Wild, Wild West

Billie, at Lucy's Sheep Camp, has issued another fiber challenge to anyone interested.  The theme is "Wild, Wild West."  Each contestant gets a bag with the same materials in it, which includes a piece of grey felt (8x8), hunks of red, blue, and yellow roving, two pieces of lace, a leather star, a gold horseshoe charm, a rusted gun shell casing, a plug nickle, and the words "Giddy-up" printed on a small piece of paper/fabric.  You can make anything you want to, but ALL the items must be used in some form or other. You can't leave anything out, but you can add other things.  So, I've been trying to get some inspiration...

I saw a great techinique for wet-felting, needle-felting, and machine stitching on a new blog I've started to follow: farmlass.blogspot.com.  I love what she did. Thanks, Kerry! You are so talented.

 So, I thought maybe I would give it a try with materials that I have, using the same basic colors in the challenge packet.  If it didn't work out, at least I wouldn't have ruined the project by experimenting!  Been down that road before....what could possibly go wrong?  Kind of like my attempts at cooking a new dish for company! 

Anyway, I should have taken a few more pictures, but...

I made two wet-felted pieces, which are sort of similar.  Here's one after it was wet-felted.

Then here's the other one after I machine stitched some "outlining" around the mountains and fence line.  And then I added some needle-felting to fill in where it needed some color, or where the lines of color were not quite right.  Finally, I added the cowgirl and her lasso which I needle felted separately, then attached to the background.  When  I do the "real thing," I may attach the finished piece to a larger square of felt, or perhaps to a barn-wood background.  I will need to ask my neighbor to help me build a framework for this out of my barn-wood planks, and I hope he can spare the time to do that. That's all rather "ify" at the moment.

Next, I need to consider where how I would incorporate star,  the gun shell, plug nickel, horseshoe, and printed words...so I've got a little more to think about!!  I might have to add a horse in the background.

Sock Hop

I have two socks on the needles, and I'm hopping from one to the other.  The blue (on size 5 needles) one must be finished soon, and the second one cast on.  But, when I need a little something different in my hands, I'll be picking up the rag socks (on size 3 needles).

Just 3 more inches on the foot, and I can start the toe.

Got to the heel flap!  I'm liking the striping of the yarn.

Rag Socks

I got this Patons Kroy Socks (Ragg Shades) Yarn for Christmas.  I decided to let the colors in the yarn do their striping thing while I did a simple ribbing.  I really like whats happening with the colors so far.  There's plenty of yarn (2 skeins), so I am planning to knit the leg about 8 inches long. I'm using size 3 needles.

Since my jewelry tools are out...

It was finally time to make the necklace I've been thinking about for months.  I bought the tourmaline string of rainbow gems nearly a year ago..waiting for the inspiration.  About a month ago, I purchased the tourmaline teardrop which I could make into a pendant.  Then I saw the right color and size of pearls I wanted to use...and now it's all come together. 

Cowl hunting...

I was Cowl hunting when I discovered this pattern :Wavy Rib Cowl.  I'm making it out of an acrylic yarn which is very soft, and I will be sending it to organization that is knitting for the homeless. So far,  I'm liking the way it looks, so I may make it again out of a luscious Alpaca or a wool/silk blend...

I'm 3/4 of the way through the pattern.

Beginner Sock Class

The first session of the beginner sock class went well.  It is so fun to help someone get started on a project they've wanted to try for years.  Such is the case with these knitters.  As I recorded in an earlier blog, we're knitting with worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles, so the work will go quickly and the tiny needles and yarn can be picked up for another pair "down the road." 

I'm using Encore yarn.

We got a good start on the leg/cuff, and their week's homework is to finish the desired length on the leg and knit the heel flap.  And when we get together on Thursday, I'll walk them through turning the heel and picking up stitches for the gusset.  Can't wait. 

I've got a little surprise.  Since I also make jewelry, I thought I'd make a pair of stitch markers for them.  In Galina Khmeleva's  lace knitting class, I learned that it can be helpful to have two different colored stitch markers when you are wanting to keep track of where you are ...green for "go" and red for "stop" ...which will translate into keep going after you've worked the first decrease on the gusset on Needle 1, and round 1 stops after working the 2nd decrease and finishing Needle 2. 

In lace work that looks the same on both sides, the red marker can mean RS (right side); green marker, WS.  Pretty handy tip.

Happy surprises and splashes of color...

My African Violets had bloomed, and I thought, "Well, that was nice while it lasted."  Then, most unexpectedly, I noticed more buds emerging, looking for a little sunlight for encouragement.  So, I'm looking forward to more blooms! That's never happened to me in mid-winter before.

This plant is a favorite of mine too.  I might have to call it my "bird plant," for when I give the plant water, the leaves lift right up, like the bird's wings preparing for flight.