Being Serious About the Craft
Karmyn R has challenged us for
to show our crafty side by posting something hand made by us.
I have several things to offer and for this post I think I will focus on the fiber world although I certainly do many other kinds of crafty things too.
I love to spin and knit and here are some examples of things I've done with fiber. This is some yarn that I spun and then dyed with Koolaid.
This is the infamous dog hair shawl - spun from the hair of my Great Pyrenese dog and then knitted into a lace pattern.
This is hair from my Persian cat that I have tried to spin very very fine.
Here is a vest that I knitted sideways and have always liked. I don't see it anymore because I gave it to a friend who lives in California.
I also weave and am particularly interested in a rug-making weave called bound weave. Here are some of my early rug designs.
The Green one is woven with unspun fleece.
The next two are more bound weave.
You can see the design for little men in this detail.
Finally here is the one I am working on currently (or rather am ignoring currently - It has been on the loom a really long time, but the loom is in the back of the house and I like to be in the main house area where stuff happens, so I don't sit and weave too much on my floor loom.) 
I can't wait to see what other blogger's do for craft fun!
25 comments:
Beautiful work! I would LOVE to know how to do this. All I can do is crochet (and very poorly at that).
Wendy there is no end to your talent I'm in awe; I love all your designs. I kept a bag of hair from my dog wanting to find someone to spin it for me; how I wish you lived nearby!!
Dog hair shalw? Cat hair knitting? FABULOUS! Love it! Although I imagine it would make some people sneeze.
By the way, I also love the idea of yarn dyed with kool aid! Neat idea. Does it not feel a bit sticky?
OMGoodness!!!! You are TRULY a talented lady!!! I love the fact that all these are from natural material.....and you spun it. Wow, I'm in awe.
Mine's shared
Karmyn - Thanks so much and thanks for this great blog topic!
ChrisB - Yo are sweet - I keep waiting to see your paqintings!
TOB- I guess it coouls, but once it is washed, the dander is out of the hair and so it is less likely to make people sneeze. As for the koolaid - you use the unsweetened powder so no sugary mess!
Hootin'anni - that is very sweet of you to write. I'm anxious to see your craft!
That is absolutely amazing that you can take it all the way from the raw materials to the finished product like that! Who knew dog hair could be so beautiful?
They look so incredibly soft...
no way!!! dog hair cat hair. (Oh I could send you some cat hair!)
absolutely beautiful stuff.
Some people are so talented they disgust me.
Jenni - Thanks Jenni - I'm sure the dogs think it is anyway.
Amy W - They are AMAZINGLY soft! Especially the cat hair - but it is also a bit fragile when you spin it that thin.
Thanks, Pamela
Thanks, Min, You've always disgusted me too! Of course gum is rather beautiful (in the right mouth!)
I've never seen anything like this before. I didn't know you could do that with cat or dog hair?! These are incredible!
Hi, Joy - Yes, The Native Americans (some of them) spun dog hair and made blankets. i can't take the credit for being the creative one!
You're good! I love the Kool Aid yarn and the yarn made from pet hair - too cool. The rugs are fantastic.
This was a real surprise, I was assuming that you would have some of you artwork up. I'm really impressed with the spinning and weaving, I wish I could do that with my dogs, but both of them are short haired. I normally look like one of those furry caterpillars thanks to all the dogs hair in my house.
Beckie - Thanks so much. I think it is a lot of fun to spin and weave.
Willowtree - Yes, you can use short hair but you have to twist tightly and there is still the risk of shedding (and everyone at our house looks like caterpillars too with so much hair flying around.)
I absolutely love the weaving!!!
I could send you my dog's amazingly soft downy fur if you want. Have a look at my previous entry (before Fun Monday)...he's so cute and cuddly. And since we moved to UK he's growing the softest undercoat and shedding like mad at the same time.
Your craft items are lovely. Weaving is such a wonderful art form, and you have shown some wonderful pieces. I love the one with little men, impressive work.
Thanks, mjd. I'm glad that the figures don't seem over the top!
You are a true soul sister! Not only do you spin and knit, but I have always had a love affair with the great pyrenese dogs. Always have wanted one!!!
Your weaving work is beautiful! Such a good eye for color combinations!!!! Love your stuff.
Well Devon anyone who has Donna Reed as an emblem certainly scores points in my book!
I really love the green woven one. Lovely!
I am simply amazed by your work. And I have a plethora of nice, white, cat hair that you can use in your next project. Just let me know where to send it. Heck, I may just send you the cat.
Melissa - Thanks! Where are you!?
Tiggerlane - No thanks - can't you understand I'm trying to get rid of some of the hair around here! I wear mostly black and with all the white hair - I'm going prematurely grey!
wendy did you visit my fun monday??
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