Thursday, November 19, 2015

7 Quick Takes

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1.  I know Thanksgiving is next week, but I was browsing through some vintage postcards on Pinterest and thought that this one was timely.  My five year old wants to know why we don't send Thanksgiving cards.  I told her it just isn't part of the Turkey Day Tradition, but after looking through all of the postcards I wonder if it's lost tradition.  Have you sent Thanksgiving cards?  Would you if it were "normal"?  Would you think it strange to receive one?


2. The kids have been having "Pretzel Time" this week.  It's actually pretty darn adorable.  They sit together in little chairs and a makeshift table.  The table is actually one of these.  It was totally one of those "Mommy-wanted-one-as-a-kid-and-never-got-one-so-you-can-have-it" yard sale purchases.  Totally worth the $1 we spent on it.  What did toys reach out to your unfulfilled inner child?  


3.  Coloring.  It's not just for kids.


4. Who is making Christmas gifts this year?  There's something about using the Advent season, a time of preparing, as a time of handcrafting gifts for loved ones.  There's also something about those who don't plan far enough ahead and are trying to calculate how many of these projects will actually be completed before The Big Day.

5. I've been doing a bit of sewing recently.  I'm totally loving having a serger!  I have a backlog of projects to photograph and share!  I've also jumped into the black hole of custom printed knits.  My first package is due to arrive today.  I'm excited and nervous.  Have you ever sewn with custom fabric?

6.  Dominic has just discovered that he loves storytime.  Goodnight Moon and Hippos Go Berserk are read about 7,962 times a day right now in my house.  His favorite pages just happen to be the ones with balloons.  What stories have your children made you read over and over and over and over and over?


7.  If you, or someone you know, likes yarn then you should enter the giveaway that I'm hosting!




I'm linking up with Kelly.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Hand Dyed Yarn Giveaway (End 11/30) US

Can yarn be dyed to look like a Christmas tree?  I think the answer is YES!


November's sponsor for the Yarn Fanatic Party is The Rainy Apple Shoppe.  Please come over to the party and share what you've created with yarn recently!  I know a lot of us aren't sharing current projects online right now because they need to be kept secret until after the holidays, but surely you can share something, right!?  (If you're anything like me, you've got a million projects going at once!)

One winner will receive a skein of her Christmas colorway, Tanenbaum  The winner will be able to chose between worsted or fingering weight.  The worsted is 220 yards/100 grams of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool and the fingering is 463 yards/100 grams of super wash merino/nylon 75/25.


Fine Print and Details: Giveaway ends November 310 2015 at 11:59 pm EST. Entrants must be 18+ and US residents. The winner will be picked via Rafflecopter, so use the form below to enter. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Void where prohibited. The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize shipment or fulfillment.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 9, 2015

Crochet Hat Patterns for Women Using Lightweight Yarn


I love yarn. If you've read more than one of my blog posts you've probably already figured that out.  I also really like hats.  I've been on the hunt for some nice crochet hat patterns for women to use with lighter weight yarns, especially now that I live in a warmer climate. I've been sadly disappointed with how few I've been able to find. (I'm putting together a crochet hat pattern using sock yarn this week! I can't wait to show it to you when it's finished!)

These hat patterns all use lighter weight yarn.

1. The Yenni Slouch Hat 


I can't tell you how much I love the look of this hat by Little Monkeys Crochet. When the pattern came out in October I was drooling. I did promise myself that I would finish my current project list of time sensitive projects before I would crochet this hat for myself.  Did I mention that it's free?

2. Lace Hat

This easy (free) pattern uses Red Heart's Heart & Sole yarn.  (Get it? Sole?)



3.  Linda Permann Petal Beret 

This one is a paid pattern, but just look at how gorgeous that design is!  Wow!



4. Pizzelle Beret

Here's another one by Linda.  This one also calls for lace weight yarn.  Again, a paid pattern.


5. Turquoise Mandala Slouchie Beanie

I have yet to crochet a Mandala of any kind.  It's certainly on my crochet bucket list.  This hat is a pretty awesome way to showcase this form of stitchery.  Kim is such a talented designer, and she generously offers this pattern for free.



Also worth mentioning, Cream of the Crop Crochet has a great (free) Short Slouchy Pattern.  It's a very basic crochet pattern using fine yarn.

How about you?  Have you crocheted a hat using lightweight yarn?  What patterns have you used?  Please tell me!

*Be sure to check out November's Yarn Giveaway!*



Monday, November 2, 2015

Yarn Fanatic Party #53


This is a place to share your crafty projects that use yarn, see what others have made, support one another, and sometimes even enter a giveaway!

Feature

There were so many beautiful projects linked up to last month's Yarn Fanatic Party.  I hope you took some time to look around.  I wish I could feature everyone, but alas, I can't.

This Red Wine Scarf has a great combination of color and whimsy.


Don't forget to stop by my co-host's blog, EyeLoveKnots!  She just released a free pattern for a lovely cowl.  She also has lots of fun details about the previous Yarn Fanatic Party, such as who got the most clicks.



Giveaway

November's sponsor is The Rainy Apple Shoppe.  She is generously giving away a skein of her Christmas colorway, Tanenbaum, to one lucky winner.  The winner will be able to chose between worsted or fingering weight.  The worsted is 220 yards/100 grams of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool and the fingering is 463 yards/100 grams of super wash merino/nylon 75/25.  Either would be amazing in my opinion.

This yarn really looks like a Christmas tree, doesn't it?


Be sure to check out the shop on Instagram and Facebook.

Fine Print and Details: Giveaway ends November 310 2015 at 11:59 pm EST. Entrants must be 18+ and US residents. The winner will be picked via Rafflecopter, so use the form below to enter. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Void where prohibited. The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize shipment or fulfillment.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link up Your Projects
What have you created with yarn?  It could be something you crocheted, knitted, or anything that used yarn.  It can be a new project or an old one.  (I would appreciate it though if it had not been linked up to a previous Yarn Fanatic Party.)  I can't wait to see what you've created!

The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:
  • Add my Yarn Fanatic Party button to your post or party page.
  • The Philosopher's Wife
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife and Eye Love Knots.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • PLEASE NOTE: Per InLinkz guidelines, listings linked to purchase options isn't permitted.  This means that you cannot link directly to Etsy listings or Ravelry pages where there is an option to buy the pattern. You may link to a Pin, or a Facebook page, or a Flickr page, etc.  Links to where to buy the pattern included in a blog post are permitted.