Door Wreath

I started a wreath last century. It was to have crocheted grapes and an array of flowers... and now that I think about it, it was from a now out of print and highly treasured publication -- a calendar of crocheted wreaths from Annie's. My plan included some of  August's components and a bit of May and June.

I've learned a lot since then - a lot more about dimensional creations. That wreath was before I knew about amigurimi, or felting, or the wide array of flowers that I would meet and come to design.

With the return of spring this year, there has been the desire to declare myself
to myself and to stretch. So crochet will be made visible outside my home as well as within it -- and what lovelier more home affirming way than a wreath on the door.

Crochet for Fur Refugees

Last year after Hurricane Sandy, a friend and her husband saw a kitten  in their  near country neighborhood. They live up the hill from , in the part of town where the bears, big cats, deer and coyote roam. They have 3 pugs and know the critters in their neighborhood. They were persuaded to give the charming tuxedo'd guy shelter, but he cried and cried.  They figured out why, when they  found his sister, grey and white. The godfolks tried every shelter and got the  dynamic duo their first shots, but there was no room at the inn.

Then they remembered that i wanted a cat, for Obi had been part of a duo. After some introductory visits Zen and Dindi joined Obi and me. We're still a work in progress. Dindi is the mediator or shy one, Zen is  mucho macho, even after being neutered Obi  has forgiven me but not the situation.
We've had new thoughts for the new year.

Zen shown claimed it first, but now Dindi sleeps in it. I designed two cocoons for them. It took a bit of coaxing and catnip before the first became habit but the lip was used like a lounge and the bowl was the bed.

End of Winter into Spring

All Praises! I've moved. Am home again. Yet made a lot of little things in January and February as I wanted everyone to have something handmade by me. The knitted leaves became bookmarks. And the Koolaid on wool led to some simmering hearts.





. I made several cute hats for charity, expending the last of my red and white. And then was gifted some really exquisite yarn for my charity work.


I keep thinking about my felted jewelry . This spring has veered from 70 degrees to 20 degrees again, perfect for something light and flowery but warm.

Ahhh Many Stitches Later...

Well the knitted leaves lead to a knitting for a LMAO. Wow! that was some wild stepping out for me.

And then I knitted a hat.

Well, half knitted it... I knitted the leaves and the crocheted the top.

It is one of my favorite hats.


Then I started another hat and the Column of Leaves scarf.... Those are still languishing by the side of the bed. But I fell in love with knitting and crocheting and so for the holiidays, my Christmas gifts included leaf bookmarks, which enabed me to explore again chainmaking and at the end of the crocheted chain I would knit leaves..

Now my new 20008 exploration is KOOLAID DYEING. Iused up the last of the wonderful handspun I was gifted
felting and dyeing and wow! how vivid and intense the Koolaid dyeing is...

glad i won a couple of auctions of various handspun undyed for a grrrrreat price on ebay so i can gift and explore some more.

CORD THRILLS

I am so excited and delighted with the scrumptious texture of the front post double crochet cords.
They are so easy and emerge looking complex and architectural!

I started a triangular one and kept on going, knowing I wanted it for a necklace, did a round one and stopped the sample.

Played with the sample and it immediately reminded me of Fulani earrings that the Met (museum of art) used to sell, so I tried it again. I made a mistake with the second one and so had a six ridge vs. a five ridge and so got to see what that looked like, too. I think I'll try the four-ridge tonight, just to have a sample.

I felted a five ridge/circle and it became tighter than i expected--- a textured bead! I'll post these pix, too.

Thanks again, Bonnie!

Help Me Wtih This Bag

Bag with Amber Resin Button

Bag with Amber Resin Button

Flowers on Handle






Back of Bag

Back Detail

Round Button

Bag with other Amber Resin Button


Help me design my bag. I love flowers, but as this bag is not for me, I don’t know whetherto have any and if I do, how many? This bag is not yet felted, all the fibers are wool. The flower is brand new to me, I realized that while I wanted to add a splash of color, I didn’t want it to be another stuck on the front of the bag, circle of fiber. So this is my not quite fuschia not quite lily form. So what iteration works for you?

Little Spiral Star Tree Ornament

I needed some gift-ettes and thought-- I've obtained some wool (at last!) -- I can felt some stars for trees!
This whole process took about 20 minutes--- from crocheting through felting.
It's adorable and feels affectionate(if I may say so myself, LOL!)

Little Star Tree Ornament

Make loop( aka magic adjustable ring), 5 sc in center, sl st to first sc,
2 sc in each sc, join to first :10 sc Fasten off.
Change yarn, in any sc : *sc, dc, trc, sc, skip sc* repeat: 5 points/petals.
Sl st to first sc, fasten off.
With third color, thread up through center hole, sl st in spiral, grabbing vertical threads of sc.

(I'm going to use a spiral sl st in a lot of plain centers --- inspired by this at Gourmet Crochet:
)


After crocheting, I did some tugging to pull the points...if i could, I would have steamed this flat first.
I then "finger felted" it --- ( placed Little Star under hot running water in sink, a dab of dish washing liquid and rubbing between palms and on scrubby. I then ugged on the points, reshaping it, rinsed in cold water and pressed out water to damp dry.... again if i could, I would've sped up this drying with an iron).

I don't have any ornament hangers, but I made one using some brass wire: I made a spiral and then a 90 degree angle,poked it through a point and then mmade another spiral/curve at the top.

By the way-- it works unfelted, too.



Here’s a pictorial on the magic adjustable ring:
http://crochetme.com/Dec_Jan_0405/reads_round.html

A fellow freeform crocheter asked about the adjustable ring.
I thought about the design and decided that I didn't mind the hole this time, because it is where another yarn goes for the spiral.

So I made another star-- actually two, just in time to shove the slightly damp dears in my pocketbook and fiddle with their wires while taking the bus on the way to lunch and gift them to my colleagues. I've uploaded a picture of them, still damp..

Felted Star Ornament 2

Ch 4 , 9 dc in 4th ch from hook,join: 10 dc
ch1, *2sc, sc* around, join, ch1:15 sc
*sc,dc,trc,picot:(ch2, sc), trc, dc, sc, skip two sc,* repeat: 5 points
sl st to first sc, fasten off.
Using contrasting yarn, pull through center hole : sl st, ch1, sl st:

You could just sl st, but adding a ch1between sl st seemed to improve the pattern

3.5” prefelted using Grand Paton’s merino wool.