Projects and Tools to Make Knitting Easier

Inspiration

Got into a conversation about buying sweaters at thrift stores and it led to yarn ball winding, knitting bowls, swifts, and yarn cakes, so I'm making notes here to save my sanity and remember where I left off.

Turning Thrift Store Sweaters into Yarn Balls

• Thrift store sweaters
• Large piece of cardboard
• Scissors
• Twist ties or scrap yarn
• Garment bag

"As you unravel the sweater, wind the yarn on a card (I use a old shoebox lid and make a notch to start/hold while you unravel onto). You slide that off and use twist ties or scrap yarn to tie each end of the resulting loops together. Put in a garment bag then toss in with your laundry. Hang dry. Then you can use the winder to make your balls/cakes."

DIY Yarn Ball Winder

My notes and design after looking at a few projects online.  Maybe use a lazy susan bearing.

What's a Swift, and How do You Put a Skein of Yarn onto it?

• Collapsible wine or clothes rack
• Lazy Susan
• Turkey baster, ring sizer, or other long, thin conical item
• Heavy duty tape, or maybe there's another reusable way to attach them.

https://blog.sarahrudder.com/diy-yarn-swift-and-ball-winder

What's the Point of Cakes?

https://hearthookhome.com/how-to-make-your-own-yarn-cakes/

DIY Yarn Bowl

• Heavy tempered glass bowl
• Binder clip

http://pocketpause.com/fiber-fridays-diy-yarn-bowl/img_6606/

DIY Portable Yarn Bowl

• Old CD spindle/case
• Old CD
• Something to punch a hole in the plastic

http://geek-ware.blogspot.com/2007/11/cd-spindle-yarn-holder.html

DIY Single Project Yarn Bag

• Fabric(s), thread
• Sewing machine, iron, pins, etc.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/200333533/knitting-bag-project-bag-striped-pouch

WORK IN PROGRESS

Pocket Plein Air Kit

Inspiration

I wanted a pocket plein air kit; I'd seen some done with mint tins, but when I found a glass screen protector tin, I figured it would be more useful and I could carry all my supplies in it.  As always, I'm on a budget but I still want something beautiful and durable.

Goal

I had to revamp my plans a few times, but it got there in the end!

Materials

• A glass screen protector case I found*
• 400 grit sandpaper*, borrowed from my mother's shop
• Rustoleum Hammered Metal spray paint* in a charcoal color, borrowed from my mother's shop
• A piece of thick flexible plastic I found*
• A sharpie*
• Hot glue and glue gun*, borrowed from my mother's shop
• Sheet magnet with ads removed*, cut into appropriately-sized pieces
• A straight pin box*
• A metal pencil case I found*
• Double-stick tape*
• Plumber's putty* that was a gift
• 15 duplicate watercolor paint pans from my own supplies*
• Travel brushes, pencil, eraser, fine waterproof pen from my own supplies*
• Rulers, pens, pencils, paper, newspaper, latex gloves and scissors for the process*

Step 1:  Design the overall layout.

A glass screen protector case seemed like a good DIY pocket plein air watercolor kit. I planned to use hot glue to make paint pans and fill them with tube watercolors and let the paint dry. (Rubber bands were temporary.)

Here's the initial mockup to see if items would fit.  The top left of the tin contains the straight pin box I plan to use for clean water.  The gap at the top of the tin has space for six paint wells separated by hot glue.  

 

Step 2:  Draw the layout and prep the tin

Here's the plan and the tin, sanded with 400 grit paper so the charcoal-colored Rustoleum Hammered Metal spray paint would stick.

I added a second coat of paint to hide the colors of the tin; a primer may have helped.  It takes a long time to completely dry and stop off-gassing.  Wear the latex gloves and place the tin top and bottom paint side up on old newspaper; move to clean newspaper to dry so they won't stick.

Step 3:  Transfer the hot glue layout. 

I used a piece of flexible heavier plastic to make a template to transfer the hot glue layout into the inside of the tin.  I cut the lines with scissors and drew them with a Sharpie.  I added the hot glue and quickly removed it when I realized how uncontrollable it was -- there'd be too many crevices for paint and I'd never be able to change colors.  Plus the glue was spreading too much and would have taken up too much of the room intended for the paint.

I also realized that wet paints and pens would be messy, so I had to revamp my plans. 

Step 4:  Measure pans and cut magnets.

I cut up adhesive refrigerator magnet ads to fit the backs of my duplicate existing pans. (I first checked that they would fit in the closed tin.)  I used a contrasting pen. (Next time I’d take the time to get a waterproof one, and use the good ruler that doesn’t slide.)

I had two magnets and I cut the other one to fit the inside of the lid, and cut a few additional pan-sized pieces.  In total this made 56 pan-sized pieces.

Step 5: Redesign the layout.

I have fifteen duplicates paint pans and room for one more in the bottom right corner. I will add plumber's putty to create mixing areas above and below the water well. (The remaining 40 magnets for additional pans are shown in the pin box that amazingly fits.)  The magnet to the inside of the lid will keep it under the open tin. I will add double stick tape to adhere the magnets to the various surfaces. This old pencil tin  fits my minimum utensil needs.


 

Step 6:  Record the updated layout.

Make note of where everything goes.  I will probably list these paints in the design, but the magnets mean I can swap out other pans at any time.  I will paint out my palette and keep it with me.  I left room to record the brand and style of the brushes when I look them up.

Step 7:  The closed tins. 

Before you assemble this with any tape, make sure they close well with everything you've included!

Step 8:  The finished project!

Before you assemble this with any tape, make sure they close well with everything you've included!
I may see if I can include a water brush and see if I like how that works.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Inktober 2019, Day 29: Injured

The prompt was "Injured."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shapes of the body and head,  and the lie of the snow.  Add the scarf, arms, buttons, and facial features.  Add texture and shadows.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline everything.  I may have used the 02 to make some of the darker outlines and color in the darker spots.  I used the 005 for the shading.

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

I want to add a watercolor wash to add to the drama of the moment -- icy background and some bright colors for the tearful eye, scarf, and nose.

Inktober 2019, Day 30 Catch

The prompt was "Catch."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shapes.  Add specificity to the outlines.  Sketch the general patterns, and then add the specific details. 

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline everything.  Then using the 02, outline the fine upper edge of the wings, the antennae, and the body details.  Using thicker pens, fill in the solid black regions.  Butterflies are never perfectly symmetrical so don't worry about that.

Step 3:  Add the 'catch'

I was originally going to use a butterfly net, but didn't have enough room on the paper, so I sketched a Polaroid picture frame with pencil, and then added the outline and the shading with the 005.

Step 4:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

This was challenging but delightful as it was my first attempt at a butterfly.  Some of the pens don't work well on this paper texture so some of the details are a bit thicker than I'd have liked.  I want to add a splashy bright watercolor wash to mimic the bright details of the live butterfly and possibly the flowery background.

Inktober 2019, Day 11: Snow

The prompt was "Snow."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shapes, add detail, and then texture.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline everything.  I could have stayed with that, but I chose to use the S to thicken the shadow cast by the snow.

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

This was interesting.  I'm not sure I like the resultant feather texture, but this may be my first attempt at it, and that may be hidden by the addition of shadows and color.  I especially like the snow shadows and the snow and branch textures for some reason.  Some of the pens don't work well on this paper texture.  I am going to add more shadows to the bird, but I may do that with the watercolor wash I want to add because cardinals are so bright in contrast to the snow and winter background.

Inktober 2019, Day 6: Husky

The prompt was "Husky."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 
• Studio Series Watercolor Brush Pens, 24 colors (with no color names or numbers)
• scratch paper to test and clean brush pens

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shape.  Note how the dogs look a little odd because they're in pairs.  The shadow is slightly angled and also not an exact reflection because you see different parts of some of the paired dogs since it's at a slightly different angle.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the F, outline the sled, track, and dogs, both the silhouette and the shadow.  Don't forget there are some clumps of snow on the high side of the track that also cast a shadow, making it a slightly rough top edge.  Using the M, fill in the solids.  Using the 005, barely sketch the traces.

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Step 4: Add a watercolor wash, if desired

I added a wintry watercolor wash and wanted to make the lower portion reflective ice.  I prepped the lower portion with the water brush, and added light streaks of of a light green-yellow and the lightest blue.  (The blue was *too* cartoonish of a sky blue for wintry ice.)  These didn't blend well on their own so I used the water brush to do so, and then cleaned it on the scratch paper.  I also used the scratch paper to test the colors before using them on this.  I used the water brush to sketch the jagged upper edge of a mountain ridge and wetted the paper below it so the color would blend on its own hopefully.  I used a charcoal brown as there's no grey and I feared the black too dark.  These are not pure pigments however and the various constituent pigments ran at different speeds and in different directions, showing some blues and pinks, so I used the water brush to blend and smudge the line and now it looks like a cloud bank topping a distant ridge line. 

Results

This was interesting.  Some of the pens don't work well on this paper texture.  I'm not sure I like shapes of some of the dogs, and I had to space them out a bit more than initially planned because it was difficult to get the fine resolution with the texture of the paper.  Also they're running in pairs and I'm not sure I was able to distinguish that well.  I had hoped to add more sky/ground colors with the wash, but not with these pens.  For the other ones, I think I'll return to my usual watercolor pans and use these pens for sketches maybe.

Inktober 2019, Day 4: Freeze

The prompt was "Freeze."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shape and texture the hair.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline everything.  I could have stayed with that, but I chose to use the S to thicken the lines to hide how I'd accidentally made one arm too broad. 

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

I don't do a lot with people, and less with people in motion, so I enjoyed being able to capture that.  Some of the pens don't work well on this paper texture.  I think I would have preferred to stick with the 005 but the pen hit a bump and skidded, so I had to save it with the S.  I want to add a splashy bright watercolor wash to add to the 'movement' of the image.

Inktober 2019, Day 8: Frail

The prompt was "Frail."

Materials

• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shape.  I outlined the puffball shape as an ellipse and the general shape of the wafting dandelion pappi before I drew in the specific ones.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline the general shape of the stem and leaf, the heads of the pappi, and the hatching of the dandelion head, then use the F to add the seeds to the pappi, the 02 and the M to outline and hatch the stem and leaf.

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

This was amusing; I enjoyed the lightness and heaviness of different details.  I want to add a watercolor wash for the background.

Inktober 2019, Day 9: Swing

The prompt was "Swing."

Materials

• Pigma Graphic 1 and 2 markers
• Pigma Micron 005 and 02 pens 
• Faber-Castell M, S, and F black pens
• HB hardness drawing pencil
• White polymer erasers of various shapes and sizes
• Cold-pressed watercolor paper cut to 3.75x5.5" 

Step 1:  Sketch with a pencil

Sketch the general shape.

Step 2:  Draw with pens

Using the 005, outline the flowers first so you don't forget, then use the 02 to draw the fine branches, and larger tips for successive outlines.  Fill in with the marker.

Step 3:  Carefully erase the pencil marks

Results

Catching the movement and the breeze was fun.  Some of the pens don't work well on this paper texture.  I'm not sure I like the hair.  I want to add a watercolor wash to amplify the frivolity and light of the carefree season.

Art Yarn Pigeon Eye Stitch Pidge Scarf

Inspiration

I want to make some Christmas gifts and practice knitting on small projects.

Materials

• partial skein of yarn, Pagewood Farms similar to U-Knitted Nations Lana de Nube, est. 83 yds.
• US size 19 (15.0 mm) plastic needles, 14"
• a variation on print-to-PDF version of the free pattern
• a single large signature button
• a sewing needle and thread to match the button

Step 1:  Match found yarns to vintage buttons

I have a stash of yarns I found in the art supply exchange and some were gifts.

I have a selection of vintage buttons from mom's and aunts' stashes; some were my great-grandmother's too.

I tried to pair a selection of both so I can make 7-8 different ones.

Step 2:  Match yarns to patterns

I found a variety of free pidge scarf patterns on Ravelry.com and matched the yarns and needles I have to appropriate patterns.  I chose to start with a Triangle Pidge Scarf (called a Wasabi Cowl for the color, maybe) as it uses a fairly simple set of stitches.  I used keyrings without fobs for stitch markers and this worked fairly well.

Step 3:  Follow the pattern instructions

I relied on a number of YouTube videos to do M1R (Make 1 Right) increase and M1L (Make 1 Left) increase.  I used keyrings without fobs for stitch markers and this worked fairly well.

Step 4:  Evaluate the progress

I chose that pattern because the pictured yarn seemed most similar to mine, and I had that size needles.  I decided this art yarn was too variable in width for this stitch, so I frogged the project.

Step 5:  Start a new project

I searched Ravelry for scarves with similar yarn and I even tried googling "best knit stitches for handspun art yarn" to no avail.  I had been working on a Half-Linen Stitch Pidge Scarf and was liking the results, so I decided to try the stitch with this yarn.  I cast on 13 stitches as that seemed like a good width for a warm winter cowl, and knit two rows of Garter Stitch as I'd thought the four rows in the pattern were too broad.  I only did one knit edge stitch on each end of each row, and later discovered that with the odd number of stitches, this is actually called a Pigeon Eye Stitch, if I'm understanding it correctly.

Step 6:  Evaluate the length

I've been testing the length as I go along by wrapping it around my own neck and trying to envision it with the buttons in use, hoping that the recipient has a similar neck size.

Step 7:  Add buttonholes, if necessary

This particular yarn and stitch have large enough holes I don't need to specifically include a buttonhole for the button I chose -- I don't want it to be too loose when fastened!

Step 8:  Cast off

I used the __________ cast off (include link).

Step 9:  Add buttons

I played with the fit and the lie of the scarf around my own neck to determine where I thought the button would look and work best, and then sewed it on using doubled matching embroidery floss and an embroidery needle.

Step 10:  Block

I used the __________ blocking method (include link).  I had some cardboard and some extra contact paper I put on it so hopefully the scarf would dry faster rather than making the cardboard wet.

Results

I like the look, but I'm waiting for it to finish drying before I can confirm.

WORK IN PROGRESS