scarf #2 is finished!

I finally finished my second scarf and it looks SO much better than my last one. The stitches are even and snug. There are no holes or really big lumps! Both ends are equal in width.

The yarn I used was another Plymouth Encore Colorspun acrylic/wool blend. The color is 7137 and it makes me think of chili peppers or Mexico!


So, I started my third project, another scarf, using another skein of Encore Colorspun (color 7515). This is a really interesting yarn and I'm anxious to see how it turns out. Instead of casting on 25 stitches, I cast on 20 stitches to make a slightly skinnier scarf.

my yarn stash

I am currently working on establishing a good yarn stash, so I never run out of a knitting project.

I keep my small stash in this cloth shopping bag from Sweden.


This is a very luxurious baby alpaca yarn that I think I'll use to make a scarf. It is incredibly soft and warm, without being itchy. The colors are a beautiful grey-blue.


This yarn by Paton is a soy/wool blend that is supposed to be excellent for felting. I love the colors, they remind me of a sunset. I'll probably use this to make a couple felted pot holders.


Isn't this a pretty pink? It makes me think of watermelon. It's an alpaca yarn and I'll probably use it for a scarf.


I'm not sure what this yarn is...probably wool? I love how chunky it is. It's not very much, so I'm not sure what I'll do with it.

felted soap

I recently discovered a new craft I wanted to attempt: felted soap. What exactly is felted soap, you ask? You start with wool roving (combed wool, often dyed and used most frequently for spinning into yarn) and felt it around a bar of soap. Why would one want to do this? It's like having a washcloth and soap in one. The wool helps the soap lather nicely and exfoliates as you scrub. As you continue use, the felt shrinks around the soap until it is all gone, so you aren't left with tiny unusable shards of soap. I love crafts and bath products, so I purchased a kit off of Etsy to try my hand at felting soap.


You don't need many materials, only hot water, soap, towels, and wool roving. The idea is simple enough. You wrap a few different layers of wool around the soap, making sure the corners are covered. Next, you saturate the bar with hot water (I used a plastic squirt bottle filled with boiling water) and start rubbing with your hands until the wool has turned to felt.

It's not quite as easy as it sounds, but once you get going, it is more doable. The key is to get the bar really wet, rub really hard, and get a good lather going. The soap helps the wool to felt.


I can't wait to try this again with different colors and different soap. It would make great gifts, but I think I'll keep my first two bars for myself. :)

You can check out a couple different felted soap tutorials here:
http://www.mielkesfarm.com/felt_soap.htm
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-wool-felted-soap.html
http://judyperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/felted-soaps.html

Wool roving is widely available from many online retailers like Amazon, Etsy, Jo-Ann, and even Wal-Mart. You can find it at yarn shops or craft and hobby stores (like Jo-Ann or Hobby Lobby).

Or you can buy a kit like I did:
I used this one, but you can find a couple others here, here, and here.

knit, purl

While in Muscatine, IA, I had the opportunity to try something I've been wanting to learn for a long time. I learned how to knit!

At the Serendipity Yarn Shoppe, I picked out my first pair of needles (Brittany Art Deco birch needles, size 9) and a ball of yarn. I sat down with the shop owner for a few minutes while she showed me how to cast on and knit. I started my very first scarf.

The motions were awkward at first, and the needles unyielding, but by the time I was on a plane back to State College, it felt natural. A few days after arriving home, I finished my lumpy, holey scarf.

My first scarf. Isn't the yarn wonderful? It's Plymouth Encore Colorspun worsted weight with 75% acrylic and 25% wool. The color is 7511.

But after starting my second scarf, tragedy struck. I left my needles on my bed and when climbing in that night, I sat on one of the needles and snapped it clean in half. I was so sad! Not only did I lose my beloved needle, but my bottom had obviously reached epic proportions to snap wood in half. This now brings the total of things I've broken with my butt to 2.

I looked up the Brittany website to see where the nearest dealer was located. Not anywhere near me, it turns out. I did notice their product guarantee, offering to replace any broken needles at no charge. I e-mailed them and waited impatiently for a response. I received a reply a couple days ago informing me it would be "no problem". What great customer service! I can't wait to receive my new needle.

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Yum! Spice up your popcorn by adding truffle oil and parmesan.

Amazing and hilarious: fast food made to look like gourmet dishes.

Sew a neck cooler for those hot summer days.

Knit your own washcloths.

It takes only 16 minutes to make these mini Mexican flatbread pizzas.

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It's Friday! Do something fun!

Get organized with some free printables at Kind Over Matter

Never lose a book again with a free personal library kit at Twig & Thistle

Make your own decorative chandelier at Brassy Apple

Create jewelry with washers at Helping Little Hands

Bring the s'mores inside and make s'mores stuffed brownies at Picky Palate

Bake some wings with an unusual glaze at Steamy Kitchen

Check out the top beaches for finding sea glass at Uptake

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It's the weekend! Do something fun!

Recycle old magazines into coasters at How About Orange

Bust out your sewing machine & make a floor pouf at Design*Sponge

DIY design: create your own ruffled pillows at Tidytipsy

Reuse jelly jars to make your own tea light lanterns at Recaptured Charm

Supplement a high-intensity workout with protein pancakes at The Fitnessista

Whip up a delicious strawberry sheet cake at Homesick Texan

Cool down with the Magic Juice cocktail at Design*Sponge

Use a little Jane Austen design inspiration at Design*Sponge

Find the perfect mint green nail polish at Vampy Varnish

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It's the weekend! Do something fun!

Recycle your beer bottles by making a self-watering garden at Design*Sponge

DIY bath salts at Delicious Ambiguity

Laundry detergent recipe at Little Birdie Secrets

Create jewelry with pom-poms at P.S. I Made This

Make your own mini pinatas at Not Martha

Try a "healthier" version of fettucine alfredo at A Cozy Kitchen

Host a taco night: veg or meat at My Kitchen Addiction & Tasty Kitchen

Satisfy your sweet tooth with chocolate peanut butter bars at The Parsley Thief

Yum! Stuffed grape leaves at Budget Bytes

Get a cute blog template for free at Lee Lou

Design inspired by Frida Kahlo at Design*Sponge