Links to Free Knitting Patterns

Knitting Pattern Central is a wonderful site that links to hundreds of free knitting patterns. They are nicely categorized so you can look for something specific. Below is a link to the gloves, mittens and wristlet page: http://knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/mittens_gloves.php

Here is a cute pattern for cable wrist warmers that I found through Knitting Pattern Central: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60157AD.html

Vickie Howell has an interesting pattern for wrist warmers that looks like it might be easy: http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2007/04/hand-like-hole-free-pattern-of-month.html

And one more pattern I found that I think is very pretty: http://susaninstitches.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-pattern.html

There are many, many more at the Knitting Pattern Central website! Enjoy!

Knitted Wristlets

Here is a pair of knitted wristlets I made for a friend. The cuff can be turned up and buttoned above the thumb for more warmth. Don't need these much in Tucson!

Blue Felt Vessel

Here is another felted vessel. This one was felted over a "gertie ball", which is blown up, covered with silk "caps", wool, yarn embellishment, then all is covered with 3 pantyhose tops (pulled over the ball in three directions), and then felted. Very fun! I'll be teaching this at the Telarana Weavers and Spinners Guild in Mesa, Arizona next January. The same technique can be used to make felted hats or bags.

Felted Vessels

I've been having fun making felted vessels. This one was made over a pool noodle to create the long, narrow shape. I used merino-silk, mohair locks and pencil roving for embellishment.
To obtain the flat bottom, I shaped it over a can of Progresso soup! Whatever is handy!

Eloise's Nuno Felted Shawl

Eloise sent photos of her dry shawl. They look much better dry! I love the detail photo, it shows the way the felted wool manipulates the texture of the silk scarf. The colors are really pretty.
























Is anyone interested in getting together to do some bead embellishment on our nuno felted shawls and shrugs?

Nuno Felted Wet Shawls!

Once the wool roving starts to felt and push through the silk scarf (after rolling about 600 times), it can be taken off the roll and gently tossed onto the table. Here Mary and Jackie toss the shawls. When the shawl really starts to felt, you can start throwing it more forcefully on the table. A short warm up in the microwave, in a plastic bag, also helps the felting process.

Elizabeth tries on her very wet shawl!

Looks good!

Purples and blues were popular color choices. Here, Eloise tries on her wet shawl.

Mary chose a 'spring palette' for her nuno felted shawl:

Dana models her 'western' themed shawl:

These are my kind of colors! Mary modeling her hot pinks and orange wet shawl:

Eva's finished, but still wet, nuno felted shawl:

Victoria's variegated reds came out beautifully!:

A special thank you to Cathy, who helped to find a location for Carolyn's nuno felting class and who took ALL the photos in class. This photo was taken a week later at Cathy's ranch, and so far it's the only dry shawl we have seen!

They look a lot different when they are dry. The ruching and puckering are more obvious. We can't wait to see all of them dry and embellished with beads, sequins, buttons, etc. Thanks to everyone who came to the workshop, you were really fun to work with!

Nuno Workshop cont'd

Wool roving holds the mohair locks, ribbons, yarn & thread embellishments in place during the felting process. Eva's shawl is ready for felting.
Dana's artful arrangment of roving and embellishments:
Dana applying warm, soapy water to the felt 'sandwich' of bubble wrap, silk scarf & roving, and a top layer of bridal veil netting to hold the roving and embellishments in place:
After wetting the sandwich with soapy water, it is rolled up slowly and fastened with two nylon stockings. Then the rolling process begins. Roll it 200 times, back and forth. Open and check to see how the felting process is going. Roll it up again, and repeat back and forth rolling another 200 times. Repeat as necessary until you can see that the roving has migrated through to the back side of the silk scarf and the roving on the front has started to shrink and felt. Below, Jackie and Janet rolling, rolling, rolling.......
Janet checks the progress of her nuno felted shawl, below.

Next post.....workshop participants modeling their wet nuno felted shawls!