A "Hybrid" hat

I'm working on a different kind of recycled hat.  Using the front or back of a sweater, intact, to make most of the hat, unravelling the sweater until just 7 or 8 inches are left, plus the cuff, and then picking up all the stitches with a knitting needle.  Next I shape the top following a pattern and knitting just as if I'd knit the whole hat by hand. 

I've made several since yesterday...   I like that I can make these with cotton sweaters, for those that just don't want wool.  It makes a much lighter weight hat, and a more familiar texture.  I'll be curious if customers like these better than felted hats.

No photos yet.

Has anyone else tried this or heard of this?  I've found a hat via google made from the sleeve of a sweater, by cutting across to get rid of the shoulder part and make an even cone shape, then finishing the edge with crochet, and gathering the long part into a fun long cap...  I thought I saw directions for doing what I'm doing online last year, but I can't find them now.   maybe on Ravelry. 

Street Fair

I went to a new Street Fair yesterday--My first all day event, with a big booth, not just a single table.  I set the whole booth up in the garage on Saturday.  Thank goodness I did that, because once I was about half way set up on Sunday morning, I started to panic--so much stuff???  What goes where???  How am I going to do this???  I thought about the garage--how each part of each table was devoted to a different type of thing.

I tried very hard to edit so I didn't have too much and so the display was attractive.  It was cluttered still, but that is just who I am.  I'm always going to be a bit messy.  That will appeal to some, and not to others.  So be it.  

I think this fair, as it was during the day, appealed to a different demographic than the others I've done.  The Bedheads and owls were a hit, as they always are, but more folks admired the little decorative things I do--the apples, the pumpkins...  My photos aren't the best, but I can't take new photos 'cause most of these apples and pumpkins have moved to new homes!

Speaking of apples you need to check the BEAUTIFUL work by Lil Fish Studios: click lil fish studios news: Shop Update to see her beautiful apples and pears.  She does a cross-section of the fruit instead of the whole fruit.   Oh--and if you are reading this and you know me, check out her photo.  Does that person look familiar to you?  She looks familiar to me.  Who is it???

Red Mittens with Suede Palms

I just finished the most amazing pair of mittens. Merino felt with
matching brick red suede for the palm. I can't believe I had the
perfect color of reclaimed suede in my stash. The cuffs are long
enough to cover the longest wrist. I have more of the wool and the
suede, but only the turtleneck from the sweater to make cuffs for the
next pair. I must make at least one more pair to sell, 'cause I want
these for myself. I'm doing an all day street fair Sunday--I'm
hoping folks are ready to buy mittens and hats because I'll have the
room to display a lot of different things and I want to test the
market-- see what sells, what catches the eye, what gets ignored.

Mittens in process

Completed hats

The change in the weather has me thinking of cold weather...

The herd is growing

Clean recycled wool

Beautiful wool, beautiful day. What could be better? Something
beautiful created with the wool?

Newest Reindeer

I've finally figured out how to make a reindeer that I like.   The antlers have twisty tie inside, the legs have rolled up magazine pages inside.   I'm going to try to make a set of eight, and link them together with red "harness" (yarn).  I even have a sleigh somewhere that is about the right size.  These take a long time to make, so I may not get eight done for myself...  The antlers are the most time consuming part.