Happy New Years
Happy New Year, everyone. I hope you are having a great holiday time. May the new year treat you well and help you get where you want to be.
Last year was a bit of a crazy, busy year. One thing I did that I have been wanting to do for a long time is to make an online workshop. I had to make a firm commitment that I would do it by a certain date, or I would never have managed to get to it. It was a huge amount of work, but so worthwhile. It’s funny, I was sort of dreading doing it, even though it was something I wanted to do. This year, I am planning to expand the existing workshop and possibly create another one. I am thinking of a ruffle scarf workshop, but we will see. I don’t know if it’s something people would like to learn.
I am taking a how-to photograph you fibre art workshop in the spring, so maybe my pictures will be even better
The second thing I want to do this year is take more pictures of scenery, plants, and things. I want to have a better library of pictures to work from. I am sure I will never get to Jan’s level, but I can work on it. This is some frosted milkweed in my garden
The third is to take some workshops. I am signed up for the Photographing Fibre Art that I told you about above, Spindle Spinning with a Medieval Distaff and Build your own LEGO Spindle. They are all taught by the Ottawa Valley Weaves and spinnes guild. I would have liked to take Rock wrapping, but everything I signed up for is clustered together, and rock wrapping is in the same time frame, plus I am teaching twice during that time. It never fails. Oh well, hopefully it will be offered again, and I can take it then. If you’re in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area, here’s a link to the workshops the guild is offering this winter/spring. https://www.ovwsg.com/workshops/
Lastly, I want to learn to crochet. I understand the concept. I’ve made a chain before. I am told I should make some dishcloths to start, but that doesn’t appeal to me. What other beginner/learner project do you know about? How did you start?
17 thoughts on “Happy New Years”
The ‘how to photograph your fibre art’ sounds interesting. Getting the photos is the most frustrating part isn’t it?
There are a lot of very good ‘how to crochet’ videos on youtube. Start with the basic granny square – it’s easier than it looks and you can make garments and bags from these squares.
Do you remember this challenge? https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2021/11/01/hippie-style-crocheted-top-colourful-floral-felted-pod-4th-quarter-challenge/
You have some great plans for 2026 so here’s wishing you well with them and we look forward to some interesting blog posts showing your successes.
Oh dear – I hope this link works
granny squares may work. Thanks for the link to the video. I do remember crazy crocheted top.
I say jump into the crocheting with both feet. Find a not too difficult pattern you like and if you find a stitch or abbreviation in the pattern you don’t recognize, “Google” it. That’s what I do. There are many many youtube explanations. Good luck to you from one Sheperdess to another:) :). (I raise Wensleydale Sheep in New Mexico) ~Donna
That sounds like fun. and maybe the way I go maybe a ball o blob creature. Lucky you warm weather and fabulous sheep. Are you felting with the wool or spinning or something else?
Happy New Year Ann! I’m thinking of new online classes too. Hopefully, I will get that done this year 😉
Sounds like you will be staying busy, it’s great to learn new things and I am a big advocate of learning the basics and then experimenting. With crochet, perhaps you could do some flat pieces (like wash cloths) but then put them together into a bag or a pouch. That way you can learn the basics but still have something functional and more exciting than a wash cloth/dish cloth. I did some crochet as a teenager (but have forgotten how now) but I did try some free form crochet several years ago. It was fun as I didn’t have a specific goal in mind and had a weird shape when I was finished.
I look forward to hearing about the photography class and I would love to see some of your inspiration shots. I have tons of those, the problem is finding the one I want. I suggest that when you store them, that you have a system so you can find what you want such as landscapes, trees, forest floor, lichen, leaves, seedpods, sheep…
Thanks Ruth. squares made into a bag might be the thing to do, more inspiring than a dishcloth. I am much more organized with my photos than I used to be and better at naming them and the folders I put them in. I number my pictures after editing them too, so they are in the right order when I look at them.
I love those TOFT sheep. I had to google them as I’d never heard of them before.
I love to crochet and I actually prefer Tunisian crochet to the ordinary methods. For this type you use a special hook which is like a knitting needle but with a hook instead of a point and each row has a forward and a return section – you pick up stiches and keep them on the hook right to the end, then you chain them off again going back to the beginning. The one thing that I find most difficult in any type of crochet is setting the first row of stitches into the initial chain so I get round the problem in Tunisian crochet by using the thumb or long tail method of knitting cast on. This gives your initial chain and your first forward row of stitches in one go.
As with regular crochet there are many YouTube videos on how to do it.
Best of luck with your learning but be careful, it’s another rabbit hole!
Ann
I love the Toft sheep and free form sounds interesting to. but I definitely want to end up at #D wok. That sounds interesting. And Yes I know its another rabbit hole. LOL
Dish cloths are nice because even if your tension is off, they are usable. And the rows are short and the project is small. If you want something else I suggest crochet neck warmers or scarves. Then build your way up to a blanket. I am a crocheter and would be happy to help you learn.
I think I will be taking you up on that offer Carlene. a scarf sounds like to much but a neck warmer would be good.
I admire you wanting to learn crochet. I taught grand daughter No 1 some time ago, and she picked it up very quickly. I used to do it at school, and I am tempted to do again. I am also tempted to start knitting again, it is something my mother taught all of us as we were growing up, and knitting Aran jumpers became second nature to me.
i would love to take better photos too, and I admire the photos you take now.
Thanks. My mom did teach me how to do knit a and purl but I never took to it. probably because she wanted me to sit quietly and concentrate. I am still really bad at that. I did love yarn and fibres so when I found felting I was really happy.
Hi again Ann, I would have to say New Mexico is probably warmer than where you are. I live in the mountains(elevation 7200 feet) east of Albuquerque, NM and we did get snow last night and more to come. Friday night our low is suppose to be 6 degrees F. but I must say here in the high desert, once the sun comes out there is some melting. Raising sheep has its own issues, like cholla cactus in the fleece and lack of beautiful green grass for them to graze on!
P.S. I am an avid felter and try to spin but I do not practice enough :)!
I had head the is a lot of temperature swings in desert areas. I am going to send you an email.
Happy new year Ann. Looks like you will have a busy one ahead. I learned to crochet (the rudiments anyway) onn a crafts trip to Finland back in . It was one of the many crafts we got to try. We were a group of women from all over Europe and the whole idea was that we would learn about each other’s culture and make friends – it was a pan European project on Lifelong Learning. My crochet teacher watched (probably bemused) as I hed the yarn like I as knitting (you can easily guess what came first!). So habit made me develop my own process. I’ve done many pieces but the one I enjoy most is making one HUGE granny square that when fully grown covers a king sized bed. Real sitting in front of the telly stuff but with a practical end.
Wishing you a very happy, healthy and creative 2026
Helene x