Sunday, October 28, 2012

YouTube Tutorials ROCK! Share & WIN!

I learned something today!
Don't you just LOVE YouTube?!?
No?  Not using YouTube?  You should, and here's why:

I'm a visual hands-on learner and sometimes reading the steps of a technique in a book just doesn't pull it together for me.  That's where YouTube comes in.
I'm working on a design right now that I felt could benefit from a provisional  cast on, but would you believe, although I understand the theory and usefulness, I've never actually done it.
Nope, never.
I read about many different provisional cast-ons in several different books but just wasn't getting it, so I looked it up on YouTube and found the following wonderful video.
Thank you Knit Purl Hunter - you ROCK!


 

YouTube is wonderful because it's free, you can watch it a million times, you can pause and replay to your heart's content, and in many cases you can even contact the person that made the video.  How great is that?!?

Now, to be fair... some videos aren't great.  There are natural teachers and there are natural con-founders.  But there are also often many many videos to choose from on any given topic and technique.

So here it is:  I'm looking for the best of the best, your favorites, videos that you actually learned something from.  Share and WIN!

To Enter: Post a comment with the YouTube Share Link (looks something like this: http://youtu.be/Nnu1kk8dUj0) of your favorite knitting technique video.  Briefly tell me what the technique is, why the video is awesome, and how to find you (Rav ID or Email).

One extra/bonus entry for each of the following:

You WIN Two of These!
Please include your extra entries in a comment with links or information for validation.

Eligibility: Open to US & Canada ONLY - entries accepted until 12:00PM MST, Thursday, November 15, 2012.


Drawing: A random drawing of qualified entries will be done using an online number generator on Friday, November 16th.

Prize: 2 Skeins of di.Ve Autunno 100% Fine Merino (50g/98yds each) in Naturals-33410 - Valued at $15.00

Winner will be contacted via email after drawing for shipping information.

(NO, I wasn't paid by either YouTube or Knit Purl Hunter for this endorsement - I'm merely sharing things I love so that you can love them too!)

Angering the Yarn Gods and Just Under a 1/4 Mile to Go!

This has been an interesting month.
I've done something, although I'm not quite sure what, which seems to have angered the yarn Gods.
Seriously.
It started with my favorite black & grey swing cardigan.  To be fair, it was store bought, but it was wool and I LOVED it.  It was a stock item in my wardrobe, and honestly, people were probably tiring of seeing me in it, but it was warm and fashionable and wonderful and went with everything.  LOVED it.
It needed to be washed.  I read the label.  The very next day I tossed it in a gentle cycle... pulled it out and cried a little.  I re-read the label.  Those damned yarn Gods had since lifted the spell that made me see the damaging instructions.  I don't know why I didn't check it again before tossing it in.  Probably because I was so sure it said "Wash Gentle Cycle with Like Colors, Lay Flat to Dry" vs. "Hand Wash, Lay Flat to Dry".
It is dead.  I've kept it.  I have some false hope I can use the felted material to make a pillow or bag or some such comforting/useful upcycle item.  I've been at a loss every morning since.  I suddenly have NOTHING to wear.
And then... it happened AGAIN!!
The weather here has started to turn.  We actually had a cold snap this weekend that brought us down below freezing one night.  Time to pull out the bed socks.  I had a really cool pair - super squishy and colorful and warm and wonderful.  I hand knit them from Malabrigo worsted Merino.  LOVED them.  I've washed them countless times, by hand... until this time.
Damned yarn Gods!
Somehow they ended up in my load of darks and marched themselves through not only the washer, but dryer as well.
Felted.
Shrunk.
Destroyed.
Tears.
Yes, I tried to pull them on in desperate hopes they'd stretch over my big feet.
Yes, I understand, that is funny and foolish.
I haven't decided yet.  Part of me wants to donate them - some small child could use them as slippers.  Part of me wants to stuff them with a dog toy squeaker and toss them off to my furry friends - only so I have to watch them delight in my hand knitting and constantly remind me to be vigilant in my laundry sorting.
I'm not sure what I did to make the Gods so angry.
I'm not even sure what sacrifice to make to appease them again.
Interestingly enough, this does bode well for my 2012 knitting goals as I now feel obligated to replace these items.
I tallied up my most recently completed projects and am proud to report 6.32 miles to date.  I have less than a 1/4 mile to knit to meet my goal.  Wooo Hooo!  A new pair of bed socks alone might be enough.
Maybe, just maybe the Gods weren't angry at all.  Maybe in their own mysterious ways they were looking to encourage me toward my goals.
Maybe, just maybe... I'm delusional.

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