mommacrafter

Most people I run into think you can’t felt with a front loader. also many books or tutes you read tell you that you can not felt with a front loader. I have a front load washer. (Actually I’ve had it longer than I’ve known how to knit) I am here to say that is UNTRUE. Some of the things I do when felting (in no particular order) you may find it’s the same thing you do in your top loader.

1. My front loader has a hot/cold water setting. I normally use warm/warm to wash clothes but for felting I switch it to HOT. (don’t mind the dirty washing machine)

2. I use a whole load of jeans (jeans and only jeans no towels or anything that leaves fuzzies)  they create the agitation that I need for felting

3. I don’t use a zippered pillow case, i just throw in my bag (or whatever) into my washer. I think that’s partly b/c i’m lazy and I don’t have a zippered pillow case laying around to use.

4. I  put in regular laundry detg. (half a capful) and start the cycle.

5. I let it run through the WHOLE cycle at least one time.  but that’s mostly b/c I get distracted when felting and usually forget. If i’m doing a bag I do the cycle  a couple of times

 6. if I’m doing something that needs to fit (slippers, hats etc) i use the Prewash cycle that is shorter if it’s not getting the desired felting I run it through the regular cycle and push to stop it at different intervals to check the progress. it mostly depends on my mood. if i want to keep popping downstairs to check i do the regular cycle if not i use the prewash.

7. For faster drying I let the project go through the final spin to get the extra water OUT of the felted object. if you’re worried about creasing don’t worry you can always get it wet  again (in the sink) for spot blocking so to speak.  (i actually use the final spin when i’m blocking sweaters and such to get tat extra water out)

I think that’s about it.  LMK what you think!

I signed up for the Knitter’s Coffee Swap 4. I love this swap it’s the one I wait for. Here’s my questions answered.

1. Whole bean or ground? I like beans but will take both. sometimes the kind I want is only ground. so I’m not picky about that.
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? fully-loaded (still don’t know the reason for decaf)
3. Regular or flavored? Both, but only certain flavors i love hazelnut, vanilla creme, toffee. etc. I don’t like fruity flavors or chocolate flavored coffee.
4. How do you drink your coffee? with cream. (half and half)
5. Favorite coffee ever? It changes with my mood/tastes
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I like to buy higher end stuff b/c the flavor is richer and the acidity isn’t bad (no heartburn) I try to buy from local roasters/coffee shops. I don’t prefer starbucks b/c I think they over-roast their beans and “gasp” burn them.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Chocolate covered coffee beans, brownies, cookies (my fave are oatmeal raisin with pecans), anything sweet really, and Popcorn
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? it changes but but mostly i like a full flavored strong coffee. but i will enjoy anything you send.
9. Yarn/fiber you love? anything super soft, baby alpaca has caught my eye again and again but i like most all yarns
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? I don’t mind acrylic as long as it’s super soft…but red heart super saver and the like are OUT.
11. What’s on your needles? Lets see, all my (all ravelry links) HP Knitting/Crochet house cup OWLs: #28 Hoodie, 20 baby bibs, and a felted bag, I’m sure there will be more on the needle soon. I’m surprised I don’t have a pair of socks on the needles.. i normally do, hmm that’s weird. also on the hook is my babette blanket and a blanket I’m designing to teach crochet.
12. Favorite colors? I like most colors.. but i really don’t like pastel colors or orange. I love blues, pink and chocolate brown (together) , green and purple (together), greens, purples, pinks. I’d say bright is the way to go.
13. Allergies? nope
14. Anything you really love, really don’t like, or just need to get off your chest? Um how about a little about me. I like to read. But i find it cuts into my knitting time so I’ve been doing the whole borrow from the library the books on CD it helps a lot. I love to take photos (hence the project 365 I’m doing) I also like to bake bread and sew. I have 2 daughters but i don’t really knit for them b/c they destroy everything. My DH i will knit for but get annoyed b/c he doesn’t always appreciate what I make him. um i think that’s all if you have any questions just ask!

I just want to share with you some amigurumi gifts I whipped up in a day for my neighbor’s kidlets.  well the monkey I made on a separate day.  I wasn’t there when they opened the gifts but i’m hoping they liked them. The elephant and Hamster were from patterns. The monkey I made up.  They turned out really cute. small and ball shaped So if the kids didn’t like them they can always use them as a ball or something.

Today I finished my gift for my niece.  I decided to add a frog to the finger puppets I made for her. I figured since they’re fairy tale puppets it will help with the story line. (if you’re telling a story) I made a small bag to hold them in also. My girls always love a small bag to put things in so in my opinion a small bag for the finger puppets goes well.  We’ll see if she likes it or not. Now I’ve got some star wars guys, pac-men and a scarf to finish. GOT.TO.GET.TO.WORK!!!

Christmas is over and it was fun. We traveled to WI to spend the holiday with my family. it was really relaxing for both me and my husband.  for photos you can see them here .  I finished some presents but others I didn’t.  I vow to start earlier this next year. LOL but really I say this every year. Once i’ll listen. (i hope) so presents yet to finish are: (in no real order)

1. Trevor’s Pac man toys (they glow in the dark)
2. Chris’s scarf
3. Cody’s starwars men
4. Kade’s bag for finger puppets. (the puppets are finished but i’m debating if i should do a frog)

I’ve kinda concluded my project 365 a little short .  But I started early so i technically got in the 366 photos for the year.  my last photo was taken on the 25th of the Robot I made for my nephew. I finished it just outside of  Milwaukee for him. the white glows in the dark. but I couldn’t get a photo of it glowing.   He kinda liked it. It was over shadowed by the leapster he got from his parents. I don’t mind.  I really love it. it turned out wonderful. the wheel on the bottom moves as well as the arms. so much fun.

We got home today and both the girls have a cold. we probably should’ve have let them go sled riding.  but they had fun and we can deal with the colds. I, however, don’t like the whining and crying. but I guess that comes with the territory.  (though i’m pulling my hair out)

well i’m off to make dinner. I wanted to check in with ya’ll and say i’m back!

I’ve been gone for a while. Thanksgiving was nice for us. We spent it with my husband’s family and then friday we went to visit my Grandma. She’s in a nursing home and we stayed at her house and visted with her. I think she enjoyed the time we spent. I know it was a really relaxing weekend for us. My grandma’s house is out in the boonies with no cable etc. so it was really nice. the girls got to sled ride. They loved it. The actually went on the same hill that I used to sled on when I was a kid. So much fun!

As far as crafting. I’m currently making a shop model of the Fiber Trend’s felted mittens. we’re going to have a class in January on them so I wanted something people can see. I’m having gauge issues at the moment. as in I can’t get gauge. UGH! Usually it’s not so important with felting. but when it’s something that needs to fit I think I should do it by the book.  I am also working on a Star Wars hat for a boy who’s birthday is coming up. and i’ve figured out what i need to do for my DH b/c he’s been bugging me about a storm trooper hat since I started. I’ve kinda put off finishing Han Solo and Chewey b/c I’m not feeling the love. Don’t get me wrong,I love making amigurumi.  it’s just i’m not sure how I should do Han’s hair.  speaking of Amigurumi here’s a donkey I finished the other day. I also have to make some more amigurumi for my other nieces and nephew. I’m also needing to make some finger puppets…EEK Christmas is coming fast!  ok so why am I on the puter?

Off to craft!

It’s official, crunch time. I’ve got to get kicking on the Christmas presents.  I’m almost done with Chewey and Han Solos… it’s just I’ve stalled a bit. I can’t figure how to do han’s hair and also working with fun fur for chewey isn’t the most pleasurable… (which i’ve mentioned before). Tonight we’re leaving to go to my Grandma’s. She’s in a nursing home so we’re  going to stay at her home and then visit with her during the day. We’re also going to decorate her room for Christmas. The girls are really going to enjoy that as will my G-ma. I’m excited to get some non stop crafting time. (no interruptions) And the a bunch of family time.  and just time away! My DH is looking forward to the time away and I don’t blame him.

I hope ya’ll have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

So this morning while I made myself a cappuccino I tried, as I always do, to make some coffee art. I was aiming for a heart. and I think it’s a pretty good try. it looks like a butt too. but it’s a heart. I always try and this time it actually looked like something. one day i will be good, well maybe not but i’m still going to try. LOL

I tell you what that cappuccino was AWESOME. i make a mean mocha. This time i bought Hershey’s dark chocolate syrup for it and it was yummo!

I’ve almost finished the Han Solo Ami that i’m working on. I just have to do his hair. and i’ve started on Chewey and may I say it.. I really really really really really REALLY don’t like fun fur. but it’s a needed yarn for projects like so.  But if I could make it with out it, I would. gah that stuff is horrible.  now that i’ve sold you on the stuff you should try it out. LOL I crack myself up.

I’ve always been a handmade holidays type of person. I love to get handmade gifts (b/c I KNOW hom much work goes into them) I also love to make things for people. there’s just something about pouring yourself into something that they will look at and think of you.  Ok really i’m sure some people won’t even give the things I give a second glance but hey it’s the thought that counts right? anyways for my nephew i’m making him some Star Wars Amigurumi. I finished the Princess Leia ami and I’m working on the Luke Skywalker ami now.  (he’s still a WIP that’s for sure) The Leia one I had a hard time with the hair. I couldn’t get it right. as it is the hair is a little off but it still works. right?

anyways, on Wednesday one of the ladies in my class gave me an Ipod. I am not kidding. She is so kind and generous and I am so blown away. I’ve been transferring all my CD’s to the Ipod the past couple of days. I’ve also been pondering how to stay thank you to this wonderful friend. I’ve been leaning toward a thank you note with some stitch markers inside.  The ones I made a couple of weeks ago.  i’m not sure if i’ll ever be able to say thank you enough.  What do you think?

I’m officially on the collar now! WHOO HOO!  Now i’ve got to find 2 buttons to go with the sweater.  I think that may be the hard part. I’ve been looking through the ravelry 741 projects trying to get ideas.  I’ve found a few in my button collection but none that call out “USE ME!” so i’ll keep searching. I did find One button but it doesn’t have a match… hmmm. I’ll have search etsy too.

on another note my Strawbeary amigurumi (ravelry link) that I made (and uploaded the photos to flickr) got a comment from ElishabethD herself. (go ahead and look at the photo) I was so stoked she’s so talented and then commented on the ami I made (little old me) using her pattern. totally cool!

Gifted and well received too! I finished my Amgurumi doll. I packaged her up after taking a few (100) photos. This one is my fave. it’s like she’s pondering or on the phone or something like that. Fun fun. when she was opened Faith, the recipient, smiled and hugged her. I was worried.  I like the amigurumi humaniod dolls but I wasn’t sure if kids would be as crazy about them as I was. But after Faith’s reaction and her younger brothers. I was convinced that it was a good gift. And since it’s took like 2 days to make I’m sure I can make more for christmas presents for the nieces and nephews without breaking a sweat. YIPPIE! I love making amigurumi.