Fine-twined baskets

September 13 & 20, 2018... and over the next couple of weeks until we all finish!

We will make another variation of fiber rush baskets this year, using a finer rush for the weavers. No experience necessary! Contributions toward materials appreciated ($5).

Previously we have made fiber rush baskets and egg-gathering baskets.

Example basket

Group's baskets in progress ~ school window display

Granny hexagons coming together

Granny hexagon project

Spring 2018 we learned to crochet! Once we had the basics, we were ready for a project. A handful of us went to Webs in Northampton and bought a wide selection of colors of wool by Valley Yarns, their "Northampton" yarn, to make into a blanket we will raffle for the benefit of the school in September. Please join us!

Now it is September, the raffle is open at $5 per ticket, and we are finishing up the blanket so it will be ready for the winning ticketholder!

Thanks to several folks crocheting the hexagons at home and to those who came on Thursdays and did a few here and there, we have nearly 200 that we have stitched into a blanket. We plan to do the finishing touches just as the school year begins so it will be ready to auction.

Egg/gathering baskets

2018 Spring - exact dates TBA

We will make this kind of basket this year, using commercial reed or natural vines or willow that we harvest. If you have a source of grapevine or willow, please collect some to use or to share! Best is to twist it while still fresh and pliable into two wreaths the same size (each basket requires two), a sturdy thickness you think would be strong enough to be the handle. I suggest a 10-15" diameter, depending what size basket you want to make.

Once you have the wreath/ring, it can dry and you can make the basket later anytime.

The ribs of the basket can be thicker wicker round reed or something you harvest yourself.

For beginners it is easier to use the smooth, bought materials, but beginners who are willing to struggle a little can certainly use the wild goods!

Masks, hats and crowns

In honor of recent and upcoming festivals of Mardi Gras, Carnival, Purim, Holi, and the Asian Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, we will be making a variety of things this week on 3/1/18. Bring any materials you would like to use or share, and we will make costume masks, hats, or crowns, or painting with bright colors. It is also the time for making lanterns (see what we made 2017).

"People wear masks and costumes during many such celebrations, allowing them to lose their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity."

Colored feathers especially solicited, if anyone has extras to spare! 

Other materials ideas:

• Felt
• Thread
• Beads
• Colored paper, foil, etc. 
• Paint, glitter markers, etc. 
• Scissors, glue, ribbon, elastic

Last year we had fun making felt Hamentaschen for Purim.

Crochet hearts

January 25, 2018

Intersecting our January crochet lessons and making hearts for the Hartsbrook Heartburst*, we are crocheting hearts this week! Help yourself to some yarn and fill from the box in the Hartsbrook Hall lobby, and find a size G crochet hook (use H for worsted weight yarn). 

*http://hartsbrookcrafting.blogspot.com/2017/02/hartsbrook-heartburst.html

Link to detailed step-by-step instructions (with picture) for a granny heart (pictured below)

https://lizziebellablog.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/granny-square-heart-tutorial/amp/

Link to video for simple stuffed heart (video shows each step close up and clearly, narration is in German)

http://ilove-crochet.com/easy-crochet-3d-heart/

Link to instructions for a different granny heart (bilingual English/Spanish)

http://anabeliahandmade.blogspot.com.es/2017/02/crochet-granny-hearts-free-pattern.html

Crochet!

January 2018 we will be learning crochet together! Beginners, bring a crochet hook and some yarn and we will start there. When you buy yarn, the label usually indicates the appropriate crochet hook size. 

We will have some spare balls of yarn to share for learning and enough crochet hooks to lend around.

Experts welcome (a needed resource!), and anyone may bring a pattern to make a specific item for yourself.

If you would like to make some “granny hexagon” sections for a group project blanket, we have wool yarn for H hook and a pattern to follow. We plan to donate the blanket to the school for an auction item.

We can help you start with the basic stitches and build your skills. A "granny square" is beginner level, so you can quickly jump in.

Photo of a granny square blanket from lovestitches.blogspot.fr

For anyone on Pinterest, here is a board of crochet links and images:
https://pin.it/gu3x2jgwalhxzi