greenolive

30cm of fabric

That's enough for a scarf isn't it?

I fell in love with this fabric.

At Cleggs. For $100/m. The perfect shade of dusky pink-brown. Enbellished even.

I HAD to have it. Problem was I couldn't justify $180 for a scarf.

So I compromised. And thought real quick. I could just use a bit on the end as a feature couldn't I?

This is EXACTLY how it looked in my mind as I stood in Cleggs clutching the $100/m fabric.

And use something soft and squishy for the rest of the scarf. Something that curled around my neck and draped really nicely.

Yeah, that'll work – I told myself. I'll make it work! I just had to have this fabric. So I bought 30cm and walked away a very happy woman.

The BEFORE shot – two fabrics waiting to blossom into a scarf.

The AFTER shot – ta da!

This scarf has become one of my favourites – it will be staying in my skein/swaddle/drape of scarves. I've already worn it twice!

sumptuous silk

A new twist on an old favourite

Close up of the sumptuous blue silk I have been playing with recently.

The Pieced Fabric Scarf is one of my favourite designs. Judging from some of your comments on this post, it's a winner with you too.

And while I love making them with my vast stash of suiting fabrics, I have recently started playing with silk. (If you are a regular reader you'll know how much I like silk!)

While I have been staying true to the original design, one main front piece with multiple strips of fabric at the ends, I've been rethinking the accent. The silk is so rich and luxurious that I don't think it needs it.

I've made one in various blue silks. (I'm keeping this one for myself!)

And another in various shades of browns and beiges.

They are lighter and dressier than the original scarves – perfect for warmer weather and dressing up an outfit.

What do you think? Will they walk out the door?

which do you prefer?

Knitted or fabric scarf?

 

A bunch of Pieced Fabric scarves just hanging out. What is the collective noun for scarves I wonder?

I spent the weekend whipping up some more scarves for my stockist up here on Mt Dandenong. Mainly Pieced Fabric Scarves because they are much quicker than the knitted Stripy Things.

As I sewed, pressed, sewed some more and photographed, I got to thinking, which is the most popular design? I've sold almost equal amounts of each design, so sales is no gauge of popularity.

So what do you think? Which is your favourite?

A Pieced Fabric Scarf made from an assortment of suiting fabrics with a hint of an accent.

Or a knitted Stripy Thing made from an assortment of yarns with merino, silk, cashmere and mohair fibers.

Your feedback would be really useful, helping me decide what direction to go in and where to focus my limited time and energy. As for me, I like both, and have at least one of each design in my personal scarf stash!

Oh, I almost forgot. I loved reading your comments and I wanted to give you all presents. However, the "winners" of the blog birthday post are: Bianca, Ali (domesticali), Ali (machen/machen), crafty girl with ruffle and Sara. I'll be in touch about address details and then keep an eye out for the postman!

the tale of a green scarf

the history of the handmade

You know I like scarves, and I know you like the stories behind the handmade: the who, what, when, where, how and why. So the story of a green scarf should keep us both happy.

It's not like I NEED any more scarves, I already have quite enough. But when I spy a lovely fabric I often can't help myself. I just have to have it. 

This fabic, a mid-green mesh fabric with a flower-motif embellishment was spotted at Spotlight. That's the where.

I was with Aunty Shabby, and I think she may have ended up buying it for me. I must have done something very nice or good and she wanted to say thank you. That's what sisters do. So that's the who: Aunty Shabby bought it for me.

As for the what, well that was a forgone conclusion wasn't it? I mean whenever I have been fabric or yarn shopping with Mum or Aunty Shabby, they usually innocently enquire: So what are you going to make? I don't know why they bother really, because the answer is always the same: A scarf of course. Some women have shoes, I have scarves.

When? Well I can't remember exactly, but sometime in the last 12 months. So to have it bought, stashed, made and worn several times, all within 12 months is quite fast in my books. I have some fabrics that have been waiting patiently in the stash for almost two decades already!

I soon realised I'd have to rethink how I was going to sew this scarf. The mesh fabric was too sheer to sew on the machine, there wasn't enough body in the fabric for the stitches to grip – it kept puckering. So, in a brainwave, and probably inspired by one of your flickr photos I decided to hand stitch it. And to make a feature of the stitching.

So, all in all, it was one of the quickest and simplest scarves I've made. And it's such a perfect green.

I wonder if I'm really good what other fabrics I can get Aunty Shabby to buy me?

enough spinning!

how about some sewing instead?

At our place we are a bit over spinning. I'm sure you are too. 

Over the numerous posts. Over the various spinning-related images on the flick site. I mean, how different can each bobbin or skein of handspun really look? (Not that different I hear you mutter. Even Mr greenolive can no longer feign interest when I present a newly-spun skein for inspection and comment.)

So how about a change of scenery? The brief spells of sunshine, combined with the lack of fog and rain over the weekend meant I could do a spot of photography. My first serious session since we moved in almost 8 weeks ago.

I photographed the baker's dozen of scarves I had started ages ago and finally finished before we moved house.  But just hadn't got round to photographing them. 

Detail of a lovely light silk shawl/scarf.

You know how it takes awhile to find the right spot and lighting? And work out how you want to style the photos? Well I finally sorted that out. And spent the best part of two hours photographing everything. I went through two sets of batteries in the camera!

Close up of a Pieced Fabric Scarf design in blue silk.

Some of them are already favourites and have found a place in my wardrobe and have had a few outings in the last week or two. Others are certainly for sale, soon. I'll share some more shots of these via flickr in the next few days. So if you are in the market for a new scarf, you know where to go!

obsession is an understatement!

me and THAT spinning wheel

Meet Leggs, my single-drive Sheridan Scandinavian spinning wheel, we've been seeing a lot of each other lately. And I mean a LOT!

You already know I'm just a little obsessive, so this post will come as no surprise. I've probably seen more of Leggs in the last week than Mr greenolive. Even I think it's a bit too much. (He certainly does!)

I bought Leggs last Saturday and came straight home and spun. And spun. And plied. I only stopped for dinner, cups of tea and toilet breaks. And only then when the strand of fleece broke or I had to change bobbins.

I was up til 4am the next morning spinning and plying. (Unless you have been without internet connection for the last six weeks you will be well aware of the hold spinning has on me at the moment.) 

Two bobbins of Leicester-Romney cross spun into singles are ready to ply.

One 2-ply skein of handspun, still a bit fuzzy but I am improving.

In the eight days since, I have spun every day. Except for Friday, when I thought I'd take a break and be sociable. But I made up for it by doing another 5am stint today.

Two skeins, two fleeces, two colourways.

In the past week I have spun about 8 or 9 bobbins of singles and plied them into 11 skeins of 2 ply wool. They are all washed and twisted and looking very inviting. And still a bit fuzzy for my liking, but the later skeins are decidedly more even.

It's quite a messy business this spinning. Especially if you use raw, natural fleece as I do. You have the bits of grass, stick, dirt and other organic matter that falls from the fleece as you handle it. Then there's the bits of fluff and fleece that fall to the floor as you pull bits to spin or break a single because your tension is too tight. And, don't forget the grime and lanolin on your fingers and hands and clothes. 

As for the set up, you need space for the wheel, a chair, and somewhere to put the fleece, bobbins and tools. When I set up I end up taking over the lounge room. 

A very time and labour intensive persuit, you need to spin two bobbins of singles before you can then ply this into a yarn. Then skein, wash, dry and wind it. My teacher said it takes about 2 hours to fill a bobbin. So you need to factor in about four hours before you can even start to ply.

So, taking into account the mess, the space and the time to produce results, you can see that my all-night spinning sessions are quite sensible. However I'm a bit stiff and sore by the time I climb into bed. Maybe I need to take some breaks? But when the wheel is spinning, and the fleece is magically releasing itself into a thin strand of fibres, you don't want to mess with the flow. You hang on for dear life and pray it lasts a bit longer!

 

Knitted swatch from some unwashed spun single. Is it me, or does it look like some fabulous Habu yarn?

Now I just need to decide what to knit with all this handspun yarn... Any ideas?

And I've still got heaps of fleece to spin.

one down, nine to go

making progress with the knitting WIPs

The finished Sea Green Baby Blanket for Baby Pickles.

I have no trouble knitting to deadline. I think that stems from my years of working to deadlines as a graphic designer. If a brochure or annual report needs to be released on a certain date then there are no excuses for missing it.

You'll remember my very long list of knitting WIPs. (I'll wait while you remind yourself just how long it was.)

Ten. Yes, 10 projects on the needles at once. Some of you were a bit incredulous, being the sorts of knitter with only one project at any one time. (Don't you get bored?)

The shame of my excessive WIPs and the impending deadline for the Sea Green baby blanket spurred me into action and I focused and finished the blanket. And wrapped it. And posted it.

Sea Green now has a new home in Baby Pickles room. The colours complement the teal wall beautifully. What luck! Check it out for yourself. Now all we need is the baby.

And, since I've finished one project, can I start another now? Mr greenolive is pestering me for a jumper. I can't say no can I?

greenolive turns one

Happy blog birthday!

And you get the presents!

I had every intention of posting this first thing this morning. However I didn't get to bed til after 4am as I was spinning and plying up a storm on my very own spinning wheel. (More about THAT later.) And a girl needs her beauty sleep, especially at my age. So, with a few hours sleep I type this post (so cut me some slack with the spelling and grammar, ok?).

Exactly one year ago today I posted my first blog post.

I didn't really know what I was doing, exactly why I was doing it, what I'd write about or who would read it. Would anyone read it? Thankfully they did. And they commented – even better – you all know how I feel about comments!

Anna Laura was my first commentor. So I should probably send her a thank you pressie to mark the occasion. She's kind of like my blog's god mother.

In those subsequent 365 days:

• I have posted almost 170 posts (I have several drafts which have yet to see the light of day so it's hard to be precise – very unlike me, I know)

• received 615 comments (some of them are mine, but I have at least 600 "real" comments!)

• met lots of fellow bloggers who seem to understand me (see Patricia's comment on this post)

• written for mixtape

• sold greenolive goodies 

and had such fun. I love blogging. Now while I'm showering, driving to work, or trying to fall asleep, an idea for a blog, tag line or first sentence pops into my head and I have to write it down before I forget.

A year ago I couldn't have imagined how much this online community of crafters and creatives would come to mean to me. 

I love reading your posts: oohhhhing, aahhhhing, laughing, nodding in agreement and often shedding a tear as I read about your lives and adventures, challenges and triumphs, inspirations and frustrations.

I love seeing the images of things you have created, feeling inspired as I see each of them, in awe of your talent and skill. And your photographs of the world around you opens my eyes to new ways of seeing and new things each day.

I've bumped into quite a few graphic designers and several architects, and you remind me of a time when my creativity was with me 24/7, not just in the after-work hours under the guise of greenolive.

So to celebrate greenolive's first birthday, you get the presents. That's the tradition isn't it? Leave a comment – get a present.

Five is one of my favourite numbers, so there are five "presents". I can't promise I'll do the impartial random name draw. I kind of think I'll know who you are when I read your comment. No pressure!

Let the comments begin!

Small print: I'm not sure if the "presents" will be greenolive goodies or something tres desirable from my vast fabric-wool-button stash. But I do promise they will be comment-worthy!

Very small print: Aunty Shabby you are not eligible to win, sorry, but you can still leave a comment! And that goes for you too Mr greenolive.

just how many knitting projects is too many?

One of my many WIPs, see very long list below.

I often wonder about this very question as I start yet another knitting project while several others in various states of completion lie about the place begging to be finished.

Just how many knitting WIPs is appropriate? How many can one have on the go at once? And why do I keep starting projects while I have many others that need focus and attention and completion?

Is there a knitting rule I just don't know about?

I know some of you have the self-discipline to not start a new project until you finish another. It's like you have some magic number in your head: three knitting WIPs is enough. No, really, it is!

Or you have the internal fortitude to resist starting a new project even though the yarn is divine and you want to see how it feels as you knit it. Clearly you are not the type of knitter who's into instant gratification!

Unfortunately that is not me. I crave instant gratification and have no self-discipline when it comes to yarn.

When I actually count my knitting WIPs I have 10:

1. The Sea Green baby blanket

2. The mulberry mohair wrap vest

3. The steel blue moss stitch scarf

4. The linen lavender pillow (number 5)

5. Mum's cotton poncho

6. Mum's sparkly wrap

7. Baby Blanket #3

8. The pink bamboo vest

9. The green cotton scarf

10. the scarf for Ed

And these are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. I'm sure if I really tried I could rustle up a few more! And I mean real WIPs, knitting that is actually "on the needles" as opposed to queued and ready to start.

I wonder what my problem is? Procrastination? Can't commit? Short attention span? No discipline? 

How exactly do you guys keep your WIPs to a manageable number and actually finish a project every once in awhile?

a spot of sewing

The button detail on linen curtains sewn for the new house.

Saturday and Sunday saw a spot of sewing in the studio. Finally, the studio was the scene of crafty creating after weeks of unpacking and sorting.

Both afternoons Mr greenolive and I decamped to the studio spending several hours together enjoying the space and the steady rain on the tin roof. 

I did the last of the unpacking and sorting – those last 5 or 6 boxes that inevitably get left because you're not quite sure what to do with them or where they should go. The sewing machine was unpacked and I managed to modify three curtains and make two more. That means the kitchen window, pine shelves, studio sink and studio window are now sorted! On Sunday I managed to finish three new scarves and start another two. Not quite a rhythm, but first steps certainly.

Mr greeenolive added some more lights in the studio so I can seem what I'm doing, and started stripping back the old dresser we bought from the landlord. He also put up a curtain rod so we can screen the sink area off from the rest of the studio. Its starting to look quite comfy. Can't wait til I can spend more time in there.

Oh, and I managed to get a spot of knitting in too. Sea green blanket is finished!