Circus Blanket - Finished!

Finito! It's such a great feeling to finish each blanket. The colors are just so vibrant, which is why I named it Circus - it's just fun.

If you would like to see more pictures hike on over to my etsy shop at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chicagowillie

There is another one almost finished so don't stay away too long.

Blanket Felting Lesson #3 - Developing a Design

This is the best and the worse part of the process for me.  I can't tell you how many times I have had an idea in my head, cut up the pieces, laid them out and the result is terrible, or I don't have enough material to make the idea work.  Aagh! 

I've gotten a little better at this now and figured out ways around some problems, but designing something that really sings and holds my interest is very challenging.  Likewise I have found that I can't really do commission work.  If I try to create something for somebody and I know their tastes it's almost impossible for me.  Apparently I have to do it my way and hope they like it.

The most common pattern is the patchwork square.  It allows you the greatest flexibility. However, just because it's a basic pattern doesn't mean you just let the squares fall where they may and stitch them up.  Lay them out and then start moving them around to get a design that you love, keeping in mind that you may want to embellish it with banding or fringe or any number of decorative enhancements once the squares are stitched.  These are some of the first blankets I made based on the patchwork pattern and I still like them. 

The biggest challenge is that each sweater only yields a few squares so you have to employ 4-5 colors/sweaters.  This is where blacks and grays come in handy.  You can usually find multiple sweaters that will color match and even find the same texture.  A black or gray merino or lambswool sweater is fairly common. 

TIP: Rib knits can be a bit challenging as the ribs want to spread out under the presser foot and that can result in wavy seams.  This is where tightly felted material helps.

Also, try to keep similar thicknesses together or you'll find that they will stitch up unevenly.  

As I became a little more confident with my sewing I started having a bit more fun with the designs.  This isn't the best picture, but this little blanket always struck me as being perfect for a skier.  It was all lambswool and very soft, but had bold character.

You will notice that I often use black and white, gray and white, high contrast patterns.  This is a running theme in my aesthetic choices.  I don't know where it comes from but it is always there. You will find your own voice.

Thread color can either disappear or make a bold statement.  When I first started the stitch I used was very tight and created almost an embossed affect. It also took forever to sew, but it was lovely.

In the next lesson we'll move on to the actual sewing process and then come back to some other design techniques.  Enjoy!

Blanket Felting Lesson #1 - Choosing the Sweaters

If you haven't already read the post on Supplies and Materials I suggest you do so before you start, but otherwise let's talk about what sweaters to use and where to find them.

Start with your own closet.  We all have sweaters that don't get worn because they have little moth holes in them but we can't bring ourselves to throw out.  these are perfect as long as they are wool.  Ask family and friends to donate their castoffs.  

You might consider making what I call a heritage blanket using recognizable sweaters from family members or friends.  This blanket was made using several of my fathers sweaters which I find comforting.

Otherwise, start in the men's department of your local resale or Salvation Army store.  The sweaters are going to shrink substantially so XXLs are great! Good old crew necks, v-necks and turtlenecks will provide the most material.  If you want a blanket of some size then stay clear of sweaters with zippers and other details unless you can incorporate them in to your design. 

In Chicago sweaters run between $2.00 and $4.00 each but I usually buy them at half price unless they're huge and a killer color.  A little warning here as it is very tempting to buy lots of different colors only to find that they don't work well together; and try to collect sweaters of similar weight so the sewing is easier. I tend to buy solids but, you may prefer to work with stripes or other patterns so don't let my style influence you; I've seen gorgeous blankets made using all sorts of patterns. 

Most important of all you want 100% wool. My personal favorites are merino and lambswool as they both felt consistently and are made even softer in the felting process.  It is getting harder and harder to find pure wool though as many of the manufacturers are adding nylon and other synthetic fibers and they just don't felt properly so read tags carefully.  Having said that, SOME of the blends will prove me wrong and shrink fine, but for the first time stick with pure wool.  Check the cleaning instructions as well because some of the wools are washable now and that won't work either.  I've had some trouble with the really lightweight merino used in men's collared sweaters and am not sure why, but for the most part these are really good choices.

Try to collect about ten sweaters.  This will give you flexibility if something doesn't felt down and you'll still have enough to get started.  Lastly on color selection; neutral colors are your friends - gray, oatmeal, taupe, black.  I almost always buy them when I see them as they help fill out the design.  Remember you are limited by the color selection available.  I happen to enjoy this challenge, but I also have a large stock of sweaters.

Timing is somewhat important as many of the resale shops pull their wool sweaters May 1 and don't put them out again until October 1.  So, if this becomes a hobby for you buy your sweaters in the next six months so you have stock come next September.

The other challenge is that I always get the sweaters home and find that the burgundy cashmere would look great on my husband or the spring green lambswool cardigan is just what I was looking for - so be prepared to lose a few to your closets.  I've got to believe that most of us who do this are scavengers at heart and can't pass up a good deal.

Lesson #2 will be about washing and cutting up the sweaters.

Autumn Racer Blanket - Finished!

Here we go!  It sewed up rather quickly I'm happy to say.  Has a lively active feeling.  The wools are both ribbed and flat, merino and lambswool. The size is roughly 42 x 53 inches - just right to wrap yourself in. 

See the slide show in the sidebar or etsy.com for more pics. I already have another one on the table - more of a shawl/wrap so stay tuned.

Work In Progress 2 - Autumn Blanket

What do you think?  Not sewn together yet as I need to trim some of the squares and then I'm ready to start.  Note that I added a narrow bright blue strip to both ends of the blanket.  The table is 4'x8' to give you some idea of the size.

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.