Don't Dilly, Don't Dally, Get This NOW

This pattern will be a free download until May 1, 2016 at that point it will list for $5.00. Enjoy!

Centripetal Mittens is a pattern that creates a pair of mittens using the brioche stitch. It is a great pattern to introduce knitters to brioche knitting and for hand-spun long color repeating yarn. With 2 color brioche a fabric is created that is reversible but one side has a completely different look from the other side. This brioche pattern is unique as a cable has been added, not just a cable but also a reversible cable using double knitting.

Gauge
20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches/10 cm stockinette st
14 sts/44 brioche rows = 4 inches/10 cm brioche stitch
1 brioche st = slipped st with its yo

Commercial Yarn
1 skein each of 2 coordinating colors of Knit Picks Chroma Worsted, 70% wool, 30% nylon, worsted weight, 198yds/178m 3.5oz/100g per skein

Notions

• Yarn Needle
• 2 Cable Needles
• Stitch Markers
•  2 Closed Opening Stitch Markers

Needles
US 6 (4.00mm) dpns

Free Pattern Friday

Little Church Knits has a free pattern Friday!

What could be better than that--nothing!

Check out her website for tutorials, free patterns, and 

other sundry items.  You'll be glad you signed up

for her newsletter.

Spooky Delights QAL!

Oh My!  It's time to sew for fall..............

Here is a 'spooky quilt along' sponsored by

Fat Quarter Shop

Stop in and check out the nifty fall fabrics for this table runner.

I'm sewing this one up for sure!!

Yarn Along With 2016 Lace Scarf

This week I worked on my 2016 Lace Scarf, a project by Elizabeth Ravenwood--You can find

her designs on Ravelry.  This month to month scarf is free to join and free to knit.

April's pattern called for beads--or if you choose, no beads--but I chose beads.

I use a small crochet hook and load it up so I don't need to dip into the bead jar

each time needed.

I even have a fancy bead storage jar.  Some people prefer to string their beads onto 

the yarn before they begin and then just push up a bead when needed;

I rather use crochet hook

I'm using my handspun wool/silk blend on this scarf--

loving the divisions in color.  I was concerned at first that it would

not look good-=but no problem.

Snow Row By Row

Let's do a hip hip hooray!  I've taken an UFO out of the stash box and brought it out into the light of day!  Feels so good--I'm patting myself on the back!

This snowy row by row was designed by Carol Steely Fun Threads is her blog.

We began with the snow block row--was fun to piece the letters.

There is some paper pieced blocks as I wrote about in an earlier post.

There are a few applique rows, but when it all comes together,

you have a chilly quilt.  You can find these patterns on Craftsy.

Now, I need to see what other UFO is hiding!

Lullaby to Baby

What a sweet blanket for baby!  You can find this delicious pattern at 

Expression Fiberarts.  

Perfect way to wrap up that little bundle of joy--have fun with your hooks

and yarn.

Gerda?

Gerda?  How well do you know your fairy tales?  

Gerda is the heroine from Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen.

And thus you have the opportunity to knit in this Knit Along

and then as you knit read the "Snow Queen".

It's been awhile since I've knit a shawl and this pattern features recipe

for both circle and half circle.

The pattern is designed by Bethany Hait

Yarn: Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 by JaggerSpun (50% wool, 50% silk, 630 yards), 2 skeins OR Malabrigo Sock (100% merino, 440 yards), 3 skeins

Recommended Needles: 4 mm, US size 6 (for laceweight), OR 5 mm, US size 8 (for finger weight), OR whatever needle will give you the fabric you like

Gauge: approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Pattern Notes: Always slip markers as you come to them. Their locations will be indicated in the first section, but after that, you will need to remember.

The half circle version includes a garter stitch border on either side. These stitches will be included in the directions, but not in the stitch counts for each row.

Techniques required: chart reading, increasing and decreasing, lace, working in the round.

The pattern will be free for anyone participating in the mKAL. Once the MKAL is complete (July 1), the pattern will be available for purchase.

Never Too Old

Case in point is Ethel Stein, a 96 year old weaver!  I want to be her when I grow up!  It goes to prove that working with your hands and brain, brings you the wealth of knowledge you need to achieve a fruitful life--weave on!

Displaying Textile Art

Textile Artist has an excellent article on how to display textile art.  Many moons ago, I worked with a museum to hang antique quilts and saris.  There is a definite way to make sure these fragile items are displayed in the proper manner as not to damage the integrity of the cloth.  I was also fortunate to work with galleries to assist with displaying delicate fabrics.  One year I worked with International Quilt Festival putting up their quilts for fall show--all these experiences helped me learn how professional companies work to insure that your work of art will be handled with the most care and caution.

For my quilts, that I hang at home, I use curtain rings.  I have added sleeves to the back of quilts, but couldn't find a great way to get the sleeves to stay attached to the wall.  This works perfectly for

me.

Take a look at the article and see how you can improve your ways to hang your textile art pieces.

Paper Piecing--ugh!

One of the quilt patterns that I took out of my stash box needs a role of paper piecing--I'm like--UGH!  But, I can do this; just not my favorite form of stitching.

At least, the pattern is large size and needs large pieces of fabric.  I printed off six copies,

for this row by row quilt

I begin with A1 

Position my tree trunk on the square on the back side of the paper.

Stitch along those lines when I add the side pieces to A2 and A3

Way too much fabric, but I can trim it down to the stitching line--rather have

too much than not enough

Okay, finished that section and we move up to

A4 and so it goes

I'm doing each section on each of the six patterns; then I'll be finished with all them

at the same time!

Tally HO!  

Finished!  All Six of the blocks--now to tackle the other five blocks awaiting paper piecing!

Hump Day Yarn Along

I finished my fingerless gloves the other night--just needed to tie up all those loose ends--a project I don't relish to do.  Then I remembered I had a special needle that would help me with that task

This blunt end needle is perfect for working on fiber projects--it doesn't catch on the fibers as you stitch into wooly works.

and see that needle eye--it's open so all you need to do is pull the fiber up close and snap it in!

I always hated trying to thread the needle--now, here is the answer!

And my Fingerless gloves are finished and ready to wear!

You can find these type of needles at Spiral Eye Needles

Melt-Blend Technique

Talking about coloring your quilts--take a look at this technique!

Quite fascinating-- now, I wish I hadn't dumped all my broken crayons!

This looks like fun, so I'm giving a try--some day!

Video to help you with this technique--

color, enhance, embellish just with

crayons!

Sister's Choice Is Quilted!

I'm so happy to report that my Sister's Choice quilt top is layered and quilted by Judy M.  This was a free Bonnie Hunter pattern that I worked on last summer.  The top was finished many moons ago--I just didn't have the backing; then it was at Judy's house for a few weeks--that traveling long arm gal needs to stay home, huh!!??

But, here it is in all its glory!  It was such a fun scrap quilt to make.

Simple nine patch block with wings--

I like the quilting pattern too

All swirly--just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding (which is ready)

and stitch!

Another delight to add to my collection--this could be a charity quilt too if

you twist my arm a little..................

I - AM - WARPED!

I Am Truly Warped!  It has been several months since I did anything with my loom.

It was moved from one room to another room and then it just sat there--

not really naked but piled high with all sorts of things--

it's like 'pile it here' syndrome!

Than--the studio was back in some sense of fashion,

and I looked in my yarn closet to find various 8/2 cotton fibers that

worked together--

warping we go! 

Through the 10 dent reed we go--2 per dent--20 epi

I was so careful that I got the red thread every 6th one.

Through the heddles--using Dornik threading for these towels

and we've tied on!  Oh My Gosh--I'm weaving!

I'm actually throwing a shuttle and I see on threading errors!

do you know how happy that makes me!??

Looking good!

and I like that little bit of red thrown through.

Do you have any idea how long it took me to warp this loom?--

Don't ask--I'm so rusty at this.

Quilts to Color

Get out those crayons and color your next quilt blocks!  At our quilters meeting the other day, Sandy and Karen were discussing their Periwinkle Lane blocks from Black Cat Creations.  They had each bought the patterns and Sandy was putting the finishing touches on her blocks with hand embroidery.

I really liked the looks of these blocks and thought how fun--coloring and

stitching combined to make an adorable quilt top.

Sandy said she asked her granddaughters to color for her;

of course, they said "yes!" and colored away!

That's one clever way to get the task finished.

I wondered if the patterns were still available

and searched Black Cat website to

find--there it was!  Along with some other patterns to color

I thought maybe, machine stitching would work on these details;

that will be on my list of things to try.

I loved the toadstools!

But, I believe this is my favorite block of all--

I'm going to gather up my crayons and color

away!

Pricing Any Textile or Original Work?

This discussion comes up every year--how to price our textiles that we sell?  There is always some pros and cons in the round table topic.  How do you place a fair price on your original work?  Do you get what you paid for your materials?  Your time?  Textile Artist has an article on how pricing of your textile could work.

They have some bullet points to consider:

• Costs
• Market
• Perceived Value
• Don't Focus Solely on your field to price
• Be consistent with Pricing

Artsyshark also has some pointers that he finds helpful.

Be sure to read the comments at the end of the article and Good Luck with your pricing!

Pom-Poms Are Back---

Did you see this article in Wall Street Journal?  Headline read "Cheered by the Fashion Squad.  Pom Poms come bouncing back!"  I didn't think they ever left--but, this article was quite interesting in the fact that celebrities are using pom poms to decorate their fashion pieces to make a bold statement.

Who wouldn't want to be encased in pom poms from head to foot!?

Wednesday Yarn Along

Today we are working on the Fingerless Gloves mystery,  Shadowplay.

Each week a new clue is revealed and you knit like crazy to keep up with the group.

Here is first clue--corrugated rib!  Oh my gosh, that is some knitting,

but I think it will be an interesting mitt

We are knitting flat and this is the left wrist.

Clue 2--I'm at the thumb--oh, dear--I'm stumped.. It will take some quiet time

to figure out how to continue the cable on the other side of the thumb---but,

I'll get there!  I was afraid I would run out of the yellow so found this

fuschia yarn that works.

It just takes some quiet time and having my brain on the right frequency

and I can conquer anything!

Yes, I did it!  We are finished with clue 2.

Should I begin on right wrist with ribbing?

Hmmmm............