Interesting tutorial

I found this box tutorial while stumbling. Have you tried stumble? I love it! I have come across some of the most interesting sites using this utility. The way it works is you install a small toolbar, choose the subjects of your interest and then just click on the stumble button on the toolbar. It takes you to sites that fit your interest. If you find something you really like you just click on the 'I like it' button on the toolbar and it saves and records your choices. As you stumble more and more it becomes better at chosing sites it thinks you will like. You can also just chose one subject to stumble in such as 'crafts'. Anyway...I'm busy stitching today. I really want to finish my mermaid bag AND I am making my husband a wallet so in the meantime feast your eyes on this beautiful tin box made from an energy drink can!. I want to make one but knowing how clumsy I am I will probably slice my fingers open if I try it *hehe* Hope to see you tomorrow with pictures of my finished bag *crosses fingers*

Reknitting a small hole

Here is the tutorial I have been promising you. This is a very hard thing to explain in words. Its so much easier to have someone looking over my shoulder when I teach it. I will do my best though and feel free to ask any questions if you are confused.

So this is the hole we are going to repair today.


We start out by turning it to the back and pulling the two broken ends out...

This is the path our thread is going to follow

So now we take the piece of yarn that we have threaded onto a crewel needle. It's best to use a crewel needle as they have a blunt end and a large eye. They are easier to thread and this way you have less of a chance of splitting your strands and instead glide through the holes. Take your needle and insert it about 1 1/2 to 2 inches away from your hole on the same strand as the hole lies. How far away you start greatly depends on how loosely woven and how large the gauge is of your knit. If it is a large gauge you start farther away to give your yarn a chance to grip tighter. Too close and you stand the chance of your repair unraveling. Make sure you are on the right thread or when you arrive at the hole you will find yourself above or below it!


Pull your yarn through leaving a little tail, then weave it back and forth along the path... (if you dont understand about the path please refer to my previous post on finding the path in a knit)


Upon reaching the damage you need to insert your needle through the first hole before it and pull it through to the front side.


It's best to reweave the hole itself on the front side so you can control your stitches for the best appearance. Weaving the beginning strands on the back side helps hide the repair better, although if you really wanted to you could do your whole repair from the front.


After you pull your thread through just continue along the path as you had before


Pushing it through to the backside once you reach the other side of the hole


And continue weaving past the repair for another 1 1/2 to 2 inches then snip...leaving a small tail. you can pull this tail through the back of a stitch if it bothers you with a small latchhook. I have pictured a small latchhook you can buy at most fabric stores that is very helpful with knitting repairs. Many repairs really need this tool.


Here is the finished repair. Hole gone! I suggest to finish this you steam it with an iron and then if necessary lay the item on a thick towel, cover it with a pressing cloth and LIGHTLY press it to flatten the repair.

I realize that I may have missed big gapes in the explanation area. I try to think of what I need to say and hope I dont assume too much about what you understand. Please if anyone has questions post them. It only helps me to build a better tutorial. Also any suggestions on teh presentation would be appreciated. This is a difficult skill, and even harder to explain. If people like this one I will gladly make more explaining things like how to REALLY fix a snag, how to fix a hole with a run, etc..
Hope you all have a great day!

25 Random things about me

I read this post today and since I don't really have much to say today...long day, French class, dirty house, etc....I thought I would post my list too. I guess I'm one of the cool kids, since I got tagged also *grin*

1. I have been to 36 of the 50 states and I got to all of them by car.

2. I once lived in a house with 14 other people, I eventually moved out to the garage just to get some privacy

3. I haven't owned a car in over four years and hardly ever miss having one.

4. I met my husband on the internet and I have never known anyone who comes even close to 'getting me' as much as he does

5.I am an excellent cook but I couldn't make a decent steak if my life depended on it.

6. I almost died once, and spent half that year on forced bed rest when my youngest child was only 2

7. I am an avid reader. I once read 4 books in one day.

8. I am extremely flexible and even when I was at my greatest weight I could still touch the floor with my entire hands.

9. I made over $1400 playing a computer game.

10. I have lived in France for 18 months and I still cant speak French well.

11. I love to camp, I have went camping all over the U.S and twice now in France. I would love to camp across Europe!

12. I spent an evening backstage with the members of the band Cake. I also met Micheal Been of the band The Call. I have never met anyone else that is 'famous'

13. I would never want to be famous. The idea frightens me. To live with no privacy is something I could not deal with.

14. I have always been a rebel.

15. I used to play the piano and was told I would be a concert pianist by the time I was 13. Instead I quit playing.

16. I am really good with numbers. I can still remember my ex's soc security number and the house number from when I was little. For some reason I cant remember my phone number here though.

17. I am a self taught master reweaver.

18. My all time favorite food is Thai Salmon Curry.

19. I have swam in hidden streams in the desert near the Superstition Mountains, hiked in the Hoh Rain Forest, slept under the Giant Sequoias, camped on Mount Baker and Mount Sunshine, fished on Crystal Lake, sunbathed on Daytona Beach, dipped my toes in the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans (both sides of the Atlantic), dived off the cliffs of the Salt River and climbed the Great Dune of Pyla...

20. I love to make really complicated things. Almost all of my creations are extremely detailed. My art teacher used to yell at me because I would get lost in my drawings.

21. I have made more art in the last year then I have the last ten years before combined.

22. I am a comfort freak. My clothes, furniture, etc is all chosen with comfort over style in mind.

23. I LOVE coffee.

24..On the night of my high school prom, my best friend and I left the prom, ran across the highway to a carnival that was set up there and rode the rides in our full hoop dresses. We had more fun there then we did at the prom.

25. I have learned it is better to be poor and loved then rich and unloved and... that your family is not necessarily blood related.

Hope you enjoyed reading this. Have a great day!

Returning

I spent last evening in quiet stitching.


Slowly filling the spaces with imaginings of underwater things.


I also made this fun fringe for the bottom of my bag.



Soon this project will be done. I already have plans for many more. My head is always overflowing with ideas it seems, but never enough time to make them all. What's funny is all the times I come up blank...where do they all run to when you need them? *grin*

Today was my first day back to class. It was a difficult morning. My body made much protesting about the abuse I was putting it under. I made it there though and back again. It is hard to go back after so long away. The teachers words all ran together and I looked back with a blank stare. Fortunately he is a patient man and I think he understands the shock of returning. I think the activity is good for me. I have been too long indolent. Hope you all have a great Monday. I am resting this afternoon and trying to convince myself that I can do this all over again tomorrow :)

Stir Crazy

OK, I have to admit it. I'm going a little nuts in this house. Yesterday I just couldn't take another day of forced rest. I didn't want to stitch. I didn't want to watch my shows. I didn't want to read. So instead I cooked...and baked. My kitchen has been sorely neglected as of late and so has my poor hubby. We have made do with quick meals and simple eats. SO... I made him a huge pot of spaghetti, a nice big foccacia, swedish nut bars AND coconut haystacks. When I was finished I had a counter full of goodies and a little of my stir craziness under control. I admit I'm still a little antsy but unfortunately I'm still not better and even that bit of effort seems to have pulled me back down. Today is another day of resting on the couch, but only after I made a nice batch of homemade macaroni and cheese!
Sorry no pics of my stitching today, although seriously...I'm getting a little tired of this mermaid bag myself. I'm going to be glad when I finally finish it!
I will leave you with one pic though...this is what my honey found on his desk when he came home late and tired last night. This morning it was empty *^_^*

Coconut Haystacks