Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cool winter

If the coming winter follows the pattern of this summer, it will be cool indeed! And even though it's July, you might want to think about some of the heart-, hand-, and body-warming projects you could start for Christmas presents. Whether you knit or crochet, we have scads of books with fashionable and/or colorful ideas to help keep your family and friends toasty this winter. Get them while they're hot! The call numbers for knitting and crocheting are 746.43-746.434. The library has about 12 linear feet of books and access to knitting and crocheting books from nearly 50 sister libraries in the Evergreen Indiana system.
So come and get 'em. And happy crafting.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Free Patterns for "plarn"

At the last Crochet Klatch, I handed out instructions and a couple of ideas for using plastic "yarn" made from grocery bags, newspaper covers, and garbage bags. I showed the group an easy way to turn out yards of the stuff in short order.
Today, I went looking for free patterns, mostly with regular yarn in mind, and stumbled on a LONG list of free patterns for "plarn"! Holy cow!
Check this out: http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/plarn_items.php
They have patterns listed for everything from purses and pots to Barbie dresses and rugs. There's even a pattern for making a crochet hook carrying case out of plarn and a small piece of cloth.
Happy pattern hunting and hope to see you at the next meeting in August.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

New Crochet and Knitting Books

We have two each of new crocheting books and knitting books. Here are the titles so you can decide if you want to rush on down and check them out.
300 Classic Blocks for Crochet Projects by Linda P. Schapper
Crocheted Afghans by Oxmoor House (I especially liked "Over the Rainbow" and "Firecracker")
Knitting Sweaters from the Top Down by Cathy Carron (Almost makes me wish that I knitted)
Designer Knitting with Kitty Bartholomew
Hope you take a chance to look them over.

Warming hearts

I don't much care for crocheting blankets in warm weather, but my nephew and his wife are going to have a baby in October, so I don't have too much choice.
This labor of love put me in mind of a project that Kathy had us work on last year which was making lap robes for wounded soldiers.The website is http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=blankets-of-gratitude. It tells what they are hoping to get, the sizes, etc. to let the soldiers know their sacrifices have been appreciated. Soldiers' Angels also looks for Blankets of Hope, which might even be taken to the front lines and used to cover a newly-wounded soldier on his transport flight to a hospital. There are suggestions for knitting, crocheting, and sewing blankets. There's even a no-sew option using fleece.
If you have a serving heart, this is something to consider.
At the last Crochet Klatch meeting, we handed out patterns for crotcheting an American flag. One was constructed of granny squares and the other was made in one piece.
For all the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" people (or for those of you whowatch the Do-It-Yourself channels - the Repurposing people), we'll have patterns and ideas for things to do with your plastic grocery bags. Every hear of "plarn"?
It will be fun, it will be "green", and it's always a good group for socializing.

Patterns

I was looking for something easy to do to take on vacation--for the car or beach. I can't not knit, or sometimes crochet, when I am sitting still! www.bernat.com has some easy throw rug patterns. I am going to try a couple. Just go to their site and put "rug" in the search box. Use your scrap yarn and make these for your home or for gifts!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Link to the July August Browse Newletter

You can always find general or adult program information in flyer form at http://www.myjclibrary.org/services/adult/index.asp. I did post the current Knit and Crochet flyers on the left navigation bar on this page, also.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Welcome, craftspeople!

Join the fun! We will attempt to post pattern pictures and instructions that go along with what the groups are doing. Post your own comments and knit and crochet photos here. Learn what is going on in these groups. We invite you to "become a follower" on the lower left side of this page, so you will receive email notification when people post to this blog.

See Georgiann's blog at http://www.libraryknitnight.blogspot.com, for some patterns from the past months.