The Details:

• Challenge will run from September 1st to November 1st.
• Post your finished entry in the Crafty Detour Ravelry Group or on the Challenge page. Be sure to mark it as an entry by using the following form:
  • Name:
  • New Technique Learned:
  • Outcome: (put text here: why did you want to learn this? did you have fun? post a picture)
• Prizes will be randomly drawn after the deadline.
• The more participants, the more prizes that will be available.
• Possible prize contents: yarn, notions, books, fiber, etc.
• The point of this is to challenge YOURSELF to learn something new and to HAVE FUN!

Again, feel free to post your progress/discussions/pleas for help/help for others in either of the two locations linked above. In Ravelry I will make a separate discussion thread and final entry thread.

Dear Ida,

With all this talk of going back to school, I think now is the time to reveal our latest project: Back to School CHALLENGE!

Copied from the details page:

Ida,

I know what you mean about slacking off. It must be this time of year, because I have fallen woefully behind in just about every project.

Good news, CSI is still on track. I’m glad to have had a head start, I’m definitely seeing the benefits now! Other projects in the pipeline have been languishing as well.

Ideas seem to spring up in the least expected places. I think it has to do with relaxation. When you step away from problems, your brain continues the process. (I could digress into a whole post on parallel processing and neural nets, but I won’t ) For me, ideas come best in the morning when I still feel too tired to do any real thinking. That usually means in the shower or on my commute to work.

Maybe it happens at this time of year because we are trying to hang onto the last threads of summer. School is starting, and with that comes busy times like Holiday knitting!

Have you started Holiday knitting? Is it too soon to ask? I can image a round of grumbles at the thought. I’m not quite ready, but I am ready for AUTUMN! I’ve had enough of the heat for one year, bring on the snow!

Love,

Heather

Let’s see . . .
I-d-a.
Ding, ding, ding. And we have a winner.

I have been seriously slacking off lately. Work, knitting . . . it doesn’t seem to matter. Of course, this means I’m way behind on things, including a rush editing job for a high-profile author. Oy.

So what have I been doing? Watching TV of course. But, I have been working while watching television. Seriously. No really, seriously. But that’s not all. I’ve been coming up with new ideas. The other night, just as I was nodding off to sleep way too late, I got an idea. I didn’t get up to write it down, because I was already getting to bed much later than I wanted. I was also sure I’d remember in the morning. And this time I was right. I did remember.

That got me to thinking about ideas. I seem to get most of what I consider my best ideas when I’m just falling asleep, sitting on the toilet (oops, should have probably given you a TMI alert), or driving.

When do you get your most creative/best ideas?

Ida

Private investigators Ida and Heather, along with help by detectives Sairy and Alynxia have snagged another crafty sock criminal!

As previously mentioned, the patterns will be available two ways: single downloads or in e-book form. If you choose to purchase the e-book, you will be notified when new patterns are added for you to download.

NOTE: you do NOT have to be a Ravelry member to purchase. Although, we do use Ravelry as our storefront, non-members can view and purchase the patterns. Membership is required if you want to see other people’s projects, search the forums etc. Crafty Detour has a group there where we can all share our projects, ask questions, and otherwise have fun!

Click HERE to go to the CSI detail page.

Check out the single pattern HERE. Purchase the single pattern for $3USD

or

Check out the e-book HERE. Purchase the entire e-book for $20USD

Hi Heather,
I picked the winners–well, the random number generator did–for the Egg-stra sock kits on The Evolving Sock Knitter. I’m happy that so many commented for a chance to win. But more important, I was really touched by the well wishes for my sister-in-law, who has ovarian cancer. I hope the sock kits raise lots of money to fit this disease.

I FINALLY got my issue of Interweave Knits today. Personally, I think your project should have gotten a bigger picture, but I may be prejudiced. Anyway, congratulations again. I’m sure it’s just the first in a slew of published patterns for you.

Ida

Hi Heather,
Hmm, I seem to have fallen behind in posts. So, here’s a twofer.
Oh, I know what you mean about those missing socks. At least I used to. I only own 1 pair of non handknit socks, and I always handwash my handknit socks. Back in the days when I wore store-bought socks, I was always coming up with missing socks. And it didn’t matter what dryer I used. I gave serious thought to wearing mismatched socks, but never went through with it.
The funny thing is that last year I edited a children’s book about what happens to those missing thoughts. It seems as though there is a secret world whose creatures come to ours in the night to collect socks. Why? Because no one in their world knows how to knit. Seriously.
As for cuffs, I admit that I tend to fall back on my old tried and trues twisted rib and 2 x 2 rib. I like the twisted because it adds interest to my usual vanilla socks. I really like the 2 x 2 because it’s really elastic, and I need the give. When I’m doing a socklette or a really informal sock, I like the rolled hem. I love the casualness of it, and it’s really comfortable, especially in a socklette.
I’ve been working on a sock with a picot edge, but like most of my design projects of late, it’s been on the back burner. I love the picot edging on your design.

Dear Ida,

I like experimenting with various heels and toes. In sock knitting cuffs often get overlooked. Most socks are knit with some sort of ribbing at the cuff. This is practical, as ribbing helps keep the sock from falling down. However, it can also be boring!

One of my favorite cuffs is the picot. It’s simple to do and I find that the double layer of fabric hugs my leg enough to keep my sock up. Plus, it’s super cute!

Here it is as a preview to the next CSI pattern!

What is your favorite type of cuff treatment?

Love,

Heather

Ida,

Thank you so much for posting a link to your contest. I think it’s wonderful that you are offering one of these very awesome kits as a prize. I’m sure everyone knows someone that has been affected by cancer in some way. It’s a beautiful sock, and a great cause to support. I love seeing big companies do their part for charity as well.

~*~

Speaking of socks…do you ever wonder what happens to them in the dryer? I swear, every time I do a load of whites, my husband ends up with one less sock. I’m not sure why, but sometimes they just seem to disappear! The hand knits seem to be safe, mainly because I had wash them. It must be something with the dryer!

- Heather

My knitting seems to be out to get me. I swear my projects get together and discuss how they can derail me. Between them and the conspiratorial cats, I have no chance.

Oh, I want to let you and everyone else know there’s a new contest on The Evolving Sock Knitter. Webs and Skacel have joined forces and created a sock kit. Proceeds will go to fighting ovarian cancer. I bought 2 kits so I could knit one and give the other away on the blog. The sock is gorgeous, and what a wonderful cause.

Ida