koala burn mittens (updated)

After seeing the heart-breaking images of koalas with burn injuries from the Australian bushfires, when I heard about the call to make mittens to cover their burned paws I had to participate. 16 pairs of mittens sent off to Australia this afternoon. Heal quickly little guys!

Read about it here, with a link in the article to the mitten pattern. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/09/koala-mittens-needed-to-help-bushfire-victims-with-burnt-paws

Update, 1/12: IFAW has received enough mittens to last through the fire season. You can still help koalas rescued from bushfires by supporting IFAW through donations and spreading the word about their good work!
Read more at http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/ifaw-koalas/#1erQMcj4U8cKfByM.99

2 pot cosy

 

A gift for a friend to fit over 2 extremely different pots – a tall thin coffee pot and a short fat tea pot. The colors were chosen to coordinate with the kitchen decor.

Body is a felted sweater with needle-felted roving, embroidery, and a silly tassel. Lining is cotton, with a layer of batting for insulation.

handspun headwear

Bought a beautiful (looking) skein of handspun wool thinking I’d make a cowl. Things didn’t work out. It wasn’t nearly enough, and while the skein looked beautiful, it was not really great for knitting, being under and overspun. In a fit of craziness I decided to make it a hat. For days when only wacky headwear will do.

catnip fish

A fun and fast gift for a friend’s kitties. I received a video of the reactions! So I made one for mine and it was snubbed. Felted sweaters and random embroidery floss, stuffed with vintage polyfill and organic catnip.

more hole chasing

The second of the friend’s much-loved thrift shop sweaters that had been used as meals by the moths. This time mended with needle-felted roving; much quicker and easier than the thread used previously, especially since this piece had more and larger holes.

(I don’t do the washing and pressing—just the mending!)

 

begone holes

A friend’s beloved thrift shop find was munched by moths. I mended the holes, then covered them with Japanese Banku thread. For the bottom squiggle I was able to needle-felt the thread into place, but it would not stay attached for the top two…so I couched all of them.

(Apologies for the image quality – it was a gray day and getting late. And the top is actually an olivey green, just paler than the thread.)

mudcloth bag, reworked

 

This cute mudcloth bag was a gift from a friend. I wasn’t using it because I can’t deal with carrying a bag in my hand. It needed a shoulder strap. Found a woven belt at the thrift store and sewed that on. Decided to remove the hand loops (discovered they were attached very poorly anyway) and added a button and elastic loop closure while I was at it. Now it’ll get used!

tunic blouse, revised

 

Thrift store tunic find: loved the crazy abstract floral watercolors and the fit, except for the prissy, too tight sleeves. So, off they came. It would have worked sleeveless, but I don’t wear sleeveless. Old (ancient but unworn) t-shirt to the rescue, the sleeves were a good fit at the armholes. Just plain it looked like a vest over tshirt, but adding the stitching pulled it together. Yay once more for the embroidery floss stash!

needle case

I have accumulated dozens of packages of needles over time, sometimes for specific needs, sometimes because the package is vintage and wonderful. My go-to package was in dire straits. Inspired by Local and Bespoke’s needle case (http://localandbespoke.com/2013/08/05/small-things/), I made one of my own.

Cuffs cut off from another project in the works, some scrap fabric and embroidery floss from my ludicrously large stash….I have no idea what that stitch on the outside is, I made it up as I was going along to cover and add strength to the join of the 2 cuffs. I’m calling it “tiddly corset” stitch.

 

 

j’s french press cozy

What do you mean it’s not for me?