Was browsing Ravelry today and came across this blog from Web-Goddess – she is one seriously entertaining and funny chick!

Me – American Yarns  – is sponsoring the January giveaway run by Salihan Crafts.

Answer a couple of questions by clicking on the link at the top right of her blog  to be in the running to win a $20 gift voucher from www.yarnover.com.au

Good Luck!

I’m currently working on an Entrelac Tunisian Crochet bag as a shop sample.  So I was looking for free patterns for tunisian crochet (as there are not a lot of books on the subject), and found a great site:

Crochet Kim – has a great links page full of patterns in tunisian crochet.

Happy Crocheting!

Gabrielle

Thanks so much Chanti for helping me make my machine-knitted string bag!  We did it together on my Empisal KH680 using some 5 ply cotton with a metallic thread that I got from the bargain bin at Spotlight – and we only used 1.5 x 50g balls!  Wow!

I’m going to make some more using Lily Sugar ‘n Cream on my Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine.  I’ll let you know how that goes.  Merry Christmas!

Ever since another blogger Salihan Crafts asked me for a substitute for Panda Zoomy, I have been obessed with this yarn!  It has now been discontinued so it’s been a race against time to find the last remaining balls and did I hit thejackpot on the weekend!

K-Mart Arana Hills, Brisbane, has now been cleaned out of their stock of Zoomy – for $2 a ball!!  Considering I’ve seen this yarn for $7 a ball at Spotlight, I could not believe my eyes!  $2 a ball – yippee!  I’d bought the pattern book some weeks before and so I was thrilled to have found enough to knit all these cute outfits for my kids – only problem is – I can’t knit !  LOL!  So I will have to pay someone to do it – any takers??

Zoomy Pink – colour 37 – 10 balls

Zoomy denim – Colour 50 – 22 balls

Zoomy Blue and Green – Blue Colour 53, 3 balls and Green – Colour 72 – 1 ball

Zoomy pattern book

Speaking of dishcloths, I had a nice visit at the shop today from Rhonda – frugal living blogger extraordinaire – author and owner of ‘Down-to-Earth‘.  A website dedicated to helping others live a simpler life by providing recipes, tips, techniques, advice and examples of frugal living and living more sustainably.

Check out her blog and look out for her post about American Yarns, as she was looking for dishcloth cotton to knit some dishcloths and facecloths.

I’m so in love with Noro right now.  I am now stocking Noro Kureyon, Silk Garden and Silk Garden Sock.  I just love the way the colours blend seamlessly together!  I am crocheting a pair of woollen nappy covers with Kureyon, using a pattern from Jenny King, published in Yarn magazine, Issue 13, March 2009. BUT it’s such a shame that the designers who write for Noro don’t include crochet patterns for Noro!  Grrrr….  However, I found a pretty basketweave pattern for a scarf with Noro.  I’m going to try this one as soon as I finish the nappy covers.

Any other crocheters love Noro but hate the fact that there’s no commercial patterns?  Please post your links in this thread if you have found one or more you’d like to share.

Now I know that we’ve all been told that money is what’s needed most but frankly – I don’t subscribe to that point of view.  Craftsters who make handmade items really enjoy what they do but most of all – enjoy giving them to others.  They love the feeling of satisfaction that comes from making something with their own hands and seeing (or just knowing) the joy it brings to the recipient.

I personally think money is important – but so are things and things are what these people need as well – useful things such as clothing, blankets, toys, household goods.  Handmade items are so much more personal than commercially-made ones plus you have the added benefit of the love put into each one.

So, reject this idea that money is the most important thing you can give these people and donate some handmade items to the appeal.  If you have a blog or website, you can put a button (just like the one below) on it to show support.  Just visit http://handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com for details on what to donate, where to drop your items off and who to contact.

Come on Aussies!  Come on and donate handmade!

This year we’ve decided that the US is too expensive right now and Jet Star is having some fab deals to Tokyo, so we’re going there instead!

Because this is a part-business trip – I’m going to do some buying for AY.  Thankfully, other yarn bloggers have provided helpful pics, hints and websites for anyone planning to do the same.

Fleegle – pics and blogging on her yarn crawl in ’07 – http://fleeglesblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/tokyo-yarn-crawl-2007.html

Pinku Rocks has helpfully provided a downloadable Excel file on all the yarn stores in the Tokyo area. – http://pinkurocks.typepad.com/pinku/2006/11/tokyo_yarn_stor.html

Now all I have to do is book my flights, update my passport and go!

Stay tuned for more updates…

You’ve probably never heard of Allison Whitlock – neither had I until I listened to a Crochetville podcast. This stitcher hosts a show on the DIY network in the US called “Uncommon Threads“.  It features how-to projects from all needlearts – embroidery, knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, sewing etc…

It’s always exciting to hear another Aussie accent on US TV!