'White Christmas'(!) Scarf and Custom Shoelaces

Pinning my knitted scarf to an interlocking foam floor mat...

                                                      ...and stitching the ends together...

                                                           ...to form an infinity scarf!

                                                             My beautiful friend, Susan...

                                        ...modeling the two ways to wear her Christmas scarf! :)

                                           I knitted a long rectangle from synthetic boucle yarn...

                                             ...then stitched it together to form an infinity scarf.

                                 (Although it looks white, it's actually a very pale lavender in color!)

                                         
                                          ************************************************************

                                               Folding one-and-a-half-inch bias tape in half...

                                                            ...and sewing it together...

                                                     ...to produce custom shoelaces! :)

                                        Following this wonderful video tutorial...

                                     ...I fashioned lengths of continuous bias tape (for a sewing project)...

                                       ...then used the leftover tape to craft custom shoelaces!

                                       Next time: I'll show you the sewing project that started it all. :)

                                 

                                           

'Mr. Green' Scarf (Scarf Blocking)

Using interlocking foam floor mats...

                                                   ...and short straight pins with large heads...

                                                   ...I laid out my dampened, knitted scarf...

                                                        ...and began pinning it into place.

 
                                I used two pieces of easily removable, 'painter's tape' as an edge guide...

                                                  ...to keep the long sides straight and even.

                                                                 The finished scarf...

                                       ...made with self-striping Mushishi wool-and-silk blend yarn.

                                                             My neighbor, Mr. Green...

                                                 ...happily modeling his new Christmas scarf!

                                                   Next time: another knitted Christmas scarf!

Experimental Knitted Projects

 I knitted a long rectangle...

                                                              ...from hairy synthetic yarn...

                                      

                                                  ...stitched it together at the short ends...

                                                      ...and a narrow infinity scarf was born!

                                                          Using silk yarn in two colors...                                                            

                                         ...I tried to puzzle out how to change colors, mid-project...

                                          ...but gave up when the piece was only washcloth sized!

                                              (P.S. Tying knots may not be the best route!)  :)

                                                         Using yarn made with 94% wool...

                                      ...but blended with some sort of stretchy, synthetic fibers...

                                      

                                                       ...I fashioned another infinity scarf.

                                               It won't surprise any of my regular readers...

                                       ...that the way I approach my nascent knitting projects...

                     ...is just as experimental a method as the one I used when I was a beginning feltmaker! :)

                                   Using yarns of different materials and thicknesses from my stash...

                                                       ...and using a straight 'knit' stitch...

                                     ..I'm seeing what kinds of functional objects I can make...

                                                   ...from different sized balls of yarn!

                                                      Next time: the joy of blocking. :)



                                             

'Dotty' Red Hat- Part 2 of 2

Fulling the hat...

                                          ...and folding in the bottom edge while it's still damp.

                                                  Hand-stitching in a narrow hem for neatness.

                                                                     The finished hat...

                                                                   ...and, here, in situ. :)

It can be worn with the dots in front...

...or as a solid red hat with the 'interesting bits' showing in the back.

Because of the slouchy pleats...

...it can be pulled down low, to cover one's ears in the cold...

...and it will fit a variety of head shapes and sizes!

                                                               Next time: some knitting!

'Dotty' Red Hat- Part 1 of 2

Adding layers of a wool batt...

...(with multicolored cotton dots)...

...to the surface of a bubble wrap resist...

                                                       ...then flipping it to side two.

                                    Carefully wrapping the overlapped wool around the resist...

                                            ...then covering this side with layers of batt, as well.

                                                    Adding circular 'puffs' of wool roving...

                                            ...and outlining them with pencil roving for definition.

                                         Mid-way through felting (the exterior surface of the hat)...

                                                          ...and the interior surface.

                                   (See how the colored fibers 'migrate' through the layers of wool?)

       
                                                           Next time: the finished hat.

Pennsylvania Farm Show 2014- Part 3 of 3

Look at the lovely locks on these beauties!

                                            I wanted to grab a pair of shears and get to work! :)

                                      This wild-haired little fellow was just desperate to be noticed.

                                     His insistent voice and antic movements drew a lot of attention...

                                                    ...but made him hard to photograph! :)

                                                   This proud rooster looked just like his cartoon namesake...

                                       

                                  ...and the feathers on this one resembled the petals of a white peony!

                                      

                                               Check out this 'perfectly accessorized outfit'...

                                                    ...down to his matching 'shoes'! Grin.

                                        
                 
                                             The geometric pattern of this sweet hen's feathers...

                                                     ...would be lovely to replicate in felt.
                                   
                                       

               

                                                              My favorite bird of all?

                                                This dandy with his glossy burgundy body.

   

                                                 I couldn't believe the color of his tail feathers!

                                                     (They're a gorgeous, deep, sage green!)

   

                                                   Next time: I return to the world of felt! :)

Pennsylvania Farm Show 2014- Part 2 of 3

As a feltmaker, my love of sheep comes naturally...

...but I've never bothered to form an opinion about goats one way or the other.

                                 After seeing so many of them at the farm show, recently, however...

                                                  ...I have to admit that I'm rather smitten!! :)

                                                                    Unlike my cat...

                                              ...who is undeniably sweet and wonderful...

                                     

                                                ...goats seem to smile when they look at you!

                                                                      I just love that!! :)

             
                                       There were (of course!) some sweet sheep at the fair, too...

                                                         ...with all manner of fleeces!
       

                       
                                       Check out the wool 'go-go boots' left on this coated sheep...

                                                          ...and look at this precious face!

                                      

                                                        Next time: mostly roosters...

                                                           ...with their insane 'hairdo's'! :)