I Made a TikTok

Well, I finally took the plunge and made a TikTok account. I kept seeing lots of fun videos being promoted by some really creative and inspirational yarncrafters on TikTok and decided I might as well make my own account there, even if it was only to hang out there and watch everyone else's videos. 😆

My TikTok tagline says: "I'm just here to watch all y'all's creative videos!" And that's true! I don't think I'll be uploading very many original videos there ... but who knows. Time will tell.

For now, I only have one video on there. I figured I should have at least one video uploaded to give my TikTok account some legitimacy. 😂

As I explained in the brief description of my TikTok post, the very first time I used my brand new Sentro 48 knitting machine, the counter didn't work. I had just unboxed the machine right before shooting this video. I cast on with some Red Heart yarn and had worked five or six rows when I noticed that the counter wasn't incrementing when the white needle passed the yarn feeder, so I grabbed my phone and shot some wobbly footage of the next time the white needle went by, in case I needed to have video evidence I could share with the seller to show them the counter wasn't working. But, wouldn't you know it, on the very next row after that the counter started working, and it has worked fine for me ever since! So I never had to send a complaint to the seller, and I continue to be totally happy with my Sentro 48 to this day. 😍 In my experience, the Sentro 48 actually runs smoother and quieter than either size of the Addis and also the Sentro 40. (I did briefly try to use a Sentro 22, but the gear was stripped on the one I bought, so I returned it right away and bought the Addi 22 instead.)

@yarncraftbysusan

My brand new Sentro 48 knitting machine. The very first time I used it the counter didn't work but it has worked fine for me ever since. ##knitting

♬ original sound - Yarncraft by Susan

 

 

Famous friend

My friend April's photo was featured by Moogly in her blog post about the many different ways crocheters hold their yarn and hook! So April is now officially famous in my book. 🙂😍 April's photo is included in the second group demonstrating the knife grip. Woo-hoo!

1-2-3 Flip-brim Beanie free pattern

Two new free patterns released in two days! Wow!

Like a lot of us, I get busy with day-to-day things as well as just simply spending my time actually WORKING on yarncraft projects rather than blogging about them, so it can sometimes be months between my posts. Sigh. But sorry, there are only so many hours in a day. I'm sure you've been there, too, and can understand.

Today I am releasing this pattern for a 1-2-3 Flip-brim Beanie because in the USA, October has become the single biggest month for cancer-awareness causes in the form of the Pink October breast cancer movement.



Cancer (not specifically breast cancer) has profoundly touched my life and the lives of so many people who are close to me, and because of this, I feel moved to make and donate attractive caps each year to support the patients battling this terrible disease at a nearby cancer treatment center.

I offer this pattern for free, forever, in honor of Pink October and all the men and women who have battled and survived or lost the fight to any form of cancer.

If you download this pattern, please consider making and donating at least one of these hats to the patients at your local cancer center. Thank you so much.

The “1-2-3” portion of the name for this beanie comes from the texture that is achieved by working in repeating rounds of sc, hdc, and dc.

These instructions yield a simple but sophisticated cap with about a 20-22 inch circumference, depending on your yarn and tension, which should comfortably fit the head of an average adult - and particularly adults who have lost their hair to the cruel ravages of chemotherapy. The fit is intentionally a bit oversized (although not slouchy per se) for comfortable ease. The brim flips upward as you work the brim instructions and will remain in place on its own.

If you are making this hat to give to a chemo patient, choose a soft, hypoallergenic fiber by following the guidelines provided by Halos of Hope.

Knitting and crochet

Now that I've been able to get a little crafty again recently by hand-knotting lanyards, I find my appetite whetted to expand to other practical projects, such as knitting and crochet. I did some knitting years ago, but I never learned how to crochet properly. My daughter Mika is pretty much a self-taught crocheter, so maybe she will give me some guidance.

Anyway, I discovered a Freedomblogging blog today called "Fiber Lust Confessional," and there I found a link to a booklet of free patterns available as a PDF download from Berroco yarns. Hopefully, I can find the time to try some of these!