Remnant Yarn, One of a Kind Pieces



Bohemian Fashion Scarf

 Most yarn lovers I know cannot stand the idea of throwing out a final length of yarn. It may be just one yard, not enough to make anything, but we keep it in the hopes that one day it will come in handy. Last year, as I was working on "de-stashing" I came across quite a bit of these remnant pieces and wondered what could be done. There wasn't one pattern I had that could be worked with any one of the yarns alone.

After thinking about it, I began to sort the yarn into color groups. There were cool and warm tones, reds and blues, but basically I just put the colors that seemed to work best together into separate bags. Once that was done I decided I'd just start a project. I chained a base row and began using the Extended Single Crochet (exsc) to create whatever came to mind.

The first piece turned up a lovely Bohemian Fashion Remnant Scarf that is impossible to duplicate! Why? Because in order to duplicate it the artist would need to have the exact amount of each type of yarn and be able to create the same number of rows as this one. That would be extremely expensive and almost impossible to do. Yes, they can make another, but this piece is truly one of a kind.

Cowl in Whites

After making the scarf I decided it was an amazing thing to create one of a kind pieces from the remnants so I began to chain different lengths, join in a cicle and twist some. The results were a few amazing pieces that will never be duplicated. I would think it would be a bit of a cool thing to own a piece that although another may own the same shape, no one will ever own one exactly like it!

That little experiment has made me even more vigilant in keeping my remnant yarn pieces. They are now the building blocks of the most unique pieces I will create and that is not something to be readily discarded.

Pieces of Blue Mobious

Purple Majesty Cowl

Interweave Crochet

Summer 2011

Interweave Crochet is a premier stylish magazine full of crochet information. They have beautiful cutting edge patterns as well as articles which vary in range. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, there's always something useful in this publication.

A few years ago they purchased the online magazine called "Crochet Me" and expanded on an already fun idea. The Crochet Me community is a place for crocheters to share patterns, ask questions and post images of their items. Together with the printed magazine, Interweave Crochet is one of the best places to share and receive information on crochet and it's evolution.

The Summer issue, available at newsstands now, is full of amazing projects that you'll want to work on before the heat wave is done. It's an absolutely lovely collection of items sure to tickle your fancy. I'm looking forward to making these pieces. . . I may not finish this summer, but I'll have them waiting for next year!

Fashion Color Trends Autumn 2011

Color trend colors Autumn 2011

The colors above are the ones forecast for Fall 2011. . . I love to look at these color trends because it helps me determine my course of “creativity”. Why? Well, if most people will be purchasing brown coats vs. black coats in any given year, I want to make sure my “ready to ship” items compliment their choice. How will I know what will be most worn, if I don’t know the trends?

I also love to make OOAK (one of a kind) items in the seasonal colors because they’ll catch the “eye of the beholder”.  It seems this years color trends reflect the practicality that a recession brings. These colors will help bring in buyers who are looking to match items already in their closets without having to spend a lot of money.

Personally, I just love the way they look . . .I'm looking in my stash for matches!!

Man's Poncho - Complete!

So, this project is finally done and will be on it's way, overnight, to it's final destination! I can't tell you how fun and yet stressful this project has been. My cousin ordered this for her hubby for Christmas. I took the order in October, but so much was happening that I didn't have the opportunity to move from design to implementation until December began. Then, things really got crazy!

So, I was going to offer to send a card, that let her hubby know this was coming, but that it would arrive by mid-January. However, I hate to disappoint a customer. I also got a big break when we lost power for 48-hours and all I could do during the day was crochet! I worked my little fingers to the bone and was able to get this done yesterday. I am very happy with the way it turned out, and upon seeing the photos my cousin loved it too! Now it's all about what her hubby thinks.

Since he's a bit wider than my hubby/model I think it will lay wider along the top, but otherwise, it should fit perfectly. Yes, this will be available in my Etsy shop, when I re-open, as a custom item. It will likely be one of my more expensive pieces, but well worth it to have something not easily found anywhere and totally handmade!

Technique: Crochet
Yarn: 100% Acrylic
I think I used over 45 ozs. of yarn . . . not sure of the yardage, but it's like making two lapghans at once!

Be sure to look for this in my shop soon!

Eileen Fisher

Everyday I walk through a mall to get to work. Everyday I pass the Eileen Fisher store across from the Coach store and next to the Luis Vuitton. . . Yes, it's a pretty "high end" mall and that does nothing to curb my love of the trends! What I've noticed in my walking past Eileen Fisher, is how many of her designs are knit this Fall.

In the Summer there were lots of linen dresses, tops and pants, but as the Fall set in, I noticed whispy knit scarves, lovely "cuddle up" sweaters and cardigans. When I pass by I can't help but feel "comfortable" in her designs and colors. I can't say that I've ever purchased anything from her, but I do love some of her pieces. . . like this sweater . . . love it!

Crochet Coat

(image borrowed from here)

Crochet Today has this really cute sweater coat that you can crochet yourself. I think it's really cute and would love to make it.

Once I get past some of my end-of-year shows and I can strategize my time, I'll have a whole list of items to make. . . oh, wait, then there'll be my own patterns to create and make then the show season will begin again.

Will it be that I can only admire from a distantce? Oh, where are the hours I need?

Crochet!!

When I started working with yarn, it was crochet. I loved making blankets and scarves for everyone I knew. But it seemed that every time I walked into a yarn shop and asked for yarn to crochet, the store attendant would look at me as if to say "you really should knit" then they would proceed to let me know that they didn't really know much about 'crochet' but that it took a lot more yarn.

I began to think, maybe I should knit. So, a year after learning to crochet (by reading and doing) I bought myself a knitting book, some needles and yarn and started teaching myself to knit. I fell in love, but I couldn't finish a project nearly as fast as I could with crochet. As I learned to move my fingers faster and subsequently in continental style, I finished projects, but not with the same speed as crochet.

Yesterday, I came across this article on the web. Can you imagine? After doubting crochet and learning to knit, and realizing that if I wanted it done quickly, it needed to be crochet, the world is catching up and falling in love with crochet! Go figure!

I've always loved crochet for it's texture and pop. But, I've not always liked the items I've seen made with crochet. It seems that the reason most people think of crochet as the "ugly step-sister" is because of the items they've seen that have turned them off, they did me. I decided a long time ago, that I'd like to make items that are stylish, fun and sexy in crochet, because, it was my first yarny love.

As I work to create 100 pieces for stART on the Street, I've turned to crochet because, I could never make enough items in knit. Does that mean I'll leave knitting behind? No. It only means, I'll have to have two markets and cater to both.

I'm armed with hooks and I love it!

In a few days I'm going to post some more yummy "crochet" yarny goodness for you to fall in love with, cause the more love for crochet there is, the better off our yarny goodness will be . . . besides, crochet can only be done with human hand, so that means more work for those who are willing to learn and grow!

Classic Fashions

(picutre borrowed from here)

I'm always on the lookout for timeless fashions. I think if I'm going to spend a lot of money on something, it should be something that I won't have to replace in a year with a costly replacement. Fads are nice, but not for everything. This lovely cardigan is a perfect example of something that will look amazing for quite a few years down the road. The way it is dressed will make it look old-fashioned or new-fangled, but it will always be an amazing piece to have in your closet. I think the same when I make a piece. I want it to be classic, not fadish so my customers will take it and use it for years to come.

Can I design something like this? What about you? What do you look for in your garment purchases?

This particular sweater can be found at Neiman Marcus from TSE Cashmere. It's made in a boucle pima cotton and looks like something I would feel fabulous in. What about you?

(image borrowed from here)

I love this slouchy coat. It's probably not the one I would wear everyday, but it is the one I would choose to wear for those special occaisions where you don't have to worry about what your carrying. Where you can wrap yourself up and feel sexy underneath because your dress is flimsy and soft against your skin.

I'd love this coat for those occaisions. . . I think if I give myself enough time and space, I can create something like this in big bulky soft yarn. Something that will be a prize to anyone who owns it, because it is so rare to see. . . yes, folks, the wheels in my mind are turning.

Fall/Winter Line Sneak Peak

I'm so excited about my Fall/Winter line of items. Since you're here you might as well get a glimpse into the future! My new line is all about color. I found this really cool website called Fashion Trendsetter and they are dying to tell you all about the colors, and trends of the season into 2010!

When I looked at their color forcast for Fall/Winter 2008-2009 I was excited to see so many colors I wanted to use on the list. So, this weekend I took inventory of what I'm making, where they'll be sold and what I needed, then early Saturday morning I went out and purchased most of the yarn I'll need to get me started. Don't the colors look amazing? This year, I'm all about one or two color items. Looking forward into Spring/Summer I think I may venture further than that, but for now, as I love to do, I'm keeping it simple.

I saw this amazing cape, that I cannot afford today, but one day I will. It is part of Salvatore Ferragamo's Fall collection and it is lovely. . . do you want to see the object of my affection? Click Here

Stella McCartney

Do you know this designer?

I didn't. . . duh!

She is Stella McCartney daughter of former Beetle, Paul McCartney, and clothing designer extraordinaire! I went to her website and this Fall/Winter collection is full of felted wool designs!!! They are very nice and so inspiring! When I read a bit more about her I found that she is a vegetarian committed to animal-product-free clothing so she doesn't use any leather or fur in her designs. That just tells me that she probably wouldn't purchase yarn from farms that don't treat their yarn producing animals with care as well.

Check out her designs, they will inspire you, I've already been inspired!

Crochet on the road

This past weekend my family took a road trip down to Newport, RI. If you are in the area and you haven't been, I highly recommend it. We had a blast at the beach, on Ocean Drive, and at the downtown warfs. It was Vlad's first time at the ocean and he loved the waves and all the water activity.

Mommie of course can't go for a long drive without carrying some yarn project. So this is the project I decided to take. Can you guess what it's going to be? I'll give you a hint, it's part of my Fall/Winter line! I'm very excited about what's coming down the pike. I just need to find the time to get it all together in a timely way. Trips are a great way to catch up. . . kindda!

Lucia of Larimeloom

If you like these items you should read on. They are all the product of Larimeloom. Because her items are lovely and caught my eye, I decided to make Lucia my "Friendly Friday's" profile. Read and enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Maria Lucia Squillari and I am 21 years old. I live in Northern Italy in a small town with my big family (we are nine in all, 7 kids and 2 parents along with goats, chikens, cats and a garden). I am also a classical guitar student so my time is divided between home, were I work on etsy and help keep house to a sane level, and my grandmother's house were I live when I have classes. It's a bit of a double life :)

What inspires you to create?
The craft itself inspires me, it is so much fun to do things for the pure pleasure of doing them, and to have the possibility to earn some money from it is the best thing ever! I have always been into trying out whatever manual thing came my way...it was beadworking for awhile, then it was crosstitching, after that it was making baskets, then knitting big lumpy sweaters and long scarves for friends or family members, then it was crocheting, or weaving or sewing...I have always had the tendency not to stick for long to these "burning passions" and to skip from one to the next leaving lots of unfinished projects strewn along the way. Etsy is what gave me a bit more consistency, although here too it started out with only woven scarves, and now I've added handspuns and sewn garments...and who knows what will come along next! I love working with color, and I love fibers and threads, they inspire me tremendously, especially when combined, so that is where I find my biggest inspiration.

How do you see yourself evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I have absolutely no idea :) I will have to wait and see...

What are some of your favorite things?
My favorite color is always changing, but is hovering around green at the moment. I like to take walks, to work in my grandmothers garden, I don't watch many movies, but I liked "The Truman Show" and "Amelie" very much. I used to be a very avid reader but it seems to have subsided a bit of late. I don't have a favorite book at the moment. I love big bags of colorful wool to sit down and spin.

You can find Lucia at her Etsy Shop

Here's a simply stunning style that we can all achieve. Gabrielle Union has dressed it fabulously! It's all very simply and yet it says "classy chic". This dress is a Corey Lynn Calter, however, when I look at fashion I look at it from the perspective of "what can I do with my fiber craft that can emulate this trend?" I have to get an answer to that question soon. . . so much to do, so little time! (image borrowed from here)

Color Blocking

I'm sure you've seen this photo before. It's Reese Witherspoon in the latest trend "color blocking". I post it here because on Thursday's I want to work on featuring fashion trends that may give inspiration to fiber creations. I would never have thought to put this hot pink with red, but it works on this dress. . . what other "odd" color combos can work well?

I'm thinking of a funky new scarf, or maybe I can take two colors from my stash and block them together in a "differnt" way. Who knows what can develop when the inspiration is so close by. . . !