Not dead yet...

... just hibernating. With no scheduled end date. Jenn and I both want to see UVFC continue, but we never meant for it to be a two-woman show for so long - so if you like the idea of a community fibercraft blog, we'd love your help making it happen and have a whole post about possible participation. The two of us will be back eventually, though, in any case.

Meanwhile, I've added to the blackwork map. I designed an era-appropriate alphabet and stitched a title, compass rose, and attribution. My personal craft blog has details about the design process and inspiration, if you're curious. You can get the finished alphabet pattern and word layouts in my Google Drive to add to your own medieval-style stitching. Here's mine:

Now I think I'd like to take a walk...

Finished and revised blackwork map

Remember the Upper Valley in blackwork pattern from the end of May? I finally finished my stitching of it! With that experience, I revised the pattern - error fixes, tweaking the town boundaries so they don't require long long stitches, and making how the fillings meet the outlines more consistent (with the goal of avoiding stitches that are so close together they blend into one).

Here's the pattern in Google Drive: Upper Valley Blackwork Map, revised.

I've posted progress pictures on my personal craft blog, which you can find under the tag "blackwork map."

Fast Summer

Summer seems to be going awfully fast, just as it always does. So we're extending the Craft Challenge another month to give us all (including me) time to complete our projects. Just as a reminder, the topic is Tee Shirt Rehab. We'll meet back here in early September to recap.

Meanwhile, the Sew-op is having a tag sale on August 1st from 4-6 (same as First Friday) and August 2nd from 10-2. There will be sewing machines, fabric, knitting needles, yarn and notions available at a great price. All proceeds support the sew-op workroom and classes.

And for a fast project, try making the little guy above. He doesn't exactly fit with the theme of reuse since his body is a new car washing mit from the dollar store, but he's awfully cute and an easy project for a child to make. The tutorial is an oldie but goodie at Darling Petunia. Our hedgie was made by my daughter and is going to our favorite two-year-old who is moving away.

Happy Summer!

A Requiem for the projects I will not be completing

There are two types of projects: the ones we finish and the ones we don't.

Like all these jokes, this is both an oversimplification and a truth. We all have projects that sound so good in the abstract but somehow never get completed. Or even started. The ones we carry around like baggage: Someday I'm going to... The ones that nag at us with their presence. The dreams in our head that clutter the path for the projects that we can complete.

So this post is my chance to send some of these projects on their way and thank them for coming. I've upgraded the storage and work surfaces in my studio and while I have lots more space than I did, I only have room for the projects I will actually do. Here is what I'm sure is only the first list of projects that I won't be completing.

Project: Stitched, woven basket out of newsprint paper.

Why I like it: Trash to treasure. This is a major theme of many of my projects and interests. The whole Yankee thing of using what you have to fill a need. And cute storage, ta boot. How cool would it be to have awesomely useful baskets made from IKEA packaging I already had on hand! So tempting! 

Why it won't work: I just have no need for that kind of storage right now.

And so it goes: this project may come around again, but for now, I'm letting it go.

Project: Baskets made from rolled magazines/IKEA instruction manuals/catalogs.

Why I like it: Trash to treasure, cute storage, stuff on hand.

Why it won't work: Sure, I could make all my studio storage out of this stuff. I need boxes for all the cubbies of my new storage system. But stuff needs to be stored by next week and I have a family to take care of and a house to clean. So it's purchased boxes for me.

And so it goes: Life as a parent and person who loves magazine subscriptions mean that I'll always have a ready supply of material for this one. Maybe someday the stars will align and I'll be ready to do it. Perhaps when my daughter goes off to college in 10 years we can make things from all those school brochures.


Project: Bowls made of shredded magazines/IKEA instruction manuals/catalogs.

Why I like it: Trash to treasure, cute storage, stuff on hand. (At least I'm consistent.) Back when I was running the catalog fundraisers at my daughter's school, I was tempted to create beautiful art from all the extra catalogs, envelopes and papers. So very Pinteresty and a sly kick at the fundraisers that encourage you to buy overpriced junk to support your child's public education. Never happened. I'm sure I could use an attactive bowl on my bookshelf/dresser/coffee table. [Oooh! I do need a bowl for my night table.] [Ahem!] [Sigh.]

Why it won't work: time and need. Night table bowl notwithstanding.

And so it goes: Yep, this one won't quite die yet. A bowl is a small project. Maybe it will get done during summer craftiness. But it's last on the list. I have bigger fish to fry.


Project: Alabama Chanin clothing

Why I like it: These clothes are stunningly beautiful. I enjoy hand embroidery and the idea of sewing a garment entirely by hand. And I like the idea of a long-term project like this for trips.

Why it won't work: As beautiful as these clothes are, they're not my style. An they're an enormous amount of work. I think a car/plane project should be something I'm capable of finishing in a season. Something small that will fit in a carry-on bag. Plus I just can't seem to get around to buying supplies for a project and the kits are more than I'd like to pay.

And so it goes: I do love hand sewing so I will probably use the patterns as inspiration in other projects.

Project: A memory quilt made out of my daughter's old clothing

Why I like it: I've been saving my favorites of my daughter's clothing for years in the hopes of making a memory quilt. (But stay tuned, I'm learning and will be teaching a couple of classes at the Sew-op this year.)

Why it won't work: Great idea but lots of knits. And all are so different it's tough to work them all in to one quilt. And it's a big project for a first quilt. Maybe I will work bits into future quilts so each quilt I make has a little piece of my daughter's babyhood but no designated memory quilt. (oooh, that's actually a great idea... Sort of a signature... Always in the same place. Hmmmm.)

And so it goes: I've got a plan now for all those baby clothes and I think it will be a nice way of spreading around the memories.


So there's my list. Say your own farewells to projects in the comments.

The Upper Valley in Blackwork

Our first tutorial is a map of the Upper Valley (as defined by the Valley News) that I designed in the counted-thread embroidery style known as blackwork. The pattern is a pdf that includes instructions, a preview, a single-page version of the pattern, and a three-page version for easier reading. Download it here: Upper Valley Blackwork Map.

I didn't define blackwork in the previous post because I knew this was coming right up. Despite its name, the central identifying trait of blackwork is not the black on white color scheme; there are ample historical examples in other colors. Instead, blackwork is distinguished by the fact that "solid" regions are filled in with repetitive stitch patterns that are actually quite open. It is also common, though not necessary, that the patterns allow the stitched fabric to be reversible. This requires that the patterns be connected so you do not need to cross between them on one side and not the other, or start and stop threads in the middle of the fabric to avoid such crossing. Wikipedia's blackwork page has a lot of good pictures, and Nordic Needle has a page with history, materials, and methods for blackwork.

Lovely fill patterns that are historical or in the historical style are freely available, and from them I would most recommend Ensamplario Atlantio, a collection by Kim Brody Salazar. However, I suffer that strain of DIY mania common to crafters, and created my own fills from each town's initials. You may wish to replace them, and, in particular, if you want to make a reversible piece of work you will have to replace most of them. In case you'd like to crop the map, in simplifying the town boundaries (and shifting them a bit so the littlest towns still had a decent amount of space) I made sure boundary intersections all happen at grid corners.

The traditional stitch to use for blackwork is double running stitch, also known as Holbein stitch. Needlework Tips and Techniques has a whole page on double running stitch, aimed at blackwork and complete with video.

It will be a while before I finish mine. I'm working with 32 count linen; it's really not very even for an evenweave, but since I'm stitching over two threads to make it 16 count, things average out a bit. I'm using one strand of black (DMC 310) embroidery floss. I started in the middle and have five towns finished: Norwich, Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, and Hartland.