This shirt is a very simple pattern of two giant granny squares. The yarn does a lot of the work in making it as gorgeous as it is. This is a unified gradient from Fiber Optic Yarns in Bramble.
The square pattern has clusters of 3 half double crochets. That's it, nothing more fancy, but how gorgeous does it look?
Been making more bowls from the templates I made with the cricut.
These are all made with KY Mudworks Speckled Brown Bear clay. I still don't really see the speckles in the clay this dark, but I do really love how the brown bear looks. It's such a soft and smooth clay. This clay was so wet I had to leave it out extra long before I could shape the bowls. This first bowl is 7 inches on the top, 6 on the bottom, and 5 inches tall.
I love these outdoor stamps from Dela Designs.
This bowl is 9 x 4 x 4.5, but I think the next time I would try a 4.5 inch bottom. I don't know if I stretched the clay or something else, but it felt like the bottom was too small.
The last bowl uses an MKM roller.
This last bowl is 8 x 4 x 5. I really like the shape of this one. I think it might end up making a really nice planter.
I got a Cricut Maker 3 for my birthday. My intension is to use it for ceramics, but I think there are also a few t-shirts in my future as well. The software is relatively easy, although there are simple things that you just can't do (why can't I just add a square border?!). My first use has been making templates for bowls. One of the awesome things about not just Cricut, but die cutting in general - there are a ton of resources out there.
Through various web sites I found Template Maker which has an option for cones - aka bowls. I started with a bowl that is 8 inches in diameter on the top, 6.5 on the bottom, and 5 tall. It's a little big right now, but it's bmix so there will be significant shrinking.
Once I had the template from Template Maker, I used Adobe Illustrator to cut it into two pieces so it wouldn't be too big for my matt. I also cleaned up the grey line in the middle so it would not cut that. On the Cricut I used the deep cut blade and the purple sticky cricut mat. Everything I read said to make sure the foam is really attached so I used my pony roller, and then realized I should have cleaned it first. I taped it together using painters tape and voila! For the bottom I used one of my GR Pottery forms.
The making was fairly basic - bevel the sides, slip and score really well, add a coil to the bottom. I also used one of my large puzzling forms from Michael Harbridge as a rounder. You can see it started off a little wobbly.
It's drying now. I still need to decide whether or not I'm going to add feet. At this point I'm thinking no, but when it's dry enough to flip over I might feel differently.
I've already made more templates to try, but haven't had the chance to make more bowls. I realized that I could make my process simpler if I use the smart vinyl. As long as the template isn't greater than 12 inches wide then I can cut it all in one piece (which also means not worrying about using the sticky mat). Then I can lay it on the craft foam, use a marker to trace, and cut it out. Bonus: if I have pottery friends who want forms I can use the vinyl again without having to cut more on the cricut.
Through various web sites I found Template Maker which has an option for cones - aka bowls. I started with a bowl that is 8 inches in diameter on the top, 6.5 on the bottom, and 5 tall. It's a little big right now, but it's bmix so there will be significant shrinking.
Once I had the template from Template Maker, I used Adobe Illustrator to cut it into two pieces so it wouldn't be too big for my matt. I also cleaned up the grey line in the middle so it would not cut that. On the Cricut I used the deep cut blade and the purple sticky cricut mat. Everything I read said to make sure the foam is really attached so I used my pony roller, and then realized I should have cleaned it first. I taped it together using painters tape and voila! For the bottom I used one of my GR Pottery forms.
The making was fairly basic - bevel the sides, slip and score really well, add a coil to the bottom. I also used one of my large puzzling forms from Michael Harbridge as a rounder. You can see it started off a little wobbly.
It's drying now. I still need to decide whether or not I'm going to add feet. At this point I'm thinking no, but when it's dry enough to flip over I might feel differently.
I've already made more templates to try, but haven't had the chance to make more bowls. I realized that I could make my process simpler if I use the smart vinyl. As long as the template isn't greater than 12 inches wide then I can cut it all in one piece (which also means not worrying about using the sticky mat). Then I can lay it on the craft foam, use a marker to trace, and cut it out. Bonus: if I have pottery friends who want forms I can use the vinyl again without having to cut more on the cricut.
During the holidays Miss Babs had a big sale. I love their yarn and bought a whole lot of it. I used yarn from Miss Babs for my birthday sweater as well. This ruana is crocheted using one of Miss Babs gradient sets in Lady of the Lake. I love the blues and greens that are anchored by the deep charcoal grey.
The pattern is super simple. This was the right length for me (I'm 5'3), but you could cast on more or less depending on your height.
4 mm hook
Cast on 212 with one of the base colors
Row 1: sc in the 3rd chain from the hook, *chain, sk st, sc* repeat * till th e end
Row 2-8: ch 2, sc in the chain space, *chain, sc in the chain space* repeat * till th e end
Row 9-10: HDC in the first chain, sk st, 2 HDC in the next stich. Repeat till the end (V stitch)
Repeat with 8 rows of sc/ch and then 2 rows of the V stitch until you run out of yarn with a full row. For me this was 28 rows
Change to your first gradient color then repeat the pattern until you run out of yarn with a full row. Repeat with the next 2 gradient colors. What I found was that some of the colors had a row more or less than others, but I didn't worry about it because I knew it would blend in the end.
When you get to your 4 gradient color - count your rows. You'll want to make the same number of rows on the other side.
First row with 4th color: Use whatever pattern it should be - whether it is a sc/ch or V stitch. You want to do this for 106 stiches (or half the number of stitches you cast on). Then chain stitch for 104 stitches.
Second row with the 4th color: Use whatever pattern it should be - whether it is a sc/ch or V stitch for the whole row. The first half will be into the chain you just made and then the second half will be in the stitches. You're making the opening in the front right now!
Now just continue on your pattern with the rest of the 4th color then the 5th and the 6th.
Switch back to your base color. Count the number of rows that you've done with colors 4, 5, and 6. Subtract that from the number of rows you had in the first half - that's the number of rows you need to finish. Follow the same pattern to finish.
I decided that I wanted a boarder in the front so I added in 2 rows of the sc/ch in the middle to give it a little pop
I know my patterns aren't as disciplined as most patterns, but as I've been learning to modify other people's patterns and design my own I realized that I wish more patterns helped me how to think about the pattern. Once I started thinking about what the pattern was telling me, it really helped me determine how I can go off and make my own.
There's a backup in the kiln! This is the second of at least three loads to clear out the backlog. I haven't started glazing the third load, maybe by next weekend.
Coming through this kiln are my first pieces with KY Mudworks Speckled Brown Bear. I love the brown bear, but on the dark clay I don't really see the speckles.
About a year ago I decided I was going to make dinner plates then I had to figure out what. I made a lot of plates to figure out what I wanted. In this kiln are the first of what will be the dinner set.
Coming through this kiln are my first pieces with KY Mudworks Speckled Brown Bear. I love the brown bear, but on the dark clay I don't really see the speckles.
About a year ago I decided I was going to make dinner plates then I had to figure out what. I made a lot of plates to figure out what I wanted. In this kiln are the first of what will be the dinner set.
Some really goodies in this kiln opening and only one real disappointment. I have made so very many gnomes and some of them have come out in this kiln, but there are more coming :)
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