pods and art

My art project, almost finished, uses felt pods on a field of mohair curlylocks.  The whole concept will be revealed in a future post, but for now you can get a sneak peek.  I think it is coming along nicely and you can see in the first photo a section that is missing pods and locks.  I have only those to make now.

 The project is for a fibre exhibit hosted by the City of St. Catharines this year, and is a result of a call for fibre art entries. I will be presenting the project via photos and email within two weeks, and should know if it will be part of the exhibit by mid March.  Fingers crossed.  I still have to count the number of pods, but it felt (pun intended) like an endless task making these things for the last four months!

it's been a while...

I realized I missed January completely!  I have a good reason.  January welcomed my new grand-baby into our lives.  Here she is wearing the superwash merino cocoon, that I made so many months ago.  (not the best photo of baby, but a nice one of the cocoon!)

Here's a nice one of her gray-blue eyes and a headband that I made.

 I have also hosted two workshops in my felting studio.  They are so fun.  Email me if you would like to be notified of future workshops.

 AND, I began a wonderful relationship with a charming shop in Jordan Village.  Pamela's now carries my nunofelt scarves, shawls and coats.  The rust coloured coat below was featured in the Fashion Show on the Ice Wine Weekend in January.

I have been knitting as well, but not as much and mostly socks and simple shawls.  No new patterns for a bit.  I will be showing a felt Art piece shortly, hoping to place it into a fibre art gallery soon.

Hand Cabled Collar

Here's a relatively quick knit, with a huge cable framing your neck, and no cable needles required!  We worked hard with all our Christmas knitting... it is time for a treat for YOU.  This one should come from your stash, less than 100 grams of worsted weight yarn.   Everyone has some of that!

Hand Cabled Collar

Yarn:  Patons Classic Wool (100 gram, 210 yards worsted weight – less than one ball for this collar)

Needles:  4.5mm( US 7)

2 stitch markers, darning needle, and big button

Gauge: 20 sts = 4 inches (no worries if not exact… it’s a scarf)

Cast on 40 sts.

Row One: knit15, place marker, knit 10, place marker, knit 15

Row two: knit 15, slip marker, purl 10, slip marker, knit 15

Row three: knit 40, slipping markers.

Row four: same as two

Row five: knit 15, remove marker, cast off ten stitches, remove marker, knit 15

Row six: knit 15, turn and cast on 10 (see photos until you get the hang of this), careful not to twist stitches, turn and connect to other side by knitting last 15.

REPEAT rows One to six , until about 22 inches have been worked, ENDING WITH ROW FOUR. Now cast off all stitches.

 flip to cast on.....

 flip back to continue the row....

 Hand cabling:  Looking at the detailed photos, start at the cast on edge, make a loop out of the bottom “10 stitch ladder”.   From underneath, grab ladder 2 and bring it up and through the loop, and to the front, as the new loop.  Keep bringing the ladder above, through from the back, up into the loop, to create a new loop (using your finger like a huge crochet hook!) **** see the series of photos below****

When you get the last ladder at the top up into the last loop, use yarn and a darning needle to tack it permanently as the last loop, (and this will be the loop that can go over a big button, that you can stitch on the other end to close the cowl.)

 the loop.....

 bringing ladder 2 up through first loop

 see?  there it is....

 climbing the ladder...

to the top......

 secure....

 button....

 me

Hat for your Sock Monkey?

I was invited to a local hockey game, and it was "teddy bear toss" night.  I wondered how my classic sock monkey would look with a teddy bear hat.... so here he is.  I liked it so much, I thought you would too, so here is the fast knit pattern!  For any of you that do not have a sock monkey, you can make that too.  There are lots of websites with patterns and instructions (and videos?), but if you want to make one here is the link to my own instruction page!  Just NOTE that the monkey here is a golf club cover, so omit the black sock lining, and stuff fully and close at the bottom.

Teddy Bear Hat for your sock monkey

Yarn, chunky-weight  bear coloured yarn (less than ¼ of a ball, left over bit will do)

                Bit of cream yarn for muzzle.  Bit of black for eyes and nose.

Needles: 5mm (US 8) double point needles  (work in round for hat, and use as straights for small ears and muzzle.)

Gauge:  18 sts = 4 inches.  ( I intentionally used smaller needles, so that the hat would be quite firm, thus the gauge is a bit tighter than the chunky yarn is intended)

Cast on 21, dividing evenly around three double point needles.  Join carefully and knit in the round for 10 rows. 

Decrease row 1: on first needle:    knit one ,[ knit 2 together,  knit 1] twice .   Repeat this for other two needles.  (5 sts on each needle now)

Next row: knit all

Decrease row 2:  on first needle:     Knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together.   Repeat on other two needles. (3 sts on each needle now)

Last row: knit all.

Cut off yarn leaving 9 inches, and with a big needle, thread the tail of yarn through the last 9 stitches, gather and secure the end yarn.

Ears (make 2):    Leaving a 9 inch yarn tail, Cast on 4 sts.   Row 1: Increase 1 stitch at each end or row (6 sts)

Work 4 rows in Garter Stitch (knit every row)

Row 6: Knit 2 together, knit 2, knit 2 together.

Row 7: knit 2 together, knit 2 together, pass first stitch over second (cast off) and finish cast off.  Darn in the end, leaving the cast on tail of yarn to darn into place on the hat.

Muzzle:  With cream color yarn, knit the ear pattern exactly (just do one), and sew it into place on the hat.  I placed a small bit of loose chunky yarn underneath the muzzle to puff it up just a bit.

Details:  With black yarn (I used sock yarn), Make french knot eyes and overcast satin stitch nose.

 and here is a close up, so you can see the placements of the muzzle and embroidery.

I

Christmas Market... my First Craft Show.

I am ready.  All the work from the last six months have produced enough inventory for my first craft show!  I will be at the Christmas Market, at Ridley College, St. Catharines, ON, on Friday December 6.  Open to the public, free admission, 2 - 7pm.
I hope to see some of my local readers there... 

 I have sock monkeys and monsters, hats, purses, bags, felted soaps, dryer balls....

 large bags, stockings, one cool large stuffed felted monster, and a zebra chair.....

and lots of small, and large scarves, in wool felt and nuno-felt featuring vintage silks.
All priced from $5 to $80.
There will also be a few coats, for purchase or samples for custom felting...

Please come and see me.  But if you cannot, you can also shop at my etsy site.  Link is above right.

Start your Christmas Knitting!!!

This post is to remind you to start your Christmas Knitting NOW!  (really you should already be well underway on your holiday knitting, having planned your list and shopped for yarn, and left yourself LOTS of time, to keep your stress at bay)

For those new to my blog, your best bets for quick and successful knitting projects are:

For the men, and sporty women in your life, you HAVE to make one or more WOOD HOODS.

For the baby....  the quick knit Bib.

 For the gals in your life, young and older, the Infinity Hooded Cowl.  Very trendy and a quick knit!


Everyone needs socks, and this one is a classic....  the Best Sock Pattern Ever






And I am always surprised that I have not had much feedback about this wonderful, fun pattern.... a treat for anyone, and truly Canadian.  My Inukshuk.  Surprisingly easy and inexpensive if you use your stash. 





So get started.  There is a pattern for everyone on your list.  Happy Holiday Knitting!

Felting, monkeys and monsters

You may have noticed the absence of postings.  I have been so busy working on cool stuff, that I have neglected to talk about the cool stuff!  I have created a new felted item, the Christmas stocking, and have made several new nuno felt shawls.

 I have dressed some monkeys in felt scarves...

 and made a split personalitly monster, out of the coolest socks in pink, purple and yellow!

 Some of my new (vintage) sari silk has hand embroidery work.  wow

 and this one is just cute.

The reason I have been working this pace, is that I will be a vendor at the Christmas Market at Ridley College.  It is open to the public and takes place Dec 6 (friday) from 2 - 7pm.  I will post more about that later, but maybe save the date if you are in the Niagara area?!?  If not, these items are currently sitting on my Etsy site, and I would be happy to ship them anywhere....  cheers, chris