One of my goals this year is free my home of loose ends. I want to switch from collecting into creating. I want to be a crafter & artist who buys items then creates with them very shortly after. I no longer wish to hoard a large stash. And in order to burn down my stash, I’ve given myself a challenge of not throwing away the bits until I’ve given them several tries at being functional items or projects. This is hard. It means I have either a box of stuff sitting around with “po” (that’s potential for those who don’t know Kathy Dannerbeck). I like having lots of things with “po”, but it’s time my “po” became useful objects or moved along for others to create with them. Know what I mean?
One of my “bits” is a bag full of 12-18″ lengths of yarn. I used to make dreadsand sell them for bellydance costumes. Still have mine, will still make a custom pair if requested, but have mainly retired from the dreaddy business mainly because I want to create other things. When making dreads, I would cut up gorgeous handspun yarn into many lengths to create natural looking dread-ish hair. The reason I couldn’t get rid of these scraps? This was Expensive (with a capital E) yarn.
One of my “bits” is a bag full of 12-18″ lengths of yarn. I used to make dreadsand sell them for bellydance costumes. Still have mine, will still make a custom pair if requested, but have mainly retired from the dreaddy business mainly because I want to create other things. When making dreads, I would cut up gorgeous handspun yarn into many lengths to create natural looking dread-ish hair. The reason I couldn’t get rid of these scraps? This was Expensive (with a capital E) yarn.
I knew there had to be something that could be made with these odds and ends. First I tried tying them together to reform yarn. But, hell, that took to damn long. Next! So, then I thought, “Well fringe, yes, fringe would be lovely! Yeah, then I’d have to buy matching yarn. mmmm… ok, yeah that’d work, but I really just want to use the scraps. Hmm, maybe I can weave them…” (note: I have only woven on old styrofoam meat trays, clean of course, in elementary school) “Well, it can’t be that hard. But, I don’t want to invest in a loom yet. Need to start small and see how I like weaving.” Oh lord, did I just ask for another fiber hobby with expensive tools?!?!
Kathy to the rescue. Not only did she find me a wheel (God bless that woman) to buy, but she also found me weaving tools and … wait for it… a potholder weaving grid. Yep, the kind you make those goofy little nylon tube potholders out of. And I LOVE it.
So, what did I do to celebrate this year’s independance day? I did just like any other great American woman (think about the women who sewed up the American flag now), I made things that have purpose. One could say I made potholders. but I think I’m going to use the purple fringed one for either a scarf or a neato mat for a hot dish or for a placemat. The orange/blue (which is Spincycle yarn mind you) will likely be a “coaster” for the teapot. But, that one I’m going to put padding under and sew a trim/bias edge around it.
Kathy to the rescue. Not only did she find me a wheel (God bless that woman) to buy, but she also found me weaving tools and … wait for it… a potholder weaving grid. Yep, the kind you make those goofy little nylon tube potholders out of. And I LOVE it.
So, what did I do to celebrate this year’s independance day? I did just like any other great American woman (think about the women who sewed up the American flag now), I made things that have purpose. One could say I made potholders. but I think I’m going to use the purple fringed one for either a scarf or a neato mat for a hot dish or for a placemat. The orange/blue (which is Spincycle yarn mind you) will likely be a “coaster” for the teapot. But, that one I’m going to put padding under and sew a trim/bias edge around it.
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