Knitted headband with squares

Still working on this one but thought I'd share a few photos.

PLARN

I'm writing an article on using Plarn, or plastic yarn. Yarn that's made from cutting up plastic bags. So I need to make some samples for the article. I started a hat many moons ago, but I'm not sure where it ended up. So I'll start afresh on something new.

Another headband

I couldn't resist starting a new headband today in a checkboard pattern in pink camo yarn. If it turns out I'll share how I did it.

Getting Organized

I just spent over an hour sorting a tote bag full of tangled yarn projects. It had a hipband in progress, a finished pink snood, a Christmas scarf almost finished, a doll I started about 15 years ago, several balls of yarn that didn't seem to go with any of the projects, 2 crochet hooks, a circular needle, 2 stitch holders, and other odd bits. Now they are all hanging safely on hangers in the hall closet.

Projects Revisited

Here are photos of an original tube top I knitted a while back.
Projects like this are a great way to use up small bits of your favorite yarn.

Prayer Shawl Update 2

I worked on my prayer shawl tonight. Remind me not to try that again without wearing my reading glasses. Hard on the eyes with those little stitches. But at least I made some progress.

Yarn & Needles Tip

If you are working with a yarn that plies loosely, in other words, it keeps seperating, use needles with blunter tips to keep from splitting the ply. With any new yarn test it out on the needles you plan to use, and if it's a hassle make another choice before you've invested lots of hours in fighting with it.

Prayer Shawl

I have been knitting a prayer shawl for my aunt, who has stomach cancer. I get depressed when I work on it so I'm not doing that much on it at the moment. It's a pearly gray color and it's a lacey pattern in a triangle shawl.

Here is the pattern if you are in need of such a thing. Triangular prayer shawl.

Knitting Blogs and Pricing Your Knitting

I just realized I have three different knitting blogs. This one of course, then one on loom knitting and one on freeform knitting. I must really like knitting.

Today I got into a not very pleasant discussion in the Etsy chatroom about how it hurts all knitters when someone prices their items too low on Etsy. I know buyers can't understand why hand knitted items cost so much but they don't knit and haven't a clue how labor intensive it is to do even the simplest of knitting. Then you start tossing in cables and handspun yarn and beads, and the price goes up and up. But it's hardly fair to expect someone to offer a hat for sale that took them 10 hours to make for $20.00, now is it?

One lady asked how much she should charge for knitting a custom sweater. And I said I can't tell you, but you have to factor in how fast you can knit, the cost of yarn, buttons, and trim, your hourly wage (yes you should have one, you have to eat too), and how much time it takes to fix mistakes because you are working with a new design and there will be mistakes.

Free Head Wrap Pattern for beginners

Today I am knitting a head wrap out of Homespun that is 2x2 ribbing and 14 stitches wide. You can make one too.


Supplies:
Pair of knitting needles in a size you are comfortable with
Yarn that feels soft against your face
Yarn or tapestry needle.

Stitches you need to know: Knit and Purl
You must also know how to cast on and cast off.

Cast on 14 stitches.
Knit 2, Purl 2 until you reach the end of the first row.
Turn
Purl 2, Knit 2 until you reach the end of the 2nd row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the piece is long enough to form a tube around your head.
Cast off.
Use yarn needle to sew narrow edges to each other using an overcast stitch or your favorite joining stitch.

Optional: Sew on an artificial flower or decoration.

Put head wrap on, take photo, and send me your picture and I'll add it to my blog.

Pattern copyright 2008 by Fayme Harper
For non-commercial use only.

Need help learning to knit? My favorite site is http://www.knittinghelp.com.

I just signed up for Tagfoot. http://ping.fm/lfV6m Come see all my links and comments and my wishlist.

Want to join ping.fm too? Go to http://www.ping.fm.Use the code 'legendofping' and you could have the luxury of posting to all your blogs in one fell swoop like I do. Way more efficient than doing it one by one.

I'm not sure what 'ping my default' means but I guess I'll find out when I hit send.

The week sure went by quick. I had a lot more planned but didn't have the energy to do it. My hands are still sore from woodcarving, and so I've had to lay off the knitting and crocheting. I'm looking forward to the weekend. My daughter may visit. We'll see.

Come view my Flickr photo stream. Over 3000 photos I've taken are waiting there for your pleasure. http://ping.fm/3TTAi

I just signed up for Ping.fm to make social networking more effiecient.

Tubular scarf

I worked on my circular scarf today at the archery meeting. Got a lot of compliments on the colors and detail.

tychus hat from knitty.com

Felted Purse

I started a new purse with pink wool. I'm probably going to stick to basic garter stitch since it's going to be felted.

Long hat

I'm trying to make a hat in this style, only knitted http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2593431198_fa62738227_b.jpg