Knot-Cha-Chá!™

Spinning the Olympics

2018-03-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

This year to accompany Olympics viewing I decided to spin up some yarn for some new projects for Fall and Winter 2018. The goal was to spin two pounds of fiber during the two weeks of sporting events. I had already started one 4 oz. roving before the Opening ceremony, and the last one was plied the day after the closing ceremony.

While the goal was accomplished, I would not undertake this type of marathon spinning again, because my forearms and hands were stressed at the end. I am treating them to daily rest and alternating heat and ice.

Here are the lovely hanks that resulted:

From left to right, here is the fiber information:

1. Rambouillet wool in colorway "Bluebonnets" by CreatedbyElsieB.etsy.com

2. Rambouillet wool in colorway "Unicorns" by CreatedbyElsieB.com

3. Corriedale wool of my own dye experiment - greens and blues, Jacquard dyes

4. Falkland Merino wool in colorway "Mint Kiss" by CreatedbyElsieB.com

5. BFL/Merino/Silk in teals, navy, turquoise by Woolgatherings

6. Corriedale Cross in colorway Crater Lake by Red Dog Fibers

7. Merino wool "Nube" in colorway "Pocian" by Malabrigo Yarns

8. Targhee top in colorway "Northern Lights" by Mountain Colors

Today's Perfect Necklace

2017-01-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

Productive Time On Jury Duty

2017-01-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Last summer while on jury duty, I started this scarf. Recently finished, soaked, shaped and dried, it is being listed in the shop today.

For you handcrafters out there, this is stitch sometimes called crocheted seed stitch or crocheted moss stitch. To make the scarf symmetrical, I started at the center, working lengthwise, and crocheted out to the sides with a DK weight yarn and a size G crochet hook.

The fun thing about this stitch is that in this gauge is really has the feel, hand, and drape of weaving.

It's shown below on a woman's dress model, but it is a unisex style, and it is of a size that works well for men to be able to tuck inside a winter coat.

Today's Perfect Necklace

2017-01-23T20:45:00.001-08:00

In honor of the Women's March, I offer this perfect necklace by Etsy seller AnnieLorraine, who has some great assemblage necklaces in her shop:

Snowed in: Instagram

2017-01-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

For years I've been meaning to do it and finally yesterday signed up for Instagram! Yes, totally late to the game. If you would like to follow, you can find me at https://www.instagram.com/knotchacha/

I'll still be posting here, but you might find different posts there.

There are some items arriving in the shop, because these snow days have provided some time for photography. The jewelry items are already listed, but the scarf is still drying and will be listed this weekend.


Purple and teal pave bangles

Periwinkle and Grey Convertible Necklace

The scarf combines a double strand of heather purple worsted weight yarn with some yarn that I hand spun. It's only three inches wide, but it's 88 inches long and very thick. This scarf is very, very warm.

Winter Storm Jupiter in Portland

2017-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is the back yard this morning.

No getting to the office today.

No using the back deck either.

Twelve inches of snow on the deck railing.

A view from an upstairs window of beautiful pines.

No tire tracks nor deer tracks nor coyote tracks in our driveway this morning.

There's a road in front of the house. Guessing the postman won't use it today.

Yarn Balls Ring in the New Year

2016-12-31T14:30:00.000-08:00

These wonderful specialty fibers showed up from my Secret Santa:

Are not they adorable? I cannot wait to ply all these specialty ribbons and novelty yarns into some art yarn! The girls in my spinning group are going to be jealous when they see these sweet bundles!

Now, you do not have to be a spinner to use these 2-yard lengths of fiber magic. You could use them to put fringe on a scarf, you could use them to decorate your gift boxes, or you could tie one in your hair.

Are you like me and find yourself drooling over such fiber goodness? Want some for yourself? Head over to FishBayElements and check out the great selections there.

Out of Yesterday's Bead Workspace

2016-12-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

Here's the finished bangle from yesterday's post:

As soon as I'm done playing Santa, I'll get this listed in my Etsy shop. It's so pretty!

Today's Bead Workspace

2016-12-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

I'm getting in the mood for New Year's Eve by making some flashy jewelry. Here's today's project:

A rose-gold sparkly bangle is in the works.

A Gift for the Senses: Hagroot

2016-12-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

A little bit of the Druid forest showed up at my door in a small box. It came from my Secret Santa on one of my Etsy teams:

In it are some samples of magical fragrances that I’ve been coveting for a while. Since the packing box, full of fragrant leaves, already had me dreaming that I was about to dance a reel with Jamie Fraser, I sampled the one called “Druid Forest” immediately. Oh yes, surely my name now is Claire.

This fragrance was magic! I can imagine the scenarios that accompany each of the other three fragrances in the box:

I am going to pretend that I am a goddess while wearing “Circe.” “Bone Queen” is going to get me ready for some meditation, and “Snake Oil” will have me shedding my skin for some mysterious travel between the realms.

The box came with the perfume-maker’s card. Hagroot is her name, and you much be prepared for the magic of these potions if you try them.

Blue Hippo Performs

2016-12-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

This little gift arrived as a prize in an Etsy team drawing: an adorable blue hippo in a pink tutu. These hippos were handmade and sold to bring money to Azul Wasi, an orphanage for boys outside Cuzco in Peru.

This hippo is very talented. It was easy to train it to balance on one of the balls of my hand-spun yarn. It is also a very curious creature as you can see in the next photo.

Here it is examining a little shenanigift from a generous teammate. I haven't decided what to name it. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Today's Perfect Necklace

2016-12-04T14:30:00.000-08:00

Fullmoon Over the Mountains - Amethyst Slice and Moonstone Necklace in Sterling Silver
by MirielDesign on Etsy.

The backdrop is a landscape oil painting, "Seaday," by Kuroarts on Etsy.

Hand Spun Harmony

2016-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

Remember that hand-spun yarn that I showed you a while back? Well, here's how it ended up:

I combined my hand spun yarn with some single-ply commercial yarn in a large shawl.

The design has rows of garter stitch alternating with lacy sections of knit faggoting.

The dimensions of this shawl, which also can be worn as an oversized scarf, are 80 inches (203 cm) long by 17 inches (43 cm) wide. This one-of-a-kind piece is one of the more expensive items in my shop, because of the labor necessary to both spin the yarn and knit the shawl. It's in my shop waiting for someone to fall in love with it.

Today's Perfect Necklace

2016-11-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Peacock Necklace by 3Pearls

Getting in the Gravy Boat

2016-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. You are probably ready for a good holiday break. I sure am. It's been a harrowing year in the US with the election from hell.

The upcoming family time at Thanksgiving can bring its own stresses. Wouldn't it be great to just put on your leisure wear, get in the gravy boat, and float away?

Mid-Century Gravy Boat by Janastuff

If you can't do that, just put on your turkey hat and forget about everything except holiday parades, football, and cooking that Thanksgiving dinner:

Crochet Turkey Hat by Amyshandmades17

Now, put up a big sign so everyone else gets in the right mood, too.

Holiday Banner by Thepaperdollshop

Then you can all eat your way into oblivion:

Holiday Tee by Nallashop

Give thanks because campaigning is over for a while, start thinking about whatever is best in your life, and count your blessings.

Have a spectacular day!

Not Your Grandmother's Pearls

2016-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

My hand-knotted long necklace, "Impassioned Pearls," has creamy champagne freshwater pearls with pale pink and lilac overtones, elegant cut-glass lavender aurora borealis lozenge beads, crystals, and round glass beads with an antique-gold luster.

The necklace is hand knotted continuously without a clasp. Because it is 38 inches (96.5 cm) long, you can wear it long or wrapped twice around your neck.

Impassioned Pearls by KnotChaCha

You can wear these perky pearls with a ballgown, with a career power suit, or with a pretty everyday dress. You can also make a cheeky statement by pairing them with blue jeans and a T-shirt. Just for fun, I even wear pretty necklaces like this while lounging around the house.

Need a coordinating bracelet? This one pairs nicely:

Spiral Bangle in Lavender, Copper, Champagne and Blush by KnotChaCha

Both of these items would be great gifts for yourself or a special someone in your life.

Today's Perfect Necklace

2016-11-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

Sources

Handspun Yarn for a New Scarf

2016-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Well, the afghan is still progressing, but I had to order more yarn for it. It felt like time to break for a different project anyway. (There are usually 3-4 going on at once around here.)

Here is some of my own hand-spun yarn that I made a couple years ago. This is a worsted weight yarn that I spun a few years ago. The smaller ball was made with some beehive coils.

It's going to be combined with some commercial yarn to make a mega-scarf. I've already cast on. Perhaps next week I'll have a photo for you.

A Knitting Obsession

2016-11-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Got a knitting or knitwear obsession? Me too.

All items are from Etsy shops. Click the photo to get more information on them.

Growing the Granny Squares

2016-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's coming along. The squares are multiplying and growing:

There are now two dozen each of three out of four motifs. Each square still needs an additional color round and a final round of the creamy white yarn.

Ghost Brides and Orphans

2016-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

The best costume I ever saw was a ghost bride on six-foot stilts. She appeared one evening at an outdoor art event here in Portland on Halloween. A skilled stilt walker, she moved quickly in a tattered white gown with 15-20-ft long tattered trails of frayed gauzy fabric that flowed after her and blew in the wind. She took such long strides and was gone so quickly that I couldn't get my iPhone out fast enough to take a picture of her. I'll never forget the image of her gliding down the street. It was the coolest costume I have ever seen!

In the spirit of All Hallows Eve and the Day of the Dead, and in case you might want to costume yourself as a ghost bride this year, here is a collage of lovely ghost brides and also some orphan dolls that are adorable.

Most of these items are from Etsy shops. Click on the image to go to the Polyvore page to read the description of shop and image credits.

Stressed Spelled Backwards is Desserts

2016-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

In this stressful campaign season, we deserve some rewards. This "Friday Finds" post is a Polyvore photoset that I created from some wonderful finds from Etsy:

If you don't have the time or inclination to stay home and bake cookies, you can order some from the artisan bakers you can find on Etsy! If you are short on time for holiday baking, these bakers can help you with your entertaining needs.

If you click on the photo above, you'll go to the my actual Polyvore set. From there you can click on any element in the photo to follow a link to the seller's Etsy shop. You can buy all four of those yummy cookies in the spread above, the great "Sweet Thing" engraved dessert fork, the pretty fabric bunting, and even the antique white slip or the rockabilly macaroon dress.

Enjoy exploring these featured finds!

In the Works

2016-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working on some pretty hand-knotted necklaces for the shop.

Here's a peak at one called Gavotte in D Major.

Granny Square Seeds

2016-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Chez ChaCha needs a new TV-room afghan for this winter. I've been playing around with colors choices and think it's going to be these:

Hope it's done by winter. Check back for progress reports.

Today's Perfect Necklace

2016-10-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Autumn Leaves Necklace