I’m sick of talking about me.  Let’s talk about some of the truly gifted sewists I’ve had the extreme pleasure of meeting and working with.  Today I’m featuring a lovely woman that took both levels of my serger classes at Fabric Depot in Portland.  Rebecca took off flying with her up cycled sweater designs.  She carefully scours the second hand clothing stores for sweaters and fabrics to make into these fabulous sweater coats.  They are each a unique and creative work of art, pieced together using a 4-thread overlock stitch.  She uses patterns and inspiration by Katwise, adding her own design twist.

Students send me lots of photos of their makes and I’ve decided to start a little series featuring these.  I hope you enjoy them and find inspiration in their works and stories.

Hugs & Stitches,

Helen

1 1/2 Socks!

I should probably wait until I’m finished knitting these socks to announce them, but I’m not going to.  I am just so goofy excited about them.  I can’t believe I’m almost done knitting my very first pair of socks!  Woo-hoo!  Knitting is a special art.  I so admire the people who craft the patterns and work through all the formations to create shape and texture.  The wooden needles I’m using are so smooth and are tiny works of art in themselves.  The yarn is just plain mysterious.  Some genius figured out to dye yarns to knit up into stripes and motifs.  I am in complete awe.  This pattern is the beginner sock from the Book “Super Socks” by Christine Perry, the Winwick Mum.  They’re done on a 2.25mm circular needle with DPN’s used here and there when  you can’t go around in a circle.  The yarn is 75% Merino wool and 25% nylon, as suggested in the book.  All supplies are from my little, local, sweetheart of a yarn shop, Blizzard Yarn & Fiber.

I have to use great concentration to work through the instructions.  I fumble with certain areas with the tiny needles and the slim yarn, even though I am an experienced knitter.  I can hardly imagine actually putting these on my feet, stuffing them in my shoes and walking on them. Never before have I had socks that I considered precious.  These socks shall never see the inside of a dryer.  They will be washed and shaped and layed flat to dry.  If they fail, I will darn them.  Far too much time and work goes into knitting socks to simply cast them away if they get a hole in the toe.  Wow.  Slow fashion feels damn good.

Hugs & stitches,

Helen