The Crochet Side

That question has been pestering me lately, as I box up and prepare to send out the second installment of The Yarn Side’s club, “Yarnography”, which is a yarn club that blends photographs and yarn.

The reason I ask is that I’m working to market the Yarnography club as being friendly to both and, in fact, one of the extras for the March box that’s on its way out the door this A.M., is more for crocheters, but can be used by knitters as well. Knowing that, I had to wonder if any of the club members are knitters or multi-craftual? And if none of them are crocheters, then how come there weren’t any crocheters who signed up?

The yarn that’s accompanying each box is a fingering weight yarn. I know some people prefer to use at least a DK when crocheting, but why? There are a vast number of projects that are incorporating lighter weight yarns, and those lighter weight yarns really lend themselves well to everything from accessories to garments. With 460yards per skein, you could crochet a couple of scarves, a few hats, socks, a cowl, a shawl (see my last post), a baby cardigan, and, gosh, I don’t know–so much more!

So, Where are my crocheters? Maybe it’s my fault for keeping the two sides (The Crochet Side & The Yarn Side) separate? Maybe I should be cross-posting more often so that we’re all up to date and together.

I’ll start sharing more now…

Yarnography is a yarn and photo club; a collaboration between myself and Caryn Drexl Photography. On a bi-monthly basis there is an installment that goes out with at least the following:

• 1 5″x7″ professional quality print of that month’s photograph
• 1 skein of Walker Basic (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon), 460 yards, in a colorway that is inspired by the photograph.

Beyond that there are extras/goodies.

Here is a photo of January’s installment (excuse any wonkiness in case the image is too contrasted on your monitor):

The photograph for January was “Mapped”, the skein was inspired by the photograph, and the extras were a calendar, a compass, and a small notebook.

March’s installment is going out today, so I won’t be posting a photo for another couple of weeks. Don’t want to inadvertently spoil the club members.

If you want to know what May’s inspiration is, or are interested in possibly registering for it (registrations closes May 6th), please visit The Yarn Side.

Some of you may not be aware, but I work for Six Apart. On our Everything TypePad blog, there is a post regarding the 2nd Annual DonorsChoose.org Blogger Challenge. (You can read more about it here.)

To the right of this entry, if you are viewing this directly on the blog, you will see a widget, prompting you to donate to some worthy causes.

First up…

the Crochet Club, which was started by a teacher in South Carolina. She is trying to raise some money for supplies so that her 3rd-5th grade students are able to learn an (awesome!) skill, that will also preoccupy them during their morning wait for school to begin.

That was the only crochet-related cause at DonorsChoose.org, so I decided to bring in some knitting-related ones as well. I am, however, keeping with the teacher’s teaching their students a craft theme.

The other 3 groups are as follows:

Let’s Learn to Knit — an elective class of 6th graders in a high-needs community who need to raise funds for supplies. There has been enthusiasm for such a class, but there is no guarantee that the students’ families will be able to provide supplies.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside — High School students wanting to learn how to knit, then providing the finished objects to their local Ronald McDonald house. Needs funds for supplies.

Warm Head, Warm Heart — Third, Fourth, and Fifth graders are wanting to learn how to knit in order to provide their finished goods to the local homeless shelters.

That’s it! If you’re willing to donate even $2.00 to either, or each, of these groups, please do so. They’ll be able to meet their goals if we all just give what we can.

As incentive, if we can meet the goals for each of the groups, I will create a colorway and hold a giveaway. If we meet the goal for one group, I will create a colorway and dye a single skein of DK-weight yarn and offer it up on this blog for a giveaway. If we meet the goal for two groups, I will create a colorway and dye TWO skeins of DK-weight yarn. If we meet the goal for THREE groups, I will–you get the point.

For every group’s goal we meet, I will dye an equal amount of skeins, and we will have an equal amount of winners. 1 goal, 1 skein, 1 winner. 4 goals, 4 skeins, 4 winners.

Go ahead, donate, and make me proud!

You have to head over to the Crochet and Knit Giveaways right now. Seriously. Don’t read anymore, just go.

For those of you who don’t follow directions (I’m looking at YOU), what awaits you is the chance to win a $50 gift certificate for…

That’s right! Scout’s Swag.

Scout graciously accepted my nervous-as-hell proposal, pretty much without question. This either means that she is (a) crazy, or (b) unable to say no, even when she has ridiculous amounts of things to do already. BUT, she said yes, and that makes me excited.

Scout is the first sponsor/vendor, which is a huge deal. I mean, really, have you seen how incredibly awesome her swag is? Her yarn alone is de-lish, but to put the rest of the store’s notions and swag on top of that? It’s like one of those funny-between-the-legs nice dreams, but when you’re awake.

Oh dear.

Link: Project Calculator: How Much Yarn Will You Need?

Guess who just did a bunch of work so that you wouldn’t have to?

Click the link, read the steps.

The calculators are not crochet or knit specific. It’s all about yarn, baby.

Scout, of Scout’s Swag, has this set of 4 cards, with a crochet diva. It’s a little expensive at $12 (usd), but aren’t they fantastic? It would be a nice gift for friends, if you (or I) come up short on ideas.

Earlier this evening, the dog (Rowan) turned crazy and was whooping it up all over the house.

She was racing from one end to another, in and out of rooms, stopping in a pounce pose, before taking off and doing it all over again. I may have, to excite her further, and in an entirely playful mode, waved some crochet at her. And when she showed interest, nosing my hand, backing up, wagging her whole back side as it stuck up in the air, her front end low to the ground, I may have wriggled the bit of crochet in her face, letting it dance on her head as she went insane.

And, Rowan, well…she just may have snatched it out of my hand and played tug-of-war with me as we both struggled to keep their precious in hand/mouth. She may have even won by chance when the working yarn snapped, letting her buck like a wild horse, flinging it into the air before catching it and trotting off to another room.

It’s probably best that it was really old acrylic, and I was just f-ing around to keep my hands busy so I didn’t dive into the pantry for sour cream and onion pringles, but still…

I realize it’s my fault entirely, and this just proves that I need to make her a new squeaky baby.