Finished Pieces

(Date are when the project was finished. Those with ?'s are estimates. Names indicate current owner.)

Crossstitch

Crossstitch Roses Shirley
Tweety Bird Fleece Blanket November 7, 2003, Me
Crossstitch Collie October 2003, Me
Dragon Cross Stitch 1999? Dave
Cross Stitch Mouse April 2003 Sarah
Cross Stitch Pansy Seed Packet August 2003 Me
Butterfly Crossstitch Thing Mom
Blue Tile Crossstitch August 20, 2003 Me
Frog and Bees Tiny Hanging August 21, 2003 Me
Dad's dragon box
Oakley's napkin rings
Mom's blue and white pillow
Sarah's flowers
Jesse's blue dragon coasters

Crochet

Crocheted Pillow 2001? Shirley
Fringed Afghan 1996? Me
A Crocheted Dragon Me
Pin Cushion and Needle Case 2000? Lois
Green Afghan 2000? Mom
Crocheted Potholder 2002 Paul
Dishclothes September 13, 2003 Ben&Kim
Potholders September 13, 2003 Ben&Kim
Sewing Suite September 13, 2003 Ben&Kim
Mom's doily
Doily Me
June Afghan Me
Purple Elephant
Sarah's doily
Sarah's dishclothes
Keely's miniature rugs
G. Gert's doily

Embroidery

Blue Teapot Embroidery November 11, 2003, Me
Embroidery Sampler April 2003 Sarah
Blackwork in Red August 2003 Me
Hardanger Cushion August 2003 Me

Knitting

Purple and Green Felt Pouch December 2, 2003 Me
White Felt Pouch December 2, 2003 Me
Green Wool Scarf November 27, 2003
Homespun Shawl 2002 Me
Purple Knit Scarf 2002 Lois
White Wool Scarf November 2002 Sarah
Cream Wool Scarf Me
Mom's merino scarf (August, 28, 2003)
Kim's mohair scarf (Jan 3, 2004)
Laura's felt bag (Dec 2003)
Ben's wool scarf (Dec 2003)

Other

Butterfly Boxes Shirley
Keely's spinning and knitting baskets (mini)

Works in Progress

Christmas 2003

I tried shopping for Christmas presents and had absolutely no luck in places that usually yield results for me. So, being the insane crafter that I am, I decided to make presents for everyone.

It helped that I have been working on my basket of unfinished projects. Some of those will be going out as gifts. The discipline that got the ball gown finished has also been beneficial; I'm used to spending two hours a night on needlework.

Finished so far:

Tweety Bird Fleece Blanket
Crossstitch Collie
Blue Tile Crossstitch
Blue Teapot Embroidery
Green Wool Scarf
Miniature baskets and crocheted rugs

To do:

Set of crosstitched towels
Embroidered felt bag
Dragon coasters

Victorian Ball Gown

The project: An 1890's Victorian Ballgown from a Butterick (?) pattern. I'll add the pattern number when I find the envelope.

Notes: Had two problems with the pattern so far. It wanted me to sew the boning casing onto the bodice lining with the boning still in it. Just before the zipper instructions is a step that neither I nor my Mom understand. I didn't get the right width lace for the skirt so I had to get a lot more than the pattern called for. If you're well endowed in the bust you need to go a size up.

The skirt on the gown ended up being too short so we decided to add a ruffle at the bottom, matching the gathered thingy. Note to self: perfectionists don't deal well with gathers.

The bodice was too plain without the gathered thingy so I added some lace medallions that I picked up at Joann Fabrics. I'll probably also bead that lace with glass beads.

While working on the gown, I kept track of my progress in my jounal. I've compiled it all into one document.

Things I learned from the Victorian Ball Gown

Zipper in, half way done.
Dress almost done.
With ruffle and lace medallions, without train.
View 1 of the finished gown.
View 2 of the finished gown.
Side and back with accessories.
Front with accessories.
The Gown at the Party- New

14th Century Embroidered Bag

The project: A replica of the 14th century counted thread embroidered bag as seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The instructions: Embroidery patterns construction, and research by Master Richard Wymarc and are available from his website.

What else am I doing: In addition to actually embroidering the bag I am making the thread to embroider with. This involves drop spinning single ply silk thread and two ply linen thread. The silk thread needs to be dyed into red, blue, and green. At this stage I am experimenting with spinning the silk so I'll have enough for the dye testing part of the project. I also have a bunch of wool thread that I will experiment with color on.

Materials: Silk from Pennsic War, medieval drop spindle from The Woolery, madder root and indigo from Dharma Trading Co..

Spinning Silk Embroidery Thread
A large version in DMC thread

Birthday Present for Dad

My first weaving project will be two kitchen style towels for my step-father to use while he is baking.
Test piece on the loom.
Finished test piece.
The finished product!
Towel in its natural habitat

I'm going to make the towel wider and it will be longer since I had a bad warp break and lost about 5 inches.

I learned a lot on this piece. My selvages got better and better, I need to be more careful of the tension when I wind on my warp, I need to be careful that my warp does not fall off of the warp beam (oops).

They're finished and delivered to my Dad who is actually using them as intended. It was way cool to wash my hands then dry them on a towel that I wove myself.

Wool and Mohair Shawl

Bought 2 pounds of wool and mohair (Angora goat) off of the Ebay and thought it would make a wonderful shawl.
Raw Fiber
Shawl in Progress
Shawl Finished!(Well... except for a little more fringe adjusting.)

The Ice Dragon Project

So my SCA spinning dream came true. A friend came up to me and said "I found documentation for knitted Elizabethan clothing pieces. Could you do the spinning? I'll do the documentation and find knitters." Yes!

Scoggers, socks, stockings, mittens, hat. The scoggers are out of a two ply fingering weight worsted yarn spun from a Clun Forest fleece. The socks will be a two ply fingering weight worsted yarn out of white merino. The yarn may even get dyed before knitting. The mittens and hat will be two ply worsted weight woolen yarn also of Merino. The stockings are going to be done in a commercial silk yarn.

Bought a white Merino fleece at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. Washed half of what I bought using four baths. Pre-rinse of clean water, first dishsoap wash, second dishsoap wash, vinegar/water rinse, water rinse. It took forever to dry and it looks like I will need to rewash the fiber that is going to be combed.

Well... the yarn for the scoggers was finished and the scoggers were knit up. The hat yarn was spun but scope creep made the yarn a bit unsuitable but the knitter worked around it. Stockings were not finished but I didn't have anything to do with them. Mittens were not done. Sock yarn was started enough to enter but the socks were dropped from the project in January/February.

Ended up having to enter my spinning seperately and do my own documentation. That will be posted here after Ice Dragon as well as any competition results that may apply.

Tools and Workspaces

Spinning Corner
The Rigid Heddle Loom
Indigo Hound Viking Combs: With Clun Forest and Corriedale roving done with them.
Ashford Four Harness Table Loom