bodner041

Widgit widgit widgit sounds like a frog, but often acts intelligently. For example, I just added a widget that shows things in my Etsy shop. You can click on (more info) and be directed to the listing, or click on (buy) if you aee something you love and get to a sale page. This widgit is in the right hand sidebar. I don't like most things that move on blogs or websites, but this is a nifty little gadget. I hope it adds to my blog experience for you!

I'm a high volume user of Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/KnittingGuru and frequently use Twitter -- http://www.twitter.com/KnittingGuru But -- I've been really bad about writing in my blog. I keep making promises to myself to do better, but never seem to find the time. However, as a user and lover of natural fibers, I have to wish you all a Happy Earth Day! To celebrate I'm having a one day sale today on my Eco Friendly Go Green Dishcloth Pattern Regularly $8.00 Today $5.00 Please contact me and I'll post a reserved listing for you at the sale price. These dishcloths last for years, are simple to make, and help the earth by saving paper towel waste. You only need 6 ounces of inexpensive cotton yarn to make all 6 dishcloths. They're simple enough for a beginning knitter. The pattern is 8 pages and includes close up photos of each cloth, charts, and instructions written in English - not "Knitspeak"! Plus - if you have any questions about the pattern or ...

I just had to show you a knitting gadget I bought from a fellow Etsian -- Karatstix. It's a wooden knitting swatch gauge that measures 2 inches by 2 inches. It also measures knitting needle AND crochet hook sizes from tiny to gigantic. There's a ruler along one side in inches and another in centimeters. The tool is too big to lose, but not too big or too heavy for your knitting bag or handbag. It has a safety hook at one corner so you can attach it to whatever you want. Plus, it's the most charming piece of knitting paraphernalia I've ever bought (and I've bought many in my lifetime!) See the little sheep grazing on it? Here's the front of it: And here's the back showing clearly the range of needle/hook sizes: When I went to Karatstix's shop just now to get the pictures of the gauge, I found that she has invented another wonderful gadget - a Kitchener Stitch keyring with hand knitted sock images on the front: and the elusive Kitchener Stitch described c...

Since the weather has warmed up, I've been making a lot of knitted and crocheted jewelry. It's important when doing this work to be sure to use different thicknesses of yarn and work in different gauges. If you keep on making really tightly knitted or crocheted fine jewelry using tiny needles or hooks, you are eventually going to get hand problems. Unfortunately, I speak from experience as a person who's had multiple rounds of physical therapy from repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, and most recently DeQuervain's Syndrome (a new one that causes excruciating pain in the wrist). I've been able to conquer them all and have two articles on my website -- KnittingGuru.com -- that deal with these problems. If you're having hand pain, I hope you'll take a look at these -- Ergonomics for Knitters (or Crocheters) and Exercises for Knitters (or crocheters) You all know about exercises to loosen up your hands, but you may not have heard about ergonomics...

I'm still giddy from the change of temperature and season. I posted some spring things and then a mother's day inspiration and now, as promised, here are some babies. I have so many wonderful pictures that baby photographers have sent me I don't know which to choose, but the triplets and twins head the list. I'll start with a photo sent to me by one of the most talented baby photographers -- Gina Miller of Gina Miller Photography in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her website is www.ginamillerphotography.com and her blog is www.ginamillerblog.com . I hope you'll get a chance to look at both because they really are an inspiration. She wrote to me and asked me to make three of my signature BurryBabies Pixie Hats for triplets she was going to be photographing right after they were born -- two girls and a boy. This turned out to be quite a challenge for her since when they weren't wiggling they were howling! How anyone could photograph triplets is beyond me, but not as bey...

I've been thinking about Mother's Day lately. (My three children -- Are you reading this??? :-) Actually, I've been making a lot of things for mothers in the spirit of springtime. My next post will be about babies, so I'm definitely on a roll here -- First spring flowers (more to come), then mothers, then babies (wait till you see the triplets). Lot's of fertility in this blog (*_*) I have my usual shawls, capelets, and cowls, but decided to design some new knitted and crocheted jewelry for the holiday. Thinking about mothers reminded me of the time and effort we spend on our children. The returns are, of course, intangible and altruistic. So I thought maybe something literal would be appropriate. Hence -- A Medal for Mom... I'd like to share my design process here in case you're curious and since this blog is a "trip inside the mind of a knitwear designer". I first crocheted a triangular motif in lace using 6-strand embroidery floss and a tiny cro...

The daffodils and forsythia shrubs are blooming in my garden. This time of year I always find myself thinking about my garden and making scarves and necklaces to reflect it. Springtime Daffodil Choker You can get more information about it at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22365362 Forsythia Yellow Lace Hand Knitted Scarf You can find more information about the scarf and purchase it at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23279035 If you want to knit this scarf yourself, I also produced a pdf pattern -- Delicate Lace Scarf PDF Knitting Pattern There's more information about the pattern and how to purchase it at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23111997 Of course, you can make the scarf in any color you like, but I was inspired by my forsythia shrubs. I've also knitted the scarf in a creamy white and in a lovely coral color. Please contact me or post a comment on this blog if you want to see photos of them or get more inf...