Anecdotal Knitting

This motif was traced from “The Motto Book” cover, then enlarged. Embroidered in split stitch in over-dyed wool yarn, measures 7.5 inches x 6.5 inches.

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Knit Picks fingering Gossamer merino wool, colors are Sunrise (shown here over-dyed in Acid WashFast Golden Yellow) and the original Blue Jeans.

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Dip dyed small skeins to produce a range of colors quickly, original colors are in the center.

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My method for dip dyeing: Wind yarn into small skeins, soak in warm water for 30 minutes. Boil a pot of water (8 – 10 cups or more) with 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 tablespoon salt, keep this pot boiling. In another pot on the stove (used for dyeing only, not for food) add a couple of cups of the boiling water and a tiny pinch of dye powder, keep the heat high enough to keep the dye bath at a simmer. Squeeze the water out of a skein of yarn and swish it in the dye bath until the desired color is achieved. Wearing rubber gloves squeeze out the excess liquid from the yarn and set aside (in a dyeing only vessel) to cool.

Discard the dye bath and repeat the process with more water and dye for the next color.

Once all the skeins are dyed and cooled rinse out the excess dye in cool water.

Simmer all the skeins together in a pot of water with 2 tablespoons vinegar for 20 minutes. If you are concerned about bleeding, separate the darks from the lights and simmer in two batches. Or if you want a mottled variegated effect, don’t rinse any of the skeins, simmer all together without stirring.

Let the water and skeins cool to room temperature then rinse again and let dry.

From Katherine Shaughnessy’s book “The New Crewel”, sampler of sixteen stitches on broad cloth, sewn into a 14″ pillow. One strand of wool lace weight knitting yarn – Knit Picks Shadow in Sunset and Grape Jelly – which was over-dyed.

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Split stitch inspired by motifs copied from hand painted tile tables at Torrefazione. One strand of merino wool fingering weight knitting yarn, over-dyed in Acid WashFast – Knit Picks Gossamer original color Blue Jeans.

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The original tracings from the tile tables.

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In the August 1, 2009 post called Floating Squares I described my painting technique, here are the images to go along with that description.

I use 1/4″ thick masonite boards, that I cover in fabric and coat with gel medium and gesso to prepare the surface for oil paint. You can see the paint covered lab coat I wear to protect my clothes.

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Here is the back of the board showing the fabric edges, wooden knobs and wire for hanging.

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I draw a grid with a ruler onto the board in pencil or for squares not in a grid formation I use a square template. I make a sketch of the grid or photograph the arrangement of squares. I assign numbers to each square and colors to each number.

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I mix each color one at a time. There is a white rag on my right knee that I use to wipe off my palette knife – there is no need to use solvents for clean up with a palette knife. I use baby oil to remove paint from my hands.

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I find the squares that have that color.

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I mark them on the board and fill them in.

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Here you can see how I prop my feet on a step ladder for stability.

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McCalls 4783, altered to have less flare in the skirt, added hidden pocket in front yoke seam.

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Worn with Sleeveless Top and Silk Lace Ponchette.

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McCalls 3341, re-made from a J.Jill tencel skirt, added hidden seam pocket.

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Butterick 5218, dropped sleeve, tab front, center pleat, button sleeve tabs.

I used a men’s Arrow cotton shirt for fabric. The blouse front was cut from the shirt back, the blouse back was cut from the two shirt fronts stitched together (the blouse back is slightly less full as there wasn’t enough fabric to cut it out completely). The blouse collar was cut from the shirt back yokes stitched together. I used white cotton fabric for the underside of the collar and front facing. The blouse sleeve tabs were cut from the shirt cuffs. The sleeves and pocket were used as is.

Almost all of the shirt fabric was used, just scant scraps remain. I made the smallest size on the pattern, an 8 without alterations.

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13 inches x 13 inches, squares measure 15 mm to 25.4 mm, 33 blues.

It has been a couple of years since I’ve written about my painting technique, so by way of review here is a post from June 2007 where I first described how I got started.

I paint in oils on canvas covered masonite board with a palette knife. I learned this technique from a local artist. I was attracted to painting with a knife rather than brushes because of the easy clean up. I avoided painting with brushes because I didn’t want to deal with solvents. With a palette knife I simply wipe it clean on a cloth and remove oil paint from my hands with baby oil.

To prep the 1/4″ boards I first cut a piece of cotton or linen fabric a few inches larger than the board. I coat both the board and the fabric with gel medium. I smooth the fabric onto the board with a putty knife. Once the ‘glue’ is dry, I apply two coats of gesso to cover the fabric and to create a white surface on which to paint. I either draw a grid with a ruler and pencil or in the case of floating squares I use a template. I wear a lab coat that is now covered in paint to protect my clothes, I sit on a high stool with my feet propped up on a step stool for stability. In my sketch book I draw the arrangement of squares I will paint and number them with the colors I’ve chosen. I mix the colors one at a time, fill in all those particular squares then move on to the next color.

Photos documenting this process can be seen here.

8 inches x 8 inches, 13 x 13 grid, 36 colors of blue.

This painting was inspired by the color blindness test during a recent eye exam, 12 inches x 12 inches, squares measure 15mm – 25 mm.

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One of the color blindness tests

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6 inches x 6 inches, 10 x 10 grid, squares measure 15 mm, 27 colors. This painting uses the same colors as

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this grid painting from August 2008, but I kept the colors closer together in hue this time. Also, the painting from today is a cropped version of 8/08 painting, I flipped it upside down and used only the 10 lower right hand rows and columns.

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8 inches x 8 inches, 12 x 12 grid, squares measure 15 mm, 18 colors. This painting uses similar colors at the 6 inch grid painting above, but only the cool colors – blues, greens, etc.

Pattern: Stella Circular Shawl by Kristin Omdahl, “Wrapped in Crochet: Scarves, Wraps & Shawls.
Started: April 11, 2009
Finished: April 20, 2009
Yarn: Harrisville Designs Cashmere Blend, 190 yards/ 50 grams, 50% Cashmere 50% Wool, 6 balls.
Hook: G
Notes: I added 2 more rounds before the edging. I skipped the Double Treble stitches in the edging.

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Flag grid painting. 8 inches x 13 7/8 inches, squares are 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch.

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Detail of Paul Cezanne’s Still Life with Apples and Pot of Primroses.
13 inches x 16 inches, 6 x 8 squares, each square is 2.25 inches.

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Original detail from Metropolitan Museum of Art calendar.

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My grid version with outlines in Sharpee marker, in progress.

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Grid painting 10 inches x 10 inches, 17 x 17 squares, each square is15 millimeters.

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