I hate to say it, but OMG! I am so freakin' stoked! I started poking around on upcycling groups on Flickr, and discovered a craft that really hadn't made it into my consciousness until now, namely fusing plastic bags to make fabric. Here is a tutorial on how to fuse the really thin plastic grocery bags you get in the US. Check out this amazing bag lady coat (there's a close up of the wild patterns here) and this sweet little coin purse made out of US bread bags. Then, for a totally different look, there's this minimalistic striped bag. Very, very, very, very cool.
We of course have massive amounts of plastic bags, so I've spent most of the morning sorting them by color and have started cutting some up. Yay! Of course the process of fusing the bags itself is highly toxic, since you're melting plastic. Definitely something to do in warm weather with the doors and windows wide open. But once you get over that stage, the project possibilities are endless. I'm guessing (though I have yet to actually try) that the process of layering and fusing is really fun and challenging, since that's where you can build up patterns and layers into interesting designs.
I got so excited about this that I almost forgot to mention that I did actually (finally) finish the ripple baby blanket last night. It's blocking now. I was a little bummed to see that my gauge changed from the beginning to the end (the first few ripples are much looser). I'm hoping the blocking will even that out a bit.
I haven't cast on for a new project (still plodding along with the curtain), but I suppose technically this new plastic bag obsession counts as one (but since I'm just cutting up bags, I think it's okay, at least in my world, especially since I'm the one who imposed the rule about not starting a new project until the curtain is done!).
Tonight E is spending the night at his aunt's house so that KE and I can go to dinner at a colleague's house. I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing, but we have to start this kind of social activity some time.
Showing posts with label upcycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upcycling. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Deilig
This has been a lovely weekend. I think my state of mind has definitely changed for the better. For one thing, we didn't have any major shopping to do, which always reduces my stress level. For some reason I was able to enjoy hanging out with E more than usual. We watched lots of winter sports on tv (cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and biathalon, my three favorites). We built lots of fun stuff out of Legos. All of the Christmas decorations are gone, thanks to KE. I got most of our laundry done. I heard birds chirping this morning. I unraveled the black shetland thrift store sweater without incident. I got a lot of knitting done on Miss Honeychurch. KE and I played Passport, a geography board game that's like Trivial Pursuit. I don't know why we stopped playing board games, since we both really love them. They're perfect for geeky competitive types like us. I got to watch most of the last semifinal for the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest competition, and it was deliciously dreadful. I even read Trude Marstein's colossally boring Ingenting å angre på for a full hour today without totally hating it or falling asleep (I have been hating almost every page since starting it about a month ago). Then this afternoon E's friend A and his dad stopped by unannounced and hung out for a couple of hours. I really love having friends who do that. Makes me almost feel like a normal person!
What's not to like about a weekend like that?
What's not to like about a weekend like that?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Nytt håp
I finished the fair isle yoke pullover after a marathon knitting session on Sunday. It's still on the mat undergoing a vigorous blocking, and I won't be at home during daylight to photograph anything for the rest of the week (pesky job), so pictures will have to wait. I'm dying to see if the blocking will change the negative ease to positive. Otherwise I'm going to be very self conscious about my bosom every time I wear the pullover. There's tons of yarn left from the yoke pattern. That will be more than enough for a baby blanket for KE's cousin's baby if I can work out the crochet pattern I've been looking at. I'm a bit rusty!
The plan was to deconstruct the black thrift store sweater after work, but it isn't dry yet so I was forced (forced, I tell you) to start knitting Miss Honeychurch with the thrifted green cotton yarn. I had planned on knitting a large, but then I discovered that the neck opening would be way too big, so I ripped out the two inches I had and cast on for a medium instead. I figure I can just increase up to the number of stitches needed for the large at the bust. I feel like I have so much more control over the shaping when doing a top down raglan. I may add some waist shaping, though I'll have to look more closely at the way the increases are written in the pattern, since it's designed to be a kind of a-line shape. I think I got about 4 inches of the yoke done with the first skein of yarn. I really have no idea whether I'll have enough to complete it, but that's apparently part of the challenge of upcycling. It is possible to calculate the yardage, of course, but we don't have a scale that will work for that. Since the color and yarn are so evocative of spring (and since I'm taking a big risk on the yardage) I've called it "hope springs eternal" on my Ravelry project page. Can't help dreaming about spring and summer here in the ice and snow of a Norwegian January.
As for the black thrift sweater, I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a Norah Gaughan oversized guernsey pullover (Ravelry link) out of the yarn I harvest from it. It will be something like the sixth or seventh time I've knitted the pattern over the past 20 years. It's the only sweater I've ever worn out, and I have three times had it virtually ripped off my body by someone close to me who coveted it (hence the multiple versions)!
I'm happy to report that work was fun today, even the onerous parts. So I think I must be over last week's pity party and back on track.
The plan was to deconstruct the black thrift store sweater after work, but it isn't dry yet so I was forced (forced, I tell you) to start knitting Miss Honeychurch with the thrifted green cotton yarn. I had planned on knitting a large, but then I discovered that the neck opening would be way too big, so I ripped out the two inches I had and cast on for a medium instead. I figure I can just increase up to the number of stitches needed for the large at the bust. I feel like I have so much more control over the shaping when doing a top down raglan. I may add some waist shaping, though I'll have to look more closely at the way the increases are written in the pattern, since it's designed to be a kind of a-line shape. I think I got about 4 inches of the yoke done with the first skein of yarn. I really have no idea whether I'll have enough to complete it, but that's apparently part of the challenge of upcycling. It is possible to calculate the yardage, of course, but we don't have a scale that will work for that. Since the color and yarn are so evocative of spring (and since I'm taking a big risk on the yardage) I've called it "hope springs eternal" on my Ravelry project page. Can't help dreaming about spring and summer here in the ice and snow of a Norwegian January.
As for the black thrift sweater, I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a Norah Gaughan oversized guernsey pullover (Ravelry link) out of the yarn I harvest from it. It will be something like the sixth or seventh time I've knitted the pattern over the past 20 years. It's the only sweater I've ever worn out, and I have three times had it virtually ripped off my body by someone close to me who coveted it (hence the multiple versions)!
I'm happy to report that work was fun today, even the onerous parts. So I think I must be over last week's pity party and back on track.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Uten tittel, tom for ideer
Yesterday I had my first meeting with my mentor. It was great, and it seems like he didn't feel it was a waste of his time. I asked him about his own experience and it was interesting to hear how much emphasis he placed on the importance of understanding Norwegian culture. I think he'll be a great sounding board for understanding the cultural differences behind the conflicts and frustrations that arise. He's also really funny and super competent in his field. Definitely someone to emulate!
Having said that, I think I'm at a low point in terms of my job. It had to come some time. I've been really put out about the huge amount of work teaching the NOR1300 break out group is going to entail. I don't see how I'm going to get anything done on the book. I was feeling sort of pouty, thinking that I'm being overworked. I finally got the template for calculating my 25% of non-research work hours. I was shocked and dismayed to find how much of what I have done (and been asked to do) does not even count! According to the template I'm actually under the number of hours for teaching and administration. I'm going to be asking a bunch of people about this over the next few weeks--presumably there are ways of reporting these things (like writing grade justifications, giving a lecture at the Faglig-pedagogisk day, etc.).
My break from knitting is helping my hands. Anxious to start up on the fair isle yoke pullover, though. Only a little more to go before I can put it together and start on the fun part, i.e. the yoke itself.
I finished unraveling the green cotton sweater yesterday morning and knitted a little swatch for Miss Honeychurch yesterday afternoon. I'm pretty sure it's going to work. I've changed my mind and am going to do the body first after the yoke. I didn't unravel the yarn from the part where the sleeve openings were cut. It looks like there's approximately 1 meter of yarn for each row there. I'll save it for a worst case scenario if I run out of yarn on the sleeves.
I popped into the Majorstuen Fretex store yesterday when I had 10 minutes to kill before my mentoring meeting, and lo and behold I found what is practically the holy grail: a black, 100% shetland wool, DK weight, men's XL cabled sweater with turtleneck! It was an acceptable (for Norway) price: 169 NOK (29.50 USD!). The seams are all great and I saw no damage. I have it stashed in the freezer for the next 3 days on the off chance it contains moth eggs, since it is wool after all, and I'll wash it before I start unraveling. I don't have a particular project in mind, and it's so handsome that KE might just claim it as is, once he sees it.
Today I'm taking some time off from work to go with KE to choose tiles for our kitchen. I'm so excited! Once those are up then he'll be able to install the upper cabinets. Can't wait!!! We've been "in progress" for so long that I can't remember what it's like to have a normal kitchen.
Oh, one other thing: last night I composed a draft of the letter we have to write in support of our application to the Waldorf preschool. KE looked it over, liked it a lot and found no mistakes! I think that's the first time I've ever written an entirely mistake-free and totally idiomatic document in Norwegian. I've never had to write so much in Norwegian as in this past year, and I think it has really helped.
Having said that, I think I'm at a low point in terms of my job. It had to come some time. I've been really put out about the huge amount of work teaching the NOR1300 break out group is going to entail. I don't see how I'm going to get anything done on the book. I was feeling sort of pouty, thinking that I'm being overworked. I finally got the template for calculating my 25% of non-research work hours. I was shocked and dismayed to find how much of what I have done (and been asked to do) does not even count! According to the template I'm actually under the number of hours for teaching and administration. I'm going to be asking a bunch of people about this over the next few weeks--presumably there are ways of reporting these things (like writing grade justifications, giving a lecture at the Faglig-pedagogisk day, etc.).
My break from knitting is helping my hands. Anxious to start up on the fair isle yoke pullover, though. Only a little more to go before I can put it together and start on the fun part, i.e. the yoke itself.
I finished unraveling the green cotton sweater yesterday morning and knitted a little swatch for Miss Honeychurch yesterday afternoon. I'm pretty sure it's going to work. I've changed my mind and am going to do the body first after the yoke. I didn't unravel the yarn from the part where the sleeve openings were cut. It looks like there's approximately 1 meter of yarn for each row there. I'll save it for a worst case scenario if I run out of yarn on the sleeves.
I popped into the Majorstuen Fretex store yesterday when I had 10 minutes to kill before my mentoring meeting, and lo and behold I found what is practically the holy grail: a black, 100% shetland wool, DK weight, men's XL cabled sweater with turtleneck! It was an acceptable (for Norway) price: 169 NOK (29.50 USD!). The seams are all great and I saw no damage. I have it stashed in the freezer for the next 3 days on the off chance it contains moth eggs, since it is wool after all, and I'll wash it before I start unraveling. I don't have a particular project in mind, and it's so handsome that KE might just claim it as is, once he sees it.
Today I'm taking some time off from work to go with KE to choose tiles for our kitchen. I'm so excited! Once those are up then he'll be able to install the upper cabinets. Can't wait!!! We've been "in progress" for so long that I can't remember what it's like to have a normal kitchen.
Oh, one other thing: last night I composed a draft of the letter we have to write in support of our application to the Waldorf preschool. KE looked it over, liked it a lot and found no mistakes! I think that's the first time I've ever written an entirely mistake-free and totally idiomatic document in Norwegian. I've never had to write so much in Norwegian as in this past year, and I think it has really helped.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Nyttårsforsetter
Must. Try. This. Which is to say "twined knitting" for making a non-rolling stockinette stitch edge. Fabulous.
Finished mom's sweater coat except for the buttons yesterday. I tried really hard to resist starting in on the fair isle yoke pullover, but of course I couldn't. I have about 23 cm (out of 47!) done on the first sleeve. The alpaca yarn is very thin and not knitting up very smoothly. Clearly a sweater that will need blocking. I'm guessing it will "bloom" when wet blocked, and am excited to see what happens.
I thought I wasn't going to do the 12 sweater challenge again this year, but who am I trying to kid? If I'm really honest, I've been planning to do it again this year too all along, so I might as well fess up. Here's the plan. The first few will be from stash only, and I don't need to buy any patterns either (all available for free on line):
1. Drops 108-10 Jumper in Alpaca: this is the fair isle yoke pullover I cast on for yesterday. (Raglan--half the yarn was recycled from a friend, half purchased by me)
2. Cheryl Niamath's Miss Honeychurch: I think I have just enough Drops Lin in blue in my stash to make this. (Raglan--yarn purchased by me last spring)
3. Debbie Bliss' Yoke Detail Sweater: after much hemming and hawing I keep coming back to this for the dark blue Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool that I bought in the fall of 2008. This is where the twined knitting edge above comes into play. (Raglan--yarn purchased "used" by me from a Raveler)
4. Drops 100-33 Textured knitted jersey: this will be with the remaining Highlander yarn that R gave me. I'll probably leave off the texture and perhaps add a turtleneck. (Raglan--yarn purchased by a friend and given to me)
As you can see, I have become a total convert to raglan shaping. Although I like seaming and am pretty good at it, I actually think raglans are more flattering on my figure. Dropped shoulders like you get with most traditional Norwegian sweaters make me look really bulky, and set-in sleeves tend to make my arms look like stuffed sausages. Raglans seem to smooth everything out.
After I get these four done with yarn I already have on hand, my original plan was a list of 6 really challenging sweaters that I've been wanting to work on for a long time, and I'll still probably do at least a couple of them. More and more, however, I have been thinking that what I really want to do is start recycling yarn. There's so much about that process that appeals to me. I want to reduce my consumption and save money. I love thrift store shopping, I love ripping out or deconstructing sweaters, and I think I will love the process of finding an appropriate project to go with the yarn that I'm able to recover. I'm not particularly squeamish, and am pretty good at washing and handling wool (and want to become better), so I definitely think I have the skills needed. I love the idea of finding a damaged or ugly sweater in a beautiful yarn and recycling it into something I can wear. There are two groups on Ravelry that focus on this (UnRavelers and Thrifty Knitters) that I've just joined, so I'm sure there will be lots to learn from them.
So I guess my New Year's Resolution is to dive into the world of recycling/upcycling/reclaiming yarn. I'm super excited about it!
Happy New Year!
ETA some links to pages explaining how to harvest yarn from garments:
Soulful Hues: a good basic tutorial with pictures, including the kind of seam to look for (but not the kind to avoid, namely serged).
Neauveau: another basic tutorial. It has a picture of a "bad"serged seam. I wouldn't suggest just unraveling the yarn into one huge pile like this blogger does, however. It's easy enough to wrap it into a center-pull ball as you go along.
My Virtual Sanity: this appears to be the cream of the crop for tutorials. Highly recommended! She goes through everything, and my only complaint is that she (like everyone else, apparently) writes "surged" instead of "serged." I think I'm just going to start writing "overlocked."
Peaceful Easy Knitting: this one is good because it explains how to figure out the yardage/meterage of the yarn once it's unraveled. I had been wondering about this. Extra bonus points: "serge" is spelled correctly.
Finished mom's sweater coat except for the buttons yesterday. I tried really hard to resist starting in on the fair isle yoke pullover, but of course I couldn't. I have about 23 cm (out of 47!) done on the first sleeve. The alpaca yarn is very thin and not knitting up very smoothly. Clearly a sweater that will need blocking. I'm guessing it will "bloom" when wet blocked, and am excited to see what happens.
I thought I wasn't going to do the 12 sweater challenge again this year, but who am I trying to kid? If I'm really honest, I've been planning to do it again this year too all along, so I might as well fess up. Here's the plan. The first few will be from stash only, and I don't need to buy any patterns either (all available for free on line):
1. Drops 108-10 Jumper in Alpaca: this is the fair isle yoke pullover I cast on for yesterday. (Raglan--half the yarn was recycled from a friend, half purchased by me)
2. Cheryl Niamath's Miss Honeychurch: I think I have just enough Drops Lin in blue in my stash to make this. (Raglan--yarn purchased by me last spring)
3. Debbie Bliss' Yoke Detail Sweater: after much hemming and hawing I keep coming back to this for the dark blue Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool that I bought in the fall of 2008. This is where the twined knitting edge above comes into play. (Raglan--yarn purchased "used" by me from a Raveler)
4. Drops 100-33 Textured knitted jersey: this will be with the remaining Highlander yarn that R gave me. I'll probably leave off the texture and perhaps add a turtleneck. (Raglan--yarn purchased by a friend and given to me)
As you can see, I have become a total convert to raglan shaping. Although I like seaming and am pretty good at it, I actually think raglans are more flattering on my figure. Dropped shoulders like you get with most traditional Norwegian sweaters make me look really bulky, and set-in sleeves tend to make my arms look like stuffed sausages. Raglans seem to smooth everything out.
After I get these four done with yarn I already have on hand, my original plan was a list of 6 really challenging sweaters that I've been wanting to work on for a long time, and I'll still probably do at least a couple of them. More and more, however, I have been thinking that what I really want to do is start recycling yarn. There's so much about that process that appeals to me. I want to reduce my consumption and save money. I love thrift store shopping, I love ripping out or deconstructing sweaters, and I think I will love the process of finding an appropriate project to go with the yarn that I'm able to recover. I'm not particularly squeamish, and am pretty good at washing and handling wool (and want to become better), so I definitely think I have the skills needed. I love the idea of finding a damaged or ugly sweater in a beautiful yarn and recycling it into something I can wear. There are two groups on Ravelry that focus on this (UnRavelers and Thrifty Knitters) that I've just joined, so I'm sure there will be lots to learn from them.
So I guess my New Year's Resolution is to dive into the world of recycling/upcycling/reclaiming yarn. I'm super excited about it!
Happy New Year!
ETA some links to pages explaining how to harvest yarn from garments:
Soulful Hues: a good basic tutorial with pictures, including the kind of seam to look for (but not the kind to avoid, namely serged).
Neauveau: another basic tutorial. It has a picture of a "bad"serged seam. I wouldn't suggest just unraveling the yarn into one huge pile like this blogger does, however. It's easy enough to wrap it into a center-pull ball as you go along.
My Virtual Sanity: this appears to be the cream of the crop for tutorials. Highly recommended! She goes through everything, and my only complaint is that she (like everyone else, apparently) writes "surged" instead of "serged." I think I'm just going to start writing "overlocked."
Peaceful Easy Knitting: this one is good because it explains how to figure out the yardage/meterage of the yarn once it's unraveled. I had been wondering about this. Extra bonus points: "serge" is spelled correctly.
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