A few months ago, my husband asked me to make him a felted sleeve for his new laptop.   So, of course, I started peppering him with questions like ‘what color?’, ‘knit?’, ‘crochet?’, ‘recycled?’, ’size?’.  Half jokingly, he said he didn’t care, but it just needed to have flames going down the side of it.  I had just bought a bunch of second hand wool sweaters to use for felting projects, and I found a dark olive one that would be perfect for a laptop cover.   Lucky for me, I also had a bright red sweater that just screamed ‘flames!’.   Thus, was born the “Greased Lightning” Laptop Sleeve!   He’s gotten a number of compliments on it (or so he told me — maybe he was just trying to make me feel good), so I thought I would post some instructions on how to make your own.

Tongues of Flame Fingerless Gloves

I also used the leftover pieces from the sweater sleeves to make a cool pair of fingerless gloves.  You can see more pictures of the gloves at my Etsy Shop.

I’m not a Photoshop genius, so please be kind with my diagrams!  Here goes — First step, select a sweater to use as the base of the bag.  In order to felt properly, it should be 100% wool.   If you are going to add an applique, select a sweater in a contrasting color.  The sweater used for the applique should also be 100% wool, but should be thinner than the sweater used for the base of the bag.  Felt both sweaters by putting them through at least one cycle in the washing machine (hot wash/cold rinse); dry in the dryer.  Using the diagram below, cut out the central piece of the laptop bag.

Template - How to Cut Sweater for Laptop Bag

If you are adding an applique, cut out the applique and sew it to the outside of the bag using whip stitch or ladder stitch. (you do not need to hem or turn under the edges of the applique; the felting process will keep it from unraveling) The sides of the bag will be partially open (where you remove the sleeves).  Sew the open part of the sides shut.  The bottom edge of the sweater (will probably have some ribbing) will be the top of the bag.   Attach a zipper.  You can also add buttons, if you prefer.  The last step is to turn the bag inside out and stitch the bottom shut.  Although I added the tongues of flame by hand, I did all the other stitching by machine.

Template - Sewing the Laptop Bag

You can use the sleeves to make a pair of fingerless gloves.  Cut according to the diagram above.  The cuff edge of sleeve will be the wrist side of the glove; the raw edge will be the finger side of the glove. Turn the glove inside out and mark where the thumb opening should be.  Machine stitch as indicated in diagram.  Snip the ‘triangle’ that is created with the stitching.  Turn the glove right-side out.  You can now stitch on an applique, embroider flowers, or embellish however you like!

Template - Stitching for Gloves

With Easter only a few short weeks away, I thought it would be fun to post instructions on hand dying yarn using Easter egg dye.

Finally Dry! Ready To Use

I discovered this art a few years back while surfing the net and have tweaked and combined a few different techniques to come up with a process that works well for me.  Unfortunately, my photos don’t do the final product justice.  I really need to figure out how to take better pictures!  If you want to see some amazing photos (and a detailed set of instructions), you should also check out the Kathryn Ivy site.  I love what they’ve done with their yarn.

If you like dying yarn with Easter egg dye, I definitely suggest you wait until right after Easter and scoop up a bunch of super-discounted egg dying kits.  Last year, my Mom found a whole slew of kits on sale for something like $.50 each, so I now have a small stockpile egg dying kits.  Now, I just need to find the time to dye myself a heap o’yarn!

If you end up trying it yourself, I would love to hear about your results!  And, stay tuned — I’ll be posting about dying yarn using Wilton’s food coloring, some time soon…

Easter Egg Dyed Yarn

Material Needed:

• 100% wool yarn (I used Lion Brand Fisherman wool 465 yards wound into 4 hanks approx. 115 yards each)
• Easter egg dye tablets
• Vinegar
• Wash basin, sink or large bowl
• Glass bowl large enough for yarn
• Large baking sheet (for hand painting)

Tips

• The less yarn you use per tablet, the more intense the color.  1 tablet per 100 yards of yarn gives a nice medium tone color.
• You can add more water to your dye mix to color more yarn, however the color will be lighter.
• Never run water directly onto your yarn or it may felt.
• Do not vigorously rub yarn while rinsing or it may felt.
• Wear rubber gloves, or you will dye your hands, too!

Process

• Wash yarn in warm water with a very small amount of dish soap.
• Fill your basin or sink with enough cold water to cover your yarn.
• Add approximately 1 cup of vinegar to your water and mix.
• Gently add washed yarn to the vinegar-water mixture.  Make sure your yarn is completely submerged.  Soak for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove yarn and gently squeeze out water.
• You can either use the immersion or hand painting methods described below

Immersion Dying Method (single color)

• Prepare dye tablets as directed on box.  Depending upon how much yarn you want to dye, you may want to add more water.
• Pour dye into a bowl big enough to hold your yarn.
• Add enough water to barely cover yarn.
• Submerge yarn into dye.
• When yarn has absorbed dye, remove from bowl.
• Gently squeeze out excess water (do not squeeze too tightly, yarn should still be wet)
• Put wet yarn in a glass bowl and cover.
• Microwave for 10 minutes.
• Remove yarn from microwave (be careful, it will be very hot).  Let the yarn cool until it can be handled comfortably.
• Fill basin or sink with very warm water.
• Submerge yarn in the basin and swish around with your hands. (the yarn should not be bleeding any dye at this point)
• Squeeze yarn dry with your hands; roll it in a towel to remove additional excess water.
• Hang the yarn on a rack to dry.

Hand Painting (gives a pretty variegated effect)

• Select 2 or more colors. Prepare dye tablets as directed on box.  Depending upon how much yarn you want to dye, you may want to add more water.
• Lay hanks of yarn flat on a baking sheet.
• Add an additional 1/3 cup of water to dyes.
• Use a small cup, ladle or squeeze bottle to pour dye over yarn in sections.  Be sure to prepare enough dye to solution to cover all of yarn.  You can also deliberately leave sections white.
  

  Hand Painted Yarn After Color Has Been Added

• You can “pre-dye” yarn using the immersion method and “paint” sections of the yarn before drying.
• When yarn is sufficiently coverd with dye, remove from bowl.
• Gently squeeze out excess water (do not squeeze too tightly, yarn should still be wet)
• Put wet yarn in a glass bowl and cover.
• Microwave for 10 minutes.
• Remove yarn from microwave (be careful, it will be very hot).  Let the yarn cool until it can be handled comfortably.
• Fill basin or sink with very warm water.
• Submerge yarn in the basin and swish around with your hands. (the yarn should not be bleeding any dye at this point)


Soaking The Yarn After Microwaving

• Squeeze yarn dry with your hands; roll it in a towel to remove additional excess water.
• Hang the yarn on a rack to dry.
  

  On The Drying Rack

  

  Hand Dyed Skein

  

  Another Photo of the Finished Product

Here is are are a couple photos of felted flowers I made from the yarn that I dyed. I also made a really cute yoga sweater, but I haven’t managed to take any pics of it!

Felted Lotus Brooch

Felted Orchid Hair Clip

Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, which means scores of people will be flocking the streets for parades, drinking green beer, and, for the most part, partying up and down on a Wednesday.

Celtic Knot Bag

I think my most memorable St. Patrick’s day was way back in 1995/1996 when I was living in New Orleans.  My god, they know how to throw a party in good ol’ NOLA!  We were drinking at the Parasols block party by noon, and then hit the French Quarter for the parade.  If you’ve never been to a St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Orleans, it is suspiciously like a Mardi Gras parade — except they throw vegetables off the floats in addition to the beads.  Seriously…I kid you not.  You are highly likely to get hit in the head with a potato or chunk of cabbage if you don’t pay attention.

Anyway, although I will be driving my pre-schoolers around to their various activities, rather than drinking green beer this year, it seemed appropriate to post my article on Celtic Knots to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day.

Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction

In June 2001, my cousin and I visited Scotland, and I bought a really cool book called Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction by George Bain.   A large part of the book is focuses on the Pictish designs from Ireland and Scotland.  From an artistic perspective, the best part of this book is that the author gives very detailed, step-by-step instruction of how to create the intricate knot work and spiral patterns.  He starts with the most basic  traditional patterns and shows how they  grow into extremely intricate designs used in architecture, embroidery, calligraphy and metalworking.  I tried taking a few pictures of the book to give you an idea of the step-by-step construction.  I know its hard to see, but take my word for it, it’s pretty cool!

The designs seemed so complex, it was a little daunting, so I never actually began any projects incorporating the knot work theme.  This March, the Etsy Hookers team is sponsoring a contest for Irish/St. Patrick’s Day themed items.   So, I figured this was as good an opportunity as any to try my hand at a Celtic Knot design.  Here are photos of three items that I’m working on.

Celtic Knot Backpack

Basically, I’ve been crocheting a bag or bowl in 100% wool.  Then, I crochet a very long chain in a contrasting color.  I then stitch the chain onto the item in a knot work pattern.   Finally, I felt the entire item in the wash a couple of times.  I’m pretty happy with how the handbag and backpack came out.  The bowl is not done yet, and I’ve included “in progress” photos to show the steps.  The designs that I chose are from the Pictish school and are actually some of the simplest ones in the book.

I like the concept that the one continuous line is a symbol of continuity or eternity.

Bowl - After One Felting, but Before Knot Work

Bowl - After Knot Work Design Has Been Pinned In Place

Bowl - Drying After 3 Feltings

Have you ever noticed how kids love to make things, and they always seem to love what they make, no matter how it turns out?

Monster and Princess

This gave me an idea for our latest craft endeavor.  What if I let the kids design and construct their own little creatures?  Typically, when we’re making a craft, we follow a pattern or set of instructions.  Other times, we talk about what we want to make, and I interpret our idea onto paper or fabric.  We usually end up with something cute, but it definitely looks like my interpretation of what we set out to make.  But what if, this time, they got to come up with the idea, put pen to paper (or marker to felt), and put the pieces together with minimal input from me?  What we end up with are these cute little monster dolls that have my daughter’s style written all over them.

Basically, I told my daughter she was going to be able to design her own stuffed monster toy.  She has worked with me enough to understand the concept of cutting out multiple pieces and fitting them together to form an end product.  So, I asked her to draw a picture of her monster on felt and draw arms, legs, eyes, mouth, and other part on different colors of felt.  I carefully cut out the pieces she drew.  Next, I asked her to arrange them exactly how she thought her monster should look.  I then sewed the pieces together on the sewing machine, and she stuffed the body of her monster.   What we ended up with was a little stuffed toy that looking amazingly similar to any one of my daughters drawings.  We also made a princess to play with monster.  Here are the basic instructions of how to make your own wild things!

Materials – colored felt, marker, scissors, sewing machine or needle and thread

Step 1 – Have your child draw a body of a monster/animal/person on a piece of felt.  Have your child draw arms, legs, features, tail, clothes, etc in different colors

Step 2 – Cut out peices, be sure to leave a little extra room around the main body piece for seam allowance

Step 3 – Trace and cut out a 2nd copy of the main body piece.  This will allow you to sew the 2 pieces together to be stuffed

Step 4 – Let you child arrange the pieces together how he/she would like them.  Sew the pieces onto the front of the body shape.

Step 5 – Sew the front and back of body together. (Sew with wrong sides together; we did not turn it inside out).  Leave an opening at the bottom for stuffing

Step 6 – Let your child stuff his/her monster.  We used a chopstick to get into hard-to-reach places like the head and arms.   Sew the opening at the bottom closed

Draw The Body and Other Pieces of Your Monster

Trace and Cut Out a Second Body Piece

Arrange Pieces on the Main Body Piece - Sew Them in Place

Hint – Do not try to use glue to put your monster together.  I notice that lots of online instructions for felt crafts say that you can glue pieces together, but this always ends up in miserable failure for me and tears for the kids.  I’ve used every kind of glue that I can think of, and have yet to find something (short of a hot glue gun) that suitably holds craft felt together.  For some reason, felt glues easily to other surfaces like cardboard (see my Felt Dolls post), but doesn’t glue well to other pieces of felt)

Princess and The Monster

Here is another photo of our finished Wild Things:

As I write this article, I’m looking out my window watching three doves take a bath in our birdbath.   After a long and frosty winter, it really seems like spring has made her move.

Wheelbarrow Ride

I can’t believe the temperatures were well into the mid ’50’s all weekend.   I thought I would never be able to rid myself of my heavy coat and hat.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m not naive;  this is New England, so I know the cold and ice will be back before I know it — we may even get another snow storm.  But in the meantime, I’ll heed the buddhist teachings and live in the moment.   And, what a great ‘moment’ this weekend has been!  My family and I were outside getting a headstart on all our spring cleaning.  We raked leaves, cleared out flower beds, and checked for signs of life.

Budding Daffodil

The kids rode around on their bikes, and I even took out the old skateboard for a spin. (don’t get me going on skateboards…I’m not that good, but good enough to ride one home from Manhattan to Prospect Heights during the big blackout of 2003).

But, the biggest coup of all was getting our first veggie crops planted in the garden.  Jon had noticed that a small patch of spinach had managed to survive the winter in our mini-polytunnel.  It was suprisingly balmy under that plastic canopy.  I figured if that little patch of spinach could pull through, maybe we could give it a go with some of the early veggies.  So, we put in arugula, kale, mixed greens, peas, and carrots.  I’ll keep a close eye on them over the next few weeks to see what sprouts.  If all goes well, I’ll do an updated post with some pics of our seedlings!

The Poly Tunnel

Spring Spinach Shoots

Spring definitely gets me in the mood for fresh veggies.  Although it’s still too early for most of us to pick anything from our own gardens, did you know that you can still buy fresh produce at certain farmer’s markets in the winter? For those of you lucky enough (like me) to live in Rhode Island, the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmer’s Market is open from Nov. 7 – May 29. I’ve also enjoyed going to the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan and the Grand Army Plaza and Fort Greene Farmer’s Markets in Brooklyn year round.   And, remember, only two more weeks until the official start of Spring!

Hanging Out In The Trees

Helping With the Yard

OK, what did you guess?  I bet you didn’t guess baby wipes!  That’s right, these flowers are actually made from dried out (unused) diaper wipes.

Kanzashi Flower Bouquet

Kind of neat, huh?  Basically, these are baby wipes, dried, cut into squares, folded, and sewn together to make a flower.  The finished flower was then painted with food coloring and water.  The design is based on Kanzashi, the Japanese art of folding paper or fabric into intricate flowers, oftentimes to be used a hair jewelry.  As much as I’d love to, I can’t take credit for this adaptation.  My daughter wanted to make something herself to give to my mom for her birthday, and the Crafty Crow directed me to the instructions for these flowers on Filth Wizardry (a fun blog with lot’s of ideas to share with kids).  If you and your kids are interested in making your own flowers, you should check it out.  Filth Wizardry has very detailed instructions with great photos.  If we make these again, I think I’ll use more food coloring in our ‘paint’ to give a more intense color.

If you are interested in taking a more traditional approach and making fabric flowers, I found this tutorial on Instructibles which seems very straightforward.  If you are ready for the advanced session, you might want to check out this site by Jen Minnis.   She has alot of information and a picture of a gorgeous hairpiece she made.

Our Bouquet