A slight diversion (part 2)...

Last time I mentioned how I'd been led off the main road of my knitty 'to do' stuff in order to make a woolly creature for Eden Arts woolly woods exhibition. With a deadline only a week or so away it needed a quick set of pins!

better get started lots to do!

Anyway here's what I came up with, I'll build it up gradually to keep the suspense...Dayve's helped the drama with his moody lighting in the photos of little critter taking shape.

This is not the creature but in fact a knobbly/gnarly stick (knitted in a 2K 2P rib pattern in alternating blocks (the 'legs' are woollen ties so it can be secured to the tree 'out in the wilds'), it was rolled up into a cylinder and was about 18cm / 7 inches long.

Next a couple of needle-felted leaves (coloured wool tops needled onto a leaf shape I cut from pre-felt with a small bit of thread stitching for the veins of the leaves); then a small twig which was a crocheted chain, wrapped in wool and needle-felted to attach leaves to twig.

Next comes the rare green Woolly Caterpillar; a lovely varied random wool colour that perfectly matched the project meant a simple tube knitted on 4 double-pointed needles with the head made of 2 bobbles created separately and sewn onto one end; it was stuffed with wool tops so no artificial stuffing. French knots were added to give some bumby 'legs' underneath.

Finally it was assembled into a woolly creature fit to be seen by the public and with its own food source (the rare Woolly Caterpillar eats only felted leaves) so that it can be self-sustaining over the exhibition. He feels real to me now somehow (strange how you get emotionally attached to something that a week ago was just lengths of various woolly substances in a box!). Goodbye little fellow and good luck!

How he might look in the shady woods at Acorn bank!

Now where was I with that other picture I'm working on? Of course that's another story...

See my on-line gallery or follow me on Twitter @TAbyLD

A slight diversion...

You know how it is, you're tottering along with your 'to do' list and then something comes along and diverts you. That's what happened to me but luckily it was a fun diversion!

I'd got the website, and the blog, and the Facebook and the Twitter up and running (phew, wipe of brow from heavy-duty work) and was just browsing the Twitter stream as you do when news of the Eden Arts Woollen Woods exhibition due to go up at NT Acorn Bank jumped out at me. 'Your mission should you choose to accept it' is to create a woollen woodland creature to go into the exhibition in the woods at Acorn Bank near Penrith. Well, there's a challenge I couldn't resist.

So first I discussed the brief with my woollen woodland creature consultant ....

He needs the cushion to reach the keyboard...

...then having agreed the final design for the 'creature', work began; with a deadline of the 28th of this month (and limited time to spend) it needs to be something not too complex and something that can be packed into a small box or envelope....

At the risk of sounding like Rolf Harris - 'can you tell what it is yet?'

Not very promising at this stage I'll admit!

All will be revealed after it's been posted off, so watch this space!

Here's a couple of useful links to the exhibition info ...

Woollen Woods exhibition info

National Trust Acorn Bank

Until next time - enjoy your knitting!


visit my website gallery to see already completed projects:)

All revved up....

Finally, I'm all revved up and ready to go......my private passion for textile art of a knitty nature is going to be let loose on an unsuspecting world.

Been dragging my feet for ages but now with the bit between my teeth and my nose to the grindstone (conjures up a great picture doesn't it!) I've got the website on-line (will do a few post-launch tweaks)and with this blog I'm step one of three into social media 'nirvana' too.

never really thought anyone would take the expression  that seriously - and  it isn't me!

As my job is in Digital Media (you know - the job that pays for all the things you need/want/can't live another minute without in your hobby) then I am definitely looking forward to the challenge of working on-line to explore creative and knitty contacts, exchange knitty inspiration and have fun (rather than the less personal but still great stuff I get to promote the rest of the time).

So today I'd like to share that I got a nice little present from the postman :)  Ok , I bought it myself (but it was nice of him to deliver it so quickly).

Dayve's lovely photo of pristine little packages

It's Fimo (modelling clay).....
I know it doesn't 'knit up' as '4' or any other ply but stick with me and see if it appears in any forthcoming work of knitty art; you see it always starts with  "I've got this idea....."

visit my website to learn more about Lindy D