Felting Fubar

The boy wanted a knitted wool hat. So I got my needles and a cool pattern book and found something I dug. I carefully knit a test swatch and threw it in the washer for felting (a process in which one turns loose floppy knitting into a tight, thick, wind-proof fabric by washing it in hot water; it's other name, when done on accident, is shrinking). Using the measurments created by shrinking my swatch, I mapped out a pattern for the hat. I incorporated yellow snowflakes and these nifty earflaps.
Then, I threw it in the washer, confident it would felt (shrink) in the same proportions as the test swatch.
Hubris, I tell you.
Instead I got this: a felted football helmet.
Turned upside down, it's a nice basket.
In it's current form, the boy has cut eyeholes in it and wears it to freak out the neighbor kids.

funky monkey

Over at Loobylu there is a monthy call for "softies". This is the first time I'll have made the deadline, and I really had fun. This is a gift for a sweet friend that will have her very own little monkey in just a couple of months. I broke down and bought the socks at Crafty Planet for about $12, but now I think it would be fun to try it with other kinds of socks.

the state fair

Fellow craft goddesses, I am sorry I missed the Craft Conspiracy meeting last night. I had some friends in town unexpectedly. I promise to attend the next meeting!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I always enjoy looking at all the crafts in the creative activities building at the Minnesota State Fair. Everything from quilts and crochet to pickles and jam serves to amaze and inspire my crafty self. In fact, for a long time I have dreamed of entering something in the state fair. A couple of years ago, my mom entered a pound cake in a baking competition. She didn't win a ribbon, but it is an honor just to make it into the display case because not everyone does. Yesterday I pre-registered to enter a piece in the category of Mosaic, on a flat surface. I am entering this rooster mirror that I made over the winter when Julie and I took a mosaic class. The mirror has a total state fair motif going on with the poultry and hints of a blue ribbon.



I encourage all crafters to enter something in the Fair. You can register on-line. It's easy and then when I go to the fair I can admire your handiwork.

Conversation Hearts

Can't wait to see you crafty ladies tonight! Here's the detail of my candy square.

back to the topic of crafts....

Here are some great websites if you are into mosaics. Mosaic Matter has lots tips and answers to common questions about mosaics. They also have a very nice gallery of fine mosaic arts. Society of American Mosaic Artists has a great newsletter called the The Groutline. I also learned a lot from reading through the Frequently Asked Questions at Mosaic Mercantile. If you want bulk quantities of mosaic tile they have good deals. If you want to buy small quantities of tile, Mosaic Art Supply has great prices. I recently ordered some vitreous glass tile in greens and browns for my bird table (I gave up on the stone idea). Many of the colors were 60 cents for 25 tiles! That is about how much I pay for a plate at Value Village. Not bad!