How do you hold your yarn?

Be sure to read about the giveaways I’ve entered, at the end of this post.

Recently, Ann, of the Bella Crochet blog, had a post discussing how people hold their yarn or thread when they are crocheting. I do it differently than Ann and thought I’d share a photo of my hand, just like she did. It would be interesting to see how others do it.

I learned to knit and crochet from my grandmother when I was about six or seven years old. I am right handed and I hold it the same for crocheting and for knitting. Some people may do it differently for each.

I recently saw a video on youtube that, if I remember correctly, showed this way of holding the yarn and holding the needle(s) the same way that I do. The demonstrator said that this puts the least stress on the hands and fingers of all the different methods.  Unfortunately, I didn’t save that youtube URL and there are so many knitting videos on youtube!

I’ve also entered a few giveaways today. Here’s the details on them:

QuiltingB29’ Quilt Life is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post. She’s giving away eight fat quarters, a book by Marti Michell and a Quilt Journal. Go on over and enter!

Julie of Jaybird Quilts is giving away two giant pincushions to celebrate her newest moda bake shop tutorial. You can have a total of six chances to win!

Kim of Bitty Bits and Pieces is giving away a Charmed Gift Bag like the one she made for her newest moda bake shop tutorial. I have to make some of these bags! If you follow her so very organized point system, you can have up to 22 chances to win!

Have Fun!

Debbie

The Big Catchup – Where I’ve been, who I’ve met – Part 2

Continuing from Part 1, that same day I had also been to M & J Trimming on 6th Ave., the best trimmings store in the world. I bought a 1/2 yard piece of a wide machine embroidered ribbon that I think is amazing. I also bought a yard each of one inch wide metallic bias tape. I loved the colors!

On Friday of that week, June 19th, Annie Smith and I had made up to meet before the class she was teaching at the Aardvark Quilt Shop in New Jersey . It was a thrill to meet her and we had a very nice little talk . Then, of course, I had to buy some fabric! Here’s Annie and me and the fabric I bought.

The next several days were taken up with family stuff and travelling (down to Miami Beach), but on Wednesday, the 24th, I met up with Judy Momenzadeh, who I met through the Quiltart mailing list. She works very part-time at The Quilt Scene quilt shop and that’s where we met. Judy is one of the members of the group that had the exhibit I went to see on my last trip to Miami in March. She wasn’t working that day, but she graciously cut my fabric choices for me. We had a lovely time getting to know each other while walking around the quilt shop. She brought her fantastic, most recently finished, art quilt to show me. I brought the only thing I had with me on vacation, the redwork blocks, and I stole my grandson’s quilt for the day to show, too. Here’s Judy and me and the fabrics that I bought.

The next week was spent with more family. A wedding in Miami Beach and more travelling to get to another wedding in Los Angeles. We were in California for just three days before heading home, one day in L.A. and two in Irvine. So, there was no time for quilt shops. But, while in Irvine we spent an afternoon with family at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach. There wasn’t much in the way of textiles, though. There were a few booths with clothing related items. One booth did have lovely quilted jackets. I took one photo of a piece of artwork. It grabbed me because it has the look of applique, but it’s glass! The Festival continues until August 30.

Still trying to catch up, I’m way behind in reading emails and blogs. Quilting related, all I managed to get done were blocks for the Block Lotto blog and hexagons for the Pot Luck of The Great Hexagon Quilt Along blog. As of this writing, I have not had the chance to post my entries on those blogs, so I’ll show them here. They’re both traditional, relaxing type, quilting projects, which is what I needed right now.

That’s it for today!

Debbie