Let Your Eco-Friendly Flag Fly

Our eco-friendly house cleaning kit with handknit and crochet washcloths, recycled t-shirts, baking soda, vinegar, hemp, old toothbrush, and a little eco-flag from CosaVerde for decoration!

We're all becoming increasingly aware of the damage of pollutants in our environment.  As Dave and I travel around, we discover more and more places bombarded with trash as well as pollutants in our food and water.  Over the years, we've been making a conscious effort to recycle as much as possible and try to become responsible about what we're pouring down a drain or products we use to  clean our home.  It's an ongoing project around here.  I also realized how allergic I was to certain cleaning products so I returned to the baking soda and vinegar method I was taught as a child.  That alone saved us money, relieved my allergies, and fit into our plan of being responsible Earthlings. 

I hope you'll try making a kit for your home with recycled items and more Earth friendly products.  Creating a kit is a great way to teach your children and encourage yourself to reach for those friendly products on a daily basis.  It's difficult sometimes with all the advertising that is directed toward us. Some products aren't freindly to the environment despite their claims.  So, that being said, we are trying to do our homework, reuse, recycle, and discover new ways, (some forgotten) to stay on track.  

Here are some places to start if you need help or ideas: Natural Solutions,  Eco Mall, Ecos.com

You might also enjoy:
http://knit1fortheroad.blogspot.com/2010/03/blooming-books.html

http://knit1fortheroad.blogspot.com/2010/03/starch-those-stitches.html

Get creative. Make this project fun and enjoy being an Earthling!

Marg (happy to be on the blue planet)

H is for ecoHome: An A-Z Guide to a Healthy, Planet-Friendly Household (Eco A-Z Series)

Knitting Universal Law Thingy.

It's a busy day around here getting caught up.  It's time for a little bloggie housekeeping, too.  Some updates for you:

My new book, Knit Knitavian Style is in the design stage and moving along nicely.  This fall will be full of celebration, free giveaways and the like.  It's been a long knitting journey, the needles have been smoking and working at maximum speed.  Harvest time and finished projects require celebration.

If you're an Etsy crafter and would like to be featured here, on knit1fortheroad, please send me an email at knit1fortheroad@gmail.com.  You can also view my sidebar on the right (Do you have an Etsy shop)  for details or go directly to  The Summer of Etsy Love  for the full scoop.

The anniverary day was spent going to all our favorite places and there was cake too! Thanks for all the good wishes.  We appreciate them and you.

Dave and Margaret 2010 Anniversary Extravaganza

Thought for the day...I'm discovering daily that happy knitters gather round other happy knitters - must be one of those universal law thingys.

Love, love, knit, knit -
Marg (getting in touch with my inner happiness today, hope you are too)

Keeping it chunky

Red Heart Chunky

Do you enjoy chunky yarn as much as I do?  If so, you definitely have to check out the latest chunky yarn from RedHeart.  It's variegated, works up quickly, comes in seven delicious colors, and did I mention the price?  Only $2.99 for a 3.5 oz/100g skein.  You can create colorful projects for yourself, your household, and gifts for the holiday season. I just love the way this yarn feels and handles.  It's chunkified!

I'm thinking afghan in Coastal, and a winter hat in Leaves.  What about you?

Note:  Dave and I are taking tomorrow off for our 13th anniversary.  I'll be back in blogging mode on Tues. 

In the meantime, remember to take your knit and crochet projects along with you.  Never miss an opportunity to enjoy using your needles and hooks.

Marg (loving air-conditioning today)

Knitting Time Travel Adventures

Today, I was thinking that it might be a good day to look forward to a new knitting season just around the corner.  There's so much to choose from and so many decisions to make regarding color, texture and design that I went to some of my favorite sources and discovered new yarns, patterns, and trends to consider trying.  Put on your time travel knit or crochet caps and taking a look at the 2010 Fall/Winter knitting season ahead.

There's a new yarn coming to your LYS (local yarn store). Debbie Macomber, Rosebud, Blossom Street Collection is now available for preorder at Universal Yarn. Rosebud is a DK weight extra fine merino yarn that is machine washable and available in 14 yummy shades. It's soft, easy to knit and makes an ideal choice for Fall projects.  Think sweaters, scarves, and shawls for both adults and cute baby projects for the baby in your life.

New 2010/11 Autumn/Winter Rowan Books are available now. Ahhh! Ooooh! These books are treasures, that's all I can say.  While you're there, visit the Rowan Free Pattern Section for some great stash busters and an array of patterns for your knitting needs.  Peruse the categories and start thinking of cool days ahead.

Berroco Fall 2010 offers some new yarn and patterns to get you going on knits for the season.  Go chunky with fun colors and try their new 100% recycled yarn, Remix.  Grab a pattern book or two while you're there.

Knit Simple's Fall 2010 Issue is chock full of fun and fresh patterns, new knitting accessories and colorful patterns, easy stitches and a variety of sizes for every body type.  Rare, right? Yay, Knit Simple!

Looking for color and texture trends?  Try visiting PANTONE, Elle, and Fashion Trend Setter for ideas on how to vamp up your style and choose colors and textures to add to knitted accessories for your wardrobe.

It is now safe to remove your time travel knit gear.  I hope you've enjoyed your glimpse into Fall Knitting, 2010.

Knit what makes your heart sing...

Marg (I just love that new yarn smell)
The Best Of Rowan: Fifty Designer Patterns
RYC Rowan Classic Knitting Patterns Classic Accessories

Summer on Blossom Street

Craft Hope - the book!

Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause by Jade Sims.

I'm so excited to blog about Craft Hope:  Handmade Crafts for a Cause by Jade Sims.  Finally, crafty charity project ideas at your fingertips. A $1 from the sale of the book will be donated to Global Impact, www.charity.org.  It's a win win - we get crafty projects to make and others receive the crafty goodness.  There's a crafty project for every crafter and beautiful pictures, illustrations, easy to read instructions and templates. You'll appreciate the array of designers that contributed projects to help us share with local communities and globally.  These projects will easily motivate people, as you can see by the response to Project 8, Gulf Coast Oil Spil , and their current project. 

Encourage kid participation - yay kid power!  Children can be overwhelmed by what's happening around the world and this is a great way for them to heal and work toward making the world a better place to live.

Please go to the website and learn about Craft Hope's current projects and let the crafty handmade items inspire you.  Visit them on flckr and facebook and add their banner to your website.

Enjoy this "feel crafty good" opportunity and a chance to heal.

Marg (loving the seed ball project on pg 107)

You might also enjoy reading:

Project 8 Mail Day!

Are you having a dpn situation?

Margaret Nock © knit1fortheroad.com, 2010

Celtic Wheel of the Year Bowl from dancingpigpots on Etsy.com

Looks like it's another clear, hot Tuesday Tip Day.  Do you need some help with your double pointed needle technique?  It can be a little confusing the first time you try and a bit awkward.  Once you get the hang of it, or should I say, the knit of it, you'll be wondering why you didn't try sooner.  Here's an excellent video from knittingtipsbyjudy that breaks the process down and takes the mystery out of the whole situation. 

There's also a nice tutorial from KnittingDaily.com called Cast-on without doing the twist!. 

I hope you have an excellent resource book or fav website to turn to.  Sometimes it helps to have someone show you techniques in person.  Your local knitting groups can be so helpful in these situations.  It's okay to ask for help - pinkie swear.

Stay cool, drink plenty of water and keep your knitting close.

Marg (so happy to learn, love and live in the knitting zone)

Knitting Basics: All You Need to Know to Take Up Your Needles and Get Knitting

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Knitting

It's a knit happy world.

KNIT HAPPY FOLD 'N GO NOTIONS BOX-BLACK/GREEN

iknithappy.com is always one of my favorite stops for colorful knitting accessories.  They share the knitty word and help you show the world your love of knitting.  Whenever you wear , drink from or carry one of their items, you are sure to connect with other knitters who will spy your fabulous accessory and great sense of style from across the room.  I found a two tone cup (my weakness) at the last Knitter's Connection and have used it every day since.  It really puts a smile on my face and helps keep me motivated to knit.  Stop by and check out the latest items and start making your wish list for the holidays and birthdays.  If you don't knit, but have a friend or family member who does, I'm sure you will find the perfect accessory for them that they will treasure.  Visit the pattern section and retailers who carry their items. There are also  items for quilting, scrapbooking, and needlework.  Need more?  Connect with knit happy on Facebook.

Hope your Monday is filled with knitting and happiness.
Marg (looking for the happy in today's hectic routine)

Cappie Galore!

Urban Jungle by Vickie Howell, Free Crochet Pattern at Caron International

Made with Caron's Simply Soft, Bone, Grey Heather and Country Blue.

A few improvised crochet chemo caps, below made with LionBrand Cotton Ease and TLC Cotton Plus at RedHeart.

It's been cappie galore around here the past few days.  Do you ever find a pattern and have to make it in several colors?  Me too! 

What's on your needles and hooks?

Marg (oh so proud to be an obsessed crochet and knitting fool)

You might also like to check out
Are you a slouch? and  Roxy Looks Rockin' Knit Slouch
Crochet Slouch Crochet for a rainy day....

Simply Soft Yarn -Bone

Simply Soft Yarn: Grey Heather

Simply Soft Yarn -Country Blue

Weird, Wonderful and Wacky Wednesday

How to Knit a Cool and Breezy Button Curtain - CraftStylish - I thought this would be a really cool summer project to try.  This is the wonderful portion of the blog today.

Crocheted Cover Smart Car - Craftzine is also wonderful and a bit wacky and fun.  A totally unexpected crafty sight to behold.

Hand Knits for Young Moderns from Houseplant Picture Studio.  This one has been around for awhile, but I just had to include it in this week's weird, wonderful and wacky sightings.  This is definitely categorized as weird and wacky knit fashion pics.

Need more?  Check out one of my favorite books.

Museum of Kitschy Stitches: A Gallery of Notorious Knits

Get your weird, wonderful and wacky on today.

Marg (feeling wonderful, a bit weird, and a tad wacky)