Hooked On Newton Fiber Art 2020-2021

Monday, April 26, 2021

Hooked On Newton has returned! One of the locations chosen to yarn storm is this fencing along Commonwealth Ave. at Ash St.  It's a well traveled area in and out of the city with high viability. It has the potential for a stunning impact because there is a LOT of fencing. The more of it that can get covered the better the effect will be. 

The fence slats measure 5.5" x 1.5" x 93" and can be easily covered with fabric where one side is approximately 11" (see photos of sample below.)

These patterns are provided to get you started but feel free to experiment with stitches, patterns and color – anything goes! More importantly, don’t fuss and  do not rip out anything you view as a “mistake."  Let whatever happens be the charm.

Email fiberart@newtonma.gov or call 617-796-1540 if you would like to drop off completed squares, have questions, or would like to learn more.

KNIT: 

1. Worsted weight yarn and size 9 needles 
2. Cast on 30 stitches 
3. Knit until the piece measures 11”. 
4. Bind off. Don’t weave in the ends! We’ll use them to stitch to other rectangles. 

OR 
1. Use any weight yarn and the needle size recommended for that. You can even use a needle size or two larger to make things go faster. 
2. Cast on as many stitches onto the needle as you want. The number of stitches on the needle will determine the width. Less stitches will make a narrow rectangle and more stitches will make a wider rectangle. 
3. Knit until the piece measures 11”. 
4. Bind off. Don’t weave in the ends! We’ll use them to stitch to other rectangles. 

Rainbow rectangles ready to be stitched together

CROCHET 

1. Worsted weight yarn and H or I hook. 
2. Chain 35 
3. Double crochet until the piece measures 11”. 
4. Bind off. Don’t weave in the ends! We’ll use them to stitch to other rectangles. 

OR 
1. Use any weight yarn and the needle size recommended for that. You can even use a needle size or two larger to make things go faster. 
2. Chain as many stitches as you want. The number of chains will determine the width. Less chains will make a narrow rectangle and more chains will make a wider rectangle. 
3. Crochet until the piece measures 11”. 
4. Fasten off. Don’t weave in the ends! We’ll use them to stitch to other rectangles.

I worked test samples to double check the pattern details and the results are incredible!

The back view of the fence from the carriage road
Zoomed in view from across the street
Zoomed out from across the street.  Now visualize all the slats covered!!

It's In The Bag

Sunday, January 24, 2021

The other day I was going through my yarn stash looking for scraps to make comfort blankets for the local cat shelter. I came across a small ball of cotton yarn that had been used in an exercise of natural dying for a fabric structure class. Attached to the yarn was my note the yarn had soaked in a chrome mordant for 1 hour and a walnut dye bath for 1 hour 10 minutes. It's tough to see in this photo but the walnut dye has a lovely striping effect with the yarn.

I thought about throwing it into the pile destined for the cats, but decided instead to use it for making a new "It's In The Bag" bag. This is the perfect project for small scraps of yarn and when you have only one of a particular button.

I designed this pattern a number of years ago and it was included in the 2009 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar. I publish it now as a free pattern.

"It's In The Bag" is a small crocheted pouch that holds one or two recycled plastic bags to reuse when shopping. I like to attach the handle of the plastic bag to the clasp of the pouch and keep everything all together.

IT'S IN THE BAG

Gauge: Don't worry about a gauge with this project!

Stitch Definitions:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
fpdc = front post double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch

Special Stitch Definition:
Shell: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc)

Materials:
Worsted weight cotton
G Hook
5/8" Decorative Button

Pattern:
Rnd 1: Ch 12, 2 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc across working 2 hdc in last ch; turn and working in bottom loops of chain, hdc across, sl st in beg hdc. (24 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), dc in next st, *sk next st, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, dc in next st, sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk next st, * dc in next 3 sts, repeat from * to * once more; end with dc in next st; join to top of ch 3.

Rnds 3 - 8: Ch 3, fpdc in next st, * sk 2 sts, shell in ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, fpdc in next st, sk 2 sts, shell in ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, * in next 3 sts work (fpdc, dc, fpdc), repeat from * to * once more; end with fpdc in next st, join to top of ch 3.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in same st; for this round only do not count the ch-1 spaces as a stitch, sc in the next 18 sts, ch 14, being careful not to twist the ch, sl st into sc last made, sc in next 5 stitches; join to beg sc.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Attach button.