yeah, but what did you knit?

It's been a pretty creative week around here. That's largely because my Thermal sweater, the primary knitting project, is on size 3's and I'm on "sleeve island," where I'm endlessly trapped going around and around on sleeve one. I will finish it. Someday. So, instead, I hopped into writing, knitting and creating other things to break up the sleeve-y monotony.

I was motivated by the wool cushions I saw yesterday and posted about. (I'm going to avoid that word for cushion because although it is technically correct, there are some unfortunate alternate meanings for my British and Aussie friends. Sorry about that!) Right after posting yesterday, I dug into the stash and started creating.

Meet my locally grown version of a Zafu. All Kentucky and Tennessee grown wool, hand-dyed Cotswold and naturally brown Romney, stuffed with Romney cross white wool, sewn up with handspun Cotswold. Only things not local? A shell button (with great green accent, sorry you can't see that) and the green thread to sew that on.

This measures perhaps 12" across...and several inches deep, it's definitely cushion-like. It'll be entered into a local juried art show sponsored by Artworks, a new arts organization I've joined. I hope they like it. Oh, and I won't charge anything like $1600. Hah, for a day's work! As if. It's a cushion, for gosh's sake. A hand-dyed, handspun, handknitted and stuffed cushion, but gee whiz...(wait, did you think I could get $1600 for it??!)

The part that keeps me giggling is that a couple of years ago, I pitched a round knitted cushion design concept everywhere--I mean, that idea made the rounds! and no one wanted it. Maybe I should rethink that one.

What I like best about this zafu thing is that it can be an organic piece of touchable sculpture (artspeak) or a cushion... Just a high-end cushion.

My second project? I also needed a black hat because my hair has grown long and I have a hard time fitting it all into some of my winter hats. (big head+big hair=Knit new hat.)

I found a great idea in Cathy Carron's Hip Knit Hats. I love this book. I've now knitted multiple hats from this book. Carron's designs are flexible enough so that I can just dig into the stash and create with it. Two strands of Lite-Lopi wool, and one strand of Irish Mohair boucle later, I was in business. A day later, I'd finished the knitting, and a day after that? A dry, felted bucket hat. The professor thinks it looks a bit mad hatter-ish, but I take that as a compliment!

That's the news on knitting 'round here. Just wanted you to be sure I wasn't only telling stories. I actually do knit and spin too! (and write, I do write. Of course...remember that book thing..?)