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Christmas is just around the corner and before we know it is will be here. I wanted to share my love of creativity by doing a gift card giveaway. Michaels is a store that I really enjoy shopping in and seems to be pretty popular in crafting circles. This giveaway is NOT sponsored by Michaels but it is something that I want to do for my blog members. First and Second place prizes are open to anyone in the USA. The third prize of Ravelry patterns is open worldwide. The contest will be open until December 15th. A winners will be chosen on December 16th and will have 3 days to claim their prize.
1st prize – $50 Gift Card to Michaels stores
2nd prize – $15 Gift Card to Michaels stores
3rd Prize – any 2 patterns from my Ravelry store. (You choose).
I can’t believe it’s actually happening. Thanks to everyones support and encouragement I have taken a giant leap. (OK, it’s giant for me) As many of you may know I’m not exactly what you would call a “techy”. As a matter of fact I really struggle with this aspect of sharing my content with everyone. You see I don’t come from a technology background and sometime I feel totally out of it. There are times when I listen to people speaking about their sites and use terms like SEO traffic optimization, shopping-cart, updates, SSL, etc… to me it might as well be Greek. I must admit that technology has always kinda scared me.
I don’t know if it’s part of getting older and being used to old school methods. For example I still actually mail people letters. Seriously, I love getting a letter in the mail. Greeting cards are even better. So, when technology has been a difficult transition. However, you know what they say innovate or die. I don’t want to die…… so I have done it. I have joined the platform called “New Kajabi” This has been a huge investment for me. So far it seem easy enough for even me to use it. What it will allow me to do is something that I have been working on for a very long time. Create courses that are more detailed, better organized and easily accessible. I have been searching for a platform that would allow me to do this and reach more people. This is something that I am really excited about. This is how it will work: (OK, this is how I want it to work, fingers crossed.) I create courses and projects you have requested and upload them to the platform. I can organize them as single projects of complete courses with several modules. The modules can include written patterns, video tutorials, user feedback, and tons of other great features such as subscriptions/memberships.
I am writing this post to ask for help. That’s right, I can’t do it alone. For over a decade now my husband and I have been supporting the Lily of the Valley orphanages in Mexico. There are 3 total (so far). 1 is located in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and 2 others are located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Each Christmas I like to coordinate a Hat and scarf drive for the children of the orphanages. This is a chance for children to receive a new hat and scarf set made with love. This year once again I am running the drive. We are in need of hats and scarfs for both sexes and for ages Infant to 18 years of age.
You can make any style of hat. It can be crochet, knit, loom, or sewn. Our goal is to receive 800 sets. This will ensure that each child will receive a set. I would also like to request baby blankets (approximately 33 x 35 inches) or lap afghans for the younger children. Many people seem surprised to learn that Mexico has some very cold regions. Not every part is tropical. I hope you will consider participating.
In this post you will learn how to measure gauge. Have you ever wondered what gauge was and why you should care? I get a lot of people that say they never make a gauge swatch and that they really don’t understand gauge. If you have been fortunate enough to create garments that fit without making a gauge swatch let me say that one day your luck may run out. What probably happened is that you were working very close to the gauge indicated on the pattern. Lucky you!
Gauge refers to the number of stitches and rows a knitter or crocheter makes per inch using a certain yarn and needles or hook. Since not everyone crochet or knits with the same tension (this affects gauge), it is a very good idea to make a gauge swatch before beginning a new project. There are items that you can crochet or knit in which gauge isn’t critical. However if you are working on certain items like garments it is important to be able to match the gauge that is specified in the pattern instructions. This will ensure that your item/garment is the same size as the size the designer intended when designing the item and that the amount of yarn required (as specified in pattern) is sufficient to complete your project.
Congratulations to our RedHeart Yarn Giveaway Winner Dawn Orcutt. You won this week’s giveaway. I would once again like to thank our friends at RedHeart yarns for sponsoring this giveaway. I’m sure Dawn will enjoy her new yarn. All of the yarns that are part of this giveaway are available at your local crafts stores. I hope you will try them out. RedHeart Sparkle Soft is really pretty and as the name says.. it’s soft. : )
Thank to everyone who participated in this giveaway. If you didn’t win don’t worry because there are many more giveaways planned for this year.
