news: knit and crochet now! back for 4th season

Host Brett Bara returns for a pattern-packed
fourth season of Knit and Crochet Now!

Great news, readers!  One of my favorite crafting shows, Knit and Crochet Now!, is about to return with an all-new fourth season.  Nothing gives me more joy than those rare weekends when Hubby has to go somewhere and I can curl up with my yarn, my cats, the dog, and a DVR full of KCN recordings - am I right?

Or is my life just way cooler than yours?

Depending on your local public broadcast station, a whopping 13 new episodes will begin airing this October (hey, that's now!).  You probably already know this, but each episode features knit and crochet projects, exciting new yarns, interesting stitch patterns, and now - a fun new segment called Knit and Crochet Now! Scarf of the Week. That couldn't be better timing, either; after all, October means there are only two months until Christmas and winter, so scarves are perfect for gifts and practicality.

Hosted by the lovely Brett Bara, episodes welcome designers and experts Robyn Chachula, Ellen Gormley, Kristin Nicholas and Maggie Pace, who help explain an array of projects and techniques. Their combined expertise in knit and crochet, and in color, felting and beadwork will inspire viewers to watch, learn and grow their skills.

"I’m so excited about everything we have to offer in the new season! We’ve got a ton of amazing projects, from afghans to dog sweaters—and I love my new ‘Scarf of the Week’ segment, where I show how to make a different scarf in every episode. There’s really something for everyone, both knitters and crocheters from beginner to advanced," Bara said.

Some of the new projects we'll see this season include garments, pet sweaters, stuffed toys and even a knit scarf made of mink yarn. Techniques shown are suitable for all levels and include spool and loom knitting, crocheting with beads, and embellishing with knit and crochet flowers. Viewers will watch as  projects are worked from alternative yarns such as recycled denim, mink and milk fibers.

So, are you as excited as I am?  I've already set my DVR again :)

Consult your local public broadcast station for dates and times, or use the handy station finder at KnitandCrochetNow.com/schedule/.

introducing: my addi express kingsize knitting machine

Well, it's October, which means that my favorite season is in full swing.

How could you not love Autumn?  The leaves around here are just starting to change, so I'm still getting excited for all the fun colors.  Aside from 85-degree weather today, most days have been sunny with a bit of chill in the air.  PERFECT!

Why?  Because that makes for the best crafting weather.  I don't sweat to death while sitting in my pile of yarn, or I can take it (or even my paints) on our back porch, wrap a blanket around me, put on an audio book or some music, and enjoy life to my heart's content.

Also in typical fall fashion, my friend and I have booked a table at another craft show.  I mean, it's not really the best season on earth without a day spent crocheting or knitting and selling my wares - and even getting to indulge in some delicious soup made by the wonderful ladies at the church!

This year, I'll be making my usual items (headbands, hats, and... I guess that's pretty much it) and decided to invest in something fun to make the process go a little bit faster.

Enter my knew Addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine:

I've been using it to make the body of slouchy hats, then picking up stitches around the bottom with my needles and knitting the brim before adding a pom-pom on top.  Suffice it to say, they're coming out super cute.

Last weekend was craft day with the ladies, so I took all the hat bodies with me and just worked on the brims.  I have to say that this is the best way to use up all that variegated stash yarn I've had sitting around, not knowing what to do with it.  Especially all those tiny little balls I buy at BJ's or ACMoore for no other reason than that they were $1.  They make the cutest slouch hats, people.

I'll be taking some photos this weekend, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, I look forward to joining the Addi community and sharing some creative ideas.  It's been mentioned to me that it's a great machine, but it's lacking in the number of people available to share fun ideas.  It'll be fun to contribute!

PS: It takes me 15 minutes to make one of these hats.  FIFTEEN FREAKING MINUTES!

get ready for fall with my pattern sale!

I have a variety of goals with this blog post:

1. To experiment with embedded posts from my Facebook timeline
2. To experiment with Ravelry coupon codes (I wanted to do this via Etsy, but the functionality that I wanted required too much specificity that just isn't built in yet)
3. To get you excited and prepared for my favorite season!

Here's the scoop:

Post by JennyHats Handmade Custom Knit & Crochet.

Make sure to hurry, though, because this one-time promotion ends on Sunday, September 8th!

crochet baby hats obsession

I've gone from not wanting to do anything to only wanting to do one thing: crochet baby hats.

I guess it all started when I listed a bunch of baby photo props for sale on my Facebook page.  They were custom ordered and made about a year ago, but never picked up in my shop.  They're a decent amount of items just sitting around in my craft room, and I don't see a reason why a photographer or new parent shouldn't be able to enjoy them because Lord knows I can't.

Which led to looking on Etsy for pricing of similar items so I could price them competitively.  I think we all know what a rabbit hole that can be; I wound up favoriting a ton of baby hats and deciding to take on a ton myself.

And I loved it.  They work up so quickly and look way too adorable.  I mean, who could pass these up for their Autumn newborns?

I'm partial to the mustache hat, myself.  I realize that's not the best photo in the world, but they're cute to look at anyway.

I wasn't going to keep making them, but since it seems like they're helping bring my urge to craft back to life, I'm going to keep at it.  And I love the pumpkin hats.  They're just so simple, but look amazing.

Hope you're all having a good summer.  It's flown by and soon we'll be camping for Labor Day Weekend.  I plan on taking a couple books and some yarn, so I'll keep you posted :)

the one where i ask for donations of mojo

I've got nothing.

And I really mean that.

I'm still working on some top-secret projects (and by some, I mean "two"), and for whatever reason, they're just dragging.  I don't know if it's this whacky weather we've been having or what, but I've been exhausted and completely unmotivated.

Which means I've been doing nothing.  Like... nothing.

But I have bought yarn, which is so unproductive, I can't even begin to describe it.  I started cleaning up the disaster my craft room has become and almost fainted - there is nowhere to put the amount of yarn I've purchased over the past couple months.

I think part of my problem is that I have so much good yarn that I'd rather hoard it than making something with it.  Is this a thing?  If it's a thing, are there meetings I should be going to?

Summer is always like this, though.  Every July, I say I should work on some stuff for my shop so I'm ready for Fall and the holidays - then I sit around reading all the time instead.  And I've finished some good books this summer (and some awful ones, too).  So I guess it hasn't been a complete waste.  But it's something.

That's all I've got.  SOMEONE HELP ME GET MY MOJO BACK!