Wearable crocheted sculpture in organic cotton
I have been using a lot of wool lately and sometimes it’s a weeny bit itchy to wear. So I mix it with acrylic to soften it.
Though, both buying the new wool and acrylic doesn’t make me feel as reducey, reusey and recycley as I’d like. And I’m not sure how well our shorn sheep are treated (have to look into that one).
I want to practise being more sustainable at every opportunity (see my article on shredding old sheets and upcycling them into beautiful, wearable creations) and had been feeling guilty about buying new materials when I saw some organic cotton at my local craft supplier. I bought some and made this crcohet scarf with flowers and leaves. It’s made from 23 leaves and 5 flowers and it’s my own design. It looks pretty on and is available for purchase on my etsy site.
And do you know what? When I finished the scarf I looked at the label and felt bad all over again. This series of cotton had been shipped from America (I’m in Australia) so now I’ve added a large carbon distribution cost to our poor planet. So, I need to get back on ’my values’ horse and try a little harder.
While I’m navel gazing, if you’re able to give me some feedback about what you were looking for when you stumbled across my blog, I’ll take the feedback into account in my next article if I can.
For example, you might’ve been after a pattern, or a video showing you how to crochet or an explanation of how the names for American crochet stitches differ from those in Australia. Or were you just browsing categories you’re interested in, and do you suffer the same types of conundrums as I do (e.g. my American cotton purchase, or buying new materials)?
A 29-year sewing machine hiatus
Picture a girl in a classroom of girls sitting at a sewing machines, sewing nighties, stuffed toys, skirts and the like. Fast forward 29 years to a view of a nearly forty-four year old woman scratching her head while trying to remember how to wind a bobbin and thread a machine! Yep, that’s me.
My dear friend Sharon came for the day a few weeks back and happily came to my sewing-machine- hiatus rescue. She needed refuge from the pong of freshly varnished floorboards, and I needed a pal to have lunch with and a lesson in how to use my new sewing machine.
She is a sewer from way back, as was her dearly departed mum. Shazzie brought over her mum’s old singer sewing machine and was exploring the stitches using the stitch disks. Her machine is a beautiful copper oxide green and has lovely metal controls and a wooden stand. It purrs spectacularly and there’s not an ounce of plastic in sight.
When Sharon left, I found a blue cashmere remnant that was not inclined to fray, found bits of coloured fabric and some double-sided iron on interfacing, got out my pencils, iron and scissors, and designed a poppy scarf. I machine stitched around the pieces and added machine-stitched stems. Voila!.
Thanks to Shaz (and let’s not forget the spirit of her mum), I am now versed in how to thread my machine, change stitches, move the needle forward and back! It’s very exciting.
The other day I went to the shop that bought five knitted scarves from me in May, to show them some more of my collection. For the heck of it I included my machine-stitched poppy scarf (naive stitching, I called it).
Happily four of the five I sold them already sold very quickly, so they bought another four scarves and commissioned one more . And, what do you know, of the four that sold, Poppy was one.
Recycled and upcycled - rag knitting scarves with crochet flowers
I’d love your opinion on my recycled/upcycled scarf collection, made from op shop sheets, doona covers, silk and shantung remnants and an old 60s tablecloth. (See also www.handmade3777.etsy.com for more pics.)
For a while now I’ve been trying to improve how I reduce, reuse and recycle, and challenge myself to do more of this in different ways. This range of scarves is my latest attempt at reuse, repurposing, upcycling.
I love the texture of these ripped up numbers, and they end up being so individual. I started fixing flowers to them but have decided that people may like the choice about whether they want to wear a large flower or not. Personally, with the ones I’ve made for myself, I wear the flowers all the time!
What I’m really loving about this creative burst is that one idea leads to another. As I’m sitting knitting a woollen scarf, I’m thinking “hmm, I’m sure I could rip up a sheet and do something with it”; when I’m doing the rag knitting, I’m thinking “there’s a canvas in the cupboard…why don’t I start that painting of Charlotte soon?”
The exciting thing is that my creative journey is stable and continuing, and I’m feeding the artsie side of my brain, which feels good.
I hope you’re feeling good and have beautiful and creative weekend planned.
A breakthrough in recycled knitting
In the last few weeks I found, felt thoughtfully, then tore up and knitted a soft white doona cover with pale olive green flowers on it, into a really interesting and engaging scarf. I added some olive green sequined wool and a knitted flower in a variation of the sequined wool, and am delighted with the results.
So delighted, I made a second. (Note for potential doona cover ripperupperers - you can get about 2.5 average-length scarves out of one doona cover :))
I feel great about this project:
a) because I don’t think the doona cover would’ve made it onto a shelf in an op shop: it was past its use-by date; and
b) because I feel like the most virutous & artsy person in the world because of it, which makes me feel like painting!!
So, hurrah to creative pursuits that support reducing, reusing and recycling, and from turning non-desirable items back into items d’art and of desire.
I hope you get a brainwave soon that makes you feel as good as this project made me feel!
P.S. I just bought another sheet from an oppy shop in Warrandyte. It is white with pinky tulips on it. Who knows what she’ll be combined with and what she’ll look like when I’m through. One thing I know for sure, though, is . she’s going down the same track as doona cover number 1!!
Rediscovering finger knitting
It was during designated afternoon naps in hospital in the early 70s where I learned to finger knit.
And, because I’ve been madly knitting & crocheting since September or so last year, I’m beginning to understand there is an awakening of the fabric & wool side of my brain. This is what begets the rediscovery of other memories.
Like the hospital memory. I remember being so not tired during the mandatory afternoon-nap time, and managing this difference between expectation and body clock by hunkering down under my blankets with a skein of wool and an eager set of fingers.
I’d while the time away by making long strands of finger knitting, which I’d undo and redo on the next arvo’s nap.
So, it’s with pleasure that I’ve committed fingerknut coils, complete with french knot stamens, to this new skinny scarf made of oh-so-soft olive-green-acrylic. Gone are the days of doing, undoing, and doing again.
Cheers to memories that help you to move forward and not keep you stuck.
Lucky, lucky me! Five scarves sold and one on commission!!
Today I feel very lucky. I sold 5 of 17 scarves to Turner and Lane, a lovely shop in Malvern (Victoria, Australia).
Here are the items I sold. Note, the last one is one I have on commission, at Morris Brown in Healesville, Melbourne, Australia.
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- Skeeter - grey wool scarf with yellow orange & red dry-felted hearts
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- Bloom - white knit scarf with flower & leaves
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- Fleur - freeform woollen red & green crochet scarf made up of flowers and leaves
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- Gelati - yellow, orange, red & green crochet scarf made up of flowers and leaves
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- Miss Kitty - grey wool knit scarf with red wool hearts and red baubles
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- Anna K - Kintted scarf made of flowers and leaves
What I’m happy about is not only that I made a couple of hunge (though that’ll pay back the wool, and help fund more creativity), it’s the attitude of the buyers I loved the most. They really seemed to enjoy the designs, the textures, the colours. That they selected some for their gorgeous shop made me feel really happy – really, these women have an eye for the beautiful, a real talent. And they were so easy to deal with and generous in their approach to invoicing.
So, if you’re creative, remember that luck comes to those who believe in luck and to those who believe in their product. Good luck!
Butter yellow crochet scarf with FrootieLoops
I finished this crocheted number off last night. It’s made from a butter yellow mohair/wool/acrylic blend, and has brightly coloured, dry-felted merino wool in the centre of each circle, achieving a kind of FrootieLoops effect!
I bought the wool from a local fete and dusted off my dormant crochet skills this year, which has been a lovely experience for me.
You see, I work during the week in the suburbs in a busy IT job, though moved to the country to take stock of what’s important, and change my life a bit.
On the weekend I like to sit on the deck, knitting or crocheting, defending my work from my Siamese cat Peabody who loves wool, and looking at the bird life and the mountains. I use the steady up and back of knitting & crocheting as a meditation of sorts, to rest from my weekday busyness.
So, life’s pretty good, and I now have 16 scarves in my etsy store.
Hope the creative bug is urging you on.
New green scarf, done in part of a day
I started this scarf last night because the lure of a new bag of wool was too tempting to leave alone. It’s acrylic and a lovely soft, muted olive green colour.
I really like how the pink and red trim works to set it off.
Of course, couldn’t leave the trim at that and crocheted a flower to sit at the throat.
This morning I went to the Yarra Glen market and saw the most beautiful scarves in one lady’s stall. The woman who makes them has such a great eye for matching colours and textures – a real gift. And what I love is she’s got hubbie in on the act. He makes magnificent finger knitting (yes, that’s right) tops. They’re like a loose-weave crochet that you’d wear over a singlet top or skivvy. I was very impressed and looked at my little collection and felt I have a long way to go! If you’d like to see the rest, go to www.handmade3777.etsy.com
Hope you’re having a happy & creative day.
A ghastly redundancy? Heck no!
I was told on Tuesday I am going to be made redundant, possibly at the end of June 08. For some, this would be ghastly news. For me, this is the opportunity I have been waiting for.
You see, while I like change and think I’m good at dealing with it, personally I rarely change. I’ve been working for the same company, admittedly in differing roles, for nigh on 15 years. Being made redundant will spur me into action, and allow me to consider a more balanced life.
Today I’m going to work up my short-, medium- and long-term goals, and try very actively to plan a more creative life, while still factoring in earning an income that will feed the hungry mortgage. Early ideas include diversifying:
- perhaps working three days a week as a contractor in the content and information architecture space
- earning a part-time income from a duo my partner & I are forming, performing acoustic sets at cafes in and around the Yarra Valley
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earning a part-time income from things I create. This could include:
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baking German shortbread, and selling them at local tourist markets
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doing up old junk and selling transformed pieces online
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selling my knitted & crocheted wares at local markets, shops and online (see www.handmade3777.etsy.com)
- selling felted creations, though I’m yet to learn how to felt.
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So, some ideas are on the table and a redundancy will give me the opportunity to explore and test the viability of some of these options.
At least, I’ll be able to take a little break from full-time work, which to me will be like a long cold drink after a very big walk (think Oxfam).
Blue mohair crochet scarf with felted coloured circles
Take a look at my new scarf! Like it?
I took three days’ annual leave this week, because my niece turned 8 and I took her to lunch, and the weather in Melbourne has turned from searing to pleasantly mild. Having said that, there was a wind storm on day two that was strong enough to knock out the power for a few hours.
That didn’t concern me, however. I gathered kitties three in and got out my non-electric crochet to finish the latest scarf, pictured.
I enjoyed crocheting, watching the trees do crazy dances in the wild wind and keeping Peabody Wiggle, my Siamese, away from the Merino wool. Later I found a lump of pink Merino and it was soggy, so his wool-watching vigil was a great success.
Now I’ve moved on to making a butter yellow crochet scarf, which has hand-felted coloured circles, making it look a little like a FrootieLoops surprise. I didn’t like it that much at first but yesterday after I added the felt it’s become my new favourite. It’ll be the next post.
Hope your day is filled with creative thoughts and actions!
