early morning first project

Forget what I said last week about not wanting to wake up any earlier. Two mornings this week I woke up really early and had some blissful morning work time before Bracken woke up. I plan to do that more often. Yesterday was my favorite. I read through part of the manual, got the bobbin wound, the machine threaded, and I started sewing. Sewing! Now, let me tell you, it's been so long since I've had a working sewing machine. Maybe even a few years before Bracken was born. And I've missed sewing on a sewing machine so very much. Hand sewing is relaxing, but to me there's nothing like the quick progress you can make on a sewing machine. Yesterday morning I was on a mission to finish a gift before we needed to leave the house. The three of us left for Florence and when Bracken and I dropped Jeff off for his physical therapy appointment, we also delivered this little baby hat to Jeff's physical therapist. Simply put, she is wonderful. When I found out she was expecting a baby girl, I wanted to bring her a little something. (Jeff has made some good progress in physical therapy, but the way, and we still have a long ways to go.) The hat was made from a felted wool shawl. It was a thrift store treasure I found one day, with some moth holes here and there, and I knew I wanted to give it a new life. I felted it in the washing machine and I saved it for a special project. When I was searching for hat material yesterday, it was just the thing. I used the pattern for Family Sweater Hats in Amanda's book, Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures. What a wonderful pattern! So simple and perfect for someone like me who is just getting back into sewing again and wanted an instant project. After sewing the hat, I added a wool flower and a Wooly Moss Roots button in mahogany wood. Jeff helped me pick which button to add. I thought for sure the sewing machine would wake Bracken up since he was sleeping in the room right next door (and the walls are not very thick), but he just kept on sleeping. And by the time he woke up I had a finished hat. It's the first thing I've made on a sewing machine in a long, long time. As I looked down at that hat on the corner of my sewing table, with the faint light coming in the window, I felt elated. I'm finally breathing some life into my crafting space again.

calthulus scarf

Photo Credit: Beatrice Perron Dahlen

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 I want to tell you about a new knitting pattern just released: Calthulus Scarf. Isn't it beautiful? Beatrice, of Thread & Ladle Blog, used Wooly Moss Roots buttons for it, which we were really excited about. 

Here's what she says about it:

"The edges of this piece are worked in a reversible cable- which looks fantastic on both the right and wrong sides. The buttons give you options to wear it as a scarf, cowl, or around the shoulders buttoned behind the back.

This piece is delightfully bulky- for wrapping around your shoulders when Autumn winds blow, or for wrapping around and around your neck to keep winter chills at bay. For a less bulky version, try knitting it in a lighter weight yarn like Harrisville Designs’ Highland, or for a wrap, increase the stitches in the center and work it up in an even lighter weight yarn like Harrisville Designs’ Shetland."

The pattern is available on Ravelry: here & there are lots of buttons to choose from in the shop. 

 Thanks Beatrice for using our buttons for your scarf pattern and for helping spread the word about our buttons!

how to make a felted wool vest

 Recently, in the post about May Faire, I told you that I would share how to make a felted wool vest like the one Bracken was wearing in the pictures that day. So here it is, a few weeks belated.
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 Some of you might remember that I've shared how to make a felted wool vest here before (in this post from November 2012, with links to pictures of other felted wool vests that I've finished, if you'd fancy some more inspiration.) I wanted to write a new post because I wanted to share more pictures of the process this time. (Even though it's a very simple process, pictures are always nice, aren't they? I'm a visual person so I always appreciate them.) At Holiday Market sometime in November, our friend brought us a merino wool sweater that he had accidentally shrunk. He held it up to me and asked "would you make something with this?" Yes!! So grateful for the gift, I took it home and put it in the washing machine a second time to shrink it some more because I wanted it to be small enough to fit Bracken. This time I took pictures of the process.

 How To Make A Felted Wool Vest

 1) Pick your sweater & felt it. (See when I started this project? Back in the winter when we had snow!) We like to get wool sweaters at the local thrift store (especially when they are having their 50% off all clothing sale, which they have periodically.) Check the tag. You'll need 100% wool or other natural fibers for it to shrink. The man-made stuff doesn't work. This project is a fun way to give an old, discarded sweater a new life. Find a moth hole in the sleeve? No problem, we can turn that sweater into something useful and beautiful. Shrinking your sweater is simple, just stick it in the washing machine with natural soap. Wash it on hot. The agitation, soap, and hot water will shrink that sweater right up. (A tip someone shared with me: if you don't want to get wool fuzzies all over your washing machine, you can put the sweater in a pillowcase and tie it closed. The sweater will shrink in there without get little wool wads all over the place.)

2) Cut the sleeves off and cut down the front. When cutting the sleeves off, I always follow the seam of where the body of the sweater meets the sleeves. It will leave you with a nice curved opening that is comfortable to wear and how the armholes would naturally be. Then cut right down the middle, on the front side. The wool is felted so you don't have to worry about anything fraying or coming undone, you just cut it, no sewing necessary. (I told you this was easy!) What to do with those sleeves? They make the perfect legwarmers for little ones! Bracken has a pair of felted-sweater-sleeves-turned-legwarmers that he wears all the time. I've also used the sleeves to make wool pants before.

3) Stick it back in the washing machine and felt it again. This step is optional. If you are happy with the size after the first felting, you can leave it be. I usually like to felt it a second time, after I've done the cutting because I always seem to want a smaller size vest and because I like how it makes the edges, where I have done the cutting, all soft and wooly. It gives them a softer edge look that I like. You can see in the pictures above what I mean. This particular vest was actually felted three times (first by our friend and the second two times by me.) They turn out (and shrink) differently every time, which makes it a fun surprise.

4) Sew on your buttons and button loops. (Picture shows when I actually got the vest finished: springtime! The May Faire gave me some good incentive to finally get it finished. It really was the perfect spring green color for the festival. Don't let my delay of finishing this project deceive you- beginning it in November and finishing it in May- it's actually a very quick and easy project. I just happened to set it in a place during our busy holiday season where I forgot about it. Spring cleaning brought it back to mind.) For these vests, I prefer toggle buttons. And of course my very favorite toggle buttons are the ones Jeff makes. (Before I was knitting many projects requiring buttons, I was really happy to have these easy felted wool vests to use Wooly Moss Roots Buttons on.) Space your buttons evenly along one side and your button loops directly across from them. For some reason, mine never seem to line up when I'm finished, but no worries: the vest will still look good. Handmade character makes it special. For the loops and for attaching the buttons, I used wool yarn. Maybe you'll get a bit fancier, but the yarn loops have worked great for me. I just tie a large knot on the backside and that's it. Simple, but it works.

 5) Find a little somebody who could use something warm, wooly, and cozy, and wrap them up in some handmade love. I'm often asked if these can be made for adults. Yes, they could be. However, once the sweaters are felted they are usually too small for an adult to wear. But if you started with a pretty large sweater, than it would work. The fun thing about the felting is that you can usually just keep shrinking the sweaters until you get the size you want (if the size you're wanting is smaller, that is.) I've made them for toddlers and small children and sold a few at the market. This is the second one that I've made for Bracken and it's a bit big on him so it will last for a long time. One thing that is so great about the vests is that even as children's arms grow longer, the vests still fit. You know how quickly children grow and how fast they outgrow their clothes. These felted wool vests can be worn for many, many years, getting far more use than other clothing items ever would. I also like that they keep the center of the body warm, but don't tend to get the whole body too hot. Being sleeveless, they can also be worn for more seasons throughout the year.

 {Waiting in the rocking chair last week, for a few minutes before Rainbow Bridge started.}

 Bracken is so delighted every time I make something for him and these felted wool vests are surely a favorite! I know other parents who want to dress their children in wool, but find it cost prohibitive. These vests are so incredibly affordable and useful. Plus, even people who don't consider themselves very "crafty" can certainly make these vests since they only require a bit of hand sewing to attach the buttons and make the loops. I'd like to see these vests well loved by many, to spot smiling children all over the place in their beautiful felted wool vests keeping them cozy. See what I mean about this project being so easy? Everywhere Bracken wears his vests, I'm asked about them. When I tell people how incredibly easy they are to make, they are amazed. If you get inspired and start making felted wool vests, please share links to pictures in the comments below for the rest of us to enjoy. What are your favorite projects to make with felted sweaters? 

Let's inspire each other and we can give discarded sweaters everywhere, a new life!

knitted springtime flower garland (& may faire)

There was much fun had at May Faire, but before I write about that, I want to share with you how to make a simple, knitted springtime flower garland. (Yep, that's the project I was working on in last week's YarnAlong.) Last year when we went to the May Faire for the first time and not knowing what to expect, we weren't dressed up for the festivities. Seeing all the springtime celebration around us, I knew I wanted to be a bit more festive this year. It's always fun to have an excuse for that, right? I had an inspiration for a simple knitted garland that I could make for each of us. I made one for Bracken, one for Jeff, and one for me. My plan was to make a bunch of extras to share with friends, but that didn't happen. (That's alright, maybe next year.) They are an easy project to make and great for beginning knitters. I was asked about them all day at May Faire and wanted to share how to make them here. I saw other knitted head pieces at May Faire with much wider knitting, that looked so beautiful on all the children I saw them on. There are so many different variations you can make!

 (I also finished a wool vest for Bracken, which I will be sharing how to make later this week.)

 (It seems I'm always the one behind the camera, so I was grateful Jeff took these pictures of Bracken and I.)

 (And he got a close up of the flower garland.)

 Jeff wore his right over his hat. (His needed more flowers added to his, which I didn't finish the night before. I added more flowers to Bracken's and mine first because, honestly, we cared more about it. Jeff was happy to wear his, but didn't mind a bit if I hadn't finished adding all the flowers to it. I was so busy finishing Bracken's vest, right up until bedtime, that it didn't get done.)

 How To Make A Simple Knitted Springtime Flower Garland:

You'll need: 

-green yarn

-double pointed knitting needles

-white wool felt (or color of your choice)

-yellow yarn (for center of flowers)

-a tapestry needle

-a sewing needle

-scissors

1) Pick your yarn. The yarn that I had on hand in green was some handspun wool yarn. It varied in size from being larger than a worsted weight yarn to being smaller than a worsted weight yarn. If I were to pick out yarn for the project, I probably would have chosen worsted weight, since I use that weight in my knitting projects a lot. You'll notice this patten is extremely flexible! I always think it's best to use what you already have on hand. Whatever size yarn you use, I think it will look great. Play around and have fun.

2) Get your knitting needles. Once again, I used what I had on hand. I knitted with size 4 double pointed needles. If in doubt, just use the size recommended with your yarn weight. (I went smaller than what would probably been  recommended for my yarn.) Again, you don't need to be too particular about this.

3) Start knitting. To create the base for the garland, I knit a simple i-cord. Cast on three stitches. Knit those three stitches. When you finish knitting, slide those three stitches to the end of your double pointed needle (from the left side of your needle to the right side of your needle, without turning your needles.) Knit the three stitches. Slide to end of knitting needle. Repeat. Easy peasy. 

4) Connect and make a circle. Once you knit to your desired length, cast off and leave a long tail. (For general reference: I made Jeff's about 22 inches around and it was worn over a hat, mine was about 21 inches around, and Bracken's was about 18 inches around. They will stretch and if you think you've made yours a bit too small, it might be alright.) Use your tail to weave together both ends of the i-cord with your tapestry needle. When your ends are connected to make a circle, weave in your ends. 

5) Cut your felt flowers. Get your piece of wool felt. I had a leftover piece of natural white (technically off-white) felt from Felt On The Fly. I took a blunt pencil and lightly drew my flower shapes. I was going for a daisy look. (The first one in the picture above, in the upper left with only four petals was a blooper, I liked the way five petals looked better.) Once I drew my shapes and cut them out, I put the side with the pencil markings to the back, facing the green circle, so the markings wouldn't show while you wear it. If you draw a flower shape you like, you can use it as a template for the rest. I just drew each flower individually, which was fun in that each one was unique, but a template would have been easier. 

6) Attach your flowers. Place your first flower where you would like it. (I always put the first flower on the point where I connected the ends together, to cover it up.) Sew the flower on. I used yellow wool yarn to stitch on the flowers. There were three stitches going across the center of each flower, which made a good, colorful center. (I had some sport weight wool yarn from our friends at Timberwolf Farm, naturally dyed with marigolds. It was leftover from the beekeeper's daughter hat.) You could just use yellow thread, or whichever color you would like, but the yarn makes a much more noticeable center. I started with four flowers on each garland, evenly spaced, and then added one more in between each flower, for a total of eight flowers on each garland. It seemed like a good amount. Whatever looks good to you. Jeff also had a good idea, that you could add real flowers throughout by weaving the stems along the knitted round. We had some columbines blooming that would have been so beautiful for that, but we left the house early and didn't end up doing that. 

7) Wear and enjoy. You might even notice yourself smiling more than usual. It's fun to be festive. If you have any springtime celebrations, it's the perfect time to wear them. For us, it was the May Faire, but springtime arriving is celebration enough. The children in your life will especially love them, but everyone will enjoy a touch of fun.

And now, onto the May Faire....

 Bracken headed straight for the bubbles, just like last year. He got there early, so had the whole tub of bubbles to himself for awhile before anyone else came. The bubble wands that they had were copper rounds with wooden handles. They made such large bubbles and were so easy for children to make bubbles with. You didn't need to blow on them, you simply needed to wave the wand or walk a bit and huge bubbles emerged.

 He was so excited he could hardly stand it.

 All those bits of white throughout the grass were little white flowers (I call them daisies), the same that grow at our house. When the sun came out, they opened up and I thought they added to the May Faire magic.

 The May Pole was magical as always.

 The May Faire Queen, surrounded by children. 

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Last year it was in the eighties the day of the May Faire, this year it was cooler. The day went back and forth from sun to clouds to rain. Even in the rain, we enjoyed ourselves. There were activities last year that Bracken wasn't quite old enough for that he loved this year. He did the tumbling gnomes race and won a honey stick. He thought it was the best prize ever and showed everyone. He did the ring toss (and later told me he wanted to make one at our house.) He also did the fishing game, with a bamboo fishing pole, and "hooked" a prize. Inside were polished, colorful rocks and he saved them to put in our dish with water for the bees in our yard. I appreciated that they had natural prizes and that the only "sweet" prizes were honey sticks. He also got to make his own terrarium, which I thought was such a great idea for a project. The music all day long was amazing. There was such a feeling of sweetness there. Bracken loved to run freely in the field. At Saturday Market I always have to watch him like a hawk because we are so close to busy roads. At the May Faire, it was a big grassed field that was fenced so I was able to relax so much more. (I think I mentioned that last year as well.) We saw many friends throughout the day. Jeff watched the booth almost the entire day while I ran around with Bracken. Poor Jeff had lower back pain and didn't want to walk much because his sciatic nerve would act up. It was hard for him by the end of the day, but he still had a wonderful time. We all did. It's become a new yearly tradition for us. When I think of May, I think of the May Faire.