Texture 101

Terracotta pots have never been so cozy.

Check out this article for instructions on how to make these felted flower pot covers, plus other ways to creatively contain green things.

Thanks, Barb, for the heads up on this!

Stashbuster #1

If you find yourself with a random collection of feltable wool, here's a nifty little project: Dryer Balls! They're a chemical-free way to beat static cling - literally - in your dryer. If you're living in a wintry (read: drydrydry heated) northern clime, you know how valuable it is to kick static's @$$ at every opportunity. Argh.

Now if only there was a way to knit away the constant salt stains on my black boots. Double argh.

Book Stash 101

Day 34 (26) of Blog365.

Greetings, all! Not a big news day here in the northland. Mild weather, almost to the point of boring. Kidlet and I spent the weekend at Nana and Papa's house again (closer proximity to all of the birthday goings-on, plus I don't want her staying in my apartment until mold issues are resolved - blech).

I worked at The Yarnery this afternoon, which was pleasantly busy until about an hour before the Super Bowl started, then [cricket, cricket, cricket]. I picked up a nice little pattern for knitted/felted coffee cup sleeves; pictures will come soon. Another item that, if I remember to bring it with me to a coffee shop, will save a tree or two. May have to make these for people I know...

If you are looking for some inspiration for the end of winter, I found a great website for sale priced books. Bargain Yarns has a great page of "damaged" knitting books for half price. The imperfections are cosmetic, generally cover or spine related, and the contents are uncompromised. The majority that I've seen have barely discernable flaws, and if they are for me anyway, no big dealio! Inventory varies from time to time, so check back often.

A ho-hum post for a ho-hum day, but hopefully savory details of projects and yarn tomorrow. Happy knitting!

got felt?

I typed the title of this post and started giggling (hello, inner 12-year-old child!), but throwing caution to the wind, I'm leaving it. On that note, any stray Googlers who landed here because of the title are going to be sorely disappointed - it's about the fabric.

A look back at my holiday knitting reveals quite a few - nay, many - felted objects. I'm prepared to call it a subconscious theme; you should do the same.

Previous posts o' mine mentioned that Going40 up and Went40 last Friday. To mark the occasion, his partner eWAC and I concocted a crafty display, inspired by this (ironically from a website featured on Going40's own Best of 2007 blog post). After felting many a thrift store sweater, I cut out letters and fashioned loops of Malabrigo yarn (40's fave - see the list again) to a rope of Misti Alpaca Super Chunky yarn and made this garland:

eWAC hung it in their home for Scooter to see on his natal morn, then transported it to the party that evening, where it hung above pictures from 40's childhood.

I really love how it turned out - squishy soft wool at every turn, and a recycled project to boot. What a wonderful world.

The seventh day of Christmas

A day late, but worth the wait? You'll have to be the judge of that. Here are the previously undocumented elements of Christmas giving:

Recycled Sweater Totes
These are listed in my sidebar FO's, but I never did blog about them. Last year I purchased a pile of thrift shop wool sweaters with the intent of re-purposing them a la Alterknits. Felted in the washer, cut and sewn, they became handy dandy totes. Made eight total. Kinda green, kinda cool.

Stitch Markers

I've been looking at markers on Etsy for months, and it finally dawned on me, "Oh, yeah, I can bead and bend wire." It's been a while, and it was nice to use those skills again. Made six sets with various stones and sterling wire. This is my first design, so we'll see how they evolve. Maybe I'll find a retail outlet somewhere...

Things that are green

a) earth-friendly knitting

b) Giuseppe Verdi (ok, a bit of a stretch)

I took my recycling out last night, walking past the obnoxiously large bag of plastic shopping bags I've been accumulating for about two years. (photo note: wine bottle is there as a size reference only) Remembering a blog posting I saw a few weeks ago, I grabbed two fistfuls of bags and a pair of scissors and headed to the living room. After much trimming, folding, cutting, slipknotting, and ball-winding, I have one healthy ball of plastic yarn to be knitted into a reusable French-style market bag. Depending on how time-intensive this little project is, this may be a "green gift" holiday item. At any rate, it's a great way to get a lot of use out of short-lived bags.

Digression from the green theme: today Kidlet wound her first lovely cakes of yarn using the swift and winder. It was Malabrigo, in pinks and yellows, for another little sweater. She was fascinated. I have a helper.

And now it's time for the opera break. Morro, ma prima in grazia is my favorite Verdi aria of all time. I don't think I would have used it for this ballet staging, but Karita Mattila sings it so wonderfully. Enjoy!