Crafting On :: Finally!

Right away, here's the Blasted Bunny Hat--done! I'm so glad to be finished with it, as small as it seems. I think this yarn has a force field around it that makes it creep along. Everything I have made from it (like the Cyclone Hat) has taken forever. That's why I like worsted weight yarn. ;-)

Here's a giant granny square for Laurel made with Mandala. It's a lap size, I guess, and she uses it to wrap up dolls.  I wish the colorway had more green, of course.

Willow and Virginia got peasant shirts. Well, Virginia always gets a peasant shirt, but now Willow has her own. I am really enjoying this simple style for a child. There's lots of flexibility with embellishment and fabrics.

 

We dyed yarn with pokeberries for the children's knitting, spending just a few minutes collecting in the yards on our street. This came out really well, and we got the elusive red (it's hard to get a true color photo). Roan was very pleased about that. It think it's wonderful for this time of year, to be sure. I used these instructions, as well.   

My notes on this would include the following: we didn't remove the berries from the stems; we simmered the yarn in half vinegar/half water for an hour beforehand; the berries simmered the same amount of time with just water to cover; I simmered the yarn in the strained dye bath for about half an hour; and I allowed it to dry completely before I rinsed it.  Very little dye came out in the rinse, so I think it's a success!

Lastly, I've started another In Caps Tee for Willow's birthday. A friend gave me this cheery sport weight yarn a couple years ago. I know Willow will love the colors and I'm hoping it will hold out so I can finish it. I'm living on the edge! 

And that's it for me. We're expecting guests and some lovely Autumn weather later this week, so I am trying to tie up loose ends and keep on with school things. We've begun Roan's letter and Willow's measurement block. More on all that later! For more crafting, visit Frontier Dreams.