tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202808532008-07-06T21:38:25.259-05:00Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comBlogger292125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-88425679867119385702008-07-01T09:49:00.003-05:002008-07-01T10:34:45.979-05:00

Well folks, it's time for the last (new) Knitty Gritty hoorah.  Our one-hour specia we shot last year, Knitty Gritty Knitsters, finally airs this Thursday, July 3rd at 9:30amPT/11:30amCT/12:30pmET! Whether you gather a group at your house for a little screening brunch, or Tivo it to watch on your own later, I hope you'll tune in because the special benefits one of my favorite charity

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitty-gritty-knitsters.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-88807281075972138402008-06-27T15:23:00.005-05:002008-06-27T17:11:29.087-05:00

A couple of old friends from Knitty Gritty and I have been working on this spoof video for a while, now. It's finally done, and uploaded. I hope it gives you a little Friday afternoon laugh...or at the very least, a smirk. Without further ado, here's the untrue, not really hollywood story of a knitter's rise, fall and ultimate crafty plateau. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: VH(without the 1)

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/behind-knitter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-45155787164085623592008-06-26T12:49:00.004-05:002008-06-26T13:59:22.793-05:00

Whether like me, you're desperately trying to juggle everything while the kids are out for summer (3 weeks down parents, 9 to go!), or if the heat just has you feeling large-project-non-committal--this time of year is perfect for quick, lightweight projects that help clear out your yarn stash.  My top ten list,  "S*T*A*S*H 4077", can be found in my book Knit Aidbut to quote the great Nigel from

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/project-sari-scrap-bangles.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-34855594626632491332008-06-22T19:42:00.004-05:002008-06-22T20:20:19.486-05:00

Whoever built our house in the 60's, took the term "water closet" a bit too literally when designing the master bath.  Small, does not begin to describe it.  Tiny and ugly, perhaps does...or did, rather.  Since the quickie weekend make-over we gave it a few weeks ago we now refer to it as, the "Boutique Bath". Before we started the walls were dingy white, there was a parchment shade that our cat

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/water-closet-re-do.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-32621824579458606222008-06-19T08:36:00.010-05:002008-06-19T23:38:36.892-05:00

Hey, CRL listeners! Still there? If so, you're awfully patient...and I dig you for that.We just uploaded the first episode of the 2nd season! This one was impromptu, so not on the original list, but seems apropos since I just got back from yarn market last week. Here's the scoop! Designer, Drew Emborsky Episode: Conventional (Live from TNNA!) Guest: Drew Emborsky (The Crochet Dude) Topic:

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/dont-faint-aka-new-crl-episode.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-57259497548646694252008-06-17T14:14:00.006-05:002008-06-17T15:35:28.418-05:00

My very first "official" collaboration with the amazing Tristan Howell, has hit stands!  Check out our Eco-Craft column in the current issue of KIWI Magazine for the embroidered, summer journal cover made from a recycled curtain and using my son's artwork. Join forces with your child, and make your own version.  It's a great way to turn your kiddo's masterpiece into a reusable keepsake, as well

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/son-of-stitch.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-46439764300325210772008-06-15T11:59:00.008-05:002008-06-15T14:27:58.148-05:00

Sometimes all of the stars align and this whole working-mom gig goes off without a hitch. Other times,  I find myself a day late and a dollar short on accomplishing anything even close to an ideal amount of tasks.  Preparations for yesterday's Knit Aid signing, alas, fell under the latter category. These events can be so hit or miss anyway, but without the extra effort to really promote them, a

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/wheres-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-8897236329830379062008-06-13T11:39:00.007-05:002008-06-14T11:30:23.832-05:00

Under the category of "Cutest Husband Ever", here's the e-mail mine put together to send to everyone he knows about my signing tomorrow--I didn't even ask him to do it. Maybe he should be my publicist! *Big Grin* xo, Vic P.S. Holy cow, my hair was short! Good Morning Everyone, FYI - For those of you who are or know someone who is creative, crafty, and also enjoys books; my wife Vickie will

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/book-signing-cute-hubby.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-39033238591113589502008-06-12T11:36:00.003-05:002008-06-12T11:48:56.971-05:00

Those charts & patterns have you going cross-eyed?  Before you reach for the headache meds, check out this handy little gadget I just reviewed on Craft Gossip! In other *exciting knitting news* (reminder: *= jazz hands and/or sparkle fingers), I've finished a couple of the projects for Eco-Stitch and Adrienne & I have almost finalized the project list and started ordering all kinds of

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/something-about-nothing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-19101112961188218602008-06-10T19:53:00.010-05:002008-06-10T23:09:18.412-05:00

I'm back from Columbus and in some sort of weird cosmic shift towards the positive, I didn't get stuck in the Atlanta airport in EITHER direction of my trip.  But wait, that's not all!  I also finished a beanie for my friend Steve's new son during the flight which means, I may actually get a baby gift to its recipient while he still in fact, is a baby.  Buy a lottery ticket, people! Leo's Hat

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-back-from-columbus-and-in-some-sort.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-42622191909537082112008-06-09T19:37:00.005-05:002008-06-09T20:00:00.750-05:00

Whip-up, my cover-up--featured in the Summer issue of Crochet Today magazine (out on stands this month)!   It's cool, it's cotton, it's crochet.  That's THREE Cs, people!   Happy hooking!  xo, Vickie 

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-design-in-crochet-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-43272229945940545382008-06-05T15:50:00.006-05:002008-06-06T08:22:11.671-05:00

Hey so, I have a few things going on this month that I thought I'd share.  Here goes (aka Check it!): June 6thI'll be guest on WEB's podcast, "Read, Set, Knit!" This weekend:I'll be signing copies (I think they're even free!) of Knit Aid  at TNNA in Columbus, OH.  If you're planning on being there, please stop by and say, "hi"!  Here's where I'll be:June 7th--2:30 Unicorn Booth4:00 R&M West Coast

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/this-week-in-june-news.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-68384675451927305172008-06-04T12:30:00.005-05:002008-06-04T16:46:16.342-05:00

Lifetime's new web series, CRAFTED, went live today!  Starting now, each holiday season will be webdazzled (the internet's version of "jazz hands") by 5 new craft segments hosted by 5, very different designers (yours truly, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Pattie Donham, Leah Fung, and the O'Neil Sisters)--hopefully providing a little creative somethin'-somethin' for everyone!  First up: Summer Crafts! I'll

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/crafted-on-lifetime.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-58683196377271046892008-06-04T09:23:00.002-05:002008-06-04T09:24:43.642-05:00

My favorite thing(s) to knit during the summer are__________________.

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/finish-this-sentence.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-91310239687558367572008-06-03T07:47:00.003-05:002008-06-03T09:17:48.389-05:00

I took a bit o' a hiatus from monthly free pattern offering but ladies (and gentlemen?), this feature's back! After all, with the economy the way that it is right now we could all use a little crafty break, right? Can I hear a holla'?! Ok, then. This month's pattern is a crocheted neck garland that I'm basing my Crochet 101 class on. The project calls for chain, single crochet, double

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/fleur-d-ease-free-pattern-of-month-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-14127382894562155392008-06-02T09:38:00.003-05:002008-06-02T09:58:48.302-05:00

As if my chair arse wasn't big enough already, I'll now be spending even more time sitting at my computer.  I just signed-on as the knitting editor for CraftGossip.com.  You know, 'cause I loves me the knitting and just can't get enough of talking about it! ;) Seriously though, I'm excited to be a part of such a great network of crafty scoop!  Speaking of, if you've got any, spill it!  You know

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/06/got-gossip.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-31983719832993835352008-05-30T17:03:00.005-05:002008-06-01T20:55:05.108-05:00

Hey new knitters! Need help? Just ask! xo, Vickie

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/trust-me-yarn-stores-heart-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-20106302406952993062008-05-28T14:17:00.003-05:002008-06-01T23:17:36.731-05:00

Here's another quick tip on when to find a little knitting time! xo, Vickie

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/hey-busy-knitters-got-33-seconds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-2075280583357913532008-05-25T14:30:00.004-05:002008-06-01T23:17:18.433-05:00

Clearly, the podiverse must be trying to tell me something. Even after successful testing, and no apparent audio glitches during the phone interview with Lauren & Emira, the finished interview had such mad interference on playback that it's completely unusable. So, for those of you playing along at home, that's TWO defunct interviews (this one and another with Cathie Fillian) and ZERO finished

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/technical-difficulties.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-8197720132534863322008-05-23T18:29:00.003-05:002008-06-01T23:16:48.086-05:00

Is it a bird, is it a skein?  Are you HANKering to know the difference between a ball and a cake? Well my knitting friends, watch this video and you'll no longer exclaim, "Oh balls!" when you're trying to decipher which yarn is wound which way. :)  xo, Vickie

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/oh-balls.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-67672820320158783582008-05-22T09:08:00.009-05:002008-06-01T23:16:32.246-05:00

Ok, first off, I have to come clean with the fact that I bit off more than I can chew deadline-wise and don't have CRL done for you today.  I suck, I know, but bear with me--Dave and I are going to try and pound it out over the next coupla days so it'll go up this weekend.  Stay tuned! This week, Bungalow 3 (the production company for the LifetimeTV.com crafting segments I'm hosting) descended

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/videos-podcasts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-47161877899402297562008-05-21T17:38:00.003-05:002008-06-01T23:16:16.249-05:00

Are you a beginning knitter wanting to know how to decipher between the knit & the purl side of a stockinette stitch piece. Please, if you will, let me demystify it for you. Watch and learn, yo. ;) xo, Vickie P.S. I added Twitter to the sidebar of this blog so if you're bored you can watch the multiple updates daily!

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/hey-new-knitters.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-40298159302074619142008-05-20T10:52:00.003-05:002008-06-01T23:15:55.218-05:00

I-cord may possibly have the lamest name ever (stands for idiot cord, apparently because anyone can do it) but the technique itself is both easy & super versatile.  Here's how! xoxo, Vickie

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-cord-how-to-video.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-30349710880194002952008-05-15T22:25:00.004-05:002008-06-01T23:15:37.700-05:00

What time is it?  It's CRL time!  What time is it?  It's giveaway time! (Sorry, the new Mac commercial with the cheerleaders was just on, and it stuck). WEll, we're down a phone recording device and a sound engineer but we're still aiming for launching season 2, next Thursday the 22nd---ish.  May the crafty Gods be with us!  In the meantime though, hows about a little swap?  You give CRL a little

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/crl-season-2-promo-giveaway.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20280853.post-59426223303738810732008-05-07T09:08:00.006-05:002008-06-01T23:15:16.314-05:00

Ok, this'll be a quick one because I'm grounding myself from my computer for the day...ok let's be realistic, for a few hours, to work on the crochet poncho that's due in a few days. Big mushy-gushy thanks to everyone for the kind words about Knit Aid!  I really appreciate the love.  Also, a quick holla' (yes, I may be the whitest person alive.  hush.) to those who've blogged about it so far:

Vickie Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00376004129535910853noreply@blogger.comhttp://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/05/mix.html