Sunflower Trivets

Last week I needle-felted a blue trivet with Icelandic wool.  I dyed the wool a bright blue after I needle felted the wool locks together.  This week I made sunflower trivets.  I also used Icelandic wool to make them along with a darker wool to make the center of the sunflower.  I dyed one trivet yellow and another one a yellow/orange.  I experimented with the breed of sheep wool used in the center of the sunflower.  One of the centers was made with Icelandic wool and on the other I used Rhone.

Trivet made last week using Icelandic wool locks.

                            

  

Locks up close.

     

                         

                                   

                           

 spinning.

                                                    

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

Using Wool Locks

Wool locks can be used many ways.  I am making a rug at this time.  It will be a while before the reveal.  LOL  I have made trivets and placed the locks around the outside in the last row.  I like that look, but it is not real full.  I have placed locks into the wool and let them do their own thing and I get some great results.  I really like the look of crocheting or knitting a lock in a stitch.  The middle of the lock I feel will hold the lock in place the best.  It depends on what is made and who it is made for as to the best use of my locks.  I like to use hand-spun yarn when I crochet or knit the lock in place.  Of course, felting works well too.  I recently made a trivet for someone.  Her favorite color is blue, but other colors work fine too.  In the center of the trivet is a button containing a blue bird and a pink flower.  The locks are smaller locks and come from BFL (sheep breed) and dyed in various pink colors.  The yarn I used to crochet with is hand-spun.  It is mostly blue yarn, with one ply in blue with various colors and fibers, one ply in pink Merino, and one ply in pink cotton thread.  I started crocheting a circle in the normal style.  Once I had two rows crocheted, I would catch the center of a lock in a stitch and single crochet it twice in that stitch.  I would then put three stitches between the stitches.  If the trivet gets too big, I would crochet the second and third stitch between stitches together.  This method gave the trivet some fullness.  It is very fluffy and it can be shaken into place somewhat if it gets settled down.  Yes, I like shabby chic decor.  LOL

This looks like it is about 4" wide, but it is closer to 9 inches in diameter.

In the picture below, a little girl is telling me that I have too much wool.  LOL  She is being photo bombed in the picture by little Joy, the Toy Fox Terrier.  I don't get a lot of work done when the grand-daughter is here.  She likes to play tea and sit on my lap.  Trivets under teapots come in handy at our house.  

Trivets and trip to great grandma's house

 At Great-Grandma's house.  Playing ball with mom and dad.

 

 

2 duckies trivet

 

 pink trivet

 

 

purple and lavender trivet

 

yellow trivet

Aside from the button decoration, each trivet is crocheted with 100 percent cotton yarn.

Thank you for viewing.  Dawnie

PS  Don't forget to go to my website at: https://www.slipperywhenwetsoaps.com or my website at: https://www.custercottage.com or my Etsy shop at:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage

Re-purposed DVD's and CD's and other talk

We finished the three day craft fair.  Many talented artisans were there.  If I can shop local for unique fun crafts, or purposeful crafts, I do.  What about you?  We had a politician come by our area at the craft fair.  Todd Tiahrt was there.  He was the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district from 1995 to 2011. He is a conservative Republican.  His wife bought a bar of soap from me.  I was spinning wool on my spinning wheel and they stopped in.  She thanked me for keeping heritage crafts alive.

Not long ago, I saw an idea on the web where a lady crocheted covers for DVD's and CD's.  I don't know if she was  using them as coasters, or hot pads.  She was selling her crochet pattern.  I seldom follow a pattern and I tend to play when I crochet.  With crocheting, if I make a mistake, it can be ripped out easy enough and re-done.  Crocheting goes much faster than knitting.  They are similar to the old covers for asbestos trivets seen on our grandmother's tables.

Have a great week!  Dawnie

You are able to view my web store at: http://www.custercottage.co

And my Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage