Knitting on a diet
Before
(I didn't feel like having my picture taken.)
This is actually my latest knitting project and I think it's given me arthritis. I had a huge stash of mohair and wool yarn. Some yarn I "inherited" from other people's abandoned knitting projects (mom), other yarn I picked up in thrift stores cheap. Thrift store yarn is great with a few caveats: it's often difficult to find a knitting project to fit the hodge podge of yarn you find. It's much easier to find yarn to fit a knitting project. Of course, you can always knit scarves and hats, but this was a lot of super fuzzy mohair which I though would be too itchy for a garment. The second downside to thrift store yarn is it tends to smell a bit musty (eww). I didn't realize this when I bought it, I was just excited about getting high quality yarn for cheap. Knitting can be a surprisingly expensive hobby. I usually go for the natural, animal fibers, and technically you're not supposed to wash them. So, I knitted this GIANT bag with all the various bits and bobs of yarn I had and felted it.
Voila!--AFTER
This is what happens when you wash wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, etc. I actually intended this bag to be more the size of a shoulder bag and I could probably run it through the wash again, but I kind of like it as an anemone shaped basket for around the house. It is also a bit heavier than I expected. Washing the yarn causes it to compact and become very dense. I also like the painterly effect it has on the colors. So, since the project was too big and wobbly to be a handbag it has become a toy basket:
It would probably look extra cool with wooden blocks in it (if I do say so myself) but Renee is not to that stage yet. Speaking of my little angel, here she is : )
She's in some of her new clothes sent special delivery from her grandmommy (aka Gigi) in the United States. Thanks Gigi! Renee also received some beautiful clothes from Carolyn & Tommy, a gorgeous pair of corduroy overalls from her Auntie Sarah, and some adorable cowgirl boots from Uncle Rob and Auntie Laura Beth. Thanks everyone! Charles promises to send proper Thank You cards complete with photos!
7 comments:
She looks like she got highlights! Is she that old already?!! I gotta see that biscuit soon.
Nice job on the knitting. Remember that hat you knitted and washed? You didn't want your picture taken that day either.
See my blog.
Wow! You work and find time to knit? I'm impressed. Renee is lucky to have such a super mom. She is quite the cutie angel.
She is an Angel
well...I haven't gotten back to work just yet. i've just been planning on getting back to work : ) i like planning things more than doing them.
You are marvelous and you have so many talents. I love that toy bag. You can keep it for your grandchildren's toy bag, it's that good and sturdy. And the colors are beautiful. I love the "diet" scenario. I need to put myself through the washer and dryer to see if I shrink any. Renee, my beloved first-borne's first-borne, is achingly precious. I need to feel her sweetness again. Sugars to you both. XOXOXO
That bag is awesome. It looks like it took quite a bit of time-where'd you find it (the time)? Oh Renee, sweet Renee...I long to squish that baby.
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