Waste-Not Garland & other bits

NEWS FLASH:  I love makin' stuff.  There is particular excitement with the hey I've got that stuff right here and I could make it into something else variety of making stuff.  Enter my Waste-Not Garland made of small bits of fabric and scrap lengths of 3 harmonious yarns.

These particular harmonious yarns are actually skeins of Anchor's Tapestry Wool, but lengths of any unused skein would do fine. (A real news flash is that I will actually be introducing some palette packs of these beautiful wools similar to my other palettes of perle cotton and embroidery floss at the beginning of the year!  Eight different palettes with 16 skeins in each! Can't wait. Anyway.)

I learned to slipknot very early in life so this process gives me the childhood warm fuzzies.  I didn't know until years later that a slipknot chain is actually the first step in crochet.  This is easy enough to do without a hook, but go ahead and use one if you'd like.

The process is like this:
:: Cut fabric scraps in strips about 1-1.5" wide, maybe about 7-8" long.
:: Trim 3 yarns each to same length of about 10-12 yards and treat them as one
:: Tie a common knot at one end of the yarns, then perform your first slip knot
:: Continue slipping through each knot by reaching your forefinger and thumb through the existing loop to pull up a new knot from the long slack of yarn, some tightening will be necessary as you goto keep the loops small
:: Every 7 or 8" you can slide a fabric strip through the current loop, then slip the next knot so that it tightens the strip of fabric well enough to cinch it in place.

I paired like prints of fabric wrong sides together and used them together so that there wouldn't be much wrong side showing anywhere- not an issue with the solids.  This is fun and pretty much free if you have enough fabric and yarn laying around like me.

Also pretty addictive.

Other bits:
:: I am happy to report that I ran the WHOLE five mile race on Thanksgiving morning.
:: I have never run that far.
:: Right after my near tears of joy I almost immediately assumed the route plotters got it wrong, bc there is no way that I can run 5 straight miles.
:: No way
:: Jeff suggested something like maybe I should just be proud of myself
:: Assuming someone did something wrong just comes more naturally
:: However ever since, when someone asks me how Thanksgiving was they get an earful of bragging about my 5 mile run
:: I'll bet they're really wanting to know how the cooking, family, relaxing, blah blah boring was
:: It was all lovely
:: But mostly because I ran 5 miles first
:: Today after Jeff and I ate at our very most absolute favorite vegetarian Indian all you can eat buffet place in town called Woodlands (which I know of course there are few competitors in that category) we were so full that we got into the car and reclined the seats and just laid there like a couple of satiated lions after a huge kill for about 20 minutes.  Couldn't even drive anywhere.

We are so weird.
Have a great weekend.
Scrap bags come free in my shop with any purchase of 50$ or more starting tomorrow through the end of the year.
lots of lovey, xo, AM

If you need me

I'll be right here. For like a week or so.

Well if I'm not in the kitchen I will be right here.  I am wondering why I've signed myself up for a 5mile run on Thanksgiving morning instead of choosing to be right here.  I do imagine everything will taste 5x as good after the run, so that's something.  And that spot on the left of the couch there,  right up against the log cabin pillow, situated and stretched out just right so the bottoms of me feet are warmed by my hubby at the other end in his spot, yes, even that will feel 5x better after a long run, and a warm meal.  (That's what I tell myself when I cry a little on the inside about 5 miles in the cold.)

What do you think?!! Look!  The living room was clean for like a half of a second so I took a quick pic of the gallery side.  We are really enjoying it.  Feels just right, wall-color-wise.

In other news Cash the puppy ate my only pair of knitting needles.  In other other news Cash the puppy ate my only pair of eye GLASSES.  Glasses.  (You may remember the storied pair of glasses.)  I am so confused.  Glasses don't even taste like anything.  I can see where bamboo knitting needles are wood, and dogs chew wood.  Just like remembering newborns all over again, with puppies (particularly labs I think) you really forget what you are dealing with until you are holding several pieces of what were formerly a pair of tacky grandma from Miami Versace zebra striped eye glasses. Hmpf.

Good try Cash the puppy, but I have contact lenses and new knitting needles and I still love you.
good weekend! xo, AM

Works In Progress

:: Patchwork of wool, and a smidge of linen (sneak peek of my linens for  04/13)

:: Hand-quilting a baby quilt of Field Study Voiles (shipping any day now)

:: Drawer of crochet sunshines getting full but not full enough (pattern my own rendering)

:: My first EVER knitting project!!!  Watched this class with Debbie Stoller and it all finally clicked (then clacked, then knitted, then purled and so on)

:: My growing yarn bowl was in need of some new color (mostly merinos from Manos del Uruguay)

:: The sidewalk is getting crunchier every day (the bright hues giving way to some more somber tones)

:: Our family room mantle awaits the arrival of (hopefully) another pinch pot turkey next week

thanks for the visit, xoxoAnna

Little Red Pretty Edge

Told you I'd be back.
So.  This scarf.  My new favorite thing. It is just one simple layer of solid cotton voile made interesting and special with a pretty crocheted edge of pearle cotton.  Something about this shade of red does not need to go with anything else that you have on.  It's like the perfect shade of red lipstick, it just works.  The technique is not difficult, especially if you are already familiar with crochet.  The scale of the pearle cotton and the tiny hook takes some getting used to, but well worth it in my humble opinion.  What I love about teaching this technique is that it can be applied to larger yarns and hooks, knitting projects, crochet projects, edges of store-bought items, pillowcases, and all else in need of pretty edgey-ness.

 It is also my newest class available on CreativeBug!  You can have a look at the class overview here.
And below is the little project promo, which I'm sharing because it's pretty and painterly and I'm in charge here.



Would make a lovely gift! xo, Anna

Stacks of November

It has taken so long to settle into a normal flow around here after all that October was for our family and for my studio.  One big event after another with my needleworks weekend, and then we took a deep breath and held it for Quilt Market sewing, prep, building, printing, driving and experiencing.  Market was great, smooth sailing and I so enjoyed some time away with my hubby, and of course the chance to visit with dear friends in the industry that I only get to see a few times a year.  Steak dinners are nice too. We broke down the booth on the last day then immediately hit the road that night to make it home in time to join our Joseph for his 13th birthday.  Can't believe 1/2 my kids are now teen & up.  Home was held together while we were away for 6 days with the glue of my assistant Anna J., my father-in-law, and our sweet Juliana.  We of course had no idea months ago when we planned for Juliana to fly home from Brooklyn to do the bulk of the sibling care that we would be taking her out of the path of such a horrible storm.  Obviously we felt very blessed that she was here instead of NYC, and then got to enjoy an additional 5 days with her last week as flights got back on track.  While we are so saddened about the loss and struggle for those on the East Coast, we enjoyed ourselves together immensely, in fact I took the whole week off.  Just did nothing.  Except teach myself Seven Nation Army on the drum set we gave Joseph for his birthday.

So yes.  I needed it.  The break.  I feel so happy and optimistic at the brustling leaves and cool air and can't wait to share all that I have been working on.  In my personal work I have settled back into my crochet afghan that was begun quite a while ago.  I'm patient.  Enjoying the catching up now.
Missed you, hoping you are well.
More Soon, xoxoAnna