Crafty Carolinagirl

Knitting Project, Still in the Works

Well, I thought I would be able to finish this dishcloth, but knitting is taking me longer to do than crochet.

In any case, here is what I have so far. . .

It looks a little ragged, but so did my crochet in the beginning (at least that is what I keep telling myself). Notice the big, gaping hole in the middle? That is where I missed a stitch and didn't realize it until two rows later. At least I am learning :)

How do you like the neon yellow color? I am in the process of changing my kitchen to spring, which includes pink, green, and yellow. My goal is to do a dishcloth in each of those colors. We'll have to see how that goes.

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for the Bloggy Giveaway contest!

Thursday Thirteen #4

So, now that I have been knitting for exactly a week I am completely obsessed. I do have to admit that I enjoy crocheting more, but shhhh. I don't want the knitting needles to hear. They have been very friendly to me so far.

So here are the 13 knitting projects I can't wait to give a try:

1. Alligator Scarf (for all of the Florida Gators that I know, myself included)

2. Alice's Illusion Socks (these are just too cool)

3. Simple Garter Stitch Scarf (I think I can do this one)

4. Cabled Bag (can't wait to learn to cable knit)

5. Adam Ant (love the name, and no it is not the singer)

6. Melissa Scarf (again, love the name)

7. Ben Scarf (seems to be easy man's scarf, but has purl stitches too. Yikes!)

8. Pirate's Hook (I must make this one)

9. Bumble Cat Toy (Drusilla will love this)

10. Country House Tea Cozy (so adorable)

11. Poison coffee cozy (to go with my Poison tote)

12. Tea Party Treats (ooh how I love to make fake food)

13. Storybook Dolls (Robin Hood & Maid Marion are too cute)

I do realize some of these are very advanced, but a girl can dream, right?

Thanks to everyone who emailed me links to beginner patterns. I hope to have a picture of my finished dishcloth next week :)

I am finally knitting

I can honestly say that I now know how to knit, well at least one stitch. Yeah!!!

Here is my first real try at casting on and working the knit (or garter) stitch:

This is the same yarn I used to learn to crochet, and it has helped me out again.

How do you like my funky pink needles? My grandmother's friend gave me all of her knitting needles (I mean like 30 pairs), but I like these the best. . . so very '80s!!!

Do any of you knitters have know of any simple, beginner patterns that only use a garter stitch? I'd like to master that stitch before moving on to the purl stitch. :)

I Want That

Is this book awesome or what? I HAVE to learn to knit just so I can whip up my own Madonna.

Here is the list of all 25 knitted icon patterns:

Marilyn Monroe
Bruce Lee
Abraham Lincoln
Jackie O
Che Guevera
Jimi Hendrix
Albert Einstein
Cher
James Dean
Muhammad Ali
King Kong
Godzilla
Madonna
Andy Warhol
Chairman Mao
The Beatles
Charlie Chaplin
Ghandi
Queen Elizabeth II
Bob Marley
Audrey Hepburn
Bob Dylan
Mr. T
David Bowie
Elvis

Okay, I must really master the art of knitting by the summer so I can make the Beatles for my mom's birthday.

New Year, New Changes

Happy 2008!

This new year brings many changes to my blogging life:

1. Next week I will begin my final publishing class. I am thrilled, not to start the class but to finally be finished so I can get my degree! Unfortunately, this means very little blogging until the class is over the end of March.

2. My new Etsy store is up and plugging along. I have so many ideas and crafts I want to add that I can't contain myself. I will be working on putting them in my store in the coming months. I'll try to keep the store blog updated on soon to be released items too. You can check on new and soon to be released items at Crafts by Alice.

3. I am working on a some new weekly features. I am still working out the kinks, but I'll be adding them in the upcoming months.

4. While I am away from the computer, I will be teaching myself to knit. This should be interesting. I have had a lot of great advice from knitters on how to begin. Yarn Thing told me it would be easiest for me to knit continental style or left handed. According to her, this is an easier way for crocheters to learn. It made me laugh that I'd be knitting left handed. I always wanted to be left handed (one of those quirky things about me), so as a kid I would do everything left handed. Now I'll be knitting left handed! Check out Crafty Daisies too. They will be offering an online knitting class soon.

I'll try my best to post something as often as I can. I really won't know how much time I will have until I start my class. After working all day and studying all night I might be beat! I will be checking in with everyone's blogs though whenever I get a free minute. I can't stay away from ya'll too long!!!

Here's to a happy, blessed, and crafty New Year!!!!

Anticraft, the book

I am counting down the minutes before I get to leave work and head over to B&N to pick up the new craft book, Anticraft: Knitting, Beading and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister.

One of my favorite crafters/bloggers, Futuregirl has several patterns in the book: Bad Eggs and Three Owls, but the one I am putting all of my other crafts on hold for is the Apothecary/Poison tote. I can't wait to crochet one of these.

I won't go into how intrigued I am by poisons and those who use poison, but I do focus a lot on poisons throughout my fiction book that I am in the process of writing (it is going on 6 years now and I have only two chapters done). It is a very healthy interest, though my mother says I probably have an FBI file on me :)

This tote bag will be so great to carry around all of my writing materials. Squeeee! Can you tell how excited I am???

There are a few other Anticraft crafters who are giving us small glimpses into what to expect in the book: Midnight Star necklace by Andibeads, Immaculate Heart of Mary by Veganknitter (scroll down to post 11/25), Carrion Bag by Tapestry Crochet, and a free pattern that didn't make it into the book (why I don't know it is just too cute) Bones socks by Marie Gross (is her last name perfect for this book or what).

This is so my kind of book :)

Knitting Goodies

I know I say this at least once a month, but I really need to learn to knit. There are so many cute free patterns out there.

Isn't this sweater dress so cute? I love everything cable knit.

Here are some more really cute knitted patterns:

Alice's Illusion Socks

Jack Skellington

Toilet paper

Woodins

Weekly Patterns - Flowers in the Attic

There are so many cute flower patterns out there it was hard for me to narrow it down to only a few.

Crochet: Flower Earrings

Crochet: Flower Scrubbies

Knit: Flowered Hat

Quilt: Sunbonnet Sue Gardens

Embroidery: Simple Stylized Flower

For Sale Pattern:

Amigurumi Pot O Daisies Crochet Pattern

Weekly Patterns - Pretty in Pink

October is not only for Halloween, it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Below are some patterns to show your support for breast cancer awareness.

Crochet Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon

Cross-stitch Pink Ribbon

Knit Pink Ribbon Scarf

Sew Chemo Caps

For Sale:
Pink Ribbon Pony Tail Holder

Etsy & Patterns for Sale

I couldn't help but add a few more patterns to yesterday's Halloween post. The difference is all of these patterns are crochet and for sale on Etsy.

If you haven't checked out Etsy before, take a minute and swing on by. I can spend hours looking at everything.

Some of these are just too cute to pass up!

Amigurumi Costume Party

Amigurumi French Maid

Crochet Pattern Mamamee-ah

Dimembered Digits

Libby the Little Witch

Sailor Boy Scott

South Park Crochet *I love this one!

Trick or Treat

Here are three that I bought recently. I am a little behind on my crocheting, but I hope to have them finished soon.

Amigurumi Cats

Amigurumi Zombie Girl

DevyMeow *Simple Arts Planet is great! If you are a beginner, she will send you instructions on learning to crochet!