Swants!

Finally, a fashion trend I can revel in.

I followed the Westknits tutorial, mostly.
Some modifications are needed if using lady sweaters.Men's sleeves join the body perpendicularly; women's have a tapered sleeve.

These are females

If the angle isn't too narrow, just follow the tutorial, which is what I did for this sweater.
The gray one needs the sleeves picked loose and reattached upside down, ie with the shoulder where the armpit was, otherwise the extra fabric causes lumpage in the crotchal region. 

I cut the neck out and hemmed it as a dickey, but she wouldn't wear it.

I think I messed up here, because I ended up with ear flaps.

They're not too noticeable after being sewed down.

Had to take in the waist too

Daaaaa!

Noodly arms should not be confused with a lack of enthusiasm.  The Kid wore these into public, on purpose, and would wear them again if they weren't in the laundry. 

Wild Oats Part One

I have been living in the sewing basket lately, for Love and money:

the Kid's winter coat

My friend Elf's coat, he's a dapper mountain man

And my friend Elf's pants, because he's also an earthbender

these pants nearly kicked my ass, I tell ya. Never thought I'd get then done

Kimono for the Kid

The big Boro blanket has become all-consuming to the point that it warrants its own post; stay posted.

every stitch a delightful waste of time

Reworked my Dad's old moccasins (After and Before) into the Houseshoes of Slack,

to which he responds:

"Those shoes !
Resurrected !
Formerly a work of the most cheaply paid coolies, now transformed into a work of art that reminds me of the ancient skills of dedicated artisans who built and painted the great pyramids, the Roman colossus, engineered the worlds' first telescope with delicate, precise curvatures to match the natural state of the earth within a galactic state of magnification - yes - all this you've accomplished by rejuvenating the humble moccasin, transforming them into a wonderful kaleidoscope of colours in binding and decoration. The wearer of these coverings would be the envy of every right-thinking bipedalian. Nice work !"

The hairy parts of the moccasins got repurposed further into a finger tab for the kid's new bow.
New, as in she got it for Christmas.

Christmas Card for the whole Internet

Tis the time of year when tis acceptable to say Tis (so much easier than it is)

and also the time of year to mail bits of paper and glue at the people I like.

Anyway, some of the best people I've met live inside my computer.

If not for you folks I'd feel utterly alone and abnormal in this weird world. You know who you are.

Rather than stalk after you in real life, I'll just post this.|

Merry Festivus, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Yule.

If'n you want a real card, send me an address; )

Coiled Baskets

I learned these spiral forms when I was 10, at a summer program that I whined atrociously about having to attend. It seems to have stuck in the mind-crannies as a useful Skill.

There's a lovely how-to here



These baskets go well with mexican hot chocolate,
probably because chocolate and
making things are both good for the soul.



The link says cotton clothesline for a core, but fat macrame yarn works for a soft feel, or discarded phone line for a tough rigid form.

The stitch is a figure-eight around adjacent coils of core, with wraps between stiches to cover the core as it's added.

Big tapestry needle, legs crossed "indian style" as they used to say.

Aleph

The beginning part is always tricky. Expect some fumbles and swears.
The first attempt will likely be a bulging lopsided omphalos; that's OK, the first time's just for practice.
Any shape begins with a spiral.
The first thing I made was a mini fire hydrant. To my ten-year-old mind it looked just like one, though it probably wouldn't now ; )

Finish the end by tapering it & lashing it down. End it well.


A Sacred Vessel

A short fat Caldera, singing to the sky.

An empty vessel, to be filled with as much of Life as it may hold.

Aren't we all.

and also this.

My mind can form no proper adjective for Die Antwoord, but they are certainly very much so.

Made a Hat

...out of "Creepy-eyes Ted".


Ted's dead

 He'd been around since I was a wee small child in New Zealand, when my favorite colors were orange and yellow. He always had a bit of a staring problem, and according to Lily it was only getting worse (she had taken to covering him up with other toys)

right into your soul

 I was hoping to make use of his filling, but along with the urethane (couch) foam, there's chunks of styrofoam. Stiff rather than soft.


that's gross ted



So now he's my hat. Don't stare.