Happy Summer

Check out this link to grow your own flowers

'tis the season for another bag

Well, it might always be the season for another bag. I made this bag last night because I was worried - worried that the bag I've been embroidering with intentions to use as my summer biking book bag wouldn't get finished. This bag is what I'm envisioning the embroidered bag will be like. A long strap good for biking, light for summer, and big enough to carry the usual stuff. It's about 9.5x13 in., made from a worn out linen dress and no longer worn skirt. I love the print fabric, which also covers my kitchen stool. I used it today and I have to say we had a pleasant journey together.

weekend wrap up

It turned out to be a productive weekend. Here's a few things I completed. Yesterday I had to go into work for a little bit and while I was waiting for visitors to arrive I crocheted a little cozy for my mp3 player. That was the extent of my crocheting in public for "worldwide knit in public day". It's made with sugar and cream cotton yarn from the Ben Franklin down the street. I used one of my punch needle embroidered buttons for it. It was a good, quick way to learn decreases. I used the passport bag pattern from Fuzzy Galore, but changed the size. And now in use is a crocheted potholder/dishcloth. I thought I'd make a couple as a way to learn different stitches. I also finished up sewing a needle case for my pne needles. It's got a few spaces for needles, scissors, notebook and pen, and a see through zipper pouch for floss and needle threaders (and a magnet to hold onto those easy-to-loose threaders). I should have done it properly making a pattern or using a ruler but instead I just eye balled cutting the fabric, and so there's some imperfections. But what the hey, I'll still use it!


During the week I finished hooking one side of my circle handbag. I purchased the pattern from Nola Heidbreder, whose design has a big "concentric circles" on one side. I've marked out my changes and will do another set of 12 squares on the second side. I need to start thinking about what type of handles I want to use. The finished bag size will be about 8 by 11 inches, with a 2 inch gusseted bottom.

to market, to market...

with a cool, lavender string bag. I finished my first crochet project, and before the start of the farmers market! I'm happy with it and pleased with myself. Now to decide what will be my next project. Right now I'm thinking about a ruffle corkscrew scarf or shell stitch clutch.I'm really enjoying crochet - guess I'm hooked.

A Square a Day

I've been trying to hook a square a day on the handbag (well, maybe it's been more like a square every other day). There's something pleasing about filling in the grid, and it's easy to see the progress being made. It's been nice using just the leftover strips - in a way I have to think about color a little more.
And look at this sweet rabbit! Being petless at the moment, I can't resist cute animal shots. This is Tai Pae, my sister Jenny's new rabbit. Jenny raises angora rabbits and uses their fur for yarn. She's an amazing weaver, spinner, felter, and knitter.

Thinking of you, Dad

Remembering my father today and through the weekend with lots of love.

A Bag Full of Leftovers

I originally thought I'd hook my Kandinsky's circles handbag using primarily red wools. But then I looked at this basket of leftover and unused wool strips...

and decided it was time I empty that basket a bit. I'm now hooking the circles bag using only leftover strips. So far, it's coming along fine. The striped section will be the bottom of the bag.

the rain stopped

No rain yet today and the outdoors are looking more colorful, like this rug. This was the third hooked rug I made. It's no house in particular, just made up. The inspiration came from Paul Klee's "White House" painting and also antique hooked rugs with houses that often seem to have unusual shapes and motifs swirling round them. This rug gets tramped on daily in my living room. The photo is actually a scan of a small resized photo and so it's pretty grainy. I just can't find the cd with the original pic and I'm feeling too lazy to take a new one. I'll replace the pic when I find the original.

Preparing for the Farmers Market Season

Over the past week I've been practicing my crochet stitches and started a real project. Here's the beginnings of a string bag. Hey, have to start easy! The yarn I'm using is Samoa Mouline, a 50% cotton/50% acrylic. My town is finally going to have a farmers market-no more commuting around to get to a market. The market starts June 15. I think I'll have time to finish it by then and will soon bike to the market and shop in style. The bottom photo is the finished bag from "First Crochet Projects for Beginners" by Lesley Stanfield.

Hook of a Different Kind

Saturday I rode my bike over to The Knitting Room in Arlington to take a 2 hr. beginning crochet class. I probably shouldn't have had so much coffee before going! Anyway, here's my very beginner attempts at single and double crochet. It was easier than knitting, which I'm hopelessly bad at. This morning I experimented free form which resulted in the little scallop corkscrew. I ended up getting the "Stitch 'n Bitch" crochet book because the directions and drawings are very clear. I decided to try crochet because I wanted something I could easily take to work. My work space tends to spread with rug hooking and embroidery so they don't quite work at work. I'm going to practice a bit more and then decide on a simple project.

Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion

Over the weekend I heard Bowie songs in 3 different places while out and about. Somehow that naturally turned my mind to fashion - and I thought, "why not turn the dyed-skein-gone-bad into fashion?" Could this semi-felted neck gaiter be a next fall trend? Well, I just couldn't discard this poor skein. What can I do with it? Trying to felt it more seems like too much work. Could it be needle felted? Hmm, it could make a fashionable bird nest.

what a pretty hell this is

It was such a gorgeous day I had to spend most it outside. But now I'm paying for it with watering, itchy eyes, constricted throat and chest, etc, etc. The dry, breezy weather is making this one bad spring pollen season. It's great to see the trees coming back to life and unfurling their leaves but I'll be thankful when those pesky maples and birches are done with it!

Flowers and Vines Variation

This punchneedle embroidery version of the hooked stool is done I think. I may rearrange the vines a bit. It's done on hand-dyed wool, using 2 strands of embroidery floss. The loop pile is fairly high. I applied woven interfacing to the back of the wool in order to punch through it successfully. I think I'll make a handbag out of this; still thinking about the bag design.

Dying with Bonnie

My sister, Bonnie, had to come into Cambridge Saturday to drop off one of her pieces of art at the Cambridge Art Association for their upcoming National Prize Show in May. Afterwards she came to visit and we dyed some of her wool yarn. One skein came out a brilliant terra cotta and the other a yellowy-gold. Unfortunately we weren't paying attention when rinsing out the gold and it started to felt! Cascade 220 yarn really is a great felting yarn. Later, I tried out some Pro-chem dyes I got. I used a new washfast acid dye color, golden pear which I used on a natural wool. I love it - mottled some and very pear-like. I also tried a new one shot dye, Autumn, on a dark oatmeal wool. It's nice, a bit darker than I wanted. And definitely not as delicious as the homemade pumpkin bread Bonnie gave me! I also got to see in person many of her beautiful perfectly knitted pieces that I covet. You can see them for yourself on her blog, Towards the Blue Peninsula, in the sidebar.

Cover Up

Another punchneedle embroidery gets a permanent home. The cat gets to grace this address book cover. This was quick and easy to put together!

Spokes and more spokes

On the left is the punchneedle embroidery sample I made for the spokes stool. It's 2 in x2 in, worked with single strands of embroidery floss. I think I'll use it on the front of a needle case I have been thinking about making. The other photo is the hooked rug stool as it stands so far, based on the pne sample. Have a super weekend, and a heartfelt thank you to each of you for your extremely nice comments!

Apron

So what did I end up doing with the turnip embroidery? It became decoration for the pocket of this apron I made. The patterned material is from a (Gap I think!) shirt I stopped wearing because it shrank too much. And as you can see, I added a little clip for hooking scissors and such on. Almost too crafty a project for me!

Color Sandwich

Sunday morning I did some dying. I'm trying to use up most of my Cushing's dyes before getting some Pro-Chem dyes. These are Old Gold, Dark Green, and Terra Cotta dyes straight up - no dye recipes used this time. Now, time to run the gold through the cutter and start hooking.

Put Yer Feets Up Thursdays

Week 9:
It's a beautiful Spring day so I'm posting the finished Flowers and Vines stool. I'm thinking on working this design using pn embroidery on some hand-dyed wool - and maybe another hooked stool using different colors.

Wrap Up

I finished up the embroidered bracelet and I'm semi-happy with it. I trimmed the bracelet and applied glue to its edge. I couldn't find silk ribbon locally so used sanmari ribbon instead that I'm quite pleased with. Attaching the ribbon to the band with Wonder Under worked well. Here's what I don't like: There's not enough of an edge to cover up the tiny white material edge that peeks through. And, something about it reminds me of high school. Still, I think I'll try a 2 inch cuff using more delicate-thinner threads.