Reupholstery, anyone?

These were some super fugly chairs at our cabin in West Virginia. There was an article on weaving upholstery fabric in Handwoven magazine a while back, so I thought, what the hell. I think they're just smashing now, if I do say so myself. And now I sit on one of them to weave at my cabin loom.

The original insanity project

Here it is, in all its glory. I banged this bad boy out in six months of claw-inducing labor. It was made for friends (good, GOOD friends) who got married three years ago. This is what the current project will eventually look like. Except that it'll be blue.

Nesting baskets

I think these were made with linen, or maybe flax, which was kind of a pain in the butt to work with, but which turned out pretty well. They ended up being quite sturdy. I believe my mother is using them as flower pots or something. The pattern came from Hip to Crochet.

Baby blankets galore

I love making blankets for friends who have kids. This one was fun because all the squares are different. This was another one that I tried to sell, but alas, it too languished all summer last year. Unfortunately, I think my friends are all done having kids....

A "mini" insanity project

This is a smaller version of my current project. This was only around 200 pieces, and they're two rows smaller than the current one. This took six months of daily work. It was meant to be sold as a christening blanket, but for some reason, no one wanted to pay $200 for all that hard work. (Last year I tried selling items at a craft store in West Virginia, but apparently I'm too pricey.) I actually made two of these because I was assured that they'd go like hotcakes. Maybe some day I'll have a friend with a baby who gets christened...

Squoosh-faced bear

Here's a bear I made a couple of years ago. I made an extra blue vest in case he got tired of the red one. I really loved how his ears and feet turned out, but I should have taken more care with his face, and his head ended up sort of crooked. It's not easy sewing a head onto a body and making it straight. I guess it might be easier if I pinned it on first, but really, who can be bothered. I still think he's pretty cute.

Old stuff

Stuffed elephant and some kitchen towels from a couple of Christmases ago.













A not-bad first attempt at lace making.
















And some kick-ass bread towels.

On the loom

My first project on my new "cabin loom." This loom came with pounds and pounds of chenille, and I thought I should probably make an attempt to use it up. Unfortunately, I don't like how the colors look together, although I like the pattern, which is "tromp as writ." I've ordered some new chenille to try again: a light tan to go with the red, and amethyst to go with the "flax." It's not hideously ugly or anything, and in all likelihood it'll improve with wet finishing, but at the moment I'm not in love.

On the hook

For no other reason than general insanity, I give you my ongoing project:








I am making one of these a day. For 410 days. I'm sewing the rows together as I go, and I'm about half way done. I think I started this project last November. In the end, I'll have a lovely coverlet; and in the meantime, it's keeping me out of trouble. Mostly.

Off the loom

Two of five scarves woven for "Girls' Weekend" in May. A third one can be seen in my lovely photo.


Photo by R. Witkin

Off the hook

A baby bib for my niece. Directions were found here.

A day off from the gym

What a luxury. After seven days in a row and 30 miles, how lovely to stay in bed until 6:45.