Work In Progress - Autumn Blanket

Today is great blanket making weather as it is unusually cool and overcast. I've been working on a new one for a few days now.  The picture is a small scale test which I usually put together to see how the different wools will work together and to try out thread colors. I was going to use a 5.5" square template. However, you can't assume that what works well in the tester will scale up as nicely.  This is one of those cases. 

The colors are alive - wheat, gold, orange and red balanced by heather green and a rich navy for contrast.  My plan was to keep it simple and let the colors carry the day.  So I started laying it out - a random pattern of 5.5s  and a few large 11 inch squares interlocked with some rectangular pieces.  It didn't work, it was horrible.  No matter how I moved the squares around it didn't have the energy I was looking for - instead it just looked busy.  Such frustration. Why doesn't this work?  I love these colors!  I took several pictures, which I recommend you try doing to evaluate any visual medium as it helps frame the work allowing you to look at it more objectively.  The squares were too small and some of the lighter colors were dragging all the energy out of it.  What if I made larger squares by sewing the smaller squares of the same color together?

Would that give it some texture from the seams and the color blocking I was looking for?  I opted for the larger squares and fewer colors and began sewing.  Next problem; one of the colors  didn't have enough material to get the number of squares I needed.  Here's where the fun begins because you have to come up with ways to make it work with the materials you have.  So, I decided to create a new square, a black and white one that I would sew from other scraps and punctuate the blanket with 3 or 4 of these.  They would create some energy and fill in where I was lacking material.

This is working out pretty well but I'm not quite there yet so I'll give you a look in a day or two. 

Love Your Thrift Shops!

Labor Day is always half price at the thrift shops so I made a point of making the rounds last Monday - and it was crazy.  Truly crazy.  Is it just Chicago or is this happening all over the country?  One store I waited in line for an hour to check out - I couldn't believe it either but people were in good spirits and well, I just did.  Mostly back to school shoppers so I was still able to buy quite a few sweaters but it's a little early for wool yet soooo....well...   One of the problems (?) with this hobby is that I really do need to frequent the thrift shops to build up stock  and most of the time I'm very focused on just sweaters.  BUT until we get some cooler weather they hold back the wool sweaters so I drift to other racks and, yes you guessed it, walk out with my share of goodies.

Pants are always a challenge for me so I wore a loose jersey dress and was able to slip pants on and off easily - 5 pairs came home with me - fall cords and wide legs as well as some silk palazzos.  Also tagging along were three short jackets to wear with my new pants - two with Hong Kong finished seams -  several colorful scarves and three pairs of shoes.  The shoes needed a little love so I polished them and slipped in shoe trees and they look a smash. Add the 13 sweaters and my total bill was $34.  Ha!

But I digress...

I'm sure I have 30 or 40 sweaters (in addition to my already prepped stock) that I've been washing, cutting and sorting in to color pools for days.  It might sound tedious but that's how I really get a sense of the textures and possible combinations.  Also I just love the feel of the sweaters after they have been felted - they are sooooo soft.  And the colors are fabulous - some gorgeous golds and rich browns, subtle taupes and oatmeal, brilliant turquoise, eggplant,  and lots of red.  This picture is all merino - a beautiful dark eggplant, ivory, brilliant red and rich black.  So tomorrow I will start laying out some ideas.  Maybe I will wear my new oxfords, just to put me in the mood for cooler weather.

September is for Sweaters

Big weekend coming up. The resale shops are finally putting our their wool sweaters. Sneaky though, buried among the cottons and acrylics. At the beginning of the season I can still be fooled by the acrylics; makes me mad, but come December I fly through racks, skimming the sleeves...Shetland, acrylic, cotton acrylic, merino!, angora, acrylic, lambswool angora/rabbit, cashmere! 

If you have ever accidentally shrunk a wool sweater then you have 'felted' it. Time to give it to your younger sister or granddaughter...OR you can 'upcycle' it into a little purse. I carried this inside a larger purse and it was always a pleasure to reach in and touch this soft little clutch - especially in colder weather.  The ribbed body is the turtleneck portion of one sweater combined with bits of two others. Simple, simple, simple.