tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12526968803660858592024-03-14T01:50:35.931-05:00Early Bird CraftsA blog about all my craft projects. Sewing, knitting, crochet, spinning yarn, and other homemade crafts.EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-17620227684060414402013-06-25T20:52:00.000-05:002013-06-25T21:00:36.074-05:00Knitted Cabled Bottle KoozieMy latest koozie design is knitted with cables and a button flap closure. It also has a full bottom, unlike the crocheted bottle koozies. I'm planning to write up the pattern, but I might make a few changes first. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ad0zviUlMlw/UcpG7YiNReI/AAAAAAAABPc/oto-Olt6U7I/s640/blogger-image-760555793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ad0zviUlMlw/UcpG7YiNReI/AAAAAAAABPc/oto-Olt6U7I/s640/blogger-image-760555793.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dRh6DiyOPOw/UcpG5e1MP0I/AAAAAAAABPU/jZXlsmGbx14/s640/blogger-image-1899889936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dRh6DiyOPOw/UcpG5e1MP0I/AAAAAAAABPU/jZXlsmGbx14/s640/blogger-image-1899889936.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dj5ItRt4HLw/UcpIjdB1d2I/AAAAAAAABPs/sGYc05FXVoQ/s640/blogger-image-470212404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dj5ItRt4HLw/UcpIjdB1d2I/AAAAAAAABPs/sGYc05FXVoQ/s640/blogger-image-470212404.jpg" /></a></div>EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-8156091831566389202013-02-13T17:00:00.000-06:002013-02-13T17:00:03.717-06:00iPad cover made from a fabric covered text book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otuyL8ImJa8/URK93CozQzI/AAAAAAAABN4/Lp_iR3Z_99c/s1600/100_2530a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otuyL8ImJa8/URK93CozQzI/AAAAAAAABN4/Lp_iR3Z_99c/s320/100_2530a.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When I got my iPad, I started looking for a unique and visually appealing cover. I found a great one on Etsy (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/94699017/ipad-case-ipad-cover-hardcover-ipad-case?ref=usr_faveitems">here</a>), but didn't want to pay the price. So, I decided to see if I could make my own version. I was able to find the same yellow bird fabric and already had grey fabric, white ribbon, and white elastic. I also found an old text book from college - analytical chemistry, and bought some spray adhesive and got out my glue gun. Here is the text book and the iPad before I started.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfX3OMSSuHg/URK97IcA51I/AAAAAAAABOA/Zmzkmv3gqNU/s1600/100_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfX3OMSSuHg/URK97IcA51I/AAAAAAAABOA/Zmzkmv3gqNU/s320/100_2259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I cut the binding along the spine so I could remove the pages while leaving the cover in tact. I ended up covering most of it in paper using spray adhesive since the cover was dark and showed through the fabric. Then, I covered the outside, much like you would do with a paper book cover and attached it using spray adhesive. I used spray adhesive to add the grey fabric to the spine and hot glued the ribbon on to cover the unfinished edge where it meets the yellow. I used a separate sheet of fabric for the inside and just tucked the edges under and tacked them with hot glue. I cut another piece of cardboard for the part underneath the iPad and covered it with a layer of batting, and then a layer of white fabric. I hot glued the elastic to the back of the cardboard and then hot glued the whole thing to the inside of the book cover. Finally, I cut a strip off of an old fridge magnet and glued it on the cover in the area where it wakes up and puts to sleep the iPad. You can see it in action in the video below (which of course I recorded sideways so it looks funny, but you get the idea). Here is the final product.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViK6YMN5-HI/URK9xWo349I/AAAAAAAABNw/naDVZPX22YE/s1600/100_2529a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViK6YMN5-HI/URK9xWo349I/AAAAAAAABNw/naDVZPX22YE/s400/100_2529a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx67xVRKoV7oVoEog9mWTTfsbiKPjCXqMtaoLeu3rkSvaqhh99xyRhBKbpKT122ziK3s8MNo8NI0119sg2vSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-59178795539660695072013-02-10T14:00:00.000-06:002013-02-10T14:00:03.280-06:00Spinning fabric - selvage and scraps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpY3svDkRMI/URK05w-Uc7I/AAAAAAAABNk/pRsa4epZwaY/s1600/100_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpY3svDkRMI/URK05w-Uc7I/AAAAAAAABNk/pRsa4epZwaY/s400/100_2533.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I tried spinning some selvage edges from my quilting and sewing (and some other scrap strips) into fabric yarn. Turns out it is pretty hard to join fabric strips by spinning, so I had to tie them together. I'm not sure that the spinning was necessary. I think you could just tie them together and knit or crochet with it. I am thinking I will eventually make a rag rug out of this, but I will probably need more yardage for that!EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-30888248127665737342013-02-08T17:00:00.000-06:002013-02-08T17:00:06.791-06:00Black and white yarn scarf<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1A6yjhAgqp0/URGy_SJk9SI/AAAAAAAABMw/Z4F72q0g3Aw/s1600/100_2547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1A6yjhAgqp0/URGy_SJk9SI/AAAAAAAABMw/Z4F72q0g3Aw/s400/100_2547.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Remember <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/08/baa-baa-black-sheep.html">this post</a> when I started with wool from two different sheep, one white and the other black and then made some black, white, and grey yarn? Well, look what I finally made with it!<br />
<br />
Here are the two different piles of raw wool:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHCkdvKTgd0/URGzOCWWnVI/AAAAAAAABM4/Fmm9-cZNgGk/s1600/100_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHCkdvKTgd0/URGzOCWWnVI/AAAAAAAABM4/Fmm9-cZNgGk/s320/100_2556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I separated the dark wool into black, dark grey and medium grey, then mixed white and medium grey to make light grey, and used some plain white. I made a bunch of rolags and spun them into a big bulky yarn.<br />
Here are some rolags:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNW2xhEE0XU/Tl2XjtxtTmI/AAAAAAAABAA/AzqbMf_AeS0/s1600/103_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNW2xhEE0XU/Tl2XjtxtTmI/AAAAAAAABAA/AzqbMf_AeS0/s320/103_1684.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This was a long time ago! It was probably in August of 2011. I just couldn't decide what to do with the yarn. I tried knitting with it, but it was too bulky and not lofty enough so it made a stiff, bulky fabric that was not working out no matter how big of needles I used. So, it sat and sat until I saw someone at work with a yarn scarf just joined by zip ties! I decided that would be a perfect way to use this yarn. But, I used yarn to tie it in 3 spots instead of zip ties.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7RT32DNnRao/URG0ztVlwwI/AAAAAAAABNM/_Y9eqIQSlXM/s1600/100_2555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7RT32DNnRao/URG0ztVlwwI/AAAAAAAABNM/_Y9eqIQSlXM/s400/100_2555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The black wool is a little coarser than the rest and makes it a little scratchier than I would prefer, but I am pretty sensitive to wool and I can wear it all day close to my skin with minimal annoyance. I had just enough yarn for two, so one is going up <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/122800928/black-and-white-handspun-art-yarn-scarf">for sale in my etsy shop</a>.EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-82724084965472928362013-02-05T19:23:00.001-06:002013-02-05T19:23:42.993-06:00Art yarn scarf sewn with dissolvable interfacing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyRfECEjeBM/URGuurQSUbI/AAAAAAAABLw/4KNR4R-1GfI/s1600/100_2564a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyRfECEjeBM/URGuurQSUbI/AAAAAAAABLw/4KNR4R-1GfI/s400/100_2564a.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
Several years ago I saw someone with a scarf that was made just of yarn sewn together. They told me their friend had made it using dissolvable interfacing. I had that in the back of my mind for a long time and recently saw the technique again in a recent issue of Spin-off magazine. I decided to finally try it out on my yarn that I made while trying out my drum carder. You can read all about making the yarn <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2013/01/drum-carding-and-yarn-inspiration.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
After the yarn was done, I arranged it and sandwiched it between two pieces of dissolvable interfacing and pinned it to keep it all in place. Then I sewed back and forth on my sewing machine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzkgTboILkM/URGvE9YOPdI/AAAAAAAABL4/sgEDNL0hqd0/s1600/100_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzkgTboILkM/URGvE9YOPdI/AAAAAAAABL4/sgEDNL0hqd0/s320/100_2498.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YXOhFPAklo/URGvFyl2vYI/AAAAAAAABMA/pTOUCxiVHoY/s1600/100_2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YXOhFPAklo/URGvFyl2vYI/AAAAAAAABMA/pTOUCxiVHoY/s320/100_2499.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, I just ran cold water over it to dissolve away the interfacing and hung it to dry!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soojdol_B8w/URGvFhuAKNI/AAAAAAAABME/knoplaMe4XI/s1600/100_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soojdol_B8w/URGvFhuAKNI/AAAAAAAABME/knoplaMe4XI/s320/100_2502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIfMiCYuZvM/URGvHO33zhI/AAAAAAAABMQ/HolF21TLHJk/s1600/100_2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIfMiCYuZvM/URGvHO33zhI/AAAAAAAABMQ/HolF21TLHJk/s320/100_2521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eMS4yMUXklU/URGvwtx9GfI/AAAAAAAABMY/nU0pPxpA1QA/s1600/100_2559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eMS4yMUXklU/URGvwtx9GfI/AAAAAAAABMY/nU0pPxpA1QA/s320/100_2559.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-1354195751785316642013-01-26T08:00:00.000-06:002013-01-26T08:00:03.606-06:00Yellow scarf and yarn bowlsI made this yellow scarf for a former co-worker's husband in exchange for these yarn bowls that he made me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjIxaEsB7oA/UP32hL-F6_I/AAAAAAAABK8/XuFdeq7_wG0/s1600/100_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjIxaEsB7oA/UP32hL-F6_I/AAAAAAAABK8/XuFdeq7_wG0/s320/100_2383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lF_mMmU10/UP32hHSs9lI/AAAAAAAABLA/cnOqqkOnL-E/s1600/100_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lF_mMmU10/UP32hHSs9lI/AAAAAAAABLA/cnOqqkOnL-E/s320/100_2387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UjerQX3q-c/UP32hX3ddcI/AAAAAAAABLI/w6ckc-qgmwM/s1600/100_2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UjerQX3q-c/UP32hX3ddcI/AAAAAAAABLI/w6ckc-qgmwM/s320/100_2525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHp9zJ4CaDA/UP32iP2SMTI/AAAAAAAABLU/kOsmTCuFvjs/s1600/100_2526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHp9zJ4CaDA/UP32iP2SMTI/AAAAAAAABLU/kOsmTCuFvjs/s320/100_2526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGUkXz6BDAE/UP326SI7lhI/AAAAAAAABLc/zZy9WTTqklA/s1600/100_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGUkXz6BDAE/UP326SI7lhI/AAAAAAAABLc/zZy9WTTqklA/s320/100_2458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-82692148051794121282013-01-23T17:00:00.000-06:002013-01-23T17:00:05.063-06:00Master Charles Hat for OwenHere is another Master Charles hat I made back in March of last year, but never posted. Previous details about the Master Charles hat were posted <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/11/master-charles-hat.html">here</a> and <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/01/master-charles-hat-for-cole.html">here</a>. This was the 4th one I made. I still love this pattern and seeing this, I kind of want to make it again!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMf6exPV2hc/UPyd8Qn1ZrI/AAAAAAAABGs/qFON33TbHGY/s1600/100_2247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMf6exPV2hc/UPyd8Qn1ZrI/AAAAAAAABGs/qFON33TbHGY/s400/100_2247.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-6530781199770817802013-01-21T19:51:00.000-06:002013-01-21T19:51:31.636-06:00Drum carding and yarn inspirationWell, it has been a while I know. Over the summer we moved from Iowa to the Kansas City area. It has been nearly a year of transition from the time we found out that my husband got a promotion to now. I commuted back to Iowa for work for a while, we lived in a hotel for 2 months, we bought a new house, moved, started new jobs, etc, etc. So, I fell behind in blogging. My crafting has been slower too until just recently. But, I do have a backlog of projects to share and plan to get them up here in the near future. I will kick off my return to the blog with a BIG post tonight.<br />
<br />
For Chirstmas, I got a <a href="http://brotherdrumcarder.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67">Brother motorized drum carder</a> with 120 TPI carding cloth. This is a machine used for preparing wool for spinning into yarn. So, I was anxious to try it out and experiment with different techniques of blending color to see what the final yarn would end up like. I started with color inspiration from design-seeds.com:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://design-seeds.com/palettes/PeacefulTones.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://design-seeds.com/palettes/PeacefulTones.png" width="348" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then, I found natural wool colors and dyed some wool with food coloring to try to imitate each of the colors in inspiration picture. Here is the natural wool I started with - white and black/grey.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ew9qID8rxY/UPypWtTmYwI/AAAAAAAABG8/LyauoJPJO7w/s1600/100_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ew9qID8rxY/UPypWtTmYwI/AAAAAAAABG8/LyauoJPJO7w/s320/100_2397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMT5UQ4wHdo/UPypX9HAcGI/AAAAAAAABHE/uZJAtr40jRg/s1600/100_2398+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMT5UQ4wHdo/UPypX9HAcGI/AAAAAAAABHE/uZJAtr40jRg/s320/100_2398+copy.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
I weighed out 3 1-ounce piles of white wool and dyed them light teal, dark teal and yellow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO_ydb_MdA4/UPyqy1GudyI/AAAAAAAABHs/EaDs9ncBgxg/s1600/100_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO_ydb_MdA4/UPyqy1GudyI/AAAAAAAABHs/EaDs9ncBgxg/s320/100_2393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 ounce piles of wool before dyeing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OA9PN2XCLCg/UPyqjVw3KHI/AAAAAAAABHU/JgKDPbJrZAA/s1600/100_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OA9PN2XCLCg/UPyqjVw3KHI/AAAAAAAABHU/JgKDPbJrZAA/s320/100_2399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the yellow I used 4 cups of water, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 30 drops yellow food coloring, 2 drops of green, and 2 drops of blue and simmered in my little crockpot dedicated to dyeing for about an hour.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wyqPrYMWo80/UPyqjnXkXDI/AAAAAAAABHY/pId4Z8Om6ko/s1600/100_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wyqPrYMWo80/UPyqjnXkXDI/AAAAAAAABHY/pId4Z8Om6ko/s320/100_2401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the light teal, I did the same thing but used 26 drops of blue food coloring and 10 drops of green.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHY7etvwXWg/UPyqj-CUMWI/AAAAAAAABHk/-9R-aBHefsE/s1600/100_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHY7etvwXWg/UPyqj-CUMWI/AAAAAAAABHk/-9R-aBHefsE/s320/100_2406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the dark teal I upped the vinegar to 3/4 cup and used 46 blue, 18 green, and 3 red drops of food coloring. I might have let this one go longer too, but I don't remember for sure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After they came out of the dye bath, they dried overnight - here is how they looked after dyeing and before carding. The yellow looks way more yellow than it did in the crockpot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKttIoqLczs/UPys5D8TFrI/AAAAAAAABH8/cMfcSCDtMgo/s1600/100_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKttIoqLczs/UPys5D8TFrI/AAAAAAAABH8/cMfcSCDtMgo/s320/100_2411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Next, I used my new drum carder to make one white batt, one black batt, one grey batt, one light grey batt that was a mix of grey and white wool, and one batt from each of the dyed colors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nq6MKSnc8ds/UPyuUiEz12I/AAAAAAAABIM/9aXTJ-MdtDo/s1600/100_2415a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nq6MKSnc8ds/UPyuUiEz12I/AAAAAAAABIM/9aXTJ-MdtDo/s320/100_2415a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is the comparison of the inspiration picture colors to the carded batts:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1YGhzMfij08/UPy2PN2d3NI/AAAAAAAABIc/nwpFJfCI-F0/s1600/PeacefulTonesplusWool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1YGhzMfij08/UPy2PN2d3NI/AAAAAAAABIc/nwpFJfCI-F0/s640/PeacefulTonesplusWool.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I divided these into four pieces and tried 4 different techniques of carding/spinning to see how the yarn would differ.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the first batt, I used a sandwich technique that I saw on<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlX4jipDrzM"> this video from NeauveauFiberArts</a>, but she learned it from <a href="http://www.pluckyfluff.com/">PluckyFluff</a>, who is the one who helped design my spinning wheel, the <a href="http://www.majacraft.co.nz/wheels/aura.php">Aura from Majacraft</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The batt was fairly mixed in color, and you can see that in the final yarn.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvzlS3xMkg/UP3lfQkhzMI/AAAAAAAABIs/SBDgYfcHRJ8/s1600/100_2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvzlS3xMkg/UP3lfQkhzMI/AAAAAAAABIs/SBDgYfcHRJ8/s320/100_2425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XxK1iMXE5g/UP3lgEzZBAI/AAAAAAAABI0/baXA1rdyh-w/s1600/100_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XxK1iMXE5g/UP3lgEzZBAI/AAAAAAAABI0/baXA1rdyh-w/s320/100_2438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the second and third batts, I tried just putting the separate colors in stripes across the drum carder to keep them more separated.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dknk843mC7s/UP3nuMEc2yI/AAAAAAAABJI/lO5YXA6I3Vk/s1600/100_2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dknk843mC7s/UP3nuMEc2yI/AAAAAAAABJI/lO5YXA6I3Vk/s320/100_2449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In process of drum carding.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPiYwj-tb_E/UP3nvkwRp0I/AAAAAAAABJQ/aUuteNKsdX0/s1600/100_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPiYwj-tb_E/UP3nvkwRp0I/AAAAAAAABJQ/aUuteNKsdX0/s320/100_2451.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The batt before spinning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHZNri1eebo/UP3nwU6hLZI/AAAAAAAABJg/kxAjn_pyA5U/s1600/100_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHZNri1eebo/UP3nwU6hLZI/AAAAAAAABJg/kxAjn_pyA5U/s320/100_2454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The singles before plying. I basically went up and down the batt, spinning most/all of one color before switching to the next.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNdEo4GGZh8/UP3nv8S0FLI/AAAAAAAABJY/MbYrPywNVko/s1600/100_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNdEo4GGZh8/UP3nv8S0FLI/AAAAAAAABJY/MbYrPywNVko/s320/100_2460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The final double plied yarn. Since I plied one skein onto itself, you an see that the dark teal is mostly always with black, the yellow with grey, white with light teal...etc, so not a ton of variation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the third batt, I prepared it the same way on the drum carder, but then pulled off horizontal strips so that it went back and forth across all of the colors several times for the singles.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnoeBth16y8/UP3r25PGUGI/AAAAAAAABJw/g62z-5AtF1Y/s1600/100_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnoeBth16y8/UP3r25PGUGI/AAAAAAAABJw/g62z-5AtF1Y/s320/100_2472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This one was more mixed than the second skein, but not as muted as the first.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the last batt, I did each color in a layer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fSbX6YElM8/UP3s2lvlOFI/AAAAAAAABJ8/U1tbZUQDTBY/s1600/100_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fSbX6YElM8/UP3s2lvlOFI/AAAAAAAABJ8/U1tbZUQDTBY/s320/100_2479.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Front.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyny8LRw1as/UP3s3UolJ3I/AAAAAAAABKM/lGH_fKgI9oM/s1600/100_2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyny8LRw1as/UP3s3UolJ3I/AAAAAAAABKM/lGH_fKgI9oM/s320/100_2478.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Back.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i0xpjVvMc6g/UP3s3ZpAjgI/AAAAAAAABKE/xkNsnYiWcUI/s1600/100_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i0xpjVvMc6g/UP3s3ZpAjgI/AAAAAAAABKE/xkNsnYiWcUI/s320/100_2480.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Side view of batt. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qFKCIcGX0Y/UP3s4JPTmlI/AAAAAAAABKU/056jhzCGRkw/s1600/100_2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qFKCIcGX0Y/UP3s4JPTmlI/AAAAAAAABKU/056jhzCGRkw/s320/100_2481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The singles were much more mixed than the last two, but not as muted as the first.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEIw_qudTD8/UP3tglCEPhI/AAAAAAAABKg/L-QzlYII8zI/s1600/100_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEIw_qudTD8/UP3tglCEPhI/AAAAAAAABKg/L-QzlYII8zI/s320/100_2486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the double-ply.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qY90vSh2hy8/UP3t2Y7CVLI/AAAAAAAABKo/ZsIgu79cRHw/s1600/100_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qY90vSh2hy8/UP3t2Y7CVLI/AAAAAAAABKo/ZsIgu79cRHw/s400/100_2491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here are the 4 skeins from left to right: skein #1, skein #4, skein #3, skein #2.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think they all capture the idea of the inspiration picture but it was interesting to see how the different methods produced different yarns. I don't think the picture really captures the real differences as much as you can see them in real life.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A post with a final product from this yarn will follow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-67359045495517575352012-05-20T15:30:00.000-05:002012-05-20T15:30:55.746-05:00iPad sleeves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made this first iPad sleeve for a friend. It is padded and the inside is lined with flannel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob8KJcTfA9M/T7lK8rCmMaI/AAAAAAAABFk/QzC8VxluuGc/s1600/100_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob8KJcTfA9M/T7lK8rCmMaI/AAAAAAAABFk/QzC8VxluuGc/s320/100_2232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRqi0wFZIDo/T7lLCwQilHI/AAAAAAAABFs/9GiO0rFxeck/s1600/100_2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRqi0wFZIDo/T7lLCwQilHI/AAAAAAAABFs/9GiO0rFxeck/s320/100_2236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then, I made this second version for myself, but decided I wanted a different style (more to come on that in another post). So, this one is going up for sale <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/100258572/ipad-sleeve-for-ipad-2-and-the-new-ipad">here</a> on Etsy. It is also padded and is lined with regular cotton instead of flannel. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeMOprbwS0I/T7lOl537sqI/AAAAAAAABF4/e9sk2zUGxt0/s1600/100_2294a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeMOprbwS0I/T7lOl537sqI/AAAAAAAABF4/e9sk2zUGxt0/s400/100_2294a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fu-Z08bO2Mc/T7lOterqe5I/AAAAAAAABGA/V_r6Cr48c-c/s1600/100_2296a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fu-Z08bO2Mc/T7lOterqe5I/AAAAAAAABGA/V_r6Cr48c-c/s320/100_2296a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-16061956300231360192012-03-16T19:51:00.000-05:002012-03-16T19:51:08.898-05:00Koozies and coffee sleevesHere are a bunch more koozies and coffee sleeves I made a while ago and never posted. The coffee sleeves are all hand-spun wool. The blue one is dyed with food coloring, the other two are natural wool color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejoELfbO_L4/T2Pe9xtcqKI/AAAAAAAABEc/N_q79iy1v6w/s1600/100_2176a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejoELfbO_L4/T2Pe9xtcqKI/AAAAAAAABEc/N_q79iy1v6w/s320/100_2176a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBqjzNNoFeE/T2PfBtUy87I/AAAAAAAABEk/n4skQIKcxU8/s1600/100_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBqjzNNoFeE/T2PfBtUy87I/AAAAAAAABEk/n4skQIKcxU8/s320/100_2182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4s0Oy3s-Dsg/T2PfIud1XWI/AAAAAAAABEs/_DzZiWQo2GQ/s1600/100_2189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4s0Oy3s-Dsg/T2PfIud1XWI/AAAAAAAABEs/_DzZiWQo2GQ/s320/100_2189.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m8yDnm0LuB8/T2PfL5O2i1I/AAAAAAAABE0/iH6R2IUnJ6A/s1600/100_2196a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m8yDnm0LuB8/T2PfL5O2i1I/AAAAAAAABE0/iH6R2IUnJ6A/s320/100_2196a.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4mElax7anw/T2PfTsCf5TI/AAAAAAAABE8/2l0i4iYi8tY/s1600/100_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4mElax7anw/T2PfTsCf5TI/AAAAAAAABE8/2l0i4iYi8tY/s320/100_2206.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4U4VZdRKchk/T2PfWFmJc-I/AAAAAAAABFE/5EarGTKHNiw/s1600/100_2229a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4U4VZdRKchk/T2PfWFmJc-I/AAAAAAAABFE/5EarGTKHNiw/s320/100_2229a.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-87070117938557029402012-02-27T20:29:00.000-06:002012-02-27T20:29:23.719-06:00Flower Power Purse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is the third purse for my friend, Jen. This one is another imitation of one she found online from Fossil.</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZMLQbBbcdQ/T0w4jnU_SlI/AAAAAAAABEE/Mdaev9N1QZs/s1600/100_2220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZMLQbBbcdQ/T0w4jnU_SlI/AAAAAAAABEE/Mdaev9N1QZs/s400/100_2220.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wADkF_prDgU/T0w4bdXII2I/AAAAAAAABD8/uilNqk9w7T8/s1600/100_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wADkF_prDgU/T0w4bdXII2I/AAAAAAAABD8/uilNqk9w7T8/s400/100_2219.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkyf1Wl7pPM/T0w4rFP0Z_I/AAAAAAAABEM/thnASCf1wHM/s1600/100_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkyf1Wl7pPM/T0w4rFP0Z_I/AAAAAAAABEM/thnASCf1wHM/s400/100_2221.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the original inspiration...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YWYd50DVaPI/T0w4ruRqASI/AAAAAAAABEU/fkxoVkpjKAo/s1600/Fossil+tote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YWYd50DVaPI/T0w4ruRqASI/AAAAAAAABEU/fkxoVkpjKAo/s400/Fossil+tote.JPG" width="363" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-2002593776475023522012-01-28T13:42:00.000-06:002012-01-28T13:42:09.011-06:00Fabric Coasters<div style="text-align: center;">
I made some fabric coasters recently. This set of 4 went to my friend, Jenni.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6EUT2eiErI/TyRMXda3kHI/AAAAAAAABDo/gUHywO8dv9k/s1600/100_2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6EUT2eiErI/TyRMXda3kHI/AAAAAAAABDo/gUHywO8dv9k/s320/100_2130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this set went to my living room.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Lm9Se5c3o/TyRMfYl6oQI/AAAAAAAABDw/S9BLlsdT_no/s1600/100_2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Lm9Se5c3o/TyRMfYl6oQI/AAAAAAAABDw/S9BLlsdT_no/s320/100_2145.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The fabric for my coasters was left over from the pelmet box curtains I made (and blogged about <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/01/pelmet-box-curtains.html">here</a>).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAkdE-vKmwE/S0qjDbZ-DMI/AAAAAAAAAhc/IoTjvLXsw6c/s1600/103_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAkdE-vKmwE/S0qjDbZ-DMI/AAAAAAAAAhc/IoTjvLXsw6c/s320/103_0299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To make these coasters, I cut 5" x 5" squares of the fabric. You need 8 total so for the ones that have different fabric on the front and back, you need 4 of each. I also cut 4 5" x 5" squares of batting that was left over from a quilt project. Sandwich the fabric right sides together with the batting on top. Sew around the edges with a 1/4 inch seam leaving an opening to turn them right side out. Once they are turned right side out, iron them and stitch 1/8 inch seam around the edge making sure to catch the turned in edges that were left open before. Then quilt however you want. For the first set I did parallel lines every 1/2 inch or so. For the others, I made concentric squares.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-23720925372628242862012-01-26T18:00:00.000-06:002012-01-26T18:00:03.663-06:00Master Charles Hat for Cole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BrsRsFdexdk/TxyEm5C5VuI/AAAAAAAABDY/jhowjmjMzEY/s1600/100_2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BrsRsFdexdk/TxyEm5C5VuI/AAAAAAAABDY/jhowjmjMzEY/s400/100_2054.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
A year ago I tried making this hat for Cole and ended up with a much too large version that ended up going to my sister (I blogged about it <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/11/master-charles-hat.html">here</a>). Well, I finally got around to making one in the correct size! I tried to get a picture of it on the recipient, but it turns out toddlers aren't the best at holding still for photographs when they want to run and play (who'd have guessed?). So, below is the best action shot we got!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhQT5UifOuU/TxyEsiQ7ngI/AAAAAAAABDg/yiJMC9D54rE/s1600/100_2065a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhQT5UifOuU/TxyEsiQ7ngI/AAAAAAAABDg/yiJMC9D54rE/s400/100_2065a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-40921592091945235302012-01-24T21:45:00.000-06:002012-01-24T21:45:34.983-06:00Kitten MittensI made my sister some Always Sunny in Philadelphia style kitten mittens for Christmas. Here is the only picture I have. I kind of forgot to take a picture in my excitement to give them to her!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378610_2715333556539_1052968004_32973955_1165949427_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378610_2715333556539_1052968004_32973955_1165949427_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I transcribed the "infomercial" from the show and typed it up on the back of the package...you'll be smitten!EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-13287489762500776772012-01-22T15:17:00.000-06:002012-01-22T15:20:22.133-06:00More crocheted can and bottle koozies<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
New can and bottle koozies. All for sale in my <a href="http://www.earlybirdcrafts.etsy.com/">etsy shop</a>!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ljuMIMCZlU/Txx8BiMA4SI/AAAAAAAABDQ/w0uVNHPJ4BY/s1600/100_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ljuMIMCZlU/Txx8BiMA4SI/AAAAAAAABDQ/w0uVNHPJ4BY/s320/100_2112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh3ezBqixuA/Txx74plx88I/AAAAAAAABDA/gQasT6NV0D8/s1600/100_2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh3ezBqixuA/Txx74plx88I/AAAAAAAABDA/gQasT6NV0D8/s320/100_2082.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FSahW0n7OGM/Txx70P5URdI/AAAAAAAABC4/u7aXGYOKNhY/s1600/100_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FSahW0n7OGM/Txx70P5URdI/AAAAAAAABC4/u7aXGYOKNhY/s320/100_2081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZS-po9Btqq0/Txx78ggoPRI/AAAAAAAABDI/DtcDJzET8QQ/s1600/100_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZS-po9Btqq0/Txx78ggoPRI/AAAAAAAABDI/DtcDJzET8QQ/s320/100_2089.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-8453970959040130472012-01-08T14:25:00.001-06:002012-01-08T14:34:50.520-06:00More koozies for Plaid Peacock<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the latest koozies to be sold on consignment at Plaid Peacock. I just stocked up on yarn so I'm planning to make a bunch more to sell on etsy and maybe at a craft fair in March!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/---TXcjRdGqA/Twn7x_hG2fI/AAAAAAAABCk/OV4_4YRGUwM/s640/blogger-image--1256446586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/---TXcjRdGqA/Twn7x_hG2fI/AAAAAAAABCk/OV4_4YRGUwM/s400/blogger-image--1256446586.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-whsyIcmkFMw/Twn7yEb6AaI/AAAAAAAABCs/yG1cNpc4rGc/s640/blogger-image-1606265675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-whsyIcmkFMw/Twn7yEb6AaI/AAAAAAAABCs/yG1cNpc4rGc/s400/blogger-image-1606265675.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-76910896418384923862011-12-21T11:32:00.001-06:002011-12-21T11:32:43.055-06:00Laura's quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm working on a quilt for my sister. This is the fabric. There is one more dark teal fabric that I added after I took the picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XryySG2tQVA/TvITg0UZgrI/AAAAAAAABCU/G541o2mbINc/s1600/103_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XryySG2tQVA/TvITg0UZgrI/AAAAAAAABCU/G541o2mbINc/s400/103_1614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been debating for a while about what layout to use. She said she is interested in geometric shapes, color, and wants it to be somewhat non-traditional. I decided on the layout below as a rough design. I just drew it out several times on graph paper until I liked how it looked and then tried to recreate it in excel. Each block will be unique. I've been starting with a selection of the fabrics and then going from there. No real plan. In some ways it is easier, but it is is also kind of hard because I sit there and stare and try to figure out what to do next. I had also thought I would make the blocks kind of wonky, but I haven't been very successful at breaking out of my measuring and squaring routine. I'll have to make an effort to be more carefree in my piecing. I was hoping to have it done in time to give to her for Christmas, but I've only gotten 3 blocks done in the two days I've had off this week, so that isn't going to happen. But, at least I'll have made some progress! I'll update with some pictures of the blocks done so far later.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkQIuv8YTIw/TvIUoVypRnI/AAAAAAAABCc/CHbt522wDT0/s1600/laura%2527s+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkQIuv8YTIw/TvIUoVypRnI/AAAAAAAABCc/CHbt522wDT0/s400/laura%2527s+quilt.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-56184161829195180102011-12-20T11:46:00.000-06:002011-12-20T11:46:20.878-06:00Another Andrea Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is another Andrea bag sent out as a custom order for Christmas. I really like this fabric combination. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lxXNZSCmfc/TvDIiUie6pI/AAAAAAAABCE/4mxOse1SIJE/s1600/100_2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lxXNZSCmfc/TvDIiUie6pI/AAAAAAAABCE/4mxOse1SIJE/s400/100_2009.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-INusNR5jPiY/TvDIuFcclaI/AAAAAAAABCM/gXlidwNCMQE/s1600/100_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-INusNR5jPiY/TvDIuFcclaI/AAAAAAAABCM/gXlidwNCMQE/s320/100_2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-30435498583117551702011-12-03T22:01:00.001-06:002011-12-03T22:31:28.665-06:00Harry Potter style scarf and hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My 4 year old nephew has been really interested in my knitting and spinning recently and asked me to make him a scarf when he saw all my yarn. So, I made him this scarf in the style of Harry Potter. I wanted to have something to give to his brother so I whipped up this hat in a few hours one evening and the following morning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Exp3yJa7AMA/TtrwfU5w3dI/AAAAAAAABB4/9Fn72HoFabE/s1600/100_1976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Exp3yJa7AMA/TtrwfU5w3dI/AAAAAAAABB4/9Fn72HoFabE/s400/100_1976.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I've been reflecting on my knitting progress recently. Back in February of 2010 (almost 2 years ago!) I posted in <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-knitting.html">this post</a> about how I just didn't like knitting that much but that I really wanted to get over the learning curve so I could get into it. Well, I think it worked! I'm totally addicted now. I've even been teaching others to knit and have been able to help them trouble-shoot. That was a real eye-opener to me that I had transitioned from a novice to someone who actually knows how to knit! I made both this hat and scarf without any pattern. Now, the scarf is not that tricky, but the hat required me to make ear-flaps and attach them to the hat, decrease, and pick up stitches around the bottom to do the ribbing. Not to mention figuring out my gauge and how many stitches to cast on. All that which was foreign to me less than two years ago now seems easy! <br />
<br />
It really just took some practice and making a few things from patterns to learn some techniques. Some other things that have helped me in the process have been the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knit-Fix-Lisa-Kartus/dp/1596680113">Knit Fix</a>, which has some really good explanations of both how to fix mistakes and also how to avoid making those same mistakes again (or in the first place). The other thing that has really helped and inspired me is the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/knit-picks-podcast/id253212700">Knit Picks podcast</a>. Kelley talks about a lot of techniques and makes them sound easy or explains why you would use them. I don't necessarily learn how to do the techniques while I'm listening, but at least I know they exist so I could look them up if I wanted to use that technique. Sometimes it helps me to better understand techniques I already knew about. She also reviews a lot of books and my library has expanded because of that. In fact, I think that is where I heard about Knit Fix!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618f+KVl5ZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618f+KVl5ZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Podcasts/c3/2b/f0/ps.hltgfroq.170x170-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Podcasts/c3/2b/f0/ps.hltgfroq.170x170-75.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-18910531777969553672011-11-12T12:21:00.001-06:002011-11-12T12:39:13.047-06:00Wet bags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I previously made some wet bags for my sister-in-law and blogged about them <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/08/wet-bags-for-baby.html">here</a>. I had tried lining them with vinyl,which I think was a good idea in theory, but the vinyl didn't hold up well after repeated washing and drying cycles. My sister-in-law asked me to make some more for her to give away as a baby shower gift. This time I used some leftover fabric from <a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/07/multi-color-baby-quilt.html">this quilt</a>. I didn't use the vinyl, and went for sewn button holes for the ribbon draw-string instead of metal eyelets. The outer fabric is home decor weight so they have a nice sturdiness. The two smaller ones are kind of small, but I think you could put a bottle, pacifiers, or a onesy in them easily. I still love this fabric. I wonder if it is still available...I might have to stockpile some if it is. This was the very last I had in my stash.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--D_ANwyLwr0/Tr61kJ4Sr-I/AAAAAAAABBE/JAA0bi9gQqc/s1600/100_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--D_ANwyLwr0/Tr61kJ4Sr-I/AAAAAAAABBE/JAA0bi9gQqc/s400/100_1973.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-20990492574061883172011-11-08T20:29:00.000-06:002011-11-08T20:29:12.551-06:00Gas bag copy catI saw <a href="http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2008/08/every-now-and-again-like-i-mean-rarely-a-project-is-a-joy-from-start-to-finish-rom-the-time-you-dream-up-the-design-in-t.html">this beautiful bag</a> on another blog and just had to see if I could make one. I had been planning to make a bag with a zipper top for my friend, Kate, so this fit the bill perfectly. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I hope Kate is enjoying using it in Hawaii!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfJ_bQ-8wW4/Trnkn9vAXQI/AAAAAAAABA0/XQSH_tan-l4/s1600/100_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfJ_bQ-8wW4/Trnkn9vAXQI/AAAAAAAABA0/XQSH_tan-l4/s640/100_1916.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOvQpDCGtjA/TrnktDWD2gI/AAAAAAAABA8/33VVzQkefqY/s1600/100_1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOvQpDCGtjA/TrnktDWD2gI/AAAAAAAABA8/33VVzQkefqY/s400/100_1918.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-71137333603150153232011-10-04T21:51:00.000-05:002011-10-04T21:51:47.912-05:00Purse for my sister<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My sister requested a new, small purse, so I whipped this up for her in August and gave it to her when she was back visiting my parents.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0VfjafMoMQ/TovC3w6LUhI/AAAAAAAABAY/LW_kMFHkgwY/s1600/100_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0VfjafMoMQ/TovC3w6LUhI/AAAAAAAABAY/LW_kMFHkgwY/s640/100_1837.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But, the highlight of the trip was that she found my bag of wool that I had been carding on the way there to have ready for my new spinning wheel, and decided the rolags looked like dreads. Then, the next day, my dad found them and held one up as if it was a mustache! Unfortunately, I missed getting a picture of that. Neither one of them knew that the other had done that. I guess I know where she gets her sense of humor!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdK52WyMuaM/TovC83G97XI/AAAAAAAABAc/otmryinbl28/s1600/100_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdK52WyMuaM/TovC83G97XI/AAAAAAAABAc/otmryinbl28/s320/100_1845.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abKNifBu2WU/TovDCVS9s8I/AAAAAAAABAg/dnlApoPuonE/s1600/100_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abKNifBu2WU/TovDCVS9s8I/AAAAAAAABAg/dnlApoPuonE/s320/100_1846.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-34488217582033853452011-08-30T21:28:00.001-05:002011-08-30T22:00:52.330-05:00Baa Baa Black Sheep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found out that one of the summer students working in our lab grew up on a sheep farm. She was going home one weekend, so I asked her if they had any black, grey or other colored wool that I could buy. She brought me back an entire garbage bag full of black and grey wool (for free!)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is before any washing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fhQoAfMwm8E/Tl2XerPLtnI/AAAAAAAAA_8/YnVDTZSCKcc/s1600/103_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fhQoAfMwm8E/Tl2XerPLtnI/AAAAAAAAA_8/YnVDTZSCKcc/s640/103_1666.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some clean, carded rolags ready for spinning. The white is from my other fleece that my dad got me, and the lightest grey is a blend of the white and the lightest grey. The other 3 shades of grey and black are all from this fleece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNW2xhEE0XU/Tl2XjtxtTmI/AAAAAAAABAA/AzqbMf_AeS0/s1600/103_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNW2xhEE0XU/Tl2XjtxtTmI/AAAAAAAABAA/AzqbMf_AeS0/s400/103_1684.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spun the different colored rolags in the order they were in the picture and then plied it back on itself to make this skein that goes from black all the way to white.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8y1WzjxifdU/Tl2XwUFnl8I/AAAAAAAABAI/1REpfVbVXmU/s1600/103_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8y1WzjxifdU/Tl2XwUFnl8I/AAAAAAAABAI/1REpfVbVXmU/s400/103_1783.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> This one was actually my first skein of spun yarn from the black and grey fleece.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rMXHQDY1OQ/Tl2Xoe-U6PI/AAAAAAAABAE/6rfXcKQCKgQ/s1600/103_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rMXHQDY1OQ/Tl2Xoe-U6PI/AAAAAAAABAE/6rfXcKQCKgQ/s320/103_1708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, here is a coffee cozy knit from the first skein. This might have to go to the summer student as a thank you for the wool. I can't wait to make something from the other skein. I've carded a lot more of this wool in preparation for my new spinning wheel, so there might be enough for a scarf or something when I am done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO2mecYIRdo/Tl2X2TJfD7I/AAAAAAAABAM/ufQ388O-O-U/s1600/103_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO2mecYIRdo/Tl2X2TJfD7I/AAAAAAAABAM/ufQ388O-O-U/s320/103_1799.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-43601920820099411942011-08-21T20:08:00.000-05:002011-08-30T22:16:19.084-05:00Andrea Bag for me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember the Andrea bag?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://earlybirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/andrea-bag.html"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4dYo_BJPw0/TLcQ1Q0KI4I/AAAAAAAAA6M/Sfp1jOKTOpg/s200/103_1039a.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> And then I tried to make it into a messenger style for myself...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jl8xhpdEtag/TTtd7ouxT8I/AAAAAAAAA9I/6otMRrETNi0/s1600/103_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jl8xhpdEtag/TTtd7ouxT8I/AAAAAAAAA9I/6otMRrETNi0/s320/103_1293.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Well, I finally made the original style Andrea bag for myself! Actually, I made it before I went on a trip to see Andrea and another friend, Ann, in Boston the first weekend in June. Andrea and I toured Boston with our Andrea bags! We had a great time and the bag was perfect for walking around town all day. I could bring everything I needed for the day, but it never got too heavy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--EYyxmrgb90/TkskYVp51zI/AAAAAAAAA_o/6b36DiPaKHk/s1600/103_1629a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--EYyxmrgb90/TkskYVp51zI/AAAAAAAAA_o/6b36DiPaKHk/s640/103_1629a.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Andrea bags even made it to Sam Adams Brewery!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdJ5rU8xwXk/TksmxsiXY-I/AAAAAAAAA_s/fXvvQGSNkDo/s1600/103_1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdJ5rU8xwXk/TksmxsiXY-I/AAAAAAAAA_s/fXvvQGSNkDo/s400/103_1498.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You might recognize the fabric...I used it once for a Jen bag...and I wouldn't be afraid to use it again! I love this print!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tc29Fge4GdE/TKjqMxhlpqI/AAAAAAAAA5o/hWkqy-ND-5k/s1600/103_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tc29Fge4GdE/TKjqMxhlpqI/AAAAAAAAA5o/hWkqy-ND-5k/s320/103_1015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1252696880366085859.post-3571528812637158142011-08-16T22:08:00.000-05:002011-08-30T22:00:52.332-05:00Hand spun, hand dyed, and hand knit coffee cozy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back in November I took a small amount of yarn I had spun (double ply on the top and a singles on the bottom of the picture below) and dyed it with food coloring. It has been sitting on my shelf since then and I had no specific plans for it. I had just done it to try out dying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y9CE3b7hRVM/TkssslnjEDI/AAAAAAAAA_w/Cu7GYW1Dxeo/s1600/103_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y9CE3b7hRVM/TkssslnjEDI/AAAAAAAAA_w/Cu7GYW1Dxeo/s320/103_1219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The color was so bright that I couldn't imagine wanting to make anything out of it. In fact, it is even hard to get a good picture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h2a3pNYFXUI/TksvVIs0gDI/AAAAAAAAA_4/05O9hsxHKFI/s1600/103_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h2a3pNYFXUI/TksvVIs0gDI/AAAAAAAAA_4/05O9hsxHKFI/s320/103_1820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, this weekend I finally got around to knitting up a coffee cozy with the singles yarn. It seems like the only thing that you might not mind being that crazy color. It looks better than I expected. I actually kind of like it now. I'm considering putting it up on etsy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b9tg2-MyZjs/TkstSzkkfqI/AAAAAAAAA_0/WnialWEu2V0/s1600/103_1805a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b9tg2-MyZjs/TkstSzkkfqI/AAAAAAAAA_0/WnialWEu2V0/s400/103_1805a.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
EarlyBirdCraftshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228088619891022078noreply@blogger.com1