Doggo Hood

Teddy doesn't like his "Doggo Hood", but he enthusiastically dons it since he knows it means some sort of food is on its way. 

With his very long ears that sweep through anything he bends down to eat or drink ---

-- it spares him from extra ear combing and baths.

And there is the added benefit that it makes everyone smile.

 Okay. Maybe people are laughing too, but the food still makes the humiliation worthwhile.

Pocca's Pointy Hat

Just finished today, but the developing pattern is still only in note form. Worked with one ply of 6 strand embroidery floss on 6-0 (0.75mm) needles.

Pocca still needs pants!

Welcoming a Wee Neighbour

We had a wee neighbour arrive a week or so ago, two and a half weeks before she was due.

It's time for me to deliver the little sweater set I made in anticipation of her arrival, though there is no fear of her growing out of the set before I have a chance to give the gift. 

It's a 12 month size, but it will likely be even longer than that before it fits.

The patterns are "Gingersnap Cardigan", and "Sweet and Simple Baby Hat" and I knit them in "Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted".

Buttons Can Wait

Since the pandemic has closed all stores in this area that sell a good variety of buttons, and my huge button jar has produced nothing acceptable, the baby cardigan I just finished will have to remain buttonless for at least a while yet. That's okay since the baby it was made for isn't scheduled to make an appearance until May and the cardigan is a one year size anyway.

The little hat I made to coordinate with it is finished too.

I based the hat on the "Tiny Tot" hat pattern by Kristen Rettig, but made changes to accomodate my yarn choice, gauge, and preferred size. 

I'm particularly proud of my seaming efforts.







And since I don't know the gender of the expected baby ---

--- I also made a set in blue, but on that one I accidentally sewed the striped sleeve to the striped front. Ah well, I don't think it really matters.

The little fellow I made a set for last June has now grown into it.

More Hats Than Heads

I always tease my baseball hat collecting son that he has far more hats than he has heads. Seems I'm getting that way myself. I'm now storing 4 hats on just 2 wicker heads.

After a lifetime of never wearing hats I've been told, in a roundabout way, that I must wear a hat when outdoors. Yes, in part it is for sun protection after a bit of a problem with a "precancerous lesion" that needed treatment, but mostly it has to do with my eyes. My eyes are very sensitive to the sun but if I wear polarized sunglasses I find that direct sunlight on the lenses makes it difficult to see anything! I have to have some sort of hat visor overhanging the sunglasses.

I've written before about the "Upcycled Hat" made of denim patches. That was the first one. It fit so well and worked so well for my purposes that I went on to sew the black velveteen one later on. It's great in the winter but rather hot when it's not chilly out. Then came the white one with denim trim. I don't think I blogged about that one? I was hoping it would be a bit cooler, but nope. I guess with my volume of hair any hat at all is HOT.

I've added yet another hat to my growing collection. The wildly patterned pink/orange/purple hat was sewn from a loosely woven cotton tablecloth I found on sale at Value Village for $3. It's a little cooler and lighter than the others.

All four are sewn using my go to pattern, the "Gardening Hat" from "Happy Hats and Cool Caps". At one time the book was available for 1 cent plus shipping but I see it has gone up in price.

Mild Lagenlook

I originally took this photo for a Lagenlook sewing forum I belong to. Most of the ladies there wear layer upon layer of things like bloomers, petticoats, slips, dresses, pinafores, shawls. I'm not comfortable with that level of foofy-ness and femininity. It looks great on them but it's just not my thing.

This is the sort of thing I wear on a day to day basis. It's more me. I don't concern myself with following a certain fashion aesthetic. I wear what I like and what I enjoy making. If I had to name it I'd say that I see it as toned down version of Lagenlook. It's more along the lines of Swedish Lagenlook. Layered, but not with the volume, length, or ruffles. 

If you're interested in the sources: The black cotton jersey 3/4 sleeve top was drafted and sewn by me but I started with the Jalie 2805 T-shirt and added width and an asymmetrical hem to the bottom.

Under that I'm wearing another self made top, this time of a polyester knit fabric and using Jalie 3245 Racerback Tunic as a pattern.

The hat was made using the "Gardening Hat" pattern from the book "Happy Hats and Cool Caps" but with scrunching added to the stand using the guidance for hat alterations in that same book. Great book if you need custom sized hats or want to sew hats to coordinate with your wardrobe.

Jeans and scarf both purchased long ago. Boots are vintage "Pillow Boots" by Cougar worn here for warmth, not fashion -- but I do like them enough that I went and had them repaired last year.

Upcycled Hat

A hat I like!

And it fits!

Other than the eyelets which I had to buy new, it's completely "upcycled" from old denim jeans.

I purposely left the edges exposed so that they would fray with repeated washing.

Did I mention that it FITS? I have a large head and can't buy ready made ladies hats. I made this one using the multi-sized "garden hat" pattern in the book, "Happy Hats and Cool Caps", which I picked up at "The Bookman", a used book store in town.

I'm very pleased with the end result. It is SO comfortable and provides protection from the glare of the sun on my long dog walks.

There may be others in the future. I'd like at least one more so I have something to wear when this one is in the wash.

A Bit Each Day

With so many other projects urgently needing attention I haven't been knitting a lot lately, but I do try to put in at least a little each day so that my granddaughters will get their sweaters in a reasonable amount of time. Lately my knitting time has been confined to the 30 minutes or so that I sit with my morning coffee. Still, it's adding up!

I only have the front bands to do and the youngest granddaughter's sweater will be complete. It's miles too big for her. We've had a couple of try on sessions. Better too big than too small at this age though! She's growing like a weed.

Even though the sweater would likely fit the older sister right now the colour and mood of this one would be all wrong for her. Wildly colourful with lots of pattern and variety is in keeping with the youngest's personality. I'll come up with something less busy for the older sister!

On Sunday when I wrote the post about the handwoven hat I did not have a picture of the inside to show you. So here you are, an inside shot. The hat is fully lined with a fabric labeled as "mixed fibres", but seems like a polyester to me. It's the perfect weight and colour for this hat, has a nice hand, and doesn't fray or wrinkle.

Add a Hat

There was a time when men, women and children all wore hats when they went out. 

I'm glad that that's no longer the case since I look dorky in every hat I ever try on!

I also have a very large head so it is hard to find hats that fit me.

Luckily Heddie is always happy to model hats for me since her lack of a torso and limbs makes her a rather poor model of other clothing.

The hat is sewn from handwoven fabric left over after making the white tunic and using the "Brimmed Hat with Side Pleating" pattern by Etsy seller kalliedesigns.

It is fully lined, and beautifully embellished.

Hopefully both the hat and the tunic will be accepted for display in the Chilliwack Spinners and Weavers Guild's textile art show, "Fibre Flair!" which will be opening at the Chilliwack Community Arts Council's Art Room Gallery in September.

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!

Draculaura Would Love It

This recently completed cowl and hat set reminds me of the colours worn by Monster High's Draculaura. I shall refrain from naming it that though since I don't want to invite licencing related law suits.

I had been babysitting my 7 year old granddaughter one day and after a lengthy session of "Monster High", where I was assigned the Draculaura doll, I had had enough and just needed a quiet evening weaving. As a child I happily played Barbie's for hours on end. My tolerance as an adult is considerably less.  

As supper cooked I wound a warp. In the early evening I got the warp threaded and sleyed and then later transferred to the loom and beamed, tied on, and tensioned. 

It wasn't until I had woven a few inches that I suddenly realized what the warp was reminding me of!

Draculaura of course! Her default outfit is raspberry pink and black. D'oh! 

Despite my initial aversion I carried on, and I must say I am very pleased with the result.

The hat and cowl are listed separately at my Etsy shop, Wovenflame.

Riot of Colour and Texture

A quiet blog always means a busy blogger -- at least around here anyway. I've been anything but idle lately and yet haven't taken the time to update.



The "Riot of Colour and Texture" warp has long since been woven, removed from the loom, and made into a cowl and one hat (a second from the same warp is awaiting a knitted brim).



The Saori "No Sew Hat" is how this begins, but I think I'll be adding a knitted brim to the ones I make. It helps them to fit a greater range of head sizes.



It also gives them a slightly different look. More slouchy beanie or beret style, depending on how it is worn.

Charlie's an Angel

I've been saving a small skein of "chiengora" for years. Chiengora is dog hair that has been hand spun into yarn. Depending on the breed it can be beautifully soft and have a halo that is much like angora (rabbit). And no, once it is properly washed and spun chiengora does not smell like wet dog when it rains!

Many years ago my daughter adopted a senior "rescue" dog, a white shepherd named Charlie. He had lived in various SPCA shelters for so long that his original location and story was no longer known, nor was his age. He was a very loving dog but was advanced in age and came with a host of medical problems that eventually took his life.

While Charlie was still living I took some of the soft, creamy white undercoat that he had shed, carded it with sheep's wool that had been dyed pink, and then spun it into a 116 yard, 2ply skein.

I finally found a project for at least a small portion of the special "Charlie" yarn. I included it in a 6m mixed fibre warp and as I wove I added in the occasional small weft stripe of Charlie's cheingora as well.

I used the first portion of the warp to make a lovely cowl.

There was enough warp remaining to weave a Saori style hat, which also turned out beautifully. 

I'm still not at the end of the warp. I may just have enough left to weave a second hat though perhaps only a child size. We'll see.