Knitting Admissions, and a Giveaway winner!

I'm going to make a knitting admission to you that I feel a bit silly about.
I thought I knew how to read a knitting chart, but guess what?

I didn't have a clue!

Usually I get around using charts by just using the written instructions, but these often seem to be wrong for lace stitches and goodness knows, the written directions for the Ishbel shawl made me throw up my hands in despair and put that shawl promptly into a bag in the back of my closet for a cooling off period.

So here are the basics of chart reading that I've learnt this week that hopefully will save you from making the same mistakes as me!

If you're knitting on straight needles: 

Start reading the chart at the bottom right,  and read right to left (right side rows)
 The second row is then read left to right. (wrong side row)

 If you're working in the round on double pointed or circular needles: 

 Read and work all rows right to left

Now that you know, you're all set to try out a chart! Maybe a cute Batman chart (this is for a hat) catches your fancy?

Batman Hat 

Or maybe adding this adorable Goth skull to something fancy?

Goth Skull chart 

I'm currently working on a hat using the lace pattern mentioned in this hat pattern , although I've messed it up by not realizing knitting in the round was different until too late! I still think it looks good though:)

Also, while I'm here, without further ado, the  winner of the giveaway from The Treasure Chest, is comment #102, Angie Stevens! Congrats! You'll be hearing from myself and Maria soon to get these pretty earrings in the mail for you!

♥ Craftzilla 

Yoga Pranayama : Nadi Shodhana

I was at yoga last week and we did this pranayama,  (i.e. breathing practice), Nadi Shodhana (or alternate nostril breathing) as part of our practice. Apparently the name nadi shodhana refers to the cleansing of vital channels of energy, in this case the nasal passages, hence "purification of nasal channels." (source) and has always been one of my favourites.

source

The image above shows the basic concept:

1) with your right hand, place your thumb loosely near your right nostril, and your ring finger loosely near your left nostril. 

2) Breathe in through both nostrils.

3) Place your thumb on your right nostril and exhale through your left nostril, and then inhale through your left nostril 

4) Release your thumb from your right nostril and place your ring finger on your left nostril. Exhale and then inhale through your left nostril. 

5) Repeat this sequence of holding the right nostril and exhaling/inhaling through the left nostril and holding the left nostril and exhaling/inhaling through the right nostril about 5-12 times 

(see my sources here and here for more clarification) 

Just a note that you shouldn't try to do this is your nose is stuffed up--the nostrils should be clear (though you may need to attack a box of Kleenex a bit after--my old yoga teacher used to run around while we were nostril breathing distributing us all kleenexes, which was sort of funny.)

What struck me as neat about this pranayama is that our teacher Jacqueline's mention that this pranayama could really be done anyplace, and was good for the following:

1) when you're feeling really high energy
2) when you're feeling really low energy
3) when you're feeling anxietal and scattered

Let's face it, outside of yoga, this are my three most common states of mind, so I think taking a few moments to do this when I'm feeling low energy might make all the difference!

♥ Craftzilla

Guest Post at Blue Butterfly VIntage - How to Thursday (on a Friday)

You ever had this problem? You make some cookie dough, you roll it out on the counter with your trusty rolling pin, and go to reach for the cookie cutter from your drawer of baking stuff and....it's lost/gone/disappeared/maybe you just never had one?

Find out what to do on my guest post today on the Blue Butterfly Vintage blog!


♥ Craftzilla

Guest Post : Quilt Mending 101 on Pixie Mama's blog

Hi all,

Just checking in quickly to let you know that I have a fabulous guest post up on Pixie Mama's blog on how to mend a quilt quickly and easily.

Check out the post here and see how to go from this quilt with a torn square....

 
..to fancily mended quilt!

♥ Craftzilla

First Guest Post (EVER) at Blue Butterfly Vintage: Edgar the plant gets re-potted

This is Edgar. Edgar has outgrown his pot.

Facts about Edgar: He is a 14 year old peace lily!  

Come on over to Blue Butterfly Vintage for a guest post by me today about Edgar's adventures in re-potting madness! This is a part of Blue Butterfly Vintage's new features, which include Thursday How-To's. Be sure to check out the rest of the blog while you're there, as well as Jenn's fabulous shop!


♥ Craftzilla

New Blog Button!

I just spent a bit of time learning how to make a blog button, and just wanted to share my results! You can see them on my sidebar, or grab one from here



<br><a href="http://craftzillaconquerstheworld.blogspot.com" title="Craftzilla Conquers the World"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/5891003742_2547fed401_m.jpg" width="155" height="155" alt="Craftzilla_blogbutton _155x155" /></a>


I used this tutorial from a site called Oikology . I love the definition of oikology (from their blog):

oikology: (oy-koll'-uh-jee) n. the study, or science of homemaking. From the greek oikos, "house, dwelling." 

Now that some of my little jobs are done, I'm off to possibly celebrate Canada Day with some goat/bunny/lamb petting (you're never too old for petting zoos, right?), cuddle the puppy, since he's been staring at me wanting to go out as I write this, and generally try to relax and enjoy the holiday a bit! Hopefully I'll also get to see some fireworks, since I've been dying for some lately. That's what I get for growing up in Peterborough, where there's fireworks two times a week, free concerts and an illuminated boat show. It's a lot for other places to live up to!


♥ Craftzilla