this is not a journal title

Went with Zandperl at Ravelry also. Add me or whatever it is you do there.

If I'm not working from a pattern, how do I know how much yarn to get to make a certain item?

I want to knit a hat. I bought circular needles (size 5, 16") and some yarn (100g) - the person at the yarn store suggested how much of it and what size needles to fit it. She also said something about 4.5 stitches per inch I think, but I don't know how to knit to a specific gauge.

I am under the impression that I should start my knitting at the bottom of the hat and work my way to the top, doing slip stitches along the way. How do I know how many stitches to cast on? How do I know how often to do slip stitches? I'd rather not work directly from a pattern, as I tend to get bored doing that, I want more of general guidelines to help me learn to knit things w/o a pattern.

OMG, I finally "get" knitting! Thanks so much to soapfaerie and the_xtina who made it possible! If soapfaerie hadn't sent me the "ingredients," I would've sat on my @$$ forever before getting started on this. And the_xtina, one thing that KnittingHelp.com made clear to me through it's many videos on how to do the exact same thing, is that there really ARE many ways to do each thing. By comparing the "suggested" video with the book soapfaerie sent me, I was able to put together a 3-D image in my head of which string is going where, and realized that I didn't have to hold the string like either was showing me and could instead do it the way I was used to doing for macrame (friendship bracelets) with only very minor modifications, so what looked to me (in my previous attempts at knitting) like a Gordian knot of sixteen steps for each individual stitch, is now just one or two steps!

Next step: learn purl. :-P Maybe I'll change my mind about the ease of this now... But thanks so much guys!

Edit: OMG, purl is so much harder! Not impossible, but significantly more difficult. I think it'll take me a few rows to feel comfortable with this one. Then I'll get to switch it up! I want to learn cables and braids - I'm going to need to buy more stuff for that.

Another one! Put up a few days ago, it's quite sparkly. Unfortunately, the main photo is cropped funny when Etsy does a thumbnail, but I don't feel like fixing it.

This elegant green necklace has a dichroic glass centerpiece set off by antique green seed beads (~1940's) and plastic light green square beads with flower patterns. Beads are strung on a 22" nylon coated steel wire, with a metal toggle clasp. The combination of old (recycling at its finest!) and new (dichroic beads involve an internal thin film surface) is sure to accent any outfit and draw compliments.

Free shipping is via USPS First Class mail.

It's listed for $20. What do y'all think of the prices I'm putthing these things at?

I posted a pink necklace I made while home w/ my parents a few days ago.

My recent time-waster has been doing craftsy things, and I just started posting them on my Etsy shop. There's only a few up there currently; I've made a bunch more (jewelry and scarves) but I haven't photographed them appropriately.

I bought a couple yards of cotton flannel to play with. When the woman was measuring and cutting them for me she asked me what I was making, and I told her I wasn't sure how much I'd need, so I over estimated. She pointed out that was a good idea so I could make the pattern line up on seams (big whoop for what I'm making), and to account for shrinkage.

My question is twofold: (1) How much is it going to shrink? (2) Should I prewash the fabric?

It's a really old beast that I got from my Mom, weighs a ton or two. It's a Morse Super Dial (if I'm reading the labels correctly). I *have* successfully used it in the past, to make a cute jumper, but it was oh, some 9 years ago and immediatley after Mom had explained it to me. :-P

I figured out how to get the thread onto the bobbin, the bobbin into the case, and the case locked into the lower unit. I'm not sure where the thread goes in the case though, and if it's supposed to come out near the needle or something. I'm also not sure how to run the top thread though the seven billion little loops. I did figure out how to lift the foot, I'm not sure if the fabric goes in face up or down (not that fleece always has a right side, but sometimes it does), and whether it pulls towards me or pushes away.

I'm currently reading through the How Stuff Works article on sewing machines, but if anyone has another reference or guide or advice, it'd be appreciated.

Man, I told you I'm not the handiest person on the world, and I meant it. :-P You'd think, being formerly artsy and forever a geek I would be, but... *shrug*