I know it’s not Friday but I haven’t done one of these posts in a bit, so here it goes. I wanted to share a few of my favorite things…and by that I mean those things I grab most often, here lately. Continue reading “A few of my Favorite things…”
That is actually a question, one I ask myself often. How do you schedule your knitting/crocheting projects? Do you plan or just go for it? Do you have a craft book with a calendar? Do you get the yarn then the pattern or vice versa? All of these questions require planning, if you ask me. So a planning we will go, hi ho the merry..wait wrong song..but you get my point Continue reading “How to schedule your knitting projects”
For me this is the gospel truth in so many aspects of my life. I have allowed FEAR to serve as a detour, but no more. On the other side of fear was my own website, GGMADEIT.COM. I won’t tell you I have been paying for the domain for over a year…because fear.
So let’s bring this thought, if you will, into our love of knitting or crocheting. What technique, or project lies on the dark side of your heart. What pattern do you stalk on Ravelry, but have convinced yourself you can’t do because fear. You never even attempted Gaye, yet you are SURE you can’t do it 😳 lol yes this blog is my public diary, I am talking to myself in hopes that it helps someone else. I mean me first of course, but I digress, what haven’t you tried?
For me double knitting and what I deem a real sweater! Lol I know that sounds silly, but you guys have heard me say before how sweater knitting intimidates me. But catslapit, I’m gonna make me a real sweater and even though this double knitting might kill me, dang it I’m doing it. Hell my project on a Ravelry is full of “I can’t” projects.
What’s on the other side of fear for you? Let’s talk
Knit on my fiber friends…knit on
~GG
You guys know what I mean, that first kiss, the first date, the first job, the first kid, come on I know you remember your first…whatever. Well in this case I am talking about my first luxury yarn purchase. Way back when, February 22, 2013 to be exact, I found myself in Hoboken NJ, searching for Do Ewe Knit? I followed her on Facebook was super excited to learn her shop was in NJ! So to make a long story short she showed me some Orange yarn (Cantaloupe), that I touched and almost passed out. No seriously, it was so squishy that my knees buckled. THAT yarn was made by Anzula and called For Better or For Worsted and it is a sexy blend of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere and 10% Nylon. When I see or hear the term “yarn porn” I instantly think of this.
Take your hand off that screen trying to touch my yarn….I see you! LOL I actually purchased two colors that day and couldn’t wait to use them.
The orange turned into a poncho that sold as fast as I cast off and was also my first attempt to do brioche. The green (key lime) turned into a shawl that I screwed up but my daughter and I wear it proudly.
That is when my love affair with Anzula began, so fast forward to this weekend. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner. I think her first name is Sabrina, it was so busy and crowded that I didn’t get to ask my normal nosey questions. But I betcha I got me a selfie though, yup I did! 
So are you thinking how did this happen GG? Well Karen, of Do Ewe Knit hosted a trunk show. What is a trunk show GG? It is a event showcasing the yarn, all the yarn and beautiful samples of what you can make with said yarn!
Here I need to pause for a public announcement. I must thank Maureen Weaver-Arscott, who was kind enough to reach out and offer to go to the show together. We are basically neighbors, so she offered to drive, wasn’t that super kind? Thank you so much Maureen!
She got her yarn and was patient with me while I fondled all the yarn and tried on hats and took pictures and yea…she is a gem!
I don’t know what I enjoy the most, the yarn or the samples…I mean the samples will blow you away. If you are a nut like me, you want to make EVERYthing! RIGHT NOW! LOL! Look at all the things made from Anzula, one weight or another..Just a store packed to the rafter with Fiberlicious Candy!
I know what you are thinking, and the answer is NO I didn’t buy ALL the yarn. I tried on this hat and cowl set and I got yarn to make that, so there!
I got orange, but you knew that and blue. I already told you guys I didn’t feel good and I was trying hard to mingle and hang out, but I was fading fast. It was an awesome fiber filled afternoon and I am happy I could participate. I will leave you with a few more pics so you can drool. LOL
Huh? the purple yarn? We will talk about that later, this is about Anzula right now, ok?
and finally what I brought home with me, 1 skein of For Better or For Worsted and 1 of It Could Be Worsted. The colors are Cornflower (blue) and Marigold (orange)
If you are looking to experience this sexy yarn, check your local yarn stores and you can thank me later.
Knit on my fiber friends…..knit on
~GG
Your family was close to calling 911 because you left your project bag in Pennsylvania, true story. I saw a pic that Allfreeknitting posted and I had jump on the bandwagon. I know you know I don’t think one could ever knit too much. So what had happen was…
Saturday afternoon I jumped in the car and drove to Bushkill Pa, to see my god brother Carlton and his new family. It goes without saying that I don’t leave home with out my knitting. I mean, well I just don’t. Once I arrived the mingling began and I didn’t get to take my knitting out, which is extremely rare for me, but I had a good time. It’s time to leave because I didn’t want to drive back in the dark..so I am saying my goodbyes and someone asked about my knitting.
and the bragging began…of course I took out my WIP. Heck what crafter do you know that doesn’t love a good show and tell session? Anyway I give hugs and kisses all around and head back home. The drive is a little under 2 hours.
I get home and I make the obligatory “I made it home safely call” when I hear this “Gaye Gaye, you know that cowl you are making that you showed me?” I say “yes” smiling in anticipation of the forth coming compliment right? WRONG she goes on to say “it’s still here, you left and I got up to walk back in the house and it dropped out of my lap!”
Please understand I almost crashed!! If you could have seen me patting the seat next me, because I didn’t believe her. This HAD to be a cruel joke, that was NOT funny. How could I leave my precious yarn behind?? I didn’t even have anything to drink, so I can’t even say I was out of my mind.
Driving back up there alone in the dark, was not an option. Although I gave it serious consideration. So I came home and tried to just go to sleep and guys I am not exaggerating I could not go to sleep. I was truly sad
She called me back to let me know that she sent it home with her sister that doesn’t live too far from me. So crisis over, but you all know I was about to go to her house at 11pm to get my stuff!! LOL I really need help, because I couldn’t relax enough to sleep. Some folks do warm milk, I do a row or two. #sorrynotsorry
Have you ever left a project behind?
I hope your weekend was a good one
Knit on my fiber friends…knit on
~GG
READ THE PATTERN GG!! BEFORE YOU BEGIN! UGH!!
So I just finished a baby romper and hat and it took me 2 1/2 weeks to finish it because I didn’t read it first. Because I am always so eager to start the next project. I just dive right in..SMH I bet I won’t do that again. This project took me so long for no good reason. I will do better
What could I have avoided if I had read the pattern first? Is that your question? Well here is the answer….
- Running to the yarn store for buttons. I mean I look at the picture and some part of my mind saw buttons, but did I pay attention or make a conscious decision what type of buttons I would use? NOPE ! Delay #1
- Running to the yarn store for help. This was a commissioned project so the pressure to get it right was tremendous and because of that I absolutely should have thoroughly read the pattern. Did I? NOPE, I just knit my way right to the bump in the road, so to speak and couldn’t get over it to save my life…to the knit store I ran. Of course I was distracted by all of the beautiful yarn. Delay #2
- Running to Michaels to find ribbon. So yea about that picture on the front of the pattern. The one I looked at every day for almost 3 weeks. The one that clearly showed the bonnet with the RIBBON..yea THAT picture. The picture that I didn’t pay attention to, is the reason I was so running into the yarn store before they closed so I could ship it out. #hotmess Delay #3
I wasted so much time by not preparing properly, I will always read the pattern first from this day forward. I mean the I am pretty happy with the end result, but it absolutely could have been done sooner. 
Another thing I didn’t do was measure the yarn..wait I can’t take the blame for that part, the pattern didn’t say how much was required. So I was truly playing yarn chicken. This yarn I received in a Yarnbox like 2 years ago. It is Fyberspates vivacious which is 100% super wash merino. The color which I couldn’t capture properly, is called Blue Lagoon. I am so very happy that I was able to use it and I can’t wait to see the gorgeous little lady wearing it.
I can’t be the only one that needed this lesson, can I? Do you guys read the entire pattern before you start knitting? Do I have and “just jump in” knitters on here? I guess this comes from being self taught.
Knit on my fiber friends…knit on
Thank you to all that entered, this was fun and I will do this again. Please send me an email with your mailing address at ggmadeit@gmail.com.
Knit on my fiber friends, knit on….
~GG
This yarn was given to me, so I give it to you in this fabulous shawl, designed by Taiga Hilliard and photographed by Patty McGuire.
Ok I am so sure you all are tired of me and these patterns. This is the last one for a bit, I think. So Taiga Hilliard+Tjockt yarn+PattyMcGuire= THIS
Introducing Martta the Merino from Tjockt presented to you in Agate Beach, another pattern from Taiga Hilliard designs. So you all remember the video when I got mail and almost cried on camera? Well I had to make something that was worthy of that beautiful yarn. I wanted to be able to display it in such a way that you all would understand. Come on yarn lovers…ya’ll know what I am trying to say. So when Taiga asked me to test and this is the first one I made, by the way….I had NO decisions to make. I would without doubt use this beautiful yarn. The smile on my face says it all.
Now for those that knit, you know a pattern and yarn have to vibe..they have to play nice in the sandbox….well this was love at first site…the yarn overs and this yarn on my us19s was music, it was like watching folks make out in public…you want to look away but you can’t; yes THAT!! AND then insert Patty McGuire…my God! I couldn’t have planned a better way to say thank you to Maria from TJockt! Let me stop talking and let you look.
Wait the details:
the pattern is here–>http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sweetdrk1/agate-beach
the yarn you can get here –>http://www.tjockt.com/products.html?id=45/216
need to have pics taken?–>http://pattymacphotos.com
The Confessions of a Yarnho 
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