|| snow and weaving ||

 

 

Me and my trusty Doc Martins.

 

On Monday, there was a terrible winter mix that hit Tulsa. For Midwesterners who see all four seasons in a week, the one most renowned for disabling our daily schedules is ice. Going out and about that morning as an individual with particularly good driving skills, I wasn't worried about the ice and snow blanketed roads. However, at some point, the house key fell off my broken carabineer and successfully left me stranded outside.

 

Luckily, I have been wonderfully welcomed into a lovely creative community at the Workshop at Made in the Pearl district. Making my way there with snacks, hot chocolate, and yarn, settled in to learn how to weave. I would have probably just gone home and been lazy had my house key not fallen by the way side.   

 

 

Using a simple "how to" from the adorable, creative and informative blog by Elsie and Emma "A Beautiful Mess" and a borrowed lap loom, I successfully tried my hand at weaving. It seemed to me to be much like knitting but simpler, and allowing for easier freedom of pattern design.  Below is the final product - approx. 8in wide and 12in tall (excluding the fringe). You cant tell the actual size very well from the photo. It took me about four and a half hours with a lot of trial and error.

 

I'm proud of the final product and am very excited to make more. Learn different patters, collect more yarns (but of course!) and continue my knowledge of fiber arts. Lap loom sets online are pretty expensive, however a friend gave me the dimensions for building a home made one. I know what Ill be building this weekend! All  in all - you should try your hand at weaving, its super fun and anyone can do it!  

|| knit-nerd ||

50.50 wool/acrylic blend - "Oatmeal"

 

My mother taught me to knit when I was in fourth grade. I was terrible at it but continued to do it anyway. By the time I got to high school I'd gotten a little better. One day I brought my knitting to school with me at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences here in Tulsa. A friend saw me and asked me to teach her. I agreed and without knowing, laid the foundations for a knitting club that is still going strong at my high school today.

 

Finished scarf, with buffalo bone pin

 

It has a lot of different meanings to me. It always marks the beginning of fall and winter because who wants to hold new wool in their hands in the heat and mugginess of Oklahoma summers? Its a pleasant past time with infinite uses and a glorious palate of dyed yarns and specialty needles. My favorite things to make are cowls, scarves, infinity scarves, and beanies, but I also enjoy making hair bows and ear warmers. Things I'd like to make but haven't gotten around to it yet include fingerless gloves, leg warmers, and a blanket.

 

Making a huge chunky knitted blanket is a dream of mine - only you have to have the bones for a shopping cart full of skeins!   

 

A couple great places to look for yarn locally is Loops and surprisingly Michaels has a good selection of quality yarns as well.