Dolly Donations for Japan III

I’ve discovered that sewing a cute rag doll is difficult. Very difficult. At least for me. I’m beginning to understand the rise of the ugly doll phenom. Never the less, I’m determined to make some things for the Dolly Drive for Japan.

I’ve managed to find a couple of knitting patterns that seem to be working. I figure not every kid-in-need will want a rag doll. Or at least, that’s my excuse for now! The robot pictured here (made not quite to the instructions, my fault) is from KnitWit by Katie Boyette and I’m on my second monster from the Big Book of Knitted Monsters.

“The charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others.” – Homer

Color Trends Fall 2011, Spring 2012

Time to start crafting for the Fall and Winter craft shows. Since we all want to make things that will appeal (and sell), a quick survey of color trends for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 follows.

Autumn/Winter 2011 Women
Gold Medalist, World ReMix

Autumn/Winter 2011 Men
Far-Off Lands, Eco-Optimist, and more

Pantone Fall 2011 Fashion Color Report

Spring/Summer 2012 Trends
New Edge, Urban Jungle

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“Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world.” – Murasaki Shikibu

Tactile Art Show III

Surprise from the Tactile Art Show 2011; awarded the Second Best Use of Yarn for the wrist warmers I entered. The wrist warmers have a quote beaded in braille on one wrist and moon writing on the other – to go with the Tactile theme. Ribbon AND $75 check donated by Mew Mew’s Yarn Shop. Probably where I’ll spend that yarn money!

Ribbons, yarn money!

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Erica’s Autumn

Another great co-worker is leaving, again not because of me! She is taking a year off to figure out the best direction for the rest of her life. I unfolded the Schacht Baby Wolf loom and got to work making her a scarf to accompany her on those journeys.

Her favorite colors are orange, tan, rust – not my usual palette. I was aiming for the colors of fall, and hopefully this random mash-up works. I used 5/2 pearl cotton in both warp and weft, alternating every random warp colored strand with one in the same rust cotton of the weft. Flung myself on the mercy of the ladies at Shuttles to pick some of the colors. Next time, I think I’ll switch to a bamboo for the weft to give the scarf a better hand. If she beats it up for a decade or more it’ll soften up. One picture was taken in shade the other in sunlight, just to confuse you more about what color this scarf really is.

Erica's Autumn in Shade

Erica's Autumn in Sun

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus

Love Your Library Book Sale

In the past two years, public library use in the United States is up an average of 20%. Yet your local library’s budget, like many library budgets, is probably being gutted at the same time use is skyrocketing. Remember the value you find in checking out all of those craft books? Be sure to put your tax dollars (and votes) out there to support your library!

Of course, I also support the local library Friends group by shopping extensively at the summer book sale. 20 minutes, $20. Landed some great finds:

Organic gardening book, dictionary of fables, and Frank Herbert, Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke books in French. Just because.

Old knitting magazines
– Botany College Hand Knits v. II 1958
– Reynolds sweaters v. 28 (1960s era)
– Bernat Handicrafter v. 51 (1956), v. 58 (1956), v. 74 (1959), v. 139 (1967)

Can you see the historic knitted glory in these poor photos?

Mad Men Knitting

More Mad Men Knitting

“The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.” – James Bryce