two kitties

New Heather Ross at Pink Chalk Fabrics

"No new projects. No new projects." I keep chanting this to myself as a reminder not to buy anything or start anything until I've completed a few of the projects on my work table. Trust me - they're all still works-in-progress.

But I might break that resolution, because Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics has the new Heather Ross prints in her online store. Finding Heather Ross fabric is hard to do - it sells out quickly! And I would love to have these fish swim across a new pillowcase or two.

Surface Design Idea: Graffiti Lace

This idea from Threadbanger's "DecorItYorself" series could be used in lots of different ways. I like the idea of using fabric spray paint on t-shirts, even painting a wall or piece of furniture.

Lacy New Zealand Scarf

Once a month, our local knitting group - "The Castoffs"  - meets to learn and share new techniques. Each meeting starts with a "show and tell", and this month, I brought my house guest, Debra.

This month, Sue brought back a pattern that she found on a recent trip to New Zealand. That's Sue in the black t-shirt. (That's me - second from the front on the left-hand side.)

This wonderful piece is her "Lacy New Zealand Scarf", made of yarn spun from the hair of the Kiwi possum. The yarn is very light and soft. It almost feels like cashmere.

Here is the pattern, if you'd like to give it a try. You'll need lace weight yarn and needles a size bigger than recommended on the yarn label. Debra and I think it would look great with any kind of yarn - I'd like to try a colorful sock yarn.

YO = Yarn Over
Cast on 26 stitches.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K6 *(YO) 2 times, K1, (YO) 3 times, K1 (YO) 4 times, K1, (YO) 3 times, K! (YO) 2 times, K6. Repeat from * 1 more time.
Row 4: Knit, but drop all YO sts off the needles. You are back to 26 sts.
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit

Stitches may be pulled into shape after finishing row 2 or row 6.

Row 7: K1, *(YO) 2 times, K1, (YO) 3 times, K1, (YO) 4 times, K1, (YO) 3 times, K1, (YO) 2 times, K6.
Repeat from * 2 more times, but end with K1 instead of K6
Row 8: Knit, but drop all YO sts off of the needle. You are back to 26 sts.

Repeat the rows 1-8 until desired length is reached. Loosely cast off.

Etsy's Alchemy program: Kaffe Fassett Sundress

Awhile back, I was using Etsy's Alchemy service to get some things done. Alchemy links sellers with craft skills to buyers looking for custom goods.

This sundress was made for me by Amanda Archer, an independent clothing designer based in San Francisco. 

I sent Amanda the fabric (Kaffe Fassett Midnight Organic Dots) and the notions, and she modified the store bought pattern to fit my body. Because I am, ahem, somewhat bosom-y, this is no small task. I needed someone who had professional pattern-making skills and I found her.

This custom beauty was just $60, not including fabric. I love it.

Mod/Punk Duvet Cover

Tessa and Talia are out of school so that means lots of summer projects over at my house. Yay! This weekend, Tal and I worked on a new duvet cover and pillowcases for her room (this is our guest room though.)

Tal picked out all the fabrics, designed the color blocks, cut the fabric and sewed the pieces together. I fended off the white kitty (see his glowing eyes on the staircase?) and swept in at an emotional low point to help with the ties, but otherwise - it's all hers. 

Pretty wild, huh?

Pink by Post: Where to Buy Modern Fabrics Online

Fabric genius Kathy Mack recently launched an online store, Pink by Post.  The store offers patterns, fabric and tools for the "modern sewist." I love this fabric - Snow Bunnies in Bathing Suits!

Felted Sweater Kitties

It's been awhile since I've done anything with felted sweaters. Just not the right weather, I guess. But I love these 'creatures' EveryLittleThing is making. A good use of sleeves and very cute!

How to Make a Skirt from a Pillowcase and a Beach Bag from an Old Towel...

I squeezed in some time at the thrift store this morning after running a couple of errands in town. When I saw these three lovelies, at 40 cents apiece, I thought they might look great restyled as skirts!

This project has been on my mind ever since I saw the skirt Belladia made. You can find her photos and tutorial right here. Head over to etsy.com and search for 'pillowcase skirts' and you'll be amazed by what comes up. I wonder if my Marimekko obsessed mum has any unmatched sets in her linen closet?

How about this little number? There is a pattern you'll find in Angry Chicken's book, Bend the Rules Sewing, that looks just like this! A very trendy, inexpensive gift for the toddlers in your life.

This towel is another thrift find. Past it's prime as home decor but I'm thinking it will make an excellent beach bag. We can never have too many of them around here! I'm going to use Martha's simple instructions.

 

Fabric Collage

collage 3, originally uploaded by thisisloveforever.

I love this fabric collage from thisisloveforever - I wish I had seen it before it sold. I have a growing letter H collection in my art studio. I also love to use images of the heart in my own collage. Sigh.

Beetle Wing Embroidery of Michael Cook

This 19th century mat is decorated with beetle wings, gold braid and gold thread. It was made in India and I found it in a random search of the museum collection at the Embroiderer's Guild in the UK. (Photo credit: Stephen Brayne.)

I fell in with the piece, and that love led me to the contemporary work of fiber artist Michael Cook. This is a person I so wish I could have dinner with. Below is a detail shot of one of Cook's beetle wing pieces.

Now you're feeling it, aren't you?! They are so beautiful - like living jewels. Not even mentioning the deeper, more disturbing thing about stitching a wing - a flying thing - down forever.

Michael Cook sent a very kind email answering all my questions about beetle wing embroidery. I first wanted to know what it is like to work with the wings. He replied,

"...the wings are actually quite sturdy, like a fingernail...[fiber artist] Victoria Z. Rivers taught me the best way to pierce them. The wings are steamed in a colander for five minutes over boiling water, then pierced with a needle held in a pin vise. A cork behind the curve of the beetle wing will protect the wing and your fingers. Be sure to pierce from the shiny side to the dull side, if you do it the other way, it will split..."

Cook stitches the wings to fabric using a small #10 needle and silk embroidery thread spun from his own moth colony.

You can find more of Michael Cook on his website. He has published a wealth of information about silk manufacture and culture. There is a great online article about beetles in textiles here. For general information about the history and techniques of beetle wing embroidery, Michael recommends checking out this book by Jane Nicholas. Can't wait for mine to come in the mail.

Digital Textile Printer

Over the weekend, I flipped through my April issue of Print magazine, and found an article about the Center for Excellence of Digital Inkjet Printing of Textiles at Philadelphia University.

Just week, I wrote about digital textile printing and Nicole Brunklaus' Blond Curtain. I thought you might like to see what the Center's digital inkjet textile printer looks like. (Photo: Chad Muthard)

British designer Julie Haslam uses this technology to produce her Domestic Bliss home goods collection.

These napkins were inspired by the handwritten recipe and craft files that belonged to Haslam's grandmother.

Karin Wagner's Felt Jewelry

My love affair with felt began at Robin Richman in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood.

That's where I first saw Karin Wagner's felt flower jewelry. I love the intense pigments in this necklace.

I own two Karin Wagner pieces - a flower brooch and ring. The ring covers nearly half the fingers on my right hand. It's hard to have a bad day when you have that on your finger. 

Digital Inkjet Printing on Textiles: Nicolette Brunklaus' Blond Curtain

Nicolette Brunklaus printed "Blond Curtain" on 100% silk with a digital inkjet textile printer. Each panel measures 55" wide by 118" high.

Digital inkjet allows textile designers and artists to play with and print on fabric in completely unexpected ways. The computer allows artists to upload, manipulate, and layer digital images - even video - and print artwork directly on fabric in a single run.

This is a dramatic departure from the work that can be produced using traditional rotary screen printing, which requires multiple screens for multiple color runs, and strict size limits for intended designs.

As a flexible and relatively affordable surface design technique, digital inkjet seems to be catching the attention of artists and designers on a limited budget and those frustrated by the creative limits of rotary screen print.

Rather than taking up space on inventory shelves (hoping for a sale), pieces like "Blond Curtain" can be printed on fabric one-at-a-time as each order comes in. It's a whole new way of working, and the one leading the way is Hitoshi Ujiie at Philadelphia University. 

Japanese "Tie-Dye": Arimatsu Shibori Techniques

Lately, I've been thinking alot about Shibori. Probably because I just bought this skirt, and the family teenagers have been begging me to organize a Spring tie-dye session.

But, actually, tie-dye is to Shibori what paint-by-numbers is to Rembrandt. Shibori is a centuries old, traditional technique for embellishing kimono fabric. You'll see in this video how thousands of tiny, hand-tied knots create a dye resist on the fabric's surface.

I've heard it said that some women spend their entire working lives tying the same knot, over and over, all day long. Though this video is in Japanese, I think it gives a better introduction to the techniques and products of Arimatsu Shibori than I ever could. 

Jeanne Williamson: The Uncommon Quilter

And while we're on the topic of surface design techniques, how about this?

Jeanne Williamson stitches a quilt sandwich, then paints the BACK SIDE with fabric paint.

The paint seeps through the stitch lines in a deep and meaningful way.

I'd like to try it with the sewing machine embroidery techniques demonstrated in this Threadbanger video.   

Jeanne Williamson: Uncommon Surface Design Techniques

   This summer, I'm going to be ALL ABOUT the surface design techniques laid out in Jeanne Williamson's Uncommon Quilter.

I'm so excited about this technique, I'm verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic:

The Women's Liberation Movement did not result in either liberation or movement. Discuss.

Ok. What we are looking at here are wax crayon rubbings of pea pods on fabric. The wax is melted into to the cloth with a warm iron.   Williamson has appliqued the rubbings on to a DRYER LINT quilt sandwich.

I don't know what I'm going to do with this idea, but I absolutely can't wait to try it. Buy the book - it's amazing.

Tamar Mogendorff Birds

I want a Tamar Mogendorff bird house wall. Like I've never wanted anything bird before.  But at $185 a pop, this will have to remain a dream.

Embroidery with a Regular Sewing Machine

This post from Threadbanger inspired me. GirlPopcorn gives a "how to" lesson on embroidery using line drawings and a regular old sewing machine. The possibilities for art and clothing are endless.

I'm guessing that GirlPopcorn makes this look easy because she's done it so many times. When I do this project, I'll probably just do a simple line drawing so that I can master the process.

I might start with a freehand drawing using a disappearing ink pen or an iron-on transfer pencil. I'd also like to try using embroidery transfer paper to copy a drawing from an old book.

Free Vintage Crewel Pattern

My husband and I love to go for long drives on the weekend. We often wind up in some small town in time for lunch, which gives me a few minutes to get my bearings and find a good local thrift store.

I found this Avon crewel kit in one such town - Prineville.  The issue date reads 1973.

Of all the vintage kits I've found in my travels, this is one I might actually keep for myself. Perhaps make it into a pillow.

Here is a scan of the pattern diagram if you'd like to give it a go.

Download scan00111.jpg

Cynthia Treen's Felted Rocks

Mike and I drove down to Prineville on Saturday so that I could check out the High Desert Wool Growers annual Fiber Market.

I felt lucky to find some beautiful hand-dyed wool roving at $2 a bat.

At last, I can do this felted rock project from Cynthia Treen's Last-Minute Fabric Gifts.

(Photo credit: Karen Phillipi)

Betz White's Recycled Sweater Scarf

This beauty uses a simple version of traditional Japanese shibori in the sweater felting process.

Betz White has a complete tutorial for this scarf on Knitty. 

Knitty also has dozens upon dozens of fab knitting patterns that are a little left of center. I like Piggle .

Alive and Knitting!

I made it home. I've got two weeks of mandatory couch time, so I'm keeping busy working on three knitting projects.

Today, I finished the first one, the Portland Hat. I used Mountain Colors "Moguls" yarn, a favorite hand-dyed wool and nylon blend spun in Corvallis, Montana.

This pattern is a favorite in my knitting group. It's quick and easy and the special yarn gives it a great, bohemian texture. 

Felted Wool Projects: Betsy Chutchian's Wool Throw

I made a quick pitstop at The Quilt Gallery on my trip to Montana and found a great book by Betsy Chutchian and Betty Edgell.

Cotton & Ewe: Quilts Pincushiuons, Pillows and Wallhangings looks like a quilting book from the outside, but on the inside, there are countless project ideas for people who love felted wool.

This wool throw is made from recycled wool sportcoats and skirts. It's very simple to make and masculine enough to give a guy as a gift.

If you'd like to work with recycled suits but need a smaller project, you might try making an acorn pincushion.

Simple instructions with photos are available online at Old School Acres' Acorn Tutorial. Have fun!

Handmade Slippers with Felted Sweater Soles!

 

  I bought a copy of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine to put inside a crafty care-package for my friend Helena in Scotland.

I'd never really looked at it before, figuring the magazine was more for mom-crafters than aging, childless types like me.

But you know? Some of the stuff in there is pretty awesome. Check out Men in Hats.

I found this great slipper project by Heather Ross in the February/March 2008 issue. The slippers are made with Heather Ross fabric and soles of felted wool. I've got felted wool. I've got fabric. I've got vintage ric-rac. Lots.

All beautiful dresses start with...

   A puddle of silk and a little interference.

This brocade will become an Easter coat for Lucy.

Airy Scarf: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts

airy scarf, knitting, Rowan kidsilk haze, originally uploaded by bleemenne.

I just started knitting the 'airy scarf' from Joelle Hoverson's book, Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. This is an ultra-simple pattern and I love the way it looks.

Vintage Embroidery: Crewel Pillow Kits and Hot Iron Transfers

My sewing closet is OVERFLOWING, so I've decided to sell some of the best quality vintage items from my stash.

I think some of these florals would look great cut up and embroidered with crewel wool on a felted sweater pincushion.

Visit my shop and you'll find this and other vintage crewel embroidery kits and hot iron transfers! 

Paddy Hartley: Project Facade at The Gillies Archive

The Gillies Archive holds the photographs and case notes that document the evolution of the facial reconstructive surgery techniques developed by Sir Harold Delf Gillies after World War I.

The artist Paddy Hartley has created a series of mixed-media/fiber works in response to what he learned about the lives of the men who underwent these pioneering surgeries, called Project Facade.

For the Project, Hartley constructs, alters and then embroiders uniforms that resemble those of World War I soldiers.

According to the website, "Each garment tells the fragmented personal history of a man who had to go back to his families with a seamed and shattered face." The uniforms are a kind of collage, alive with the stories of each man's life. They are beautiful, heartbreaking and complicated.

The broad masculinity of Project Facade is unusual in this stereotypically female domain - fiber and needlework.

The artist is male and the subjects embody masculine ideals - they are soldiers, war heroes, husbands and fathers. Such a patchwork of male-ness is seldom seen in fiber art.

You can see Hartley's work in person at Pricked: Extreme Embroidery,  on view at the Museum of Art and Design in New York until March 9, 2008 or at Project Facade online.

Take time to explore the website, but be cautious: the case files have graphic photos of the soldiers' devastating injuries.

Inkjet Printing on Fabric: How to Make a Photo Pillow

I came across this idea while flipping through my friend Julie's copy of Pillows and Throws.

I'm anxious to try it to see what the possibilities are  - more for fabric collage and freestyle embroidery than throw pillows.

It all seems fairly simple - print a photo on fabric; stitch to a backing and then machine stitch or hand embroider as desired.

Snip between the stitch lines, leaving the layers of fabric intact to add dimension.

But I'm just guessing, to be honest. I forgot to scan the directions and the book is at Julie's in Miami.

I bought a packet of printable fabric for the inkjet and I think I'm going to use one of my favorite photos of my husband.  He's the sweet one on the left.

A Small Knitting Notions Kit.

a
Bitty Bird pouches, originally uploaded by popsiedaisy.

The 'Bitty Bird Pouches' designed by Popsiedaisy have inspired me. I've been needing a little pouch for my knitting notions for this bag. I can easily pick up the bird theme and I know I have a coordinating sweater in my felted collection.