The Masked Crocheter

“That’s what we’re trying to find out! We’re trying to find out who killed him, and where, and with what!” – Wadsworth, Clue Murder Mystery parties were a staple among my high school friends, so when my game night group mentioned interest in one, I jumped on the opportunity to host. We’re a pretty large […]

Historical Crafting Q&A

NothingButKnit posted another Q&A, and here are my answers: What item did you make that was a complete win? You loved making it, using it and got compliments on it. My crocheted prom dress, for sure. It took forever, and there were times when I got bored of it, but it was first big project […]

WIP it into Shape

When I first started crocheting over a decade ago, one of my favorite things about it was the absence of a “block.” Unlike writing or drawing, I never ran out of ideas for things I wanted to make. What a simpler time. I’m sad to report that I am in a yarncraft “block,” which is […]

Skill-Builder Blankets

I love to teach skill-builder classes. What inevitably happens is I’ll get knitters who tell me “I’d love to do [cables, bobbles, lace, any knitting technique], but I’m not a good enough knitter,” but then they work at it, they struggle, they find their “aha!” moments. To see them have pride in their work, that […]

12 Days of Yarn Christmas

Does anyone remember, very long ago, when I geeked out over those yarn advent calendars? And I said that I got one? I’d like to show you Loopy Ewe’s 12 Day of Indie Christmas! I went with this calendar for a few reasons: With 12 yarns instead of 24 or 25, it was much closer […]

Shave ’em to Save ’em

I love a good challenge, even more so when it’s for a good cause. Shave ’em to Save ’em is a Livestock Conservancy initiative that’s working to make heritage breeds of sheep more viable to shepherds. There are 22 breeds of sheep on the conservancy’s priority list, four of which are listed as critical (which […]

Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival

What better way to ween myself off of my crafty Ren Fest weekends than to surround myself in crafty goodness at a fall festival! The Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City, KS occurs in third full weekend in October. It started as a craft show in the late 1950s, to celebrate the leaves turning and […]

Yarn Advent Calendar Round-up

While I’m sitting here not working on Christmas presents, I’m instead looking at all the really cool yarn advent calendars they’re putting out this year. As if I have an abundance of time to work on additional projects around the holidays. I can’t stop looking, though, the idea is just so appealing to me. I […]

Hook, Needles, Action!

In the process of planning a knitting retreat for the Sunflower Knitter’s Guild, I was making plans with a fellow member when she had a great idea from previous retreats she’s attended: a movie night with Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the WereRabbit and Shaun the Sheep. I love it! Imagine how awesome it […]

Crochet Yourself into Corners

But first, I want to update you on my sweater quantity spinning: Tour de Fleece has ended, and I only managed half of a sweater quantity. I’m not very down about though. I spun every day of the tour (even rest days!), and this started as a New Year’s Resolution anyway. I’ll finish it before […]