Time feels like it’s flying by at breakneck speed, I can barely keep up with everything these days, but I still try to fit in “crafting” time. Luckily, I get to do this while working in the makerspace, this is what we’ve been up to this month.
Knitting 101
I’m so thrilled to teach a new generation the joy of knitting. I think knitting is one of those skills that’s beneficial on multiple levels. At the top of the list it’s always that it’s great to make things, also it doesn’t take a big financial investment to get started. It’s great for reducing stress. You can do it on the go, anywhere, anytime, on commutes, in meetings or lectures. And for the tech-minded folks, it is closely linked to coding and can produce some amazing geometric concepts that would be difficult to produce by other methods.
I started the students out with making dishcloths. They learned to cast on, the basic knit stitch, then how to increase and decrease stitches. Dishcloths are the perfect beginner project.
Once students grew comfortable with the knit stitch, I taught them how to do the purl stitch.
I found the perfect, easy to knit, pattern for fingerless gloves by Handy Little Me for the students to make just as the weather is getting chilly here in Northern California.
Each time I taught the knitting workshop I gained a few more students and now there’s interest in having a weekly knitting meet-up group starting next semester. Yay! I’m so excited about this.
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Felted Wool Ornaments
We also made felted wool ornaments using wool roving, felt and embroidery floss.
These are really fun to make and look beautiful on the tree. You can find my tutorial for making these here.
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Craft night
We also hosted our first evening craft night in the makerspace and had a nice turnout to make ornaments, do some knitting, and make wrapping paper.
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Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!
Keep creating,
Judy
I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:
2020
December 1-31 Creative Alchemy quilt exhibit at Bay Quilts, Richmond, CA. Opening reception Sunday, December 8, 1-4 pm.
Craft Napa Jan 15-18, 2020!
February 2020: New Zealand! Christchurch, Napier, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Whatakane, New Plymouth, Ngarawhahia, and Whangerei
May 27-31 Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI
Tea & Ephemera and Painted Imagery
July Australia! More info TBA
August 11-13 Calico Cutters, West Chester, PA
Tsukineko Inks and Tea & Ephemera
October 18-24 Hudson Valley Quilt Retreat, Greenville, NY
Paint and Printapalooza
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.