Tea + Knitting + Mystery = Perfect!!

 

It's close to September and the time to sip a hot Earl Grey tea, sit, relax and think about the next sock knitting mystery!

Yes, I know!  Not another mystery! and another pair of socks??  What's wrong with that gal?

But, I love tea and when I saw this sock knitting challenge was a mystery too--I just couldn't resist.

 

Five clues will be released around 5-7 am EST on

September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

 

Top-down. Cables, lace, and BEADS!!  Fleegle heel--something new to my knitting technique! 
74 beads required.  Written in honor of tea drinkers and Star Trek fans everywhere!  Designed by Heidi Nick.  Pattern is free for Sock Knitters Anonymous Ravelry group

Okay, as a bonus, I'll give you couple Earl Grey tea recipes. 

Ingredients for Earl Grey Hot Chocolate:  Serves 2

• --
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 ½ tsp earl grey tea
• 6 square of dark chocolate, or to taste
• --

• 1. Combine the milk and tea in a saucepan and gently heat without boiling. Continue heating for approximately 10 minutes. The milk will take on a light tea color.
• 2. Place 3 (or more if desired) squares of chocolate into a heatproof glass. Pour the milk over the chocolate using a tea strainer/colander to strain off the leaves. Serve.  

Or how about an iced Earl Grey Tea:  Brew your Earl Grey tea strong--twice as much bags or leaves as usual.  Steep about 5 minutes.  Pour over ice, add some simple sugar syrup, little vanilla and add milk!  Ahhhh, delicious!

 

Boro--The Art of Mending!

Mending?  When the kids were small, I would be mending small holes on torn jeans, socks, shirts, etc.  just to save money.  Today we look at Boro--mending extra-ordinary! 

 

Now, if and when I need to mend--I will think of Boro and the artistic value of my stitches!

 

 

Slow Stitching by Jaki Bogg

BORO

 

A Japanese folk textile known today as 'the art of repair'. Boro textiles were the domain of the ordinary man and represented a collective, impoverished past. Boro faded out after the mid-twentieth century when Japan's society progressively moved towards mass-scale modernization. The patchwork practice was utilized by the rural population of Japan, predominantly in the northern region, as they couldn't afford new clothing. This meant extensively patching and mending littles scraps of fabrics over worn-out areas or holes within the cloth. In most cases, the fabrics were indigo dyed using the traditional 'Aizome' or 'Ai' method, which is said to be an ancient technique from 4000-5000 years ago. The basic raw material is the leaf of the 'Polygonum Tinctorium' mostly harvested in southern parts of Japan. The process yields a color that is commonly known as "Japan Blue" because of its unique hue. The dye also had natural properties to repel insects, preventing odors and a remedy for skin trouble. 

The scraps of fabrics were often sewn together using the 'Sashiko' needlework method (The Japanese Art of Quilting) to strengthen a single layer of fabric for patching worn cloth or quilting per se, and the purpose was to extend the overall life of the textile. Aesthetically, Sashiko is a contrasting running stitch worked in repeating or interlocking patterns. The closer the stitches, the more durable to garment therefore becomes.

Boro textiles were commonly used in farmer jackets, firefighter jackets, fisherman jackets and futons

 

Mending by Karen Swing

 

 

Painting With Wool Fiber and Fabric Workshop

Catherine O'Leary is presenting a painting with wool fiber and fabric over Labor Weekend.  This feltmaking workshop has two parts, in the first part we will be creating individual designs on fine silk fabric through the application of drawing, stenciling, mono printing and block printing. These fabrics will then be used to create nuno pre-felts which will be incorporated into a garment, wall piece or homewares. The focus of the workshop will be on surface design and composition.  This workshop is being held through Contemporary Handweavers of Houston. 

Happy Birthday DR Dawn!

August 22!  Our lives changed forever--this sweet face arrived in our world.

She is left handed!  She is a middle child! 

This child went out into the world to become

a motivator!

an educator!

She challenged each of us with her wit, charisma and never let go of her dream!

That little girl became a doctor!  She changed the lives of those who have passed through her life!  We are all better for the day when she arrived!

Happy birthday DR Dawn!

 

 

Yarn Along The Rockies

Yarn Along The Rockies is a 9 day yarn crawl with a Passport Tour of 24 participating yarn shops across the front range of Colorado. With SIX grand prizes, generous schwag baskets provided at each store, and lots of crawl discounts, there are lots of opportunities to win!

Yarn Along The Rockies is happening next week--beginning August 22 and ending August 30th!

Who says I don't need any yarn??  Not me!  I can always use some yarn--stash it, if necessary!

Here's the map--plan out your trip and maybe, our paths will cross along the way!

Happy yarn gathering!

Pincushion crazy!!!

I have made so many 1/2 square triangles in my Bonnie Hunter Work and had some leftovers--here is what I found to use them up..

Half Square Triangle Pincushion

 

Jeni Baker has this new book being published this fall--I think this could be a definite bonus to my library!  Once I looked at Jeni's pincushions, I thought--I like pincushions "why not see what other patterns are out there?"

I found these knitted ones--really cute!

You can make pincushions to fill any container--like these small tuna cans or how about small teacups

How about felted pincushions?  I can use up all those tiny scraps of wool felt@

Free Pincushion patterns

Little Birdie  Yes!  My dear Friend, Annette, would make these little chickens to sell to raise money for Breast Cancer Research--I love my chicken!  and think of her every time I look at it!

and of course, there is always Pinterest

 

Convergence 2016--Milwaukee!

                         

Convergence®

 HGA’s Convergence® 2016 Conference   

July 30 - August 6, 2016

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

HGA invites you to our Convergence® 2016 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 30 - August 6, 2016. We are pleased to be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s vibrant arts community on the shore of Lake Michigan.

On HGA’s first trip to Wisconsin, we look forward to connecting with our members in the Midwest and to bringing fiber enthusiasts from all over the world to experience the “City of Festivals.”  Wisconsin’s popular tourist destinations and recreation areas offer an exciting array of activities to extend your visit.  

 

Photography Credits: Milwaukee Art Museum, courtesy: VISIT Milwaukee;
Mary Mortenson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Red Clay Dress. Photograph: Petronella Ytsema;
Jenny Schu, East Lansing, Michigan, She Can’t See The Forest Through the Trees. Luke Anthony Photography;
Joy Berg and Wendy Dolan, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Sundress and Parasol. Photograph: Emily Glinski;
Xia Gao, East Lansing Michigan, Restless. Photograph: Xia Gao.

If you weave, spin, dye, make baskets, or use one of the many other fiber techniques we love, plan to be with us for this premier fiber experience!  Join thousands of fiber enthusiasts and hundreds of vendors from all over the world, exhibiting and sharing their knowledge. Convergence® classes include novice to advanced instruction in a variety of fiber techniques including:

• weaving
• spinning
• dyeing
• basketry
• braiding
• feltmaking
• knitting
• garment construction and sewing with handwovens
• digital imagery
• color and design
• and much, much more!