Moving...

The time has come - the comments errors have pushed me to a place where I know that Blogger just isn't going to work for me. I'm packing my bags and strolling over to Wordpress. Of course, with this move, I'm making the title a little more generic to yarn so that I can better order everything around and not feel bad when my posts are dripping with other yarn crafts - not just crochet.

I know I know - my blog. But as particular as I am - I think its just best.

I will be doing all my main posts over on the other site (iyarny.wordpress.com). I will come here occassionally with a reminder post to go read the other site - mostly when I post new patterns.

I need to spend a large amount of time reaching out to third party pages, mostly pattern directories, so have them remove the old link and add the new. I also need to adjust the new site visually to be more "me" and transfer all my patterns to PDF files.

It is going to be a HUGE effort and I hope you choose to pop over to the new site and follow.

2014 State Fair: Third Place

Thumbs Up to Third Place at this year's State Fair!

Taking a Break

It has been quite a bit since my last blog. Honestly - I was a bit scared to even look so I figured .. don't. All I know is that its been entirely too long and I owed an explanation, even if relatively enigmatic.

I will not be blogging as regularly as I had at the beginning of the year. It is hard for me to admit that I basically have just broken off more than I can chew. Between work, marriage, family, actually crocheting/knitting, trying to get my weight in check, health, (and the list goes on and on) - I really just don't have time.

Part of my identified issue is that I really made this blog too specific - its crochet only, or at least I try to keep it that way most of the time. Right now, the things in my life are not crochet related so I don't really feel I can just slap it down into cyberspace - specifically THIS cyberspace.

On top of that I'm a bit miffed with Google as a whole. First - the reader is being taken away although I did get some feedback that Feedly seems to be good. I will most likely be switching to that. BUT in addition to that, Google Adsense has accused me of "cheating their system" and removed me from the Adsense program. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but it bummed me out because 1) I'm not and 2) its punishment for getting more views and promoting my site locally. It is not the primary reason I blogged but I admit, it is the primary reason I put the majority of my patterns up for free because I knew that I would get some revenue from them to pay for my time and it wouldn't have to come from the reader base.

But - shame on me, eh?

I am not saying I will never return to blogging. I enjoy putting pen to paper (virtually) and know that I'll return soon enough - but perhaps I'll give my site a whole big make-over and make it more generalized so I don't feel so bound to any single topic (or two).

Moogly Feature

Tamara from Moogly Blog dropped me a line on my 1 Skein Pet Bed Pattern to let me know it was featured as part of a roundup for 10 items for the Cat Lover.

Being that I'm an all around animal lover, I really found some of these patterns something I'd be very interested in making, especially the cat scarf.

I just wanted to first give Tamara a huge "THANK YOU" for featuring my pattern as one within the collection. I really do appreciate this sort of acknowledgement from other bloggers, crocheters, and artists. And on top of that, I'm glad she pointed out that it really is a great item for donation to animal shelters.

So, please - if you have not been to the Moogly Blog before, I encourage you to go check it out.

Thanks again, Tamara!

"Crochet Saved My Life" - get your free kindle copy!

You have no idea how excited I got this morning when sat down for my "morning blog read" before work and saw that Kathryn of Crochet Concupiscence had posted that I had a chance to get a copy of her newest book, Crochet Saved My Life, for free on Kindle.

Welllllll, Lucky me, folks! I own a kindle!

State Fair Results

I thought I would take a quick moment to let you all know that the beast-ghan won first place in its category! I took one item in one category and won. That is SO exciting for me!

Honestly, I didn't think I'd win because the sheer volume and the afghan category is pretty darn popular - especially the crocheted category. I did not win overall best crochet or knitted item, but that's ok! The woman who won actually had several items she won on so who knows how many total she brought to the fair. It gives me something to shoot for next year!

Crochet for Men eBook

How untimely can one person be? I'm not quite sure but I keep surprising myself each and every day *laughs* in the last 24 hours, I have thought of three different things I knew I wanted to blog about and never did... and they are things that are done and passed... but ya know, I'm going to share them anyway.

Today's post is something I was VERY excited about - I was featured in an ebook!

Losing a Charitable Cause

I received an email notification just the other day from the Special Olympic Scarf project. For those of you who know me, you know I make scarves and send them off for this charity - I have done it a couple times and enjoy it. Scarves are one of my more favorite things to make and couple that with a good cause - and it is always an enjoyable crochet project.

I have to admit, I was excited when I saw the post because I thought I was going to find out the new colors... but that wasn't the case.

Sadly, this notification contained bad news for me (and apparently thousands of others) - there would be no 2013 scarf project. Apparently, the response was so great from the previous year that there is an abundance of scarves that will be reused for the 2013 Special Olympics.

I suppose the news isn't all bad though - there are that many people crafting for the cause. That many people care... so many in fact that in one year they gathered enough scarves to last two years.

But I still feel this place in my heart - a place that is now empty. This project was a guarantee for me, so I guess I need to replace it with another.

Do you have any favorite charities that specifically request scarves? Let me know in the comments!

To read the entire post, visit http://scarvesforspecialolympics.org/

Adding Links

I don't know if this is news worthy or not for the blog, but I have decided that it may be of interest to a few. I have decided to go back and add links to common post types or my blog projects. Some people may be new to the series and rather than searching for the posts, they can use the previous post link to read the previous in the series or the Project Introduction link to take you back to the beginning to read them in order.

Right now I have added these links to the bottom of the project series 12 for 12 Charitable Crochet and my Remembering Grandma series. I am going to try to get them onto my Year of Projects series (and get that going again... can't believe I've missed so many!) and some of the older series that I have done like the ABCs of Crochet.

Hopefully you all will find some use in this and let me know if there is anything else I can do with this new functionality to my posts.

As always, thank you for reading
Cris

iYarny Annoucement

Good morning, blog readers!

I have a couple exciting announcements of all those interested in joining the iYarny virtual yarn group (linked above).

First - we have a new moderator! Peggy, or Little Lambs Crochet, has taken on the responsibility of being a moderator in the iYarny chat group and Ravelry group. She is looking at her schedule now and will be posting a meet-up time soon to expand the times we already have for iYarny....

iYarny: New Moderator and Host

I would like to take a quick moment to welcome Kathryn of Crochet Concupiscence as moderator to the iYarny group (Ravelry group included). Kathryn is very excited to be able to host an iYarny meet-up on Tuesdays. Be sure to stop into iYarny during unscheduled times as you never know who you will find!

Thank you, Kathryn, for taking on the responsibilities associated to iYarny. I appreciate all you do for the crochet community.

Crochet Jobs: A Request by Crochet Concupiscence

Hello, Crochet Lovers!

I hope you are all having a fantastic Friday morning. While it is windy and cold here, I am thankful I did not have to drive to work in the snow and that myself and my family have our health.

But this post isn't about anything personal, oh no - it is about crochet. More specifically - Crochet jobs!

Recycled Into Yarn: CAL/KAL to begin

The newly developed recycled yarn blog has announced they are to be hosting a knit/crochet-a-long using recycled materials. The first post on this topic has been made here.

If this is something that you are interested in participating, hop over to the post (using the link provided above) to put your vote in. Right now all interested participants are getting to choose if it is a CAL or a KAL and what material will be used.

I put my vote in - will you?

Recycled Into Yarn

My Plarn Pot Scrubber

Us yarnies often sit down with a skein or ball of yarn to create - but what else can we create with? Are you interested in helping to save our environment through upcycling of products into yarn followed by the creation of a useful item?

A new website has launched and I am proud to have some patterns listed among the many creative patterns. The website, called Recycled Into Yarn, www.recycledn2yarn.com, is a growing directory of patterns and instructionals from various individuals looking outside the box and as a consequence, helping the environment.

I look forward to seeing how this website directory grows and what others are coming up with that I can try too!

Be sure to check out the website, browse the directory, and subscribe to the blog.

iYarny Ravelry Group

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a fantastic Saturday.

I'm taking a quick moment to announce a new Ravelry group designed to be a support forum to iYarny. Obviously, you have to be a member of Ravelry to join the forum, but that shouldn't too bad because membership is free and of course, you get the bonus of using the website for other forum interactions, patterns, organizing stash, and a host of other yarn related fun.

An Interview on Crochet Concupiscence

I am pleased to announce that I was interviewed by Kathryn over at Crochet Concupiscence (Have I mentioned how much I love that website?). Kathryn was interested in the new iYarny group I announced last week and shot me a few questions. Interested in reading the interview: click here!

12 for 12 Charity Project

12 for 12 Charitable Giving Project
As many of you could figure, I am a huge fan of the blog and website Crochet Concupiscence. Kathryn is very knowledgable in crochet and crochet happenings and is always willing to share what she knows with the rest of the crochet community. If you haven't already, I highly suggest you follow her blog.

Another fun fact many of you are aware of is that I am a major supporter of charitable giving. Crochet is one of those ways that one can create and donate to local organizations in need or even those halfway across the world thanks to the power of the postal service.

Announcing: iYarny

First, my apologies as this is going to be a quick, photoless blog - but that's ok because I have some really exciting news.

Today I would like to announce the addition of iYarny to my blog.

CwC Changes

I have decided to make a few changes to the blog. Now that I have finished my Master's in Public Health, I should have some more time for the blog. One of the big changes is that on the main page of my blog, you will see that longer posts (anything longer than two paragraphs) will have a nice little "Read More..." link under the text.

Go ahead and give it a practice click to continue reading about changes to the blog.

Most Organized Blogger... ME?!?!?!

I am a humbled humbled blogger.

Last night I opened up my Google Reader to go through the many wonderful folks that I follow when I came across a post by Crochet Concupiscence (Kathryn). You see, every day in December Kathryn is giving away something. And every day in December she is giving away a blog award in various categories.