Exploring a new craft every week for a year
In August I crocheted, knitted, wove (weaved?) and felted. What did you get up to?
Casey weaved up some magic with colourful yarn…
And René used a red colour scheme for her weaving project:
Panya & Wendy both shared loads of crochet links in the comments.
The House that Can showed us her cute crocheted beanie.
If I’ve missed your project – let me know in the comments or add it to the link tool below:
Well here it is at last, week 8’s project: wet felted balls.
As an introduction to wet felting, making balls is ideal. You only need wool roving, liquid soap/washing-up-liquid, water and your hands.
I followed the instructions on Mossy and soon had a pleasing pile of round, blue, felted balls.
Now I just need to decide what to do with them, any ideas?
Show me your fibre projects for month 2 – I’ll do a roundup this week of them all.
You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.
Flashback: week 8 in year 1 was all about origami!
I’ve been away on holiday as you know and unfortunately jet-lag has laid me low so whilst you wait for the wet felting post (coming soon, promise), here are some pretty photos from California…
Riding the cable car
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz
Winchester Mystery House
San Jose art museum
Sealions at Pier 39 (and me!)
In a change to our advertised schedule, I’m crocheting this week. I’m away from home and I can’t imagine wet felting being something I can easily do in a hotel room!
Well so far I’m doing better than last time’s crochet attempt (when I was also on holiday, I spy a trend). I have rows and everything.
I’m following this series of lessons. Pip at Meet me at Mikes also has a beginner crochet series.
I know I have some fabulous crocheting followers – show me your favourite patterns, links and projects. And any other Fibre crafts you’re trying this month.
You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.
Flashback: week 7 in year 1 was all about book-binding!
The last time I tried knitting I was a bit ambitious and I still haven’t finished the project I started. So this time, armed with chunky needles and chunky wool I decided to knit and see where I ended up.
I haven’t finished yet, I’m knitting just one skein (50 stitches a row) then I think I’m going to mix it with fabric to make a cushion. Or I might change my mind, I’ll let you know when it’s done.
Are you knitting this week? Tried anything else? You know what to do…
You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.
Flashback: week 6 in year 1 was all about toy-making!
I do so wish I had a delicious stash of yarn in all colours, textures and styles just begging to be woven into a beautiful piece of art.
But as you know, fibre isn’t really my thing and I can’t knit or crochet despite trying both last year. So I had to pop out and buy lots of yummy yarn today in the local craft store ready for this week’s craft: weaving.
I also raided my ribbon boxes and pulled out a few lengths of ribbon and some hessian string.
To weave, without a fancy loom, all you need is a piece of cardboard, a ruler and some scissors. Cut slots every 1/4 inch at both ends. Choose one of the yarns to be the ‘warp’ threads and wrap it around the cardboard from one end to the other in the slots, securing the ends on the back with some masking tape to keep them out of the way.
Then it’s weaving time.
This may well be easier with a tapestry needle as suggested in this weaving tutorial but I used just my fingers to weave the ‘weft’ yarn alternating over and under the warp threads. Take the thread around the back and then repeat but alternate the over and under – in other words if you started with the thread going over in your last row now start with it going under. Push the threads up to the top as you go.
Leave a few inches of tail yarn when you finish with each. Keep going, mix up your yarns and ribbons however the whim takes you, and enjoy the soothing rhythm of weaving.
When you’re finished, follow the instructions here to tie off the ends and cut the threads off the loom.
I haven’t decided what to do with the finished piece yet, what do you think? My husband suggested framing it.
So, have you done any weaving this week or any other fibre crafts? You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.
Flashback: week 5 in year 1 was all about felt.
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