Friday, February 25, 2011

this is stunning and i LOVE it

from duo fiberworks a knitting pattern for a felted plant hanger

pic: from the tutorial/pattern at duo fiberworks linked above

four looms to make



from recycled materials. man, i really MUST build me a loom. i want to weave badly. then again, i want to do a LOT of things badly (and strangely enough, i DO do a lot of things BADLY)


FOUR LOOMS YOU CAN MAKE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS
Maria Dryden
 pic from the crafting a green world tutorial linked above

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

oh man, i know just who i'm going to make this for!

from dollar store crafts


Man Crafts: tea duck

 


by mikeasaurus

pic from the tutorial linked above

i've used this (not so) secret

for MANY years. most of the time, i use appliques NOT to cover stains but to cover up rips that really can't be repaired. either way, it's a GREAT idea

as a matter of fact, the pants i have on now, have an applique on them to cover a lil' tear

Guest blogger series: Stain covering appliqué

Laura Burch

popcorn applique photo from the tutorial at whipup linked above


skull applique pic from me. they're on my green pants. the pants are unusual. gathered at the ankles with a big four inch (give or take) piece, then opening up to massive fullness above that. i get most of my clothing from a MOST fabulous joint in hartford. the clothes are MADE in hartford as well. it's not only comfortable (wicked comfortable) BUT great and out of the ordinary looking too! where you ask? well japanalia of course!

Monday, February 21, 2011

what's new from instructables?

lots and lots but here are two of MY personal favorites

a crocheted starship enterpirse by ChrysN (pic from the link above) and
an awesome lego chess set by chessman908
 (pic from the link above)





micro revolt is has a craft action alert out

here's the email i received:

microRevolt has launched a new craft action called 146+. The craft action involves participants knitting an armband enumerating the fire victims from the Triangle Waist factory that catalyzed an international labor movement exactly 100 years ago this March. The project connects the factory fires to the ones that have taken place in Bangladesh, where workers are making consumer apparel for Walmart, JCPenny and H&M. The overall goal of the project is to have a maker-class who may consider themselves DIYers, on-line merchants or craft hobbyists in the context of a larger economy and labor movement. So we hope for 146 or more participants to stand in solidarity with Workers United (workers in hospitality, food service, gaming, apparel, etc.). Volunteering to knit a simple numbered armband would contribute to the action even if you cannot make it to the factory site on March 25th, 2011 on the centennial.  

Here is the link to the project for more information; we hope some of you can participate! Please forward widely:
i signed up for a number, please consider doing so as well (and thanks!!!)
pic: from the microrevolt website

i just read an article on the triangle waist factory fire in the ny times. i wrote about it here

Monday, February 14, 2011

plarchie

yes, plarchie the GIANT squid (who just happens to be knitted out of plastic bags) plarchie!!!


pics from the whodunnknit link above

Thursday, February 10, 2011

for valentine's day

(no, i really don't celebrate it...BUT...ANY excuse for a holiday and fun and food and friends is fine by me)

from knitty

a pattern by




plush you has an

interview with Moxie

and also gives you a chance at a giveaway for  her book i felt awesome

Monday, February 7, 2011

except for sewing the shoulder seams (and buttons)

my baby surprise jacket is done!!! (i ordered the buttons on etsy and am waiting for them)

pattern of course is by elizabeth zimmerman

to tell you the truth, i also used the dvd (linked above) elizabeth's daughter meg swanson made. the directions rather confused me a mite

pics were taken with my phone so they're not the best but you get the idea. i just don't get it. i don't understand how elizabeth could have come up with this design. and yeah, it's math and insight and man, i am so very impressed that a funny looking piece of knitting can be folder and come out looking like a  JACKET






Wednesday, February 2, 2011

boing boing turned me on to a new site for knitting patterns

they aren't just ANY patterns either

do stop by the sanguine gryphon and take a look around. some amazing patterns and some cool yarn.


the boing boing link is:
Beowulf sock pattern

my favorite pattern is the as you wish

.........
Design by Pamela Northrup
Inspired by a book and movie that I have loved for years, "As You Wish" is a circular shawl featuring images from The Princess Bride. At the center of the shawl are the words "AS YOU WISH" with two hearts representing Buttercup and Westley. Surrounding that are alternating crowns for Prince Humperdinck and the flames of the Fire Swamp. Rows of feather and fan lace recall the ocean waves, sailed by Westley in his time as the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is of course represented by the skull and crossbones. Those are flanked by lines of eyelets which indicate the Shrieking Eels. And of course, the edging of the shawl is Buttercup Lace, for the Princess Bride herself.........

(pic and write up both from the sanguine gryphon)


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

i'm knitting a baby surprise jacket

you know, it's an ez pattern. you can get it and almost all of elizabeth zimmerman's patterns from school house press