Psst ...The Secret World of Entrelac ...It's Not So Secret!

A New Mexico Mom Buried in Bills ... Stumbled on the Secret Of Making 6-Figures from Home — Writing Letters! A little known writing niche in high demand …and yes you can earn barefoot. Click Here for Free Video ... The Barefoot Writer - Video Promotion

First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club 

Oops! We made a mistake in our last blog post: "A Girl's Best Friend: Her Purse." We're so sorry for the error, and thanks Toni for giving us the correct info. 

"These baby hats were knitted by my mother, Josephine Malandrucco. She's 93 years old and in the last 5 years she has knitted over 300 of these baby hats to donate to the Holy Redeemer Hospital Volunteer Office to be distributed to newborns and preemies there."

(Entrelac Kindle Cozy)

Us novices like to think of Entrelac as a secret mountain that only the best of the best knitters can climb, not to mention safely reach the top.  The truth is, even the most beginner of the beginners can make the trek and earn their bragging rights on top of Mt. Entrelac. I plan on being one of those newbies.

Entrelac reminds me of poetry.  You string together what seem like random words that turn out to be not so random. They feed off each other to create an intricate image of life and art.

Before we take a brief look into the Entrelac mystery, I must first pay homage to a Master Poet and Inspiring Author of the human condition.  This lyrical dove's spirit took flight on Wednesday, May 28, when she went home to glory.  Maya Angelou lived a prolific and full life with an overflowing abundance that will bless today's generations and tomorrow's. 

Here's  my friend Vicky with Ms. Maya Angelou.  She'll always treasure this moment in time and photograph with her.

 (BET.com)

She gave the world beauty, fortifying and elevating us above the challenges that threatened to keep us burdened.  Her light will always shine through the living poetry she shared with the world. Maya Angelou gave of herself unselfishly, so the world could rejoice in their blessings and not in their blight.  Thank you Ms. Angelou... you'll forever live in the landscape of life.

Like the flow of poetic words, the Entrelac has a flow that also takes our breath away.

(Entrelac Skirt)

Vibrant colors ...eye-catching patterns that's what Entrelac is made of.  If you're a middle-of-the-road beginner like me, you'll appreciate this tutorial.  I plan to make two of these, so I can create a small clutch.  Go to Planet Purl for the print-out and the rest of the tutorials for this project.

(Entrelac Socks - left)

Don't Fear the Entrelac -- Embrace it!

You'll be so glad you did.  I speak from personal experience.  At first, it's intimidating. When I first laid eyes on First Tuesday-Third Wednesday's Knitting & Crocheting Club Member--Karen's entrelac handbag.  I muttered:  "I could never do that."  Of course her encouraging words were:  "Yes, you can ... but make sure you follow the pattern." 

(Entrelac Shrug)

She's absolutely right.  The pattern is the key to entrelac success. As you follow it, you'll find that it's a lot easier to master than you thought.  But don't lose you focus and fall into the river of dropped stitches and wrong increases.  Stay focus ... and the going is smooth like butter.

Karen's Entrelac Handbag

Every knitter creates a different Entrelac within this basic framework. 

(An Entrelac Wedding Shrug)

You’ll knit a foundation row of triangles. These triangles look pretty weird on your needle when you finish them, but don’t be alarmed! You’ll then pick up stitches — that’s how you connect everything together — from that foundation row of triangles to knit the other rows.  A stockinette stitch is a common stitch used in Entrelac.

(Entrelac Scarf)

Entrelac is a big old softy. If you know knitting basics like knit, purl, increase, decrease and picking up stitches — or are willing to learn — you can download one of these patterns and give Entrelac a try!

And Crocheters ...you can join the party too.

(The Crochet Crowd)

(Mirjam Osterveld)

And yes, you can even create an Entrelac project on a knitting machine.



A Quick Question!

Does anyone know where to find a pattern, or info. on how to knit this brain purse?  Please let us know at: bythescribe@gmail.com.

(Knit Loop)

A Girl's Best Friend: Her Purse

A New Mexico Mom Buried in Bills ... Stumbled on the Secret Of Making 6-Figures from Home — Writing Letters! A little known writing niche in high demand …and yes you can earn barefoot. Click Here for Free Video ... The Barefoot Writer - Video Promotion

My Purse ...My Life

How many times have you heard or said this?  "My whole life is in my purse." Uh-huh, more times than you care to remember.  

With society as it is today, I've scaled back considerably with the size and contents of my everyday purse.  My girl's best friend exists in the form of a handy, somewhat worn, clutch I can tuck under my arm. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying my Sunday and special occasion purses that always accompany a nice pair of heels and hose.   

So as I chat a little about purses, I'll sprinkle in photos of the latest yarn creations from the First Tuesday-Third Wednesday talented club members, starting with Karen's Entrelac handbag.

 (Left - Handbags - Karen Duell)

(Karen's Entrelac Handbag)

(Toni's Socks)

A Girl's Best Friend

I adore purses, handbags, a girl's best friend... whatever name suits you.  I even dig products shaped like a handbag.  Have you seen what they're creating in bakeries, patisseries and chocolateries, lately?  Here's a hint?  They're designer handbags you can't pass by no matter how hard you try.  Yes, you'll find a Gucci, Coach and even Juicy Couture.  I haven't seen a Kate Spade cake yet, but it still may exist. 

Well, you'll love these designer handbags even more in chocolate and cake form that look almost too real to eat--almost.

Is it a Handbag?  Is it a Cake?

 (laura Templton)

(Kelly's Cupcakes)

How cool is that?  They look so real!  Don't try to put your cell phone in one.  Want to learn how to make your own Gucci handbag cake?  Now you can with this video.  And once you give it a whirl, send us photos of your yummy Gucci delectables.

It's not surprising that knitting petite purses is one of my many passions.  I look at it as a wonderful stepping stone to creating my someday soon, big girl purses. 

But what about you?  Did your eyes light up when you spied the colorful handbag display at the beginning of this post and the colorful knitted ones to the right.  It did?  Then yes, you too have purse love. 

(Raspberry Stitch Knitted Bag Ravelry Pattern)

Add a skein of yarn and needles ...and I'm marrying my two loves:  purses and knitting.  It's legal in the knitting/crocheting world. 

(Toni's Knitted Afghan)

Perfect Little Pink Purse

I love this pink purse, especially the flower embellishment and vintage feel, which reminds me of my knitted Moderne Purses. Correction, I'm marrying my three loves: handbags, knitting and everything vintage.


(borsettaboutique.com)

ModernePurses

ModernePurses

Crocheted and Knitted Handbags

This shaggy green crochet handbag can easily pass for a designer original. Create one for yourself with this tutorial.





Women of Substance

For us women of substance, we carry anything from cell phones, hair paraphernalia, E-readers, beauty products, medicine, knitting/crochet tools ...anything we need in a flash. 

We're comforted knowing we have the solution to any emergency in our faithful handbag.  Stomach feeling a little queasy? You pull out a mint or Pepto tablet.  Got a hang nail, grab your tweezers.  A button pops off, you give it a temporary safety pin fix. 

My Hammer & Me

Many years ago, I started carrying a hammer in my handbag. (for a brief season) No, I wasn't singing "If I Had a Hammer," on a street corner.  I carried it along with my mace, shortly after a mugging.  Why a hammer?  Why not a hammer?  I think it was more for me than the potential mugger.  It helped take away my fear.  Maybe that's why I create petite purses, so a woman can keep it inside her jacket, coat or carry it in her hand.   

Hmm ... this sounds like a Dr. Phil moment.

(Karen's colorful blocks)

Handbag Style

But let's get back to the fun aspects of this important accessory--fashion and style.  Back in our grandmother's days, women wouldn't leave home without their dress, handbag, shoes and hat matched to perfection.   

Whew!  I can't remember the last time my shoes matched all three.  Sure, I'm a vintage girl, but not the matchy-matchy type.

After seeing the dress and purse to the left, I just might take a few trips back to the land of matching.


 Your Purse ...Your Style

Simply put, there are no longer any rules ...and no handbag police to cite you for indecent fashion style.  These days you'll find every handbag imaginable made with unique materials.  Sure, yarn isn't so unique, but the stitches and designs knitters/crocheters use take us into a new handbag dimension.

You can weave it, knit it, felt it, cable it, raspberry stitch it, Tunisian it... and so on.  Armed with ideas and plenty of yarn, you can make your purse as unique or traditional as you like.

(Knitted Felted Handbag - Ravelry Free Pattern)

(Knitted Wedding Purse)

(Grey Knitted Handbag - Etsy.com)

 

(Knitted Handbag - Stick-Legged Girl)

 

 (Crochet Handbag - Download Handbag Instructions)

First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crochet Club

Here's the perfect photo segue. Like these granny block crochet clutches, May's First Tuesday-Third Wednesday gatherings were side-by-side--only a week apart--instead of on our usual third Wednesday.  They were awesome!

We Continue to Grow

As always, we welcomed two new members to our First Tuesday Club and two new members to our Third Wednesday.  Yaay!

Welcome Betty Ann, Matthew, Chantal and Janet.  Fourteen-year-old Matthew is our 4th teen to join our age-diverse club.  In fact, he also joined Tanya in our First Knitters/Crocheters unofficial sub-group.  And just like fourteen-year-old Tanya, he caught the knitting bug fast.  

Speaking of Tanya, congratulations Tanya, on completing your first project -- a knitted bracelet -- last Tuesday, May 6.  You go girl!   Hooray!  We're so proud of you.  A grinning Tanya wore it home with her proud mother.  With her mother's permission, we'll hopefully include a photo of her modeling her bracelet in our next post.  

We Knit/Crochet Blocks

Thanks Toni and Karen for submitting the knitted blue 10x10 blocks for our Compassionate Afghan, we're creating for a dialysis patient.  Here's another one of Toni's knitted masterpieces for your viewing pleasure.

(Toni's Baby Hats)

We're Fancy ...We've Got Name Tags Now!

Thanks Audrey for creating our cute name tags.  She got the idea when I made everyone play the name game.  I'll have a photo of them in our next post.  

The Name Game is where you use the first initial of your first name to describe yourself in one word and then say yours and repeat the person/s before you.  A month later, Tanya was the only one who remembered everyone's descriptive name. (he!-he!)  All I can say is, thank goodness young minds absorb information like sponges.

(Karen's Socks)

We're always inspiring each other, last Tuesday's was no exception. Toni inspired Karen to create a new sock design.  By our Wednesday, May 14th meeting, (the next week) Karen revealed her latest addition to her husband's sock drawer.

More News You Can Use...

We're looking at Saturday, June 7th for our first First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club Chew & Chat.




Well that's it for now ladies and gent. Keep sending me your photos and stop by iCafe Woman Moderne with your favorite hot beverage and pastry. 

Happy knitting and crocheting!



 

Move Over Pink and Blue... Today's Babies Strike a Cute Pose in a Rainbow of Colors

For a long time, every bunting, blanket, sleeper, booty, hat and infant outfit was knitted or crocheted in pastel pink, blue, lavender, yellow or mint green--not citron, chartreuse, burnt sienna or cinnabar.
(Clare Fisher Photography-right)

Today, all color bets are off.  

Glance into passing strollers, and you'll probably see babies dressed or swathed in poppy orange, tomato red, bumble bee gold, penny copper,  lemon-lime chartreuse, deep eggplant, raspberry sorbet, vibrant coquelicot, (orange family) heather grey and the list stretches on. And for the newborn baby world, selected color combinations are just as unexpected. 
   

Colors and designs are bolder than ever. Our New Millennium babies now possess fashion swag like their mommies and daddies, bless their little hearts. 
(Pinterest)

(Oops I Knit Again)

Their knitting/crocheting grandmothers, aunties, friends and our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday talented ladies--happily took these handcrafted gifts to the next exciting level.  I love the combination of lilac, white and gray in the chunky stitch design of Alice's baby blanket on the left; and the green, pink and grey against the chocolate background in Audrey's afghan below.

Joquina's preemie hat and blanket sets above are not your typical baby colors, but visually striking. 

(Dress and hat set - Ebay)

Pink and blue no longer dominate color selection when choosing baby colors.  Grey is the dominant color in this infant girl's dress. Again, it's visually striking and against the norm.  Love it!

No, we're not getting away from bright colors or pastels, just adding spice to the traditional flavors.  These days, knitters/crocheters often create baby gear in a bold, uncommon color, using pastel pink, blue, yellow or green as accents.

(OOAK - baby dress)

Here's another handspun treat for the eyes in this cute overall set for a girl or boy from Hello Yarn.  Stockinettes, cables, seed and brioche stitches make our handcrafted baby gifts all the more special.

Fortunately, the unexpected doesn't stop in baby gear.  Today's new parents design nurseries in a neutral decor that's not gender specific. They want the child to grow into the room, so that during the first ten to 14 years they won't have to do too much re-decorating.  

(Houzz)

In the past, baby nurseries centered around nursery book drawings, popular cartoon characters, alphabet borders, a painted oak or cherry blossom trees--tigers, lions and Winnie-the-Pooh bears...oh my!

(Decorating Theme Bedrooms)

(Decorating Theme Bedrooms)

Enter Neutral Nurseries

(neutral baby nursery)

So enjoy your knit-crochet journey into the baby world. Your talent will be greatly appreciated by family and friends.  I remember the first time I created a large baby blanket for one of my best friend's sister's daughter.  You would think I had just won the Oscar.  They were so impressed an appreciative.  We won't discuss how long it took me to make it, but the final product and the family's appreciation made the time spent ...worth every second.

  First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club

(Knitting Group at rescue.org)

Speaking of time well spent, once again, we had two great First Tuesday and Third Wednesday knitting/crocheting sessions in April.  At the Wednesday gathering on April 16, Audrey surprised us with delicious carrot cake to enjoy with our coffee and biscotti.  Thanks for dessert, Audrey ...and for sending me photos of your projects.  Ladies, please keep the photos coming. 

Here's a Rundown of Our Wednesday Session

 

Joquina stepped out of her baby hat and blanket world and began knitting a pillow for herself.  I'm still elbow deep in my purse world, but Audrey and Karen gave me great advice and direction on creating cables.  I also found a tutorial on YouTube I could follow.  But I'm still a little intimidated by them, so I'll keep you updated on my progress.

We always enjoy lively conversations that of course surround knitting/crocheting--and peppered with our individual life's experiences.  I especially enjoyed the contributions of Kathy, Audrey, Karen, Joquina, Cherie, Mary and Maggie on Wednesday--and Alice, Audrey, Tanya, Sue, Karen, Joquina, Kathy and Lisa's contributions on the previous Tuesday.

Our Compassion Afghan

Thanks  Karen for completing your dark blue 10"x10" block for our Compassion Afghan.  Don't forget to work on your light blue or dark blue knit/crochet block in your leisure.  

Are Your Ready to Swap?

Cherie suggested that we have a yarn swap in June.  We can expand it to a craft spot to include:  fabric, buttons, straps, etc.  We'll discuss it at both sessions.

A Masking Tape Demo

Sarah we would love for you to show us how you create one of your duct tape masterpieces.  Tanya we'll set up some time in between sessions to give you some knit/crochet instruction.  Thanks Audrey for suggesting this. 

INFANT CARE ALERT...

THIS JUST IN FROM TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES!  

Now Collecting
Infant Care Kits

Great Mother's Day gift idea,
or for that friend who has everything:
Make a donation in their honor.
 
Infant care kits provide mothers with something warm and soft in which to wrap their infants. Kits are given to mothers in hospitals, clinics and refugee camps and used in orphanages. A warm blanket, soft sleeper, shirts, diapers and soap help families welcome new babies in places such as Lebanon, El Salvador and Serbia.

Cash contributions help Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) purchase items for kits and cover shipping costs.

(BBC News Health)

Infant Care Kit Contents:

(NEW items only, size 3-9 months)
•2 gowns/sleepers (flannel or similar warm, soft material)
•2 undershirts/onesies (short or long sleeves)
•4 cloth diapers (flat-fold preferred)
•1 receiving blanket
(lightweight fleece or flannel; minimum 36 in)
•4 safety pins (2 in)
•1 large bar mild soap (leave in wrapper)
•1 pair of socks
•1 cap

Thank you for limiting your generosity to the items listed. Remove packaging material (except soap) and fold into the receiving blanket. Fasten together with the safety pins.

Note: Items can either be purchased or hand sewn. Packages of precut materials are available from some MCC offices.  Drop off completed infant care kits at the Philadelphia store or other participating locations nationwide.  Contact your local MCC warehouse/activity center for a new design for hand-sewn gowns.

More at www.mcc.org/kits/relief
A joint project of
Ten Thousand Villages Philadelphia and MCC. 

(Baby Care Center) 

Until we meet again, happy knitting/crocheting!  

Comments are Welcomed!