made by Julianne

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COUSIN PUPPETS

20 May 2014 by Julianne

I had so much fun making these guys! It was the first time since January I made puppets (our car was so packed for our road trip that I had to leave my box of supplies in Los Angeles).

I made these puppets for two babies coming in June. One is for my friend’s sister, the other is for my friend’s boyfriend’s sister. So they’re kinda cousins… who will probably never meet.

It’s pretty amazing to make something for a kid that hasn’t been born yet. So many possibilities go through my mind as I construct a toy that I hope will entertain them for years. Will they ever realize that before they were born, someone who never even met their parents and would probably never meet them spent a few hours wondering what their lives would be like?

Lots of friends are having babies right now, so I get to spend lots of time making special gifts for their mysterious lives. I’ll be posting a lot of those creations soon!

There are many traits they share. Both have yellow vinyl ears, pink colors, fringe, and tails to match the body of the other.

By the way, this is not foreshadowing my own future. I can enjoy spending time with kids without wanting one of my own.

These puppets are already at their new homes, but you can order your own puppet in my shop.

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SELF STRIPING SOCKS

24 March 2014 by Julianne

Hand-made socks were a major motivator in learning to knit, and I really love making them (which is a relief; I was afraid that it might be too tedious). It’s a simple and compact project that I can carry everywhere I go.

Although my first pair of socks took about 3 months to complete, this second pair was finished in 4 weeks. And they are much longer! I did a basic calculation, and estimate that each sock contains about 12,000 stitches. Sock knitters, does that number seem correct? It makes me dizzy.

I used 47″ #3 Addi Turbo Lace needles, and followed Liat Gatt’s pattern for toe-up socks on magic loop. The self-striping yarn was donated to and from the Boys & Girls Club (I used to volunteer as a sewing teacher, and still pop in when I have the chance. The coordinator of the sewing program is an amazing lady. Thank you to Donna for supporting my growth as a maker, and for fostering that love of craft in so many children.).

As a designer, I usually want control over colors and stripes. This was my first time working with self-striping, and I am definitely a convert. It was exciting to see the colors and stripes emerge, and the pattern helped me track my progress as well as hide any flaws.

I have several balls of donated self-striping to get through, and then I can’t wait to select new yarns for myself! I keep window-shopping (or more accurately, browser-tab shopping), but I think I will refrain from online shopping and instead pick up future pairs of socks on trips. The idea of seeking out a local yarn shop, in foreign localities, and creating my own souvenir is so… romantic! This is not a word I use regularly.

I love the contrast cuff, and will integrate contrast toes and heels in future socks. This aquamarine yarn is a bamboo-nylon blend. It’s definitely thicker than the fingering-weight, and so I did the ribbing on #1 needles. I was concerned about the weight discrepancy, but I think it totally works for the cuff.

I live in LA, but luckily I have icy feet, so handmade wool socks will actually get worn this winter. But future sock yarns may be more of the bamboo persuasion.