Saturday, August 26, 2006

When Sophie Met Noni

 

Is everyone on the planet felting?  

After going to a fund-raiser where Booga Bags were being auctioned,  I was sorely tempted to make my own Booga. Having never felted anything on purpose before, I spent HOURS online looking at all those photos of people's Booga bags made out of Kureyon or  Silk Garden.  Knitters were having a lot of fun with their Boogas.

 

Then I found the Sophie Bag.  So sleek, so simple, so contoured and only uses ONE skein of Cascade 220 .  Thank you Julie Anderson.  Perfect project for a first time felt-er.  I thought, well, perfect size for taking to the opera so I will make it in black. But then I saw some Squiggle and Fizz in colors that reminded me of mossy grass (which we have a lot of here) and a little embellishment had to make its way into the bag.

 

If you add a novelty yarn that is not felt-able or as felt-able as the purse yarn, the taper of the bag might be somewhat affected.  In my case, it caused the bag to not taper as much at the top as it would have if the novelty yarn had not been there since Squiggle and Fizz have no wool in them.

 

The Sophie pattern is great.  There is NO sewing!!!

 

You knit the bottom rectangle; then pick up stitches around the edge of the bottom and knit in the round, decreasing as you get to the top.  Near the top, I carried the novelty yarn (Squiggle and Fizz) along with the Cascade 220   for a few rows, starting about an inch or inch and a half from the top.  The handle detail is even better.  You leave 6 live stitches on each side.  From that you create two 3 stitch i-cords.  When the two i-cords are the length you want (the handle length specified in the pattern is not long enough to go over your shoulder.  I made the handles just long enough to go over my shoulder* ), you twist them, and graft them to the 6 live stitches on the other side.  The whole thing has been knitted "together" and now it is going to be felted "together".

 

*Note: I-cord stretches even after felting so a swatch may be in order (I did one). Bev Galeskas says in  Felted Knits that, " When felted, most I-cord will lose only about 15% of its knitted length. It may appear slightly shorter at first, but it will but it will stretch with use".  I followed her advice and she was right.  My handles have stretched out to the length I intended and have stayed there!

 

Now the felting fun begins.  Having never felted before, I consulted several books, Felted Knits, Knit One, Felt Too, internet resources such as knitty.com and LYS experts.  

 

One yarn store told me about Eucalan, a wool wash that you do not have to rinse out, which you will find can prove useful and it smells wonderful.  I now use it to wash all my wool and cashmere (!) sweaters.  

 

 Another LYS expert advised me to put my items to be felted in a zippered pillow protector with a very tight weave, similar to the anti-allergy pillow protectors used by people afraid of dust mites.  The idea here is to keep the "fuzz" from the item being felted "in the bag" and not in your washer's filter!  Some resources will tell you to put the item to be felted in a "mesh" bag, similar to one you would use for lingerie.  I'm not certain how this mesh bag full of holes would keep the fuzz away from your washing machine filter...

Sounded like a good idea.  I happened to have a lot of those tightly woven zippered pillow protectors around because I, for one, am afraid of dust mites!!!

 

OK, back to felting... Of course, I had recently replaced my old top loading washer with a fancy pants front loading machine that during the spin cycle sounds like the runway of your local airport.  LYS "experts" didn't have a lot of advice for felting in a front loader.  About all they could say was, "Well, I have heard it can be done"... Research on the web offered some encouragement, so... I (or shall we say, Sophie) plunged in.

 

I set the wash cycle (I have a Whirlpool Duet which allows me to pause the cycle and the water level stays below the door) on the sanitary cycle which goes up to 150 degrees. Put in the Eucalan and set the timer for 10 minutes figuring that at 150 degrees Sophie would be done in 10 minutes.  Well, she wasn't.  She wasn't after 30 minutes.  It took three, 30 minute sessions in the wash cycle of the oh-so-gentle-on-your-clothing Whirlpool Duet washing machine to felt this baby.  But, finally, Sophie was felted.  I stuffed her full of plastic bags, as recommended, and let her dry.

 

The Sophie pattern tells you to knit in the round.  I found that the purl side of my bag felted better, so I turned it inside-out so that the purl side became the right side.  Next time, I think I would just purl in the round.  I don't know if this was a function of my washer's felting ability or my knitting or what...  Turns out the Noni Bag pattern talks about the purl side as being the better side after felting for the camellias.

 

Now for some finishing details:

I wanted Sophie's bottom to be flat, not sag (like who doesn't want that!).  I cut a piece of plastic canvas 3"x6" and tacked it inside  the bottom of Sophie with a few stitches.  

 

The magnetic closer or snap.  This purse definitely needs one of these to help it keep its cute shape.  I originally tried the idea of attaching the magnetic closer to plastic canvas (Attaching Magnetic Snaps) and that worked for a while.  Eventually, my snaps tore through the plastic canvas and my snaps failed.  I don't know if I attached them improperly, or put too much stuff in Sophie or what.  Anyway, I had to come up with another solution.

 

 I had made a felted swatch of the purse body color (black) before I started just to see how the Cascade 220 would felt.  Since I had recently come upon this revelation that you can CUT felted material and nothing will happen; the material will NOT RAVEL, I thought, why not use the felted material in place of the plastic canvas as the backing for the magnetic snap???

 

So far so good and it looks better and is easier to sew in than the plastic canvas.  Especially since it doesn't look like I will be lining this purse any time soon, although I bought a "fat square" of silk dupioni to line it...maybe later...

 

Shaving Sophie.  Cascade 220 is pretty good about not pilling, but as you use the bag, some pills will form.  Felting resources will tell you to shave the bag with implements ranging from hair clippers to sweater shavers to safety razors.  Not being a power tools person (my lawnmower is a old fashioned reel (REAL) mower)), I opted for the least motorized and most controllable option (and the cheapest, I had one in my drawer!):  the humble safety razor.  Works like a charm!

 

I carried Sophie around with just her mossy green grass for a few weeks and she didn't get much attention.  Then Noni Bags  came into my life.  These purse patterns are incredible.  Thank you Nora Bellows.  I just had to have that camellia pattern. After a few false starts, I was able to figure out how to put the camellia together.

 

 Two Noni Camellias before felting.

 

 

I parked the Noni camellia after felting on the Sophie bag.

BTW, I thought I was only going to use this purse for special occasions, but I like it so much I use it every day! I have made a lot of new friends with this purse.  People have been stopping me on the street, at the bank, at parties.

 

Even when I picked up my newly sharpened lawn mower the other day from the repair shop and the guy said, "Love the grass on your purse".

 

 

 

 

 

Labels:

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Knitting Websites

Knitty.com:  

This is one of the best, if not the best, websites for patterns, how-to explanations, inspiration, etc.

 

craftzine.com blog knitting archive

This is the Craftzine link to the knitting archive.  You can search this for specifc projects or you can browse.  The links will take you to the websites of the creators of some very creative projects and once on their website, a window into their world!

 

The Dulaan Project

is a cooperative effort of Mossy Cottage Knits, Flagstaff International Relief Effort (F.I.R.E.) and Kunzang Palyul Chöling (KPC) Buddhist community. It provides hand-knit items and fleece blankets to the impoverished people of Mongolia, where it rarely gets above freezing on winter days, and where the temperature can often reach -40°F at night. To survive, many of the homeless live in the heating ducts below the nation’s cities.

 

Knitta

Warming the world, one car antenna at a time...

 

Interweave Knits:  

Free patterns in the projects section.  

 

Mason Dixon Knitting:

For the blog between Ann and Kay.  It's not what you think.  You have to read the book and then you will get hooked.  

Read the Mason Dixon KAL (knit-a-long) and you really will be hooked...

 

Yarn Store Knitting Forum:

Lots of links to lots of sites.  I am just starting to explore this one.

    

Magknits:  A bi-monthly free online knitting magazine.  Not as good as Knitty.com but has some good features.  This is the site where I got the pattern for the Sophie bag.

 

Knitters Review:

A free weekly online magazine for knitting and fiber enthusiasts.  They have a lively forum and lots of good information.

 

Crafter's Knitting Forum

Similar to Knitter's Review but covers a wide range of crafts in addition to knitting.

 

Knitlist

Some websites recommended from the Stitch and Bitch book.

 

One Skein KAL

 

elann

A website with great free patterns, yarn/needles to sell, swap, etc. 

        

Pursenalities:

Website of the author of Pursenalities, a great book featuring felted purses.

        

Spunmag.com:  

Spun Magazine features free knitting patterns, feature articles, personal essays, music, DVD and book reviews and other crafty fun."   They seem to have a few of good articles about yarn, knitting, etc.

 

The KnittingZone

A combination forum, online place to buy yarn, sock knitting HQ, etc.

 

Knitting Machine Links

Chic Knits:

Machine and hand knitting links.

 

Where to Buy and Sell Handcrafted Items      

Etsy.com

is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. Etsy lets you shop by color, place, time and material.   I ran across this site when looking for felted beads.  Great site for inspiration...

How -To Videos and Explanations

There is lots of help out there on the web if you get stuck.  Try some of these sites.

 

General Knitting Help

Knitting Help

I like this site the best for the basics, but the other sites have useful information, too.  Keep checking this site out.  Amy, the author seems to be adding new videos of techniques all the time.  There are also free patterns on the site and I just discovered a forum on the site.

 

TECHknitting

25 years of knitting tricks want out of my mind, and into yours. (her words).  This site has the answers to many of your knitting questions if you are willing to read the very clear explanations.  I think this is for the knitter who has mastered the basics and now wants to master the finer points of knitting.

 

nonaknits tip and techniques

From the website, nonaknits, this is the tutorial section which has an interesting array of tutorials and knitting tips which are spot on!  Especially good is the short row/improvisational knitting tutorial.  Also reputed to be good is her sideways sock tutorial/pattern.  I haven't tried it.

 

the purl bee.

At the Purl Bee you'll find articles, tutorials, and lots of project ideas. BEST OF ALL, you bring your own voice into the conversation by posting comments and interacting with others.

Some good tutorials here, not just knitting but crochet, sewing, etc.  Nice quality projects.

 

Knitting Humor: Basic Knitting Instructions

 

Hello Knitty.com How To Videos, Etc.

Has the basics and then some extra finishing techniques that are quite useful.

 

http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit/index.html

 

Knitting at Knoon Designs - Knitting Videos

Our tutorial knitting videos are designed to provide assistance for newer knitters with some of the techniques used in our knitting patterns.

 

Knitters Graph Paper - Create Charts

Hints and Tips from Woolworks

 

More Technique Help from Woolworks

General information, color information, sock information, knitting for dolls, spinning, dyeing, fiber information.

 

Lion Brand Yarn Company Dictionary of abbreviations

Dictionary of Knitting and Crochet Pattern Abbreviations with very good illustrations on techniques and how-to instructions on various knitting terms.

 

Common Threads Fiber Art Store

FREE * On-line Class Room * Beginning Knitting.  Knitting videos for the beginners.  Recommended by SkinnyRabbit.com

 

Skinny Rabbit Links

General information and specific techniques.  Check out her "how to" and other links in the links section. 

 

Let Me Explaiknit:  

Sara's blog for explaining knitting things: (she really (!) does explain things!).  General information but this is really geared for the more experienced knitter who is willing to read the detailed account of how to do things written very well in a very small font!!

 

Knitters Review How-To and their Knitters Review Forum have lots of answers to your questions you didn't know you had!

 

Specific Techniques

From the Keyboard Biologist three techniques very well explained:

    Applied I-Cord

   Japanese Three Needle Bind Off

    Yarn Forward Knit

 

More Technique Help from Woolworks

General information and specific information about color, socks, knitting for dolls, spinning, dyeing, fiber information.

 

French Knot How to Video Tutorial

 

Cabling without a cable needle

Excellent explanation and visuals.  Hats off to Grumperina!!

 

Combination Knitting

This is knitting which combines Eastern and Western techniques.  I knit this way and love it.  Annie is a published knitting author, pattern designer and frequent contributor to knitting magazine such as Interweave Knits.

 

Edging

My Fashionable Life Evolution of an edge

For something like a neckband, or a front band on a cardi (as shown above), where you want something that looks like stocking stitch but which lies flat, this is perfect. Here’s how it’s made:

Cast on an odd number of stitches (the sample shown below uses 11).
Row 1: *K1, slip 1 with yarn in front* to last st, K1
Row 2: slip 1 with yarn in front, *K1, slip 1 with yarn in front* to end.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until your tubular edging is the desired length. Cast off and mattress stitch in place.

tubularedge.jpg

Next, I want to see what happens if I put buttonholes in it. Think it’ll work?

Annie Modesitt's I-cord edge

http://www.modeknit.com/blog/alisons_scarf.pdf

 

Anonyknits Seaming Better Than You Remembered

 

Felting

Pick Up Sticks - Felting Tips

 

Toes & Heels (and more...)

a collection of links to various free handknitting toe and heel techniques for socks.  I found this compilation on "lostpurl's" blog and couldn't resist including it on my list of How-To's.  Thanks, Suzann.

 

Tips and Tricks

This is from a sock knitters resource page and has some useful information in addition to helping you decipher common knitting abbreviations there is information on Kool-Aid dyeing, a Kool-Aid dyeing conversion chart (you didn't know you needed that, did you?!), picot cast-on, info. on washing yarns, needles and of course, quite a bit about SOCKS.

 

Joining in the Round:  Preventing a Gap

A good video of how to prevent the gap when knitting in the round.

 

Circular Needle Storage

A good solution for storing circular needles.   Office Depot has these pencil pouches, too, if you can't find them at Target.

 

See Eunny Knit

This website and blog has some incredible explanations on how to do things such as unventing a cable, steeks, provisional cast-on, lace, etc.  Beautifully written.

 

Chic Knits Tips:

Tips on knitting, felting, installing a zipper, etc.

 

Japanese How to Website

Just for fun, this is a Japanese How-To Website with lots of illustrations

       

How To "Make One":

How to "Make One", a knitting increase that is virtually invisible.

 

Skinny Rabbit Links

General information and specific techniques.  Check out her "how to" and other links in the links section. 

 

Knitlist Tips:  

The tips page is a great list of explanations and "tips" for the more experienced knitter.  This tips list is from the website Knitlist which is a place to get lots of free patterns, advice and a whole lot more.

 

Knitters Graph Paper

Create your own graph paper for charting knitting patterns

 

Let Me Explaiknit:  

Sara's blog for explaining knitting things: (she really (!) does explain things!) 

 

Hat Calculator

 

Knitters Review How-To and their Knitters Review Forum have lots of answers to your questions you didn't know you had!

 

Magic Loop Technique

How to knit small circumferences using one long circular needle

        

 Purse Lining Instructions

       

 

How to Make or Line a Tote Bag

       

 

Attaching Magnetic Snaps

Once you have made your cute purse, you will want to put a magnetic closer, or snap inside to keep it closed.  This site shows you how.

 

If you are making a Noni Bag, you might find this section useful.  This shows some of the bags "in progress" and gives you some insight as to how they are put together since the pattern does not really give you any clues as to what it looks like "in progress".

  

Noni Camellia in progress

        be*mused

        Twisted Knitter camellia in progress

         

     

Threaded Bliss Yarns

The Noni unfurling rose before felting.

       

Colors for Noni bags

a reference for the Cascade 220 color #s for Noni Bags

 

Patterns

General

Knitting Pattern Central

This site has LOTS (I think the most) of free patterns:   Look under the category you are interested in and go from there!!

 

A List from Knitty.com

 

The Daily Knitter

I just discovered this site and am still evaluating the patterns, but the first look seems good.

 

Drops Design or garnstudio

Most of the patterns are free.  Wow.  Sophisticated styles and a wide variety.

 

Bella Online

A list of sites that have free patterns so there may be some repetitions.  

 

Cover Your Head

A Hat-a-Long website that has links to knitting patterns for hats, and a whole lot more.  Look under the "Charities" section for links to free patterns for mittens, afghans, hats, etc.

 

Knitting Projects & Articles from Interweave Press

Look here for free patterns and articles from one of the best knitting magazines out there.  Very well written patterns and articles.  A magazine worth subscribing to.

 

DIYNetwork - Knitty Gritty

DIY Network:  Knitty Gritty Patterns: There is a wide range of patterns here. 

 

The Knitting Zone

If you sign up for their newsletter, The Knitting Zone News, they send you free patterns.  Here is the link to sign up:  http://www.knittingzone.com/catalog/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1


My Free Knitting Patterns!!  glampyre knits

 

Marnie MacLean: Free Patterns

Colorful Stitches

Right now, just hats and scarves, but more to come in the near future.  Interesting ladder scarf pattern.

 

Children/Toys

Baby Bobbi Bear

This pattern is just too cute.  I must buy this pattern.

Wooly Wonder:  

kids stuff,  Keppie, a cute hat.

Captain Underpants

 

Dishrags and Towels

Honeycomb Dishrag Pattern

Textured Brick/Slipstitch Dishrag

Dish Towel in the Nina Shawl Pattern

This is inspiration from the Mason Dixon KAL and Barbara Walker.  Read the entry and you will see how the clever person used the shawl pattern from the Mason Dixon Knitting book and a slip stitch pattern from Barbara Walker's book to create a beautiful dish towel.

Garterlac Dishcloth

 

Felted Purses/Handbags    

The photos below are Noni Bags (felted).  You can purchase patterns for these at yarn stores or online.  

Interview with Nora Bellows, the creator of the Noni bags

Here is a website that has photos of all the patterns. Noni Bags.  You have to have your POP-UPs ON for this site to see the photos. (You can set your pop-ups to be on for only this site.) Click on each one to see the photos.  Here are a few.

        

 

Fingerless Gloves

http://wendyknits.net/knit/mitts.htm

http://www.knittingatknoon.com/fingerlessmittenpatt.html

 

Double Knitting

Star Scarf

 

 

Flowers

Knitted Flower:  similar to Noni Camellia

Spikey Flower

Nicky Epstein Flowers

 

 

Hats

Cover Your Head

A KAL devoted to hats.  Lots of links for hat patterns and lots of contributors for inspirations.

Interweave Knits Short Row Hat

 

Items for the Home

Felted Coasters, Beverage Jackets, and Hotpad Pattern

Moderne Log Cabin from Amazon.com website

 

Purses (mostly felted)

chris byls designs

A pattern to purchase or an inspiration!  Felted cables.

Lorraine: a "faux Ferrigamo" bag

Vivian Hoxbro Free Patterns.  Mitered Square Felted Purse.  Not just felted bag patterns.  Worth a look.

          

        

"Purse pattern:  "Special Companion" 

          

   

Felted "No Rules" Bag

         

 

Felted Purse pattern from dailyknitter.com

       

 

Belle Felted Handbag

        Use this tip sheet if making the Belle Felted Handbag        

        Tip sheet for Belle Handbag

         

  Elle Felted Handbag

        Use this tip sheet if making the Elle Felted Handbag

        Tip Sheet for Elle Handbag

   

The Sophie Bag:   This is the Sophie Bag that I made in black with green novelty yarn trim at the top.  To see my Sophie Bag, go here.

          

Modified Sophie Bag with Beaded Handle

 

 

Booga Bag:          

            

 

The Balloon Bag!

       

 

Drops Design:  free patterns

 

Free Felted Patterns and Free Felted Purse Patterns

Lots of felted purse patterns!!!

 

Fjord Felted Baguette Bag

          

 

Nubbles Felted Triangular Handbag

       

 

Pike Place Market Bag

           

 

Flora

        

 

The Little Coco Bag

       

 

Small Felted Bag w/Partition

Felted Handbags and Totes from Noble Knits

Flower Purse

       


Felted Bag with Mitered Squares

        

       

Recycled sweater totes

Handbags from old sweaters:  Similar idea as in the book, Alterknits.

       

 

Scarves

Not Quite Straight Scarf

Keyhole Scarf Pattern

Flora Scarf Pattern

       

 

Soap Socks

http://ma2ut.blogspot.com/2006/11/lather-up.html

http://www.knitlist.com/00gift/soap-sock.htm

 

Socks

Cable Twist Socks

Boogie Knits Free Sock Pattern Links

 

 

Sweaters

Sweater Pattern Generator

Sunrise Circle Jacket:

A free pattern from Interweave Knits.  This one really speaks to me.

Mason Dixon Knitting: PerfectSweater

 

Sweaters for dogs

Web generated dog sweater pattern

Custom dog Sweater for fido.

 

Tank Tops

Tank Top

       

http://knit.definitelymaybe.org/patterns/ProsperousPlumTank.pdf

 

Wrist Warmer Patterns

http://del.icio.us/AmberCake/wristwarmers

 

Felting as Art

Artists

Felt Artists Links (just found this, have not fully explored it!)

        http://www.peak.org/~spark/felt_artist_links.htm

                This is an example of some of the sites:

                http://www.threads.org.uk/html/dani_duric-petrovic.html (purse)

                http://www.jeanhicks.com/ (hats, couldn't resist the photo!)

                http://www.totalverfilzt.de/Sonstiges.htm (fun puppet or something called a Schmuckmonster!!

               http://www.annettetotzauer.de/haupt.html(or these cute felted puppets and felted beads)

                         

 

Special Knitting Techniques

Special Knitting Techniques

Here are some knitting techniques that you might like to learn.

 

Domino Knitting Patterns Square 1

Domino knitting is mitered squares plus a whole lot more.

 

Mitered Squares No Sew.  The first 2 links are from Mason Dixon KAL.  It is a way to join mitered squares without sewing.  It produces a very fine end result.  The 3rd link is another option for a no-sew mitered square join.

        http://anonyknits.blogspot.com/2006/07/eureka-part-i.html

        http://anonyknits.blogspot.com/2006/07/eureka-part-ii.html

       Psychedelic Squares Afghan Stocking St Version        

 

Log Cabin Alternative Stitch Pick-Up

Log Cabin knitting alternate way to pick up stitches: (I like it!)

        

Scribble Lace

You have to see it to believe it.  Debbie New invented it in her book, " Unexpected Knitting."  Mason Dixon Knitting promoted it in their book and there is a good photo on this blogspot.  

  

Combined Knitting:

If people say you knit "backward" (like they say I do) then you are probably a "combined" knitter.  Check our Annie's website for the whole story.

Color or Striping Inspiration

Fibonacci Striping Pattern Example

This is an example of a Fibonacci striping sequence in a sweater

 

  Mason Dixon Baby Kimono:  idea for striping

         

 

Log Cabin Afghan

Log Cabin Colors for inspiration before completed

Log Cabin Colors for inspiration

 

 Mitered Square Afghan Colors

Miter Diplomacy Round 1

 

Shows what finished products look like in the yarn/colors:  interesting...

  http://www.knitwhits.com/yarns.shtml

 

Wobbly Circles Tote (I just liked the colors in this bag)

Interweave Knits Magazine - Spring 2006 Yarn Requirements

Classic Elite Montera (50% llama, 50% wool; 127 yd [116 m]/100 g): #3862 kingfisher blue (turquoise, MC), 3 skeins; #3887 pear (light green), #3885 Bolsita orange, #3829 aqua ice (light blue), and #3823 spring leaf (medium green), 1 skein each.

 

Stitches I like

Linen Stitch and Half Linen Stitch

Scribble Lace

Mosaic Garter Stitch is a slipped stitch pattern stitch that uses 2 or more colors to achieve a color knitting effect without "carrying" the yarn.  It is easy to do and has a interesting "beaded" effect.  This site shows an example with 17 colors!  You carry the yarn up the side, twisting to keep it secure.

    

Mosaic Garter Stitch pattern called Crosspatch from a Knitty.com pattern in garter stitch. Based on Barbara Walker.   .

 

Mosaic Knitting:  Wendy Wonnacot's article: zibibboisgood.com

 

Kristi Porter's article and pattern on Mosaic knitting on: knitty.com.

 

CatKnitz blog entry on "Beaded" and striped Baby-Bib-O-Love here. 

Math for Knitters

Fibonacci Sequence

What is a Fibonacci sequence?  How do knitters use it?  Check it out.  This site gives you insight into those striping patterns that look complex yet pleasing to the eye.  How do they do that?  It's really not that hard!

 

Fibonacci sequence:  A mathematical sequence consists of a series of numbers, usually starting at 0 or 1, all of which are derived from preceding ones according to formal rules. In other words, no matter where you are in the sequence you ought to be able to deduce what the following number should be.

 

For example: here are the first 5 numbers generated from the sequence, This is the sequence:

Start with a 0 and a 1 (you won't knit a zero (0) row (!), really.

(0 and) 1, so really:

1

0+1=1

1+1=2

1+2=3

2+3=5

just keep going...

   

 Math for Craft Design

Have you ever wanted to create an attractively spaced stripe, or tried to calculate how long an item should be once you've gotten the width figured out? If so, you've come to the right place.

 

There are three mathematical concepts shown on this website which can be extremely helpful when designing a new pattern. Don't let the math part scare you off.

Fibonacci Numbers

Lucas Numbers

The Golden Ratio

Knitty Gritty Fibonacci Knitting DIY Network

The Home of Mathematical Knitting

Math for all fiber arts including knitting.  An amazing number of links.

 

Knitting Calculators

These web based tools work out pesky knitting math for you.  Brought to you by the Knitting Fiend

Wet, Shibori and Nuno Felting

Wet

Wet Felting

Feltcrafts - Wet Felting Rolling Machine

 

frombelgiumwithlove.etsy.com

This seller on Etsy.com has very interesting felted jewelry.  Worth a look.

 

EBSQ - Zines:  The Ancient Art of Felt Making :  

Wet Felted Flower example

 

Felted Hats/Jackets:  wet felting

Lizzie Houghton

Tops, Jackets, Coats

 

Jackets:   Lizzie Houghton

International Feltmakers Association

 

Felted bead tutorial

Felt beads tutorial

The Felt Making Process: Additional Felting Information

Felt Beads

 

Shibori

Just Jussi Shibori scarf tutorial  

Shibori is a Japanese wet felting technique for pleating and resist dyeing fabric and then wet felting it.  It results in beautiful textures and color effects.

 

Nuno felting

Nuno Felting:  Zia Gipson - The Artist At Work

Nunofelt

"Nunofelt making is a specialized, but equally old, application of felt work, made by arranging open weave fabric with loose wool fibre in an alkaline liquid environment and then subjecting the combination to agitation. Depending upon the desired outcome for the felt, heat may or may not be applied in order to speed, tighten or coarsen the felt..."

 

Blogs I Read

Yarn

elann.com

Ships from Canada.  No sales tax.  Reasonable shipping charges.  Name brand yarns plus their own line of high quality yarn.  I am getting ready to place an order of Peruvian Highland wool which is a Cascade 220 look-alike and Sonata (which is a Tahki Cotton Classic look alike) at substantially reduced prices.  I will keep you posted on the blog as to how I like these.

 

Knit Picks

Kelly has developed her own lines of high quality yarns at very reasonable prices.  I have used Berkshire Bulky and found it to be quite acceptable for hats.  Order 0f $40 gets you free shipping!

 

Yarn.com/aka "Webs"

This company out of New York, carries a huge number of name brand, very high quality yarns like Noro, Debbie Bliss, etc. in addition to their own brand, Valley Yarns at good prices.  If you purchase $60 or more of YARN, you get a 20% discount.  Purchase $120 of yarn and the discount increases to 25%.  No break on shipping, no matter how much you buy!!!

Shipping costs are based on weight.

 

I did order a gallon of Eucalan, Wool Wash, lavender scented, for a very reasonable price from Yarn.com and the shipping was not outrageous.

 

Yarnware

 

The Knitting Zone

 

Smiley's Yarns

 

Yarndex - The Yarn Directory

 

Infinite Yarns!   Free shipping over $100

 

Graftonfibers:  Roving, crocheting with roving, etc.

 

Koigu Yarn

 

One Fine Yarn