October Show & Tell

[Rose Queen]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the long-awaited Fiber Arts forum!!! C'mon in, pick a comfortable chair and a refreshing beverage from the cyber-bar, and tell us a bit about yourself and your fiber interests...

I'll start, shall I? I've been messing about with fibers since I was a mere girl, especially weaving and needlepoint. I don't do much of the latter anymore because it's gotten harder to see anything that small as I've gotten older, but I've picked up crochet, knitting and a bit with art dolls since then. There's such a variety of wonderful yarns and fibers nowadays that it's hard not to be excited by fibers.

And what about you?

[Gudrun]

Hello, great news, a new forum!!!! Oh my God, much more to read, to try, to write.
My name is Gudrun and I'm from Germany. I do all things which are creative, I paint, mainly encaustic, I do jewelry, felting, and knitting. Means my fingers and my creative part of the brain always need things to do. The bad thing is, I have more ideas than time because I work for a Frankfurt bank as a programmer which is a lot of time. But I will love tis forum, this cuty knitted R2D2 things from one of Roses links are a hit....I have to try them.
So greetings from Germany and I really looking forward...to meet you all
Gudrun

[Mary Woodul]

I'll chime in with Diana to give you all a most warm welcome to the Fiber Arts Forum.

My name is Mary and although my main artistic acitivities have been Mixed Media art, oil painting and drawing, I learned to knit very young and also tried weaving a couple of years back. I like to incorporate strings in my mixed media work and in general I love all kinds of fibers.

Please make yourself at home and bring along a friend, I'm sure this forum will be a lot of fun.

[chatfieldstudios]

This is such great news....our very own Fiber Arts Forum.

My name is Cindy and I have at different times been active in the Colored Pencil, Mixed Media, Miniature and Pastel forums.

My main fiber art interest is quilting....mostly art quilts these days, but I
also dabble in traditional quilting. I also love to do thread painting with my
sewing machine.

I'm currently working on some mini-quilts inspired by Amish designs and colors.
They are for an exhibit in December. I will try to photograph them and post in the next few days.

I am lucky that I don't have to hold a full-time job, but I do volunteer my
time to the Colored Pencil Society of America as Membership Director. I love
my role and have met so many wonderful artists.

Thank you to all who made this forum possible. Your efforts are very much
appreciated.

[fawnridge-art]

Hello to all. One of my most recent interests, (among many!), is painting on silk. As I forum jump, I'll pop in here sometimes also.
Good luck on this new forum!!! :clap: :clap:

[Oldthumbs]

I guess I get to be the first guy in here. :D

I'm not sure if my fiber interests would qualify as "art," but I do have a few. My main focus is cross-stitch, which I started back in the early 80's. I'm always "wowed" when I open up my boxes of floss and look at all the colors - love it!

I can actually use a sewing machine, too, though I tend to use it for utilitarian purposes. I have also sewn garments completely by hand for historical reenactment purposes.

I've also dabbled in knitting but am nowhere near proficient. I recently played with crochet, too, but seem to like knitting better. I love all the fibers and colors that are available for knitting and have even fantasized about raising Angora rabbits for fiber.

My "ex" was an avid quilter and I have fabric and pattern for a quilt of my own, but have never gotten much further than that. Someday . . . ;)

Ray

[Nickel]

Hi everyone!
Congratulations on your new fiber forum!
I have a closet full of fabrics, lol, can't knit but love knits.
Love cross-stitch and quilts too!
We have some knitters in classical forum so am sending them your
way!

Who knows, maybe I will make a stuffed bear! :)
Nickel

[Pumpkin12pm]

I create embroidered collages. The collage portion can be paper or fabric, or a combination, often with paints, but the final piece always (well,almost) has hand-stitching to a greater or lesser degree. I've also incorporated bits made by more traditional embroidery techniques into my stretched canvas works.

I blog regularly about my works in progress and in the near future hope to include more information about other artists who work in all sorts of mixed media embroidery.

Beth Robinson

[lisilk]

Hey Congrats Diana and Mary for finally getting your forum!:clap: :clap: 'Bout time!
I have a ton of fiber books I'll add to your resource thread.

You could probably see if someone can drag the silk painting article over here. There might be a few other fiber articles stashed over in Mixed Media.

Hi Gudrun:wave: I still have the felt necklace you made. ( and I'm still working on my ATC's so have faith! Had some family stuff.)
Looking forward to seeing all the new work here. Nice to see familiar faces.

Li

Edited- JayD~:lol: :lol:

[JayD]

I tried Macrame once and it took the fire department 3 hours to cut me loose from all the knots.

I wanted to stop in and say hello to everyone and I will be in and out to watch the projects--I will also drop an announcement in the drawing and sketching forum. I think this will be a great resource for our people to come and study textures.

Welcome all and I congratulate you folks who put together this fabulous new forum!!!

[*Deirdre*]

Hi...I'm Deirdre....and I'm one of those people who have to be bailed out by an expert when I try knitting or crotchet! Even macramé has me in knots...just like Jay!:evil: However...I do admire those who can and do,,,and will no doubt be tempted to try once more...once I see what you are all doing with fibres/fibers!!:envy: I came over to wish the new forum well!:clap: :thumbsup: :clap:

[Rose Queen]

I tried Macrame once and it took the fire department 3 hours to cut me loose from all the knots.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[beebluefern]

Hi, my name is Pam and I'm a knitting junkie(not currently on any 12 step program:lol: )...I am so excited that we now have a Fiber Arts Forum here a WC!!! As you can see, knitting is my thing. I adore knitting, yarn, lots and lots of wonderful yarn-especially natural fibers and all the various and sundry tools and books and magazines. I've been knitting for about 35 years(self taught-knitting and crocheting) and am currently working on getting my Master Knitters Certificate. I've posted a lot of my work in Wearables, and I have a Knitting Blog, but I am so happy to be able to post everything I do here. If I ever get time, I would love to have an Etsy store to sell some of my 'extra knits". I also design knitwear, although not as much as I would like to be able to do.Hopefully I will be able to do a lot more of that when I retire. At any given time I have about 4 knitting projects going...I don't get bored, that's for sure! I'm a member of the Atlanta Knitting Guild and I have just begun a Beginner Knitting Class at my school for some of our teachers.
Knitting is my Valium. Yarn is my vice:thumbsup:
At the moment I don't have a working computer but should be getting my new one set up in the next week or so and then I will be posting pics every day!:D I am also a crocheter, felter, watercolorist and very amateur oil and acrylic painter. I've even made some jewelry...of sorts.
I can't wait to see everyones work...Knitting, quilting, spinning, sewing, embroidery, painting, etc. This is the best thing to happen on WC in a very long time....A great big THANKS to Diana and Mary!!!

JayD, you are soooooo funny!!!:lol: I am imagining that!

[Rose Queen]

Fun blog, Pamela! Have you ever run across the "You Knit WHAT???" blog? It's not beiing updated anymore, more's the pity, but some of the stuff on it is a total crack-up! http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/

In fact, I'm off to add it to our links!

[beebluefern]

Fun blog, Pamela! Have you ever run across the "You Knit WHAT???" blog? It's not beiing updated anymore, more's the pity, but some of the stuff on it is a total crack-up! http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/

In fact, I'm off to add it to our links!

Thanks Diana! I should keep it up to date more often than I do...time just gets away from me.
I have read that blog....I hate that it isn't updated any longer! Waaaahhh:crying: I also read Yarn Harlot's blog...name escapes me, but it's hilarious too. There are several that are well worth reading-lots of good info and tips in many of them.

[lisilk]

Have you ever run across the "You Knit WHAT???" blog? It's not beiing updated anymore, more's the pity, but some of the stuff on it is a total crack-up! http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/

In fact, I'm off to add it to our links!

That's too bad. Hysterical comments. " If yarn were vomit and vomit were yarn." Oiy~ she found some UGLY knit wear out there!

[Rose Queen]

...I also read Yarn Harlot's blog...name escapes me, but it's hilarious too. There are several that are well worth reading-lots of good info and tips in many of them.
Pamela, when you run across these again, please post them to the sticky at the top of the forum on resources, links and stuff...thanks!!

[beebluefern]

Just added some, but will remember to get those good blog address added soon!

[CharM]

Congratulations Fibre Artists!!! I have cross stitched, knitted, crocheted and *fancy-worked* my entire lfe... I made all my own clothes and the cutest things for my little boys as they were growing up... My favourite machine of all time is my serger... Curtains, tablecoths, cushions... I can't imagine my life without fibres... it IS the *fabric of our lives*!!!

[CassieFoxkit]

I am SO excited to be here. I'm Cassie and I started watching my mom cross-stitch and sew from a very early age. (I always had wonderful handmade costumes for halloween :) I started cross-stitching soon after, probably around 7 or 8. Since then, I've done cross-stitching, embroidery, knitting and crochet and just now jumping into machine sewing and quilting. I've done a fair amount of fabric dying too. I also like hand-making paper and paper mache sculptures. I can't wait to talk to so many fiber artists. This is absolutely AWESOME!

Thank you so much everyone who helped start this forum!

[mikatana]

Hi!
My real name is Jeri but the name Mikatana has special meaning for me and that is what I'll go by here.:p

I am a Fiber Freak. I knit, spin, felt, needle felt, embroider, dye and make art dolls. Yesterday I carded and started spinning 2 lbs of some really gorgeous natural colored Coopworth wool. I, also, make glass beads (lampwork). I like to take on-line classes and regular ole classes. I sometimes teach batiking, needle felting and felt making.

I am hoping that in the next month or so, I will put together my studio in a room that is waiting for drywall right now. I broke my leg in May and just started walking on it last Wednesday...during that time all my cratfing supplies moved up and down the stairs..I have completely taken over the dining room!! It will be a real pleasure to have a home for all my stuff.

O, and I have gone back to school to get my Fine Arts degree and to get a "Multimedia" degree....web design, desktop publishing and CAD.

WhoooHooo a Fiber Forum!!!!:clap:

[Moonlight Creations]

Just what I need ... another forum to drool over! Thanks!

My name is Sonje - RN by day, lampworker-glass fuser-jewelry maker-wannabe knitter by night! I have been so inspired by all of the artists on WC! ~ Sonje

[Anita Murphy]

Wow, what a great new forum!

Lots of familiar faces here - Hi Mary and Rose!!!

I'm a guide with the Drawing and Sketching and Classical forums. I've knitted, quilted, embroidered, made jewelry, done papier mache and a ton of other stuff that could be included in this forum for longer than I care to remember.

I've been hoping to get back to some of these things and this might be just the push I need!

[grannyb]

Congratulations on the new Fibre Forum.
I was behind the door when God handed out needle skills but I did get a hammer! I use fibres in sculptures and in papermaking as well as collages so I guess I will hop from Mixed Media to here to share in all your wonderful talents. I cannot knit or crochet at all or sew much ( buttons and hems are it) but yes I love fibres and collect them for goodness knows what reason!
I look forward to oohing ahhing at your wonderful works folks.

[lisilk]

I for one would love to see some demo's of all this spinning, weaving, knitting, quilting, etc. that's going on!

[Sher]

Hi everyone!
My name is Sher, and I crochet, knit and cross stitch. When can we get started posting pictures?

[beebluefern]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421331
I can't post any pics right now as I am not set up for it, but thought I'd share a link to a design I created for a knitted collar that I posted in Wearables some time back. Feel free to use the pattern for yourself.
I hope to be up and running with the new computer soon so I will be happy to share some knitting know how, WIP's and lots of pics of my projects!

[VindictiveMuse]

Hi everyone!
It's nice to see a fiber forum! I am an intermediate/advanced crocheter, newbie knitter, neophyte embroiderer, and decent sewer. Oh, and I've done a little bit of spinning on a hand spindle. I haven't made much fiber-related stuff recently, but once the weather starts turning cold, I get this itch to make blankets and hats and other warm things. And I can't wait to share them all with you!

[Jakeally]

Hi Diana and Mary:wave: : Thanks so much for setting this forum up. It is really great to see it at last:clap: :clap:

I have dabbled in fibre arts for years ... Mainly patchwork and quilting, knitting and crochet and sewing. I haven't done much recently because I am trying to learn to paint but I'm sure I will get back to it sometime.
I am with VindictiveMuse ... when the darker days start drawing in my thoughts go to lovely materials and gorgeous wools and embroidery silks. They really brighten the winter days.
I look forward to seeing what everyone is making and will drop in often:D :wave:

[lizajayne]

Wow, so many in here already!

As I am mostly a lampworker/beader, I also crochet, kumihimo, quilt, lap loom weave, and cross stitch. They are usually few and far between, with many unfinished projects (ah, the life of a crafter/artist/etc). Right now I have a quilt going, a bead crochet, and an unfinished kumihimo that's been sitting on my coffee table for about 3 months!

Back in January my mom quit her 9-5 job and opened a quilting store in Ceredo,WV! She has a 17' long quilting machine and has a ton of fun with it. She's been president of the WV/OH/KY EGA and is involved in several local quilting/stitching guilds. I used to help her with some of the EGA activities.

Oh, and an interesting note... though I do a lot of quilting and sewing, I have no idea how to use a sewing machine. And have never used a sewing pattern (for clothes). I do everything by hand. It's quite time consuming, which could be part of the reason why I have so many unfinished projects. LOL!

[lisilk]

Pamela~ Beautiful collar! So delicate. Do post a WIP when the new computer is up for the challenge.

I'm not much for sewing or knitting so I hope to learn something for you all. Hoping to see some fiber sculpture in here too!

Li

[beebluefern]

Thanks Li....I'll definitely do some WIP's
I am really anxious to also get into fiber sculpture...either with felting or with silver wire and/or fabric. Just have to have some of these other projects finished before I tackle that! Hope some others will post theirs though...I would love to see them!

[Rose Queen]

Hi everyone!
My name is Sher, and I crochet, knit and cross stitch. When can we get started posting pictures?
How about right now! :clap:

Pamela, I added your link to that lovely collar to our resources sticky thread!

[beebluefern]

Li, just getting ready to start a WIP for this forum. I hope it will be of interest to some of the fiber artists here.
Thanks for posting the pattern Diana!!:D

[DrDebby]

Hi Everyone,
I'm Debby and I am fairly new to Wet Canvas. I have been lurking in the drawing and colored pencil forums. I've only recently started learning to draw and use colored pencils so the confidence level isn't real high. However, I was delighted to find a Fiber Arts forum. Yeah! I'm really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful artwork.

About me...I learned to sew clothing from my mom when I was 8, by high school I was designing halloween costumes. In my early adult years I started designing Reniassance costumes for fairs. (Still do both from time to time.) I learned to cross-stitch somewhere in there and still find that a relaxing past-time.

I am a teddy bear artist. I started out medium sized and then went mini (3" and under). Using computers at work ruined my hands. So I didn't do anything for many years. After not working for several years my hands mostly healed. But, when I returned to bears, I found that I wasn't happy with any of my designs. Then I discovered needlefelting. *Joy!* My avatar is a 2 and a half inch tall needlefelted, fully jointed dragon. I make bears by needlefelting them now. I am starting to branch out to other critters (ie. the dragon). They are all in the mini size. I love working small.

[lisilk]

So fun to see this forum already stating to hum and it's only been up a day!

Debby~ welcome to Wetcanvas. :wave: Please feel free to start a new thread and show us your little critters. I'm a huge fantasy/ Sci-fi fan.

Edit- Debbie~ Did I read correctly that you have fjord horses?? My husband is Norwegian ( part) and carves them. They are such beautiful animals.

Li

[beachwalker]

Mary and Diana, I am so excited to see this forum added to WC's list! For many years while my kids were growing up I was seriously into knitting and quilting, and although most of my time now is devoted to drawing, my interest in those two areas is still very strong.

When the boys were skiing I worked my way through a whole book of traditional Scandinavian patterns because I loved the complexity and color combinations so much. I did a few cable knits, too, and enjoyed them as well. Now no family members have an interest in wearing these heavy sweaters, but sometime it might be fun to start a small creative project just for relaxation.

During my quilting years I designed and hand-pieced/appliqued/quilted many wall hangings and a couple of double bed quilts. Four of my designs were published in early editions of "Quilter's Newsletter Magazine," three of which appeared on the magazine's cover. Up until a few years ago I was an out-of-control clothaholic who couldn't go into any fabric store without buying something. I still have seven big bins of quilting fabrics in my closets that I just can't bring myself to give up.:eek:

Thanks for making this forum possible! I know it will be a tremendous inspiration to all people working with fibers.:)

[lyn lynch]

I crochet, knit badly, silk ribbon embroider, bead on fabric, paint acrylics on canvas and fabric and walls, and watercolor. I used to have a cottage industry designing and sewing infant blessing dresses and party dresses up to size 4, but it's been years since I've sewn. I am recovering from a severe illness and this forum is a god-send.

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

I am Stacey, and I am addicted to fibers!!!!!!

I LOVE to try anything and although I am a mixed media artist at heart, I LOVE to try fibers and all sorts of wierd and wonderful things.

I am hopless with needles but try and I have just discovered the wonderful world of art dolls and am ready to try my first one!
(WISH ME LUCK!)

Hugs
Stacey

[Just Nancy]

Hello, My name is Nancy. Next to glass yarn is my next love. It is all about the color. :)

I'm always trying to find someone to share one of the two interests. Currently I knit. I taught myself a couple years ago when I wanted something portable to do. I used to crochet and do every once and a while still. I learned to crochet as at about 8 from a lady around the corner. I can still remember running through the yards to show her what I'd done or ask a question. I tried tatting (twice once as a child and once in my late 20's or so) and that was less than productive. There are a few other fiber related attempts in the not so productive category.

Can't wait to join the discussion.

[NYCindy]

Hi All!

Congratulations on getting a fiber arts forum up and running! Lots of diverse talent here!

I crochet, knit and hand/needle felt. I'm good with a needle and thread but don't cross stitch (to the chagrin of my sisters who love it). I learned to crochet and sew from my mother and to knit from my aunt (my mother's sister) all before I was 8.

Mom never used a pattern to crochet so about 5 yrs ago, I took a class so I could learn how to read a pattern. I take the hook and needles with me wherever I go just in case I have some time to get in a few rows!

I have a knit/crochet/flamework blog - http://hooksandfire.livejournal.com

Cindy

[gbot]

Hi, I'm Gladys and I'm from ND. Where it gets cold in the winter and people kinda hibernate and we get into all sorts of trouble with yarn, fabric, embrodery threads, cordings, beads, and all sorts of other fibers. I love working with wire too!

I learned to sew at the ripe age of seven. My Mother was a very talented lady and I am so please that I obtained a few of those genes from her. When we were younger and the sears, wards, or Aldeans catalogs came out, all we had to do was pick out a dress that we really liked and she would sew us one without a pattern. I enjoy sewing, quilting, fiber weaving, cross-stitch, painting, jewelry design. Not too much I won't try once, to see if I like it, if I do I add it to my list. Thats how I started the Kumihimo weaving, now I love it! Hope to see you all around the forum.

[Sonia]

Hi, I'm Sonia. In my youth I enjoyed dressmaking and embroidery (very traditional tablecloths, etc.), knitting was OK as long as the intended wearer was prepared to grow into the finished article!

I now work mainly in watercolour, mixed media and collage (sometimes stitching elements together), also including these mediums when making artists books. I have over recent years taken an interest in rag rug making, but as this has been only a "fill-in" occupation for winter evenings when we might find something interesting to watch on the television, production has been very low (a cot-side rug started when my grandson was born only reached its final destination after he was 4 years old!).

[chatfieldstudios]

Love the little needle-felted dragon....I would love to see how you do this:thumbsup:

Hi Everyone,
I'm Debby and I am fairly new to Wet Canvas. I have been lurking in the drawing and colored pencil forums. I've only recently started learning to draw and use colored pencils so the confidence level isn't real high. However, I was delighted to find a Fiber Arts forum. Yeah! I'm really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful artwork.

About me...I learned to sew clothing from my mom when I was 8, by high school I was designing halloween costumes. In my early adult years I started designing Reniassance costumes for fairs. (Still do both from time to time.) I learned to cross-stitch somewhere in there and still find that a relaxing past-time.

I am a teddy bear artist. I started out medium sized and then went mini (3" and under). Using computers at work ruined my hands. So I didn't do anything for many years. After not working for several years my hands mostly healed. But, when I returned to bears, I found that I wasn't happy with any of my designs. Then I discovered needlefelting. *Joy!* My avatar is a 2 and a half inch tall needlefelted, fully jointed dragon. I make bears by needlefelting them now. I am starting to branch out to other critters (ie. the dragon). They are all in the mini size. I love working small.

[hermione dragonwolf]

hi:
My name is Hermione and I do lots of things:
lampworking is the newest;
knit,crochet, needlepoint, counted embroidery. I think that's all.LOL

[Gypsy*]

Greetings! Happy to see this inspiring and informative forum take shape!

I was taught to sew at the age of five, by my grandmother who had a treadle machine. I was finally allowed to use an electric one at age ten, but by then, I was making all my own play clothes. I got serious about sewing after that, and made clothing for myself for years, aceing the required Home Economics Sewing course in high school. Fast forward a few years, and I am making clothing for my four children, and polyester spots coats for my dh. Then, I lost interest in sewing, trying all sorts of other crafts. I've dabbled in lots of different ones, mostly whatever the trend was, at the moment. After the kids grew up, I fell ill for a number of years, finally having a life-saving double-lung transplant Jan. 3, 2006. Since getting my life back (and the kids are grown and moved out), I have found renewed interest in crafts and sewing. Currently, I am working on machine needle art and on jewelry making.

I look forward to being inspired here!

[lisilk]

After the kids grew up, I fell ill for a number of years, finally having a life-saving double-lung transplant Jan. 3, 2006.

Good grief! :angel: :heart: Bless you! What a difficult journey. We're thrilled to have you with us and healthy again. Looking forward to seeing your creations Sylvia. I remember you from wearable arts and possibly mixed media(?).

Li

[tvandeb]

Wow! I just ran into this forum... I have several interest: besides drawing, painting and encaustic. I quilt, crochet, macramae( mostly jewlery and religious themes), sew, embroidery. I have not used fiber into my art yet, but as many new ideas I have written down I may have to try. :lol:

This is so wonderful, Thanks for whom ever thought of this!!!!!!:clap: :clap: :clap:

[lisilk]

Welcome Tammy! Can't wait to see your work.:wave:

Li

[Falconess]

Hi all,

My name's Kat and I'm an addict. My DH has had me banned from all the local fiber stores and most of those within a 50 mile radius. I have to sneak my eBay fiber purchases past him and into the "do it" room. My yarn, fabric and bead collections have been likened to the "tribble" problem on the Enterprise and the Energizer bunny. It just keeps going and going...

I got started hand sewing ornaments and crocheting around the age of five or so. Since then I've tried just about everything you can do with a piece of string and a sharp pointy thing, including archery. Some of my current interests are weaving, knitting (machine and frame), crochet (there's a plethora of pregnancies amongst my friends and baby blankets are pouring out of my house), painting (acrylic and watercolor), lampwork (those are my beads in my avatar), quilting and chasing my 8 month old baby boy around the house. The baby takes most of my time these days, so most of my projects are very slow to get finished and a few are slow to get started! :o

I'm so glad I have a place to check out everyone's creativity with fiber!

[Sneuart]

Hi to all, I am so thrilled with this forum.
I have been a fabric collector all my life, even though for years I did not have a sewing machine and still can barely sew a straight line with correct tension.
I knit straight scarves. I can't crochet - the working loop on the hook gets big enough to rope cattle. I did cross stitch in college - to offset the pressure of the classes, as I lost focus as soon as I graduated. I am in the middle of a rag quilt and a stenciled wreath on a square of fabric.
Wheat I'm about to dive into is silk painting. I dyed a few scarves a few years back, and now that my husband and I own our own home, I have more room to work, as well as my own washer and dryer.
My goal this weekend was to have my husband help me build a stretcher frame for the few blank scarves I have left to paint. I did the first few ironed onto freezer paper, and that is a rather unsatisfactory way to work if you want to do any more than washes of color. At least, for me that's all I can make work in that way.
I also have a couple of doll patterns that I want to use.
I'll post my initial attempts down the line.

[bullyluvver]

Hello all! I'm Gail, and I've recently joined the mixed media forum which I'm enjoying. In the past I've made lots of different things from cloth dolls to a wedding dress, but haven't really done anything with a sewing machine for years although I have one hidden in the cupboard. I prefer to hand sew and I'm trying to find new ways of combining my love of paint & fabric so that I don't have to choose! I can't knit or crochet to save my life, but I'd like to learn how to needle felt - hint, hint!! Looking forward to learning lots of new skills with you lovely people.

Gail

[greyart]

Wow! just found this forum. I am a fiber junkie! I love to collect fabrics, a swatch here, a yard there. I have yet to find a way to put them to use. But I have tried crochet, wasn't good at it, machine knitting, weaving, and tapestry. But I found my place with punchneedle.

I look forward to reading this forum!

Carol M.

[lisilk]

Welcome Carol, Kat, Gail and Stephanie. I'm anxious to see what you all do.
Stephanie~ my husband make all my silk frames. The commercial one are too expensive when all you really need is a few slabs of wood slapped together!:p

Hope to see work from all of you very soon! ( hint...hint)

Li

[Rose Queen]

...I am a fiber junkie! I love to collect fabrics, a swatch here, a yard there. I have yet to find a way to put them to use...
OK, you need to join the first-ever Fiber Arts forum project, right here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448070

:lol:

[girlfriday1962]

I love this place already!

My name is Maxine... live in Australia... you can normally find me being quite silly in the glass arts forum! :lol: :lol:

My other passion (besides glass beads) is sewing, mainly vintage patterns, fabrics from the 40's 50's. I do love historical costuming also. I don't mind a bit of hand embroidery on clothes, & would love to have a go at lace making 'one of these days'.

I do bellydancing in my spare time (to get away from the house - I am a full time mum) and my next thing to do is to hand bead & make a bellydancing costume from scratch.

Here is an example of what I get up to...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Oct-2007/106536-1940rayon.JPG

[greyart]

Hey Maxine! I just rented a belly dance fitness DVD and gave it a try. What fun! But I am so sore! :lol: I wish I could find a class around here. At after I loss a few more pounds!:lol:
Carol m

[Rose Queen]

What an interesting bunch we have in this forum already! :thumbsup:

[sec]

Hello. I'm an art student at the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay which has a great Fiber/Textiles program. I'm currently taking Intro to Fiber/Textiles and wasn't quite sure what it would be about, however, I've been converted into a fiber artist suddenly and now I'm addicted! I'm enjoying knitting together things that weren't meant to be knitted at the moment. I'll post soon...

[Shirley C.]

hi folks! my name is shirley, and I'm a fabric- and fiber-aholic! some of you might know me from the wearable art forum (despite the fact that i've been missing for quite awhile). i got a message about this new forum from rose queen and had to come right out here to take a look!

a bit about me and my above-stated addictions:

i started sewing when i was just a kidling. my mom's older sister was a professional sewer, and she and her husband owned a singer sewing machine store. they gave me a kid's hand-crank singer (which i really wish i still had!), and i made doll clothes with it. i took lessons when i was 10 at a local singer store, which was the foundation for the years in which i made most of my clothing (high school). i also did a bit of knitting and crocheting - a few scarves here and there.

after i got out of college (computer science major) i started doing crewel embroidery and latch-hook rug making. i moved to california from connecticut when i turned 22, and shortly thereafter i started messing around with quilting. i got completely addicted to fabric over the next several years and have built up quite a stash of yards, halves and fat quarters. i now consider myself a recovering quilter, since i don't do that anymore - although i still attend all the local quilt shows. and i still can't stay away from fabric! through all the years of my tech career, i think it was "creating stuff with my hands" that kept me sane.

in 1995, one of my co-workers held a lunch-time class in a conference room on how to make earrings with beads. that was the beginning of my obsession with beads, and i spent the next 4 years buying books and teaching myself how to make jewelry. i took a 2-day lampwork class at the end of 1999 and have been making glass beads ever since. you can see some of my beads in the Lark publication "1000 Glass Beads".

beads area a wonderful thing, but i had a strong yearning to get back to the textural world of fibers. i began making kumihimo braids a few years ago and found that beads and fiber are a wonderful combination! i've dyed a few silk scarves over the last 6 months, and a few months ago i taught myself how to crochet because this past weekend i was a vendor at "The Knit & Crochet Show" put on by CGOA and TKGA. i figured i'd better learn something about this stuff if i'm going to be hanging with the yarn folks. wouldn't you know it - i am now extremely hooked on crochet!! (no pun intended). at the show, i got to see first-hand some of the freeform work by the members of the international freeform crochet guild - holy cow!! that's my new goal in the world of fiber, i definitely want to experiment with that.

my tech team was laid off in 2003, and since then i have devoted all my time to my creative endeavours. beads and jewelry are my main business, but i'm most definitely getting more fiber in my diet!

that's it in a nutshell. i'm really looking forward to seeing all of your work out here on the forum as well as getting some great tips. hopefully i can help too.

[DesertDarlene]

Oh, wow! I've been waiting for this! But, I haven't been working with my yarns, etc. for a while because I've been so busy with painting! I may have to dust them off.

I mostly do crochet with a little bit of knitting. I like to do it while I am watching TV and resting. I am making another couch cover right now. I also want to make a rug to cover up my DSL cable that runs across the floor between the living and diningroom. I planned to do so a year ago, but never got started.

[Nalynn]

Great to see this forum!
My name is Nancy and I'm in Madison, WI *waves to the UW-GB student*:wave: . I've been working with fiber since I was about 6 years old (turned 54 in August). My grandmother was an avid embroiderer and she taught me by drawing little designs on scraps of cloth and showing me how to make the stitches. I think I've done just about everything: knitting, crocheting, braiding - including kumihimo and lucet work - tatting, quilting, spinning, weaving, felting, sewing, macrame, bobbin lace, needle lace, temari, counted cross-stitch, bullion embroidery....did I leave anything out?! :wink2:

The more obscure the craft, the more determined I seem to be to learn it. I think I must have been a cloistered nun in Bruges or Brussels in a former life - given my attraction to so-called "dying art forms" - you know...that stuff that when someone sees you doing it, they exclaim "My grandmother used to do that, but NOBODY does THAT anymore!" I also do lampworking and have begun crafting chainmaille jewelry.

My house rarely gets cleaned because I'm always working on about 10 projects at once. My cats think they're in kitty heaven because of all the wonderful "toys" their Mom plays with.

[lisilk]

Welcome to the forum Darlene, Shirley ( I remember you from WA forum,) Sarah and Maxine! Please do show us some of your work. Maxine- I love vintage clothes. I'm very tiny ( short) and the old styles just fit my bod. That's a great blouse!

I got the "silk" side of my studio carpeted over the weekend. Shelves went up today, making frames tomorrow so I should be back in business ( literally and figuratively) very soon. There's an artist mart in Asheville already interested. I've just need to start crankin' them out.
Li

[lisilk]

Let's see what you are working on this month. ( Provided the uploader works.:p )

Here's a finished batik silk pillow.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/dyedrip/pillowpetro.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/dyedrip/pillowdetail.jpg

Here's one I have not done the final wax crinkle on yet.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/dyedrip/pillowwip.jpg

Li

[CassieFoxkit]

Hey Tammy :wave: :wave: Glad to see you here!

[lisilk]

BTW- I used www.photobucket.com to upload but I kept the images at the 500w X 600h so people on dial-up can open the page.

Here is the beautiful felt journal that WC's GUDRUN made for me when we did our journal exchange. Isn't it cool? I'm afraid there is a bit of sand embedded in it now because I used it as my personal journal while living in the Bahamas.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/dyedrip/feltjournal.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/dyedrip/feltjournal2.jpg

Gudrun- how about doing a felt WIP for us?????????

NOTE~ I believe the uploader is now working. ( Sat. 6 p.m.)

[chatfieldstudios]

I am such a fan of your silks. The antelope-like looking creature is wonderful.
What does crinkle wax mean?

How lucky to have a gorgeous journal that Gudrun made..I know it's felt but
what are the rust/white designs? I think I see a little sand;)

I'm going to have to wait until the image uploader is working again...haven't tried it this afternoon. I'm all into the "inchies" or "fat inchies" that Rose Queen talked about in another thread. I pulled out my Quilting Arts Magazine and there they were. So I'm hoping to get a couple made this weekend.
In the meantime I was going to post a long-finished project or two in thread painting.

[lisilk]

Cindy- The uploader seems to be working again. At least for now! ( Fingers crossed:rolleyes: )

On the leaves pillowcase, the design is done; 3 layers of dye, three layers of wax leaves. I steamed it already. That got out most of the wax ( it absorbs into the paper wrap.) Now I have to stretch it again. I will cover the whole thing with a layer of thinly brushed on hot wax. When it cools, I ball it up and that cracks the wax...in a crinkly way.:p See the fine dark green uneven lines on the sheep close-up? Next I'll brush a dark purple/blue over the leave pillow case. The dye will only penetrate where the cracks are. Wipe up the excess as clean as possible and steam again.

The sheep pillow is based on Native American petroglyph design of big horn sheep.

On Gudrun's journal- I believe she tied died it.

Li

[geniferB]

Just peekin in!
/peek!

I am Genifer and I make fiber based jewelry/wearable art. I am addicted to kumihimo. Now there. I've said it. ;)

[lisilk]

I am Genifer and I make fiber based jewelry/wearable art. I am addicted to kumihimo. Now there. I've said it. ;)

No peeking! We want pictures! ( Welcome to Fiber Arts Genifer! :wave: )

[DesertDarlene]

Hi. I thought I'd put up the last two big projects that I did or am doing. I hope the pictures are good enough to view them properly.

The first one I am posting is actually a blanket that I knitted using a standard knitting stitch. I am using it to cover my tattered couch. It is actually red, white, and blue though the blue doesn't show up as well as I'd like. I tried to adjust the colors to match the actual piece:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Oct-2007/39108-100507.jpg

And, this is what I'm working on now and it has a very long way to go. I haven't worked on it lately:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Oct-2007/39108-10050701.jpg

This one is actually done by crocheting and just joining a bunch of coaster circles together. I want it to cover a large sofa-bed as a couch cover.

[chatfieldstudios]

Darlene, Wonderful coverlets...the 2nd one looks like you have put hours into it. I like the different colors of the circles that I see. I would be afraid to sit on that one!;) How much time would you say you have invested in it already?

Thanks for sharing:thumbsup:

[chatfieldstudios]

Yea! I got the uploader to work! These are finished works.....

The first pic is one of my thread paintings that sold a couple of months ago. It is called "Convergence". It's framed size is about 12 x 16". I started with
a layer of fabric adhered to a piece of muslin to hold it altogether. Then I use my sewing machine in a free-motion style to make all the stitches. There are a few hand embrodiered stitches also....the brown lines showing the
perspective of the bricks, and the rims of the blue pots.

The second one is called "Estes Park". It is a 5 x 7", done the same way, and it also sold.

[DesertDarlene]

Oh, I love those! I used to do those by hand.

As for the coverlet, I don't know how many hours I've put into it. When I have the desire, I work on it. I think it takes about a half hour to do one circle. Some of the threads have come apart and I often have to sew them back on (one yellow one needs to be partially reattached right now). I actually lay on it every day.

[girlfriday1962]

Ok... here's some rather hurried shots I just took of my fave item of clothing.... this was my 2nd attempt at embroidery, & the jacket is a 1940's Vogue pattern - transfers STILL in the packet!
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Oct-2007/106536-jacket_front.JPG http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Oct-2007/106536-jacket_back.JPG http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Oct-2007/106536-girlcloseup.JPG


This jacket is the reason I love winter!

[lisilk]

Oh fun, fun, fun Maxine!:clap: :clap: Very retro tourist looking. ( Which I happen to love.) Do I see a lot of satin stitching and some French knots in there? Great colors!

Li

[girlfriday1962]

You know what? This is really emabrrasing - I am self taught... I have no idea what stitches I did... I'm not kidding! I do know what a french knot is, but have trouble because I am lefthanded... :(

I love the tacky touristy stuff too! DH has a collection of Tikis, which I will take inspiration from one day...

[lisilk]

Darlene- such lovely, lovely work. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: The sofa cover looks so warm and cozy but i really love the crochet piece with it's subtle colors. I love how dismissive you are ( a self-depreciating artists trait ) "just a bunch of coasters." Looks pretty complicated to me! What I like the most about your work is that it all makes me feel at home.

Cindy~ Those thread paintings are scrumptious! :clap: You have such an eye for color and composition. I am fast becoming your biggest fan. Gorgeous!

Li

[lisilk]

Not embarrassing at all Maxine, I am completely self- taught with my silk painting ( and most other mediums.) I didn't even know there were names for my techniques until I bought my first silk painting books.... 2 years after I started. ( I wouldn't dare show you the kitchy stuff I've bought on vacation! Yikes!:eek: :lol: )

Li

[geniferB]

Maxine, that's an AWESOME jacket!

Here is a sample of some of my stuff:

Here's "Garden Joy"--eyelash yarn, glass flowers, copper
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4271/garden1dl5.jpg

This is "Fire"-from the Elements series:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8323/1003350ej9.jpg

This pin is called "Partay!"-
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5823/fancypinpi6.jpg

[Rose Queen]

I can see we're going to have to ask a bunch of our members to write up some tutorials...great work, y'all! :thumbsup:

[chatfieldstudios]

Thank you Li!

Did you design the sheep you used on your silk? I love the design and I love
it when I get to see what comes out of an artist's head.

[mebo]

I'm Marian, and I've done most everything to do with fiber, like Nalynn. I'm also in the Watercolor, Drawing, Pen and Ink forums on WC. Glad ya'll got this forum added.

[lisilk]

Genifer~ Thise are gorgeous! Such fabulous textures and colors! Perhaps you can do a WIP for us.

[beehappy]

Wahooooo! a fiber arts forum!!!
Hello :wave: my name is Bee and I'm a fiber addict. I'm sorta new to WetCanvas. Been a knitter for several years. Did a free form non-functional knitted piece (alot of fun!). "Borrowed" my kids small table loom and played around with weaving. Lately, I've had fun adding knitted pieces (icord ect.) into paintings.
Absolutely love the pieces people have shown here!!

Bee

[lisilk]

Welcome to Wetcanas and the Fiber addicts forum Bee:wave: . Oh I would love to see the non-functional knit piece you did. I'm intrigued! Have any photo's???

Li

[beehappy]

Not yet but soon hopefully.....uh, how does one post pics?...sorry never done it before!
Bee

[lisilk]

Not yet but soon hopefully.....uh, how does one post pics?...sorry never done it before!
Bee

Click on my signature where it says WC Help Center. There are also sticky threads at the top of the New User forum. You can find that using the Forum Jump feature at the bottom of the page.:D

Li

[TheBlueBetween]

Li, I've missed your beautiful silks from when you used to show them over in wearable arts. They are just as wonderful as ever. Your book looks pretty neat too.

Darlene, I was JUST thinking about starting a knitted afghan or throw - so your pictures are very inspiring.

Cyndy - wow, I've never seen such a thing, amazing! And very beautiful. My grandmother makes wall hangings by hand stitching, I should show some of the ones she's given me sometime, they are all very original like paintings as well.

[CassieFoxkit]

Li, lovely pillow! I can't wait to try that crinkled wax technique.

The checkered pattern looks nice Darlene, those things take forever but they're so worth it in the end.

Cindy, can you show a detail of one of the paintings? I'm still a bit confused on how your doing it.

Nothing new to show for this month... though I guess I could scan in a part of a quilt square I stitched together. I have a new-to-me sewing machine I'm trying to learn how to operate.

[Sneuart]

GeniferB: Welcome, and thanks for posting your kumihimo! I like the "Fire" one especially, but they are all fabulous.

[Sneuart]

You know what? This is really emabrrasing - I am self taught... I have no idea what stitches I did... I'm not kidding! I do know what a french knot is, but have trouble because I am lefthanded... :(

I love the tacky touristy stuff too! DH has a collection of Tikis, which I will take inspiration from one day...

Don't be embarrased that you don't know all of the technical terms. I love it that you just jumped in and started. I have a pile of books, but very few projects started anywhere but in my head. Practice is where you get the technical skill. I have a lot of head knowledge, but not the experience.

This jacket is so whimsical and fun, you must have so much fun wearing it!;)

[artinthebush]

Hello my name is Bob and I've come along to this forum so that some kind person will be able to help me when necessary.
I've been painting for quite a while. However because I have a desease that will eventually incapacitate me and probably keep me bed ridden, I want to prepare myself for a time that I wont be able to paint anymore.
I decided to tackle a Tapistry. At first I thought about designing my own creation on a blanc canvas and completing it. I came across a medievel tapisrty that I fell in love with and have decided to do this.
"Canvas de Loire".
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/artinthebush/CanvasdeLoire.jpg?t=1191851333
It will take me a long time. I can work on a tapistry in bed. whereas I can't paint when I'm in bed.
I think that more artists should be aware of this creative medium. Imagine an abstract piece of art transfered onto a tapisrty canvas. I think it would be great.
One of the questions I would like answered is the following:
I would like the faces on the tapistry to be done in a fine silk, so that the definition is more acute. How does one sew the faces on a normal 10 mesh tapistry in a fine silk. Remember, you'll be talking to
a) a man
b) a complete moron as far as tapisrty stitches are concerned.
Thanks
Bob

[beebluefern]

Darlene, Cindy, Li....what wonderful work you all have done!!! Want to comment further on this tonight.

[beebluefern]

I'll have some pics to post this evening regarding this....
Our Knitting Guild collects gently loved Teddy Bears and knits sweaters and other clothing for them and we then donate them to the Crisis Center here in Atlanta. One of my neighbors was moving away this weekend and gave me here collection of Teddies (about 10-12) to dress and donate, so I have many new projects to work on before our December meeting. The bears are soooo cute!! I have three Teddies done and will post pics of them in their new duds this evening.

[beebluefern]

Bob, what a wonderful thing you will be doing and I am sure it will be just as fulfilling as your painting-maybe even more so as needlework tends to be a lot more relaxing! I can't help you with tapestry stitches or anything like that, but I sure do hope that you will post your embroidery work!

[Rose Queen]

Bob, I think it's great you're thinking ahead and not letting yourself be defeated by your disease. I personally know zilch about tapestry, although I've done a lot of needlepoint, so I wonder if this idea would be transferrable. Instead of using 10 mesh, can you use something smaller so that the faces can be done in petit-point, which would give you much more detail, while still stitching the remaining parts of the design as if you were working on 10-mesh?

[Rose Queen]

Kumihimo! Thread painting! Silk batik! Knitting! Crochet! Tie-dye! Do we have it all here or what? Geez, y'all blow my socks off with your creativity...

[lisilk]

Welcome Bob.:wave: First, I think you have a great attitude about facing what lies ahead for you with your illness.

There was a time when everyone ( at least the women-folk) knew how to do tapestry. It's a shame such lovely traditions fell by the wayside. I'm afraid all I've done is a lot of embroidery but I'm sure someone else will come along with more knowledge. The piece you reference knocks my sock off. Wow- the detail!

Please do post when you get started. Best wishes.

Li

[greyart]

Wow! what beautiful projects! So many fiber arts I haven't tried yet. Great work!

[lisilk]

Bob~ If you look at our Sept. show and tell thread http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447343&page=2 there is someone doing something very similar to tapestry. She may be able to help you out. Her name is Carol / greyart.

[mikatana]

Oh Rose Queen! You did have to mention SOCKS! These are my current passion (subject to change as I haven't seen what is coming out of the dye pot today) Here are my 2 most recent socks. You will have to take my word that the gold ones match as I can't find the other one right now. That's what comes from having people "help" you take off you socks (injured ankle). The "Geisha" socks match all the way up until you get to the little toes. What happened here??? On the needles right now, a pair of red pedicure socks that are going really slowly and I don't know why and a pair of "Slinky" socks that were suppose to be mittens but.....


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/23719-20071009-P1010343.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/23719-20071009-P1010344.JPG

[lisilk]

Those are cool Mikatana! Hmmmm...winter is coming and I don't knit.....:rolleyes:

[Rose Queen]

Oh, mikitana, I looooooooooooove the ones with the split, 'cause I tend to wear sandals year 'round, but even in California, it's a wee bit chilly for that in winter. Got a pattern you could share for those?

[mikatana]

I can kinda give you a pattern. I took the basic "Geisha" sock pattern at www.spunmag.com/article/050605. This sock pattern is for ankle socks so I just made the cuff of the socks longer. I made the neck or cuff in a 2x2 rib because I think that a good rib helps hold up the socks. In my opinion, the best needles to use are bamboo double pointed needles, I don't like the 2 circular needle routine and I especially don't like metal needle as they are so-o-o slippery. Actually, I prefer plastic needles over metal needles. Don't know if you know about KnitPicks (google them) but they have great prices for yarn period but I do like their sock yarn. If I can help in any way, holler!

[Rose Queen]

Mikatana, I don't see a pattern on that page. I did find a page of patterns on the site, but there wasn't a Geisha sock among them.

[mikatana]

Rose Queen, try this. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page, about 3/4 way down. It's called the Summer Sock Collection. I hope it works if not then I can type out the pattern with a nod to Spunmag as tho it is not mine, I have altered it. I think that that should satisfy the copyright laws. If I am in error, let me know as I value and respect the efforts that go into designing stuf..anything!!! www.spunmag.com/issue/2/

[Rose Queen]

Got it! Thanks, Mikatana!!

[beebluefern]

Here are three Teddies that I've dressed and are ready to go to the Atlanta Crisis Center in December. The Atlanta Knitting Guild donates these Teddies to the Center for children who have experienced some traumatic situation in their lives and will have had some contact with the Police or other authorities concerning the situation. The bears are given to them as a comfort and something of their very own.

I have at least 8 more teddies that I will be dressing before our December meeting....hopefully I'll be able to knit each one of those Teddies a sweater by then!


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/34609-DSCF0004.JPG http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/34609-DSCF0005.JPG http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/34609-DSCF0006.JPG

[beebluefern]

I can kinda give you a pattern. I took the basic "Geisha" sock pattern at www.spunmag.com/article/050605. This sock pattern is for ankle socks so I just made the cuff of the socks longer. I made the neck or cuff in a 2x2 rib because I think that a good rib helps hold up the socks. In my opinion, the best needles to use are bamboo double pointed needles, I don't like the 2 circular needle routine and I especially don't like metal needle as they are so-o-o slippery. Actually, I prefer plastic needles over metal needles. Don't know if you know about KnitPicks (google them) but they have great prices for yarn period but I do like their sock yarn. If I can help in any way, holler!

Extremely cool socks!!! I'm a sock kniter too! I made these for my Granddaughter a few weeks ago! It's KnitPicks sock yarn and it's great!!!
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Oct-2007/34609-socks.jpg

I have my eye on Knitpicks new wooden needles as well...nice colors, although, I like knitting socks on their nickle plated dpn's. I just like the way the yarn moves on them and the points are really nice and sharp so there is no splitting the yarn.
For the price, KnitPicks has some very nice yarns...I think I already added that to the list we have here at Fiber Arts, but another place that has very nice and inexpensive wool for socks, lace and whatever is
www.handpaintedyarn.com. Kettle dyed wool and the colors are delicious...just have to be careful about the quantity...get what you need as they tend to run low quickly! (although one hank of the lace weight will make a few pairs of socks for kids...a couple of pair for adult if your cuffs aren't too long)

[Rose Queen]

Pamela, both the teddies and the socks are great! :thumbsup:

[chatfieldstudios]

I love these Show and Tell threads! So much fun to see what everyone else
is doing.

Pam, you're bears got a big "Awwwwwww" from me...love the red bear with
the red sweater.

Love the socks, especially with the toe separation for sandals....seriously,
you guys make me want to knit!

[lisilk]

Pamela~ Those bears are adorable and what a great cause. I'm sure they will be well loved!:angel:

Mikatana- I love those Japanese style socks. I bought a bunch a Disney World last year at the Japanese Pavilion. Are they tricky to make?

Li

[mikatana]

Seriously Li, the Geisha socks aren't that hard to knit BUT (that's a big but) one has to be able to follow directions. I think that socks are the perfect item to learn to knit on. There are some many aspects of knitting in a sock - ribbing, decreases, increases, picking up stitches and short row that once you can knit a sock you can knit any thing! Usually socks are relatively small so that they are completed quickly (please don't bring up the pedicure socks...for what ever reason they don't count) and one can hide their mistakes under pants legs or shoes! I think that knitting a scarf as the typical first project is B-O-R-I-N-G and all your mistakes show!

My Nana taught me to knit as a 3 year old. I was the only kindergardner that wore hats and scarves that she had knit herself to school. My Mom has pictures to prove it! I think that I was 8 when I knit a Lopi sweater with a 3 colored yoke. I actually vaguely remember the navy blue bodied sweater with red, yellow and some other color! Don't know where it is now.

Anyways, download a sock pattern rated easy, go to your local yarn store - buy some needles, yarn and learn to knit! Find out when the Knit and *itch is and join in. They will help you when you get stuck and you will laugh your way thru your socks. But, beware, in case you haven't figured it out - it is addictive!!!

[Janet Littlecrow]

Hello all, I'm new to WC & the Fiber Arts forum. Bob, I know a little something about dealing with debilitating disease, and you're doing everything right! Staying busy & roll with the punches (Plan B, Plan C, etc.) is best. I wanted to be a costumer for Hollywood, but cancer destroyed my life at 21. Plan B: it took 7 yrs to earn an IT degree, but I was a programmer for 20 yrs.

Plan C: We moved to the reservation here 5 yrs ago, instead of chasing jobs far from home. I'd been making Native American powwow regalia & ceremonial clothing for 20 yrs, so my new career was a "no-brainer". My next goal is to design my own fabric for wearable art clothing. I want to paint or dye raw silk. I've got a Dharma catalog, is that the best place to order dyes? Has anyone used stencils to paint silk, or does everyone use resists? What books are good that I can order online from Amazon? Does anyone else out there paint silks for wearable art?

[lisilk]

Welcome Janet~
There are many survivors on the site, some from cancer, some from other ailments. We all, hopefully, find a way to continue creating.

My husband ( a Norwegian and...) and grand-daughters are also part Native American. My gd's are Piute-Shoshone.
I made my living dying silk and raw silk. Dharma is the best U.S. resource but Jaquard has some great unique silks like Dupion. You can use resist or wax ...stamp, dye, or do stamping, stencil or bleaching. The artists here will be happy to help you out. Just start a thread and ask questions. Someone will jump in to help. ( I will put a list of books together for you or you can look at the sticky thread at the top of the forum for links and resources,)

Welcome Janet! Can't wait to see your work.

Li

[Janet Littlecrow]

I read the silk painting tutorial listed in the links, and it's GREAT! Your example of SW art is exactly what I was wondering if I could do. Now I can't wait to buy some silk yardage & get started playing! It looks like I'll need a commercial steamer, since I'll probably be doing 2-3 yards at a time.

Here are photos of some recent work. This cloth top buckskin dress was a 16th birthday present for a real girly-girl in KY, whose Indian name is River Otter. Her mom said she was standing a little taller & enjoying star status in her new dress at the Trail of Tears Powwow recently. Computer programmers never impact anyone's life like that! Small wonder I don't want to go back to the corporate world again.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Oct-2007/118266-buckskin_otter1.jpg

Oliver (left) is Comanche & Otoe, wearing his new grass dance outfit that nearly drove me nuts with sequined & holographic fabrics jamming the machine. There are designs all up & down the sleeves & pant legs that show when he dances. Some people don't realize that Native American cultures are constantly evolving, but our young people like "bling" too. Thank goodness his outfit isn't flourescent like the dancer on the right, or I would surely be blind by now! LOL The dancer on the right is from the Eastern Band Cherokees in NC, visiting Oklahoma at this large indoor powwow in Tulsa.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Oct-2007/118266-grass_olly_swimmer.jpg

[Sonia]

Janet, really stunning work! I especially like the buckskin dress.

[Jakeally]

Wow ... beautiful work Janet:clap: Welcome to the forum:D :wave:

[chatfieldstudios]

Gorgeous, Janet! Love the neons :D So glad you found your "work" that also nourishes your soul.

I look forward to seeing more of your work..........

[madcitymike]

Hi...
I have always been intrigued by fibers. As a child, my first introduction to them was "stitchery" in grade school....creating scenes with stitches of yarn on burlap. I was also taught to crochet by a great aunt around the same time.
As a college art ed student, I majored in textiles, to which I am still grateful... but the reality of public school art budgets brought home the fact that there was no money for textile art in my classes.
Although I raised sheep during the "teaching years", I was not involved with processing their wool into fiber, but only the day to day survival of raising a family and creating "great memories".
So....after retiring 2 years ago, and a long hiatus from "fibers", I am once again exploring the possibilities. A neighbor taught me to knit.....I am now thoroughly and happily addicted. :) I also bought a floor loom last winter and am again weaving.
My partner's sister sent me the link to WetCanvas this morning.......I immediately registered. :) I am looking forward to the inspiration that this site will bring.

Thank you! Michael

[lisilk]

Welcome to Wetcanvas Mike. Glad you found us. A floor loom! Wow. Can't wait to see some pics.

Janet- STUNNING work! Who wouldn't be proud to wear those? Had to laugh about the bling.:p The stove-top steamer ( commercial) can handle 3 yards at a time safely. Welcome to the forum!:wave:

[Rose Queen]

Wowser, Janet -- what a stunning birthday gift! And Mike, we definitely need to see that floor loom and some of the stuff you've got coming off of it...we have a show-and-tell thread for each month, so please do post there.

[beebluefern]

Janet, your designs are gorgeous! I'm 1/4 Cherokee and I really appreciate that you are doing this for American Indians. The dress is sooo beautiful and impressive!!
Mike, can't wait to see your work...especially loom work! POST SOON!

[greyart]

I have finished the first panel of the Chinese village and started the second. It is "planned" to be a ten panel piece. If I don't give up I should be done with all in June 08!
Punchneedle- mostly cotton with some other yarns in places, on weavers clothe. 12in x 30in
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Oct-2007/55733-village1.jpg

[lisilk]

Wow~ Beautiful Carol. I imagine they will look amazing together!

[chatfieldstudios]

Wow, the detail lines on the bridge must have been challenging....what was the most challenging part of this for you?

It's really wonderful, and I look forward to seeing it all put together with the other panels:thumbsup:

[beebluefern]

Here is a little jacket and socks I knit recently with Kaffe Fasset's new sock yarn called Regia that I bought at a recent Knitting Guild meeting. It knit up like a dream and took me less than a week to complete the set. I had wanted to make a cap to go with it but did not purchase enough yarn to manage that:( I'll remember that the next time I start adding to the yarn stash while at the KG meeting!!)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2007/34609-P1010008.JPG

Sorry, I didn't crop in PS or brighten it up a bit so you could see the lovely colors....not really conventional colors for an infants' jacket and socks, but that is what I like about it.

[lisilk]

OMG~ how cute is that. I LOVE those colors Pamela!

[Rose Queen]

Adorable, Pamela! Cyndi needs that pattern, y'know? ;) Does the Fassett yarn go from one color to another or did you have to keep changing yarns?

[beebluefern]

Thanks Li and Diana! Regia has some really nice colorways, but this one is my favorite...if I am not mistaken, it is called Flame...just off the top of my head, without getting up and going to my studio to look for the wrapper.
This is a self striping yarn so it was straight knitting, no color changes....an impressive look with zero effort! (Yaaaahoooo for self striping yarns!)

[gingerjane]

:wave: Hi everyone! I'm Ginger Rohlfs and even though I work for North Light Books, I'm also a crafting enthusiast. I'm a papercrafter by trade but I am really starting to get interested in fiber arts and am seeing so much inspiration here that I might be dabbling in it before the end of the year!

I look forward to "meeting" everyone and learning some fun fiber arts techniques. (Plus providing some from our authors!)

Ginger

[beebluefern]

Hi Ginger....Pam here! Glad to have you on board!:wave:

[chatfieldstudios]

Hey Ginger! What kind of papercrafts?

One thing that I have always been interested in, but only have a vague idea how to carry off, is bobbin work.

With some of the beautiful thicker threads you can load your bobbin and stitch on the back, which puts the decorative thread on the top of your fabric. Any good resources that you know of to learn the technique?

CindyH

[chatfieldstudios]

Pam, the sweater and socks are just precious! I love Kaffe Fasset's quilts, and didn't know that he also designed yarns. Such a creative person is he:)
And you:)

I love working with decorative threads on my sewing maching that are variegated. They work particulary well for thread painting, they add such
depth and variety.

Knit away!

[gingerjane]

Hey Ginger! What kind of papercrafts?

One thing that I have always been interested in, but only have a vague idea how to carry off, is bobbin work.

With some of the beautiful thicker threads you can load your bobbin and stitch on the back, which puts the decorative thread on the top of your fabric. Any good resources that you know of to learn the technique?

CindyH

Hi Cindy! :wave:

Actually - I like to scrapbook. But, not in a traditional sense. I prefer the more photo-journalistic style. Moments scrapbooking is perhaps the best way to describe it. I also like to alter things but I don't do that too often. I love photography which is why I think I'm drawn to the scrapbooking. But, I also like to do some digital stuff. I actually used to design a paper line.

I'm starting to venture out to needlefelting. I just REALLY like the ease of the craft and the cool stuff you can do with the roving.

I need to understand bobbin work. Sounds interesting. (This is coming from a girl that uses her sewing machine to stitch on paper!)

[beebluefern]

The man's a genius! I love just about everything he does with fiber! Have a look:
www.kaffefassett.com

[DesertDarlene]

Oh, yes, I've seen his books and articles all over. It's amazing what he can do!

[DrDebby]

Here's the interuption of the month. The quilt club does a "potholder" exchange 5 times a year. Tonight it the Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving theme. Here's what I'm bringing to exchange. Now, back to the pirate chest.

[Rose Queen]

Fabulous, Debby -- so simple and yet so effective! :thumbsup:

[kordelia]

throw me a lifeline... tie me down... i am being totally blown away!!! i've been here how long, and never knew this forum existed!!!!!!! ... ach, the nostalgia... i recently came upon some pictures of my one BIG HUGE needlepunch project from long ago, and never had anyone to show it to, anyone that would be remotely interested, that is...
i worked for a gal in Illinois while i was going thru my divorce-time, and we took on any project anyone laid on us (studio kind, mostly graphics)... a proud father of a future Eagle Scout approached us to do a banner for the night of his son's 'induction' or whatever they call it... .... we found the appropriate Eagle, transferred it (i keep saying 'we'... i did the thing, she made it into a banner) to the reverse of a heavy steel-blue-gray upholstery fabric, i set it into my small portable quilt frame, set up about a hundred balls of browns & golds & white embroidery threads, and needlepunched that sucker in about 2 weeks!!!! i had the small Russian brand brass/silver punch i'd gotten at a quilt show and THOROUGHLY enjoyed the whole process.... here's the WIP, if the pix come out, they're mighty small.... (see the skinny brown haired Nonny!)... see how NEATLY i kept my work area!!!! (surprises even me) .... i have 8 pictures, so wait to see the finished product .... :wave:

[kordelia]

the last three.... finished... it was lovely, i have to admit!!! never got a pic of it actually hanging tho... they put the tribe # someplace on it (not tribe, but you know what i mean....).... :p i think faithful cat put in as many hours as i did... ... thanks for looking!!! kor
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2007/22002-eagle_8.jpg

[lisilk]

Debbie- Love the colors in that!

Nonny- Don't feel bad.:cat: We just started the forum last month so we are brand spankin' new.

Welcome! Wow- what a labor of love! That eagle is stunning! The size is stunning!:eek:

Li

[kordelia]

i just stumbled upon this site an hour ago... i've read the first page, then got hooked on the link "You knitted what??" by Queen Rose.. and after putting that in with a thousand other favorites, posted a thread already in Oct projects and decided to 'sign in' and read the other pages another time... i ..am...so...excited!!!! I am Nonny Kordelia from WDE mostly, so aside from pastels and c/pencils, i keep trying to narrow my 'other' things down to crochet, pretend weaving, and jewellery from these two... i've retired from quilting, but as we know, once there, you can never take the fabric out of the girl.... (i know, i know, but you know what i mean!) i am totally nuts about texture and Quilting Arts magazine... it roils my guts about 6 times a year... otherwise, i'm a peaceful, pastel dusty Nonny, as Li can attest. One of my favorite signs on my wall is: Please do not write in the dust.... :wave: Kor

[Rose Queen]

Welcome, Kordelia, from those other forums!

[Rose Queen]

Wowser, Kordelia! :thumbsup:

Yes, Fiber Arts is fresh out of the box -- we barely have a page and a half of posts so far, but as you can see, we got talent to burn here!

[Shirley C.]

li, i just love batiks - and yours are really yummy!! i bought some batik fabric recently to use as linings for my bags, but they don't hold a candle to your work. (no pun intended - i just realized what i said... :rolleyes: )

darlene, nice coverlets. looks like a bunch of work here!

cindy, your thread paintings are beautiful! do you baste the layers before machine stitching?

mikatana, your post made me laugh. :D i love your socks, all the way down to the mismatched little toes. hope your ankle heals soon! (ankle heals? ankle heels? ... i think i just had too much caffeine at starbucks ...)

pamela, what a wonderful thing to do for those traumatized children. your teddy outfits are terrific - i especially like the red cables with white stripe. and once again, your socks rock. about the jacket and socks set - i absolutely LOVE those colors! c'mon, infants need to be introduced to billions of colors at an early age, yes? :lol:

ok, carol - what TIME on june 8? bwaahaha! your panel is really lovely! wow, that's gonna be quite an impressive piece when you're done. that's 10 feet of beauty - how cool is that?! can't wait to see this progression.

debby, your potholder fits the theme perfectly! love the background fabric too - anyone who knows me out here knows that i'm a leaf freak... ;)

holy cow, nonny! i love seeing the WIP pix, and the result is just fabulous! 2 weeks? that's all? sheesh!! it's a wonderful piece of work!

well, after lurking and looking and drooling today, i thought i might contribute my little fiber projects to the mix. i am a total neophyte when it comes to crochet - i just taught myself from a few books recently because i was a vendor at a knit/crochet show. i was selling my glass beads and jewelry, and thought it might be a good idea to show how folks could use my beads in their projects. i never had the chance to line these bags, but i'll do that soon. i have another show coming up on november 10 & 11 in oakland so right now i'm focusing on beads. but i've gotten really addicted to this crochet thing. the pattern for the blue bag is from the book "Hooked Bags" by Margaret Hubert. with a lot more practice, i might be able to do it justice.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2007/10433-FunkyLittleBlueBag.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2007/10433-LittlePinkBag.jpg

[Tammie]

I love that eagle! Thanks for sharing. I used to do some needle punch. But nothing like that.

[Rose Queen]

Shirley, your work certainly doesn't mark you out as a neophyte -- these are great!

OK, this is for knitting beads into your work, but I bet you could adapt it to crochet: http://www.limenviolet.com/blog/?p=963

[lisilk]

Hi Shirley:wave: I remember your beads from the wearables forum. Those bags are gorgeous. LOVE that blue one! Pretty! If you can do that as a beginner, just imagine what you will be doing in a year or two. Had you done any crochet before? You give me hope.

[kordelia]

Shirley, those bags are just beautiful... love the beads on them too!!! those are yours?? complement perfectly.... kor

[DesertDarlene]

Wow, Shirley, love the bags! You guys are making me want to pull out my yarns and finish that coverlet.

[beebluefern]

Kor, what a great project finished and it looks fantastic. Wish you had been able to see it hung up for all the Scouts to see! You did a great job on it!!

Shirley, the bags are wonderful and I love the beads and colors!! Looks like you're pretty adept at crocheting to me!!! Beautiful!!!

[chatfieldstudios]

Kordelia, the eagle is beautiful...I can't believe you accomplished that in two weeks. It does look like so much fun!

Shirley, love the crocheted purses with beads. I wish I could teach myself to crochet and come up with something as lovely as these. Thank you for the
comments on my thread painting. I don't baste the fabric down, but I do fuse it down to a muslin base. Makes the stitching much easier.

Debby, such a cute potholder and right in season:D

I love seeing everyone's projects....please keep sharing:wave:

[Maureen Grantham]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Oct-2007/46787-A_Fragile_Landscape.jpg Photos of my latest work. Hand embroidery and beading on hand made fabric paper.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Oct-2007/46787-A_Fragile_Landscape_closeup.jpg

[Maureen Grantham]

Kordelia, I love the eagle. What sort of work is it and what techniques did you use?

[lisilk]

Maureen~ Welcome! Oh boy, that looks fun! ( And like something I'd want to continuously touch!) Perhaps you can do a demo for us sometime?

Li

[Maureen Grantham]

Yes, I could do a demo.

[Maureen Grantham]

This time tissue fabric and paper beads with wrapped cord

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Oct-2007/46787-Journal.jpg

[lisilk]

Cool! Go ahead and start your own thread when you are ready to demo for us.

Is that a book cover? I love how tactile your work is.

[Rose Queen]

Maureen, we're so lucky such a multi-faceted artist as you has joined us here!

[chatfieldstudios]

My sentiments exactly!:)
Maureen, we're so lucky such a multi-faceted artist as you has joined us here!

[beebluefern]

Kor, I'm a fugitive from several of the other forums myself..WDE included, so it's great to have you here! I think I'll be staying at this one as my first love is fiberarts. Looking foreward to seeing more of your work...the Eagle is gorgeous by the way!

[greyart]

Wow, the detail lines on the bridge must have been challenging....what was the most challenging part of this for you?

It's really wonderful, and I look forward to seeing it all put together with the other panels:thumbsup:

The bridge was on of the easiest parts. Few color changes so it went fast. The people were slow going, I had to keep rethreading for the small areas of different colors.

The Eagle punchneedle was beautiful! Was that a gripper frame?
Carol

[Shirley C.]

thanks for all the nice comments about my crochet bags!

diana, thanks for that link! i've got a whole book on crocheting with beads - one of these days i'm going to try it.

li, i used to crochet a bit when i was in my early teens. my mom's been crocheting for half a billion years, and she taught me the basics way back then. but i hadn't done it since high school. it didn't come back to me the way that riding a bicycle does. and yes, there's definitely hope! LOL!

i've gotta tell you, though, the very first thing i crocheted, as i was trying to teach myself, was supposed to be a little bag crocheted in the round. my gauge consistancy was... well, it WASN'T. this was a project that i found in an issue of Belle Armoire - it gave me the urge to try crochet again - and you use 2 - 3 strands of fibers together, changing one or two out for others every 2, 3, or 4 rows. i wasn't really paying much attention to the thickness of the fibers and after i had crocheted 20-some-odd rows, i stopped. the dang thing had the shape of a strapless Barbie dress! :o :rolleyes: so much for that project... but it taught me several things. the next bag i did was the little pink one in the picture above.

kor, yes, the beads are mine. i made them specifically for the bags.

maureen, i just want to reach into the monitor and touch your work! i find the blue piece particularly yummy.

[kordelia]

greyart... i dont know what a 'gripper' frame is... this is a small quilt table... it's like a card table (without the tabletop), and you set the fabric over, then tighten a 'frame' type thingy overtop... legs flip down and fits under a bed, for instance... which area of NC are you??? just noticed....

general question... was going to refer someone here, but we're not yet in the 'channels' above left... are we going to be??/ (notice the "we"....) anyway, without a link, how would i tell them to get here????:confused:

[lisilk]

the dang thing had the shape of a strapless Barbie dress! .:lol: :lol: bet that was cute Shirley!

Nonny- There are a bunch of new forum that WILL be added to the drop down menu. ( Another thing "they" are working on.) Otherwise, you can just find it in the town center here:http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/index.php

[Elannie]

Greetings! It wasn't that long ago that I was wondering why WC didn't have a fiber or textile arts forum ~ what a treat to get the newsletter today and find out that there finally is one! I usually hang out in Artwork from Life and the Oil Painting forums but am certain to be found here quite a bit now too!

So ~ I'm Lisa. I work nights as an RN, spend my days painting, knitting, spinning, sewing, quilting, etc. Have enjoyed working with fiber and textiles most of my life. I currently own 2 spinning wheels, a floor loom and boxes and bags of fleece, both fresh from the sheep as well as processed and dyed, more stacks of fabric than I know what to do with. Not to mention the pile of unfinished projects that somehow manages to accumulate!

At the moment, I'm in the process of spinning and knitting Christmas presents for my kids. Here is one of my handspun, handknitted scarves.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/29274-Sea_scarf_01_23Jun07.jpg

[taas]

I'm so thrilled to find this new forum at WC. What wonderful inspiring work. I am not a needleworker (lack of talent rather than inspiration) but may again take up the crochet hook that I haven't used for many many years. I do some needlefelting and once I have something that I can show, I will post it.
Cheers to all, and thanks for the pix and inspiration.:clap:

[lisilk]

Those are lovely Lisa! Beautiful dye colors too.:thumbsup:

Li

[ypr]

As a person who loves to sew and is addicted to fabric and threads, this is a forum that I look forward to reading since I also paint and many times combine the two. :thumbsup:

[Gloria Pike]

Hi! I'm Gloria, I'm 23, currently living in Wyoming.

I knit, do cross stitch and needlepoint, and make overly-elaborate friendship bracelets.

*waves*

[D.J.]

Hi everyone,

I'm usually checkin' out the watercolor forum, but noticed this new fiber forum. What a nice surprise!

I taught myself how to crochet a few years ago. Now I'm reading books on watercolor, and learning how to do that. I'm also a self taught photographer. I just realized that I seem to be a self learner!:lol:

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's fiber crafts!

[Nej]

I'm so excited to have this forum!

I'm Jen. I currently spin Sock Hop yarn for Crown Mountain Farms. I also weave on a backstrap loom, knit, and crochet. I have dabbled in many other fiber arts and would like to get into basket weaving next.

[Rose Queen]

Welcome, ypr, Gloria, Debi and Jen! We look forward to seeing your work -- pop into the October show-and-tell thread and show us what you've been working on, please! (I really want to see one of those "overly-elaborate friendship bracelets," Gloria ;) )

[Chloe_1]

:) Hi everyone!
My name is Mariette. I use the nickname Chloe_1 and people from the All Media Art Forum know me as Chloe_1
My creative flow is endless.. from painting, knitting, bookbinding(recently learned how to do the coptic stitch), and created this beautiful back to back journal and sketchbook. I am on my third one. I also enjoy jewellery making with semi precious gems, etc...., and room for more creative outlet when the opportunity arises:lol:
I go back and forth with different projects depending on my mood of the day.:p
Here are some projects I am working on.
The first is a a knotted openwork scarf done with superkid mohair and silk
This project requires a lot of patience:D
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2063.JPG
The second one is also a scarf done with Koigu wool
You can also use the wool for socks.
This pattern is called an Angel Pearl beaded scarf; but I am doing it without the beads.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2064.JPG
The third and fourth finished projects are felted purse I did. The olive green while travelling in New Brunswick.
The second was done here in Vancouver. It was more of an experiment; but turned out kind of unique looking:lol:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2065.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2060.JPG
Here is a to back journal and sketchbook using the coptic stitch. It has three covers, and the middle is the back for the two books:) http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2067.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2068.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2069.JPG
This is a simple little one which is just back to back, and an easier stitch to learn. Takes about 15 minutes.
Makes nice little gifts for friends and family.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/68155-IMG_2070.JPG

[beebluefern]

Well, I finally, finally have my computer up and running and PS working as it should!:clap: :clap: So, thought I would post a few of the knitted items I have finished recently. I've sold the pink angora sweater, today actually, but the others are in my stash of "for sale" or last minute gifts-whichever comes first. I like to knit ahead you know. The first is a capelet of brown Merino with a lace border...Adult Small. Next, a Toddler sized cap knit of Natural Homespun...made especially for me by WC's very own Celticheart(Carly)-from Wearables Forum...I am really missing you over here Carly!!! I still have more of this yarn to knit something deliciously warm for myself. Next is a pink Angora sweater that was commissioned by one of the parents of a student at my school. I can't wait to see Gaby in it!!! And last, but not least, a wee cap and mitts for a newborn...Merino Lace weight yarn.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/34609-cpltopen.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/34609-woolcaplt.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/34609-homespcap.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/34609-pnkang.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Oct-2007/34609-woolcapmits.jpg

[Rose Queen]

Oh, man, I wish it were cold enough here to wear one o' them capes!

[beebluefern]

:lol: We can't wear em here either!!!! But I loooooooove to knit them!!!

Mariette, I love your scarves and guess what????? I've just started (last night) a Feather and Fan scarf for my Mom for Christmas!!! This isn't a great pic and doesn't really do justice to the lovely yarn, which is a lace weight kettle dyed wool from www.handpaintedyarn.com (http://www.handpaintedyarn.com). It's actually very dark in color, almost a Black Cherry with bits of lighter burgundy...ya have to see it in person to appreciate it I guess.
Great to have more knitters and spinners here at this forum...I can already tell I am going to be learning a lot!!!!http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2007/34609-feathernfan.jpg

[Chloe_1]

Hi Bee!
Very pretty colors on the scarf, and the pattern is very nice.I was just looking at the selection on the link you posted.Great colors to chose from!
Love the color blend on the little jacket and socks also.


Very nice scarves and colors also Elannie!
I am sure the recipient will enjoy their present;-)))

Love your beautiful pillows LI!!!

Great job on the eagle Kordelia
Beautiful bags Shirley
That will certainly make a nice gift for someone DrDebbie

Your work looks very interesting Maureen

[D.J.]

Hi All! Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

Here is an afghan I've just completed (no specific patterns used)
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2007/92761-Entrelac_Afghan.jpg

It's Tunisian Entrelac Crochet, done in shades of brown and tans, with red and black. Yarns used were Bernat Soft Boucle and Softee Chunky, LB Suede and Homespun, and Yarn Bee's Brushed Boucle.

Next is the throw I've also just finished
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2007/92761-Brown_Textured_Afghan.jpg

This is single crochet with large hook, done in browns and blacks of different textured yarns. Yarns used: Bernat Soft Boucle, Boa Furs and Softee Chunky, Patons Carmen, Bohemian and Brilliant, LB Homespun, Fun fur and Suede. Oh so soft!

Thanks for looking!

[Rose Queen]

Ah, the crispy weather coming up (well, not in Southern California, but you know what I mean... :lol: ) makes those throws look especially inviting, Debi! :thumbsup:

[lisilk]

D.J.~ The weather is just turning here. ( In the 30's last week already.) Those look so comfy warm!

[D.J.]

Thanks ladies! The top afghan is especially thick and warm, with close stitches. Will certainly be nice for these southwest Virginia winters.:)

[SydneyH]

I finally unloaded the pictures from my camera so I thought I would show some of the things I've been working on. First up is a lace stole that I'm hoping to finish before Christmas as a gift. It's about halfway finished. It will look a lot better once it's completed and blocked. The pattern can be found here.
http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/2005/02/pink-lemon-twist-patterns.html

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/77578-lacestole-21oct07.jpg

I'm also spinning up a little fiber that I had laying around. I like the colors in this fiber. I don't know what breed of sheep it came from but it's been very easy to spin.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/77578-spinning-21oct07.jpg

Finally I've been learning to needle felt. These are some of small pieces I've done so far. I'm still working on the sun face and they all need some finishing. The animal is supposed to be a ferret (we have ferrets) and is somewhat poseable.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/77578-needlefelt-21oct07.jpg

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

[D.J.]

Great looking projects, Sydney. I especially like that fiber!!!

[lisilk]

Sydney_ that yarn color is lovely but OMG~ how sweet are those animals?:clap: :clap: I love the ferret.

Someone really needs to do a felt wip/demo!

Li

[beebluefern]

Debi, your afghans are really lovely! Especially like the brown one...it looks touchable!
Sydney, the yarn is gorgeous!!! Hope you'll be able to get something nice from it!
Thanks for the link to the lace shawl. I have it bookmarked for later. Have some lace weight kettle dyed yarn in a gorgeous moss green that I might use for some lace such as that! Yours is just exquisite!!!

[beebluefern]

I was going to post some pics but doesn't look like it's going to work for me! :(
Ok, now it is working. The first three are of the Ruffled Fichu from the most recent Knitter Mag. I'm a little more than halfway through with the body of the shawl and working on the decrease side. Once the decrease is complete (down to two stitches) then I will pick up the ruffled border on the live stitches on the edge. The yarn is 2 strands of Alpaca laceweight from Knit Picks.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/34609-closeupfichu.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/34609-fichu2.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/34609-fichu3.jpg

The next one is from Knitters Magazine books Shawls and Scarves and is the Shetland Shawl pattern. Working in Olive Green hand painted Merino lace weight. It is nicely crunchy soft!! I've completed the center square which is garter stitch worked from increases and then decreased leaving live stitches on the edges to be picked up for the borders. I've finished the center square and have just started the first border. This particular shawl has mitered corners on the borders, which is a departure from the classic Shetland Shawl, which has borders but they are not mitered to "square out" the shawl. I liked it with because it just seems tidier!
I'm knitting these off and on and don't really have a deadline or destination for them. I'll work on them as I can, but they're mostly mindless knitting as the patterns in the borders are fairly easy to memorize.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2007/34609-shetland.jpg

[Delta Moon]

Good morning! A quick introduction before I get back to reading everything. I'm an art quilter in Mississippi and I'm thrilled to have found this forum. Most of my work involves a music theme in some way, or something traditionally Southern. I don't work from patterns and I paint and dye and stain a lot of my own fabrics. Like most other crafters, I dabble in lots more than just quilting too.
You can see some of my work on my blog until I get familiar with the forum here and post some of my stuff.
http://artofquilts.blogspot.com/
The first one has been named "Dixieland Journey" and I finished it up this morning. I'll try to get a good picture of it at the reception tonight.
Delta

p.s. And then I promptly put this in the wrong thread. Oh well, I'll learn!

[beebluefern]

Welcome Delta...I took a peek at your blog and you have some really beautiful work in there!!!! Hope you'll be posting some pics here at WC...the quilted bags are :thumbsup:
A Southerner myself, I appreciate your incorporating the Southern heritage in your work. It really is lovely! Looking foreward to seeing your posts!

[Delta Moon]

In the right thread this time! The reception went well last night, and the feedback from the public was good to have. Lots of interest in the beaded stuff (it finally dawned on me to actually WEAR some of it!) so I'm thinking I might need a lot more finished before the big show at the end of the month.
The quilts, from the top, are: "Dixieland Journey" then "Gye Nyame" on the left, and "Mardi Party" and "In the Ghetto" on the right. I'm also wearing a vest I made with a beaded clasp and you can't see it, but I'm wearing one of the beaded purses too. And the wine. An important accessory to an open-to-the-public art reception. Maybe that's why I look so confused?
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2007/120067-reception.jpg

[chatfieldstudios]

Delta, thanks for the pictures! Your quilts look lovely....and I absolutely love
your vest that you're wearing.

Was it a group quilt show or a one woman show? I can't believe you made
your rack in a couple of hours or less.

[lisilk]

Stunning quilt work Delta!

[Rose Queen]

You don't look confused to me; you look like an artist who might be a little tired from building a quilt rack moments before the show! Beautiful work, too :thumbsup:

[SydneyH]

Thanks everyone.

Delta your quilts are gorgeous!

[Delta Moon]

Thank you everyone! I'm one of the fortunate ones who gets to get up in the morning and do exactly what I love all day long (with breaks for naps, of course) any way I want to do it. I'm finally spending some time getting my work out there and marketing it locally instead of depending on word of mouth so I'm getting progressively busier. <--- NOT a complaint, mind you, just a comment on the state of things. The whole marketing thing is a struggle though, and takes up WAAY more time that I expected. Oh well, I guess there will always be some aspects of our jobs that are worse than others.

[greyart]

Quilt table, I hadn't heard of that. gripper frames are for rug hooking and punching. It has metal "teeth" around the edges to grip the fabric. I am trying to come up with something to hold a 2x3 or bigger fabric I want to make into a hooked rug.

And I'm in northern NC, north of Greensboro.

Carol M

greyart... i dont know what a 'gripper' frame is... this is a small quilt table... it's like a card table (without the tabletop), and you set the fabric over, then tighten a 'frame' type thingy overtop... legs flip down and fits under a bed, for instance... which area of NC are you??? just noticed....

general question... was going to refer someone here, but we're not yet in the 'channels' above left... are we going to be??/ (notice the "we"....) anyway, without a link, how would i tell them to get here????:confused:

[Delta Moon]

I'm working on a 2'x3' hooked rug right now that I have in a simple floor quilting frame. The frame is smaller than the rug, but it's an adjustable one so I just move the rug as needed when working on it. The gripper frames can be much smaller than the actual size too, since the only concern is the work space. The rug hook shop owner here uses a 1.5'x1.5' gripper frame for almost everything she does, no matter how large.

[idesign]

hello everyone-- there are some truly fun pieces I have seen so far which helped me decide this is the blog for me. I paint, ribbon embroider, bead, crochet, knit, needle felt and generally create to explore color and texture. I take old jewelry apart, shrink sweaters and even unravel sweaters to use in my art items.

One of my favorite things to do is go to thrift stores to look for interesting objects. I use 100% wool sweaters to shrink to produce felt. It is always a surprise to see how much they or don’t shrink. Some adult sweaters shrink to teddy bear size, which always makes me laugh.

I created this hat with freeform crochethttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Oct-2007/88427-DSC00007.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Oct-2007/88427-DSC00012.jpg

I love mixing new and vintage to construct hand crafted wearable art that is unique and decorative.
mixes new and vintage to construct hand crafted wearable art that is unique and decorative.

shrunken sweater tea cozyhttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Oct-2007/88427-DSC00029.jpg

[Rose Queen]

Great hat and tea-cosy, idesign! :thumbsup:

[beebluefern]

idesign, I love your hat and the tea cosy too! I've been meaning to get to the thrift store to snag some 100% woolens, although we don't really have a whole lot of that around here-weather is just too warm most of the time, but occasionally I have seen some really great sweaters that would felt like a charm and could be recycled into object d'art.:D :thumbsup:
The crochet hat is just great-your color and your mix of yarns is inspirational!:clap:

[beebluefern]

Well, here is something very boring, but I did knit it last night...1/2 of a pair of socks for my little granddaughter Shannen. The other one is just getting cast on and will be finished shortly...http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Oct-2007/34609-bluesock.jpg

[lisilk]

idesign~ Love that green hat! How fun is that!

Pamela~ precious!

I'm afraid all I've been doing lately are acrylics and pastels. Hope to get some silk frames made soon.:rolleyes:

Li

[idesign]

I never thought about the weather in omaha being a positive -- it can get to over 100 with high humidity in the summer, below zero in the winter and it is always windy. I will now be thankful of our winters because I have been able to find a number of fun 100% wool sweaters that I might never have found in southern states. In fact I have 4 large plastic containers full of shrunken sweaters.... it really is fun shrinking them.

Cell phone holder http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Oct-2007/88427-CELLphoneSweater.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Oct-2007/88427-grey-CellPHONEpouch.jpgidesign, I love your hat and the tea cosy too! I've been meaning to get to the thrift store to snag some 100% woolens, although we don't really have a whole lot of that around here-weather is just too warm most of the time, but occasionally I have seen some really great sweaters that would felt like a charm and could be recycled into object d'art.:D :thumbsup:
The crochet hat is just great-your color and your mix of yarns is inspirational!:clap:

[Shirley C.]

... I created this hat with freeform crochethttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Oct-2007/88427-DSC00007.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Oct-2007/88427-DSC00012.jpg

dalhia, i love that hat!! i SO want to try freeform crochet - it caught my eye the first time i tripped over it on the internet and after having been a vendor at the knit & crochet show here in oakland a month ago where i visited the booth of the international freeform crochet guild, i knew that was a direction in which i wanted to go. here's a link to a blurb about their booth with margaret hubert and myra wood taking their turn behind the table - i just recently tripped across this as well. click on the picture to enlarge it - the piece hanging behind them was absolutely mind-boggling!

International Free Form Crochet Guild Booth (http://camanomade.wordpress.com/2007/10/04/myramargaret1/)

i'm looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[beebluefern]

Thanks for the link Shirley! I've been interested in freeform knitting as well and found some books at Amazon. I think there is a link to freeform in the link thread here also. I'll say it again...that is one fabulous hat!!!

[Artista:)]

Hello everybody!, my name is Sikiu. I don't use fiber very often but I'm happy to show one piece I made with Russian Needlepunch. I posted this picture before in the framing forum because I wasn't sure how to frame it.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Oct-2007/99740-2025071440082306599vUOVrm_fs.jpg
2 feet x 1

[lisilk]

Sikiu~ I love that! Great modern design.

idesgn~ Lovely purse and phone holder. You have me laughing at all the shrunken sweaters! I've had a few!

Li

[idesign]

Thanks so much for the freeform crochet link --- I did not realize it was so popular -- It it great seeing what others do with it.

Thanks again

[RuthT]

I love your figure design sikiu. A beautiful arrangement of shapes and great placing of colours.

[chatfieldstudios]

ooooh! I said it before, but it bears repeating...such talent we are gathering in this forum.:thumbsup:

[Artista:)]

Thank you!, well this is the only one I have so far. I really need time to finish one but I already bought more yarn :cool: