Fiber | S Type Creative

Spring Fever

March 15, 2010 in artists, Ceramics, Favorites, Fiber, jewelry, knitting, Uncategorized

With warming weather making an appearance, I’ve started leaving the front door to the shop open as much as possible. The fresh breezes and happy faces coming through the open door have inspired me to do some much needed spring cleaning and rearranging.

New Button Rings are ready to wear in bright spring colors. New pottery by Brandon Knott and Cody Gardner is coming in every week. Terrific Easter Basket goodies are flooding the counter and Clearance items are filling the back shelves awaiting a new home to make room for more new work here in the shop.

My current fiber projects have me thinking spring too, from the chicken egg cozies to reversible market tote bags in brilliant colors. You can knit your own chickens too! A whole slew of new lip balm flavors and lip balms in mini tubes grace the shelves awaiting a new home in your purse, pocket, or easter basket. Mini lip balms are only 3 for $5.

chicken-5

New tea blends have arrived and we’ve restocked the Peach tea and Peach decaf. New flavors include Strawberry White Loose Leaf Tea with bits of freeze-dried strawberries, Chamomile (tea bags), Spearming (tea bags) and Yerba Mate (loose leaf). A basket full of new tea cups from Brandon Knott for $5 each and several new tea pots from Cody Gardner make a lovely treat for yourself or a loved one.

Chino Glaze-1

minicups spoon rest-20

raspberry tea

If, like me, you’re cleaning and rearranging at home, several new paintings and photography are available and a new variety of accessories to adorn your home. Even if you’re looking for just a little “pick me up” we have something for every room.

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Even Joel has been bitten by the Spring Fever bug and has begun cleaning out the 2nd floor studio/classroom and hopefully by the end of spring we’ll be able to start offering classes!

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A Pen, a Mac, a Printer, and voila!

November 15, 2009 in Artist, Design, Favorites, Fiber, Patterns

hangover sweet dreams

For the past several weeks I’ve been sketching again; drawing whatever comes to mind, whatever is sitting in front of me, or ideas for future projects.

Tonight, in the midst of pouring 120 large candles for a corporate gift project, I played. While waiting for each batch of wax to melt I sorted through several of my drawings from the last few weeks and even some from the last few years.

Now back up a few steps, over the past week I’ve also been sewing, making gifts to sell here in the gallery. I’ve been making heat packs to soothe tired muscles, draft dodgers to keep out the cold, wine bottle bags for gift giving, and the list goes on.

My biggest frustration has been the lack of available cool fabrics that fit in with my personal design sensibility. I want something different. I’d heard rumors about being able to print on fabric using an inkjet printer. Tonight I tested that rumor and found it to be true!

Armed with little more than my iMac, a stack of drawings, a list of ideas, an iron, a few yards of prewashed-unbleached muslin, an inkjet printer, and a box of freezer paper I got to work. I cut the fabric into 8.5 x 11 pieces and ironed them onto a piece of freezer paper cut to the same size.

A few hours of playing with layout and design on the computer yielded 3 designs I was pleased with. Into the printer went the muslin ironed onto freezer paper and out came some fabric that made me yelp with joy. Giddy as a goofy school girl I heat set the fabric with my iron, cut out my rectangles of fabric, and stitched together these snazzy heat packs filled with rice.

Heat these bad boys in the microwave for a minute or two and you’ll have a muscle reliever, stick them in the freezer and voila’ a hangover cure. [And still the candles cool]

Feeling a little crafty yourself and you want to make one on your own? See the basic instructions below.

Not feeling the least bit crafty? Don’t feel bad, just buy one of mine!

Hangover $15 [quickshop:Hangover Heat Pack:price:15.00:shipping:5:shipping2:4:end]

Bed Bugs $15 [quickshop:Bed Bugs Heat Pack:price:15.00:shipping:5:shipping2:4:end]

Counting Sheep $15 [quickshop:Counting Sheep Heat Pack:price:15.00:shipping:5:shipping2:4:end]

To make your own you’ll need:
2 pieces of fabric cut to 6″ x 11″
Coordinating thread
scissors
sewing machine
iron
18 oz organic rice

Place the right sides of the fabric together. Keeping a 1/2″ seam allowance, and starting on a long edge, stitch around 3 sides of the fabric backstitching at the beginning and end. Clip the corners. Turn right side out. Make sure your corners are turned neatly. Press the seams flat. Top stitch along the sewn short side approximately 1/8″ from the edge for extra security. Fold in the open top edge 1/2″ and press. Fill with 18 oz of rice. Pin the open edge. Stitch approximately 1/8″ from the edge to close the pillow.

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Handmade & Great Prices

September 29, 2009 in Artist, Favorites, Fiber, jewelry, Travel

New handspun, handwoven, hand dyed silk scarves have arrived from Thailand. My friend Deb, who lives most of the year in Thailand, visits the villages and talks to the women who make these amazing scarves. Soon we’ll also have photography from Deb of the women working on the textiles. The solid silk scarves are only $15 and the intricately woven striped scarves are $52.

Stunning Handsewn Button Chokers from Dreadful Penny are the perfect accessory to make a statement as fall arrives. Beautiful with a V Neck sweater or casual with a t shirt. Vintage buttons, watch parts, and jewelry adorn these one of a kind accessories for $65.

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Sunrise Sweater – A Sense of Accomplishment

May 4, 2009 in Design, Fiber, knitting

handspun-sweater-1-101

In update to my last post, I finished the sweater. This was my first attempt at dying and spinning enough wool to actually “make something”. As it turns out, spinning enough yarn for a full sweater isn’t nearly as daunting a task as I thought it would be.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: defiance, Design, handspun, knitting, ohio, rebecca, rebecca sweinhagen, s type creative, stypecreative
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Sheep to Chic

May 2, 2009 in Design, Fiber, knitting, Patterns, Uncategorized

Hand Dyed BFL for sweater

For all the time I’ve been knitting and designing, I’ve been intrigued by the sheep to garment process. I’m not quite at the point of raising sheep in our turn of the century church-home (though I have asked for llama and been rebuked), but I have been venturing into the world of spinning.

To be able to handle the raw fibre, dye it to any color I want, spin it into any texture I’d like (or honestly, am able to manage at this point), then knit it into any garment I decide…well…it’s the ultimate process for me.

I now have a deeper understanding of how the dyes work similarly to watercolor but completely dependent on the fibre and the process. Spinning each ply and controlling the length of each color run or simply blindly grabbing the next nest of fleece from the basket and flying blind is indescribable. Choosing two different plies and spinning them together into a single strand, watching in wonder as they nestle around each other in ways I could have never guessed. It’s an art, a craft, and a touch of magic all wrapped up in one.

I’m still on borrowed time with Lorie’s spinning wheel – the Ashford Joy. And it is a joy. Unfortunately, I’m also almost out of fleece.

A few weeks ago at the Black Swamp Fibre Festival I purchased a pound of BFL (Blue Faced Leicester), 3 shades of Acid Dye, and went home with the determination to make something. I dug out the pound of Mohair I had purchased last fall (not knowing what I was going to do with it at the time) and had a 6 hour dye fest.

This weekend I spun. I used the techniques learned at the Fifth Stitch Retreat (thank you again Arlene) to pre-draft my fibre and started spinning my heart out.

The pile of nested pre-drafted fibres on the coffee table (and all around me) inspired me to paint. I’ll be working on a new painting showing the beautiful progression of colors in the next week or so. For me, one craft always inspires another until a downhill avalanche begins.

I’ve now started knitting. As I get through the knitting process, I’ll keep you updated. Hopefully, the knitting will be finished tonight as the yarn is chunky, the needles are big and I’m all jazzed up about the dress I want to make to go with it.

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Tags: color, defiance, Design, dye, handcrafted, knitting, ohio, rebecca, rebecca sweinhagen, s type creative, sheep, stypecreative, wool
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Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend

April 27, 2009 in Fiber, knitting, Patterns

For years I’ve been fascinated with the process of entrelac knitting. It looks so complicated, but in reality, is very simple if you can just maintain enough attention span to finish a row in a sitting. It’s really only a pain when I sit it down mid-row and don’t remember which direction I’m working when I pick it up again.

Entrelac knitting looks like a woven fabric when it’s worked. When it’s felted, though, it looks like diamonds – similar to argyle without the extra stitches.

Entrelac is a technique that can produce either the most stunning effects, or make me woozy with the vomitous color combinations chosen. There is no in between for me. Occasionally I wonder, was the knitter blind to have chosen that combination? On the other hand, I more frequently wonder, how the knitter had the amazing patience to complete such an intricate project.

A few years ago I did a sweater this way. Ambitious, I know. That was my first entrelac project. If I ever find the photos, I’ll post them.

During the process, I realized that intricate is a bit of an overstatement. Really, the question should be, how is it possible that the knitter remained uninterrupted long enough to finish each row. It requires nothing more than basic knitting skills, patience, and the abilities to both read and count. A lot. I know. Some days, nearly insurmountable obstacles for my attention span, but I finished and am now enjoying.

Recently the need for a cool tote bag and a desire to work a more challenging pattern led me back to entrelac and a classic colorway. Rather than knit the bag back and forth, then seam it together, it is knit entirely in one piece from the bottom up with three skeins of Universal’s Deluxe Worsted Wool.

Want to knit one yourself?

PDF Pattern ::: $5.50 [quickshop:Entrelac Tote Bag Red Tan Black:price:5.50:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]
Printed Pattern ::: $6.50 + SH [quickshop:Entrelac Tote Bag Red Tan Black Printed:price:6.50:shipping:2:shipping2:1:end]

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For the love of shoes

April 9, 2009 in Crochet, Design, Fiber, knitting, Patterns

booties-3

Why should adults have all the fun when it comes to great shoes? Little people should have stylin’ shoes too, right?

Recently, I’ve been in the mode of knitting little chicken and bunny egg cozies for the Defiance Society of Artists fundraiser. The instant gratification of these little projects is so satisfying when there are so many different projects going on at once. I feel a sense of accomplishment after a short while loafing on the sofa watching the tube and making something little.

Crochet has been recapturing my fancy of late. I learned when I was three. I crocheted like a fiend through much of my childhood and upon learning to knit, dropped it like a hot potato. Fickle master that I am, I ran off to the greener pastures of knitting.

Now, after 10 years away, I’m starting to rediscover my love of crochet. The gratification of a project quickly finished. The spontaneity of sculpting with a hook and some fiber.

The result of my most recent forray can be found here. The most versatile bootie I’ve found. Dress it up, dress it down. Add a touch of glitz if you desire. Funky buttons, or serious cashmere. Whatever choices you make, you’ll enjoy this simple project almost as much as you’ll enjoy seeing it on a baby’s tiny foot.

Worked in worsted weight yarn on a size G crochet hook for size 0-3 months or size H hook for 3-6 months.

PDF Pattern Download ::: $5 [quickshop:Mary Jane PDF:price:5:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]
Printed Pattern ::: $6 + SH [quickshop:Mary Jane printed:price:6:shipping:2:shipping2:0:end]

Not interested in making them yourself? I’d be happy to make a pair just for you.
Finished booties size 0-3 months $18.00 [quickshop:Mary Jane Bootie - Gray Alpaca Wool:price:18:shipping:3:shipping2:0:end]
Finished booties size 3-6 months $18.00 [quickshop:Mary Jane Bootie - Gray Alpaca size 3-6 months:price:18:shipping:3:shipping2:0:end]

booties-4

Tags: bootie, jane, mary, shoe
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Shhhh…don’t tell anyone how easy it is to look like a knitting genius

April 8, 2009 in Design, Fiber, knitting

I awoke a few short days ago to drifting snow and wintry light filtering through my stained glass windows. Immediately, my thoughts turned to knitting textures and patterns.

The resulting scarves will work for men or women, depending on the fibers and colors chosen. The stitch patterns look complicated, but I assure you, are quite simple. Sure, it may be a little late in the spring for such warm scarves, but when you want something impressive to knit, something to put away for a gift this fall, these 2 patterns should fit the bill.

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Pinecone Scarf ::: PDF Pattern ::: $5 [quickshop:Pinecone Scarf:price: 5:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]
Pinecone Scarf ::: Printed Pattern ::: $6 + SH [quickshop:Pinecone Pattern Printed:price:6:shipping:2:shipping2:0:end]

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

snowdrops-scarf-2

Snowdrops Scarf ::: PDF Pattern :: $5 [quickshop:Snowdrops Scarf:price:5:shipping:0:shipping2:0:end]
Snowdrops Scarf ::: Printed Pattern :: $6 + SH [quickshop:Snowdrops Scarf Printed:price:6:shipping:2:shipping2:0:end]

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Old favorites never die.

April 7, 2009 in Design, Fiber

cable-yoke-3

A few years ago, I was delighted to have a few patterns published in Cast On Magazine. Recently, I’ve had several requests for one pattern in particular, my cabled yoke sweater. It’s a simple knit on large needles worked from the top down.

Based on popular request, here it is again with a couple minor tweaks to make the pattern easier to follow, worked in 2 strands of Catalina’s Baby Pima, but you can make this in virtually any chunky weight yarn or double strands of light worsted weight yarn working up to 3.5 stitches per inch on size 10.5 US needles. I think it would also be incredible worked in 2 strands of Knit One Crochet Two’s 2nd time cotton. (available at The Fifth Stitch)

As a side note – here’s a photo of my studio assistant (handsome hubby) helping with the shoot.

PDF Pattern ::: $5 [quickshop:Cabled Yoke Sweater:price:5:shipping:0:shipping2::end]
Printed Pattern ::: $6 + SH [quickshop:Cabled Yoke Sweater Printed:price:6:shipping:2:shipping2:0:end]

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Stash buster projects and Raising $$$ for the arts.

April 3, 2009 in Etc., Fiber

Anyone who knows me, knows a couple of fundamental things about me.

1. I love to knit.
2. I’m unlikely to follow the rules exactly as they are written
3. Once I decide to do a project, I commit whole heartedly

That said, I recently joined the Defiance Society of Artists. It’s a terrific group of artists, of varying medium, living and working in Defiance, Ohio. Each year, the Society has an Egg and Bake Sale. This year, it’s April 4th from 10-2 at the Art Society Home on Greer Street.

Now, when I heard egg & bake sale, I didn’t get too excited. The more I learned, though, the more I wanted to contribute. The funds from this sale are used to maintain the art society studio and gallery throughout the year, providing this group of talented individuals with a place to work and have their work seen.

The egg portion of the sale is a plethora of blown, hand painted eggs. There are chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, ostrich eggs, you name it, there are EGGS. According to the stories I keep hearing, people will be lined up and waiting to get in about 2 hours before the actual sale starts.

Now, being the person that I am, I didn’t want to paint eggs like every one else. After all, everyone else is doing that. Since I’m such an avid knitter, I decided to knit egg cozies instead. There are so many fabulous yarns in my stash just waiting for the right project. I’ve knit 2 dozen egg cozies, both bunnies and chickens. Every time I look in my knitting bag there are more than I remember knitting. The things keep multiplying!

Besides knitting the bunnies and chicks, I made several birds nest pins to welcome spring back into our lives & wardrobes.

Then I decided to bake. Like everything else, I can’t just do it half way. No. I baked 148 cut out cookies that were iced and decorated. It turned out to be a 6 hour endeavor. Of course, after spending 6 hours baking and decorating cut out cookies, it would be a shame to just put them on a plate with some saran wrap. Right? After all, I’m a graphic designer and design packaging for all kinds of product. Certainly I can come up with something for these sassy cookies.

So here you have it, a gallery of photos of the latest projects. Bunnies. Chicks. Nests. Cookies. Wish us luck!

(If you’d like to make a donation or purchase one of these items, just drop me an email and I would be happy to take care of that for you right here!).

[nggallery id=13]

Want to knit some yourself? Find the free pattern for the Chickens and the Bunnies right HERE.

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