LEAF TOP

We received a big shipment of fantastic new wool on Thursday.
Friday we had a blizzard. What timing!
I worked on a new hat pattern for the shop and spent all day knitting.
So here is "Heidi's Leaf Top". I will test knit the pattern one more time and it will be available in our February newsletter.
If you would like to receive a free copy - hit our newsletter button ( left sidebar) and we'll hook you up.

ANATOMY OF A FELTED IMAGE

... am preparing visual aids for an upcoming workshop
re: felting technique and design.
Here is a preliminary describing my starting point for developing a felted image.


First step: develop a theme on which to base the design.
In this case "Nature has it's day".
With this thought I have decided to make a crow king for a day. Here he sits atop an enormously large apple. The apple was chosen to represent something natural, yet again the epitome of cultivation. The crow is suggested as a hardy and intelligent bird that , due to it's brains and bravado, is unfortunately plagued by .... us.

The design is then fleshed out. For this project I have chosen to use a tightly woven 100% wool cloth as my backing. This will give me the option of wet finishing the image.
My designs are drawn free hand with a sharpie.




The foundation fibres are needle felted into place.



The foundation is laid using undertones that will provide depth when built upon.
This is, by far, not the only method of developing a felted image however it is a thought process and follow through that works well for me.

WASHING FLEECE

Every now and then the topic of washing a full fleece comes up in the shop.
All spinners have their own tips and tricks in this regard.
Here's my version...

After picking the fleece for all of the obvious discard I fill a large tub with HOT water and add a small amount of ORVUS paste. This is an agricultural product and should be used with caution.
I'm quite a stickler for wearing gloves (on another topic; I also ALWAYS have a full vapor mask and gloves when dyeing).


My fleece is added to the soap and water. This bath is left for a full day after which I will gently change the water for several repetitions until the bath is clear. The entire wash may take place over a period of two to four days depending upon the fleece. It's a gentle process that I tend to take slowly.


The fleece is transferred to a washing machine and put through a gentle spin cycle in order to speed drying time. I do have a washing machine designated for this task as, over time, lanolin will build up and have issue with any other fabrics that you might like to clean.
I use heavy open (gridded) racks hung over the wash tubs for drying.

MORE SKETCHING

More from : Sketchbook Sessions with Heidi at RUG HOOKING DAILY


SKETCHING WARM UP
draw circles - Yup that's it, just draw circles. warm up for 30 - 60 seconds before starting to sketch.
But why? Circles are a basic shape that you will use time and time again when tackling .... oh just about any subject found in nature.
Concentrate on smooth steady circles drawn without lifting your pencil and keeping a lose grip.

GLAM

..... yesterday was nail clipping day!

DESIGNER KNIT-ALONG

I'm halfway through our designer knit along: all things designed by Nancy Bush

My selection; liviis socks out of "Folk Knitting in Estonia".
Discoveries; my legs are rather less than long and lanky, modifications
to pattern mean less knitting for me. Result!

Also, in lieu of sock blockers I have discovered that a drinking glass will do quite nicely to settle out the pattern work from calf to ankle. Further to this it would seem that my leg blocks perfectly using a Woodstock Inn Brewery glass. A Pigs Ear Brown Ale glass to be exact.
....well what d'ya know?

SPIN-ALONG

... having a wonderful time with our shop spin-along (color challenge).
All participants have started with the same base fibre and colorway.
I have decided to spin a fine weight. Perhaps I will use this yarn to knit up our lace group challenge. Can anyone else out there NOT resist a group project?
What can I say? it's a social thing. Like eating:)
...will post the many and varied results!

TRY IT - YOU JUST MIGHT LIKE IT

RUG HOOKING DAILY

INSPIRATION

...went for a wintry drive with Arnold, Angus and Dotty yesterday, as is our weekly routine. We all pour into the Van and set off for no particular destination stopping to eat, laughing, dreaming and solving the problems of the world along the way.
... popped in to see Deanne Fitzpatrick who was in her studio filming for a new video.
... moved on to tour rural Nova Scotia while jotting notes on my ipod as Arnold and I tossed ideas about. Came home and worked out transferring notes from ipod to desktop. Success!
January has me so excited about new projects, workshops and such. I can hardly sleep.
In the meantime I am trying to hone my less than exemplary organizational skills and take advantage of that magical juncture where creativity meets technology.

... back to the London-Wul Homepage: www.thewoolworks.com

FIBRE ART ANYONE?

January leads me to a state of miscellany. I am ready for anything and want to try everything (regardless of the mound of2009 paper work which Linda, Diane and I must somehow bring to a close).

I have a new little wheel that is pining to be assembled and lovingly finished. There is a huge new loom that I HAD to acquire for how else am I to weave large lovely floor mats with all of the cottons that I diligently purged from my wardrobe this Fall (to large, too small... gotta go - into floor mats). There is also a cheerful, "summery" rug on my frame (a winter essential).

Of course I had to show the flag and sign my name to each of the London-Wul Sunday afternoon events! Oh, and I MUST get around to the CBC "Canada Reads" selection before the debates begin. I have a few of the titles already and have ordered others.

I had been sewing up a storm, making Christmas gifts through December and now I am patiently waiting for a seat to avail itself in a Quilting class that I have my eye on. A year - long overseas kinda quilting class. Why? Because I have never made a quilt - why else? Life is short get it all in. Knitting, weaving, felting, Quilting, Rug Hooking - all essential life skills in my book. And who knows? You just might find a little ART along the way;)




...back to the London-Wul Homepage: www.thewoolworks.com

WINTER ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS AT London-Wul : SIGN UP FOR ONE OR FOR ALL

*Designer Knit-Along : knit all things Nancy Bush
*Linus knit-Along: knit four 6x6 squares (2 blue, 2 pink) for Moncton's Linus project
"knitting blankets for kids who need a hug"
*Color Work Spin-Along: participants start with the same fibre (color and composition) and will evaluate the various resulting knitwear.
* Lace Knit-Along: knit the lace work of your choosing with tips and encouragement as you go!