4 down, 1 to go

I've made good progress on my "play it forward" art projects over the past couple of months. I've completed 4, with one to go. The latest completed "art project" was a complete custom build. :)

These are fire poi covers for a Burning Man friend of mine. 

Fire poi - A regular favourite of fire twirlers/dancers. Poi is a Maori word and the art of spinning poi originally comes from New Zealand, though can be found throughout the world today. Fire Poi are made of a ball of kevlar wick on the end of a chain that is swung around the body. Usually twirled in pairs, they create a beautiful circular fire trail about the fire dancer.

You use covers on your fire poi to stop the kevlar wick part of the poi from putting soot everywhere while you’re practicing.

Props to Jessy Henderson for the flame pattern comes from her “Flame On” hat - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flame-on

I put projects 2, 3 and 4 in the mail yesterday. Really looking forward to hearing back from the recipients. I just hope the fire poi and the two hats fit! :)

2011 - the year of the hat.

So, it's late April and I am averaging better than one hat a month so far. It hasn't been intentional, however that is the way this year is panning out.

These are the latest in my hat binge.

I completed this test knit a couple of weeks ago. It barely leaves R's head. :)

It is a little big, however I am happy for it to be a little big than the other option - too small. 

I also completed Art project #3 out of 5.

I am really happy with the way it turned out. I just hope it is not too big for the intended recipient.

There's an idea...

I'm 1/2 way through art project #3 and I've decided take on another test knit. It's a gorgeous slouchy style hat for the 2.5yr. She is blessed with her parent's ample sized head measurements. So, I am making her the teen size. 


The designer of the hat had something very interesting posted on her "about me" page. She loves to knit for those in her life that she does not get on with.  And I quote " love to make things for the people I love, AND I learn to love people I didn’t much like before by spending hours making something for them - if you’ve never tried this - I highly recommend it - its hard not to like someone you spent 10 hours making socks for ;)"


What a brilliant idea. Therapy through knitting. Like a lot of knitters, 95% of what I knit is intended for others. Usually, I know exactly to whom the item I am knitting for is going to as I am knitting it. During the the knitting process I think about the intended owner a lot. So why not make something for someone you find a challenge and use that time to get through your issues with that person? I to think about this some more.... 

Play it forward

A few months ago, various friends on facebook decided to take part is something they are calling "play it forward". The rules a pretty simple:

* Someone offers 5 art project spots. 

* The person offering will then make a piece of hand made art for each of the 5 people that signed up. 

* In turn, the 5 signees will then offer 5 spots of their own and so on and so forth. 

* What form/color/shape/size/medium/type each art piece takes is completely up to the one offering. 

* There are no time limits, however the general aim of the one I am involved in is to attempt to get all 5 done by the end of 2011.

Having said all of that, I have signed up to receive a piece of art from a friend in San Fran. I also have 5 people signed up to receive things from me. In addition to the above rules/guidelines, I have imposed a few extra ones on myself:

* All items pieces will be knitted or crocheted. 

* All items will be made from yarn already in my stash.

* There will be no repeated patterns - no patterns I have already done or 2 items made for two people from the same pattern. There might be repeated item types (2 hats, or 2 scarves etc).

* Where possible, look for inspiration from patterns that are up for being test knitted. Ie, help a designer out by test knitting for them. 

I can happily report that I have completed 2, with three to go. One of the completed items was a test knit for a new designer in Maryland. 

The hardest part for me has been restraining myself from contacting the recipients and asking them exactly what they want, what color and basically getting them to tell me what do to make etc. I have asked for basic color preferences, size of feet, hands and heads etc.  I think that this is okay. :)

Art project #1 -  Saroyan   by Liz Abinante

Art project #2 - Gillyweed by Sarah Woodbury. 

Sorry to say that the ravelry links will only be visible to those with ravelry accounts... Sorry about that.

Starting to work on project #3. Gotta learn how to do a tubular cast on.....

there ARE Dragons....

My third effort of test knitting has produced not one, but two Dragons. Knitted toys have never done it for me, until now. I saw this little creature and knew I had to stick my hand up as quickly as possible to test knit him/her.




The red one was my first effort. I learned a lot about shaping and the important of needle size. General rule: if you think you should go down yet another needle size, do it. I dropped 2 needle sizes on the red one and three on the green one (based on the yarn's recommended needle size). The designer went beyond the call of duty to provide both finished product and step by step construction photos.

The designer is currently designing wings. I have also put my hand up to test these once they are available. The 4yo and the 2yo LOVE their Dragons.

The pattern is available on Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-toy


ps. please excuse the poor quality photos, our camera is on the way out.

It's been a while....

So, no excuses... It's been a while.

I made a Christmas knitting for the first time last year and managed to get it (almost) done by Taiwanese Independence Day (25th Dec - old joke). On the list were:

Warm hat for Bro (who was on his way to India)



Fairy inspired hat and scarf set for the 2yo





Buzz Lightyear inspired hat and scarf set for the 4yo




Scarf for Father In-Law



All presents were warmly received (pardon the pun :) ). The fairy hat was my first test knit for someone else. The designer followed up with fingerless mitts with the same fairy pattern that I also test knit for myself.



Now it's onto the socks that have had me beat for nearly 2 years! I will learn how to custom fit them, I swear!!!

Change of plans

Good news, bad news.

Bad news first: Unfortunately I won't be publishing the duck pattern on the PHOP site. They want me to change the name of my pattern as they believe that it could be misinterpreted and could be seen as politically incorrect.

Title of the pattern is "Not this little black duck" baby blanket. The title phrase comes from a Warner Bros. Daffy Duck cartoon. The phrase is used in my native Australia and just means you aren't willing to go along with the prevailing wisdom and aren't willing to be pressured into something you believe is not in your best interests.

The entire premise behind the design of the blanket illustrates the sentiment in the title. And I am unwilling to change the name of the pattern. I personally do not believe that it is culturally insensitive or politically incorrect. However I understand that MSF and PHOP have to make decisions that are in the best interest of their whole organisation. I don't agree with this one, however I harbor no ill will towards them. I do wish they could have brought this us 3.5 MONTHS ago when I first gave them the pattern.

Good News: So, the pattern is now available as a   free download on Ravelry.

If after using it you love it, I am asking that you donate what you think it’s worth to your favorite charity. The following is a link to one of my favorite charities, my local food bank:

Larimer County Food Bank, Colorado

This is purely an honor system and is up to you. If you would like to donate to
PHOP and MSF (Drs. without borders) that works too!