Threads of Meaning LLC
  • Martha's Blog
  • About Martha
  • Patterns
  • The Quilts
  • My DVD
  • How To Videos
  • Contact Us

Pink Hat for Devan a la Ann's Red Hat

3/12/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Here is Salem, multitasking in the Studio.  She is cleaning the drum carder with that wire brush in her right hand, and she is also graciously modeling Devan's Pink Hat.  Devan is back at Bennington and so her head is unavailable for modeling.  This hat is knit from a blend of alpaca, silk, and Bella's white wool which was dyed a really bright pink.  Blending on the drum carder with the white alpaca/silk and some peachy merino got us this specific color.  Devan was quite particular about the color....a pink that wasn't too purple, nor too peachy.  Also Dev is quite sensitive to scratchiness in wool so the blend with alpaca and silk helped to ameliorate that.   

Picture
Once the fiber was all carded together I spun it up at roughly a worsted weight (2 ply) on my trusty Ashford and knit it according to the directions for Ann's Red Hat.  I am including a picture of it before I felted it to give you an idea of how the hat looks at this interim stage.  Not too promising is it?  It is best when you are going to felt, particularly if you are going to felt with handspun, to knit up a swatch and throw it in your washing machine to see what happens.  I got a 20% shrinkage, from 5 sts/inch to 4 sts/inch.  The felting also changed the texture quite a bit, from this really open loose knitting to a lovely thick tweedy felt.  

Picture
The felting process also raised the halo of the alpaca which you can glimpse  here at the very top of the hat.  See that fuzziness?  The embroidery is done with left over bits of sock yarn before folding up and sewing down the facing.  I thought you would like to see how fetching the hat is in pink.....I'm seriously thinking about making one in purple for me.  In the meantime I'm shipping it off to Devan today as her early birthday present.  Hopefully she'll be able to wear it a couple of times before spring comes to Vermont.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About Martha


    The Threads of Meaning is a collection of my hand made creations and the materials I use to make them.  I quilt, sew, spin, knit, crochet, weave, make dolls, rugs (hooked and braided) and tat. I have had articles in Art and Antiques (May 2001) and American Quilter (Ultimate Projects 2004). I have sold work to the State of Hawaii and some very dedicated private collectors. I dye my own fibers and use vintage and new materials. I tend to prefer traditional techniques and natural materials used in innovative ways.

    Archives

    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Materials & Supplies
    Pattern
    Quilts
    Studio Whims

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from anemoneprojectors (through the backlog)