Making a Statement

 A couple of days ago I took the online "Make a Statement" class taught by Gwen Lafleur. It was a mixed media class and besides basic jewelry/beading methods it also went into layering and using special mediums like embossing ink. I haven't yet gotten to Michaels in the next community, so I worked with what I had on hand.

The central medallion is one that I embroidered last June. I also made the tubular Inkle band at that time and put it together in a simple pendant style. Unfortunately it had a tendency to spin when worn and often showed the backside rather than the front. The problem was the way I had attached it  top and bottom from only one central point.

Now that it has beaded additions and is attached to the Inkle band on both sides it will stay put. 

Gwen Lafleur seemed to refer to "statement" as something containing a personal affirmation note. I would be more inclined to define statement jewelry they way Brittany's Fine Jewelry does in this quote:

"Statement jewelry allows both men and women to express themselves and their personality through jewelry. Statement jewelry is unique and bold and helps the wearer portray who they are through their outward appearance." 

When I portray who I am through my outward appearance I like to be seen as creative, unique, and a truly "one of a kind" fibre artist. I think this piece of wearable art says that quite nicely.

Blunder Overcome

I've been looking for, a black cardigan for years. It's not that there aren't plenty of black cardigans out there, it's just that not one fitted my criteria. I want a long-ish one that buttons up. Most don't have closures at all and that drives me crazy because the open fronts flap against my arms when I walk. With the year long project of the long, long "My Year In Temperatures Scarf" finally done (more on that in a future blog post), I finally have the time and space to start another large project.

Enter the black Roosevelt Cardigan. Although a plain black cardigan would have been okay, this one, with its intricate cable pattern and shaped pockets, will be so much more challenging and fun to knit.

Of course the potential for mistakes is much higher too! See that wonky bit right there?

That's a mis-crossed cable and I didn't spot it until I had knit at least another 20 rows. I knew the error would drive me crazy so I resolved to carefully drop just those 4 stitches down until I could correct the mistake and ladder them back up again.

It's actually a 6 stitch cable but I only had to drop down 4 stitches since there was a decrease right above this particular cable crossing which reduced the stitch count by 2. I'm so glad I remembered that before I dropped all 6 stitches down!

With a white paper towel inserted into the sleeve it was much easier to see what I was doing. I used a double pointed needle and a cable needle to recross the cable in the proper direction.

From there I used a crochet hook to pull the "working yarn" from each row back through each stitch and onto the crochet hook, all 4 dropped stitches in a row, before transferring them back to the double pointed needle and moving up to the next higher unravelled strand of working yarn. 

The transfer back to a double pointed needle each time was necessary so the hook would be facing in a convenient direction (try it, you'll see what I mean) and to take a twist out of the individual stitches. 

It wasn't long at all and I had all of the stitches laddered back up and onto the main needles. The laddered stitch furthest to left was loose, but I then took the time to work the excess yarn back into the 4 or 5 stitches to the right in each round.

Ta Da! Crisis averted and back to the knitting. I must say, I'm very pleased with the project so far. 

Pompom for the Finish

My CH60 Saori loom came with a 6m long black cotton warp. I wove it all off within a short time, mostly just as handwoven yardage to be used at some later date. 

For one section of the warp I used an unlabeled black bouclè yarn.

After seaming and then gathering the woven piece and creating a turned back a cuff, it went into my knitting basket were it lingered waiting for the addition of a hand knit, ribbed band.

Today a pompom that matches the ribbed band was added.

I quite like the look!

Staying With Cotton

I've decided to stick with lightweight mercerized cottons for this one. Of course who knows what I might be doing by the end of the 6m warp? That's the fun of Saori. No rules, no set in stone expectations, just a lot of relaxing weaving.

Revolving Birdies

Peter and Paul, the little guardians that prevent my warp from spreading, warned me this morning of a problem.

As I was beaming the warp I noticed that the little parrots were revolving around and around on their "perch". Wondering what was causing their unusual antics I investigated a little further and found that my back beam was so loose it was rotating. The beaming was put on hold while I rounded up a screw driver and gave the whole loom a tightening before proceeding. 

Back With Black

I've been rather uninspired for months. With many varied hobbies it was surprising that not one of them appealed to me throughout the winter. The last week or so I have gradually been feeling the reawakening of my Creative Muse and today felt inspired to wind a 6m long warp of 5/2 mercerized cotton.

I have a vague plan of it becoming some sort of Saori woven clothing.