knitting | The Angel Forever

Category Archives knitting

Winter Weather Sweater Nails

Posted on January 14, 2015 10:37 am by TheAngelForever

It’s no secret that I love fiber arts. I have been knitting since I was in elementary school. Crocheting is new in the scheme of things, but I have not looked back since I started two years ago. There is just something special about putting a handmade hat on your head, scarf around your neck, or blanket across your cold legs.

The last week or so, Mother Nature has reminded us that winter is here to stay in New York. It has been COLD. Of course, the temperature is the perfect time to pick up yarn to knit or crochet. It also inspired my latest manicure with Jamberry wraps.

Yes, my hands have beautiful knit sweaters on them and I am in love. Seeing the purple and yarn look makes me smile.

Now, I just need to make them warm enough so they feel like sweaters are on them. So far technology has not made them quite that sophisticated…YET.

Valentine’s Day is just a month away and I am already planning how my nails will be ready to celebrate. I do believe that Love Spell will be my choice, but who knows what I will select when the time comes.

How will you be keeping warm the rest of the winter? I would love to know if you have plans for Valentine’s Day or will be dressing up for nails for the fun. Message me if you are interested in trying a sample, want to host a party (you earn FREE wraps), or place an order.

Disclosure: I am a Jamberry Independent Consultant and paid for my own starter kit to sell these products. If people purchase items from me, I will earn money for my business.

Categories:
crocheting holidays Jamberry knitting me moments

Three Fiber Arts Apps for Android

Posted on July 28, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

A long time ago, I was an elementary school girl learning how to knit on a neighbor’s front porch. In between riding my bike with the kids, several of us used to sit on rocking chairs and knit together. Knitting has always been a passion, but I secretly craved picking up a hook to ease the pain that knitting caused in my wrists.

Last year, I finally taught myself how to crochet using several YouTube videos. Prior to this, I was not very successful with crochet because books just did not cut it. There is just something wonderful about being able to see a person showing the way to work a pattern up with yarn. I am also able to pause it and rewind to see a section over and over until I am successful.

Over the last year, I have often used my android smartphones to keep up on my fiber arts. I can share photos of my creations, ask questions on Facebook groups, and explore new apps that will help my new love for crochet. While there are a lot of apps out there for people that knit and crochet, several of popular ones from yarn companies are only available for iOS. Thanks to this, I was not able to test them out using my beloved Samsung Galaxy S5. While I have an iPad, I utilize my smartphone a lot more when out and about and shopping for craft items and working on a project. The Crochet Crowd App is a favorite of mine. Mikey and the entire Crochet Crowd community were part of the reason that I have been successful with my crocheting adventure. This app does a wonderful job of combining all parts of The Crochet Crowd together. You can:

see the latest posts on The Crochet Crowd Facebook page
view the amazing collection YouTube tutorials
check out the latest crochet challenge
view photos of gorgeous creations from other hookers
use the yarn calculator to assist with an upcoming project
head to The Crochet Crowd website
read the latest on Mikey’s blog
look for patterns
learn how to crochet

Of course, there is much more to explore on the app. It really is a wealth of information for the new, intermediate, or even advanced crocheter. I know I have my eye on the latest Mystery crochet along that was just revealed and would be a new experience for me to try. Michaels Stores also have an app for Android users. I found this one after I was a bit underwhelmed by another craft stores app. The Michaels Stores contains a lot of items packed all into one resource. You will find:

the Michaels Stores weekly ad
coupons for your local Michaels Store
projects that are not limited to yarn and needle crafts (baking, painting, home décor, kids crafts, and a lot more)
product listings by craft type
videos will be coming
a place to store the project you like
listing of events at your local Michaels Store

There is a lot more within the app. What I adore is that I can quickly get coupons when I am going to the store to pick up items. If I am looking for a new idea to craft, I can save a project that I like. Later on, I can go back in and find what I need to purchase, along with the project instructions. Another fun feature, I can check the weekly sales and just skip right to the yarn brands. A lot of thought was put into this app and it is great for a fiber arts enthusiast on the go. Knitting Patterns Database is an app that combines tools from many other knitting apps into one location. Within this app you can:

store PDF patterns
download patterns from locations like Ravelry (you must sign into those)
import patterns
use their row counter
find a calculator to help with yarn substitutions and more

This app is new to me and I plan on exploring it more this summer as I finish up my latest crochet project. I know I will be able to use it for future knitting works, but there is a way to utilize it for my crochet work as well. What apps have you used for knitting, crocheting, or other crafting? I would love to know so I can add them to my growing collection. Be sure to check out my latest crafting fun by following along on Instagram.

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 to test out and share ways that I use it in my life. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
arts and crafts crocheting knitting Technology

Crochet Hat Central

Posted on November 7, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When I find a craft that I enjoy, I tend to go a little wild making items. Years ago it was knit cloths, scarves, and blankets. Recently I switched my focus to crocheting. For a while I was constantly making crochet granny squares for what eventually became my rainbow blanket. Next up, I fell in love with making wristers. Then, I knew the cold weather was coming and wanted to make hats. I never tried a knit hat, but crocheting intrigued me. Last week, I decided to try the First Fall Crochet hat pattern by Lion Brand Yarn.

While I liked this pattern, I wanted to make something that would not require me to stitch it up in the end. So I found another pattern on a video (not sure the name) and made another hat to match some wristers that were already finished.

I quickly fell in love with this pattern because it is the base for a lot of more fun character hats that I want to try one day soon. Some may include two mouse ears and help me to share my Disney Side a bit more this winter. So to practice, the boys each picked out some yarn for me to make them something. NHL’s hat is orange and black. JSL wanted a TARDIS blue hat. I made a hat to match my potato chip scarf that I knitted last year. Of course, once I was finished, I decided that it had to have a pom-pom on top. I made another hat with a pom-pom for Nana to match some wristers that I crocheted her a while back.

Do not worry about TechyDad, I need to size a hat for him and then his will be all set. Now I need more yarn and people to make hats for STAT!

Categories:
arts and crafts crocheting knitting

Selecting Baby Blanket Yarn

Posted on November 4, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While I will not be having any more babies of my own, I adore making items for new babies. A special handmade baby blanket is what I usually make for family and friends. In recent years, I have had a favorite chunky yarn that was always my go to for projects. I would knit up a diagonal blanket for the new little one to grow into and use for a longer time. When I was invited to a baby shower for a friend, I started to look around for new yarn. My friend is not going to find out the sex of her baby until he or she is born. This meant that I needed to find a color that would work for a boy or girl. Ideally I did not want too much blue or pink. Enter Bernat Baby Blanket yarn in Little Sunshine.

The Bernat Baby Blanket filled two musts in my mind. It was not wool for sensitive baby skin (it is actually polyester) and it is machine washable. My boys were jealous when they felt how soft it was once I got started on the project. Originally, I had planned on crocheting my first baby blanket, but I did not like the way it was folding up, so I went back to my favorite baby blanket pattern. I also liked how Little Sunshine has peach, yellow and green for a different color combination. When all was said and done, the blanket above was large and the boys helped me to pick out the new baby a little buddy to go along with it.

Do you enjoy making gifts for new babies? I would love to know your go to yarn and patterns for gift making if you knit or crochet.

Tuesday Tales – Crocheting Books

Posted on August 6, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Just after JSL was born, I started to knit again. I really enjoyed it, but I secretly wanted to learn to crochet. This was about the time that a lot of books came out that promised to teach you with photos how to do crafts and more. I bought one of those books. While the book is beautiful and may assist me now that I know the basics, it really just sat in storage until I pulled it out for this post.

Although I am a visual learner, this books did not teach me to crochet because I needed a little bit more. YouTube videos were my secret to success. I watched many different beginner tutorials and then found my love in the world of granny square videos. I admit it, I am a granny square addict in the making. As I was thinking about topics to write about, I recalled an Instagram photo that someone had shared recently. It was a book all about Granny Squares that you can crochet. If you have been watching my Instagram photos since March, I am a little obsessed with granny squares since I learned to crochet and immediately started what turned into a giant granny square rainbow afghan.

Once I finished that blanket, I went to look for more granny square inspired projects. Thanks to Pinterest, I located a cute bag pattern and finished that with scraps from the blanket. I will share that as soon as I sew a liner into the bag. Now that I am finishing up another bag, I am curious about other granny square patterns and projects.

So I figured I would asked in Tuesday Tales this week if anyone has crochet books, specially about granny squares, that they would recommend. As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.