Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Zentangle Quilting

In our trunk show this month, Island Batik, the central quilt of their Fresh Catch collection incorporates the Zentangle style of quilting. (That may be a surprise to them!)
Zentangle started as a drawing fad, followed by adult coloring books. Now, with the advent of home quilting machines, Zentangle is showing up on modern quilt tops, as well as some more traditional styles.
In Zentangle art, the artist fills the paper (or fabric, or walls) with ink, moving from shape to shape, adding in whimsical motifs in an advanced form of doodling. For Zentangle quilting, we substitute thread for ink, and fill the white background with shapes flowing into each other. It makes a great way to practice stitches, and when on a quilt top, the effects are stunning.


Check out our Pinterest page for examples of Zentangle drawing and quilting.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Fringed Scarf by Janet Vawter

Fringed Scarf

Supplies
Chunky yarn (2 skeins) Sample made from Plymouth Homestead
Gauge 3.5 stitches to 4 inches
Needles: size 9 or needle to obtain gauge

Cast on 34 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit 3, pm, knit 3, cable 4 stitches, knit 3, cable 8 stitches, knit 3, cable 4, knit 3, pm
             knit 3 (on all subsequent rows, slip markers)
Row 4: Knit 3, purl 28, knit 3
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit 3, purl 28, Knit 3
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Knit 3, purl 28, Knit 3
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Knit 3, purl 28, Knit 3
Repeat rows 3 through 10 for desired length (the sample is 57 inches)
Take one end of scarf over the second end and sew, making a "V" add buttons for decoration.
Place fringe over the outside edge of scarf to the length of your choice. Sample is 6 inches.

Abbreviations:
K Knit
P purl
Cable 4   Place 2 stitches on cable needle, hold in back of work,
                       knit next 2 stitches from needle, knit 2 stitches from cable needle.
Cable 8   Place 4 stitches on cable needle and hold in back of work, knit next 4 stitches from needle, 
                        knit 4 stitches from cable needle.
pm   place stitch marker