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Giveaway! Mountain Meadow Wool Dryer Balls

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), March 5th, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on March 6th, 2014. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

You are welcome to comment here on my website, but to enter the contest, you must click through and comment on the video on YouTube.

You can purchase your own set of Mountain Meadow Wool Dryer Balls here.

To learn more about this product, here is a very cute video from Mountain Meadow Wool.

The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The green scarf I’m wearing is Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Corded Rib

Instructions for working this stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 2
Every Row: K1, *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Repeat this row to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches
Round 1: *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 2: *K2, M1R purlwise, P2tog*, repeat between *s to end of round
Repeat these rounds to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

A slow demonstration of the SSK stitch can be found here:

A slow demonstration of the Make 1 stitch can be found here:

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The bamboo needles I’m using in the video are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Dropped Stitch Scrunch

Instructions for working this stitch:
CO a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 2
Rows 1, 3, and 5 (WS): K2, *P1, K2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Rows 2 and 4: P2, *K1, P2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Row 6: P2, *allow next stitch (a knit) to drop off the left needle, and unravel it for 4 rows, so that there are 4 “ladder rungs” above it. Put your right needle into that stitch from front to back, and knit through that stitch. After you complete the stitch, you’ll see that all of the “ladder rungs” are also caught up in the stitch, creating the scrunch, P2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Bind-off after Row 6.

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
CO a multiple of 3 stitches
Rounds 1-5: *P2, K1*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 6: *P2, allow next stitch (a knit) to drop off the left needle, and unravel it for 4 rows, so that there are 4 “ladder rungs” above it. Put your right needle into that stitch from front to back, and knit through that stitch. After you complete the stitch, you’ll see that all of the “ladder rungs” are also caught up in the stitch, creating the scrunch*, repeat between *s to end of round
Bind-off after Round 6.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The yarn I used for the worsted-weight green sample is Be Sweet Whipped Cream, mohair/wool/silk blend, in color “Moss”.

The bamboo needles I use are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Russian Join

You’re knitting along, and you run out of yarn. There are a few ways to attach a new ball – you can spit splice, just tie a knot, or try this technique – the Russian Join. The Russian Join is ideal when you’re working with a cotton or acrylic yarn that will not felt (for spit splicing).

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Changing a Knit to a Purl

Yikes! You’re knitting along, and suddenly you notice that a few rows back, you knit a stitch that should have been purled (or vice versa). Instead of ripping out entire rows to make the correction, here is how to drop a single column and make that K a P, or P a K.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

The super bulky yarn I’m using for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Russian Bind-Off

To work the Russian Bind-Off:
1. Knit 2
2. Slip both stitches back to left needle
3. Knit two together
4. Knit 1
Repeat Steps 2-4 across all stitches, until just one stitch is left.
Break yarn, pull end through last loop and tighten.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

The yarn I used in the samples is Malabrigo Chunky, in color Polar Morn. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Winner Announced! Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Sampler Set

If you didn’t win this time, this needle set can be purchased here.

In the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride retailer here.
Outside the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride (Knit Pro) retailer here.

The random number generator I used to pick the winner can be found here.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel – new knitting video every week, and more giveaways coming soon!

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There’s a Knot in My Yarn!

You’re knitting happily along, and BOOM! You see that there is an ugly knot in your yarn, that has to be dealt with. Here are a couple of ways to cut out and get past that knot, so that your knitting doesn’t suffer for it.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

I’m not 100% sure of the yarn I used in the sample – it is probably Cascade 220. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Comby Interchangeable Sampler Set

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), January 15th, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on January 16th, 2014. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

You are welcome to comment here on this blog post, but to enter the contest, your comment needs to be on the YouTube watch page HERE.

This needle set can be purchased online here.

In the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride retailer here.
Outside the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride (Knit Pro) retailer here.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis, knit in Noro Silk Garden.

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New Year’s Fireworks + Thundershirts

Note: I have not been sponsored by the Thundershirt company in any way. Never met them. This is an honest, unbiased review.

I posted to Facebook that I got Thundershirts for my dogs a few days ago, because the (illegal!) fireworks in my neighborhood make life unbearable in my house from 6pm to 1am on 12/31. Many people asked for a report on how the Thundershirts worked for my dogs, and since they are $40 apiece, I’m happy to share.

thundershirt doge

New Years Eve and the Fourth of July are miserable at my house. I never get to go out and enjoy these holidays, because I’m at home, protecting my dogs from themselves, and protecting my home from the dogs. It is complete, total, effing mayhem and chaos at my home when there are fireworks outside.

This year I invested in Thundershirts. I read the Temple Grandin book. I know how smushing and squeezing the torso can be calming to mammals. I don’t like sedating my dogs with drugs. I invested in two Thundershirts. (I have three dogs, but the third one is deaf enough so that fireworks no longer bother him. Yay for old age!)

In short, the Thundershirts took us from 100% Crazy to 7% Crazy. Totally amazing. Explanation below.

This is 100% Crazy, my experience in previous years: Fireworks start at 6pm. Dogs start whining and pacing. Ten minutes later, dogs are screaming* and wailing, and tearing through the house. Nothing is safe. Anything they can reach is thrown to the floor, and if I’m not watching, torn to shreds. When I say their names, they seem not to hear me. After several hours of this, I am also miserable. My heart is broken for my dogs, and I hate my neighbors. Happy New Year!

*Basenjis scream. It is a terrifying, ungodly sound.

This is 7% Crazy, with the Thundershirts: Fireworks start. Dogs are resting, but alert. Abe is trembling and Tippy is whining a bit, but they are both still. This goes on for six hours, so I’m drinking champagne. At 11:45, the fireworks really start. Abe and Tippy both start pacing, and Abe finds a “safe spot”, huddled next to a wall. (Totally sad! Like homeless, afraid dog!) I get on the floor with them, to start playing a game to distract them. They play along! There is a bit of whining when a really loud M80 or something booms, but I’m able to pull them back into the game right away. We played until 1am.

Summary: Thundershirts are worth their weight in gold. They took my family from seven hours of misery to one hour of playtime, even if the playtime was a bit forced.

I should spell out my preparation for the night. The dogs were given their normal two walks, plus one extra to work off as much extra energy as possible. They were also given their favorite meaty chewie at about 6pm, I think they are cow kneecaps, which occupied them for a couple of hours, and worked off more energy. I put the Thundershirts on my dogs before the fireworks really started, at the same time they got the chewies.

Photos:
Tippy is calm and chewing a cow part.

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Ike is too deaf, and was unaware of anything unusual.

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There was plenty of this from Abe – standing like a statue and listening. The weird thing on the floor is a cow kneecap.

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And even some of this. People with dogs might notice that is eyelids are kind of forced shut, but he’s trying to rest.

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All in all, the happiest and calmest New Year’s Eve we’ve had in years!