Material Whirled Handspun Yarn

ArtFiberFest Adventures ~ Day 1

2009-07-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

WoW-- what a fun experience!

Wed. I arrived at Reed College-- which is beyond gorgeous.... reminded me of east coast architecture-- with a dash of Hogwarts. (More pics of the characters in the architecture below...)
Wed. evening was the opening meeting-- where Teesha shares logistical details with all of the students and the teachers are introduced. Not a huge deal, but I had to do a 2 min. speechy thing about art and life and things that inspire me. I shared my favorite quote, "It's the process of creation that keeps me sort of a bubble and a half above perpetual anxiety in my life." ~Ze Frank
Which I told them replaces my previous favorite quote-- "I knit so I don't kill people".

I then talked about my ArtFest experience from the past two years, and how each fest brings it's own epiphany.
First year I realized that there ARE people like me in this world. A lot of them. I have met a few in my life, but a group of 600? Frightening and exhilarating.

Second year I realized that I don't need to be so hard on myself for being such an overachiever. haha. For those times when I have ten plates in the air at once and just exhaust myself. You can read more about my epiphany in this entry. (link)
Here is a blurb of it...
"I find myself going in A.D.D. circles. Is it REALLY ADD? or am I over committed? sigh. All self-inflicted. I tried the simplification thing but it made me depressed and sad. I just filled the open slots with more projects and commitments. THE GOOD NEWS IS.... I am NOT alone! At ArtFest they had a teacher panel night, where the teachers sat at a table with microphones and the crowd shot questions at them. This was one of the best things about the week. They hit many many topics that were so very relative to me that I found myself on the verge of tears so many times. They spoke of creative inspiration and over commitments, finding studio time, family, mommy-guilt, artist-guilt, how being an artist is not viewed as a 'real job' and on and on... I am NOT weird! NOT crazy! I am an ARTIST! The many plates in the air? They are all different embodiments of my creativity. I approach everything as if it were an art medium, from my spinning to my garden to my errands to my precious girls. When I realize that I really view it all as my art (and it totally is) I am so much kinder to myself. I process things differently than most. I am an over-achiever. I am manic. I am crazy and I am not crazy. I am unique. "

The lesson of this year's ArtFiberFest? Time to push Reenie out of her box.
I need to be teaching. After all, I am a trained art teacher ( with a degree and everything!). Just a room full of thirty 7 year olds and paint?- with a 40 minute time frame? not my favorite thing.
BUT-- a room full of crazy, creative women? LOVE it. love love love it. my peoples.

I have some really cool ideas to propose to teach at next year's ArtFiberFest, and some to offer here in my studio. So if you are local to the Portland OR area and are interested in taking some classes, drop me an email and I will notify you once I figure things out.

Well-- off to hang with my MIL, she is here visting from PA. I think I will drag the spinning wheel out to the deck and spin a few.

Next post-- about my classes. so much fun....

More Reed architecture pics... click the images to see larger versions.

ArtFiberFest 09- Vendor Marketplace~

2009-06-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

Visit the ArtFiberFest site for even more info~

Come to the Artists’ Marketplace on Friday night, providing a rare opportunity to buy original artwork from many of the best fiber artists around the country.

You will find quirky supplies to use in your own artwork, kits, fabulous handmade yarn, buttons, fabrics, jewelry, dolls, purses, wall art, hooked rug pieces, and lots more.

This event is open to the public, so if you live close to Reed, but can't make it for the workshops, definitely plan on dropping in for the sale.
You won't be sorry.
It happens on June 26th in the Student Union bldg. at 7pm-9pm. Parking and admission is free.

Come SEEEE MEEEE

I will have yarn, yarn yarn, fiber, glitz, and yarn! OH-- and knit items!

...and the June 09 Yarn Recipients ARE...

2009-06-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce the lucky June 09 "Journey Hat Kit" recipients ~

Winner #1 is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-06-21 17:56:04 UTC

Carla!

Carla said...

When is a door not a door. When it's ajar!

Try not to convulse with laughter everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner# 2 is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-06-21 17:56:28 UTC

Elaine!
Elaine said...: What's gray, has big ears and a trunk?

A mouse going on vacation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONGRATULATIONS to BOTH winners~!

Next month's giveaway fun will be up and running near the end of July!

If you would like to be contacted when the new giveaway is up go to the shop and scroll down-- the newsletter subscription link is at the bottom of every page on MaterialWhirled.com!

2009 Yarn Giveaway #5 ~ TWO Journey Hat Kits!

2009-06-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am no longer taking entries for this giveaway.
Check recent entries for NEXT month's giveaway.
Entries ended with comment #43~

I did not offer a May giveaway, so for June I am offering a DOUBLE giveaway...
2 Journey Hat Kits! (scroll down for entry details)
I will be randomly choosing TWO winners!

ONE Ladybug Journey Hat kit and ONE Skull Journey Hat kit
(if you win, you can choose which one you want)

(see more Ladybug Journey Hat pics here)

Ladybug Journey Hat Kit comes with...
~ 220 yards of a worsted BFL in my Charlotte Scarlett colorway (pic shows different yarn)
~ Glass ladybug beads
~ Printed pattern for hat and instructions for beading

(see more Skull Journey Hat pics here)

Skull Journey Hat Kit comes with...
~ 220 yards of a worsted BFL in my Acid Grasshopper colorway
~ Wooden skull beads
~ Printed pattern for hat and instructions for beading

GIVEAWAY DETAILS>>>>>

TO ENTER, entertain me!
Simply place a comment in this blog entry with your favorite joke.
The cornier the better! (try to keep it clean and punny)

OH- and only one entry per person please?

On Saturday June 20th I will enter the number of each comment (first comment is number 1, etc.) into a random number generator online. I will post the winner here in the blog as well as emailing the Material Whirled newsletter list! To join, click here (link is at the bottom of every page on the site). Please make sure I can find your email info.
If I post your name here on in the newsletter, contact me and we can work out the fun details!

A FREE MATERIAL WHIRLED Journey Hat Kit!
a $30 dollar value!
(includes free shipping to the continental US)

I plan to do one giveaway per month ...So spread the word!

Journey Hat Beaded Variation~

2009-06-09T16:26:00.001-07:00

How to add beads to embellish your Journey Hat! (base pattern here)

You will need an even number of beads. If using smaller beads (as in pink hat below), you will want to use more than if they are large (such as with the lady bugs or skulls shown here).

It will make your life easier if the hole in the bead is large enough to accommodate both strands of yarn. Beads are added to the yarn right before they are knit in (see instructions below). This way if they are tight on the yarn, you don't have to fight them while knitting the entire brim, etc.

Plan to space your beads evenly spaced among 96 stitches. (Simple math... if using 8 beads- they will be placed every 12 stitches, if using 6 beads- place every 16 st, if using 12 beads- place every 12 st, etc., etc.)

Start the basic pattern and knit the brim... I typed the added instructions in RED below.
You also need the original pattern.... (printable link).

Materials: ~
~ 1 skein of worsted weight yarn, approx. 210+ yards (knit from both ends of the wound skein)
**A DK or light worsted will work well also!
~ Size 8, 16 inch circular needle
~ Size 10 1/2, 16 inch circular needle
~ Size 10 1/2 dpn
~ Tape measure
~ Yarn sized needle
~ Beads!

Brim~
Cast 64 st onto size 8 circ. needle.
K3P1 rib for 2 inches (approx. 11 rows)

Body~
Switch to 10 1/2 circ. needle.
Round 1, Purl
Round 2, Knit
Round 3, Increase round, *K2, M1*, continue * entire round, increasing to 96 st. (M1 by picking up and knitting the bar between stitches)
Break the yarn, string your beads on, and knot it back together. Leave ends long enough to weave in when the hat is completed. (Tip-- use a tiny crochet hook to pull the yarn through the beads. It's hard to find a yarn needle with an eye small enough to fit through your beads). It looks best if you can pull both strands of yarn through the bead.
ADDED ROUND~ Knit~When it is time to add a bead, simply slide down to your needle and keep knitting.
Round 4, Purl

From now on follow the original pattern as written. (printable link).

Be sure to send me pictures of your masterpieces!

Black Cat Journey Hat ~ Seed Stitch Top Variation

2009-06-09T15:52:00.001-07:00

A custom order hat, knit from hand dyed black alpaca. It reminds me of my black cat~ she looks black until the sun shines on her, then she is really a dark dark brown.

I knit the top in a seed stitch, which I feel adds interest when using a solid color.

(I still need to write up instructions on where/how to add the beads~ doing this in a separate post)

Click here for the link to the basic Journey Hat Pattern.

Seed Stitch variation~

~Knit the Journey Hat pattern as written through round 12.

~ You need to knit a seed stitch in the round on an odd number of stitches. This means you will have an odd number when you begin decreasing, so once you place your markers, the first section of stitches will have one more stitch than the others. (I know, this may throw some of you retentive knitters into a fritz, think of it as creative therapy! ) Just ignore it and knit your decreases as if you had an even amount.

~Round 13~ M1 , *P1, K1* , repeat entire round. (97 stitches)

~Round 14 and on... Knit in seed stitch until your hat measures 5 inches from the edge, then begin your decrease rounds as follows...

Decreases~

In seed pattern, place a marker every 12 stitches (remember, your first section will have 13 st)
When decreasing in seed stitch, you need to knit (or purl) 3 stitches together. This will keep your seed pattern from looking all wonky. If the first of these 3 stitches is a knit stitch, K3tog, if the first of these 3 stitches is a purl stitch, P3tog. Got it?

To keep things simple, I wrote the decrease instructions as KNIT (K), but make sure you keep to the seed pattern.

~Decrease round 1~ *K9, K3tog* Continue in this pattern entire round.
~Knit 3 rounds normally
~Decrease round 2~ K8, K3tog* Continue in this pattern entire round.
~Knit 3 rounds normally
~Decrease round 3~ K7, K3tog* Continue in this pattern entire round.
~Knit 2 rounds normally
Continue to in this manner and knit 2 rounds normally between each decrease row until you have 9 stitches left on your needles. Switch to your dpn when you feel it is necessary.
Thread needle and connect all remaining stitches and secure, closing the hole.

meow!

Yarns and Journals~

2009-06-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning updating the yarn shop. I bribed the girls with a trip to the lake to swim if they left me alone in peace all morning. Personally, I think it is too cold to swim, but I am not the one who will be getting wet, so I suppose I can suffer through some knitting-by-the-water time.
sigh. poor me.

Here are some shots of my art journal, I added some of my gut images. Some of the images show on other pages once they are turned. I love this, love how it all just works out somehow.

and.... some yarn pics!

Off to the lake!

It Takes Guts!

2009-05-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

And I have them!
I have pictures to prove it!
Went to the hospital last Saturday with chest pains... scary scary scary.
Nothing wrong with my heart. I have an upcoming doc appt to find out what is up-- I will spare you the gory details. This blog is my happy place. And these pictures make me so very happy.

I am such a nerd. I was so excited about them the CT scan-dude burned me a cd of them.
Images are slices of me from either front to back or top to bottom.

Heart lungs liver~

Kidneys~
Lungs~

Lungs, kidneys and ovaries~

Serendipity and Ezmaralda~

2009-05-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

I love serendipity. lovelovelove...

This may sound a bit rambly, but you should be used to that by now. (grin)

I am taking a class at ArtFiberFest taught by the talented Deirdra Doan. We are making dolls- and I am excited to get myself back into making more dolls again-- it's been years and I miss it.
The other day I was reading Deirdra's blog and noticed this fabulous scarf her friend Lulu was wearing... wait! That scarf looks familiar! That's my Ezmaralda scarf-- which Lulu purchased from me at ArtFest08!
This scarf was obviously made just for Lulu Moon! See? Serendipity! (entry link)

So Deirdra and Lulu and I have been emailing and we are setting a studio day-- here in my chaos- (good reason to clean), with her, Lulu, Jackie and myself. New friends who are on the same wavelength. Perfection.

So-- go visit their blogs.
Deirdra's link~
Lulu's link~

Here are some shots of the Ezmaralda Yarn (before it's transformation into a scarf).

Art Outside and Color Inspiration~

2009-05-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

This morning I was dozing on the couch, after waking up before 5am! I had a cat on my legs and I was watching the tree limbs blow back and forth. I was wondering what was going to get my attention first today. After deciding (it wasn't hard to do so) that I will work on my demo for ArtFiberfest, I realized that I have not blogged in a week! gasp!
So this post is to catch up on what has been 'a-happenin'

Last weekend Paul took OFF (a rarity) and we played in the dirt most of the weekend.
Tree-Hugging-Dirt-Worshipping-Granola-Eaters that we are. Sat. morning we took a Master Composting class, taught by Dr. Rot. Informative. We compost by throwing all our compostables in a big pile outside and turning it randomly. So we learned a ton about what we are doing right and wrong. After that we decided to groom the front garden a bit. Well "I" got involved, so it turned into a sculpture session!
How FUN!
We had these huge, hideous juniper bushes -the ones that smell like cat pee?-- ugh.
I guess them to be at least 20+ years old.
Here is a pic of the first monster we removed~

Guess what we found underneath??

A cobble stone wall!

I was beside myself about it.... I looked for gnomes and fairies but they must have gotten away too fast.

Then we removed the second bush-- which always reminded me of a giant tribble. It looked like it would scurry off any moment.
Paul standing by the dismembered bush-- shows how monstrous the thing was.... Paul is almost 6'6 tall!

After~

House shot before bush monster removal....and After bush monster removal...

Other fun shots from the weekend...

Amazing azalea and rhododendron bushes we drove by.... astounding color!

Flowers I bought at Farmer's Market...

Clayboard Video~

2009-05-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

It's UP! The video of Jackie and myself playing with clayboard and experimenting with the tools she gave me for my b-day.
(See previous post with more pics)

You can see me in my fiber/painting studio, see my wall of fiber (I know-- it's an illness, a sick amount of fiber) and see Ezmaralda the studio cat in her basket. It is strategically placed so the heat vent on the ceiling blows directly on her(the diva).

Oh-- and go visit Jackies and Liz's site-- IllustrationStories.com. It is very inspiring and FUN!

IllustratingStories.com - Creating with Claybord from Illustrating Stories on Vimeo.

The girls and I are leaving now for yarn shop crawl (tour?) in Portland with my friend Ruth and her sprite Zoe (who is 4). I will take pics and share my day with you!

The Art Journal Itch~

2009-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Not sure where this itch is coming from. I have always been very fascinated with other artist's journals and sketchbooks. I dabble in them myself. Mine are more of like note-taking OCD and random collage. Nothing too impressive but they make me happy.

I am making the covers from vinyl coated 3 ring binders we have had for years. Upcycling!
There is cardboard under that vinyl. Once I deconstruct it I tape it all back together and gesso it. Some of them I glue denim pieces to the bends to make it stronger and some I use canvas pieces. All get a good coating of gesso. They are all in the painting stage. I am building layers of color right now.
Here they are... I will keep posting as they progress.

This one is going to be a "Fiber Art Diva" journal. Not sure if I will keep it or sell it. Inspired by ArtFiberFest ladies.
The base is a vintage Singer Sewing guide binder I scored at Goodwill.
I gesso'd and painted the cover and let the sewing maching image show through so I can feature it in the final design (still very unfinished). The inside cover will be left untouched. Not sure what I will do for the pages. I think I will leave the tabbed divider pages and add blank and decorated papers in between.

This cover will be for my "Creative Calender". Inspired by Pam Garrison and Gennine.
No pages yet-- but soon!

Cover laid open~ Still very 'in-progress"~

I am in LOVE with my new neon gaffers and duct tape. love love love (swoon)

These two are gifts for my nieces.... who love to draw and create. This gives them a place to store their drawings and to write their magical ideas down.

Covers~

Inside~

This cover is large and is for a collaboration with Jackie and Liz. More on that later as it develops. I am exploring the color yellow.
Back to work!

Art Fits & Worms~

2009-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Lotta Pictures today!
There has been work happening in the studio lately. Not nearly as much as my brain wants to create, but art is happening nonetheless.
I have noticed that I seem to work in fits. For a while it was a knitting frenzy. Journey Hats.
Then spinning. My yarns are such a satisfying medium for me, but I burn myself out. I spin until my elbows and back are all knotted up and that makes me cranky.
I am in the midst of a painting fit. And an Earth Mamma fit. I have come to realize that everything I do I approach as an art medium. My girls. My house. My garden. Heck, I even sleep like I am making art. (manic? haha) This great epiphany transpired at ArtFest in April.
(oooh-- great yarn name- Transpired Epiphany!) I think I talked about this before....I frequently find myself in a state of angst over what I am NOT getting done. I should be making more art, or I should be spending more one-on-one with the girls, or my house is an embarrasing mess, and on and on and on. It is all my art. I love it all and will forever dip from one thing to the next in loops. I DO get things accomplished, I DO produce. My girls are fantastic people. My house will get messy again in 5 minutes anyway.
Enough ranting. Here is what is UP!

I am creating a rash of art journals. Not sure what will come of them, but I have an itch that will not get scratched. Some are gifts for my nieces, some I intend to sell and some are for ?? me? not sure. In the cover-making stage now and I am planning a separate blog post for them.

Yesterday Jackie came over and forced me to paint/play. She took a video for her site that I am sure will mortify me. I was all decked out in my house-hag-wear complete with my art apron and a binder clip in my hair. loverly. But realistic. No time to get barbied up. Who really does that anyway? Get all prettied up to paint?
I will post the link here when she publishes it. OR RSS her site or watch for it. IllustratingStories.com

We played with clayboard. We took a clayboard class together at ArtFest where I created this...

Jackie gave me clayboard and tools for my birthday!

Here are some shots of the day's work.

Close ups~

Last night we (the family) took a Vermiculture class. Worms! We take care of them and feed them our compost and they will do what worms do....poop! This poo is gold to feed our plants.

Worm Wranglers!

Today I am having a spinning fit. Look for a shop update the endish of this week.

Birthdays!

2009-05-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

This month is birthday month at the Hanlin house!
Mine was May 10th-- Mother's Day! I turned 39 years young.

We spent the day at the coast. I am such a fan of the ocean. sigh.
It rejuvenates and relaxes me so much. This time we went to Long Beach peninsula in WA. We explored Ocean Park and visited the yarn shop there.

(more pics here...)

Then on to Cape Disappointment State Park where there are 2 awesome lighthouses and the most amazing old growth trees! The bulk of our time was spent walking the trails and communing with the trees.

An artist sketching a tree~

Yesterday my Ann turned 10! My baby. sniff.
Happy Birthday my beautiful, silly girl!

A gift rabbit for Ann-- Eve whipped up this crocheted carrot hat in just an hour~!
Off the computer now for some creating time-- Jackie is coming over and forcing me to paint. She is so mean.
But first some fiber play!
Have a spectacular day!

Journey Hat (Sock Yarn Version) Prototype #1

2009-05-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

" Either you run the day or the day runs you. " ~ Jim Rohn

Well that sums up the week I have been having. I feel 'run', manipulated by my schedule and my obligations. Of course I am the one who sets my schedule and commits to my obligations.
It is what it is. I love my life, but tire myself out. I wouldn't change a thing about it, except maybe make more time, but no one can do that.

So here is what I have been doing in my downtime.
The first prototype of the Journey Hat made from Sock Yarn!

Modeled by my Ann~ who will be 10 on Monday!

The hat came out smaller than I anticipated, and will fit a child head around 18-19 inches.
Next hat will fit 20-21 inch head and should have more slouc.
Knit from double stranded fingering weight superwash merino.

Off to shop for birthday paraphrenalia!

Double the Journey~

2009-05-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Here are two more Journey Hats! I am addicted. obsessed.
I want to try every combination I can think of. But I shouldn't really. reality you know. Reality aside, I am still going. In my spare-time. down-time.
(I have made two more since these two that I haven't photographed yet. I will post them soonish.)

Drum Roll......

Acid Grasshopper Skull Journey Hat

Knit from my Acid Grasshopper BFL ~
(as of this posting there are still a few skeins available in the shop)
Email me and I will sell you some of the wooden skulls too!
AND
Denim Diva Journey Hat
Knit from a chunky merino I painted.
(Chunky = double stranded worsted)Off to spin more orders!

What the What?

2009-05-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Phew!

Feels like I have been out of it for a while. Fought some odd detox/ blood sugar/ hormonal thing for over a week, then had to prep a booth for First Friday (see previous post).

Friday was a blast, but sales-wise was not. The street was supposed to be closed, but the city would not approve it. So... as you can see in my pics, the cars were whizzing by the entire time and was quite un-nerving. sigh. Not sure if I will do the rest of the summer. I have a full plate with ArtFiberFest and my Sock Summit booth coming up.

Right now? I have orders galore to fill (yay orders-- keep 'em coming!) and need.to.catch.up.

SO.... here are booth pics.

Back soon with more Journey Hat Pics!

First Friday in Vancouver~

2009-04-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

This is what I have spent the past few days doing....
Preparing for First Friday!
I just found out about it last week so I have not had a huge amount of time to prepare, but I am taking what I can fit into my booth space. If you live nearby, come and see me? I would love to put a face with some our your names and computer identities... (grin)
I will be set up in front of Stitchcraft, LLC, my local yarn shop at 2110 Main St.
Here are more details-- and email me if you have any questions about it.

I will have my handspuns, my hand dyed yarns, knit items (that are not availablel on the site!) and yarns by the many spinners represented on MW.

Here is a shot of a sandwich board with more info....
See you there! I will post pics of the booth in a few days...

...and the April 09 Yarn Recipient is...

2009-04-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

The lucky April 09 "Custom Vertigo Scarf Kit" Recipient IS...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-04-26 16:17:35 UTC

(hear the crowd roar?)

delanequilts said...: Be who you are and say what you think because those who mind don't matter and those who matter won't mind. (Dr. Seuss)

delanequilts !

delanequilts, contact me and we will work out your pattern choices and other details!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Next month's giveaway fun will be up and running near the end of May!

If you would like to be contacted when the new giveaway is up go to the shop and scroll down-- the newsletter subscription link is at the bottom of every page on MaterialWhirled.com!

ArtFiberFest ~Have you registered yet?

2009-04-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

There is still room for ArtFiberfest in June! This is an amazing event that I have been dying to go to for years, now it is close to me so I can go- AND I am teaching a mini-workshop!

Top 10 reasons why you should come to Artfiberfest retreat this summer...
Well, OTHER than the fact that Material Whirled will be there... (grin)
Link to my mini-workshop I am teaching . AND I will be selling my yarns and other treasures at vendor night!

1. The price is inclusive (all meals and lodging for 4 nights)...there will be no hidden expenses at the retreat.

2. Everyone will get an added bonus of 3 mini workshops (GRIN) on thursday night in addition to their 3 BIG workshops.

3. The dorms are amazing at Reed college. They were just built a year ago and represent superb architecture and layout. (even though I live locally I am totally staying in the dorms--!)

4. Portland is a destination in itself, FULL of funky inspiration. You'll get a double whammy!

5. The food is superb at Reed. Tons of choices!

6. This will be a nice start to a creative and productive summer...Our teachers will kick start you on some project ideas.

7. I will give a mini lesson on how to make my quilted fabric journals for anyone who wants to learn.

8. The women who come to this are absolutely the best. Always happy and content....we think it has something to do with working with fabric and fiber.

9. You deserve this! You've worked hard!

10. Being creative is one of the best things you can do for yourself and the world around you. And there isn't any place better to get energized with the creative bug than Artfiberfest.

All workshops still have space at this point....but won't for long. we will update our website every few days as workshops fill. Find out all the information at www.teeshamoore.com or email me if you have any questions...materialwhirledyarns@gmail.com

Artfiberfest is happening on June 24-28 at Reed College in Downtown Portland, Oregon.

Here are pictures of the classes I will be taking... I cannot WAIT!
Art Studio Journal by Roxanne Padgett

Custom Apron by Syd McCutcheon

and Princess Bug Doll by Dierdra Doan

Handspun Journey v1

2009-04-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at making my Journey Pattern from some of my handspun.

Handspun used was spun by me like 3? years ago and was a scarf I frogged to use the yarn because I LOVE it so. Yarn was a 2 ply worsted to chunky, not as bulky as most of my yarns. See the mohairy aura? love that.

I am still working on a version for one skein of my typical bulky to super bulky handspun. The trouble I run into is that it is too thick to make the lace rows, so I need to modify the lace pattern to accommodate the bulkiness.

I MODIFIED the pattern as follows– and these are loose instructions mainly for my notes.

Changed cast on stitches to 56.

Kept to pattern until decreases…. changed the purl 2 rows to Purl 1 row between the first 2 decreases....

and about half way through the top portion of the hat I started to decrease every row as it was getting too heavy. This made the top more flat, like a beret. I like this though.

I am supposed to be spinning... but woke with a headache and the meds made me floopyish. meh. Afraid to knit, that I will screw it up, so here I am dibbling around on the time-sucking-computer. haha.

K-- spanking myself soundly and sending me back to the wheel.

ooh-- hat on needles is Acid Grasshopper green with wooden skull beads! almost done. Pics soon.

Ladybug Ladybug~

2009-04-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ladybug Journey Hat~

A beaded version of my free Journey Hat Pattern...

Modeled by my Eve.

When selecting beads for your hat, make sure that your yarn will fit in the holes, preferably through BOTH strands of yarn (this hat is knit with double stranded worsted or dk yarn).

The Ladybug Hat hat was knit from Malabrigo worsted merino in their Amoroso colorway, which is one of my favorites. (slurp). The ladybug beads were from my stash.

I am considering putting some Journey Beaded kits on the site, which would come with yarn, beads, and printed a printed pattern and beadign instructions along with embellishment ideas. Do you think that is a good idea? It would save you time finding the right yarn and bead combo that would actually work, both asthetically and functionally.

I am working on 2 more beaded versions for prototypes and am writing up some simple instructions on how to string and manage the beads and how to accomodate them into the pattern.

2009 Yarn Giveaway #4~ Custom Vertigo Scarf Kit

2009-04-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am no longer taking entries for this giveaway.

Check recent entries for NEXT month's giveaway.
Entries ended with comment #81~

Design your own custom Vertigo Stop, Drop & Weave scarf kit!

Keep reading to learn the details.

Kit comes with...
~ 20 yd skein of a Vertigo yarn in YOUR COLOR CHOICE (shown in fuchsia) To see more Vertigo ideas visit here.
~ 220 yards of a worsted yarn -also in your color choice. No ideas? I can make suggestions.
~ Pattern/Instructions for the Stop Drop & Weave scarf. (designed by Angela Place)

Scroll down for more eye candy photos of the scarf and yarn ideas...

Vertigo is our Earth Happy yarn! Spun by Material Whirled!

Spun from as much foraged and recycled materials as possible. Created from a wool base with fiber scraps, yarn scraps, trim bits and glitz all whirled and spun together! Plied with mostly re-purposed or mill-end threads.
Each stitch is an adventure!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS>>>>>

TO ENTER, inspire me!
Simply place a comment in this blog entry with your favorite inspirational quote. The cornier the better!
OH- and only one entry per person please?

On Saturday April 26th I will enter the number of each comment (first comment is number 1, etc.) into a random number generator online. I will post the winner here in the blog as well as emailing the Material Whirled newsletter list! To join, click here (link is at the bottom of every page on the site).
If I post your name here on in the newsletter, contact me and we can work out the fun details!

A FREE Custom MATERIAL WHIRLED Stop Drop & Weave Scarf Kit!
a $36 dollar value!
(includes free shipping to the continental US)

I plan to do one handspun yarn giveaway per month ...So spread the word!

Beaded OCD....

2009-04-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wait-- that is a GREAT skein name (writing down).

I am having an obsessive knit-attack. Making Journey Hats.
Of course I have a list a mile long and a tight schedule created to induce maximum production for my summer shows. Plus orders to fill-- which I am working on in between knit fits.
Spin, knit, spin, knit. I spin for a rush of time, then knit for a rush of time. Seems to be working well, I feel all relaxed and satisfied.

OH-- I almost forgot-- I created a new page in the shop that features yarns that will work well with The Journey Hat pattern! Some are my hand dyed yarns and some are handspun from the amazing spinners represented on MW.

Here are shots of the latest hat I completed...
It is knit from my Burgundy Bubbles Alpaca. I added beads, which are very very subtle in this hat. They add a feminine sparkle. I am working on some pattern variations with instructions on how to add the beads.

Modeled by Jackie Sparkles.

Today's lesson...heard loud and clear.

2009-04-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

I woke this morning to a sinus headache and some very obvious words.
I love when things come through loud and clear.

This quote was on Medium, one of my favorite shows.
"Time is priceless yet it costs us nothing. You can do anything you want with it but you can't own it. You can spend it but you can't keep it. And once you've lost it, there is no getting it back, it's just gone." ~ Allison DuBois

This email from the Universe was in my inbox.

Oh yeah, Reenie, I forgot to tell you...

You get as many "do-overs" as you like. Of course, you never know you're living a "do-over" until it's over.
There are lots of reasons for wanting a "do-over." Most of all, people want another chance to do things they were afraid to do the first time, and to say things they were afraid to say. Oddly enough, it's not their mistakes they want to rework, but their "unused" minutes.
Yeah, pretty nifty, but you should know that it isn't any easier the next time, and because no two ever go exactly the same, the gifts, opportunities, and loves of one, never appear the same way again. Never.
So all in all, it's better to live as if there are no "do-overs," so that you won't need one. But I thought I'd share this with you anyway, to work in the bits about fear, mistakes, and how precious today's opportunities really and truly are.

K-- I get it-- loud and clear. No two-by-four upside the head necessary.

I am off to spend some time snuggling my man, who is home today. and nurse this headache.