Ida,

It has been a long time but Julia and I finally met up and I presented her with her prize! (I thought this was going to be easy since we live in the same town, however it proved harder than I had expected.)

I thought since the challenge was to learn something new, this would be the perfect book as it aims to expand the knitter’s experience with more advanced skills.

Along with this book (but hidden in the bag), she also received three skeins of Cascade 220 in various colors, one skein of Dream In Color Smooshy, one skein of Socks That Rock, and a set of stitchmarkers made by yours truly.

Congrats to Julia and may we all continue to challenge ourselves to explore new crafty pursuits!

-Heather

Since September 1st Crafty Detour posted a challenge to all you knitters/spinners/crocheters/dyers to learn something new. Three people entered the final drawing:

1. Jen learned to spin
2. Karen learned to dye with mushrooms
3. Julia learned to knit in the round

You can see their posts on the Crafty Detour group on Ravelry.

Congrats to all three of you! You have risen to  the challenge and have been rewarded with new knowledge.

Special congratulations go to Julia who was drawn as the winner of a special prize package!

Julia, we will send you a package full of yummy yarns and other goodies! Congrats and thanks to all that participated!

If you didn’t finish by the deadline, no worries, keep learning, keep challenging yourself to fulfill your crafty goals.

-Heather & Ida

Dear Ida,

Well, as much fun as I thought the Back to School Challenge would be, I wasn’t able to finish my project in time! While I did learn knitting with beads, I really was hoping to have a pattern to release around the deadline.

So, I think we should extend the deadline! How’s another month sound to you?

New Back to School Challenge deadline: December 1st 2010.

Other than this Halloween treat, I’m slowing starting to catch up on my October work. It seemed like the month flew by, but at the same time it contained three months worth of activities, projects and work.

Here’s hoping that November is a tad more quiet – I might even be able to get ahead on some projects! What a novel idea!

Love,

Heather

Just a reminder that there is still time to enter the Crafty Detour Back to School CHALLENGE! The deadline is November 1st and so far only two people have posted finished challenge entries. Come on crafty divas and dudes! Show us what fun new things you are learning!

Remember there will be a random drawing for prizes!

Links:
More Info
Ravelry Discussion Thread
Ravelry Finished Entries Thread

Dear Ida,

Wow, I feel so behind. For the last week I’ve had the worst sinus infection and just feel so disconnected with the world.

But I did choose a project for the Crafty Detour Challenge! I decided to try knitting with beads. I have never done this before and always think it’s pretty. I couldn’t quite find the right pattern, so I think I’m going to attempt to make my own.

Here is my yarn and beads…destined to become a pair of fingerless mitts.

A couple of people have joined the Ravelry challenge discussion; it’s so good to see people taking on new techniques!

-Heather

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!

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