It is always amazing how one discussion leads to another. What started in Crochet Partners as a request for suggestion on wool for a toddler hat, evolved into some great comments on felting.

One of the best was a very basic summary of how to felt, by machine.

And I thank Marty for reminding me of a Tiplet I wanted to share during the last felting discussion.

It is one of those things you pick up when you come at something from a different direction.

So many new people have come to felting by way of Knit or Crochet – that they may have never really learned the basics the way a traditional felter, spinner or weaver does.

I have never quite understood why so many people seem to need to do multiple “washing” – in fsct almost every set of directions you read relating to felting Knit or Crochet, seems to mention multiple runs thru their machine.

So WHY is that not the case for me ?!*? Well, sometimes literally is something in the water, but that effects dying and bread rising more often than not.

So in that “semi conscious” time of the morning, I suddenly realized that what was missing from most if not all of the commonly available instructions for “Machine Felting” of Knot or Crochet (or wovens for that matter) as PRE-Soaking –

Both Felting and Kool-Aid Dyeing require you to presoak, in lukewarm is best, for at least 30 minutes. This helps to get all the fibers possible “opened” and thus more likely to felt or accept the dye.

For felting, my usual method is to fill a bucket with warm to almost hot water in the slop sink next to the washing machine about 1/2 full. Give it a squirt of my “ivory soap” liquid, stir and then use a long dowel or wooden spoon to gently submerge the item. I “weight it” to it stay under water with a heavy dinner plate.

If it won’t stay down, Jaquie Carey’s acrylic covered Kumihimo bobbins add weight to the plate and since they are completely covered in a relatively non-reactive coating (as may be some others).

After about 10 minutes, with the plate still in place, Add a tea kettle of hot water – pour it slowing over the plate so that you are not hitting the fibers directly with the changed temperature.

When the water reaches room temp, the fibers should be nice and open and you are ready to add it to the wash, draining option. We have an unfinished floor with the drain located near the slop sink, so no matter if it gets a bit sloppy. I like to add a sneaker or two to help with the agitation part of the process.

Wash on Hot, Rinse on Cold and you get your temperature change. Some advise to check on the piece from time to time, but admittedly I do not. Instead I am careful to be there when the spin ends so I can remove and shape the project before putting it into the dryer. That is when I do check it about every 15 minutes – shaping if needed, until dry.

Pre-Soaking KA – Mix the Kool-Aid into rather warm water, add the yarn or fibers (again making sure they are submerged, same tricks but usually smaller plate will work.) Soak for about 15-30 minutes until water cools. Now follow whatever felting works best for you.

Here is the link to the first of my Kool-Aid articles or use the Kool-Aid Category.

Enjoy The Making

Wheat

As far as I can see, the return on the investment known as US Foreign aid has bought us nothing but hurt.

I do firmly believe that IF someone wants to make charitable efforts outside the country that makes it possible for them to do, that is their right and privilege.

So if Brangelina want to make life better for those in Africa instead of South LA, it is their money to spend as they wish.

But NOT so the US Government.

Instead

-restore the tax benefits so that once again there is a reason for the kind of Corporate support that so advance the Arts in the USA

– make it EASIER for individual and businesses to be good neighbors

– stop all foreign aid – and take all that money being used to help fund attacks on the USA, and use it for Small Business and Development loans and Disaster Relief within the US.

– Use tax credits and Right to Work laws to encourage companies to bring back their jobs and update their facilities lying dormant.

If we must buy raw materials, fine, but let’s see if we can bring them to the US.

– Let’s make it a REQUIREMENT that all Government goods and services from Medical Transcripton to clothing for out armed forces, MUST be awarded to US Companies PRODUCING the product or service in this COUNTRY.

Isn’t really about time we considering possibly having less so that we can make it possible for each of us, individual or company to help our neighbors instead of our enemies.

Just one of those things that runs thru my head pretty much every day.

Obviously all those things will take time, but in the meantime,

Let’s stop buying off shore on eBay and support the jobs for those same products that are helping to pay the salaries of our own citizens.

Let’s fuel our economy with oil and natural gas found inside our borders.

Let’s make it clear to the Wal-Marts that we are willing to pay an extra dollar for a shirt made in the USA instead of putting an entire town out of work over 50 cents.

Let’s stop defending everyone else’s borders so that there is safe haven for terrorista and bring our armed forces home and use those funds to protect our borders.

Let’s stop selling to our enemies and limits sales of technology and raw materials to our friends.

My personal goal is find at least ONE item each month that is either “Made In America” or is helping to support US Jobs

Here is just one:
– Buddy Jeans and Texas Jeans

And oh yeah, lets elect state and federal legislators and executives willing to put America first and take us back to a country where the concept of a Hand Up and further denigrate our citizens by only giving hand outs.

Okay rant over …. for the moment

Not Knook but Knit With Crochet Hooks

Caveat: I am lazy, I sell Stuff, so when I need a picture for a visual reference, likely as not I will like to information in my on-line store. Whether you choose to buy from me or not, at least you will know what the #@$% thing looks like.

The question that often comes up regarding use of double ended crochet hooks – what I call “Straights” – is can they be used for Knitting With A Crochet Hook.

It is not really possible to “Knook” with a single straight hook, not impossible, but not worth the effort and since you would STILL have to attach a cord in order to have the “second needle” Really brings us back to how just about every modern beginner spinner tries to make yarn out of dryer lint, — well what’s the point

As an added resource, I have a YahooGroup – KNITTING with Crochet hook,
where you can see examples of the modified hooks commonly used for this technique. Lots of helpful stuff in our files and all skill levels are welcomed.

The Magic technique is a great way to come to understand knit stitches, although it would not be my first choice – In The Attic Flexible Looms are much better for that.

Tunisian is, in my opinion, the “best bridge” no matter which direction – Crochet to Knit, Knit to Crochet. Much about Tunisian is remarkably close to “Continental/German/PICKING” style of holding Knit Needles and Yarn – Tunisian’s best YahooGroup is aptly called TunisianCrochet

What I have been know to call “Crochet Continental” (okay I drip too much coffee) is what I have been doing this for years since finding double ended flexible and circular crochet hooks. The hand position and use of the non-dominant hand pointer finger to control and “place” the yarn in the Contentiental/Picker method.
Interweave’s Knitting Daily had an excellent article about Pickers vs Throwers

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/09/09/how-we-knit-throwing-or-picking.aspx” “target=”_blank

Once “discovered” has always made more sense to me – proving yet again, that what we learn first is going to be what we are most likely to be comfortable doing.

Certainly, had the first first (make that the first dozen or so) who attempted to teach me to knit, used continental I am fairly certain I would have “gotten it” several decades sooner.

Kim Guzman http:
recently “credited” me with doing research into this topic. If far too many hours of trial and error, with the most common result being turning the air blue with my ability to swear in multiple languages, then yes, I had have done some research.

It has been my experience that

80cm/32 inch length of the Pony Double ended

http:

works well for almost everything, however, when a larger than 6.50mm tip is needed, or when a longer or shorter cord is more appropriate, then the CrochetDenise system works quite well.

The bottom line is, just as we should select Materials and Tools apppropriate to the project – we also need to use the technique or combination of techniques that will give us a final product we will be happy about

After All, The Idea IS To

Enjoy The Making

Wheat

Wheat Carr
Shop: http://www.ItsAllJustString.com
Read: Wheat Wrote WHAT!?!: http://www.wheatcarr.com