finished project.

Wrapped in Lace Shawl

by Kim Miller

I made this shawl using Knit Picks Aloft which is a lovely lace weight blend of 75% mohair and 25% silk. I am extremely happy with this soft, pretty yarn as it blocks beautifully and it is very similar to the Rowan Kidsilk Haze but at a fraction of the cost. 

The downside of mohair is that it is usually impossible to frog and the Knit Picks Aloft was no exception. I messed up on the shawl border as there is suppose to be a scallop on either side of the center point as opposed to one scallop in the very center. I managed to rip out about half a dozen shells before I gave up and realized that I would end up wrecking the shawl if I tried to take out anymore.  Besides the edging looked just as pretty either way.

Once again...yay to Knit Picks for their gorgeous selection of affordable luxury yarns!!!

kim.

new crochet pattern - never ending scarf by kim miller.

 

Who says that beautiful has to be complicated...

This scarf is super easy to crochet yet it has the feel and drape of a fine knit fabric! You can wear this versatile scarf as a cowl or for added warmth you can wear it as a hood. The pattern is a simple one row repeat so this is the perfect project to work on while watching T.V. or visiting with friends.

The crochet pattern calls for 1.5 balls of Patons® Lace Sequin and the pattern is complete with colour photos and a chart. The finished scarf measures 30” (76 cm) long x 12” (30.5 cm) wide.

Buy Now

kim.

sneak peek.

As promised and in time for fall this new crocheted scarf pattern should be ready for purchase any day now!

kim.

what is felting?

 
Felting is simply the process of washing an item that has been crocheted or knitted (using 100% wool for felting) in very hot water until the item shrinks and becomes soft and fuzzy looking. Technically, this process is called fulling but felting seems to be an accepted term and for the purposes of this post we will be using the term felting. Felting differs from fulling in that with fulling you are working with a fabric whereas with felting you are working with fibres.

Remember when you accidentally threw your favorite sweater in the

wash and shrunk it...you called it ruined but now we call it felting.

Wool fiber is covered with tiny scales. Moisture and heat will cause the scales to soften and rise, and friction will cause the scales to fuse or to bind together creating a thick dense fabric. As long as your item is completely felted you can even cut it without fear of it unravelling. Once the fabric has been felted the process cannot be reversed. However, the item could be felted more so it is important that finished items are washed carefully.

Before Felting                                            After Felting

Crocheted and knitted patterns that are meant to be felted have been designed to take into consideration the shrinkage involved in the felting process. The crocheted or knitted item will be fairly large and awkward looking when finished but once it is felted it will shrink down considerably and the stitches will not be as prominent. Depending on the wool and techniques used the stitches may even completely disappear.

You can choose to felt an item either by hand or in the washing machine, but you may want to try a combination of both methods as it usually takes a few washing to get the item to felt. After the item has been felted the wet fabric should be shaped as desired and allowed to dry. It is important to spend a little time stretching and forming the fabric while it is wet because ultimately this is how your item will look when it is dry.

Felting is a fun way to transform your crocheted or knitted project into something completely different and it will add a whole new dimension to an already favorite hobby.

kim.

crochet flower garden.

Visit Komo News to see how one city used crochet to beautify it's landscape.  Enjoy!!

kim and tara.

warm and fuzzy.

With the cooler weather approaching zoeysbags put together a lovely collection of warm and fuzzy crocheted and knitted accessories that will inspire you for the upcoming season.

Thank  you so much to zoeysbags of Raggity Baggity for including our pattern for the Sock Slouch in your "Warm and Fuzzy" treasury.

kim and tara.

crafty storage idea for your tunisian crochet hooks.

Is it wrong to buy junk food just to have the cannisters? That is exactly what I did!!

I'm not normally a Pringle eating girl but my husband brought home a cannister of them not long ago and when they were all done I thought to myself that this would make a good...mmm...something...

I didn't know at the time what it would become but then one day it hit me.  I needed something to hold my tunisian crochet hooks.  Next camping trip I purchased more Pringles with my project in mind.

I purchased my papers at Michaels for $0.20/sheet and the Pringles only cost me $1.69/sleeve.  Not only cheap but quick as well.

Gather your papers and your Pringle cannisters.  If you are like me and can't wait for someone in the house to eat the Pringles, dump them into a bowl and set them out.  I guarantee they will get eaten.  Slice your papers at 10.1875" (or ten inches and three sixteenths).  You may want to double check that measurement before slicing.  It took me one go with the polka dot paper before I got it right. 

Tape one edge to the cannister, lining it up in between the two silver rims.  Roll the paper around the cannister, tape down and you are done!!

tara.