Yellowbird Yarn Room

A word can be worth a thousand pictures

Forgive the fiber-free post but I've had this thought in my head for several weeks now.  Does that ever happen to you? 

It's a bit like having a song stuck in your head, and sometimes the only way to free your mind is to sing it out loud and find solace in getting it stuck in someone else's head.  Then it's up to them to keep singing or pass it on.

It can start as a word or a phrase, but it can grow if it takes hold...and even bloom if it's lovely.  It can remain just a favorite phrase to visit when the mood fits, or it can turn into an entire one-sided philosophical argument that bubbles up and alters your mood despite your best efforts to contain it.

But I do have a reason for my thought, and that reason is social media.

After countless months of ignoring the growing internet buzz, I'm finally enjoying the fruits of Pinterest.  For someone like myself, who processes information best in visual ways, this is a virtual Eden that allows me to pick and choose what I like best and organize it into manageable plots.   

Niiiiice...

I've been on Pinterest for a number of weeks now (I couldn't tell you how many...time has altered itself quite a bit ever since) and have been enveloped by thoughts and ideas and pretty pictures, but I'm thinking today of one particular thought.

Have you noticed that words have become very popular?

They're pinned in snippets.  Funny little thoughts.  Inspirational quotes.

They're used in decorating.  Painted on pillows.  Decaled on walls.

They're used in fashion.  Worn on fingers...and nails.

They're everywhere.

I've heard arguments about how texting and the internet are killing language, but from what I've seen language is alive and well. 

Just more succinct.

By golly, I did it!

Do you see it up there, on the right, at the top of the page?  It's a link.  A link to a pattern.  A pattern for my hat that I designed all by my little self.

yay!

And it has a new name, too.  I was calling it just the ponytail hat, or the convertible ponytail hat, but a while back I was showing it to someone who said "it's like a little cardigan for your head!".

And thus we have the "Cardigan Ponytail Hat"!!!

So the pattern is now available to all, for your knitting pleasure (personal and non-profit use only, please).  If you knit one  I would love to hear about it!  You may leave a comment here, if you like, or drop me an email...or post on Facebook...

But I do have another option for you if you happen to be tooling around on Ravelry...

I have a page officially all set up right here, so people can either admire the versions others have come up with or post pics of their own for others to admire.  I, myself, have recently finished knitting my fourth version (two of which are available for purchase at River City as of this writing) and hope to have pictures of all of them on the Ravelry page soon.

I'm really excited about this and I can't wait to see where it goes (48 hours after creating the Ravelry page and it's already in 15 queues and I've gotten 4 comments...so cool!).  Hope you enjoy it, too!

Because I need a new hobby, right?

Ever had an idea nag at you? Had something you've always wanted to do, but felt you needed to finish everything on your To Do to do it?

I have.  Many times.  And it's usually when I finally forget the To Do and give in to the nag that I have the most fun...and do my best work. 

So I find myself inching my way closer to learning something new.  Something that has been taunting me with it's creative potential for quite some time now.

Spinning.  (Not the excerise class.)

I happened across this video today, and she just makes it look too easy!

 

I did see a tip somewhere on starting with just a few ounces of fiber...

And I do have those bits of fiber from Dyeabolical that would be the perfect gateway fiber...

Ok, so I need a spindle.  I'm on a quest for spindles to stock at Yellowbird (I do wish Laurel Hill made some, wouldn't they be lovely?!).  And I'm going to learn by the end of October.  Even if I have to make my own spindle out of old cd's. 

I'm only sorry I won't be doing it in time for World Wide Spin in Public Day.  That's only about two and a half weeks away, and I do have some things on the To Do that I have to do. 

They're overdue.

I'll let you all know when I'm ready, though, and you are welcome to come in and watch and laugh as you see fit!

Just for a giggle...

Have you ever heard of extreme sheep herding?  Because this is all new to me.

See a game, save on yarn!

About a month ago, I posted about my love of classic pastimes.  I wrote about a rumor I had heard that someone had organized a Stitch N' Pitch event at an Akron Aeros game, but that I didn't know when it was.  That it was, perhaps, sometime in August.

Did you know that it is now, as of today, officially August?  Where did that come from?

As it happens, someone did organize such an event and this event is happening this Friday, August 5th.  You can get your tickets right here on the Aeros site, and I have reason to believe that there may be two ticket options available (with or without food).  There's no guarantee that you will be seated with other yarn enthusiasts when you order your tickets this way, so if your looking to meet n' greet just let me know and we can investigate further. 

Or bring your binoculars in your knitting bag so you can scan the crowd for the tell-tale signs of fiber fans and go work the crowd.  They might think you're a little quirky, but hey...you're working with yarn at a baseball game.  Comes with the territory.

Now, here's the bonus:  if you go, don't lose your ticket!!!  Bring your ticket stub from this Friday's Aeros game to River City throughout the entire month of August and receive 20% off everything in my booth...including clearance items!!!

I'm sorry to say that I, myself, will be unable to go.  Very sorry, in fact, to say it.  So if you happen to come to River City on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, please come around the corner into Judy's Ice Cream and tell me all about it.  I'll be cheering from a distance!  

Why didn't I think of that?

So simple.  So clever.

And think of the possibilities...

Best laid plans and all

When you have children, one thing you learn very quickly is that...well...life happens.  Sometimes you have to call off work and stay home with a sick kid.  Sometimes you can't go out with your friends because you have an unexpectedly rescheduled soccer game. 

But sometimes....  Sometimes it's you!

I had plans for Sunday.  Big plans.  Plans of the once-a-year variety. 

A kind soul appears to have organized a fantastic WWKIP eventnearby (FB link here) complete with raffles and yarn bombs and everything!  It sounds soooo right up my alley, and I was arranging to see my friend Victoria there.

And then I went on a field trip with my son.  And fell.  And twisted my foot.

Now, there's a long story involved here, and certainly a lot can happen between now and Sunday, but as things stand I have trouble standing.  It's just not looking promising.

But if you happen to be in the area of Hardesty Park this Sunday, with some time and maybe a project handy, please be sure to stop by and enjoy knitting (or crocheting!) among friends. 

And if you see someone there who appears to be nursing a bum foot...remind her to look behind her for rocks before she steps backward. 

Enjoy a Spring Fling this weekend!

I heard a rumor...I don't know if it's true...maybe you heard it, too...

I heard it's supposed to not rain on Friday and Saturday!  Woo-hoo!!!  (knock, knock...is this desk even real wood?)

And do you know what's even better?  Those two days just happen to be the two days of River City Gift Shoppe's Spring Fling Flea Market!

Can you tell I'm excited?  I mean, come on...how lucky is that? 

Judy has quite a few people coming in for those two days, including people from Pampered Chef and Scentsy, but there are a couple of people in particular I'd like to point out.

My friend, Heidi, is renting space just on Friday.  Her booth is called Tea to Go and sounds like it's going to be chock-full of yummy yums!!!  Her bear breads (note:  not beer...bear) are just adorable, and if she has even half the goodies baked that she says she's going to have that day it will be a delicious booth to visit!

Also there, but both days, will be Michelle of Sugar House Creations.  Michelle is going to be joining the ranks of the River City crafters in June, so I'm looking forward to a little preview of her work this weekend.  I'm also looking forward to thanking her for the mention of my cup cozy on her blog! 

I wish I had links for everyone that will be there, but I did get a few more names from Judy as I left yesterday:  BeautiControl, Kids' Personalized Music, Polish Pottery, Flea Market Finds, and that guy (you know, that guy?) who makes the really nice cornhole boards.

And, hey, guess what?  As if all those goodies aren't enough, Judy's also offering a 10% store wide sale!  Sweeeeet... 

Oh, and the Flea Market will be from 10 until 5 on Friday and Saturday (the 20th and 21st), but the store will be open until the customary 6:00.  

I'm planning on spending a little time there Friday morning, myself, checking out the booths and maybe sitting in Judy's Ice Cream to work on my blankets for a while.  So if you see a lady surrounded by bags, covered in multi-colored wooly-ness and crumbs from Heidi's goodies, and with a crazed look in her eye as she shakes out the hand cramps...be sure and say "hi"!   

One more reason to "Like" Metro Parks

Gray days make me a little spacey.  I have a bit of trouble staying focused.  Remembering what it is I need to be doing.

Good thing I live in NE Ohio.

Anyhoo... 

So I sat down a bit ago to send an email to a friend and was checking out FB when I saw this really cool repurposing craft that (although completely unrelated to yarn) I just had to share!  Apparently, yesterday at one of our local parks they made jump ropes out of plastic bags.

But that's not even the really cool part.  This is the really cool part:  they used old markers for the handles!!!

I love that!!!!!  The use of plastic bags I have seen before.  (And done before!  And will likely do again someday.)  But the idea of using old markers was just a slap on the forehead for me.  I mean, do you know how many markers I have had to throw away over the last 10 years of mommy-hood, and how many more I should sort through and throw away right now?!?

But here's a question for you:  what else could you do with them?  I have two boys and a gravel driveway so this particular craft will only take me so far.  Have you seen any other uses for old markers? 

And even beyond that, have you seen any other repurposing ideas that were a slap on the forehead for you?  Something you can't believe nobody ever thought of before?  Did you hear about it from someone else or did you have an a-ha moment and come up with it yourself?

Comment here or on FB, gimme all your eco-thrifty-crafty good tips!     

Kismet, at long last! (I hope.)

During Blog Week, there were several times where I could have written about this yarn and the way it has haunted me for nearly two years.  I don't know why I didn't.  Shame?  Remorse?  Wistful longing too intense to face?

But it's okay.  I'm ready now.  And it's all thanks to one of the most popular knitting patterns around.

Clapotis.

At the time of this writing, Clapotis has 17,454 projects listed on Ravelry, making it second only to a sweet little pair of fingerless mitts by the name of Fetching, which has 17,678 projects.

Now, I'm the type of gal who will often dismiss something simply because it's popular.  I'm just a rebel like that.  I usually try to show some love to that which is more obscure and under-appreciated for its value.  But sometimes (okay, frequently)  I'm forced to admit that something is popular not just for popularity's sake, but because it is just.  That.  Good.

I have tried several times to knit something from the fuzzy sewing thread that is Filatura Di Crossa's Baby Kid Extra Print.  The first couple of times I couldn't make it past the guage swatch.  Then, I found a simple top-down sweater pattern that it would have been lovely in, but I made it only an inch or so along before setting it down and forgetting where I left off.

I needed something simple.  Something I could work on when the mood struck me without having to spend 27 minutes re-familiarizing myself with the pattern.  And Clapotis fits that bill perfectly.

So at Open Knit yesterday, when I found myself in great need of a break from preparing blanket squares for assembling, I set to work.  Of course, I sort of forgot that it's best to get into the rythm of a pattern before sitting amongst friends and chatting so I didn't get very far then.  But I picked it back up when the kids went to bed and found I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep before I made any mistakes!  And I didn't want to cry once!

 
Yes, I totally meant to frame it around the coordinating splatters of paint my artistic children have left upon my table.

I am fully aware that this elation is likely to change to frustration when it comes time to drop the stitches.  The fuzzies with snag and catch, I know.  There will be much sighing and counting to ten with eyes closed as I very delicately and intentionally put run after run down the lovingly created fabric. 

But I believe it will be more than worth it in the end.  I will no longer be haunted by fuzzy sewing thread and the promise of all it could be.  Instead, I will have myself a light and airy vision of romantic loveliness. 

Cuz that is so me. 

Note:  The colorway I am using has been discontinued and I no longer have it in stock, but at the time of this writing I do still have two other choices available.  Please contact me for more information.