Microwave Dyeing

I’ve been buying packets of KoolAid. It’s a powder drink which you dilute to taste, and comes in many flavours.

The flavours are chosen mainly for their colour, so lots of red colours, depending on what’s available in the shops.

I soak the yarn in lukewarm water with a splash if liquid detergent (washing up liquid), then on with the rubber gloves.

Then, I used a packet (or more) of the powder in a microwave able bowl, and stir it until all the powder is dissolved.

Rinse the soaking wool in lukewarm water, then put it in the powder mixture.

Put the bowl in the microwave, and I let it run for 15 minutes. What you need is for the water to be clear, which means the yarn has dissolved all the colour of the dye.

Let it cool, then wash and rinse in lukewarm water. Remember to squeeze the yarn, not rub it or it will felt/shrink!

Leave the yarn to dry, and marvel at the new colour.

O!RASH

Another  O!RASH Sock in progress, hopefully 2 sell.

Alpaca wool on toe & heel.  Self striping, blue mix colour yarn, for main part of the socks. Crocheted ties, woven into the cuffs.

*UPDATE:  Finished!  Waiting 2 sell.

Yarn winding 3

Fyberspates Merino yarn colour – detail

Fyberspates Merino yarn colour – detail

ORASH! Sox

Calf length self striping socks, for a customer, & it only took 3 days!

Yarn winding 2

Finished winding my Fyberspates Merino into a centre pull ‘cake’.

The colours r gorgeous!

Yarn winding 1

Winding my Fyberspates hand-painted Merino wool yarn skein, from my wooden, umbrella swift, onto the yarn winder.

O!RASH – Operation Replace All Socks with Handmade

Hot Socks

I’m doing a nu ORASH (Operation Replace All Socks with Handmade) sock.

I’ll also hoping to sell them @ Hither Green Week, the end of May.  They have a picot cuff  & a crochet alpaca tie, also in the cuff.

The heel & toe, is knitted with alpaca yarn.

I’m using a self-striping yarn, I bought from Avicarft Wool Shop in Bromley, some time ago.  See last pick for yarn details.

Hot Socks.  circus colour by Four Seasons.  75% virgin wool superwash &        25% Polyamide.  100g/420m. Recommended needle size: 2.5mm – 3mm.  I’m using 3mm, bamboo double pointed needles.  I bought this yarn from Avicraft Wool Shop, in Bromley, Kent.  I think it cost between £6-£8, I can’t remember.

I’ve completed the 1st foot, & i’m onto the 2nd foot, so I don’t suffer from 2nd sock syndrome!

*Already sold!

Knitting with Kat

Today, was Kat’s day @ the Cooper Locke Gallery/Cafe in Hither Green.

The lovely Kat was knitting a pair of teal coloured socks, with a cable stitch pattern, for a Hollywood actor!  I’m not sure if i’m allowed to reveal his name, but he was in the American sci-fi series, ‘X Files’!  How cool is that!? Well done, Kat.  Hopefully she’ll i’ll get a pick of it before it’s shipped to him.

I was ravenous, & decided to curb my hunger by getting a cup pot of mint tea (£1.50) & one of these beauties for £2.00:

a slice of carob & walnut cake with Camp coffee icing.  Yum, yum!

The owner, Carre, was preparing to change the jewellery display case, & inside, will be my hand made jewellery, which is now selling there!  Yay!

I can’t remember the prices of them, but feel free to go & take a look @ Cooper Locke Gallery/Cafe, 132 Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, SE13 6QA or email Carre at: carre@cooperlocke.com for more details.

I’m pleased to see them displayed, & Carre has more of my work to put out, so feel free to ask her to show them to you.  I gave her a bag full!

There’s also a Chinese Jade donut pendant with Swarovski glass, a hand woven & bead loomed belts, also a hand woven, glass cuff, made with 2-cut glass, square beads with adjustable glass bead fasteners!  How cool is that!?

Thanks, Carre for taking in my work, i’m looking forward to hearing that they’ve sold out!

The majority of my jewellery is made with materials which are: no longer in existence, end of run stock or from small runs, which makes most of them one-offs, & I especially like to use items which are: recycled, found objects or upcycled.     If bought from a trade show or exhibition, they are always from suppliers who can ethically source their items & or do not add chemicals during the making process.

Please note, when wearing the jewellery, make sure that all perfumes, oils, moisturisers etc, are used before you wear any item, as some beads/stones can react to the chemicals/oils we use on our bodies.

Anyway, that’s enough for now, i’m about to teach a crochet lesson!

So, until the next time, keep crafting, keep creating.

Peace & Love

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Glammamamma x0x0

Week 5 & fingerloop braiding

NU FUNKY FIBRE

The blue painted fingernails, belong to the lovely new Funky Fibre member, Erva. Below she’s learning to crochet, for the first time.

Welcome, Erva, & keep practicing holding the yarn for crocheting & not as knitting!

FINGERLOOP BRAIDING

Kaiya showed us an old, (but new to us), craft called Fingerloop braiding.

She used garden string, any strong yarn will do, wrap 5 loops around a solid base, have 3 loops on 3 fingers of one hand, & 2 loops on two fingers of the other hand.

After slipping loops between fingers, a plaited fabric is made.

Of course, Kaiya made it look easy, but I suppose with practice (& You Tube), great things can be achieved.

Such as this ‘split’ braid.

Take a look @ the link for the You Tube tutorial:      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

History & details of Fingerloop braiding @: http://fingerloop.org

SASQUATCH BOOTS

Kaiya’s an avid camper, and as not to mess up the inside of the tent, the family wear these warm & cosy boots.

The whole of the boot, is made with natural yarn, with acrylic ‘eye lash’ yarn to give it some fun.  It’s knitted in mainly garter stitch (knit all rows), then stocking stitch, (knit 1 row, purl 1 row), for the upper foot.

To finish, she sews a seam up the centre back.  These boots are nice ‘n’ sturday & would be great to polish the wooden floors with, whilst wearing them!

To make these, go to:http://www.eviesyarn.com/Free%20patterns.htm

SOCKS

Kat’s making ANOTHER pair of socks!

She’s using that gorgeous self-patterning yarn, which she gets from Drops with green yarn, I think is from Lidl.  Not sure if this is the 1st or 2nd foot.  I’ll find out more, on Wednesday, as she’s running her knitting club @ the Cooper Locke Gallery/Cafe, Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, 3pm.

HOT CHILE

Claire’s away in Chile, but she’s been updating her blog page.  She uploaded this glorious picture, below:

Street art, Santiago

Unfortunately, Mary didn’t make it tonight, so with only 10 minutes before Club ended, we got out the rose wine, & toasted Mrs G, & off home we went.   (Besides, I wanted to get home pretty sharpish, as the new series of The Hotel Inspector starts @ 9pm!

So, until the next time, Happy Easter.

Keep crafting, keep creating.

Peace & Love

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Glammamamma 😉

Knitting with Kat

COOPER LOCK GALLERY/CAFE. 132 HITHER GREEN LANE, HITHER GREEN, LONDON.  SE13 6QA.  07919 192 724

A few weeks afo, my friend & fellow Pins ‘N’ Needles & Funky Fibres member, started a knitting/crochet group @ the lovely Cooper Locke Gallery/Cafe in Hither Green Lane, Hither Green.

Hither Green, is improving for the better, with The Cafe of Good Hope, which was set up in memory of Jimmy Mizen, and the very tempting, Gallery 136 (great furniture), I was excited about Kat’s group & exploring another part of South London.

I was stuck in traffic on the bus, & was hit by the school run, but was pleased to see that the (181) bus stopped just past the gallery/cafe, as I didn’t feel like walking anywhere, because I was already hot n bothered, due to the bus’ heating being on, despite the blazing, hot sun outside!

I was about 30 minutes late, (club starts from 3pm), but was greeted by Kat, who was wearing a vintage scarf on her head, & the lovely owner/manager Carre.

Kat was lengthening a pair of ‘funeral’ trousers, by crocheting rows of treble crochets, with some cotton yarn.  What Kat was doing is a good way of up-cycling an existing garment.  This saves un-wanted items ending up in land fill, and of course, saving the pennies.

The interior of Cooper Locke is worth a visit.  I liked the mix of old/vintage furniture & soft furnishing, which set off the artwork, jewellery & craft, which are available for sale:

The Gallery, also offer a professional, picture framing service .

Of course, another reason for my excitement, was the fab cakes, which are handmade, which is great for me, as i’m dairy intollerant.  Carre also offers vegan cakes, made to order.

The dairy free, chocolate muffin with an oozy centre, has REAL cherries, & @ £1.50 each, I had 2!  I’ll try out the drinks, next time, or have another muffin – choices, choices!

The work available for sale, is reasonably priced.  I was looking forward to seeing Julia Gemie’s pencil drawings, but they were not there, but I did see 2 nice woven wall hangings, but I can’t remember her name – next time.

In the window are some beautiful brass hares, plus in the glass display case, were some gorgeous jewellery, using semi-precious stones, which led me to ask Carre if I could send her some ino/pics of my jewellery, with the possibility of selling them there.  Wish me luck.

The gallery/cafe, has a warm, friendly atmosphere, which makes it a place to sit n relax or have a meeting, with good food & drink, whilst listening to Nina Simone amongst the crocheted, table doilys!

I may not make it every week, so go & join Kat, every Wednesday from 3pm, (& try the chocolate muffin)!  Just bring your knitting/crochet or craft project with you.  Beginners & expereinced crafters will enjoy it, as much as I did.  Tell Carre & nKat, I sent you.

Other info: The Cafe of Good Hope: http://www.jimmymizen.org                     Gallery 136: http://www.gallery136.com/contact.shtml

So, until the next time.  Keep crafting, keep creating.

Peace & Love

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Glammamamma 😡

*Images would not upload.  See them @: glammamamma.tumblr.com