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Fiber Art in Community Exhibits

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ScannedImageI have had a unique opportunity to have some of my work in a museum for a special exhibit featuring the fiber arts for the months of April and May. What makes me smile about this, besides the obvious, is that recognition of the fibers arts seems to be on the rise in our world (or at least my part of Northern California).

Vineyard at Dawn Shawl (back), Crochet! Magazine Spring 2013 Photo courtesy of Annie's

Vineyard at Dawn Shawl (back), Crochet! Magazine Spring 2013
Photo courtesy of Annie’s
On display March 30-May 19, 2013 Folsom Historic Museum, CA

Last year a local art gallery was featuring art that was created with fibers; woven, crocheted, knitted, or felted. Then a nearby museum has an entire exhibit for nearly 2 month focused on the history of fiber arts, ranging from the 1800’s to modern day works in a wide variety of mediums; crochet, knit, basketry, weaving, hand spun yarns, and felting. Then a local winery wants to host a love for fibers and wine this summer at their vineyard.  Granted I know that I have many talented fiber artists, of many specialty areas, in my vicinity, but I can’t just believe that mine is the only area that is experiencing a renewed interest in my favorite arts. Check your local community and support all the fiber arts, even though I love crochet, I can appreciate anything made of yarn or thread!

Folsom Historic Museum(If you would like to see my exhibit piece and are in the Sacramento area, check out the Folsom Historic Museum, March 30- May 19, 2013 (open Tuesday through Sunday 11-4).

Tour Through Crochet Country

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ScannedImageWow! A whole month of focusing on crochet blogs is almost to an end; but I might just have to follow along with some that I have visited over the past 30 days, and I hope you will consider doing the same. (here is a list of all the participants)

First I would like to thank Amy and Donna of Crochetville for putting this tour together. They are very supportive and encouraging of all things crochet, and help all of us with a hooking habit feel at home and welcome. I can’t wait to see what new ways to support crochet they have up the sleeves. Another supporting factor I have found in the world of crochet is the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Becoming a member and taking the opportunities that it has presented has changed my life…and that is not just a figure of speech. I am a crochet instructor, but only started having students after I passed the Masters of Advanced Stitches and Technique. I am a new designer; I only sold my first design at the Summer CGOA conference in Minneapolis, July 2011, and now at this moment I have 7 designs in 3 magazines that are currently at your local news stand.  All of that is possible because I took the opportunities that CGOA offered, including meeting many supportive and encouraging people.

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Lisa Souza Glacier Yarn (100% Bombyx Silk) that will find a new home on April 2!

 

Unfortunately I do not have a local chapter of CGOA (there is one an hour drive away, and the meetings have never worked in my schedule), but I have found a local “non-denominational” fiber guild in my community, so I know the benefits belonging to a supportive group that enjoys the same things you do. If you have never considered visiting a guild (it took me a while, I thought that they were trade unions from the middle ages, at least that is what I remember from history class), the opportunity to make new friends, that actually understand crochet terms, is invaluable. Definitely finding a crochet community makes a difference. You can check here to see if there is a CGOA guild in your area. These groups help ensure that crochet is not just featured one month of the year, but throughout and open you to new ideas and approaches. They also usually help in the community (like this blog tour, helping Project Night Night, look here for more information), and make a difference in a variety of ways.

When writing this post, I had many thoughts of knowledge and tricks I have learned and would love to share with you, but the most important thing I can impart is to get involved, and find a supporting network of crochet lovers. (If you want to hear some of my knowledge and tricks, feel free to follow me on my crochet journey).

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Tunisian Mini Shawl- Free pattern download

One of the things I have learned from my local guild is the expanse of fibers available in yarn and how to use them, so I wanted to share an opportunity with you to enjoy some yarns you probably don’t have in your stash.( I find it amazing to me how different the same pattern can look with a different yarn or fiber) So, I am giving away a skein of Lisa Souza’s Glacier Yarn (100% Bombyx Silk) to 3 lucky winners (just simply leave me a comment on this post about what you enjoy about crochet or what it means to you, I will randomly select 3 comments on April 2, 2013 at 9:00am PST).

From the CGOA I have learned many new techniques and I would like to share my free Tunisian Mini Shawl pattern (created out of 1 skein of the yarn being given away) as a tribute to those that have encouraged me. Check out my free pattern download from either Crochetville’s Free Pattern Library or by using this  Free Tunisian Mini Shawl Download

Don’t forget to check out the other featured blog today…Kristin Dragos and don’t forget tomorrows the last day of March, where has the time gone?

March 31 Karen C K Ballard Gwen Blakley-Kinsler

Easter Egg Dyes Yarns

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ScannedImageEaster is right around the corner, and one of the things I look forward to is the egg dye. No, not necessarily dying eggs, but the dye for the eggs. I have enjoyed using this in the past to dye fibers. I thought I’d give you my process so you could attempt it for yourself, and if you have already colored eggs in your home, not to worry, Monday you’ll find coloring kits discounted at stores.

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Skeins before and after dying

I prep an area just I am planning a bunch of kindergarteners to be dying eggs, I usually work outside, It is fun to do some dying but I don’t really care for stains all over the house.

First you have to have an item to dye. This could be yarn, and finished crocheted/knitted item, or un-spun wool, the only catch; it has to be a protein based fiber/material. Basically yarns are made out of 3 main fibers: protein, cellulose, and mineral….animal, plant, and other (think acrylic). This process only works for fibers that are from animals, such as wool, silk, alpaca, etc. You need to get this fiber wet, and soak it in a mixture of 1 Tablespoon 56% citric acid crystals and 1 quart warm water. (56% citric acid crystals sounds more impressive then it is, this is an edible ingredient that with help the dyes adhere to the fiber and be permanent, it can be found on-line at places like www.nuts.com, (or just search for citric acid crystals) or at compounding pharmacies, in a pinch you can even use Kool-Aid powder, just remember Kool-Aid has a dye already in it, and this will set to the fiber as well). The fiber will float on top of the water; you can gently coax it down and give it a squeeze to work our air bubbles.

Next, you make up the dye as directed on the package (color eggs if you want; there is still plenty of dye left over). Dip your item into the dyes, or use a brush and paint the dyes onto your item (I’ve even had fun attempting tie dye). Consider “over dying” by placing a dyed spot in another dye, or using a fiber that isn’t white…browns and grays can dye up in really pretty ways. Once you have the color where you want it, let it sit for a minute or two (this gives you time to clean up some of the mess), then go ahead and rinse out the item until the water runs clear. Let it dry and enjoy. I have found this a personal way to play with color, allowing myself to have the ultimate control over my creation in a way that has no surprises except for what my imagination can create.

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Dipping treated silk skein in Easter egg dye

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Skein waiting for a rinse after being dipped into dyes

My New Pattern Line!

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ScannedImage I just had some fun adding my own personal patterns for sale on Crochetville.com (you can find them right here on this site at the pattern tab above, with links to their selling site). They are all made using the wonderful yarn from Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks, and the model is always happy to get in front of the camera.

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Simply Girl Summer Top

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Seasons Change Hooded Vest

 

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Precious Blossom Shrug

 

A Class of Crochet

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ScannedImageI am a self taught crocheter; I learned from a long out of print book when I was about 10. However only recently I have learned the benefit of actually taking a crochet class.

My first class was at a Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Chain Link Conference (aka Knit and Crochet Show) in July 2011, with Karen Ratto-Whooley on Savvy Singles, learning new approaches to single crochet stitches. (This conference changed my life, but that is a story for another day)Usually I read through class listings and think “I have seen that in a book, what else they can be showing me”, but after taking this class I realized that there are more than the words in a pattern or book that created my hobby. Being in a room of fellow crocheters getting more detailed instruction then I thought was possible was an eye opening moment.

The designer doesn’t talk about the inspiration or thought process behind a pattern in any book that I’ve found, but in the class I was hearing the “background” of how the stitches work and the dynamics of how they work with the pros and cons of each stitch.  The fellow students offered more then I would have thought by bringing up questions I would have not considered. Even after crocheting for nearly 30 years, this old dog was learning new tricks.

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5 Peaks Shawl class by Vashti Braha at Fall 2012 Chain Link, Reno

 

This experience has encouraged me to take a handful of classes every year, and the new ideas and concepts that have opened up new worlds to me. (The 5 Peaks Shawl by Vashti Braha gave me a whole new outlook on Tunisian Crochet) Just because I knew the stitches, could read a pattern and complete the fabrics I desired, I didn’t realize there was another world within the one I knew. How often this happens in life; there is more depths in that we love than ever imagined.