More Krazy Kool Wool Kolors

April 27, 2013 by mymateriallife

You’ve just got to try this; it’s so much fun!  I just started to teach beginning knitting at my daughter’s school with our school librarian again and this time we decided to use wool yarn.  The great thing about that, of course, is that wool can be dyed using Kool-Aid.  (Also, we were thinking that the wool, being springier than cotton, would be a little easier to learn to knit with.)  I sun-dyed these brilliant colors (blue raspberry, peach mango, […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Knitting • Tags: dying yarn, knitting, kool-aid, kool-aid dye

Spool Knit Wrist Warmer

March 19, 2013 by mymateriallife

This is a wrist warmer that I made with a homemade embroidery hoop and popsicle stick spool knitter (similar to the larger knitter used to knit the poly cord drawstring bag).  Isn’t it exciting to see another accessory* that we can create with our spool knitters that will actually work for us humans as opposed to the many things we can make with our knitters for dolls – not that I have anything against dolls.  In fact, I may just […]

Categories: Clothing & Accessories, Crochet, Knitting • Tags: crochet, diy, embroidery hoop spool knitter, french knitting, knitting, knitting nancy, spool knitting, wrist warmers

A Blanket for Birthday No. 9

February 27, 2013 by mymateriallife

Last week I made the decision to tackle all the uncompleted projects in my rather large knitting basket.  Luckily, I had a long car trip to look forward to (very useful for knitting as long as you’re not the one driving) and with Samantha’s birthday approaching, I decided to begin the task by finishing this blanket that I started for her at least five years ago.  It’s a project from the book, Greetings From Knit Cafe.  I really like the […]

Categories: Celebrations, Kid Stuff, Knitting, Sweets • Tags: greetings from knit cafe, home, key lime pie, knit blanket, knitting, yarn dogs, zucca trendsetter yarn

Valentine’s Vignette, Hearts, Flower

February 14, 2013 by mymateriallife

Happy Valentine’s Day 2013!  I had a few things I wanted to try this year, like the scene above.  Here you can see two more champagne chairs – one with a few beads, one without (the red cap is from a bottle of Lambrusco I bought to go with a pizza we had last week).  The table is made from one of those plastic things you find in your pizza box to keep the pizza from getting crushed and a […]

Categories: Embroidery, Kid Stuff, Knitting, Miniatures, Other Holidays, Paper • Tags: champagne chairs, crafts, diy, embroidery, knitting, miniatures, mobiles, valentine's crafts, valentine's day

An Arne & Carlos Christmas Ball

December 23, 2012 by mymateriallife

     Last year I found this book in the library called 55 Christmas Balls To Knit by two guys named Arne and Carlos.  I thought, “Is this a joke?”  Whenever I hear the term “Christmas balls” I can’t help but think of that old Saturday Night Live skit with Alec Baldwin.  But this is no joke.  Arne & Carlos are knitwear designers who live in the mountains of Norway (see their home and story here) and they are serious […]

Categories: Christmas, Knitting • Tags: arne and carlos, diy, home, knit christmas ornament, knitting, style, winter

Moss Beach Poncho Prototype

February 7, 2012 by mymateriallife

   I’ve been wanting to make a poncho like this forever.  I think I first saw one like it in Interweave magazine years ago.  It was knit in a rib pattern around the body, one color, and I loved how one short side was seamed to the end of one long side to close the poncho.  My knitting friends and I had a discussion about it at one of our recent sessions (two of us were inspired by friends we’d […]

Categories: Clothing & Accessories, Knitting • Tags: knitting, poncho

Knitting Inspiration via Mary Wilmes

November 17, 2011 by mymateriallife

This is just one of the many awesome knitting images from Mary Wilmes’ knitting board on Pinterest.  I don’t know Mary Wilmes, but I sure do like her style.  I gather that she is Irish and has a wide variety of interests.  Take a look at her knitting board by clicking here.  From there, click on her name to see a snapshot of all her Pinterest boards.  For instructions on making your own wig, click here.

Categories: Knitting • Tags: knitting, pinterest

Spud & Chloë Buga Baby Bunting

October 14, 2010 by mymateriallife

Spud & Chloë — Patterns » Buga Baby Bunting. I was planning to knit a blanket for my friend Erin’s baby boy who is due in January, but then I found this on the back of a Living Crafts magazine and I think I’ve changed my mind.  Though it looks a little confining, I do remember that those tiny humans like that swaddled feeling.  Add to that that this is a winter baby and it looks like a quick knit […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Knitting • Tags: baby, baby bunting, buga baby bunting, knit baby bunting, knitting, spud & chloe

And Now for Something Completely Different

April 12, 2010 by mymateriallife

On Sunday I spent a rainy afternoon at a knitting class taught by a wonderful designer, Joan McGowan-Michael of White Lies Designs.  Her book, Knitting Lingerie Style, is one of my favorite knitting books because Joan’s designs are so beautiful and the book itself is really lovely.  I’ve already knit one piece from the book and while I may not become a prolific lingerie knitter, somehow the book inspires beyond lingerie (and not all of the pieces are lingerie).  Take […]

Categories: Knitting • Tags: knitting, lingerie