillbillies or rednecks driving their tractors to the Piggly Wiggly or overweight “poor white trash” drinking Super Big Gulps. (e.g. People of Walmart) In fact quite the opposite. Everyone I met seemed warm, friendly, smart, savvy. Chatty. A somewhat welcome change from NYC. The sparsely populated feeling was well appreciated when we went to visit “SLAM” and Forest Park where we felt like we had the whole park to ourselves to peacefully enjoy. Ahh, wide open space and no people. I did see a guy in all camo hunting gear driving a snowplow he had jerry-rigged to his ATV, plowing the snow on the sidewalk. The short order cook at a roadside diner as if you’d see in a movie. I also had flashbacks of Jay and Silent Bob standing outside the Kwik Stop on occasion. St. Louis was was full of unusual contradictions like that. Incongruous. On the outside they may have fit the stereotype. But on the inside they were far from it.

In short, I loved it! And would highly recommend visiting. I did not get the chance to check out what St. Louis had to offer in terms of the “yarn scene” but perhaps next time. It’s hard to compare it to another city but it’s a very affordable destination with some nice little attractions. A short easy trip and great for getting outta the city. My roundtrip flight was 3 hours and $216 on Southwest! Which by the way is an awesome airline. And many of the attractions and offerings are also very affordable. A great budget trip that comes with some quintessential American Culture.

If the above album doesn’t work, see my Picasa Web Album for full gallery.

Look at these cute little crochet bows by Adaiha. They remind me of Hello Kitty bows! The pattern is easy and comes with really nice detailed photos too.

She provides step-by-step photos, the pattern, and even a downloadable PDF for your convenience. She’s also been working on a “Granny Square A Day” project since 2011! Her page also includes a list of great resources and books for crocheting granny squares.

Original Pattern by Adaiha – [pdf]

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn
Crochet Hook: US Size H [5.00mm]
Approximate Size: 2.5” X 1.5”

Pattern:
Make a magic ring.

Ch 5, 3 tr in ring, ch 5, sl st in ring, ch 5, 3tr in ring, ch5, sl st in ring.

Cut yarn leaving a tail at least a few inches long. Weave yarn tail through the first ch stitch at the very beginning and fasten off.

Create the center of the bow by wrapping the two ends under and then back over the bow a few times until satisfied. Create a chain of stitches to wrap around the bow if desired. Fasten off and weave in ends. Done!

Note: Leave an extra long yarn tail and do not trim if attaching the bow onto something else.
Variations: Increase or decrease the (tr) stitches to make the bow fatter or skinnier as seen in Photo #2.
e.g. Substitute “3 tr” for “2 tr” or “4 tr”.

• Open To All (Worldwide)
  Etsy http://www.etsy.com/
  Artfire http://www.artfire.com/

  Open To All (United States)
  Dawanda http://dawanda.com/
  iCraft http://icraftgifts.com/
  Zibbet http://www.zibbet.com/
  Supermarket http://supermarkethq.com/

  Bonanza (1000 Markets) http://www.bonanza.com/
  Uncommon Goods http://www.uncommongoods.com/
  Goodsmiths (Craft.ly) https://www.goodsmiths.com/
  Lily Shop http://www.lilyshop.com/
  Silk Fair http://www.silkfair.com/

  Luulla http://www.luulla.com/
  Made It Myself http://www.madeitmyself.com/
  Shop Handmade http://www.shophandmade.com/
  Not Mass Produced http://www.notmassproduced.com/
  Trunkt http://www.trunkt.com/
  Indie Public http://www.indiepublic.com/
  Craft Juice http://www.craftjuice.com/
  Ravelry (Patterns Only) https://www.ravelry.com/

  Shopping Carts/Markets
  Big Cartel http://directory.bigcartel.com/#handmade

• Open To All (Outside US)
  Misi UK http://www.misi.co.uk/
  Folksy UK http://www.folksy.com/
  Coriandr UK http://www.coriandr.com/

  Blue Caravan Australia http://www.bluecaravan.net/
  Made It Australia http://www.madeit.com.au/
  Indie Australia http://www.indie.com.au/
  Artis & Grove Australia http://www.artisandgrove.com/
  Felt New Zealand http://felt.co.nz/
  Toggle New Zealand http://www.toggle.co.nz/

  Signerat Sweden http://www.breslo.ro/
  Sashe Slovakia http://www.sashe.sk/
  Fler Czechoslovakia http://www.fler.cz/

  Curated/Invite Only
  Brika http://www.brika.com/
  Ammiki http://www.ammiki.com/
  Paper N Stitch http://papernstitch.com/
  Poppy Talk http://www.poppytalkhandmade.com/
  Boticca http://boticca.com/
  Firefly Handmade http://fireflyhandmade.com/
  Poketo http://poketo.com/

  Handmade Markets to Buy Only
  Ten Thousand Villages http://tenthousandvillages.com/
  ReForm School http://www.reformschoolrules.com/

Reviews and Recommendations
If there’s a great handmade marketplace you like, please let me know. Especially if they are from different countries! These mostly include North America, UK, Australia etc. (Or English speaking countries!) I tried to include the ones I’ve come across most often and/or saw and liked. A few of them look dicey but for the most part if they looked too dicey I kept them off.

Aside from a few, I have never bought or sold anything on these markets. So I cannot vouch for how reliable they are. Check them out and do some research before selling.

Does the site look pretty? Is it easy to use? Sometimes I go by how the site looks! Sounds wacky but it makes a difference, a site that looks nice and professional is more likely to be more legitimate etc. (But hey, marketplaces like eBay started out looking crappy, and still look crappy, that are definitely legitimate, and still very popular.) Is the site popular? How popular the site is means how much site traffic or shoppers you’ll get. Think setting up shop in a busy street or a mall vs. off the beaten path. Same idea.

Check out selling fees, customer service, payment options etc. I do know that the ones that have made it onto the list have been around for at least 3-5 years. Only a few closed shop and/or got bought out. Google for “handmade marketplace reviews” for some feedback. Here’s an example of a great one on Mashable. It has a nice comparison chart of a few on my list. Not web savvy? Google it! Google is simple to use and you can google all your questions in plain english right in the search field. e.g. “How do I sell stuff on Etsy?” “What’s a good handmade shop to use?” There will be a wealth of information.

Where To Buy
http://eu.fab.com/sale/4873
http://mrgugumissgo.bigcartel.com/
Via http://boingboing.net/2013/01/29/photorealistic-full-screen-swe.html

But Dec 21, 2012 came and went. The world did not end as predicted by the Mayan Calendar yet it sure seemed like dark days. Making it officially: The. Worst. Apocalypse. Ever. Not so much in magnitude but in substance…

It wasn’t all bad though. The 2012 Elections here in the U.S. rang in another “Four More Years” for President Barack Obama; Fiscal cliffs were averted; The apocalypse did NOT happen; Etc. Etc. So this year’s a new year. And new hope means new beginnings! Verdant, Prosperous, Rejuvenating, Healing, Energizing, Inspiring. Making this year’s Pantone Color of the Year especially fitting.

“Emerald, a vivid verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight as well as promoting balance and harmony.” – Pantone.com

Photos on this Post
Earrings, Zhush
Lights, We Heart It
Glasses, Lives Less Ordinary
Dress, Naeem Khan
See my Pinterest Gallery for more Pantone Emerald!

Via http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21055
Via http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=21056&ca=10

Materials:
2 Balls Lion Brand Yarn Lion Wool, Color 187 Goldenrod, 158 yards, $5.99
Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle

Needles:
US Size 5 [3.75mm] Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needles, 16inch
US Size 5 [3.75mm] Double Pointed Knitting Needles (dpns)
Cable Needle

Measurements:
23″ circumference
8″ inches high

Gauge:
4.5 Stitches per Inch
5 Rows per Inch

Skill Level: Intermediate

Pattern:
Body:
Cast On 162 stitches.
Round 1: Color A [K1, bring yarn forward, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn back]. Repeat from [...] until end of round.
Round 2: Color B [slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn forward, P1, bring yarn back]. Repeat from [...] until end of round.
Round 3 – 80: Repeat Rounds 1-2 for 39 more times. Or until hat measure 6.5 inches tall. Make sure to end on Round 2.

Begin Decrease Rounds:
Decrease Round 1: Color A: *[K1, bring yarn forward, slip 1, bring yarn back] 7 times, slip next stitch (color A) purlwise, place next stitch (color B) on cable needle and hold at back, place first stitch back on left needle and knit it together with next stitch (both stitches should be color A), bring yarn to front, place color B stitch back from cable needle onto left needle, slip both color B stitches purlwise, bring yarn back*. Repeat from * to * until end of round.
Decrease Round 2: Color B: *[slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn forward, P1, bring yarn back] 7 times, slip next stitch purlwise (should be the stitch you decreased above), bring yarn forward, P2tog (both stitches should be color B), bring yarn back*. Repeat from * to * until end of round. (144 stitches)
Decrease Round 3: Repeat Round 1 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 4: Repeat Round 2 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 5: Repeat Decrease Round 1 but substitute “7 times” for “6 times”.
Decrease Round 6: Repeat Decrease Round 2 but substitute “7 times” for “6 times”. (126 stitches)
Decrease Round 7-8: Repeat Round 1-2 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 9-10: Repeat Decrease Round 1-2 but substitute “7 times” for “5 times”. (108 stitches)
Decrease Round 11-12: Repeat Round 1-2 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 13-14: Repeat Decrease Round 1-2 but substitute “7 times” for “4 times”. (90 stitches)
Decrease Round 15-16: Repeat Round 1-2 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 17-18: Repeat Decrease Round 1-2 but substitute “7 times” for “3 times”. (72 stitches)
Decrease Round 19-20: Repeat Round 1-2 (of original pattern).
Decrease Round 21-22: Repeat Decrease Round 1-2 but substitute “7 times” for “2 times”. (54 stitches)
Decrease Round 23-24: Repeat Decrease Round 1-2 but substitute “7 times” for “1 times”. (36 stitches)
Decrease Round 25-26: K2tog/P2tog around (slipping stitches only to rearrange them). (18 stitches)

Finish:
Cut yarn ends leaving 8″ tail. Thread each yarn end onto tapestry needle and through like-colored stitches. Cinch yarn end to close the top of each side of the hat. Weave ends in on each side by following the path of the stitches (like duplicate stitch) so they are not visible.

Make oversized pompom. Approx. 3 inches wide. Make sure to leave ample tail for attaching. Attach pompom.

Weave in ends.

How to Make a Perfect Pompom
I wanted a good fat puffy GIANT POMPOM! I also wanted to make make sure it was about 2.5 to 3 inches wide. But i didnt want to spend money or buy extra junk like a pompom maker, so I came up with an easy way to make a pompom template.

All you need is some scrap cardboard, scissors, a mug and a quarter or an old CD to use as stencils.

Make 2 rings (like a donut shape), cut a slit through the rings making the donut shape into a C-shape. Widen the slit by trimming some more off the ends so it’s easy to pass the yarn through.

Take yarn, wrap around the C-shape as if you’re trying to make a yarn covered “C”. No need for needles or pre-cutting yarn. Just slip yarn through the slit to wrap. This way there’s no wasted yarn, the working end of the yarn is coming straight from the ball and you’ll never run out.

To make sure the pompom comes out the size needed: e.g. If you need a 3 inch pompom, the rings have to be about 1.5 inches thick (plus a little extra for trimming).

When full enough, snip edges, pull yarn tail through, cinch, and tie. Fluff and trim making sure to not trim off yarn tail. You’ll need that to attach the pompom.

Here are some other great references with detailed photos on how to make a pompom:
www.inklingsandyarns.com
www.prudentbaby.com
www.classiceliteyarns.com
www.ehow.com

Notes:

Ski Hat by Alison Hansel

This hat is knitted in the round or circular knitting from the brim up to the crown. So no turning of your work required. Just join the first and last stitch from Round 1 and continue knitting as normal in circular knitting. Make sure to place stitch marker onto needle before joining (After Round 1 and before Round 2).

This hat is also knitted in Double Knit meaning you will actually be knitting a hat with 2 layers. It’s a technique that allows you to knit 2 sides at the same time giving you a reversible hat. Each time you purl a round, you are basically knitting the inside of the hat! Double Knitting gives your piece more body and less drape. As you can see, the hat can stand up on its own and hold its shape. It also makes the piece extra warm!

Main body of hat before decreases is about 6.5 inches high. Decrease portion of hat is about 2.25 inches high. 1 full ball makes about 6 inches or a total of 70 rounds (35 front, 35 back). So about 1 full ball is almost enough for the main body of the hat (before beginning the decreases).

The 2 pics on the left are what I was going for. It didn’t come out exactly as I wanted. I wanted the hat a little taller. Instead I got more of a South Park Cartman or Stan look… Oh well.

Next time I would add about 2 more inches to the height of the hat (about 20 more rows…) and decrease the stitches to about 144. Perhaps a ribbed brim too. I also want to try adapting the pattern for DK Weight yarn for a more elegant look.

Feel free to omit the pompom, use two colors, and make the hat reversible. Make the entire hat in a fine rib. (Making a ribbed hat will require a change in the decrease rounds though which is not easy.)

Original pattern, Double Knit Ski Hat, adapted from Blue Blog Patterns by Alison Hansel. Her knit hat is two colors, with stripes, and reversible! This pattern is written for a 2 color hat. Simply ignore “Color A” and “Color B” by using the same color if doing a single color hat like I did. No need to switch yarns.

My BF got this for me from Forbidden Planet and OMG! HEART the patterns in this book. The book has great illustrated and easy to understand instructions and the diagrams feature “werewolf” hands demonstrating the knitting techniques. Fun! A pun on Freddie Krueger and the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Knitmare on Elm Street is filled with AWESOME knit patterns like:

Circus Monkey (with mini cymbals)
Freddie Krueger Hand Puppet
Necronomicon iPad Cozy
Kraken Tentacle (yes it’s just one giant tentacle!)
Nosferatu
Light-Up Ghost
Haunted House Diorama (my fave!)
Freakshow Finger Puppets

If you’re in NYC, Forbidden Planet sells them! So you can pop into their store and check out the freakishly fun gems in this book in person. Forbidden Planet is located right across from the Union Square Movie Theater and a block away from The Strand Bookstore.

Forbidden Planet has been a popular haunt for comic book nerds for as long as I can remember. It’s chock full of graphic novels to mangas, collectibles from G-Force figurines to Hulk Hogan busts, t-shirts to keychains, tote bags to candy, and of course the oddball knitting book!

Regal Union Square Stadium 14 Movie Theater is right in that area and is one of my fave mainstream theaters to go to. Sunshine is my fave indie theater. (They have great movie snacks and if you buy popcorn there, they have a popcorn flavor bar where you can sprinkle your popcorn with assorted “cheese powders” like nacho cheese or apple cinnamon.) Among other notableslike IFC where Crispin Glover screened his “What Is It?” and Anthology where they always play a wonderfully curated selection of films on the big screen! Like everything from John Cassavetes to Point Blank to Big Trouble in Little China … WIN!

The Strand Bookstore is one of my fave bookstores in the entire city (all 5 boroughs included). I go to Strand for it’s huge selection of books at great prices. e.g. I got my Albertus Seba’s Cabinet of Natural Curiosities there eons ago. And can also get anything from 100 Years of Cholera to Great Gatsby to cookbooks.

St. Mark’s Bookshop is also brilliant and one of my faves. I go to St. Mark’s for the best curated selection, indie and mainstream. You can’t ever go wrong with anything you pick up in this little book store. It’s a treasury of the best to read now and/or what’s noteworthy and worthy of reading now even if it’s not new! Of course the prices here are never as good as Amazon, however it’s just so chock full of exquisitely selected books, it’s more than worth the (very) slight markups you’d pay compared to Amazon.

Forbidden Planet
832 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-1576
www.fpnyc.com

Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-5181
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

Regal Union Square Cinema
850 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-6266
www.fandango.com

St. Mark’s Bookshop
31 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10003
(212) 260-7853
www.stmarksbookshop.com

Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-1452
www.strandbooks.com

IFC Film Center
323 Sixth Avenue at West Third Street
(212) 924-7771
www.ifccenter.com

Left to Right: Trendtex Fabrics BG-004, Trendtex Fabrics BD-014R, Unmarked. The last fabric did not have a marking on the selvedge.

My mom and brother just got back from a fabulous Hawaii trip! They picked out the fabrics themselves and brought it all the way back to NY. The fabric was purchased at what they describe as a “huge fabric warehouse filled with giant spools of fabric” in Maui. I believe it’s this place:

Fabric Mart Maui
55 E Kaahumanu Ave Ste D
Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 871-5770
http://www.fmart.com/

❤ Thanks Mom and De!