First Yarn Shop Hop Project

I just finished my first project purchased on the yarn shop hop last week! This was a fairly simple knitting project. It was supposed to be a stockinette knit stitch worked flat and sewn up at the end, but I really don't like purl stitches if I can help it! I used the pattern, but just did it in the round with 4 needles all in a basic knit stitch, and it worked! 

Yarn Shop Hop

Today I visited 9 Seattle area yarn shops as part of the 2009 Local Yarn Shop Hop! I started out close to home in Lake Forest Park, wandered through Seattle, and then back to the Eastside for Bellevue and Issaquah. In the process I explored Phinney Ridge, Wallingford Center, and the Madison Park area; all places I'd never been! It was a challenge to read directions and try to drive at the same time, but it ended well. 

At each participating shop (there are 23!) I received a free crochet and/or knitting pattern for a one skein project. The shops had the yarn they used for their projects on sale, along with daily drawings in each shop. It was fun to see the variety of projects and familiarize myself with some new favorite stores! The free patterns I brought home include, a felted tea cozy (I always thought they were cheesy until I saw this one), several scarves, fingerless mittens, a stuffed octopus, a child's side button sweater, a market bag, and a beret. I think I'm going back to get the yarn for the tea pot cozy tomorrow, and I bought the yarn for the fingerless mittens. 

These bright yarns are for this scarf pattern. 

This is the yarn and tiny #2 sized needles for the fingerless mittens (pattern from Cultured Purls in Issaquah).

I got this yarn to make a baby hat with for an upcoming baby shower.

Here are the shops I visited and my thoughts on them:

1. Village Tea & Yarn, Shoreline - I loved this shop! It was elegant and cheery, plus they serve tea!
2. The Fiber Gallery, Phinney Ridge - This store didn't float my boat. It was a little to homespun and cold for me. 
3. Full Circle Yarn, Ballard - Probably the bottom on my list. Cluttery and old patterns. 
4. Bad Woman Yarn, Wallingford - Loved this one! It was packed full of great yarns and patterns, and the folks running the shop were very helpful and cheery. Lots of crochet patterns.
5. The Weaving Works, U District - Didn't love it or hate it. A large portion of their shop is dedicated to weaving, spinning, and dyeing. 
6. Acorn Street Shop, Ravenna - Didn't love or hate this one either. They have a lot of yarn, and quite a few patterns, but not much for crocheters. 
7. Tricoter Knitting Specialists, Madison Park - This was a nice shop, but very pricey. Most of their yarns were in the $15 - $60 range! Again, not much for someone who crochets.
8. Hilltop Yarn East, Bellevue - I still love this shop! They have a good price range in yarns, and their market bag pattern looks amazing!
9. Cultured Purls, Issaquah - This was also a nice shop, however not many crochet patterns. 

Mother's Day Gift #2

I made this little wooden scrapbook for my mom a few weeks ago, and have been wanting to put up the pictures, but knew if I did that it wouldn't be a surprise for her anymore! I took pictures from over the past 4 years of Tom and I and made them into this little books with lots of cute papers I've collected. 

And the Winner Is...

Cindi! The winner was chosen here. Thanks to everyone for entering the earring give-away! I've sent you an email, and will look for your reply within 24 hours. I'll do another give-away of something I've made soon! 

Mother's Day Gift #1

I made this apron for Tom's mom for Mother's Day, along with a set of Alton Brown's Good Eats DVDs. It's similar to the one I made a couple months ago for myself, but in cute slightly retro fabrics. I had such a hard time giving it away!

Bridal Shower Invitations

I've spent some time over the past few weeks working on these invitations to a bridal shower for the fiancee of Tom's cousin! I think these are my favorite yet! I sewed the little sleeves together after lightly gluing on the layer of pearly paper and Amy Butler paper. The informational invitation part I did in Photoshop, and then stamped flowers and glued the pearl on. 

Earring Give Away!

This is my first give away, hope you enjoy it! I've made a pair of earrings for just this occasion! 

Here's how to enter (you can pick from any of the following, or try them all to improve your chances): 

• Go visit my etsy shop and let me know which is your favorite item, and why by leaving a comment on this blog.
• Purchase anything from my etsy shop, and leave 2 comments here letting me know. 
• Begin following my blog, and let me know in a comment here.
• If you twitter, tweet about this giveaway and leave another comment.

I'm excited to see how this works out! The winner will be randomly selected on May 11, 2009. 

Earrings

I spent the morning working up a few pairs of earrings for my sister, who brought me beads a couple weeks ago.