Posted on 01/01/2020 7:41:42 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The Monthly Fiber Arts Thread is a monthly gathering of people that love yarn and fabric of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first project, to experienced fiber artists and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
It is impossible to hijack the Monthly Fiber Arts Thread. Knitting, crochet, quilting, weaving, general crafting - there is no telling where it will go, and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our Fiber Arts Ping List.
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Would you please fix my typo in the title? Change the ‘m’ to a ‘,’?
Thanks! More coffee, Please!
Any Freepers proficient at spin game a good yarn?
Spinning (more coffee too)
Been handspinning and knitting theresults since the Seventies. :o)
My 2020 resolution is to get my fabric stash organized. When my dear friend died at the end of 2018 I inherited her tons of all things quilting. It’s been a year of looking at the piles, feeling overwhelmed, and walking away. I must sort through it, donate some, save some to use, and then get to work.
Sounds like a great New Year Project.
My Mom was ‘Costume Mistress’ for a theater troupe for 30+ years - I’ve spent a lot of time sorting fabric donations with her.
You just have to start. I’d ‘talk’ to your friend as you’re sorting - that might help. I lost my BFF to cancer 15 years ago and I ‘talk’ to her nearly every day. ;)
“I’d ‘talk’ to your friend as you’re sorting - that might help. I lost my BFF to cancer 15 years ago and I ‘talk’ to her nearly every day. ;)”
I do that too. I have to get into her mindset when going through her fabric and notions — except politically (she was a raving Socialist). She was charitable, so I’m going with donating her stuff instead of selling.
Thanks for posting the thread!
I am in “Mitten Madness”. I found a very basic fingerless mitten pattern (knitted) that works up very nicely & I’m making mittens for two friends ... one as a Christmas present (she’s been out of town so we’ll exchange gifts this weekend) & the other has a birthday mid-January.
In the meanwhile, there are several other folks who love the basic crochet fingerless mittens I’ve made in the past - all are about worn out by now so I’m replacing them with the knitted mittens. The worn out mitts owners include the Christmas/birthday folks plus about 4 more. My niece/brother consider their mitts their “lucky hunting mitts” so I’ll try to include a little ‘luck’ in the next sets I do for them. Other folks love them for walking/running - keeps their hands warm, but not too hot.
I have been knitting for the last couple of days - trying different yarns, needle sizes, etc. One reason for the knitting ‘flurry’, I treated myself to a set of interchangeable knitting needles/cables - I really love them. I have two mittens that have turned into “experiments”, but I learned a lot - all total, I’ve made 5 mittens in the last 2.5 days. Anyway, last night, my right hand was cramping (last two fingers) & then I was getting some periodic numbness just below those two fingers in the wrist area. Ruh roh!! Long past time to put the knitting aside for the rest of the night.
This morning, things are a bit better - took some ibuprofen. Finished up the mitt I was working on last night. I’m taking a long break (frying up 3 lbs of bacon - bacon makes everything ‘better’!!) and then I might work on another mitt later this evening. I need a match to the one I finished this morning & then the Christmas gift will be finished. I think I’m going to have to restrict myself to one mitt/day for a while. I do have 2 crochet projects I’ve been putting off so I could finish those up & probably not aggravate my hand.
Happy New Year to all & good luck with all of your Fiber Arts projects, whatever they may be! ~Q
We are going to my Mom’s (about an hour away) today so we can watch The Rose Bowl with her and a few friends. (WI Badgers v. The Oregon Ducks; On, Wisconsin!)
Everyone has agreed that Jammies and/or Badger Sweats are perfectly acceptable, and I am also bringing my crochet basket with a few started projects and a crossword puzzle book. Nothing I love more than to crochet or cross-word and watch football!
I used to be so flippin’ COOL! Exactly WHEN did this, ‘Old Lady’ show up? LOL!
Sports (football is great) make good “background” noise for crochet. You don’t have to watch it because the announcers are pretty good at describing what is going on & if something exciting happens (TD!!!), you can catch it on instant replay!
I’ll root for WI!! :-)
Anyone who doubts should look at Tapestries of 1000 years ago...
Qiviut: I don’t know how long you have been knitting, but having been through the Carpal Tunnel surgery for similar symptoms caused by extensive computer use at work and then knitting in the evenings, I totally understand what you are going through and hope your symptoms improve with Bacon Therapy and some good rest.
Your mitten projects sound great. Have you ever seen this pattern?
https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Fingerless-Gloves/Spanish-Onion-Mitts
I haven’t tried this one yet as it looks beyond my skill and patience level at this time. Just love the colors and complexity, though, so do plan to give it a go after a few other projects are complete.
Happy New Year, Fellow Fiber Friends - hope your 2020 holds much love and joy!
Sioux
You reminded me of the Unicorn Tapestries at The Cloisters, but those were from the 1500s - amazing works!
I taught myself to knit as a teenager & had terrible hand position - “thrower” with the right hand & very slow. I basically gave it up & bacame a crocheter, but always loved the look of knitted projects. Recently, I’ve picked it up again & started working on “flicking” & my speed has at least doubled, maybe tripled ... in knit stitch. The purl stitch is still very awkward & that is what is causing tension in my right hand (plus hours of knitting rather than taking a rest!). The mitts have K2 P2 ribbing, including 16 rows at the cuff which is a long slog & lots of purl stitches. I need to work on purl technique with a ‘swatch’ where if I drop stitches or screw up, it won’t wreck a project.
Today, I took some ibuprofen & the plan has been to knit an hour, then rest for at least 15-30 minutes. Bacon therapy gave me a rest of at least an hour. No ‘cramping’ so far today & when I get the 2nd mitt done (working on it now) for the Christmas present that is “due” this weekend, I’ll probably take a break for a couple of days. Hopefully, since this is the first time I’ve had this issue, it will resolve. I got my new needles on Saturday & I’ve pretty much been knitting non-stop since & I’ve well & truly overdone it.
Took a look at that ‘onion’ pattern - it really is beautiful & the variegated yarn makes it even prettier. I’ve saved it for future reference. Thanks & Happy New Year to you!
Thanks for adding me to the ping list. I’ll just lurk for a while and see what sorts of things everyone else is doing.
I’ve been crocheting much of my life, and most of the things I make now are donated to various charities.
I donated to a 4H sewing group the leader and the kids were thrilled. If you are looking for receivers.
I am doing an “ old fashioned” tapestry...loving it...
Here is a fingerless wrist warmer pattern that I really like - NO purling!! The honeycomb pattern is really pretty, too.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeycomb-wrist-warmers-knit
I downloaded the pattern from Ravelry. If you aren’t on Ravelry, I think you can “buy” it from her shop (price is $0.00)
https://pinkbrutus.com/pattern-shop/honeycomb-wrist-warmers
I have made one mitten from this pattern - used the size 6 needles called for, but with the yarn I was using (slightly lighter/thinner), the mitten is a bit on the small size. I’m going up at least one needle size. Also, I did the mitten on circular needles rather than DPNs & it worked out just fine.
Here’s another pattern from this designer that I’d like to try - looks pretty easy:
https://pinkbrutus.com/blog/2012/3/2/zip-mits-a-pattern-casually.html
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