Felted Wool Hat

A few years ago, a friend shared a pattern for making a knitted wool hat.

I have made hats through the years, but this one was felted.

It is a curious thing about wool fibers.

When they are wet and agitated, they cling together and make a tight weave of their own.

Well, I started this hat well over a year ago.

Because it uses two strands through the knitting, I measured out what I thought I needed

and rolled it up into a ball and started knitting away.

Just about the time I needed to decrease for the crown,

I ran out of yarn.

I had more, but,

I had put it somewhere,

somewhere safe.

And, I couldn't remember where that somewhere was...

I found the yarn, measured out more to roll doubled into a new ball.

I finally finished knitting it at a retreat/gathering we attended

over the holiday weekend.

There were others working on crochet, some knitting various projects.

And, there was me.

When I was asked what I was working on and replied that it was a hat,

there would be a startled look and then they would look quickly down, 

sometimes glancing to the side at their neighbor to see if they, too, felt like I was working on a

doomed project.

I asked my granddaughter to hold the hat after I finished knitting it

and she pulled it down over her head...

Here she is holding it up.

And, to be fair, it did look somewhat like a doomed project,

except

I have done these before.

In fact, I sold one just the other day.

When we got home and I had caught up on most of the other laundry,

I put the washer on hot wash, cold rinse and agitated it for about 20 minutes.

It then ran through the rest of the cycle and came out looking like this.

Much, much smaller than when it went into the washer.

I needed to stretch it out over something and used this tupperware container.

It was also very, very fuzzy.

I gave it a "haircut" with some scissors

This is the finished hat

With the same granddaughter obligingly modeling it.

This is another one that was done a year or so ago.

If you do try out some patterns you can find on the internet,

be sure to use 100% wool (no extra fibers)

if you want it to felt.

A fun project, and it will keep your friends wondering if you have lost your mind.

Everywhere I Go

"Everywhere I go, everywhere I go" (Jesus will go with me)... this song has been running through my head as I am going around disinfecting doorknobs, refrigerator handles, stove knobs, phones, etc. Wow! we sure do use a lot of things. The computers were long overdo on cleaning of the keyboards, too. Another song is "Through it all" the phrase, "I've been lot's of places"... Hopefully, this will catch any germs that are lingering.

We are recuperating from the flu. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I guess when I handle cash I need to wash/sanitize my hands more frequently. Any ideas on how to clean money? beside 'laundering' :-)

To add insult to injury, my mouth has been swelling, fat lips look strange on me... it could be a food allergy that is starting, who knows... ice has helped and I am staying in so that I don't make babies cry and grown men run for cover.

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On another note, I am gathering up various items for our next sale. The knotted rug that I just completed will go and I rolled up the orange fabric into a ball and it looks pretty. An old non-working alarm clock, but it looks so vintage, a little ironstone creamer with delicate orange and brown flowers along the top, etc. Most of what we brought home from our previous sale will do. It seems that we sell only about 1/4th of what we take, but if it is not there at the sale, it will not sell... We always take a trailer full, we just can't help it.

A Beautiful Day to Visit Alameda

I just wanted to share a few photos from our day yesterday.

It was lovely weather and we love this show.

Of course it was hard work, but it is worth it to see it all set up.

A cool dial telephone from long time ago.

The veiw from looking straight in. We have neighbors whose panel truck gives us not only a wind break, 

but also a backdrop.

Table and benches - sold.

And, the island with a metal top and the file drawers are gong to a shop in Fairfax 

called "Beach House Style"

If you are not familiar with it (I wasn't) this is a camel saddle !

It would make an awesome footstool, coffee table and quite

a conversation piece.

The "wedding area". Still waiting for that one bride who needs a jewelry bouquet.

Now, the 'far east' area.  Everyone loved the horse.

He had such lovely pitting

The little tea canisters on the top shelf came with tea inside of them.

And every one of the pyrex refrigerator dishes sold.

This is a very old beer ice chest. Falstaff was a brand

from a long time ago. Pretty good shape for the age.

Cute little animals and tiny people.

The chair, of yes, someone wanted it really bad, but then she wanted us to hold it

while she shopped all over. We couldn't hold it, she walked away, but...

she hurried back in about 10 minutes with cash in hand.

More of the animals

I crocheted these pumpkins and gourds

They are really easy and great for the fall season.

A little ironstone for display. Someone did buy one of the coffee pots without the lids.

Now this is an old fashioned bin table. 

You can't duplicate paint like this.

Two large curved drawers on the bottom,

two more drawers next up (one divided for utensils)

and two cutting boards. It had seen lots of use through the years

and it will go on working for the couple that bought it.

Unique handle/pulls

Le Creuset pots

Isn't this a cute island? It is narrow (everyone from the bay area wants narrow)

It has a cutting board and a door to the cupboard, on casters, too.

Well, just a little peek into what was what yesterday.

See you soon.

Projects in the Making

I really have been busy...

Well, I am calling it busy anyway.

With the fall weather, it makes me want to do hand-work. Longer evenings, sitting in my favorite chair...

I saw these cute little crocheted pumpkins over at hip2thrift and just had to try them.

They were so easy, that I showed my 10 year old granddaughter how to make them and since she has made a few, they are currently selling in their parent's store. My daughter tells me they can't keep them in stock... how's that?

You still have time to make your own and get the pattern here.

At first I made a few.

Then a few more

Then I rummaged around in my stash and found a few more colors to try out, more gourd type.

Before I knew it I had almost a whole pumpkin/gourd patch

So, then I found some red yarn. The color here is not real...

When I showed my granddaughter, her comment was - "Tomatoes"!

I was making red apples, sigh.

On another front, I saw some fabric and started tearing it up for a rug

I have no idea where this is going and the color really looks washed out... wait, I'll take an indoor photo and see...

Well, that is a little better, not quite to washed out.

After I get a double row, like the part on the left, I don't really know where to go,

I usually steal from my stash and nothing is really "speaking" to me right now.

perhaps something dark? The middle part is kinda a salmon color...

When I first saw the fabric that is in the center and started knotting it together,

all I could think about was "Folk Art". It just seemed to have that flavor,

now, since I added the light blue, I am thinking "crazy quilt" or something along that lines.

Maybe "crazy lady".

Long way to go before it will be of any use, but a start.

You can get instructions for making your own creation of a rug from

a tutorial I did a while back. And, second part is here

It truly is a no sew rug. This one is rather tight, but it will wear well. Washable and all.

AND, if you do decide to make one, please share a picture or link back for me to see. I love to see what others are doing.

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I also have a piece of burlap from a 50 pound sack that I am thinking about making into table runners.

I have so many ideas running around in my head and not enough energy to complete them.