Knitting and other Creative Endeavors
 

After literally YEARS of contemplating it, I learned to knit yesterday. There's a really cool shop in Cal Heights that has knitting supplies as well as a BUNCH of other cool things. I had some time after an appointment and I decided to go for it. I'm just knitting, not purling at the moment and I'm making a scary with beautiful and forgiving blood red yarn with black fibers mixed in. Yeah, I've had my problems so far - mostly ending up with extra stitches - but it has been very fun.

Now, if only I could find a decent book to download onto my iPod (iTunes sucks) I'd be set for hours of fun!

I'm not sure why my small but crafty side is showing now, but I like it.

What projects are you working on now?

I'm contemplating quilting and have been contemplating it for years. Eventually I will take the plunge.

Knitting sounds like it might be fun, too. We havea great yarn and bead store in Warrenton, my problem is, I'm never in town during the day when they are open.

In the past I had a proficiency for ceramics and would love to get my hands all mucked with clay once again. It was massively therapeudic and God knows, I could use some of that right now.

Donna

My daugher has gotten into knitting, all the cool kids are doing it. I can make a basic scarf but that's about it.

My mother has always knitted and does some crochet as well. I just don't have the patience. It bores me out of my mind. The same goes for needlepoint, counted cross stitch, etc. A lot of my good friends are quite crafty and do these amazing projects but I just can't seem to finish one.

Quilting I've thought of. I've done some basic quilting when I was in 4H in Jr.High but nothing since. I got a sewing maching a couple of years ago, my daughter wanted to learn how to sew. We've done a few basic things but not much.

I admire all the crafty people but I just can't seem to do it.

So NA, what are you going to knit us? :evil:

Try Audible.com for books.

I am wrking on some Beading(not so much right now), and Metal Clay.

I've been knitting since I was in jr. high. Not the same item, of course. I used to wear sweaters I'd made for myself. I like to think that I'm not so much uncool as lightyears ahead of the trends.

Currently, my in-progress projects are:

1) light sage green baby afghan that is completed except for the fringe, which is partially done.

2) white baby afghan which is about 1/4 of the way done.

3) red wool knee-length socks based on some extant 16th century Italian socks. Still on the top foldover bit.

4) cross-stitch of an angel that is part of a series. Christmas angels. I've done about half of them, but I have a bunch left to do. (Thank goodness the series finally ended so I can catch up.) About 1/5 of the way done.

5) Italian camica (chemise) that is assembled but still needs some seams finished and needs the neck band put on. Which is where it's been sitting because I haven't decided what I want to do with that, but I think I have enough evidence of smocking that I want to try that.

That's only the projects I've actually started. The pending projects? We have three bedrooms. One we sleep in, one we work in, and one devoted to my craft projects.

The secret's out - Prudence, domestic goddess.

I am so jealous NA.
After trying to knit for over a year, I finally gave in and decided to learn to crochet.
I need a class!!!!!! Of course, I continental knit as well, and that makes it worse for other people.

I wish I could say that I had a project.

I've been crocheting a scarf for the last 2 years. In my defense I just found it in a box of stuff I've had since I moved. I'll have it done for next winter.

Awwww, are your naughty bits cold?

Does bread count as a "creative endeavor"?

I'm thinking of starting a quilt, but I'd have to do everything by hand, so I dunno.

I think making bread is a creative endeavor. Eating bread, not so much.

Aw, you just need a little imagination! :p

LOL! Everyone needs a little more imagination!

In that case, I am currently eating my creative endeavor.

Why does a Black WIdow or a Pray Mantis come to mind?

Well, I'll have to be very creative in my endeavor to re-organize my lab space tomorrow. 6 tape libraries, 21 servers, 3 workstations, 80 fibre channel hbas, 5 fibre channel switches, and I lost track of how many cables months ago (thus the need to re-organize). This was all hard enough to keep track of when there were 2 of us...

It's just a loaf of bread. (Well, actually, it's a loaf of bread minus two slices.)

Hmmm.... coincidence?

Discribes me to a T!

I bet you knitted the birthmark to throw them off the trail.

Not if my boyfriend is doing his job right! :D

JoAnn's has the quilt block of the month kits; you buy 12 kits and a finishing kit. Once a month (of course I wasn't patient enough to do one a month) you do your kit and by the end of the year you have a quilt. It takes you through a little at a time and has great tips on how to quilt.

I'm on month 11 of 2004's kit. LOL! I found the whole year's worth on clearance for $25 at my local store. SCORE!

What on earth is a scary?

It's scarf. Can't you read my typing yet?????! ;)

To quote a favorite Anarchist:

Michael Bakunin (1814-1876)


Which can be translated as:

So I think I will break something for cause of creativity ;)

I make sawdust

I just make dust...

theres a magazine called easy knitting (its somthing like that) they usually have a whole section onthe basics of knitting. my sister and i were feeling creative and thoght hmm lets make hats!! so went crazy and went and bought a bunch of knitting stuff and tried it and we ende up going into a arts & crafts chatroom and were like ummm help? we ended up figuring it out. it took awhile to get it in the head but once you get used to how to hold on to the string it gets easier and faster. i still havent figured out how to make a hat tho. ive made like 4 scarves and thats it lol. as for purling sometimes you can see it without even doing it. i made a purse for one of the little girls at work. only took like 3 monthes. it actually turned out too :p

do any of you scrapbook?

I scrapbook in the sense that I have a whole bunch of supplies and photos and swear I'm going to get started any moment now.

ME TOO!!!!!!

I've been scrapbooking for a few years now. I do fairly simple pages, with usually 4-5 pictures/page. I'm even doing a get away weekend in 2 weeks with some others at the beach.

I knit, some, but lately it's just been with my knitting machine, as my elbows started bothering me too much for traditional knitting. It's great, though, 'cause I can whip out a baby blanket in 2 light evenings of work. I'm wanting to make a twin-set with a tank and short sleeve cardigan, but need to work on the design some. I HATE to spend a bunch of time on it, and then not have it fit right!

I haven't done much sewing lately, aside from some stuff I made for my vacation a year ago - and valences.

I think my Mardi Gras costume was the last 'crafty' thing I did. I too, have a room that is dedicated to my craft stuff (and it REALLY needs to be organized!)

I was just talking about this with a gal from work - I come by my 'craftiness' honestly - Mom, both her parents and at least one aunt (who raised sheep so she'd have wool to spin to knit!), and her Grandmother all did tons of crafty things. My Mom's Grandmother did a clay bust of my Mom when she was 5. You can STILL tell it's of my Mom (which also says something that she still looks like herself 60ish years later!)

Isn't buying all the supplies and stuff the point? No? Oh...

My latest attempt at embroidery has resulted in the purchase of some cute little emboridery scissors and some plain fabric to practice with and a package of 27 skeins of floss in assorted colors (which only makes me want to buy one of each of all the other colors of thread). Then I bought a book that details hundreds of stitches including sewing little mirrors on fabric (think Indian-inspired clothing) so I had to go and buy some little mirrors.

Currently I'm convinced that I can't sew a single stitch until I get a blunt-tip needle. I'm having fun just planning what I might do, one of these days.

oh yeah - I also have a big ol' bag of wool that I'm learning how to spin with a drop spindle.

(One has to watch what one says around my aunt. She's an elementary school teacher who specializes in science and was telling us how she gets weird emails from around the country asking science questions. One came from a guy in Alabama (she's in Iowa) and somehow it came up that her students had never seen fresh-from-the-field cotton, so he sent her class a bale of cotton. So I said, hey! I've never seen a fleece, so if you get email from someone who raises sheep, get me a fleece, too. Next Christmas, I get a giant bag of wool roving. Figures....)

Other pending projects include some goldwork. some 14th century German brickstich projects, and more garb than you can shake a stick at. I have about 7 giant Rubbermaid tubs full of fabric, and several quantities still on their rolls.

Oh heck, yes! A buy more product than I need, attend crops and conventions... blah blah.
I could be a CM consultant if I wanted to go that route I know the product so well!

Lindyhop, Hows your cat? Did you finish him?
(And yes, actually, imo, buying all the supplies is the point. Thats why I still cant knit!)

Yes, the swanky cat is done (crooked tail and all) and I finished the little French poodle, too. But I can't get myself to start anything else just yet.

Well, thats okay, because you my friend, you FINSIHED two projects.
You are not the keeper of UFO's!!!

Coolness!!!!

ok yeah ponine, i could totally sell CM things too if i wanted cuz i know it all so well lol. one of my lead consultants i go thru was telling me they have a deal going on right now where you get the starter pack for $119 instead of the $195 and im seriously thinking i could use the extra moolah!

i have about 10...maybe more.. scrapbook projects going on. i scrap all over the place...i find pics i scrap em lol. im so behind on developing/printing pics tho...ive been lazy! i go thru monthes where i do nothing BUT scrap in my free time but than i get unmotivated and stop for awhile...but it doesnt stop me from buying more n more stuff lol.

currently i dont even know where my knitting and crocheting stuff is...somewhere hiding in my room.

i got my own sewing machine for christmas and ive been making purses. well.. so far only 2 but one is in the fabric cutting stage. im making it for my friend's birthday present...hopefully it turns out decent. i might have to make 2 so i can have one hehe. do any of you make purses? do you ever put "piping" around the edges? im not sure how to go about that. i want to try that. lol.

I don't know if I've ever put piping on a purse - yep - I have, hot pink satin to go with the outfit I made for a Christmas party. Piping, in general, can be a bit of a pain. If you can get away (color wise) with pre-made piping, that will help a lot! Use a zipper foot to put it on. And if you make your own (it's not that hard, but much easier to buy) - make sure you cut the fabric out on the bias (diagonal)!

Hey I used my daughter's Barbie sewing machine to sew hems on the dress that she made by herself, up until the hems, for her Cabbage patch doll.

I have better luck using the Barbie sewing machine, then my own sewing machine.:rolleyes:

ok so what would i use if i made my own piping? like wire? lol. i was going to put it on my purse today (it ended up being a snow day we got 12 inches and i didnt work whooo hoo so i was sewing allllll day!) it turned out a little different than i wanted it to but i still think its really cool. i need to make one for myself now lol. can u buy piping at like JoAnn fabrics?

So, tonight, I'm happily knitting away and pause to have an on-line conversation. The yarn is on my lap but it trails over to the couch. I look over to see one of my kitty-charges (I'm pet sitting) chomping on the yarn. The little brat boy has chomped the strand in half!

Cute, fuzzy, black and MEAN!!!!!

That was me! I decided to try crochet, as I was told it was easier than knitting, and as I sat learning, unbeknownst to me, there was a cat eating my yarn, suddenly, there was nothing there!
Mean kitties.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.
You can buy pre-made piping at JoAnn's - with the bias tape. You can also buy the cording for the center of the home-made piping there. I'm not sure where JoAnn's keeps it, but it's generally sold by the yard.

I'll see if I can find instructions for doing bias-cut strips very easily. (I have some written out instructions from like 10 years ago somewhere, but the picture is important, and I don't have a scanner.)

Ok, found some decent pages:

Instructions for installing piping:
http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/blpiping.htm

Some instructions/tips on making piping
http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa090997.htm

And here's how to make the bias cut strips easily:
http://sewing.about.com/gi/dynamic/o...23anchor243291

hey thanks for the info...its helps alot n ill try it out with the next purse i make heh.i keep meaning to put a picture of the purse i made the other day on here but either dont have time or forget lol.

See, a dog would never do something like that.

Yeah, the dog sat there eating my shoe.

But that didn't ruin any creative endeavors, now, did it?

Well, yes, if you consider getting dressed a creative endeavor.

FYI

When I was at Hancock Fabrics last week looking for 60" wide solids (no luck), I noticed some swanky fabrics. They appear to be Shag-inspired, and feature tall, thin ladies with cocktails, cats on futuristic retro chairs, and other swanky patterns (maybe 4 or 5 different prints). They're all color-coordinated (blues and greens/lime) and were with the other cotton prints in the quilting section.

I don't know what anyone would do with them, but surely someone here is dying to go out to buy a yard of each just in case the perfect project presents itself--right?

Oh I wish I knew how to knit.... I do sort of know how to crochet and I actually attepted sewing.... Which gave my son a blanket with crooked edges. :rolleyes: But that was a practice right? I am thinking of trying to take a class at JoAnn's to learn to sew and knit. I did love taking those cake decorating classes though. Maybe I should just stick with the food based classes...... I wish I had taken that silk screening class at LACMA though. My friend made the best shirt when he decided to learn silk screening.

You'll have no use for the Shag-ish fabric during cake-decorating class. ;)

Although I could learn to sew and make myself a cuper cute retro apron to wear to said cake class...... Hmmmmm... The possibilities are endless!!!

oooh....an apron! That's a great idea!

If only there were dogs on this swanky fabric instead of cats. Hmmm.

I am still trying to find a picture of the ultimate cat to have tattooed on myself. I want the damn coolest cat ever but I am so picky and it is for FOREVER and I have yet to find something I would like to have on me forever.......

It depends on what kind of dogs. I have seen plenty of fabrics with french poodles on them......

Well, the thing is that dogs aren't "swanky" the way cats are. But I'm definitely a dog person--I don't care for cats.

I think weiner dogs would be the swankiest of dogs as far as artwork would go. But fabric usually has those frilly pink poodles on it, which is totally not me. And too pink.

Anyhow, I have a quilt I'm working on right now, so I don't need another project just yet.

I was asked this week if I taught welding. Really.

I hate that my writing has been reduced to research papers and term project papers.

I would like to make a quilt. Actaully my son wants me to make him a quilt. (He can be so demanding.)

I think weiner dog fabric could be cute.

I quilt, knit, but mostly practice photography...:)

I have 3 quilts started. (I love designing the patterns, but rarely finish them, I have finished 3 though. so 50/50)

I have knitted numersous scarves, acell phone holder and two hats. I'm in the process of knitting a lacey scarf, a cat bed and something else.....(yep, I start alot of projects then get bored. ) Oh, I'm also designing a hidden mickey scarf. That I should really get to work on..:)

I also scrapbook...about once a year....

cooking is a hobby for me also. I love making new things and just throwing stuff together...:)

Hmmm...I haven't been to the fabric store in awhille...I wonder if there's swanky fabric at the pacific fabrics up the street. they also have fun yarn there. And give an SCA discount. Danger....

Last thing I welded was a frame for a computer test bed.

I like working with steel occasionally, but recently, I've been having fun rolling and cutting aluminum

I won't tell YOUR cat, Lyra, that.:p

Yep. Had that conversation a gazillion times.

It's official, my official creative endeavor is getting distracted. I have an almost completed embroidery project, a hula girl that just needs the facial features added (we're talking maybe an hour) and a just started tiki that prevented me from completing the hula girl. So naturally I went out and bought both a knitting kit and a crochet kit.

Then someone had to mention welding.:eek:

Actually I'm having a great time just imagining what I can do if I ever settle on something.:)

Oh, please start a project with the "Shag" fabric! Someone? Anyone?

When I learn to sew I will......

Is this the fabric?




Or this onw?



This site has more.

OMG! I wish I had time to order that for the mei tai I'm making tomorrow!

If I could figure out what I'm doing with our office I might consider using the green kitty fabric for a duvet cover. But, I have no idea what direction I'm going with this room.

No, neither of those are the ones I saw. I'll do a few searches to see if I can find them online.

Found 'em!

I didn't see the red one at the store (I was in the blue/green section). There were some other "go-withs" near them on the shelf:

Any endeavor updates? I'm procrastinating on finishing up two baby afghans and have instead moved on to socks. Started one on the plane last week and I'm now finished with the heel and working on the foot part.

I'm almost done quilting the blocks of the quilt I'm making. I'll be moving on to the sashing soon.

I've got the fabric for another project already. There are some amazing sales at the fabric stores this weekend. I was tempted by those fabrics I posted above, but I still don't know what to do with them, and I don't think they were on sale.

Do my various computer stuffs fall under "creative endeavours"?

Post photos! I *love* hand quilting. Do you use a frame?

I finished one sock last night. Haven't blocked it yet or anything. I need to finish these damn baby afghans. One's all done except for the fringe. I hate doing fringe.

I don't see why not. They seem pretty creative to me.

I'm using a 14" x 14" square PVC frame.

I don't have a good photo of my current one to post, but this is going to be my next project:

I'll be using greens. We'll see if I ever finish it.

Cool! Is your current one a specific pattern? I need to get off my butt, put the laptop down, and finish these damn afghans already.

Are you knitting or crocheting? I have been teaching myself to crochet and now I'm obsessed.

The only creative thing I do is make cards...I have an entire room dedicated to stamping supplies, but I haven't been in there in over a year. Pretty ironic that I now work for an invitation~type place.

Knitting. I used to know how to crochet and could probably pick it up again, but I prefer to knit.

The current one is a 9-patch, with 4" squares. As soon as I get an appropriate chalk pencil (the one I have is no good), I can get back to quilting it. I can't stencil otherwise.

I've started on the new one, and I learned I have an intense dislike of basting fabric to paper pieces.

I want to learn to knit sometime, too.

I just saw this thread and it reminded of me of yesterday.

I graduate this year, Sunday actually, but yesterday was seniors' last day of school.

Anyway, at the school there is a substitute teacher who is known for always knitting. She'll give the teachers agenda for the teaching plan, then go to knitting. People either love her or hate her. I used to be pretty annoyed with her, but one day me and some classmates gave her so much crap, and I actually formed a very deep respect for her.

Now whenever I see her, I hug her. Everytime, if I saw her in the hallway I hugged her, she actually came to a play I was in, and I hugged her and spun her around. I think she is one of the coolest ladies ever.

Anyway...yesterday after 2nd period I got called down to the office along with a bunch of other senior students. Apparently this sub teacher knits beanies (hats not animals) for senior students. And I got one! So far, its by far my favorite senior year gift. Money is all well and good, but a hat knitted by a really cool old lady has, by far, a lot more meaning.

Sorry for the long, and maybe pointless post, but I was just so excited about the thing

Okay, someone needs to spawn so I have an excuse to make one of these:

Baby knitted squid hat

It look cute on the cat.....and I have 6. ;)

Wait. You're not sitting on your cats are you?
:D

I agree with her!

Though Pru, I know a two year old nephew of mine that would LOVE it

I had a productive weekend. In addition to finally, after two years, painting the bedroom closets and bathroom hallway, I finished both my baby afghan projects I owed to other people.

Photos suck a bit, but it was late, lighting sucked, and I was sleepy.

Green afghan close up of pattern


Full view of green afghan


White afghan close up of pattern


Full view of white afghan

That's beautiful work, Pru!!!

Thanks! My old boss was shocked -- **SHOCKED** -- that I had any domestic-type skills.

Those are both beautifful!

Wow! Those are both beautiful. I love the patterns. I couldn't knit to save my life but I can cross stitch.

I thought of this thread when I saw this video

I love the blankets! I need to learn to knit sometime.

It's super easy and relaxing. And it has the advantage of looking complicated even when it's not. (As opposed to embroidery, where regardless of whether it looks complicated it generally *is* complicated. Someday I will learn Opus Anglicanum.)

If you haven't learned by the time I get out there next, you'll likely get a lesson whether you want one or not.

I do want one. Hurry back!

Ditto! My efforts at teaching myself are less then ideal.

Ponine, you hurry out here, too, then!

Or, y'all could make the trek out here for a group lesson. ;)

I have WDW in my backyard...

and I'm working on two quilts. I don't need another project right now.

Only two projects?! Where's your dedication to the crafts?!

Well, one is paper-piecing, and includes 1229 1.5" x 3" hexagons in 28 different fabrics. Shouldn't that count as multiple projects?

Do you keep different portions of the project in different areas of your home?

Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I do.

Well, then you meet the multiple project criteria!

So, today I finished the second sock in my multi-colored, zig-zag eyelet socks. I haven't taken photos yet, but I am wearing them on my feet! Handmade socks always feel soooo good on the feet.

So, because I am the best owner ever, I have started on a little aran blanket for the cats. I'm making it out of this basic "Simply Soft" yarn from Michael's. They really love the yarn, and it's acrylic so they won't eat it. (They LOVE to try to eat wool yarn. So, rather than making blankets for others that they want to lay on and get shooed off of, I'm actually making them their own.

But, I will also probably start another pair of socks soon.

Doesn't anyone else have any finished projects?

I know how to knit now.

I want to hate you, but I cant.
But, I am jealous.

I don't really have any real reason to knit, though. Typical knitted stuff isn't that useful in Florida.

As if I need it in So Cal?!?!?!

Please, why do we all learn to make scarves? We dont need them. :p

Scarves are easy. Maybe if they're really thin and light, we could use them in that one week of winter?

Oh, you're in San Diego. That 72 degrees + or - 2 doesn't mean any winter. Surely you must venture to NoCal once in a while? Think about how cold it is up there in comparison to SD?

I think the big question is why they sell learn to knit kits in the shop in Norway in EPCOT--full of bulky yarn (and, presumably, patterns for scarves, hats, mittens, or sweaters).

Surely even Floridians wear socks once in a while?

OK, the great (sensational?) sock project...

I have sock yarn, and I've got metal needles--a set of 5. The now-unravelled sock (I'll get to that) was a beast to cast on. I hated that. I'm *this close* to trying the 2 circular needle method.

I did fine (though I realize now that I was making my own pattern up) until I got to the heel flap. Instructions for the heel flap were only a partial problem. The book said to always slip as if to purl, I assumed that meant that I needed the yarn in front, and I realized my sock didn't look like the one in the picture. No biggie, I liked the look, but about 12 rows in (out of 32) I realized that it wouldn't be comfortable to walk on. So I tried a few rows the right way, and that was way better.

So I decided to go back to the beginning of the heel flap to redo it. I mean, it's just 14 rows, right?

Stupid me, I decided to unravel and then get the needle back into the loops instead of unknitting. There was my big mistake. I never got all the stitches back on correctly, the yarn was splitting, etc. In a fit of frustration I unraveled the whole thing and balled the yarn back up.

I bought 2 size 2 circular needles at JoAnn's this afternoon (maybe casting on will be easier with only 2 needles?). Well, they're not the same size as the double points (2.75 mm v. 3 mm). And looking at them now, they're not as sharp, either, which I know will bug the crapola out of me. I think I'll return these to JoAnn's (unless someone can convince me before I get a chance to go back).

So, I need casting on advice. Once I got going I was fine, but the top part looked a bit loopy and casting on took forever--is this just how it is?

I'm confused about picking up gusset stitches, but obviously I haven't gotten there yet, and it might make perfect sense once I'm on that row.

Oh--and I started with the first one in the book, the 4-stitch ribbing patterns. When I restart, I'll either do the non-sensational "Garter Rib" (p.37) or the "Elongated Corded Rib," which looks less boring and still easy. I totally would've done the silly class sock to get the techniques quickly, but it seems lame to buy needles for a practice sock (and that I'd most likely never use again). I'm terrible at returning things to stores. We'll see what happens to the needles I bought this afternoon--I would, after all, like my $11 back.

Wow, um...long winded.

I personally prefer the double pointed needles for socks. The worst part is getting started, but once there's a couple inches of sock hanging down, I find it goes pretty smoothly.

I've looked at a bunch of casting on instructions lately and realized that I don't do it like any I've seen. *I* think my way is plenty easy, and way fast, but I'll have to wait until I get home and can play with yarn to describe it.

One thing to try, though - I never try to cast on to the different needles. I cast on to one needle and then when I have the total number needed I move the loops onto the other needles as appropriate. I find this helps minimize the big gaps and whatnot.

Picking up gusset stitches is confusing because there's no one way to do it. When you make the heel flap, the reason you slip a stitch at the beginning of the row is that you're making this sort of chain stitch down the sides. what part of the "loop" you pick up is basically a matter of taste. If you pick up the back loop, you get ridgy bits on the outside and smooth inside. If you pick up the front loop, it's reversed. Sometimes I change depending on the yarn. Don't worry about that now - we'll deal with that when you get there.

OKay - I'll try to remember when I get home to post a description of my casting on method. I'll look at the patterns you're thinking of, too.

And if it makes you feel any better - last night I realized I screwed up something about 8 rows back (I reduced a stitch at the wrong end of a needle - in the middle of the heel instead of the gusset edge) so I'll have to undo some tonight.

All my wordiness, and I didn't say that quite right. Casting on isn't the problem--I did just what you described (moving the stitches). I guess I should've said that knitting that first row was the pain in arse.

One question about the pattern (when you get a chance to look at it)--in the instructions for the heel flap, for the wrong side row, it says K3 and purl to end, but there's supposed to be a purl edging there--should that say K3, purl to last 3 sts, K3? The right side row had P3 on both sides, and that one instruction offended my sense of symmetry. But if there's a reason for it I'll give it a shot.

This book doesn't have a slipped stitch at the end of the heel flap rows.

And you've convinced me. The circular needles are going back, back, back to the store! If I change my mind later, I can order pointier ones online.

Knitting the first row is always weird. I'll look at the pattern tonight. Aren't there a number of heel types in that book? I like the padded heels, myself. That's where I get wear. (You make those by doing k1, s1 on the knit rows, and pearl across on the pearl rows. You can do each knit row the same, or do one as k1, s1, and the next as s1, k1 - stripe look or checkerboard.)

Ok - you were on the four-stitch pattern, right? Yeah, that one has the garter edging for the heel flap. (I've always done the chain stitch (slipped stitch) border, like they have for the six-stitch pattern.)

As for the edging - the right side row has pearl three to start, knit three to end. The wrong side row has knit three to start, and pearl all the way to the end (so the last three are pearl.) That makes each edge garter stitch - knit one way, pearl the other - although they're opposites.

The patterns here are a little intimidating. I think the vintage pattern book might be easier. But you'll get through!

The vintage book looked more difficult to me, maybe because the sensational book has all those fancy color-coded columns and stuff. The stitch patterns themselves aren't too bad--I've been doing fancier (or just as fancy) stuff with worsted-weight yarn, so it's just the same stuff on a smaller scale. I can live with that.

Yes, I'm on the 4-stitch pattern. Worked 2 rows last night of the cuff. Haven't decided which stitch pattern to follow yet--I turned the page and discovered 6 more options, none of which look too difficult. I have mixed feelings about all these choices.

As written, the heel flap pattern (the one given for the 4-stitch patterns) would look like this:

KKKPPPPPPPPPPPPP (wrong side)
PPPKSKSKSKSKSPPP (right side)

The last three of the wrong side row look to me like they ought to be knits. It just looks funny to me. I may need to give in and trust the sockmaster.

Prudence-- here is a link I found to corrections for Sensational Knitted Socks. Thought it might help.

I wanted to learn to knit. I learned to knit. I knit a shawl. And since I haven't really had the desire to knit again.

I think I'd prefer needlepoint. The outcome would be more exciting for me, I think. I can cross-hatch, that's easy enough, but I have trouble learning this stuff from a book. I need a 3D instructional. I've a friend who can pick that stuff up in books no problem. She didn't enjoy needlepoint, but the one thing she made was friggin' professional looking, and it was only her first try. Damn crafties!

I am thinking about a fun L.A. based project, but I've got a lot more thinking to put into it before it gets off the ground (if ever, so many of my ideas don't)...

My mom does needlepoint very well, but the canvases can be very expensive, and mostly they're flowers. My home doesn't really have much room for framed needlepoint flowers (or pillows, for that matter).

Maybe you'd like quilting? That's a lot of hand needlework, especially if you decide to do a Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern.

This could be the issue - my book lists something different for the right side row. Mine lists the right side row as PPPKSKSKSKSKSKKK. So, grasshopper, your instincts are correct, and your book has an error. That's so odd!

Wow, this thread is just as bamboozling to me as any Egghead thread.

I've been looking for some kind of crafty hobby, and I've pondered knitting and needle-point, (won't the guys at work be amused) but I don't know if either of those will suit my clumsy fingers.

Heck, with knitting you can get big needles and chunky yarn and go to town. Not everyone needs to pop out their 000s and make complicated socky things. I'm not a fan of needlepoint because it seems too "easy." And it does seem to be mostly flowers. I like cross stitch, blackwork, goldwork, etc..., but knitting (for me) takes less focus so I'm able to do it while reading cases, watching teevee, monitoring my virtual aquarium (I blame you, Matterhorn Fan!), and so forth. I think knitting is easier.

Holy cow. My instincts may have been correct, but my assumption meter sure needs checking.

It would seem that I assumed the last three on the right side row were PPP (both looking at the book AND at your earlier post), whereas my book is exactly the same as yours. At least my "fix" for the nonexistant problem would have generated the same result.

000's, eh? I'm sure that makes my size 2's (well, that's what they're labeled, but apparently brand-to-brand there's some inconsistency) look giant. How thick are 000's?

And in case you were wondering, the winning pattern is (drumroll, please)...

Baby Cable Rib!

000 is 1.5 mm. I had to look that up - and learned that they make 00000000s! .5 mm! I want!

Can't wait to see photos!

My 2's are 3mm.

00000000's? My JoAnn's doesn't have the bamboo needles in anything smaller than a 5.

Photos? That would mean me actually figuring out how to post one.

I'm 10 rows away from turning the heel. Wish me luck.

I'm using 2s on my sock and they're 2.75mm. I didn't know there were such brand inconsistencies!

Turning the heel is okay, once you get a conceptual picture of what's happening. The sock book has pretty good photos of how to pick up gusset stitches when it's time.

I got my weird "big 2's" from here.

They say "US 2," but if a US 2 is supposed to be 2.75 mm, then they're lying, aren't they?

It's time to pick up gusset stitches.

But it's also time to take a shower and do something besides sock knitting for the day.

This list says 2s can be 2.75 or 3. very weird.

I personally like the bamboo needles better because they don't get all bendy like the really skinny metal ones do, and it feels like the yarn travels better. With metal, it seems like they're *too* slide-y. Stitches would fall off the end when I'd put things away for the night.

Oh, and I've got a good website for Kitchener stitch, when it's time for finishing the toes. Best visuals I've seen.

I think I need some clarification on picking up the gusset stitches. However, in typing out all my questions, I think I worked most of them out. [Edit: and then I got even MORE confused]

Maybe I'm confused because of what I've got on which needle--currently I have the instep (non-heel flap/heel turn) sts on one needle (they were previously on two, but it hung neater out of the way one one, so I moved them. I think maybe I should split them back up, and all the heel sts should be on one needle instead.

Once I pick up the gusset stitches, I shouldn't be immeidately working in the pattern, though (according to the pictures, it should be stockinette). So if I'm picking up 8 sts, how is my yarn getting to the instep stitches? The instructions don't seem to say, and I'm on my second or third interpretation of them.

Now I'm looking back and it says that the beg of round is at the center back of foot. But my yarn's on the side of the heel turn, at the end of completed row 4 just like they said.

I can't work on this much more this weekend, but if I could get the right stitches on the right needles, that will help me very much. I'm sure the answer is right in front of me.

Take the blue pill.

I haven't seen that movie!

Prudence, I just had my "duh" moment. Looked up "PU" in the glossary--"PU" means pick up and knit. And I've got my stitches in the right place. So that should make everything OK until the kitchener stitch (it sounds pretty easy).

Very cool! I'm currently suffering from too many patterns. I also have gobs of yarn - but might still go out and get more tomorrow. I'm so bad!

They're called Hypodermic Needles, aren't they ? Any drugstore should be able to help you out.


I myself have knitted a beautiful scarf over 10 feet long.

.....It started out as a sock, but I couldn't turn the heel.

:D

You were either making a giant sock or you ended up with a skinny scarf.

The heel's not turning out so bad. I'm guessing that row 3 of the gusset decreases section is without decrease. If I'm wrong, I suppose I'll know soon enough.

I bought about $250 of new sock yarn today! Not even close to using up what I have, but that didn't stop me! GREAT new yarn. Some brand new blends - wool/silk and wool/bamboo (!) and some extremely expensive hand-dyed striping sock yarn.

!!!

Bamboo? That sounds really really cool. Did you order online or do you have awesome yarn store? (I wonder if I have an awesome yarn store?)

For a while last week I thought I might be allergic to wool, but I'm still knitting that sock and my skin isn't reacting anymore (only my face was feeling odd, not my hands). I think it must've been something in the air.

I'm wondering what would be lightweight and cool for Florida-appropriate socks. What I'm using now is mostly wool, but it seems I would be better off with cotton.

My experience is that a light wool is better than cotton. (Based on sweaty cotton garbed reinactors up against refreshed-looking wool and linen garbed sorts.) The wool/bamboo stuff says it's moisture wicking or something like that. And it's machine wash/tumble dry! Yay! I have a plethora of awsome yarn stores, although my current favorite is main street yarn in Mill Creek.

The yarn brand is Regia. I think I got what is shown here as Jamaica and Blue Spot.

Oh - and you might be allergic to the lanolins or something like that. Oils that are sometimes left in and sometimes removed from wool.

First of all--you tease!

Link me to pictures of beautiful yarn where there are zero skeins in stock. Hmmph. :p

I presume "superwash" means I can wash this yarn--but can I dry it? Because honestly, I can't see myself hand washing OR drying socks.

My first sock is almost done!

Yay for first sock! Get that digital camera warmed up....

Yes, the bamboo stuff is machine wash AND tumble dry. Yay for bamboo!

That's great for your bamboo stuff, but what about MY yarn? Can I put MY socks in the dryer?

Oh yeah ... er.... hmmmm. What brand?

Knit Picks. I figure it's going to go in the dryer eventually anyways. I'll find out one way or another!

Yeah, it's probably fine. You generally get the felting from water and heat, not heat alone. But do wash in cold. I think I put all mine in the washer and dryer.

Cold wash I can do. Bathroom sink I will not. ;)

Egads no! Ever since I got the front-loading washer I don't think I've actually handwashed anything. Even my handwash only stuff. No way! Yeah - socks into the washer dryer should be fine.

I need to get busy on mine! I've got quite a backlog now. Plus, I need to do a baby blanket for a classmate.

Hey, Prudence, don't you want to know how Lisa's "scary" is turning out?

What knitty/crafty things are the rest of you doing?

Yay me! One brown wooly sock completed! It fits! And it's more comfy than I thought it would be...

And now you're hooked forever. There is something so satisfying about the way new, handmade socks feel.

I'll have to buy new shoes to go with them!


Erm, once this one sock becomes a "them." I have to do this same thing all over again. I think the first one should replicate so I can move on to the next pair, but in my experience, socks tend to do just the opposite (that whole "one sock lost in the dryer" thing).

If that first line doesn't get Lisa back to the thread, nothing will!

I know when I knit sweaters, I try to do both sleeves simultaneously - no worries about one being longer than the other (since you can never measure length exactly the same way for each) - but I guess with socks you'd be going strictly on rows (not inches), so that shouldn't matter.

Shoes?

Lisa, go get your scarf and get knitting. I reread your original post and your yarn sounds fabulous! Maybe when you finish you can go buy some new shoes to match it...

I'm past the part where I have to count rows. Now it's just the number of times the pattern repeats until I get to the heel, follow the pattern for the decreases, count pattern repeats again, and then follow the pattern for the toe decreases. If it's a little bit off, that'll be ok. They're going to be in my shoes and most likely covered by long pants (since I can't imagine why I would wear dark brown socks with shorts).

it is WAY too hot to knit. I can't even stand to feel the yarn. I brought it with me to SF in hopes of cooler weather (and some inspiration from Mrs. Pod who is a fabulous knitter) but, it was just as hot up there.

Oh. I'm sorry. Sock yarn is cool...?

Look what I bought: http://www.simplysockyarn.com/Detail.bok?no=766

It's a little brighter in person (at least compared to what I see on my monitor).

Cool! I'm chomping at the bit to finish up the second sock of this pair and get on to the New Yarn!

If it ever gets cool enough to finish my scarf and I actually learn how to knit in the process, I'm going to make something out of some great Japanese yarn I've seen around town ( I think the brand is Noro). Mrs. Pod made the MOST wonderful throw out of this yarn and, since it just basic knitting, I'm thinking I might be able to try it.

This isn't knitting, but:

Today, I repaired two beloved shirts of mine that have needed mending for ages.

Sometimes I forget how fast and easy a few stitches are (at least when no one notices what a mess my stitches look like).

Yay me. :)

Hooray for mending! Next you know, you'll be darning socks.

My bones are just about to knit after a wonderfully acrobatic tumble down the front steps this morning... does that count? ;)

I crocheted a very purple hobo bag which ended up looking exactly like a very purple hobo bag. I'm so proud. Speaking of it being too hot to handle yarn, I did most of the work on that project while sitting at the pool in Palm Springs a week or two ago. Was it hot? Yes, but I was obsessed (just one more row and I can go in the pool).

There's no way I'm going to work on a scarf until winter. But I decided it was time to tackle to something to wear so I'm going to crochet a short-sleeve sweater. It only took me three tries to get the gauge right. I think I'll plunge in and start it today. Let's see, I should finish it just in time to make a matching scarf because the weather will be too cold for it by then.

Oh Lindyhop I am so jealous!!!
The next stitch and bitch I will be the lowly person begging for knitting help! Here I am more than a year later and still helpless!!!
and in a year you have finsihed your swank cat, and knit a hobo bag!!!
and numerous things I cant remember! How fabulous!!

You've got time to learn, AM. I won'd be having a S&B until it cools off in my house.

Forgive my ignorance, but what's a hobo bag?

I wore my new socks today.

The good: they're comfy, they didn't fall down/slouch, they didn't come unraveled, they were far enough from my shirt that no one should know they didn't "go" together, quite.

The bad: they're a little big around the ankle, producing a slouchy looking effect there that I don't really dig (smaller needles for me next time, I suppose); they're now a little fuzzy (I suppose that's what I get for using cheap yarn, or for wearing my knitting on my feet?); they match nothing in my wardrobe.

Hey, congratulations on the socks!

A hobo bag is just a style of handbag (and what the book called this particular pattern). It's basically just a pouch with a long shoulder strap. A shoulder strap that gets even longer if I put anything in the bag. Such are the joys of using something you made and imagined looking, well, different somehow.

Oh, and because everyone else is knitting, I'm crocheting. I'm just that way. I'm going to have to get someone to show me how to knit. But I was able to pick up crochet on my own from a couple of very good books.

yay new socks!

:cheers:

Now see, I gave up on the kitting and tried crochet. Made some cute flowers....
but right now I am trying to crochet wire. I saw some cool jewlery made that way.

Yes, but my knitty, socky friends:

Is there a way to avoid that ankle slouch? I thought my ankles were in good proportion to my foot and calf, but apparently they're super tiny. Is it the ribbing that creates that "80's slouch sock" look (but only at the ankle; above the ankle it's fine)? Is it just this pattern? Did I cast on too many stitches? Should I switch to size 00000 needles? I couldn't decide on a pattern last night, I cast on, and then unraveled after about 7 or 8 rows because now I'm unsure of sizing. Help!

lindyhop, I'm also working on a sampler afghan (also knitted) that is made in squares. The trouble is (and I might never have bought this book if I'd noticed this in the store) is that when each square is done, I have to crochet around the edges. It says to put 48 evenly spaced single crochets, but I'm too lazy to do the math, so I'm hoping it won't matter. Well, I've decided it won't matter. But I'm having trouble with guage with the crochet. I'm terribly inconsistent and it gets wobbly. My point with all this rambling? Um...I think crochet would be much harder for me.

Some sock patterns do nip in at the ankle, so you could try that. Sock patterns were made to be modified! I'll see if I can find info on how that works. I'm pretty sure I did that on my pseudo 16th century stockings.

The patterns in this book sortof require no funky decreases at the ankle, though. I'm afraid that would look weird.

BUT...it just occurred to me that there is no law against changing needle sizes in the middle of a sock. If there is such a law, someone should warn me ASAP.

Not only is there no such law, some people recommend it for the heels to make them more dense.

Hmmm. The heel isn't really the problem. (Or maybe it will be and I just don't know it yet--I take comfort in the fact that I know how to darn.)

I have some yarn with a bit of elastic in it. Maybe that will help. I may try the smaller needle on the ankle thing for the next pair. Or I'll just knit tighter.

I'm just saying that there are times that some people do recommend switching to smaller needles, so it's not too terribly weird.

My first big project was a bag pattern I found on one of the balls of yarn I had for something else. I had a lovely time with it but I was a little unclear about the instructions and they kept mentioning the number of stitches and what was that all about? Uh, well, I figured that out when the bag ended up in a rather freakish shape. I'm now a chastened and reformed stitch counter.

It's probably more important that the stitches are evenly spaced than how many there are. But I'm guessing. I'm still struggling with gauge. I was ten rows into my little sweater when I discovered the gauge was not like my practice sample and I was going to produce a muumuu instead. So I stopped at Michael's tonight to buy a little extra yarn so I can work on getting it right.

I almost bought a book today just because there were a couple of pages of flowers patterns, also cherries and leaves and a star. (A friend's daughter-in-law crocheted some sushi.)

Making jewelry with crochet sounds very cool. Is it hard working with wire?

I learned some cool knitting terms at the Pod's house.

FROGGING: undoing an entire project because you rip it rip it

TINK: To un-knit (Tink is Knit spelled backwards)

Well, this just goes around like a picture frame, and it's what my needle will catch when I sew the squares together. So really this is just the seam, sortof.

I'm starting to figure out how to make it not so wobbly, but I'm not really looking forward to finishing the edges on the full blanket when it's done.

That's what was nice about the socks--there was no edging to be done. Just weave the ends in and it's over!


hehe, NA. Is there also LRUP? What's it called when you undo a SSK?

SEX: Stash Enrichment Expedition (to buy more yarn, of course)
UFO: Unfinished Object

My stash enrichment expeditions have been getting out of hand. I need to process this damn yarn.

I might actually get some sewing done this weekend. I have to decide - early 16th c German? Mid-to-late 16th c German? Early 15th c continental? Early 16th c Florentine? Or bend to peer pressure from my minion and go for the Venetian?

Which of those projects will be make with the happiest color(s)?

uh.....hm.....fabric....

I hadn't actually gotten as far as the outer fabric yet. I'd have to make the undergarments first, which are all white.

Hmmmm. I have some "kumquat" linen I'd intended to use for a florentine tourney dress. Might use the cherry red linen for sleeves.

I have a silk/wool herringbone that needs to be dyed so it's not really a color yet. I had been planning to use it for a court florentine, or possibly a houppelande.

I have the royal-ish blue wool and the med-dark lavender wool that as as yet unassigned that were probably going to be either elizabethan or houppelande. Or a gothic fitted dress, if I ever get up the nerve to try. Germans/Italians didn't seem to use much in those colors.

If I did Venetian or German I'd probably have to go shopping. Horrors!

I know I have more up there in my bins, I've just forgotten. I might have some cotton velvet in a light green.

I like the idea of kumquat linen with cherry red, but I first pictures Kiwi linen with cherry red and thought that was lovely too - but a bit odd. I have this color thing lately. I'm starting to like it.

Between that and the TV watching.....I'm scared.

Oooh... what book? I need to know.

The wire is difficult. I need to go get some pearls, since that seems like the most popular thing to do with wire, and there has to be a reason. I'll let you know how difficult it is.
I need to get a smaller hook too. I only have an I, and thats too big.

I don't know, sorry. I looked through too many to remember. But if I see it again I'll be sure to get the title. I can't stay away from the bookstore for long. And I'd like to be able to crochet all those shapes myself.

I ended up buying The Crochet Answer Book by Edie Eckman (there's also The Knitting Answer Book). It has a lot of good information. But nothing about crocheting jewelry.:(

So I realized after I turned the heel of a new sock last night that the yarn I was using looked way better in plain ol' stockinette stitch than what I had used. I agonized about it for a while then took the needles out.

The good thing was that I could then try it on for size. Now I know I have the right # of stitches cast on.

So now the question is: to rib, or not to rib?

Ribbing the heel? Like the sl1 k1 pattern?

No, as in the rest of the sock. The ankle. I'll be starting over completely.

Ahhhh.. I missed the word "almost". I'll look at B&N the next time I am there.

Aside from that, the best pics I have seen yet of the wire crochet is here
Step by step wire jewlery
There are tons more out there, but this has the best "in process" pics.
There are a few more with great pieces, and I know there's a book.

Ok- I am crocheting am afghan- I made the first chain way too long so I am making it side to side rather than top to bottom- sort of.

I rarely have time to do it- but it's pretty and should be nice when it is done.

I also do cross stitch and needle point- again, rarely.

I love craftie stuff- I just don't have alot of time to fit it in.

Nephy, I do stuff like this while watching TV. (But I have a tendency to be restless or fall asleep if I try to JUST watch TV, and I also have a tendency to listen to the TV rather than watch it, which means I can look at my work....)

Oh no, more things to distract me.

I'm starting Take 2 of the sweater thingy. I think I got my stitches under control.

I also do most of this stuff while watching TV (mostly catching up on DVDs). I've never been able to just sit and watch the tube without having something else going on.

Finished a pair of white/purple/blue multicolored socks and have started on a pair of bamboo/blue spot socks for my mom. Some day I'll actually take photos.

Which pattern did you settle on?

Baby cable rib. I think it's going to turn out pretty.

I'm doing garter rib. The yarn changes color every inch or two. It's a bit much.

Just the color? Or the color with the pattern?

The colors in general--it's a weird yarn. Two blues, a green (which I can't tell from the blues in the light I'm working in), a dark purple, and yellow. I ripped out half a sock because it looked terrible in the pattern I'd chosen before this, which is why I'm doing the plainish ribbing this time around.

Despite all those frequent color changes. Something very odd has happened. After turning the heel, almost the entire top of the sock is in blues and greens, and the sole has swirls of purple and yellow. I'm very amused by this development.

These will be strange socks, indeed.

Cool! I am trying to find the ugliest yarn possible for socks for my brother during his hospital stay.

So tempting to try: Sock Wars.

Oh Pru... you must!!! You must join!!!
So that we can live through you!!!!

I can't knit socks... but I would be soooo in.

HA! I love it!

Stumped for project ideas? May I suggest the Princess Leia knitted wig?

Whip us up a couple of MA, will ya? ;)

I've taken up knitting again.
 

I'm knitted less than 1/3 of a scarf, but so far only two mistakes, and I'm going to cover those up with embroidered flowers or buttons. I'm super excited. But I'm going to run out of yarn. Hopefully I'll be able to find its match; I should have bought two, but I bought the yarn years ago. Anyhoo, it's relaxing and fun and I'm getting better with every stitch.

I still need someone to show me how to cast off, though. I can't figure it out from the book and I had problems with this the last time I knit a shawl (and wound up knotting the ends - heh).

The Princess Leia knitted wig scores high on my giggle list. :D

Casting off's pretty easy - easier than casting on. I'm sure one of us can talk you through it when you get to that point.

Recommended Knitting books?
 

Okay, now that the foggy weather is rolling in and not all my projects are something I work on with the computer, anyone ahve a recommendation for someone who is not terribly dexterious and wants to learn to knit? I'm looking in to chcking out a shop in the bay area with classes, but I wanted to get a head start. Any thoughts?

Well, that's news to me. Seems way more complicated, but maybe that's because I cast on using one needle and the fingers of my other hand, rather than casting on with both needles. Hmmm. When I get to the end, I'll ask for help. Thanks!

I cast on the same way you do, I think - one needle and my other hand. Casting off won't be a problem for you and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. Promise!

Snowflake: I learned to knit a gazillion years ago from my mom, so I'm not up on what books would be good. I love my sock books and they seem to have fairly clear instructions, but starting out with a handful of double-pointed needles can be intimidating.

Probably the best place to start is with what you want to make. If what you really want to make is socks, you'll be more likely to stick with it if you try the sock books. If you'd rather make an afghan or scarf, head for those.

Hey Snowflake... there's a place on 18th called ImagiKnit. Heather has taken a couple of classes there (including socks using circular needles). She loves their classes and yarn selection.

Very cool! I wil check them out! Sounds like a perfect fall/winter project for me. Thanks!

Knitting goodness found via a boingboing.net link.
 

I have a sock predicament.

I have a nearly-completed sock on my coffeetable. If I finish the toe decreases as the book says, it'll be way too big; no bother, my toes aren't pointy so that doesn't matter.

I'm not confident that I have enough yarn for sock #2.

The pattern is nice, but it came out thick. I should have anticipated that, but I was being stupid. This is important for 2 reasons: 1. It took up lots of yarn, and 2. I live in Florida.

It took foreverish (though it's been sitting on the coffeetable longer).

What would you do?

1) undo a couple inches of foot length. (I've had to do this.)
2) consider making the toes out of a different yarn for both socks.
3) get more yarn. (I've had to do this, too.)

I'd never find a matching dye lot, and I'm worried that the socks will be too warm. In short, even if I start knitting sock #2 from the other end of the ball of yarn, and even if I finish, I'm afraid I'm not going to be entirely happy. At the same time, I'm just not ready to unravel all that work.

On the other hand, I'd get to knit with this wonderful yarn 50% MORE than I would have if I just finished the pair of socks. (Or is that just rationalization?)

I say start working on the other sock and see how far you get. If you won't finish, even the socks out and do the toes another color.

Yeah. Maybe I'll try out a different pattern and see if it makes me happier.

The sock is no more. The more I thought about it, the more I resented it. Its days were numbered, so last night I pulled the needles out and ripped it all out.

I restarted in a different pattern. This one is toe up, so I've learned something new already.

So far I'm happier.

I'm trying to hold out starting a new sock until I finish this little blanket for my cats, but I think the siren sock call is too strong.

Here's a stab in the dark.

[explanation] When Maddie was little, we decorated her a stroller just for Disneyland that we picked up at a thrift store. This way we wouldn't care if the airlines damaged it and it was special for her at the time (it was Tinkerbell). My friend did ones for her kids too that we used at MA back in 2002. We are currently in the process of creating one for Robbie that we can bring when we are there in November, since I didn't like how his last one turned out. [/explanation]

So, my question is, can you iron stuff onto vinyl? Has anyone ever done that? How about printing on canvas sheets? I got some at Office Depot that I want to try, but if anyone has any tips, let me know. Thanks :)

I don't have any iron-on experience, but I can direct you to light-up knitting needles. (and crochet hooks, and drop spindles, etc...)