Today was one of those days that are full of seemingly small pleasures that are actually the source of great happiness.
For instance… part of our daily ritual is to take a mid-morning break to walk our two beloved  dogs:
Going for their walks is a very big deal for them,
and even though they have covered the same
ground at least twice a day for years and years,
it’s always unmitigated joy for them to know that,
miracle of miracles, Mummy and Daddy are -
can you believe it?
Going to take them for a walk!
It never fails to crack me up to see their
quivering anticipation and …read more

For the last couple of years, I have been working on a series of new designs for oh so cute toys and dolls woven on the Potholder loom.
I absolutely love the Potholder Loom.
It’s a loom that is seriously under appreciated.
Many people were introduced to the potholder loom when they were children.
They began weaving with loops of nylon or cotton that were offcuts from the sock industry.
This has tended to fix the idea in people’s minds that loopers are what potholder looms are all about.
No no no no no no no no!
Luckily, I didn’t have a potholder loom when I …read more

It’s so easy to add a little touch of springtime to your sockies! So…. why have plain jane socks?
You can add a little embellishment to socks that you have knitted or crocheted,
like these ones that I just finished knitting.
Or, you can dress up purchased socks by stitching on purchased or crocheted or tatted
lace.
I tatted super simple flowers onto these socks…. it took 4 attempts to get the sock
edging right.  I found that I liked it best when I cut the self striping yarn into colorways
that made sense for the flowers.
The flowers are rings of 3 ds, p, 3 ds, p, …read more

Last October, because of a number of factors, I decided that I would leave Hankering for Yarn. I grieved it and missed Hankering for Yarn, and the community of readers, terribly! So, when recently, I was invited to return to b5 media and begin writing Hankering for Yarn again, I was delighted.

There have been a heap of changes and I am soooooooooooo excited to be part of the new direction !
One of the biggest changes is that Hankering for Yarn will soon be part of Bliss Tree, which is an oh so nifty website/community.  I am looking forward to seeing …read more

I went into Hobby Lobby the other day for some cotton dishcloth yarn. You really can’t beat the craft stores for inexpensive cotton yarn.
They were having a sale on some items and bargain-loving woman that I am, I decided to buy this yarn I’ve never tried before. I’ve used Lion Brand before and it’s a good workhorse type of yarn. I’ve never tried their sock yarn, however.
So far, so good. It’s not as luxurious as Lorna’s Laces or Claudia’s Handpainted, but it’s similar to Opal. It feels like a sturdy, dependable sort. Of course, I won’t have a full review …read more

It looks like a basket of scrumptious yarn, but it’s actually a puzzle. For those times you can actually put the needles down, this Springbok puzzle will remind you of your favorite hobby while you piece it together.
If putting puzzles together is another pastime you enjoy, combine it with your love of yarn for something you’ll love looking at in the process.
Image: Springbok

A ball winder is one of those yarn-related accessories that’s nice to have, but as in a lot of cases, not 100% necessary. I did without a ball winder for years (and still don’t have a swift), but finally broke down because I use laceweight yarns from time to time and winding hundreds of yards of thin yarn by hand can get tiresome.
Of course, if you love winding hanks of yarn into balls by hand, then by all means, skip the winder. Your local yarn shop may even offer the service when you purchase yarn there (for a small fee). …read more

It’s that time of year again — a time when many of us are getting in shape, getting more organized, clearing out the clutter…
Does this include your yarn stash?
If so, here are some ideas on how you can organize your stash for the new year. This way, you’ll know where your supplies are and not waste precious crafting minutes (or hours) looking for what you need.
Clear, plastic storage units are always popular and a good way to store and organize your stash so you can see what you have. With lids on, these boxes keep out dust and dirt, and possibly …read more

Unlike previous years, I didn’t ask for yarn as a gift this Christmas. For one, I really do have a lot of yarn (it takes quite a lot of guts to admit that!), yarn that I probably won’t use all up in 2009.
Right now, I’m trying to see how I’m going to approach 2009 as far as being crafty. I want to try some new things; I want to use yarn I already own…and not just to make more room for new yarn.
Pictured is part of my stash (I’ll discuss proper storage for yarn another time), so as you can see, …read more

This just in: Knitch is running a one day sale (TODAY)!
Get 20% off all cashmere, silk and sock yarns. If you live in Atlanta, you can always visit. If you order online, enter “onedaysale” in the comments section to get your savings.
Fine print via the announcement:
“Discounts apply to in-stock items only. For cashmere and silk, the items must be at least 60% cashmere or silk.  Regular priced items only. No adjustments. Discounts do not apply on special orders, holds or previously purchased items. Discounts can not be combined. The greater discount applies! All items purchased on sale are FINAL SALE. No …read more