Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day is April 22, 2010. Here's a list of resources and patterns so knitters can get in the action too!

Official Earth Day Website

All kinds of great info on green knitting.

How to Make Your Knitting Eco-Friendly

Green Knitting and Crocheting Using Non-Traditional Materials

Knit Green: 20 Projects and Ideas for Sustainability by Joanne Seiff
Looks like a wonderful book!

Start a Green Knitting Club at Work

Plastic Bag Crafts - Lots of creative things to do with plastic bags.

Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn (Plarn)

Tutorial: How to turn plastic grocery bags into a crocheted reusable bag
Video

The Recycled-Bag Bag
Free Pattern (Photo)

Recycling Yarn
A how-to article

Recycled Container Portable Yarn Holders
A how-to article

Rag Knitting
A how-to article

33 Reusable Grocery Bags You Can Make: Free Patterns
All different methods, sewing, knitting, crocheting...

A Knitted Grocery Bag (Photo)
Free pattern


Until next time...Knit...Purl...Rat! (But use plarn!)

Geriatric Ratties

In rat years, my ratties are senior citizens. They are almost 2 years old which is the average life span of a ratso. I don't like to think about it but I can't ignore it. I am dreading the day when my knitting buddies pass to the Rainbow Bridge. I haven't decided yet if I can take the heartbreak again and adopt some new little squishies. Though I probably will as I dearly love my ratties. As I am approaching this crossroad with my guys, it is important for me to know how to take care of geriatric ratties. Here is a very good article on the care of an aging rat.

Rats live a short, fast & furious and joyful life. Instead of dwelling on the end, I believe that I will enjoy the now with my little loves and live life with them as they do - enjoying every precious moment.

Until next time...Knit...Purl...Rat!

Magnetic Needle Tin Update

I had an old tin lying around for years. It was my grandfather's and was full of old washers. It originally held crystalized ginger, which I think they ought to bring back in tins. To diverge, here's a great recipe for crystalized ginger if you are so inclined to make your own.

My research shows that this tin probably came from the early 1900's, though I can't conclusively verify that. In any event, I thought it would make a perfect magnetic needle case. It's the right size, I love how it looks and it's sentimental.

Here's how it came out. I really love it.













Tips for making your own needle tin: use fun foam as a padding for the magnet, glue it in first, it helps smooth out the magnet. Also, make sure you have the magnetic side up when you glue or your needles won't stick to it. (Yes, I glued it wrong side down first time, duh.) Make sure the tin is the size you want, think about how you will use it and where you will take it. The Altoids tin I first experimented with was too small for my embroidery scissors but it works well in my sewing room. I also made a tiny little tin to keep in my purse with a little bit of thread for emergencies, Altoids sells tiny mints in tiny tins now. And last, make sure the tin stays closed but is not too too difficult to open or your needles will go flying every time you open it.

If anyone makes one of these, I'd love to see it! Please post!

Until next time...Knit...Purl...Rat!

What Knitting With Rats Looks Like

The very rare time that a ratty is allowed free range without hazmat proofing everything near him.


Eli thinks the yoga bag is coming along nicely but a little pee on it would make it perfect.

Until next time...Knit...Purl...Rat!

Cheap, Easy to Make Magnetic Needle Case

I've had a magnetic needle case for years that I love. It's big enough to hold my needles, scissors, small stitch holders and other whatnots I might need for a project and yet it isn't toooo big to be a nuisance. I dropped it and busted a hole in it, hence the hot pink duct tape. The hinges recently broke so I have to use a rubber band to keep it closed. Poor, sad needle safe.

Being the el cheapo that I am, I decided to make a new one.
Here's what I did:

Find yourself a hinged tin you like. I used an old Altoids tin but I'm thinking of actually splurging and buying a pretty one. Though for now my needles will be minty fresh.

I took 2 rectangular fridge magnets (advertisement magnets), trimmed them to fit the tin and glued them, advertisement side down, into the top and bottom of the tin.


Whallah! New needle case!

If you don't have fridge magnets, or you want a nicer tin, you can buy these items at your local craft store or online. I looked on online at A.C. Moore. They had a variety of cheap decorative tins and tins you can decorate yourself. Here's one for $2.19. I also think an antique or vintage tin would be wonderful. Here's a beautiful one listed on Etsy that's only $1.75.
A.C. Moore also sold the magnet sheets, one sheet would be big enough to make several tins. And they sell these business card magnet sheets with an adhesive back. No glue! You could have a needle safe in seconds! I think these would make nice gifts and I can think of lots of ways to personalize them.

Until next time...Knit...Purl...Rat!