How Many Socks Can You Make Before Christmas?

As crafters, we all know the mad rush to the yarn store so we can make ALL the presents before the gift giving season only to realize once again that we really need to start these projects on Boxing Day for next year.

To make life a little easier this year, make socks or mitts TAAT (two at a time), hats, baby or child sweaters, and even shawls from sock yarn. It comes in various sizes (thicknesses) from 3 ply (for light airy shawls) to 8 ply (for sturdy work socks).

You can see from the photos that the store has a large range of colours (neon bright to subtle) and styles from bold stripes to fades to solids and hand-dyed's. There are also some merino, cashmere and bamboo blends available!

Make sure to get into the store this week, especially if you are in the Camrose area. This is the last week for the outdoor market there and I can't bring the rv indoors when they resume the market inside the Bailey Theatre for the winter months. All the other markets will be winding down as well with most ending by September 30. Lacombe and Red Deer will be finishing up just before Thanksgiving so that gives you less than a month to take advantage of no shipping costs.

written by Lori, TCL owner, who took almost six months to finish a birthday sweater (just squeaking in under the deadline) so I hope you are more successful with your handcrafted gifts this year than I have been so far.
 

501 patterns fighting to get out ...

Those of you that know me, know that the wheels are always turning, even when I'm sleeping. How can I make this sweater seamless? How can I make self striping yarns more flattering by creating vertical stripes? How can I improve upon ...?

Introducing LN061A!

A couple of months back, my aunt bought two skeins of this lovely yarn from me (Ella Rae Phoenix Print #18 Banana Ice) to make a cowl for herself. She changed her mind and sent it back to me. Well, I couldn't just let it languish in front of me, knowing that her brand new great grandson had coloring perfect for these colours!

My original Vertical Vest pattern (LN061) was written to be made with a single ball of 6ply / dk yarn so it could only be completed with no sleeves or a cap sleeve at best.

(The photo to the right shows what happens when you don't have quite enough yarn for the second cap sleeve.)

I knew I had enough yarn to make a size 2 sweater with sleeves but the question was how to make 'seamless' sleeves (using provisional cast on and Kitchener Stitch) so that the stripes remained vertical like the rest of the sweater and still have properly fitted sleeves. Through trial and error and a total of three sleeves, I finally figured it out.

You will also notice that the body is a near perfect mirror image from one side to the other - front and back. The two balls were nearly perfect twins (only ~12' difference at the beginning of the balls) so I started the back in the middle with a provisional cast on and I made one full side then picked out the cast on and worked the other side. This would not have been possible with two of the original three yarns I used in the vest pattern because the colour changes were much more random in the Lang Tosca Light and the Jawoll Magic 6ply. 

This pattern is not yet on paper (or digitally available) because I think I will make it a Stocking Stitch version so that the Kitchener join is less of a headache. If you've never tried using a Kitchener Stitch on garter stitch, give it a try. You'll see what I mean.

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who has enjoyed a chance to get another one of the 501 patterns rolling around in my head a chance to get out.

Heads Up!!

He Shoots! He Scores!! might be more appropriate - Just in case you are unaware Hometown Hockey is coming to Lacombe Feb. 3 - 4, 2018!!

The Crafty Lady will be a part of hockey central as we are on one of the streets being closed for these two days! You are invited to come in and warm up, stroke our yarns and visit . . .

Hometown Hockey schedule and road closure information is all available on the City of Lacombe website, on Sunny 94 and in The Lacombe Globe. 

The City of Lacombe is closing Hwy 12 between Hwy 2A and 51st Street (east/west) and 50th Street between 50 Ave. (Hwy 12) and 51st Ave. The road between the Flatiron building and the Bank of Montreal will also be closed. The Flatiron Building will be Hockey Central.

Tents, stages and free performances will take over our streets - come out and celebrate Hometown Hockey

Access to The Crafty Lady will be interesting - there is free public parking behind our building and in the Alberta Agriculture building parking lot.

The Crafty Lady is scoring a hat trick of specials 
Thursday - Saturday
Feb, 1 - 3, 2018

Free Pattern #1 Ring of Fire 

Free Pattern #2 Basic Ribbed Sock

 All 

6 ply sock yarns 

25% off 

+ 2 free patterns

with purchase of yarn
(one pattern per purchase)

Call us if you would like additional information at 403-782-7238.

P. S. We strongly urge you not to throw your hand-knit hats during Hometown Hockey!

Posted by Anne, former hockey mom and current hockey fan!!