Alabama Chanin Project #2

I have another Alabama Chanin project to share with you – a poncho. This was so much fun to play with- simple rectangle transformed.

The simple shape makes a perfect blank canvas to experiment with. The Ponchos in the "Alabama Studio Sewing and Design"  book are really elegant, but for my first go I wanted something a little more playful. I decided to use thrifted ts and picked up an extra large navy and cream pinstripe and natural colored t as well as a women’s size large orange t all for under five dollars.

I pieced together my ts to get the dimensions I needed for my two layers.This time I cut my own stencil using the paisley pattern from the book. I won’t lie – this was a little tricky and I lost feeling in my index finger for a couple of weeks – but I got it cut.

Painting was a breeze, but decidng on the placement of my stenciled design was a little challenging because of the orange border. I hadn’t thought ahead about the fact that the orange fabric on my bottom layer would show through when the design was cut out.

In the end I just went with it ,and even decided to  decorate my “mistake” with beads and sequins.

I would definitely make another poncho. In her book the fabric Natalie recommends is probably lighter in weight and would drape a little better than the hefty ts I used, but you can’t beat the price  of my thrift store ts and the fun factor of putting the whole thing together... priceless.

Stitching Away

Wanted to share a little of what has been occupying my mind and hands lately.

Last Fall while at the India Flint workshop I innocently asked where you could find patterns for simple garments that would highlight the beautiful fabrics we were creating. Someone mentioned Alabama Chanin. I had to say “pardon me”- because I couldn’t catch what was being said at first. I wrote it down- then latter googled it and have been pretty much obsessed ever since.

Natalie Chanin started out deconstructing salvaged t-shirts and turning them into high-end fashion. Part of what makes her work so special is her fresh use of traditional quilting techniques like reverse applique. Knots and seams are often showcased on the right side of her work. Everything is hand stitched. 

She has moved back to her hometown and grown a business that has rejuvenated the textile community there. Her company supports hand sewers who are making a good wage. She is also growing her own organic cotton to  be made into the jersey fabric she uses in her designs.

I am really in awe of Natalie because of the generous and open way she shares techniques and patterns. She has a series of books that include stencil designs and patterns and all the instructions and techniques you would need to make your own Alabama Chanin creation. She holds workshops across the country.DIY kits ,and fabric, and inspiration are available at the Alabama Chanin site.There is even a Ravelry group of dedicated Chanin groupies.

I decided to start off with a simple project. The “bucket hats” on the cover of Alabama Studio Sewing and Design caught my attention.

I used a cotton knit that I picked up at JoAnn’s. I also picked up a simple stencil and fabric paint there.

I stenciled my design onto the navy blue fabric- layered the grey underneath – stitched around the design- and then cut out the flower shapes. I enlarged the pattern as directed in the book, and cut out my pieces.The hat went together really easily. There was a hitch though-

The adult size hat was huge.

I had also enlarged the child size hat and decided to see what would happen if I cut my pieces down to that size while still leaving the brim depth adult size.

It worked! I had about an inch to turn under and added a decorative band that shows if you turn the brim up a little.

It’s a funny little hat-

but I have really grown fond of it-

and am wearing it all the time!

I have a couple of other Chanin inspired creations in the works!

Remembering a Fall Workshop with India Flint

I want to share some photos from the workshop I took last Fall with India Flint.  It was held at a old elementary school that has been repurposed as a community arts center for a beautiful lakeside suburb of Cleveland Ohio.  Many of the other women in attendance were incredible artists in their own right, and India – well she is genius- with a wealth of information absorbed after years of careful observation- patiently gathering, and feeding the dye pot.

When you see a piece of dyed cloth labeled "eco-print", no doubt it was inspired by her technique. What I would recommend if you want to learn her techniques is that you get a hold of her book and/or take a class with her. I don’t want to dilute the experience by giving you a blow-by-blow account of the workshop. As I work out ideas in my own backyard I’ll share what I come up with.

With sensitivity to India’s wishes I’m not including images of her. Just a few highlights…walnut bundles, fabrics tightly bound around branches, fantastically colored dyed goods blowing in the breeze- so you can get a taste of how magical the time was.

Some of my samples that I brought home

Nugets to remember...

Get to know what is in your own back yard.

Bundle- warp- and tie tightly- firm contact is important.

Be patient- it takes time.

Experiment with non-toxic mordants like soy milk and egg.

Use found rusty objects to print and alter colors.

(Rubbing fabric on an old copper foot plate made the prints on one of my scraps pop to life!)

Leaving you with this scrap of wool with what turned out more like oak leaf resists than prints- left after being wrapped around a walnut and simmered. It wasn't a particularly beautiful sample but I thought it deserved saving. It doesn't show up well in the photo, but the veins in the leaves left an interesting relief print in the soft wool, giving it some interesting texture.

I’ve embroidered around the leaves and added some applique shapes made from the silk I used to wrap my Easter eggs in last weekend. I'm going to add some more embroidery to this – a spiders web I think-connecting the Fall leaves and Spring buds and representing a dream catcher of sorts. I will be dreaming of ways to experiment with what I learned from India far into the future.

Celebrations and Natural Egg Dying

It’s Easter weekend - the Chickens are celebrating their one-year anniversary, and so I wanted to do something extra special in the way of egg dying this year.

Munching on new grass shoots-fat and happy- and one year old 

Last Fall I had the amazing opportunity to take a workshop with India Flint author of  Eco Colour – Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles.  So much magical information to digest and process-It’s been months and I’m still percolating ideas. I realized I never shared photos so will soon- promise.

In the introduction to her book India shares that it was experimenting with Latvian egg dying traditions using eucalyptus on cloth that led her to discover the eco-print in 1999. So inspiring- the beauty of humble materials transformed through the alchemy of heat and water- an ancient tradition being passed down and then so beautifully expanding upon. You can peek in on India’s journeys and artistry here.

Tucked into the pages toward the back of the book is her recipe for Dyeing Easter Eggs in the Latvian Manner.

Here is what I did-

I stashed away onionskins for a number of months and then last week I shamelessly stuffed skins from the bins of our market into plastic bags in full sight of other normal shoppers because I didn’t feel I had enough.

I purchased a few green herbs (flat leaf parsley, baby arugula, fennel, which proved a bit too fine leaved) at the market- since my garden is still very much asleep.
Then proceeded...
Lay a leaf on an egg

Wrap the egg in onionskin

The bundles are almost as interesting and fun to look at as the finished eggs

I also wrapped my eggs in strips of fabric (wool and silk) bonus bits to use for embroidery latter)

Bundle and tie off snuggly (I used silk floss shared by our workshop hostess Christine-also a gifted fiber artist.

Layer onionskins in a pan

Put bundled eggs on top

Add more onionskins 

Cover with water

Bring to a boil and then simmer gently for 10 minutes

Let the eggs cool – unwrap and be amazed!

Shifting and Sifting

How are you?  I know I’ve been away for a while-

Like Spring that’s been so slow in coming this year, life here has been slowly shifting.Today I realized these paper snowflakes are still on our front window. Maybe if I take them down I’ll coax a thaw.

I think that part of the reason I’ve been so quiet is that since this has been mainly a place to track knitting and fiber related adventures -I have felt a little unfaithful- it seems I’ve spent the last month or so-….sewing.

And I’m enjoying it so much that not much knitting has taken place. I rediscovered how meditative hand stitching is and have reacquainted myself with my Mom’s old Singer.

Sewing lessons back in Jr. High really were worth it Mom. I can still make my way through a simple pattern. I still love hunting for patterns and fabrics just as much as I did back then. What’s been different this time around is that I’ve actually finished some things and even more surprisingly worn them.

So for now my knitting is sitting quietly in the corner.

More Celebrations 6/52

Larry and I celebrated our 21^st wedding anniversary this week.

Of all the things I love about him it’s that he intentionally shares happiness with everyone he meets that really warms my heart and inspires me.I saw this posted on Pinterest and thought of him. It’s how he lives his life.

Here’s to another 21 years of Laughter and Love!

I finished a fun project.

Last Fall I was visiting Cleveland and had the chance to sit in on my friend Dori’s knitting group. What a fun bunch! Anyway they were talking about doing a group project and came up with the idea to each knit a pair of Flying Geese Mitts out of a different color of Cascade 220 yarn. Then they would exchange mitts each taking home a pair made up of two colors. I wasn’t able to make it down for the exchange but I sent my mitts off to be part of the party.

I’m also plugging away on my cardigan and spending a lot of time fretting about the sleeves and how they will be attached. I think I’ll write about it in another post….

I enjoyed finishing up this moccasin sock since it gave me some knitting to do that I didn’t have to fret about.

I used two strands in the toe, heel and sole area which makes for a very cushy sock. I think I’ll be passing these on to David to see how he likes them.

And finally I thought I’d catch you up on the Chickens.

They are getting tired of being cooped up and we’re all getting a little antsy for spring.They have been getting into some mischief  in the barn and love to play in the hay bales. A few weeks back I got a little scare when I went out and one of the Barred Rocks was missing. There was no sign of trouble- no feather-no blood…and the other chickens seemed calm – not disturbed at all. I looked high and low and couldn’t figure out how she might have gotten out of the barn. After about fifteen minutes searching I heard a little rustle from one of the large garbage cans. I have to say I was a little afraid to look inside. I turned it sideways and my missing chicken came walking out like that is just what you do – hang out in the garbage can. I’m glad I found her because I don’t think she could have made it out on her own and she might have suffocated or froze if she had spent the night in there.

Yesterday I went out and there were 7 eggs! That has never happened before. I think one of the Reds must have laid late Wednesday and then laid again Thursday. I told Larry it was like their Valentine’s Day present to us.Hope you had a sweet Valentine's Day. Spring is right around the corner!

Catching Up On Happy- 52 Weeks of Happy, 4 & 5 /52

My birthday fell smack dab in the middle of a busy week that included a trip home to Cleveland.

Larry started the week off in a very sweet way …

Bringing home a wonderful carrot cake from our local gourmet shop.

I headed home to visit with my Mom. For someone fresh out of the hospital she looks great and we had a really nice time visiting and catching up, and my sister and I had a lovely walk around my old neighborhood.

While I was in Cleveland I worked on another Moccasin Sock …

This time in fingering weight yarn. The whole time I was knitting it I thought it looked huge – but I just plugged away at it- trusting Elizabeth’s instruction. Lo and behold it fit perfectly. I’ve cast on, but haven’t gotten very far on the other half of the pair.

I was a little concerned about heading home in the snow but made it safe and sound.Then Saturday Larry took me out for more birthday celebrating. We headed down to Detroit to my favorite Greek restaurant.

I have a weakness for the flaming cheese…

And dessert was across the street at Astoria.

We always take home a box of goodies all tied up with red string for the next day- that usually means breakfast for me.

Sunday I worked to get the first pattern repeat done on my Aran Cardigan.

It too was looking huge to me even though I did the swatch hat and an extra swatch, which I cut open to measure flat. Well I got it on a “life line” (a piece of yarn threaded through the live stiches) and measured and it seems I have what I was going for. So on with the knitting I can go.

Many many things to be happy about this week- wishing you much happiness too!