It's Almost That Time!

Crunch time! By now you have probably finished a handful of handmades which means also by now you have taken another look at your list and seen just how much more you need to do! In which case, by now you are making a seperate list for those who will get their's 'After Christmas' and you are probably not getting enough satisfaction from that nice list of crossed out projects that have been completed. There is nothing more special than giving a gift that has been handmade and those around you are aware of the time and love you put into your gifts whether they are finished on time or not. If you are finding you don't have as much time to do as much as you thought you could but still really want to make something for everyone on your list, it is not too late to finish a few quick projects that will only take a few minutes to an hour, and if you have the 'net, there are tons of ideas. Chapstick holders, ornaments, wee change purses for coffee money, coffee cup cozies (literaly a rectangle with a button folks!), headbands (literaly a rectangle with a button too folks!), felted soaps, who needs a knitted scarf when you can just take scraps of your stash and braid them into beauty! Literally done in minutes. All of those little quickes can be knitted, crocheted and even rughooked. When in doubt? Potholders, washrags, facecloths, some nice lotions or soaps, done and done.

Many online knitting sites have by now put up their winter issues full of free patterns. There are quick projects for last-minute gifts as well as a bunch of beautiful patterns you might want to give a go after the holidays are over! Check out these winter pattern issues at:

• Knitty (Don't forget to check out the features link on the top blue bar to read some nice articles!)
  
• Knotions
  
• Drops Design (and also see their special quick knit advent calendar Christmas patterns!)
  
• Knit On The Net
  
• Popknits
  
• Metapostmodern Knitting
  
• Knitting Pattern Central is probably the most comprehensive list of online knitting patterns, and they have a Christmas section.
  
• Interweave Knits 2008 Winter Issue (magazine preview)
  

So, speaking of patterns, if you have made it in to one of our morning groups or spent any time with me (Rio!) in the shop you have no doubt heard mention of Ravelry. Ravelry is an online organizational tool and social networking site for knitters, crocheters, and other branching out crafts. Though the site is geared towards fiber art, there are members who also do other crafts such as beading, other types of needlework and needle felting, and rughookers too! There is an official group on Ravelry just for stitchers who are rughookers. The Ravelry website serves as a one-stop place to search out patterns from any website or publication downn to minute details. Have just a bit of yarn left you don't know what to do with? Search a pattern based on yardage. Have a certain brand of yarn and you want to see how it knits up? Search the Ravelry projects page to see what other users have made with that same type of yarn. Have you completed a project you want to share with the world, or want to see what other people have made with the same pattern? The Ravelry databse will link your project to the specific pattern allowing you to see other people's similar projects, what yarn they used, what modifications they did, what problems they fixed, anything and everything you can think of! The project/yarn/pattern database is the meat of the site, but there is also a helpful, and quite fun, forum section full of groups you can join to learn and share and vent and laugh and post in. From technique speciific, to knit-alongs, to groups just for fans of a certain TV show, there is a group for everyone. But that is a totally optional part of the website. As a Ravelry member you will get your own 'notebook' to enter in your projects with photos, details, and notes, a yarn stash page where you can enter in your yarn which links to the database to fill in all the ball band info (you'll never have to keep track of those paper scraps again! Ravelry does it all for you!), a needle chart page to keep track of what sizes you have, a library page to keep track of all the books or magazines you have for patterns, etc etc.. Save friends, save favorite projects, patterns or yarns, and your special queue page will help keep you inspired with what to make next. To see firsthand what Ravelry is like, check out this little tour and see what the site is all about! There are already over 50 local members from our area on Ravelry and we keep in touch through our Ravelry group talking about projects and upcoming events, questions, and fiber related ROAD TRIPS. Check out the site and if you are interested, ts absolutely FREE, request an invite to join and in about 4 days you will recieve and email from the Ravelry team with a link to set up your account, so start thinking of a username! Once you are a member send a message to MacGirlver (me!) and I'll help show you around!

You'll never have to scour the web searching for the perfect pattern, Ravelry lists them all in one place whether its from a website, from a book, or from a magazine, patterns new and old, knitting and crochet, for family, pets, home decor, toys, everything, if there is a pattern for it, you can find it on Ravelry. There are literally tons of new free patterns added on a daily basis. As if knitting wasn't addictive enough!

www.ravelry.com

Meanwhile, take a look at what your fellow stitchers have been up too! Crocheter Annika Peloski moved up here a few weeks ago from Alberta and fit right in as a regular to our knit group, she grabbed up one of our Thrummed Mitt kits and made up her own crocheted version! Thrum is not just for knit anymore! I finished my own pair of my first thrummed mitts too, with Karen's Kolors handpainted wool and a decorative cabled rib cuff. Fellow crocheter Becky Gignac finished a very cool hat and fingerless mitt set for her fella featuring a colorwork pattern with our Briggs & Little wool. And little Sarah, well, she is just too cute to bear. Come and say hi!

Send me your pictures or stop in and show off your stuff! Don't forget, if you can't see us at our our morning groups, all of you are welcome to join us Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm! Please note, as next wednesday is Christmas Eve the shop will be closed. Hope to see you at our final Christmas By The Bay Open House, this Saturday December 20th, from  10am-4pm!

We look forward to seeing you in the shop and hope you all are enjoying this holiday season!
-Karen & Rio