For the Holidays: Felted Leaves Garland

This simple pattern , courtesy of Red Heart, is easy to adapt to just about any time of year by altering colors. The one shown here is perfect for Christmas, whether coiled up as a candle ring, garlanding the tree, or bedecking  the mantle or banister. You could even use a template for holly, flowers, [...]

Tapestry Crochet Basket

This lovely basket reminds me of the twining method of basket making. The difference between this basket pattern and others I’ve run across is that it’s made with size 10 thread rather than heavier yarn. It’s beaded, but I’m not sure that beads would be necessary, more a matter of preference.  I’m very particular about [...]

Plants for Dyeing: Black Walnut

Instructions on how to make dye and ink from black walnut hulls

It’s Fall: Plants for Dyeing

Here in Connecticut, the end of summer and start of fall are great times for gathering plants for natural dyeing. I’ve written about a number of the plants that I’ve used with success in other posts, and for convenience, here’s a compilation of them:
General instrux included:
black walnut
goldenrod
Queen Anne’s Lace
comfrey
wild aster
onion skins
pokeweed
<

Knitting News: New Magazine

Interweave Knits Weekend.
Preview here.

Free Ebook on Teaching Knitting in Schools

Scotland’s Arran Knitting Company is offering a free guide to teachers to show how traditional knitting skills can be introduced to the next generation. Textile artist Lynn Gray Ross said, “I am providing a worldwide on-line resource for teachers of all ages and stages, based on my own experience and my work with primary and [...]

Knitting Tips: Mattress Stitch tutorial video

Looking for a great way to seam that knitting together? Berroco has posted a great video on how to make invisible seams, and it couldn’t be easier. I’ve got myself a new technique!

more about “Berroco® Multimedia | Videos“, posted with vodpod

Textile Tools: The Lucet

Lucet, as verb, is a method of making braided cording or lacing that dates from the Viking era. Lucet, as noun, is the name of the little 2 tined tool used to make the cord, which is strong, square, and only slightly elastic. There are many different techniques, each of which will produce a different [...]

Basic felting instructions

I’ve felted many knitted items and this is my basic procedure:
Felting tips

Agitation is the key to felting. To help increase the agitation, you may wish to add an old pair of jeans to the wash. Be careful not to add anything like towels, as lint [...]

It shrinks in the wash….

Felting, or to be more technical, fulling, is currently hot in the knitting world. As you probably know, it involves knitting something extra large, then shrinking it in the washer to the proper size. This past holiday season, I participated in several local craft fairs, and making and selling many pairs of felted bags [...]