Z Twist Art

Rose Reprise

2012-02-12T10:39:00.000+11:00

It's been a while since I did much with the crochet roses. There's still a boxful waiting to have pins stitched to them in the studio. When I had just a bit of this brown handspun wool-silk blend leftover I thought I'd have another go.

I didn't have enough yarn to make my usual twenty petals, so I folded and twisted the leftover strip of double crochet to make a centre for the flower. Then I wrapped and stitched the remaining petals the way I normally do. I like it enough to add to the pile of flowers awaiting brooch-backs.

Adapting

2012-02-11T11:07:00.000+11:00

The light of my dreams came with a couple of attachments. There's a clip to hold a pattern and a magnifying lens to help me see itty bitty details. I don't anticipate using either of them much, so I wasn't too worried when the only lens available didn't have quite the right fitting for the model I bought. I figured that either I'd work something out with the help of my local hardware store or I'd find a way to set the lens up on my worktable and do without it on the light itself. It took me a couple of days to get to the hardware store. Here's the result:

I came home with two options: each cost $1.10--no great risk there. This morning I rigged up the lens on the standing lamp. I'll test it out tonight. I have a couple of ideas of how to tweek the set up if it's not quite right. Otherwise I'll revert to plan B. I do like a bit of a challenge, especially when the stakes aren't very high.

Cuff Detail

2012-02-10T12:27:00.000+11:00

I've knitted the interesting part of the cuff for the second of Ann Budd's "ruffled cuff socks".

You can see the decreases that make the rib panels flare out. I'm wondering about making more of those increases in a future incarnation, but I think the length of the cuff is about right as it is. I'm not sure if more rows with decreases in them would just obscure the design. Anyway, for now I need to knit 24 rows of knit 1-purl 1 rib to make the rest of the cuff and then complete the sock. I'm already thinking about what I might do next. I've had a look around the Handweavers and Spinners Guild library and am wondering about ordering the next book by Ann Budd.

Same, Same, Different

2012-02-09T13:04:00.000+11:00

This Ruffle Cuff Anklet sock is featured on the cover of Ann Budd's Getting Started Knitting Socks. I've been keen on it since I first saw the book, before I started knitting my first ever sock.

After completing the pair of plain socks last week, I immediately cast this on. I finished the knitting yesterday afternoon. I just have to graft the toe and I've already cast on it's mate. Unfortunately the cuff isn't as ruffly as I would like in my version. I don't know if that's about my tension in knitting the rib. I know I'm accustomed to over the top ruffles, so maybe I've been spoilt. Anyway it's a good way to consolidate my basic sock knitting skills with just a bit of added interest to keep me motivated.

Fresh Start

2012-02-08T09:22:00.000+11:00

I'm getting started on a new project. At this stage it's a sketched out lace chart and a thrice ripped out piece of knitting.

I'll try it again with a fresh mind this morning. And yes, that's my hand spun lace-weight "red rock" wool-silk yarn.

Another Grey

2012-02-07T10:42:00.000+11:00

After making my peace with the light grey ruffled wristies, I cast on one in a darker grey.

This is more to my taste.

I've left a strand of the lighter grey in the pic for comparison.

Nearly Happy

2012-02-06T09:20:00.000+11:00

Last week I asked for feedback on the pale grey ruffled wristie. I wasn't sure about the combination of a dull colour with the exuberance of the ruffle. Since then I've finished the pair.

Somehow having two of them makes the story more convincing. I'm going to leave them as they are. I do love knitspingirl's suggestion of a dip-dye. I'd probably need to dye the wool before knitting it up, though. Another idea I've had is to add a bit of bling to the last row of the ruffle. I might try that on a black pair.

Bargains

2012-02-05T10:40:00.001+11:00

I said yesterday that I need to keep myself under considerable control when I visit the haberdashery warehouse. One place I do allow myself a bit of leeway is the $1 bargain bin--especially when there are items that I might be purchasing anyway.

Here's what I got:

side cutters for beading wire
cleaning brush for sewing machine
itty bitty paper punch
bag of purple pretties
blue shell (not plastic) buttons

Total cost: $5--most of these would normally cost more than that each.

Wishlist

2012-02-04T11:14:00.000+11:00

I did some serious damage to my wishlist yesterday. I made a routine trip to the haberdashery warehouse to buy a small number of items. My strategy on these trips is to go with a very definite list. Otherwise the showroom can be overwhelming and all sorts of purchasing accidents are liable to occur. I have been wishing for a proper worklight for I don't know how long. A Daylight company lamp is what I really wanted. I'd decided to start comparing prices and models with a view to buying one soon. When I had dealt with my list, I started to check costs, features and accessories. Then I noticed that the model I wanted was on clearance: 25% off the wholesale price. I took my time making up my mind, but yes, I came home with my dream lamp. Now it's set up and in use.

It's one of those super-hot Melbourne summer days. Closing the blinds helps to keep out the heat, but makes the room too dark to work in. My old halogen light produced a fair bit of heat too. Now I can have cool light and colour accuracy. I'm so happy with it!

Success of the Travelling Sock

2012-02-03T09:49:00.000+11:00

The second sock is done.

I had to travel to an inner city suburb to pick up some beading materials yesterday. The cost of parking is about the same as a tram fare. The tram takes a little longer, but I can knit on the tram. I'm feeling pretty confident with my new double pointed needles, but I'd hate to drop one on the tram. And I love to explore new ways of doing things.

I changed over to two short circular needles for the foot of my sock. The knitting felt nice and secure and didn't require as much concentration as the dpn's. I knitted through my tram ride. I knitted some more while perusing the newspapers at the local library. By the time I got home I was ready to do the toe shaping. I grafted the toe and wove in the ends over my morning coffee. Now it's all finished. And yes, I'm already thinking about my next pair of socks!

Oxymoron?

2012-02-02T09:30:00.001+11:00

I've been working through a list of requests for my ruffled wristies. I have to admit I've been putting off knitting the first on the list. The thought of a pair of pale grey ruffled wristies just didn't sit well in my mind. Well, I've made one of the pair. The second is on my needles.

What do you think?

I'm still not convinced. I'm going to try to dye a paler shade of grey. And the good news is that I can always overdye the finished pair in a completely different colour.

Sewing Again?

2012-02-01T10:45:00.000+11:00

I go through phases in sewing clothes for myself. Lately I've been in a slack phase, but maybe that's about to change. I've been slowly sorting the boxes of stuff that are cluttering the studio. These include fabrics which I have bought at various times and with varying degrees of thought. Here's one:

I'm guessing it was an impulse buy. It had a note pinned to it, "summer top for me". As soon as I started evaluating it I came up against a few challenges. The instant appeal is the lightweight cotton--ideal for a summer top--except with the all over broderie anglaise it's full of holes and therefore see through. It also has a border design--that cute little scalloped edge. To make the most of it I would need to cut the pattern pieces at right angles to the straight grain. I think that's ok. The fabric is so heavily embroidered that it's going to be nice and stable anyway. As for being see through. I'll try lining the top front section. Lining the entire garment would defeat the purpose.

Yesterday I got as far as buying a matching piece of poplin and washing the fabric. Next I need to choose a pattern. I'll see how that goes.

Chunky is Good

2012-01-31T12:15:00.001+11:00

I've been experimenting with different styles of necklaces lately--both in my making and in my wearing. I don't normally wear necklaces that I would call chunky, but I've attempted to make a couple recently. I had these interesting big beads waiting for repurposing.

Not feeling too happy with my experiments with leather, I tried some waxed linen thread. One thickness was all I could manage to thread through the beads, but I wanted a thicker texture, so I then braided another two lengths of yarn around the first. I wasn't able to estimate the finished length successfully, so my next step was to add several knots between each bead until I had the length I wanted. My next step is to try wearing it with some of my new black tops. Hopefully it will add a bit more variety to my wardrobe.

Sock Progress

2012-01-30T09:21:00.000+11:00

I am happy to report that number one sock is finished. I even did the kitchener stitch and wove in the ends right away! And number two sock is on its way.

I'm keen to get it done so I can actually wear the socks. I can certainly see how this could become addictive.

Colour Fix Options

2012-01-29T08:34:00.000+11:00

I've done a bit of clothes shopping in the past week. Apart from one pretty blue top, everything I could find in a size and style to suit me was black. The alternatives were mostly lime green and tangerine--not colours I can happily wear. This isn't a new challenge and I do have quite a collection of accessories to add the necessary colour to my wardrobe. A bit more prettiness is always in order, though. And the necklines of the tops I bought don't suit my existing necklaces too well. Here's what I made yesterday:

The sea-green feature beads were in my stash. The pretty clear faceted chrystals came from my Christmas stocking. I've made a slightly longer necklace than the ones I normally wear and it has a ten centimetre extension chain so I can vary the length just a bit. As well as earings to match, I had enough beads to make a little pendant. That can go on a silver chain as a low-key alternative to the necklace. The scrap of fabric in the top right of the pic is silk. I hemmed up a 20 cm piece to use as a summer scarf. So that's three possibilities to add colour to my new tops.

For Me

2012-01-28T10:14:00.000+11:00

Just to prove that I really am getting on with my sock knitting, here's where I'm up to this morning.

It's going to be a hot day here--not the weather for wearing woollen socks. But part of the beauty of sock knitting for me so far is that the piece is small enough in my hands that it's comfortable to knit in any weather.

Oh and I'd better put mopping the living room floor on today's to-do list as well!

Sample Sock

2012-01-27T10:02:00.000+11:00

I don't know how many times I've shared my desire to knit socks here. And how many times I've been "welcomed to the dark side" by my sock-knitting friends. I've knitted a few pairs in 8-ply, but they're really only good for lounging around, not wearing with shoes. Now I'm one step closer. This week I finished a sample sock in 4-ply wool on my new knit-picks dpns--2.25mm. The itty bitty stitches make me feel like a real sock knitter. Admittedly it's only one sock and I did it in a child's size, just to make sure I was clear on every step along the way.

I was so pleased with myself that I promptly cast on in my size--thankfully I have a small foot, so it's not that many more stitches to tackle. I've already had the benefit of having worked a sample. I've used the long-tail cast on this time and it looks better than the one I used for the sample. I'm just about to turn the heel. Then I will have gusset stitches to pick up. That will be the next place to learn a lesson. The sample has the predictable little hole at the end of the gusset. I'd like to avoid that if I can.

Drat

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000+11:00

After my succesful necklace makeover experiment, I thought I'd try making another chunky necklace. I had some black leather cord which I thought would be ideal. The main limitation was the thickness of the cord, but I found a nice collection of beads with big enough holes. I threaded and knotted away happily until the cord snapped.

Drat! If I get thicker cord, it won't fit through the beads. Maybe I can try something with wire.

Martha and Me

2012-01-25T09:19:00.000+11:00

I have to confess to a general ignorance of things famous: movie stars, pop stars . . . you'd think I'd been living on a different planet for the past forty years. But I have heard of Martha Stewart--not that I'd easily recognise something designed by her. Recently Bec at Sticks and Stones featured a Martha Stewart pattern. She said, " it hardly used any yarn and was a fun quick knit." That sounded attractive. I was particularly intrigued by the clever loop design which allows the scarflet to secure itself. I decided to commit a ball of hand-dyed baby yarn to the project as an experiment.

It was a fun quick knit. All except for the last five minutes or so when I found myself playing chicken with the end of the skein of yarn. It was a that point that I registered the fact that my ball of baby yarn was only 25 grams rather than the 50 grams or so called for in the pattern. I'd taken the comment "hardly any yarn" a little too literally. It was enough, but only just. In the interest of saving yarn I didn't repeat the ribbed loop on the second end. And my anxiety about running out of yarn resulted in a considerable tightening of my knitted tension. Anyway, there are enough attractive features that I'll be keen to play with the design a bit more. By the time I streamline and embellish the ends of the scarf and add a bit of length it will no longer be recognisable as Martha Stewart. That's the way I like to play the game.

Aaauuugh!

2012-01-24T09:52:00.000+11:00

I like to start my day with a cup of coffee and a bit of quiet craft. Waking up the computer and checking messages is usually a low key part of the routine. Not today. Today I had more than an hour on the phone with technical support for my wireless router before I could get anything on my computer. That included three different service representatives and several times being cut off. Not a happy start to the day.

Thankfully I did have a bit of simple knitting in my hands which I was able to use to soften some of my frustration. Now everything is up and running again. Hopefully tomorrow will be easier.

Light and Bright

2012-01-23T09:25:00.001+11:00

I just spent five minutes reinforcing the stitching on this top.

I picked it up for $10 at a factory outlet yesterday. I'm going to wear it today. We're expecting another couple of days in the mid-thirties. This is one of my absolute favourite colours to wear and it's light as a feather cotton with all those pretty spangles. How could I resist? Well, perhaps the fact that I've already spent time stitching sequins back on before I've even had a chance to wear it, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for now. There's a little bag of spare sequins, so I don't have to worry too much if a few come adrift.

Heart Chart

2012-01-22T09:37:00.000+11:00

A friend asked me to show her how to make these crochet hearts. There are various versions on the internet and I couldn't remember where I'd found a pattern last time I made them. I did a quick search and found something that made me very happy.

Did I mention I LOVE charts! My crochet heart doesn't even use the same stitches as this pattern, but the chart summarises the basic features. A square of double crochet is the base. Then there's a half circle of treble stitches fanning out from the centre of two sides. A slip stitch anchors each curve. Easy! I think I'll find it a lot easier to remember now that I've got a way of thinking about it. By the way, the yarn is an alpaca blend I dyed a while ago. It's really warm and fuzzy, just right for a happy heart.

Dancing Light

2012-01-21T09:56:00.000+11:00

I did a bit more beading yesterday. Here's another candle holder based on my rescued coffee cups.

I'm pretty excited about the herringbone stitch cuff, considering that a month ago I made a pretty shiny tangle! I feel like I've got the hang of it now. The overall effect reminds me of a belly dance costume. I can just imagine cande light dancing around.

Another Happy Gift

2012-01-20T09:20:00.000+11:00

These knitpicks double-pointed needles were also happily received on Christmas morning. This is their first outing and I'm loving them. I'm making a pair of wristies to match the coral scarf.

This is the biggest set (at 3.25 mm). The smallest is 2.00 mm. And they come in sets of six! That's enough for the five dpns I like use when knitting in the round plus an extra to use as a cable needle. They're smooth and strong and I'm not having any difficulty with laddering at the join between needles. That makes me a very happy knitter.

A Gift of Learning

2012-01-19T11:27:00.000+11:00

This book was a Christmas gift from my friend A.

I'm looking forward to reading it and using it as a bit of a workbook. Hopefully I can do that without feeling like I have two heads and am juggling sharp objects. I'll see how I go.

Popular Trends

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000+11:00

I've had this promotional postcard on my noticeboard for a long time. I just love it's cheeky assertiveness. And, yes, I'm a reading addict so "popular penguins" certainly appeal to me.

I'm letting this little guy raise a couple of different issues today. I'd love some feedback!

I've seen plenty of predictions that upcoming seasons colours feature various shades of fruity orange hues like "tangerine". They look great on this card, but are definitely not my personal favourite . . . How do you work with colour trends?
The unashamed self-promotion of a "popular" sash on this little penguin draws me in with a smile, but it's not something I would do myself. I love making, but find marketing much more difficult. It's something I want to tackle more this year. Any suggestions?

This is where I remind you that I just love comments! Please click on the link below and let me know what you're thinking.

Ruffles

2012-01-17T08:44:00.000+11:00

I've featured mostly beading here in these summer days. It seems to be the perfect type of craft for hot weather, since it's easy to do no matter how warm my hands get. But we have had some milder days and I've been knitting away at some of the ruffled wristies I have requests for. The question with ruffles is "how much is enough?".

I make the ruffles by doubling the number of stitches in each of the final rows. There's one row difference between these two. I decided that either might appeal, though my personal preference is for as much ruffle as I can get. So there's a pair made with a little less and a little more. I'll see how they go.

Today is going to be hot. I need to do some more spinning before I can tackle the other wristies on the list. I need grey and black. I'll wait for a really cool day before I sit down to that task.

Pretty for Me

2012-01-16T08:32:00.000+11:00

These pretty blue crystal beads were in my Christmas stocking. Yesterday I made them up into a necklace for myself.

The colour is very similar to the other necklace I've been playing with recently, but the faceted crystals give a more classic beauty and there's just a little touch of silver to set it off.

2012-01-15T09:59:00.000+11:00

I started the morning with pair of earings to match yesterday's necklace.

The teardrop bead at the base of each earing isn't in the necklace, but the colour matches well. I've echoed that shape with a little loop of seed beads and capped it off with a faceted bead from the original collection. It's a bit like the design I made on New Year's Eve and equally light and easy to wear.

Breathing Space

2012-01-14T13:29:00.000+11:00

I finally made it to the studio this morning. Once I got in the door, my first task was to tidy up my work surface a bit. It's been so cluttered lately that I find it hard to think. Once I'd created myself a bit of space, I tackled the necklace which I'd decided to lengthen. I really like the collection of beads I'd used originally, but I wanted to just add a little bit of breathing space. I didn't have the energy or patience to tackle a hand-made chain necklace today. So I found a tiny seed bead just a bit lighter than what was already there. I've used them to separate each of the other beads.

That plus the extras I had was enough to get the length I was after. I'll have to go back to make the matching earings. My eyes had done enough close focus work for a bit and it was time for lunch.

Proportions and Compromises

2012-01-13T14:12:00.000+11:00

I finished off this chain necklace and earings recently. I started them a year or so ago and they had been sitting neglected until I'd just about forgotten about them. I've enjoyed wearing them a couple of times in the last week or so. Neither is a length that I usually wear. I've included a 50 cm snake chain for reference.

Here's a detail shot:

I'm thinking of remaking yesterday's set in a similar length, though that will probably make it heavier than I like. There's always a catch!

Length

2012-01-12T11:45:00.000+11:00

I made this necklace and the matching earings years ago. I expected it to be a favourite, but I rarely wear it. Yesterday I put it on to remind myself of what I do and don't like about it.

I love the colour and the variety of beads. The length of the necklace is wrong: too short for most of the tops I wear. And the earings are too straight up and down. I like a bit of flexibibilty in my longer earings. As you can see there are a few beads from this collection left and a spare earing. I think I made a second pair at the time and one was lost. There's also a small blue seed bead in the necklace which I think I have still in my work-box. So the plan is to pull it all apart and start again. I'll let you know how I get on.

Fun

2012-01-11T10:52:00.000+11:00

When I saw this journal featured in the window of a stationery shop yesterday I didn't even try to resist.

It's always good to have a reminder to lighten up!

One More

2012-01-10T09:11:00.000+11:00

Here's the third of the flower brooches I made with my friend L the other day.

I was intrigued to see how much difference an extra row of petals made to the overall effect.

Another Flower

2012-01-09T11:22:00.000+11:00

Here's the purple wool-felt version of yesterday's flower brooch. As often happens my camera has failed to pick up the warmth of the purple colour . . .

Flower Play

2012-01-08T12:32:00.000+11:00

My friend L and I have been investigating her friend H's flower brooch for a while now. We've also been looking for an afternoon to enjoy some crafting together. Yesterday was the day. There are countless flower tutorials available on line. I found this one for a camelia. I like the way the stitching down the centre of each petal gives real depth.

The fabric is from a wool-flannel jacket I found at an Opp Shop years ago. A button from my button jar and a handful of seeds beads added some more depth and sparkle. By the time we'd made three it was getting too dark to take a really good photo. And our variations make it look quite un-camellia like, but interesting enough to be worth the time and effort. I may even play with the ideas and make a few more.

Easy, Happy

2012-01-07T13:15:00.000+11:00

These were a Christmas gift. They came on a card as a pair of "charms". I added earing hooks and was instantly very happy.

They're light and bright and easy to wear.

Christmas Rose

2012-01-06T17:07:00.001+11:00

It's the twelfth day of Christmas today--or maybe that was yesterday. I haven't made twelve of anything, but I did make a couple of these roses earlier as Christmas gifts. Today I made just one more. That finished this particular hand-dyed cotton yarn.

And in case you're wondering, yes, I'm still in holiday-go-slow mode.

Hot

2012-01-05T12:06:00.000+11:00

This is not something I would wear, but it sure was fun to make, with a bit of off-balance drama!

Pretty Simple

2012-01-04T11:53:00.000+11:00

It's been uncomfortably hot and I haven't been too ambitious with my making in the past few days. I did manage a new pair of earings. I was looking for a more geometric look and came up with this.

Nothing fancy, but I think they'll be easy to wear.

Necklace Makeover

2012-01-03T10:57:00.000+11:00

My friend D gave me this necklace to play with last week. It had been a favourite in its time, but hadn't been worn for years.

Sixteen year-old E liked the feature beads, but was more interested in silver and black than brown and bronze. I decided to add length and simplify. Here's the result:

There are plenty of beads left over too.

Sparkle

2012-01-02T10:11:00.001+11:00

My Christmas this year was hosted by the next generation. It was peaceful and beautiful. J did a fantastic job of decorating to really make the occasion.

She has dreams of working in interior design--it seems to me she has what it takes with creative flair and an eye for detail. Thanks for having us J and A!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T14:27:00.000+11:00

My idea of a good New Year's Eve celebration this year was to make my way home after a week away with friends; unpack my bags and tuck myself in for an early night. I did wake with the fireworks at midnight for long enough to calm my dogs before going back to sleep.

Earlier in the day I made myself these:

They're made on tigertail--just a loop threaded with silver-lined seed beads plus the feature bead in the middle. Light as a feather, bright and easy to wear. So I had my personal sparkles for the occasion even though I didn't have the energy for much in the way of partying.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-26T12:19:00.000+11:00

I'm in Christmas holiday mode and prioritizing people over making and posting for while. So here's a belated Happy Christmas wish to everybody. I'll have plenty of pics to choose from when I get back to blogging in a week or so.

Finishing

2011-12-23T07:47:00.000+11:00

Today is my last day for Christmas making. I hope there will be time for some creative play, but first I need to finish some of the things I've been working on. I mean really finish.

The saying goes, "the job's not done until the paperwork's done". For me it's a case of "the job's not done until the fastenings are attached". I'll start on that while I brew myself another coffee. Then I can go out to the studio and have some fun.

Conversation Starter

2011-12-22T09:16:00.003+11:00

I was sitting at the hairdresser yesterday afternoon when I received a message from young R: "Could you maybe help me with some sewing repairs?". We were planning a quick catch up and easy tea in the evening. Speaking from experience I sent back, "I'll have a go. Do I need any supplies?" "Yeah, maybe a heavy duty needle . . . it's a hole in a bag." R has just returned from a World Challenge trip to South East Asia. My imagination started to fill in possibilities of what "a hole in a bag" might mean. I'm always amused and a little bit proud when my friends' children treat me as the "go to" person for fixing things, though sometimes I feel that a magic wand is the required tool rather than any of my textile supplies. I wasn't planning to go home before our catch up. Nor was I sure that I had suitable needles at home. And they're always useful things to have around. Instead of coming home to search my studio, I stopped off at a local fabric store to pick up these:

Either the right needle would be in this aray, or it would be a "magic wand" job. Picking these up resulted in a friendly conversation with a new shop assistant. I came away with requests for information about the various sewing and quilting classes I'm involved with in local Neighbourhood Houses--that's another type of conversation I love.

The repair job turned out to be "doable". The bag was reasonably well made and just one seam had come undone at a wear point. Despite my impressive choice of needles, I ended up repairing the seam in layers. my fingers just don't have the strength of an industrial machine to get through eight thicknesses of bag fabric!

This morning making sure I took the set of needles out of my handbag was a priority. I'm flying interstate in a couple of days. I can just imagine these sharp metal objects showing up at the security screening point. Now there's a conversation I'd rather avoid.

Like This

2011-12-21T08:24:00.000+11:00

Here's one of my first experiments with the coffee cup candle holder idea I mentioned yesterday.

Deciding how much decoration to add was the biggest dilemma. I've kept it pretty light in my first few attempts. If I have time later in the week I might just go to town!

Opportunity

2011-12-20T09:26:00.000+11:00

After a couple of sessions of trying out my new beading skills I decided it was time to work out some shortcuts. I do like the sparkle and detail of many tiny glass beads carefully strung together, but it takes far too long to make anything useful. A trip to one of the local Opp Shops yielded this:

I found a set of glass coffee cups with plastic handles. The handles slip off easily leaving an indented ring around what is now a glass cylinder. I'm going to try beading around that ring. The glass is designed for hot drinks, so it should cope with a candle without any trouble. I'll see how I go.

Something New

2011-12-19T09:52:00.000+11:00

I've spent a couple of afternoons in the studio learning something new. New for me, that is . . .

This is one of my discarded early attempts. It took me several tries before I got into the rhythm and started to really see the pattern. It's herringbone stitch beading. I found it in a book of Christmas decorations. I think I've got the hang of it now, but it's slow and precise work, so I don't think I'll be doing a lot of it. On the other hand I do like the way the angled silver-lined beads pick up the light.

Christmas Classics

2011-12-18T10:19:00.000+11:00

'Tis the season for making pretty things . . .

. . . and for keeping secrets!

Just a teaser today before I head back to the studio.

Pretties

2011-12-17T08:21:00.000+11:00

It's a week until Christmas and there's lots to do, but I haven't got today planned out very well. It's going to be a hot day. I have some gifts to make and the studio would be the ideal place. I have plenty of pretties.

Unfortunately I'm missing some of my basic jewellery findings and supplies. I'm guessing I didn't replentish my tool box after my last creative burst--whenever that was. That means I need to go shopping, which at this time of the year is not my favourite activity. I'll have to think about how I can fit everything in without getting too hot and bothered. Meanwhile I'll brew myself another coffee. Hopefully I can get a bit of focus and make myself a list.

Next Please

2011-12-16T08:34:00.000+11:00

I'm ready for a new yarn in for the wristies I'm making. Here's what I chose:

It's similar to the purple yarn I've been using recently, but there's more colour variation and a strand of silk in there. I don't think I'm going to get tired of knitting this any time soon!

Happy Birthday

2011-12-15T09:36:00.000+11:00

It was my friend L's birthday yesterday. I celebrated with a short burst of creative energy.

The glass beads had been in my collection for a while. They remind me of little lollies. Just right for a set of sweet, simple summer jewellery.

Holiday Ideas

2011-12-14T09:26:00.000+11:00

I had a bit of time to kill in one of the city craft superstores yesterday. They generally have a table full of books on clearance. Here's one I picked up.

Polymer clay is new to me. I normally don't choose books that are project based, but this one seems to emphasise the techniques and inspiration involved in each project. I've finished my teaching for the year, so it might be time to explore something new.

More Wristies

2011-12-13T09:32:00.001+11:00

I'm still enjoying knitting wristies.

A variety of yarns keeps the task interesting for me. I can make them with or without ruffles and other embellishments. This isn't one of the colours on the list, but when I came across it the other day I couldn't resist. It's one I spun and dyed for another project and I'd nearly forgotten about it. Melbourne hasn't managed much in the way of summer weather so far, but even when things warm up, these are small enough that they're not much trouble at all.

Market Fun

2011-12-12T10:20:00.000+11:00

It turned out to be a good day at the House Artisan's Market yesterday. Sussex Neighbourhood House was full, with a steady stream of visitors and an expanding range of participating artists. The Creative Kids group had prepared a lively trail of footprints to lead from one room to another.

Some of the kids were there to participate in the fun of the day. The market is really a community venture--I think that's the best thing.

Keys Please!

2011-12-11T08:57:00.000+11:00

My driving lesson with E didn't turn out quite as planned yesterday.

Stalling the car is to be expected of learner driver. In fact E doesn't make that mistake very often, but this time instead of re-starting the car she found herself with a snapped off key in her hand. We declared the lesson officially over!

A couple of phone calls later, I discovered that the clever electronic gizmo that releases the car security needs to be active at the same time as the car is being started. The broken key on the right is my "spare". It has just enough space on the broken off part to grip and turn. The newly broken key was a total loss. A trip to the locksmith revealed that this is a common problem--let's call it a design fault. So instead of practicing steering and gear changes we had an exercise in patience and problem solving.

Behind the Scenes

2011-12-10T08:46:00.000+11:00

The House Artisan's Market is on again tomorrow. As usual there are background tasks to be completed in the last few days. I made so many crochet roses a few months ago that I didn't keep up with sewing on all the brooch backs.

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours in the studio catching up. It was a hot day, so the airconditioner was particularly welcome. I have a bit more to do today. If all goes well I may even have time for some card-making.

Purple

2011-12-09T09:37:00.000+11:00

I'm happy with the colour variation in this purple hand-dyed yarn, but capturing it on the camera is still a challenge. Today I've decided to try editing the photo itself. I've got a lot to learn, but this is closer to the real thing than what I had originally.

It's another pair of wristies. I have plenty of time to work through my list of requests, so I'm having fun exploring various possibilities rather than than trying to find just one right version. That should give me a nice little collection by the time the cooler weather comes around again.

Word of Mouth

2011-12-08T09:58:00.000+11:00

I sold a pair of purple wristies a while ago. I'm guessing the new owner wore them to her class. Now I have this list.

I'm working on the assumption that there's no great hurry--we're just getting into real summer weather--but it's nice to have some clear guidance about what people like. I'll probably make several pairs in most of these colours. People can then choose what they really want. And the rest can go on a market stall for next winter.

Coral

2011-12-07T10:19:00.001+11:00

The mohair tube scarf is done.

I decided to go with the coral colour and make the join a coral-like ruffle. I need to give it a soak. My knitting in the round is reasonably even, but there are still some irregularities to smooth out.

Obvious

2011-12-06T10:40:00.001+11:00

The challenge: to join the ends of my mohair tube scarf to form a continuous loop. I don't think I can make the join truly inconspicuous. The alternative is to make it obvious.

At the same time, the principle of letting the yarn do the talking is appealing. So, I'm going to try embellishing the join with a crochet ruffle. It's the same yarn, but a deliberate variation in texture and bulk. I'll see how it looks when I'm done.

Now What?

2011-12-05T08:29:00.000+11:00

This morning I cast off the mohair tube scarf.

Now I just need to decide how to finish off the join. Keep it simple? or Embellish it to make a feature?

While I'm thinking about that I'll be casting on another take-along project. I think that will be another knit in the round project--they're so easy to pack and carry, but maybe not another tube. Watch this space . . .

Dancing

2011-12-04T10:06:00.000+11:00

I finished this pair of wristies yesterday.

I'm thinking of them as "pink tutu wristies"--an easy knit with a bit of fun with the ruffles at the end.

Slow Day

2011-12-03T09:06:00.002+11:00

Yesterday ended up being a bit of a slow day. I had a go at a crochet flower in the latest variegated yarn.

I'm still trying to work out how much crochet I can do without over-stressing my joints. I think I got away with this one and I'm happy with the way it's turned out.

Welcome Guest

2011-12-02T08:39:00.000+11:00

Sixteen year-old E arrived from interstate yesterday evening. We've been planning this visit for a long time. She's keen to learn to drive and I love to teach. She's also happy to do craft and just generally hang out.

Exploring a bit of Melbourne is also on the agenda. It's going to be interesting to share my home and time with such a welcome guest. I've known her since she was three years old, but I'm sure I've got a lot to learn! I'm looking forward to it.

Inspiration

2011-12-01T09:36:00.000+11:00

My friend L loves this flower brooch. It belongs to her friend H. We've been talking about it for months. Now L has borrowed it so we can have a good look at it.

It was purchased in the UK and I don't know who the designer is, but looking at it again I think it's made commercially. I wouldn't and couldn't copy it. But I'd like to work out some of the reasons it appeals so much. I have red flannel, felt and silk. I have black beads and all sorts of tools, so after being inspired and doing a bit of analysis, I'll see what I can make.

Rose Again

2011-11-30T09:25:00.000+11:00

I haven't been making rose brooches since my elbow started playing up. I had a skein of variegated yarn which I'd dyed especially, though. It's been talking to me and I've been resisting. This morning I decided to try a knitted rose.

I like the range of colours. So much so that I'm tempted to risk a bout of crochet to see how it looks in my favourite pattern. Of course the dyed variegations can never really reproduce the beauty of the real thing.

To Do

2011-11-29T10:22:00.000+11:00

I have a guest coming to stay later this week. The spare bed is covered in knitting stuff. And there are various other bits and pieces stored in the spare room that need to find a better home. Clearing that up is a priority for today. The forecast is for a typical hot and windy Melbourne summer day. It's still officially spring here, and later in the week it will be cool and wet. But I shouldn't really wait till later in the week to get things sorted. On the other hand there are lots of crochet flowers to be finished off.

There's a bag full of brooch backs and an airconditioner in the studio. So if it gets too hot I can retreat there and still do something useful. I'll see how I go.

More Mohair

2011-11-28T08:48:00.000+11:00

I'm still stitching away at the mohair tube scarf. It's become my take-along project because it's easy to just knit a bit at a time, anytime. The only hold-up is sorting the double-pointed needles when I pull the whole thing out of my knitting bag, but I'm getting better at that. It is growing gradually.

I guess I'm about two-thirds of the way there. I haven't yet decided how I'll finish it. The original plan was to graft or stitch the ends together to make a loop. Then it could be worn as one long loop or doubled over. As I've been knitting, I've been wondering about making a feature of the join, maybe with some beading. Then again I really like the subtle colour changes in the yarn and a feature might distract from that. I don't have to decide yet, so I'll just keep knitting away at it.

Paper

2011-11-27T09:36:00.001+11:00

I hunted out my small stash of handmade papers.

I've been saving them for something special, but none of them have the strength I want for more of the woven balls. I'll have to see what else I can do with them. Maybe saving them is more of a waste than putting them to some good use. That's always the risk of putting materials aside for "special" I guess.

Indigo Balls

2011-11-26T09:40:00.000+11:00

I've finished eight of the woven star balls with my handmade indigo paper. I'm quite pleased with how they're turning out.

Now that I'm comfortable with the geometry of the assembly process, the hardest part is cutting the paper strips. I've been using one of my quilting rulers and a stanley knife, but I'm getting blisters on my hand. The paper is tough--almost leathery. I've been starting to check out the possibility of investing in a good paper trimmer. I have a couple of little ones, but they're not up to a heavy duty task like this. Before I do that, I'll see what other lovely thick papers I have for making these balls.

Sample, Sample, Sample

2011-11-25T08:56:00.000+11:00

I'm getting more confident with the 3-D geometry of these woven balls. And I'm convincing myself that I really can see the 5-pointed star which the strips of card outline on each side. I expect that would be even clearer if the print on the card wasn't so distracting. Then again, it's been nice to put the junk mail to some good use. I have "No Junk Mail" in letters several inches high on my letterbox, but some always slips through.

I have some lovely textured indigo-dyed paper on my shelf. I think it might be time to pull it out and put it to use.

Woven Star Ball

2011-11-24T09:38:00.001+11:00

I am inordinately proud of this woven paper ball.

This is my third attempt over as many days--not counting lots of fiddling and grumbling. You can see it's a rough sample: made with strips of card from the back of a furniture catalogue. I found a tutorial here, but even so the last few steps puzzled me for quite a while. I never was good at 3-D puzzles! I've been looking for things to make that don't involve my usual stitching activities, since my elbow is still giving me grief. Now I've got this figured out I'll see how I go making some with a nicer card.

Rose Harvest

2011-11-23T09:27:00.000+11:00

The weather has been alternating rainy days and warm days here. Good for the weeds! But thankfully also good for the roses. I'm hoping to make some pot pourri sachets for the Christmas market. Every few days there are more rose blooms which have opened up and are ready to add to my collection.

I have yet to decide what recipe I will use this year. In the meantime the petals are drying.

Plain and Done

2011-11-22T08:48:00.000+11:00

The garter stitch face washer now has a crochet border and hanging loop. That makes it ready to add to the Neighbourhood House Christmas Hamper collection.

I've been slow to finish it because I'm mostly avoiding repetitive stitches at the moment--especially in crochet. And the needle and thread is featured because it still feels like a major achievement to run in the loose ends immediately when I finish the fun part of my knit or crochet creations.

Craft Date

2011-11-21T09:28:00.000+11:00

My friend L and I have been planning to get together to fix this necklace for ages.

Every time I've seen her at work lately I've been aware of the little bag of necklace bits sitting on her desk. The necklace was a gift and it's a favourite of hers. Apologies for not crediting the designer--I have no idea. As for the construction methods--I think it really did wear out from overuse! The lightweight coconut shell buttons and sequins are threaded together with something that looks a lot like fishing line. I ended up joining on a piece of tigertail to re-thread the beads that had come adrift.

And the extra little thread on L's black t-shirt--consider it a bonus from my studio. It's impossible to go out there without picking up something.

Studio Slippers

2011-11-20T11:11:00.000+11:00

I bought these knitted slippers with bling a year or so ago.

I stumbled across them at the grocery store--who knows why they were there--and thought they were too cute to leave behind. Unfortunately they weren't quite the right shape for my foot, so when my friend L was here yesterday I passed them on for her to use. Turning them over revealed some of their history in my studio!

2011-11-19T08:42:00.000+11:00

Another

2011-11-18T09:34:00.002+11:00

I'm still nursing my irritated-irritating elbow, so here's another rose to serve as inspiration.

I don't know the name of this one. The bush was in the garden when I arrived here. The combination of soft pinks and yellow-golds complements the dutch gold which I featured a while ago, but this flower is much more delicate. And if you look at the leaves you will see that my rose garden needs more than just weeding! It's going to be hot today though, and I need to take it easy, so that will have to wait.

Fibre Fix

2011-11-17T09:30:00.000+11:00

Sometimes a class full of enthusiastic students is just the right medicine! Wednesday is my regular quilt class night. And for the second time in a row we had a special guest.

L has just about finished her jelly-roll quilt. All it needs is borders and it will be ready to quilt. She wanted a big space to lay it out and the computer room was available again. As a bonus my students had a chance to enjoy it too. I won't be surprised if a few copies of Pam and Nicky Lintott's Jelly Roll Quilts book are sold this week!

Background

2011-11-16T08:46:00.000+11:00

It's official: I have tennis elbow--probably as a result of recent wild weeding efforts. Unfortunately the treatment involves rest plus anti-inflammatories and appropriate exercises. And most of my crafting activities rely on being able to flex my elbow. So my pic today is my radio--tuned as usual to ABC Classic FM.

I like to have music in the background as I work, but it's not enough to occupy my mind if I don't have crafts to do. If this goes on much longer I'll be teaching myself to work left-handed. I did teach myself to knit in the continental style a while ago, but I don't know if that action will protect my inflamed tendon enough. Oh well, I'll just have to see how things go.

Domestic?

2011-11-15T10:54:00.000+11:00

I'm not sure when, where or why I picked up this cone of yarn.

It's quite a sturdy cotton. I've started knitting it into a bath mat, though that won't go anywhere near finishing it off . . . and yes, the dog hairs on the floor are another part of my domestic reality!

Something Else

2011-11-14T09:33:00.000+11:00

Here's something else I've been working on lately.

To add some perspective to the picture: it's lace-weight alpaca yarn and that pink blob in the top left-hand corner is the tip of my index finger. This is going to have to be blocked when it's done. At the moments it's a bit of a wrinkly mess, but that's not unexpected. And apologies in advance . . . it's coming into gift-giving season and I'm planning on some hand-made gifts, so there will probably be some cryptic posts in the next little while.

Today

2011-11-13T09:37:00.000+11:00

Today I need to spend some more time in the garden. Those weeds are not going to go away on their own. Here's another one of my roses to remind me that it's worth the effort.

I don't know the name of this one. The flower is relatively small, but the variegated petals are so much fun.

Stitch by Stitch

2011-11-12T09:39:00.001+11:00

I'm continuing to knit the mohair tubular scarf. Here's where I'm up to this morning.

It's a simple knit: around and around; one stitch at a time. Every stitch is the same--and yet every stitch is different. That's the fascination for me. I love the steady repetition and the subtle colour changes.

. . . by the way, this is knit on 3.5 mm needles, so on my screen at least the pic is bigger than life size.

Tube Scarf

2011-11-11T09:20:00.000+11:00

I've been working away at the mohair tubular scarf in various odd bits of time.

I've just finished re-knitting the yarn that I'd ripped out from my previous attempt. Thankfully it held up quite well to all the handling.

Guest Appearance

2011-11-10T10:53:00.000+11:00

My friend Vireya was kind enough to bring her quilt to my class last night.

This isn't the best pic of what is really an interesting and very clever quilt. The quilt top was on the table and I decided not to climb up on a chair in front of a room full of students.

The quilt gave us lots of different aspects to discuss and the students loved it. Afterwards Vireya was able to use the big table next door to get the basting done. Thanks!

Another Re-think

2011-11-09T09:32:00.000+11:00

I didn't have a particular project in mind when I spun up this mohair yarn. It was just a case of making the most of the characteristics of the fibre. I knew I wanted to keep the design simple. What could be simpler than a garter stitch scarf? I tried that. The result was disappointing. Yesterday I pulled out what I'd done and had another go.

What about stocking stitch?

All very well, but the inevitable curling of the edges would be a problem.

OK, if it's going to curl anyway, what about knitting a tube?

No, it's not another pair of wristies. I'm going to try a tubular scarf. At this stage I'm thinking I'll join the ends so it can be looped around one or more times. The smooth outer texture of the knitting shows up the lustre and halo of the mohair beautifully and the subtle colour variations should be a feature. I'll see how it goes.

Pretty Plain

2011-11-08T09:41:00.001+11:00

This garter stitch square will be a pretty face washer.

A crochet border will dress it up just enough I think. Last week I made one entirely in crochet with one of my little flowers to add a bright spot. Unfortunately my muscles didn't enjoy the constant repetition of the one stitch--there's a twisting motion in the wrist involved in crochet which gets wearing after a while. I've had to be careful since then not to do more than a bit at a time until things settle down. That's a pity because often it's the meditative rhythm of the work that I enjoy.

Blue?

2011-11-07T08:58:00.000+11:00

"Rhapsody in Blue" is the name of this climbing rose. I have two of them growing on my front fence.

The picture colour is fairly true to life this time--on my monitor at least. I often have trouble with purple shades. And it's not exactly what I would call "blue", but it's on the blue side for a rose anyway. Dead-heading these roses is about the only thing I got done yesterday. Apart from a bit of random knitting. It was rather a slow day for me.

Reality

2011-11-06T08:14:00.003+11:00

When I decided to investigate quilt as you go techniques yesterday I had visions of a systematic process with carefully labelled samples. The reality turned out to be a bit different.

By the time I got to the studio I was less than enthusiastic. The morning was hotter than I'd expected. The weeds are tough and persistent. Digging made me tired, dirty and sweaty. Then I took a while to cool down and clean up. There was laundry to do. And yes, my studio is rather a mess at the moment. . . Are you getting the idea? On the other hand, I had declared that I was going to do something. So I made a quick, rough start. Sometimes just having a go without any finesse isn't such a bad idea. I'll have another go soon. Next time I'll use bigger samples so I can leave a good few centimetres of unquilted edge around each block. I'll trim the wadding more carefully and try to join more than a couple of blocks together. That's the plan, anyway. But I don't think it will be today. I've ended up with a sore stiff back after my digging efforts. Sitting and sewing won't be the best activity for me today. Unfortunately, neither will digging more weeds this morning. And it's going to be another hot day. I might just need to declare myself a holiday and settle down with a good book.

Investigation

2011-11-05T08:45:00.000+11:00

I've been investigating the idea of "quilt as you go" lately. Frankly the challenge of trying to fit a large quilt under a small domestic sewing machine has become a little stale. And I have students facing the same issue. The idea of quilt as you go is to quilt smaller units and then combine them to make the finished quilt. It seems like a logical solution to the problem. As I say, I've been investigating . . . and there are several different approaches to the challenge. Now it's time to choose an approach and try it. I won't use a full size quilt, though. I'd like to try a few of the different techniques and I don't want to waste time, effort and fabric. On the other hand I had set aside these fabrics as scrap.

Just right to use for a sample--and they even match. In fact the floral looks better than I remember it with a little morning sunshine and the contrast of the timber table top . . .

Here's my plan for the day. The forecast is for 30--double what it was earlier in the week. I still have plenty of weeding to do in the garden. I'll tackle that before the weather warms up too much. Then I can turn the air conditioner on in my studio and have a go at this. Unfortunately the studio is rather a mess at the moment, but I should be able to clear enough space.

Development

2011-11-04T10:26:00.000+11:00

When I first tried the rose-in-a-square pattern from the Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitches, I had two criticisms: it was a bit too square and a bit too flat. Considering that it was designed as a motif to be made into a blanket, maybe criticism isn't the right word. Anyway, I wanted to use it as a flower brooch, so square and flat weren't such desirable features.

Changing the sequence of stitches for the edges of the petal helped solve the square issue. Now I think I've found a solution for flatness.

I added a couple of extra stitches to each petal. That makes the whole flower a bit tighter and pushes the petals together just a bit. I think it's better.

Up Close

2011-11-03T09:59:00.000+11:00

My cup day rose has taken up residence on my kitchen table. It's slowly opening.

I decided to have a close look at the colours. The rose is called "dutch gold". I can see various shades of yellow from deep gold through to a pale lemon. And there are touches of red-pink there too. The gold deepens to a warm orange and some of the petals look just as if I'd dropped a couple of grains of my red dye on a wet patch of fabric--lovely!

Spring Fashion

2011-11-02T08:52:00.000+11:00

Where else in the world do they declare a public holiday for a horse race! Yesterday was Melbourne Cup day, "the celebration that stops a nation" is the slogan. My day wasn't filled with champagne and high fashion.

I chose muddy boots rather than strappy sandals since I needed to tackle the abundant weeds in my front garden. A couple of hours of serious digging got me through about half of that garden bed--and tired me out thoroughly. The rose is my touch of prettiness and a reward for my efforts. Hopefully all the rose bushes in that section will be happier once I complete the job. That will take several more days like yesterday to achieve.

Proportion

2011-11-01T08:39:00.000+11:00

I realised after I posted this crochet Christmas star ornament the other day that I hadn't included anything in the picture to give an indication of size. I've made four of them now. The other thing I've realised is that it's going to take an awful lot of little stars before I use up my 100 gram ball of fine mercerised cotton. I originally dyed it thinking of a weaving project.

Four stars have used up about 10 grams. Unless I get a sudden burst of starry enthusiasm, there will be enough for years to come!

By Design

2011-10-31T08:58:00.001+11:00

Of course I had crochet flowers in mind when I dip dyed a variegated wool in landscape grevillea. I have a couple of variegated rose bushes in my front garden and they always make me smile.

I also had a go with the rose in a square pattern, but found that the bulky yarn there wasn't such a hit.

Gradations

2011-10-30T09:57:00.000+11:00

I had my dyepot going for my overdyeing experiments, so of course my mind got busy thinking about what else I could dye. I decided on a bit of dip-dyeing.

There are two skeins here. The one on the right is just grevillea. The one on the left is a mixture of grevillea and kangaroo paw. The trick is to guesstimate how much dye I will need for the entire skein. I'm not dyeing to full strength so it's not an exact science. I give each section about ten minutes. As each section of wool takes up the dye it leaves that much less colour for the next section. Ideally by the end there's just a touch of colour left for the last section. I didn't get it quite right for either of these skeins, so there was a bit of fiddling with adding another skein to the pot to help exhaust the dye or adding a few more crumbs of dye powder to strengthen the brew, but in the end I got some convincing variation in colour. Now to see how they will work up.

Second Thoughts

2011-10-29T09:59:00.000+11:00

I've had this small skein of orange yarn for quite a while. It was initially part of my attempt to blend up a creamy yarn for a special rose brooch. Carded together with a lot of white it gave me a nice apricot colour. On it's own it was definitely orange. I made one or two flowers out of the orange, but soon tired of it. And although it wasn't a big skein, it was more than what I wanted in that colour. I decided to overdye it. I saved just a bit for comparison. I figured moving towards the red would warm it up for me and make it a more generally appealing colour. How far to go? I decided on my cool primary red--magenta--the landscape dye is named "grevillea". Here's the result:

It's much closer to the dye colour than I'd expected, with some subtle variations. I'm still learning about how strongly different colours dominate others when mixed. I know red is quite strong compared to yellow, but I really expected this to come out closer to the warm red colour. Anyway, it's an attractive colour and much more usable than the orange, so I'm happy with it.