To be soon followed (hopefully) by the merciless razing of the spring wardrobe!
Anyway, for those of you who don't use Facebook or know me on there, I wanted to mention here that this past weekend I did a major purge of my shoes.
Here's the problem with me and shoes. Well, ok, with me and every frickin' thing:
Firstly, I. like. stuff. I can't help it; it's in my nature. Secondly, shoes are more complicated than one might think. In fact, let me explain what caused the Great Purge.
Back in 2000 (or possibly 1999 URK) I bought a pair of heeled, loafer-ish shoes to wear with pants. They were black patent leather and had just the right heel height and heel thickness that I like. They looked nice and fit great. As you may well imagine, wearing these shoes over the course of 9 years or so caused them to wear the hell out. This wear and tear actually started to show in, say, 2003. So sometime in 2003 or 2004 I decided that I needed to buy a replacement for these shoes. I bought something. Meh. Not ideal. A few months go by and I bought another pair of shoes. These are worse than the other replacement pair. A year goes by, and I bought another pair.... You can see the trend here? So what ends up happening, in many cases, is that I end up with 4 pairs of shoes, when really it should be one. AND I never actually got rid of that FIRST pair. I'd say that over the last 15 years or so, one out of every 10 pairs of shoes I have ever bought have been ones that I love to wear and are my "go to" shoes for specific occasions. The rest just accumulate in my closets, plotting my demise.
Well my loafer buddies REALLY had to go. The soles had deep gouges in them and the heels were worn down. The stitching on the top was coming undone and fraying badly. They looked like I took them out of a trash heap. I couldn't in good conscious purchase any more shoes until I seriously took stock of what I had and got rid of the crap.
Here's the result:
8 pairs are going to Goodwill (Several of these I NEVER wore. One pair, I don't even remember buying.)
1 pair went to Donna because they were too big for me. AND...
23 pairs went into the trash.
Yes...TWENTY-THREE.
So all told, I purged 32 pairs of shoes from my closets. That's a lot o' shoes.
I did, however, purchase 6 pairs of shoes over the weekend to replace what got thrown out. I think for me I have to start choosing quality over quantity with shoes. I can't buy the $15 shoes at Target or Payless anymore. I'm not saying I'm going to start spending $400 on a pair of shoes. I can't (and won't) do that. But $60, yeah. This is what's nice about stores like Famous Footwear. You can buy $75-$100 shoes for $40-$60. So that's what I did. I'm so looking forward to my new purchases! These, these and these in particular.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, February 04, 2008
The Worst of Etsy
You all know how much I lurve etsy. About 95% of time time, the items I see on etsy are fantastic. Even if it's something I don't particularly like, I still see the value is its handmade nature, its quality, its function. As someone who creates things by hand, I get it. I really do.
However....
There are certain offerings that I've seen on etsy for which I am just, well, sort of, "you gotta be kidding me?!?"
This is one such item. Yeah. I have friends who are photographers: most amateur, but for one it's his livelihood. This, I think, is insulting to photographers everywhere. Also? Get a gander at the shipping charges. Excuse me? Now, I happened to peruse this seller's other items. They are mostly amusing, quirky, and innovative. Not stuff I'd buy. But again, I see the value and craftsmanship in them. Like this one is just plain neat.
Here's another. This isn't as bad, though, as that photographic rip-off I just mentioned. But it still falls well into the parameters of useless, too-expensive-for-what-it-is, and just sort of phoney. I don't know why, but this thing really pissed me off. As someone who knits and knows plenty of people who knit and knit INSANELY WELL at that, I , again, found this little thing kind of insulting, especially because of the price. It's $12. Yes, TWELVE dollars. It uses, what, about 25 yards of cotton yarn? Maybe? And has a $.25 plastic button on it. And I can't imagine it taking a long time to knit. So even if this seller were not using the cones of cotton yarn (which are cheaper in the long-run), this knitted item would only cost them about $.75 to make. Period. Why is it $12? It should no more than about $4. ARGH
Another travesty. Ok so my first reaction to this was, "AGGHHH! TEAL! And it's FUR and TEAL. MY EYES!" Then once I got beyond that I thought, "Wait? Isn't etsy the place for things handmade? This isn't some hand-spun or hand-dyed yarn. It's BERNAT." What the crap is a cheesy skein of Bernat fun-fur yarn doing on etsy? Then upon even further pondering, I thought, "FOUR DOLLARS?? Why is it $4?" Look chick, take your random, shitty, leftover skeins of Bernat novelty yarn to ebay. K? THX!
Just...WHY??? Don't you think that someone with this kind of obvious ability (casting metals and making jewelry) should direct their talents elsewhere? Lame. But hey, at least it IS handmade....
But, thankfully, esty always redeems itself with abundant wonderfulness:
AWESOME. Cheap and awesome and useful and cool. I'd pay twice that amount for something so well-made and useful.
ME WANTY. So cute and nicely-done.
I'll take about 50, please.
YUMMY. And it's $3. THREE DOLLARS? HOW is that even possible?
Fantastic. I've ordered hilarious magnets from this person. And the little funny books he wrote about birds.
So, whew, I feel a little better.
However....
There are certain offerings that I've seen on etsy for which I am just, well, sort of, "you gotta be kidding me?!?"
This is one such item. Yeah. I have friends who are photographers: most amateur, but for one it's his livelihood. This, I think, is insulting to photographers everywhere. Also? Get a gander at the shipping charges. Excuse me? Now, I happened to peruse this seller's other items. They are mostly amusing, quirky, and innovative. Not stuff I'd buy. But again, I see the value and craftsmanship in them. Like this one is just plain neat.
Here's another. This isn't as bad, though, as that photographic rip-off I just mentioned. But it still falls well into the parameters of useless, too-expensive-for-what-it-is, and just sort of phoney. I don't know why, but this thing really pissed me off. As someone who knits and knows plenty of people who knit and knit INSANELY WELL at that, I , again, found this little thing kind of insulting, especially because of the price. It's $12. Yes, TWELVE dollars. It uses, what, about 25 yards of cotton yarn? Maybe? And has a $.25 plastic button on it. And I can't imagine it taking a long time to knit. So even if this seller were not using the cones of cotton yarn (which are cheaper in the long-run), this knitted item would only cost them about $.75 to make. Period. Why is it $12? It should no more than about $4. ARGH
Another travesty. Ok so my first reaction to this was, "AGGHHH! TEAL! And it's FUR and TEAL. MY EYES!" Then once I got beyond that I thought, "Wait? Isn't etsy the place for things handmade? This isn't some hand-spun or hand-dyed yarn. It's BERNAT." What the crap is a cheesy skein of Bernat fun-fur yarn doing on etsy? Then upon even further pondering, I thought, "FOUR DOLLARS?? Why is it $4?" Look chick, take your random, shitty, leftover skeins of Bernat novelty yarn to ebay. K? THX!
Just...WHY??? Don't you think that someone with this kind of obvious ability (casting metals and making jewelry) should direct their talents elsewhere? Lame. But hey, at least it IS handmade....
But, thankfully, esty always redeems itself with abundant wonderfulness:
AWESOME. Cheap and awesome and useful and cool. I'd pay twice that amount for something so well-made and useful.
ME WANTY. So cute and nicely-done.
I'll take about 50, please.
YUMMY. And it's $3. THREE DOLLARS? HOW is that even possible?
Fantastic. I've ordered hilarious magnets from this person. And the little funny books he wrote about birds.
So, whew, I feel a little better.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The Least of All Evils
Ok. Well, I decided to change the layout/skin/template/whatever-you-call-it on the blog, as you can see. I will re-iterate: BLOGGER, GET NEW TEMPLATES. This one was about the least offensive of the others, unless I wanted it basically to look like a Word document with a box around the header. No thanks.
Also---just because I have to write it down somewhere---I am drinking the WORST cup of coffee of my life, such as it is, today. It tastes like volcanic dirt. I only wish I were actually IN Hawaii, somewhere near a volcano, which might lessen the pain of drinking this crap. Some random person (who is new and from another department is using our office space until their office is finished being renovated---how nice) used our coffee maker and "surprised" us by brewing up a pot of this delightful, high-octane sludge this morning before anyone else got in. Super! Thanks! Why don't I just walk my fat, lazy ass down to the little coffee shop on the ground floor of the building attached to my building? Well, I'll tell you:
a) Their coffee sucks ass. It's new name will be "ass-coffee."
b) I went in there last week to get a quick, healthy food item to eat for breakfast (yeah, good luck finding this within 24 miles of a college campus, but anyway) because I re-joined Weight Watchers last Monday. I will post more about this later. Suffice it to say, for now, that it's going well. Anyhoo. So the only thing I could find in there remotely healthy was yogurt. Fine. Whatever. Good ol' Dannon light 6 oz. cup of blueberry yogurt.
So I get over to the counter and order a medium ass-coffee, as is my custom nearly every morning, and I put the yogurt on the counter too. She rings me up. The total is $5.07. Now, I know a medium coffee is $1.75. And I also know that they charge tax if you pay cash (crazy, I know). So, math GENIUS that I am, I figure it out and and say, incredulous, "Wait. Was that yogurt like $3.00?" She goes, somewhat sympathetically and sheepishly, "Yeah, it's $2.99." I was struck into complete idiot mode at that point and could only utter, "Wow...o...k." Then there is the little matter of the sales tax. So, after all was said and done, that yogurt cost me $3.20. Yeah. I remained. The guy behind me in line says, "Holy shit! Did you just pay $3.00 for that yogurt?!? You can get like 8 of them for that at Acme (which is a local chain supermarket)." Again, still stunned into utter stupidity, I could only nod in agreement. I picked up my yogurt and my coffee cup and filled up and left.
Hind-sight is always 20/20, as my dad says---I'd like to interrupt at this point to mention that I just spilled some of the volcanic dirt coffee down my chin and on my jacket. I think it is my subconscious brain trying to get rid of the stuff before I can commit all of it to my innards.
Thank you. To continue: I looked at my receipt later that day and it said:
medium coffee 1.75
Dannon parfait 2.99
Parfait? What parfait? Who had a parfait? Not I! I had a cup of freakin' yogurt, not a yogurt, whipped cream, granola, and fruit concoction. Then, it dawned on me. The cashier saw the word "Dannon" on the product I bought and spied the word "Dannon" on her register's keypad and thought, "DING! DANNON! This is it!" But really, there probably is a another button on the keypad that has "yogurt" written on it and she just didn't realize it.
My suspicions were confirmed earlier this week when I went in there and saw that they had actually placed labels with prices for the shelved refrigerator items. "Dannon yogurt: $1.69." Which is also criminally overpriced for a cup of yogurt, but still, it 'aint $3.00.
So that is why I am steering clear of the coffee shop if I can. And why I just choked down 12 oz. of volcanic dirt. Oy.
Also---just because I have to write it down somewhere---I am drinking the WORST cup of coffee of my life, such as it is, today. It tastes like volcanic dirt. I only wish I were actually IN Hawaii, somewhere near a volcano, which might lessen the pain of drinking this crap. Some random person (who is new and from another department is using our office space until their office is finished being renovated---how nice) used our coffee maker and "surprised" us by brewing up a pot of this delightful, high-octane sludge this morning before anyone else got in. Super! Thanks! Why don't I just walk my fat, lazy ass down to the little coffee shop on the ground floor of the building attached to my building? Well, I'll tell you:
a) Their coffee sucks ass. It's new name will be "ass-coffee."
b) I went in there last week to get a quick, healthy food item to eat for breakfast (yeah, good luck finding this within 24 miles of a college campus, but anyway) because I re-joined Weight Watchers last Monday. I will post more about this later. Suffice it to say, for now, that it's going well. Anyhoo. So the only thing I could find in there remotely healthy was yogurt. Fine. Whatever. Good ol' Dannon light 6 oz. cup of blueberry yogurt.
So I get over to the counter and order a medium ass-coffee, as is my custom nearly every morning, and I put the yogurt on the counter too. She rings me up. The total is $5.07. Now, I know a medium coffee is $1.75. And I also know that they charge tax if you pay cash (crazy, I know). So, math GENIUS that I am, I figure it out and and say, incredulous, "Wait. Was that yogurt like $3.00?" She goes, somewhat sympathetically and sheepishly, "Yeah, it's $2.99." I was struck into complete idiot mode at that point and could only utter, "Wow...o...k." Then there is the little matter of the sales tax. So, after all was said and done, that yogurt cost me $3.20. Yeah. I remained. The guy behind me in line says, "Holy shit! Did you just pay $3.00 for that yogurt?!? You can get like 8 of them for that at Acme (which is a local chain supermarket)." Again, still stunned into utter stupidity, I could only nod in agreement. I picked up my yogurt and my coffee cup and filled up and left.
Hind-sight is always 20/20, as my dad says---I'd like to interrupt at this point to mention that I just spilled some of the volcanic dirt coffee down my chin and on my jacket. I think it is my subconscious brain trying to get rid of the stuff before I can commit all of it to my innards.
Thank you. To continue: I looked at my receipt later that day and it said:
medium coffee 1.75
Dannon parfait 2.99
Parfait? What parfait? Who had a parfait? Not I! I had a cup of freakin' yogurt, not a yogurt, whipped cream, granola, and fruit concoction. Then, it dawned on me. The cashier saw the word "Dannon" on the product I bought and spied the word "Dannon" on her register's keypad and thought, "DING! DANNON! This is it!" But really, there probably is a another button on the keypad that has "yogurt" written on it and she just didn't realize it.
My suspicions were confirmed earlier this week when I went in there and saw that they had actually placed labels with prices for the shelved refrigerator items. "Dannon yogurt: $1.69." Which is also criminally overpriced for a cup of yogurt, but still, it 'aint $3.00.
So that is why I am steering clear of the coffee shop if I can. And why I just choked down 12 oz. of volcanic dirt. Oy.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
And Now The Ensemble Is Complete
So as you know, I made a Mason-Dixon kimono for my sister's baby girl, Aubrey, who will be born sometime around August 23.
Then I made a hat to match. I just kind of made this pattern up on my own. It's just a super easy circular knit all the way up, with a "k2, yo, k2tg" row about an inch from the top where the i-cord is cinching it together.
Once those 2 items were done, I wanted to make baby booties. Oh. My. Dog. Why, in the name of all sanity and human reason, are baby booties so freakin' impossibly complicated to knit?! I searched high and low for several months for a pattern for baby booties that wasn't like 14 pages long and written so that you had to hold it up to a mirror while standing on your head to comprehend it. Well, last night I stumbled onto a great yarn webstore (Fabulous Yarn) and they offered a free baby bootie pattern. I took a look at it and it seemed simple enough.
I said, "What the hell," and gave it a try. This is about 10:10pm.
11:15 pm the bootie was done, seamed up and everything. Yes. I know. Todd had to come give me smelling salts to revive me. I was totally like, "Mick! Mick.... Cut me, Mick!" Well...not really. Anyway, the only thing not done was the i-cord that I chose to add to it to match the hat and kimono.
I knit the second one on my lunch break today. It's unbelievably satisfying to cast on, knit, and finish an object in about an hour.
So here they are, done, complete with the i-cords that I made tonight:
People, couldn't you just DIE from how cute they are?? And their cuteness is increased exponentially by the fact that these took a mere 3 hours to make (that's including the i-cords).
Ridiculously easy; just the way I like it!
Then I made a hat to match. I just kind of made this pattern up on my own. It's just a super easy circular knit all the way up, with a "k2, yo, k2tg" row about an inch from the top where the i-cord is cinching it together.
Once those 2 items were done, I wanted to make baby booties. Oh. My. Dog. Why, in the name of all sanity and human reason, are baby booties so freakin' impossibly complicated to knit?! I searched high and low for several months for a pattern for baby booties that wasn't like 14 pages long and written so that you had to hold it up to a mirror while standing on your head to comprehend it. Well, last night I stumbled onto a great yarn webstore (Fabulous Yarn) and they offered a free baby bootie pattern. I took a look at it and it seemed simple enough.
I said, "What the hell," and gave it a try. This is about 10:10pm.
11:15 pm the bootie was done, seamed up and everything. Yes. I know. Todd had to come give me smelling salts to revive me. I was totally like, "Mick! Mick.... Cut me, Mick!" Well...not really. Anyway, the only thing not done was the i-cord that I chose to add to it to match the hat and kimono.
I knit the second one on my lunch break today. It's unbelievably satisfying to cast on, knit, and finish an object in about an hour.
So here they are, done, complete with the i-cords that I made tonight:
People, couldn't you just DIE from how cute they are?? And their cuteness is increased exponentially by the fact that these took a mere 3 hours to make (that's including the i-cords).
Ridiculously easy; just the way I like it!
Oh Elann.com, You Do Amuse Me So!
Apparently the folks at Elann.com play World of Warcraft! I bet you didn't know? Yes, 'tis true! This became obvious to me today when I discovered their homage to the Horde via this image of a level 5 Undead Rogue named Zahir.
"Embrace the shadow!"
"Embrace the shadow!"Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Oh My DOG. Gorram You, ETSY!
At one time in the recent past, I proposed to you that the web store for all things handmade, Etsy, is evil. Evil by way of temptation and gluttony. I basically, freakin' want everything there. Ok?
Now to remove any doubt at all as to exactly how evil they are, I give you the following picture links:
Now to remove any doubt at all as to exactly how evil they are, I give you the following picture links:
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The Stuff of Knitting...and Some Other Stuff
Ok, so I have a few things to report on the knitting front. One is, I broke down and bought a yarn-ball winder and a swift. I got them from Knitting-Warehouse.com for a great price. I mean, the swift is all wood, much nicer than their picture (smooth, and nicely finished) and it was $39!
So I used them last night to wind up some Tilli Thomas 100% silk chenille yarn that I got on clearance from somewhere---2 hanks of it. This task would have normally taken me well over an hour and I would have been rendered hoarse from all the cursing and swearing. Seriously.
After
Done in like 10 minutes, not even, with the swift and ball winder. I was like Keanu Reeves in...well... basically any movie he's ever been in: "Whoa." Incidentally, have you gotten a gander of him lately? Shit on a shingle, he looks BAD. Bloated and semi-crazy. He's only 42 and easily looks 20 years older than that. And what's up with that facial hair? Is he like razor-phobic on the down low? Or maybe he's just outright homeless. Not sure. All I know is he looks like a creepy college professor who drinks Tequila in his office before stumbling across campus, 15-minutes late, to teach a bunch of college sophomores about medieval England.
But I digress...
So along with the swift and winder I bought a couple of skeins of Bernat Cool Crochet yarn. It's like 70% cotton with 30% nylon. I bought a coordinating pink color to use to make the i-cords for that baby kimono and hat that I knit. I had tried to use the same yarn that I used to knit the kimono and hat and it just was not making a decent i-cord. I made the cords for the kimono, and I attached them last night. It looks cute. I will post a picture of the hat once I get that done.
I also bought 2 skeins of the Cool Crochet in the Neopolitan colorway. How cool is that yarn? It looks like Neapolitan ice-cream! I am going to use that to make one of those market bags that I love so well. Now the problem is that it's supposed to be knit on size 5 needles. I think that it might be a little thin for a market bag, so I am going to double up the yarn. Just so I have enough, I bought a couple more skeins from this new online store that I discovered today: Yarn & Thread by Lisa. I bought a bag of 3 skeins and it was $8.07. CHEAP!
I bought a few skeins of regular, old, Sugar & Cream cotton yarn there too, because I need to make a couple of dishcloths. I've joined the Summer Dishcloth Swap. This sounds so neat. I am really looking forward to it. I decided to get the Sugar & Cream version of Neapolitan Ice Cream, which is actually called Rosewood. I think that's what I will use to make the dishcloth for the swap. I am going to attempt a whole ice-cream/dessert theme, I think. I also got a couple of skeins in the Buttercream and Landscape colorways. If I have the time, I might make 2 for the Dishcloth Swap, using the Buttercream for another cloth. Hey, look, it's $1.63 a skein, so I HAD to. Come on! If I have any left I might make some bibs for my sister's baby. Like I have infinite amounts of spare time on my hands....
Anyway, what else? Hmmm....
Oh, I hate my job. Like seriously, I am having major problems even motivating myself to get out of bed in the morning to drag my sorry ass over there. I am getting more frequent migraines and anxiety attacks. I am depressed and can't sleep and I am paranoid too. Not good, in fact, decidedly awful. I feel pretty much sad and at my wits end about a lot of things, but feel utterly powerless to change anything. Very frustrating. Ah well, life goes on I suppose....
Here it is all set up with the winder!
So I used them last night to wind up some Tilli Thomas 100% silk chenille yarn that I got on clearance from somewhere---2 hanks of it. This task would have normally taken me well over an hour and I would have been rendered hoarse from all the cursing and swearing. Seriously.
Before
After
Done in like 10 minutes, not even, with the swift and ball winder. I was like Keanu Reeves in...well... basically any movie he's ever been in: "Whoa." Incidentally, have you gotten a gander of him lately? Shit on a shingle, he looks BAD. Bloated and semi-crazy. He's only 42 and easily looks 20 years older than that. And what's up with that facial hair? Is he like razor-phobic on the down low? Or maybe he's just outright homeless. Not sure. All I know is he looks like a creepy college professor who drinks Tequila in his office before stumbling across campus, 15-minutes late, to teach a bunch of college sophomores about medieval England.
But I digress...
So along with the swift and winder I bought a couple of skeins of Bernat Cool Crochet yarn. It's like 70% cotton with 30% nylon. I bought a coordinating pink color to use to make the i-cords for that baby kimono and hat that I knit. I had tried to use the same yarn that I used to knit the kimono and hat and it just was not making a decent i-cord. I made the cords for the kimono, and I attached them last night. It looks cute. I will post a picture of the hat once I get that done.
I also bought 2 skeins of the Cool Crochet in the Neopolitan colorway. How cool is that yarn? It looks like Neapolitan ice-cream! I am going to use that to make one of those market bags that I love so well. Now the problem is that it's supposed to be knit on size 5 needles. I think that it might be a little thin for a market bag, so I am going to double up the yarn. Just so I have enough, I bought a couple more skeins from this new online store that I discovered today: Yarn & Thread by Lisa. I bought a bag of 3 skeins and it was $8.07. CHEAP!
I bought a few skeins of regular, old, Sugar & Cream cotton yarn there too, because I need to make a couple of dishcloths. I've joined the Summer Dishcloth Swap. This sounds so neat. I am really looking forward to it. I decided to get the Sugar & Cream version of Neapolitan Ice Cream, which is actually called Rosewood. I think that's what I will use to make the dishcloth for the swap. I am going to attempt a whole ice-cream/dessert theme, I think. I also got a couple of skeins in the Buttercream and Landscape colorways. If I have the time, I might make 2 for the Dishcloth Swap, using the Buttercream for another cloth. Hey, look, it's $1.63 a skein, so I HAD to. Come on! If I have any left I might make some bibs for my sister's baby. Like I have infinite amounts of spare time on my hands....
Anyway, what else? Hmmm....
Oh, I hate my job. Like seriously, I am having major problems even motivating myself to get out of bed in the morning to drag my sorry ass over there. I am getting more frequent migraines and anxiety attacks. I am depressed and can't sleep and I am paranoid too. Not good, in fact, decidedly awful. I feel pretty much sad and at my wits end about a lot of things, but feel utterly powerless to change anything. Very frustrating. Ah well, life goes on I suppose....
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Evil
I would just like to point out that Etsy is incredibly E.V.I.L.--- evil to my credit cards, that is.
Who can withstand such diabolical torture as items such as this, this, this, this, or especially, this? For my part, I could NOT withstand the latter....I'm calling it an early birthday present to myself.
My guess is that ETSY stands for: Evil Temptations Seduce You.
Who can withstand such diabolical torture as items such as this, this, this, this, or especially, this? For my part, I could NOT withstand the latter....I'm calling it an early birthday present to myself.
My guess is that ETSY stands for: Evil Temptations Seduce You.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Wild Yarn!
OH MY DOG, Look at this yarn!
I took a picture of the yarn on my laptop, just so you can see the scale of the skein. It's HUGE! While buying more yarn for myself, thus descending deeper into the insanity of increasing my already unwiedly yarn stash, I stumbled onto this yarn. It's called OnLine Linie 191, Maxima. Well at the online store where I saw this yarn, it was sold out in this colorway. This is $19.99-a-skein yarn and the web store where I saw it had it 50% off at $9.99. I did some poking around and leave it to good 'ol Ebay, somebody had one skein of it. I got it for $8.00!
According to the description on the webstore, you can make a scarf with just one skein! So I am going to make a scarf for my mom in that loopy pattern with this yarn. See this post for the loopy scarf I made with "God's Chest Hair" yarn. I think this link to the pattern still works. Anyway, I think she'll adore it. She loves leopard and animal prints in general.
I took a picture of the yarn on my laptop, just so you can see the scale of the skein. It's HUGE! While buying more yarn for myself, thus descending deeper into the insanity of increasing my already unwiedly yarn stash, I stumbled onto this yarn. It's called OnLine Linie 191, Maxima. Well at the online store where I saw this yarn, it was sold out in this colorway. This is $19.99-a-skein yarn and the web store where I saw it had it 50% off at $9.99. I did some poking around and leave it to good 'ol Ebay, somebody had one skein of it. I got it for $8.00!
According to the description on the webstore, you can make a scarf with just one skein! So I am going to make a scarf for my mom in that loopy pattern with this yarn. See this post for the loopy scarf I made with "God's Chest Hair" yarn. I think this link to the pattern still works. Anyway, I think she'll adore it. She loves leopard and animal prints in general.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Let The Moratorium Begin
Aside from the yarn that I had planned to buy to make my newly-pregnant sister some baby items, I am now beginning a self-imposed moratorium on yarn purchasing.Yes, I mean it.
I know. Right now you are all reading this with the expression: "Whatchu talkin' about, Willis?" on your faces.
Actually, I am pretty much imposing a moratorium on ALL extraneous purchases, save one: a Warcraft t-shirt that I made up yesterday on Cafe Press. Oh and, as previously mentioned, the yarn I need to complete the baby knitting projects for my sister.
Why, you may well ask?
Well, Todd and I have begun actively looking to move. We have our realtor in Philadelphia coming over Thursday evening to assess the house. Last night we looked at a few properties with our realtor in Delaware, mostly in the Claymont and North Wilmington areas. Well...I think we found THE house. You know the one. The house that you don't want to leave and the realtor has to drag you out of. The house that you wish you had brought your tape measure to so that you can begin buying carpets and window treatments. The house in which you can immediately visualize every piece of furniture you own. Oh yeah. This was that house.
I won't go into the amazing details of the house, for fear that all who read this will want to move there too, thus a bidding war will begin. I can't have that. :-P Just suffice it to say that it has everything we want in a new house and then add 100% more.
We are going to look at it again on Sunday afternoon, so we can see it and the neighborhood in the daytime. Although, I am already 99.99999999999999999999999% sold on it.
Please, dear readers, do me a favor and appeal to whatever (if any) higher being that you believe in that this house --- THE house --- does not get pulled out from under us by someone else.
Thank you.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
More On That Latifa Scarf...
Ok so I did some research into the yarn I need to buy in order to make the Latifa Scarf that is shown in the post below this one.
Yeah. I love the scarf, but the cost? Well, it 'aint pretty, folks.
The Garnstudio Silke-Tweed yarn is $12.95 a skein at most places I've checked. I need 4.
The Koigu yarn is about $12 a skein at most places I've checked. I need 2.
Not one place that I've checked has both yarns in their Webstore. In fact, it's been difficult to find one store that has all four of the colors of the Garnstudio yarn that I need! RAGE.
So, I will incur extra shipping charges having to order the yarn from multiple locations, maybe as many as 3 places. (I might be able to find one free-shipping offer, maybe)
So let's do a little math now, shall we?
$12.95 x 4 = $51.80
$12.00 x 2 = $24.00
shipping from 2 or possibly 3 places? = $10.00
total = $85.80
Um...NO.
Therefore, if I want to make this scarf, I am going to have to find another series of yarns to make it with.
Now, on January 9 & 10, Ramwools.com is having a 30%-off sale on everything in the Webstore. EVERYTHING! So I might look into the options there. (I've already checked to see if they had the yarn for this project and they do not.)
Yeah. I love the scarf, but the cost? Well, it 'aint pretty, folks.
The Garnstudio Silke-Tweed yarn is $12.95 a skein at most places I've checked. I need 4.
The Koigu yarn is about $12 a skein at most places I've checked. I need 2.
Not one place that I've checked has both yarns in their Webstore. In fact, it's been difficult to find one store that has all four of the colors of the Garnstudio yarn that I need! RAGE.
So, I will incur extra shipping charges having to order the yarn from multiple locations, maybe as many as 3 places. (I might be able to find one free-shipping offer, maybe)
So let's do a little math now, shall we?
$12.95 x 4 = $51.80
$12.00 x 2 = $24.00
shipping from 2 or possibly 3 places? = $10.00
total = $85.80
Um...NO.
Therefore, if I want to make this scarf, I am going to have to find another series of yarns to make it with.
Now, on January 9 & 10, Ramwools.com is having a 30%-off sale on everything in the Webstore. EVERYTHING! So I might look into the options there. (I've already checked to see if they had the yarn for this project and they do not.)
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Can Someone PLEASE Contact Me, Or Do I Have To Choke A Bitch?
I mean really, people. I don't know about everyone else, but I have had THE ABSOLUTE WORST customer service in the last month than I have ever had in my entire life. Seriously.
I ordered a Christmas gift for someone back on November 29th from a place called hookmeuphometheater.com. Maybe that was my first mistake: trusting a webstore with a retarded name like that. Anyway, they had the best price and best shipping price for this item. They are also, allegedly, a member of the Better Business Bureau (who ROCKS harder than AC/DC, because they settled a 8-month dispute that I had with Home Depot, lickety-split. I will eventually post about this too. It's just that the wounds are still too fresh....).
Well, the item, according to the website, was "in-stock." I ordered it. About a week or so later, I realized that I hadn't received any communication from them confirming my order or telling me that they are going to ship it, etc. So I checked the order status webpage on their site.
SIGH
The order was there. They charged my credit card. But the status of the item had been changed to "back-order." Now, dear reader, I ask you: WHEN WERE THEY GOING TO TELL ME THIS? The answer? Probably never. To add insult to injury, the actual item STILL had "in-stock" next to its title. WTF? I managed to contain my rage long enough to type out this fairly coherent e-mail:
Can you guess what the response was? DING! That's right! NO RESPONSE AT ALL! I am so incredibly angry that I am like crawling out of my skin. I can't even explain it. I just...I mean...it's like...just watch this and you'll know:
Yeah. So, I am going to wait until 1:00 or so to call them, again.
I am having a similar problem with ANOTHER website --- this time a comic-book place --- about 2 orders that I placed on the 11th of December. The place is Westfieldcomics.com. They have THE most confusing webpage and ordering system I have ever encountered. So confusing that I ended up having to place 2 separate orders instead of one, thus getting charged $6.95 for shipping two times. I called them yesterday just to discuss the orders because I am so freakin' confused that I don't know if they got one of the two orders and when either of them will ship or if it's even it stock or what. It's all kinds of fucked up. So, anyway, I called yesterday evening and left a message with a woman named "Mary." No response. WTF is wrong with people? These people are in Michigan, I think. So, I will call them again at lunchtime, too.
Ok, I realize that it's the Christmas gift-giving season. Things are hectic for everyone. But Jesus Tapdancing Christ, this is ridiculous.
I ordered a Christmas gift for someone back on November 29th from a place called hookmeuphometheater.com. Maybe that was my first mistake: trusting a webstore with a retarded name like that. Anyway, they had the best price and best shipping price for this item. They are also, allegedly, a member of the Better Business Bureau (who ROCKS harder than AC/DC, because they settled a 8-month dispute that I had with Home Depot, lickety-split. I will eventually post about this too. It's just that the wounds are still too fresh....).
Well, the item, according to the website, was "in-stock." I ordered it. About a week or so later, I realized that I hadn't received any communication from them confirming my order or telling me that they are going to ship it, etc. So I checked the order status webpage on their site.
SIGH
The order was there. They charged my credit card. But the status of the item had been changed to "back-order." Now, dear reader, I ask you: WHEN WERE THEY GOING TO TELL ME THIS? The answer? Probably never. To add insult to injury, the actual item STILL had "in-stock" next to its title. WTF? I managed to contain my rage long enough to type out this fairly coherent e-mail:
Hello:No response. Nada. The rage is now setting fire to my intestines. I wait all weekend. Nothing. Monday morning comes and I decide to call them. Of course, nobody is there to take the call because they are in freakin' California and it's like 8:00 am here in Philly. So I leave a message. Firm and concerned, but calm. ZILCHO. No call; no e-mail. I am totally incensed now. So yesterday, I sent them yet another e-mail:
I placed order #3691 for "such-and-such item" on November 29th. According to your
website at the time I placed the order, this item was in-stock. Because I have not
heard from you about this order and it's been NINE days, I have just checked your
website to view my order status and it says that the item I ordered is on
backorder, with the date "12/06/2006" underneath it (but it also STILL says
"in-stock" next to the item title)! This is unacceptable. I would not have
placed the order if I was told upfront that the item was out of stock and on
backorder.
It is now December 8th. Do you or do you not have this item in stock? If not, I
cannot wait any longer for it and would like to cancel my order. If you do have it
in stock, I expect that it will be shipped IMMEDIATELY and can you please tell me
when I can expect to receive it?
Gina Waters
Hello:
I am writing again regarding my order #3691. I have not heard from you about the
status of this order, despite having asked you twice. I telephoned yesterday and
received no response. Below is an e-mail I sent on Friday, to which I also did not
receive a response.
Can someone please acknowledge that I exist and respond to me regarding this order?
Gina Waters
Can you guess what the response was? DING! That's right! NO RESPONSE AT ALL! I am so incredibly angry that I am like crawling out of my skin. I can't even explain it. I just...I mean...it's like...just watch this and you'll know:
Yeah. So, I am going to wait until 1:00 or so to call them, again.
I am having a similar problem with ANOTHER website --- this time a comic-book place --- about 2 orders that I placed on the 11th of December. The place is Westfieldcomics.com. They have THE most confusing webpage and ordering system I have ever encountered. So confusing that I ended up having to place 2 separate orders instead of one, thus getting charged $6.95 for shipping two times. I called them yesterday just to discuss the orders because I am so freakin' confused that I don't know if they got one of the two orders and when either of them will ship or if it's even it stock or what. It's all kinds of fucked up. So, anyway, I called yesterday evening and left a message with a woman named "Mary." No response. WTF is wrong with people? These people are in Michigan, I think. So, I will call them again at lunchtime, too.
Ok, I realize that it's the Christmas gift-giving season. Things are hectic for everyone. But Jesus Tapdancing Christ, this is ridiculous.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
It's A Cry For Help, Really
So...um...yeah...I kinda went ahead and sorta bought more yarn today. Yup.
My most favorite yarn seller on e-bay, Roxy's Yarns, just has too damn many good deals.
This is what I got:
Two balls of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Brush in light blue. I thought maybe I could make a very soft, skinny, cable scarf with this.
Two skeins of Plymouth Fantasy Naturale in the Brights colorway. Market Bag number 3, here I come!
And two big skeins of Schaefer's Miss Priss yarn in the Edith Piaf colorway. Look at this yarn, people. Can you gaze upon this yarn and actually tell me that YOU would have been able to resist it?! We're talking 300 yards per skein of hand-dyed, 100% merino wool deliciousness for $17, and you could have exercised enough restraint to keep your purse-strings all neatly tied up?
LIARS!
Ah, La Vie en Rose, indeed, Edith.
My most favorite yarn seller on e-bay, Roxy's Yarns, just has too damn many good deals.
This is what I got:
Two balls of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Brush in light blue. I thought maybe I could make a very soft, skinny, cable scarf with this.
Two skeins of Plymouth Fantasy Naturale in the Brights colorway. Market Bag number 3, here I come!
And two big skeins of Schaefer's Miss Priss yarn in the Edith Piaf colorway. Look at this yarn, people. Can you gaze upon this yarn and actually tell me that YOU would have been able to resist it?! We're talking 300 yards per skein of hand-dyed, 100% merino wool deliciousness for $17, and you could have exercised enough restraint to keep your purse-strings all neatly tied up?
LIARS!
Ah, La Vie en Rose, indeed, Edith.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Knitting Updates
So, I have not yet purchased that cube bookshelf thing from Ikea. But I succumbed to the temptation to buy more yarn! I KNOW! I bought some stuff from Knitpicks---just simple bulky wool yarn and cable holders---to try my hand at cabling. I'll start out simple: a couple of scarves.
When I was in NC, I got 2 knitting books that are done by the makers of Vogue Knitting magazine for 40% off at Barnes & Noble. Volume 1: Knit and Purl and Volume 2: Cables. These are outstanding books. Nicely done with very fine images. There really aren't any "patterns" in them for a start-to-finish completed project. They are more like ultimate reference books of stitches that you can incorporate into any pattern! Well the cabling book is just fantastic and very inspiring! I can't wait to get started on cabling!
I was so impressed with those 2 books that I told my friend Marsha about them. She said, "Oh yeah! I have that cabling book! Did you get the color one? I think that's volume 3." She showed me Volume 3: Color Knitting, and I knew I had to have it! Then Marsha said, "If there are a bunch of books you want to get, you might be interested in joining the Crafter's Choice Book Club." This is an amazing program. It sort of works like Columbia House or BMG does with CDs. Basically, you pick 4 books for $1 each. Then you have to buy 2 books at regular published prices over the next 2 years. But you have an option to buy 1 more book at 1/2 price right away, which means you only have to buy ONE book at full price in 2 years! And once you fulfill that commitment, then you don't have to buy anything else and you can even cancel your membership. So I joined! I got that delectable Volume 3 book and 4 others, including Mason-Dixon Knitting, which I am also excited about. I am stoked about those washcloths! With shipping and tax, I got 5 high-end knitting books for around $31. You can't beat that! Here's the webpage if anyone wants to check it out.
Currently, I am about 1/3 done the second market bag. I've taken some photos. The bag knits up inside-out. So the stockinette stitch is on the inside as you knit, but this is actually the outside of the bag. I think I like this color combo better than the other one. It seems to stripe better.
In the picture below, I turned the bag right-side-out so you can kind-of see what it will look like when it's done. This bag is SO easy and fast to make. The most tedious part is picking up and knitting the 100 stitches around that bottom part (square, garter-stitch piece you start the pattern with). Once you get going up the sides, it's super fast!
And I STILL want to buy that Eleanor Roosevelt hand-painted yarn made by Schaefer....Oh the temptations!
When I was in NC, I got 2 knitting books that are done by the makers of Vogue Knitting magazine for 40% off at Barnes & Noble. Volume 1: Knit and Purl and Volume 2: Cables. These are outstanding books. Nicely done with very fine images. There really aren't any "patterns" in them for a start-to-finish completed project. They are more like ultimate reference books of stitches that you can incorporate into any pattern! Well the cabling book is just fantastic and very inspiring! I can't wait to get started on cabling!
I was so impressed with those 2 books that I told my friend Marsha about them. She said, "Oh yeah! I have that cabling book! Did you get the color one? I think that's volume 3." She showed me Volume 3: Color Knitting, and I knew I had to have it! Then Marsha said, "If there are a bunch of books you want to get, you might be interested in joining the Crafter's Choice Book Club." This is an amazing program. It sort of works like Columbia House or BMG does with CDs. Basically, you pick 4 books for $1 each. Then you have to buy 2 books at regular published prices over the next 2 years. But you have an option to buy 1 more book at 1/2 price right away, which means you only have to buy ONE book at full price in 2 years! And once you fulfill that commitment, then you don't have to buy anything else and you can even cancel your membership. So I joined! I got that delectable Volume 3 book and 4 others, including Mason-Dixon Knitting, which I am also excited about. I am stoked about those washcloths! With shipping and tax, I got 5 high-end knitting books for around $31. You can't beat that! Here's the webpage if anyone wants to check it out.
Currently, I am about 1/3 done the second market bag. I've taken some photos. The bag knits up inside-out. So the stockinette stitch is on the inside as you knit, but this is actually the outside of the bag. I think I like this color combo better than the other one. It seems to stripe better.
In the picture below, I turned the bag right-side-out so you can kind-of see what it will look like when it's done. This bag is SO easy and fast to make. The most tedious part is picking up and knitting the 100 stitches around that bottom part (square, garter-stitch piece you start the pattern with). Once you get going up the sides, it's super fast!
And I STILL want to buy that Eleanor Roosevelt hand-painted yarn made by Schaefer....Oh the temptations!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Might As Well Face It, I'm Addicted To Yarn....
Yeah, I totally am. I buy SO much more yarn than I will ever use. It's scary. Maybe I need to seek professional help?
In my spare bedroom, I have three large and deep Rubbermaid containers all bursting with yarn. I also have some tucked away in a few cardboard boxes and in knitting tote bags. I really need to take stock of what I have, make a plan for using stuff, and get rid of what I don't want! That said, I think I want to get one of these from IKEA. And I can store yarn by type, or by project, or by color or by something in each cubby hole. My husband has one of these, in the larger size, in the basement for his books and such. It's super looking and really does help with organization.
Because digging in those containers 'aint fun. And it makes the yarn look so sad....
Also? Right now in that spare room, in addition to the boxes and Rubbermaid containers, I have so much random crap: a futon, a desk (which I never, ever, ever, ever use), an end table, a rolling file cabinet (small one) a CD tower, a chest of drawers, and a Rubbermaid mini chest of drawers for some of my clothes (of which I also have just too many). I think I might get rid of the desk. It sticks too far out into the room, which is kind-of tiny to begin with, and doesn't really give me a workable surface because it has a small top and a pull-out, rolling surface. It's basically a computer desk.
Ok so since I am actively seeking solutions to my complicated yarn problem, I think I deserve to treat myself and...buy more yarn.
Here's what I want to get:
Patons has come up with a new all-natural fiber yarn that is 70% wool and 30% soy called SWS! I am dying to try this. It's not super-expensive, either and it comes in some nice color arrangements. Ramwools has this yarn for $6.75 a skein, and if you buy 6 skeins or more, you get it 10% off of that! Because it's a self-striping yarn, I want to use it to make the Crystal Palace "Merino Stripes" feather and fan throw. Here's the pattern for that. I think that the soy portion of the SWS yarn will make it less itchy and better for a throw blanket. And hey, let's face it, it's gonna be cheaper than making it using the Merino Stripes yarn.
Schaefer has a series of very high-end yarns for which they have developed color schemes named after famous women; from Frieda Kahlo to Katherine the Great to Indira Gandhi. The colors are GORGEOUS. What a great way to make a gift for a special female in your life, or for YOU, the most special female of all! One of my most favorite yarn/knitting-supply sellers on ebay, Roxy's Yarns, happens to have some of this yarn in a bulky (my favorite size) wool in the color "Eleanor Roosevelt." It's not cheap, but you do get a lot per skein, 300 yards. I think I'm going to get it! She also has a worsted weight wool in "Jane Addams," which is also to die for.
I also want to get more of the Plymouth Fantasy Naturale yarn. Again, Roxy's Yarns has some and she also has the best price. This time, I want to get a solid color. Probably in this taupe. Maybe use it for another market bag or maybe to make a lacy wrap/scarf. Not sure yet. But I like the yarn so much that I'm sure I'll find some application for it!
Tonight's to-do list:
1) Send out the first package to my Secret Pal. Hope she likes the stuff I got her.
2) Work on the second market bag.
3) Watch Lost!
In my spare bedroom, I have three large and deep Rubbermaid containers all bursting with yarn. I also have some tucked away in a few cardboard boxes and in knitting tote bags. I really need to take stock of what I have, make a plan for using stuff, and get rid of what I don't want! That said, I think I want to get one of these from IKEA. And I can store yarn by type, or by project, or by color or by something in each cubby hole. My husband has one of these, in the larger size, in the basement for his books and such. It's super looking and really does help with organization.
Because digging in those containers 'aint fun. And it makes the yarn look so sad....
Also? Right now in that spare room, in addition to the boxes and Rubbermaid containers, I have so much random crap: a futon, a desk (which I never, ever, ever, ever use), an end table, a rolling file cabinet (small one) a CD tower, a chest of drawers, and a Rubbermaid mini chest of drawers for some of my clothes (of which I also have just too many). I think I might get rid of the desk. It sticks too far out into the room, which is kind-of tiny to begin with, and doesn't really give me a workable surface because it has a small top and a pull-out, rolling surface. It's basically a computer desk.
Ok so since I am actively seeking solutions to my complicated yarn problem, I think I deserve to treat myself and...buy more yarn.
Here's what I want to get:
Patons has come up with a new all-natural fiber yarn that is 70% wool and 30% soy called SWS! I am dying to try this. It's not super-expensive, either and it comes in some nice color arrangements. Ramwools has this yarn for $6.75 a skein, and if you buy 6 skeins or more, you get it 10% off of that! Because it's a self-striping yarn, I want to use it to make the Crystal Palace "Merino Stripes" feather and fan throw. Here's the pattern for that. I think that the soy portion of the SWS yarn will make it less itchy and better for a throw blanket. And hey, let's face it, it's gonna be cheaper than making it using the Merino Stripes yarn.
Schaefer has a series of very high-end yarns for which they have developed color schemes named after famous women; from Frieda Kahlo to Katherine the Great to Indira Gandhi. The colors are GORGEOUS. What a great way to make a gift for a special female in your life, or for YOU, the most special female of all! One of my most favorite yarn/knitting-supply sellers on ebay, Roxy's Yarns, happens to have some of this yarn in a bulky (my favorite size) wool in the color "Eleanor Roosevelt." It's not cheap, but you do get a lot per skein, 300 yards. I think I'm going to get it! She also has a worsted weight wool in "Jane Addams," which is also to die for.
I also want to get more of the Plymouth Fantasy Naturale yarn. Again, Roxy's Yarns has some and she also has the best price. This time, I want to get a solid color. Probably in this taupe. Maybe use it for another market bag or maybe to make a lacy wrap/scarf. Not sure yet. But I like the yarn so much that I'm sure I'll find some application for it!
Tonight's to-do list:
1) Send out the first package to my Secret Pal. Hope she likes the stuff I got her.
2) Work on the second market bag.
3) Watch Lost!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Knit & Crochet Uber Resource List
In the great hierarchy of knitting, I consider myself to be fairly low in the caste. Maybe not an untouchable, but I am a pretty green knitter. I am an even greener crocheter. However, as with any hobby or topic that interests me, I have thrown myself into them, finding out as much as I can about knitting and crocheting.
The internet is a wonderful thing. It truly is. Especially nowadays. I recall being employed in a university library's computer lab back in 1995. The internet, while available, was just NOT the veritable Mecca of information and commerce that it is today.
So over the past 2 years, I've been doing a lot of knit and crochet researching, yarn buying, pattern finding, question asking, etc. And I'm passing on to you what I think the best bits are.
Shopping:
Ah yes, everyone has to feed their little demon known as the infamous "yarn stash." If you can stand to wait a few days for a package to arrive and not run yourself to Joann, Michaels, or AC Moore in desperation to feed your habit (which I will refer to as JMAC from now on), then here are some of the best places I've found to buy yarn and accessories:
Knitting Warehouse
I love this place. They offer the cheapest prices on a lot of the commercially available yarn brands (way cheaper than JMAC), and even a couple of the more frou-frou yarn brands. They have a wide array of needles, hooks and other accessories too. They have flat rate shipping, which is reasonable, too. I've ordered a lot of stuff from here.
Knit Picks
If you lean more towards---ahem---yarn snobbishness, then you will appreciate this webstore. You get all the snobby goodness of 100% wool, silk and wool blends, cottons, alpaca, nary an acrylic in sight, etc., but at insanely reasonable prices. I mean CRAZY cheap. For example:
Wool of the Andes: 100% wool, worsted weight, 110 yards, about 5794873270 colors and it's $1.99 a skein. ONE DOLLAR NINETY-NINE CENTS. Oh, and free shipping over $40. Knit Picks also has some free patterns and they tell you the estimated cost to do a project using the recommended yarn. I found this webstore as a link from one of my all-time favorite websites, which is now defunct: You Knit What?
Nu Mei Yarns
Sort of like KnitPicks, NuMei offers great quality yarn at very good prices. Also, they manufacture all their own yarn. So, you can get cool, novelty yarns that are comparable to the major yarn companies or the stuff you can get at JMAC, but higher quality and a lot cheaper. And when they have a sale, or clear out some of their yarn, you can get a super-good deal.
Elann
Ok Elann is pretty unique in that you can get some hoity-toity yarn really cheap. The catch is that sometimes you might have to buy that luxurious silk/cashmere blend from the following stunning array of colors: "litterbox clump," "parakeet poop," "satan's magenta frappe," and "white on rice." Also, the models they use are a tad on the scary-beyond-human-reason side. Oh, and if you can tell me the difference between the last three yarn colors listed here, you win. What do you win? I don't know...um...how about a cat? I've got a couple to spare. Take my Titus, please. But they do offer free patterns too (although some are a bit dated-looking or just plain old bizarre) and good prices.
Purlsoho.com
Sometimes, presentation is everything. And I don't know of any webstore that presents its products more lovingly and beautifully than Purlsoho.com. Here's an example of what I mean: Terra yarn. Nice, right? Kind of makes you breathe out with a little sweet sigh. They are pricey, but they do have some decent sales. And the yarns they offer are very high-quality. Overall, the furthest point in the universe away from the JMAC experience.
Yarn By The Bag and Discount Yarn Sale
These sites are great resources if you plan on buying a large quantity of a specific yarn. They only sell yarn in grouped packages---not quite bulk, but they sell yarns in "5 skeins per bag" or "10 skeins per bag." So they can give you better pricing this way. Which is great if you are knitting a blanket or sweater.
Jimmy Beans Wool
Lots of unique yarns all in one place. Interesting accessories, funky patterns and some cool ideas. $4 shipping and free over $75, a nice plus. They have an extensive sale section, which is probably the only stuff I can afford.
Yarnzilla
Super cool webstore. Offers an "online punchard," which is like the cards you get at coffee or sandwich shops. You spend a certain amount and your card gets automatically "punched." You get a discount based on your level of purchases. Once you spend $250, you get 20% off everything on the site, even the stuff on sale! They have some really unique yarns from some companies I've never heard of. Pricing is good and they also have $5 flat-rate shipping.
Information
How many times have you found yourself just dumbfounded by some knitting or crochet project? For me, more times than I care to recall. I have a bunch of books at home, but sometimes it's great to be able to get the super-quick low-down after just a couple of keystrokes. Here are some informational resources that have helped me:
I've used all kinds of knitting needles: bamboo, plastic, metal, rosewood, resin, casein, etc. And by far, the best needles I've ever used are Bryspun, especially the circular needles. The joint connection between the needle and the cable is great; it's seamless. The cable is nice and wide too, so you don't get that twisting, tangling thing going on. Yarnzilla has a wide selection of these needles.
Want to know the nitty-gritty on yarn? Visit Yarndex, the penultimate web resource for yarn information. The Yarndex has an encyclopedic array of current (and not-so-current) yarns out there on the market and explains them in detail with full pictures and everything. Sweet.
When I was an even greener knitter, I visited About.com's knitting stitch glossary all the time. I still go here when I need some guidance. Great place to start when you want to try some new stitch and you just aren't sure what you like, or what the heck a "purl barred scallop" stitch looks like.
Ok who doesn't like FREE patterns? I am constantly on the hunt for free patterns. Sometimes you just want to see a pattern so you can do some tweaking and make it your own. Or maybe you need a quickie pattern for a project that you need to give as a gift. I ran into this problem regarding a baby blanket. I wanted a super-fast and easy baby blanket pattern to be done in time for a baby shower I got invited to. There are a bunch of patterns for baby blankets in some books that I own, but most of them involve the words "finger weight" and "lace." Sorry, I don't have 8 months to knit a blanket; the baby shower is in 3 weeks. Enter the internet, in all its glory! Here are just a few sites with free patterns:
http://www.lionbrand.com
http://www.knitty.com
http://knitting.about.com/blpattern.htm
http://www.straw.com/cpy/free_patterns.html
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/index.php
http://www.berroco.com/pattern_library.html
http://www.chicknits.com/free.shtml
http://secure.elann.com/freepatterns.asp
http://www.woolworks.org/
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/allpatterns.htm
http://www.craftown.com/knit.htm
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/kategori_oversikt.php
Whew, I'm spent....
The internet is a wonderful thing. It truly is. Especially nowadays. I recall being employed in a university library's computer lab back in 1995. The internet, while available, was just NOT the veritable Mecca of information and commerce that it is today.
So over the past 2 years, I've been doing a lot of knit and crochet researching, yarn buying, pattern finding, question asking, etc. And I'm passing on to you what I think the best bits are.
Shopping:
Ah yes, everyone has to feed their little demon known as the infamous "yarn stash." If you can stand to wait a few days for a package to arrive and not run yourself to Joann, Michaels, or AC Moore in desperation to feed your habit (which I will refer to as JMAC from now on), then here are some of the best places I've found to buy yarn and accessories:
Knitting Warehouse
I love this place. They offer the cheapest prices on a lot of the commercially available yarn brands (way cheaper than JMAC), and even a couple of the more frou-frou yarn brands. They have a wide array of needles, hooks and other accessories too. They have flat rate shipping, which is reasonable, too. I've ordered a lot of stuff from here.
Knit Picks
If you lean more towards---ahem---yarn snobbishness, then you will appreciate this webstore. You get all the snobby goodness of 100% wool, silk and wool blends, cottons, alpaca, nary an acrylic in sight, etc., but at insanely reasonable prices. I mean CRAZY cheap. For example:
Wool of the Andes: 100% wool, worsted weight, 110 yards, about 5794873270 colors and it's $1.99 a skein. ONE DOLLAR NINETY-NINE CENTS. Oh, and free shipping over $40. Knit Picks also has some free patterns and they tell you the estimated cost to do a project using the recommended yarn. I found this webstore as a link from one of my all-time favorite websites, which is now defunct: You Knit What?
Nu Mei Yarns
Sort of like KnitPicks, NuMei offers great quality yarn at very good prices. Also, they manufacture all their own yarn. So, you can get cool, novelty yarns that are comparable to the major yarn companies or the stuff you can get at JMAC, but higher quality and a lot cheaper. And when they have a sale, or clear out some of their yarn, you can get a super-good deal.
Elann
Ok Elann is pretty unique in that you can get some hoity-toity yarn really cheap. The catch is that sometimes you might have to buy that luxurious silk/cashmere blend from the following stunning array of colors: "litterbox clump," "parakeet poop," "satan's magenta frappe," and "white on rice." Also, the models they use are a tad on the scary-beyond-human-reason side. Oh, and if you can tell me the difference between the last three yarn colors listed here, you win. What do you win? I don't know...um...how about a cat? I've got a couple to spare. Take my Titus, please. But they do offer free patterns too (although some are a bit dated-looking or just plain old bizarre) and good prices.
Purlsoho.com
Sometimes, presentation is everything. And I don't know of any webstore that presents its products more lovingly and beautifully than Purlsoho.com. Here's an example of what I mean: Terra yarn. Nice, right? Kind of makes you breathe out with a little sweet sigh. They are pricey, but they do have some decent sales. And the yarns they offer are very high-quality. Overall, the furthest point in the universe away from the JMAC experience.
Yarn By The Bag and Discount Yarn Sale
These sites are great resources if you plan on buying a large quantity of a specific yarn. They only sell yarn in grouped packages---not quite bulk, but they sell yarns in "5 skeins per bag" or "10 skeins per bag." So they can give you better pricing this way. Which is great if you are knitting a blanket or sweater.
Jimmy Beans Wool
Lots of unique yarns all in one place. Interesting accessories, funky patterns and some cool ideas. $4 shipping and free over $75, a nice plus. They have an extensive sale section, which is probably the only stuff I can afford.
Yarnzilla
Super cool webstore. Offers an "online punchard," which is like the cards you get at coffee or sandwich shops. You spend a certain amount and your card gets automatically "punched." You get a discount based on your level of purchases. Once you spend $250, you get 20% off everything on the site, even the stuff on sale! They have some really unique yarns from some companies I've never heard of. Pricing is good and they also have $5 flat-rate shipping.
Information
How many times have you found yourself just dumbfounded by some knitting or crochet project? For me, more times than I care to recall. I have a bunch of books at home, but sometimes it's great to be able to get the super-quick low-down after just a couple of keystrokes. Here are some informational resources that have helped me:
I've used all kinds of knitting needles: bamboo, plastic, metal, rosewood, resin, casein, etc. And by far, the best needles I've ever used are Bryspun, especially the circular needles. The joint connection between the needle and the cable is great; it's seamless. The cable is nice and wide too, so you don't get that twisting, tangling thing going on. Yarnzilla has a wide selection of these needles.
Want to know the nitty-gritty on yarn? Visit Yarndex, the penultimate web resource for yarn information. The Yarndex has an encyclopedic array of current (and not-so-current) yarns out there on the market and explains them in detail with full pictures and everything. Sweet.
When I was an even greener knitter, I visited About.com's knitting stitch glossary all the time. I still go here when I need some guidance. Great place to start when you want to try some new stitch and you just aren't sure what you like, or what the heck a "purl barred scallop" stitch looks like.
Ok who doesn't like FREE patterns? I am constantly on the hunt for free patterns. Sometimes you just want to see a pattern so you can do some tweaking and make it your own. Or maybe you need a quickie pattern for a project that you need to give as a gift. I ran into this problem regarding a baby blanket. I wanted a super-fast and easy baby blanket pattern to be done in time for a baby shower I got invited to. There are a bunch of patterns for baby blankets in some books that I own, but most of them involve the words "finger weight" and "lace." Sorry, I don't have 8 months to knit a blanket; the baby shower is in 3 weeks. Enter the internet, in all its glory! Here are just a few sites with free patterns:
http://www.lionbrand.com
http://www.knitty.com
http://knitting.about.com/blpattern.htm
http://www.straw.com/cpy/free_patterns.html
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/index.php
http://www.berroco.com/pattern_library.html
http://www.chicknits.com/free.shtml
http://secure.elann.com/freepatterns.asp
http://www.woolworks.org/
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/allpatterns.htm
http://www.craftown.com/knit.htm
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/kategori_oversikt.php
Whew, I'm spent....
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