A new tangent

So many scraps of fabric and yarn and finally something to use them for:  rug hooking!  I took a 6 hour workshop with Carmen who has been 'hooking' for 18 years.  We used a 2 x 4 wood frame cut to the dimension of our item, in this case a pillow top, and stapled the burlap (coffee bean bags from our local roaster) and drew the pattern in black marker.  The tool is called a 'speed tufting tool', readily available and popular in the 70's, and the learning curve was short!  What fun to find a way to use recycled materials productively in a fairly short time frame.  My next project is a small rug and it will be interesting to see it develop.  I might actually run our of scraps!!!!

more ristlets

Just for fun, a simple 2/2 rib worked with woolly nylon throughout, easy peasy and so warm!  Seems to take about 150 yards on average, I had about that in this two ply hand spun, hand dyed alpaca.  I used 3.5 mm needles.

Mittlets

Everyone seems to be knitting fingerless gloves, topless mitts, wristlets with added thumb....  many names for these little beauties.  I was so excited to try this pattern that I grabbed the first thing at hand:  100% silk in navy blue. This pair has a lovely, simple lace structure that is worked all around and an easy, effective thumb design, all of which will show up better in my next pair!

Foulard

Defined as a soft silk fabric like a 'handkerchief'.  This is a bit of a stretch from the definition, but the theory is that these light, soft mini-shawls were kept in a cloth packet (like an envelope) and when the ladies were chilled, they would put these over their shoulders.  Since they were so light and small the packet could be kept with them at all times.  I used a two ply handspun yarn (one ply silk, one ply mohair) and 8 mm needles (they are supposed to be lacey).  Starting at the point, cast on 3 sts, each row is the same:  slip 1, knit to last st, k into front and back of last st. When you run out of yarn you're done!  This foulard is 3 ozs, about 180 yards.  I used a 10 mm needle and a suspended cast off so it would not draw in at the top when blocked.  Just for fun I sewed a fabric 'envelope' to put it in, I can't wait to start another!  It is easy to knit, soft and light, a bit of luxury.

Handspun, Handknit 'Sidewise Vest'

Two different yarns, only 250 yds of each? I chose a two ply wool dyed with onion skins, and a 2 ply blue face leicester dyed variegated in autumn colours.  Circular 7 mm needle, cast on at under the arm 'seam', knit row 1 with yarn 1.  Go back to beginning of needle, with yarn 2, k1 p1.  Turn, with yarn 1, k1, go back to beginning, with yarn 2, k1 p1.  etc.  Do this for 10 rows, then increase for depth of shoulder.  Work across the back, about 18", decrease for depth of shoulder.  Then work 10 rows, increase for depth of shoulder, work for 6 or 7 inches, then work, decreasing 1 st at neck edge each row, until stitches match original number of cast on stitches, cast off very loosely.  Pick up cast on row, increase to depth of shoulder, work 6 or 7 inches, then decrease as for other side.  Easy?  Then block it really well to the length and width of your choice.  I needed to block mine a bit longer (not because I am tall, just because I like my vests a bit longer).  Yup, it only took 250 yards of each yarn!

July 2011 Quilt

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A Little Project

First take two squares of fabric and sew right sides together, then turn inside out. This little purse is made by folding that square of fabric in half to make a triangle, then sewing one seam each side, about one third from the points.  Then turning each point inside out to lay on top of each other, and stitching down to create a pocket on the front and back of the purse.  The seams create an inner pocket as well.  I used a ribbon for a strap as it is a little summer purse.  The complimenting buttons are just sewn over a velcro closure.  The size of the purse is only limited to the size of the fabric square...a fun, quick project for pretty fabrics or even leftover large quilt blocks.