Needle Arts with Vision Loss Blog
Need Inspiration or Motivation?
Stitching for most everyone, beginner or not, vision or not. Especially for those parents and individuals looking for resources to inspire what to do to occupy their time, hands, nerves, thoughts or to express their feelings of this season of time in our world through...
What to Think, Do or Feel?
During this season where the whole world is being asked to stay in place at their homes some may be saying what shall I do? Others, how am I feeling about this? Or, what am I thinking about this? For myself, I have been flitting between virtually staying in contact...
Try Again Links to the Needle Arts books
Apparently a couple of you have had difficulty accessing the Needle Arts books. Try again below.... So you can keep on with your favorite needle art. Machine sewing large print...
Discovery: Lumenaris for Needle Felting Projects
It is always fun to discover a new resource to help with a Needle Arts project! At a sewing and craft show I discovered Lumenaris, www.lumenaris.com, with their vast array of colors, shapes and sizes of pre-cut wool felt pieces. Useful, if folk don’t want to cut wool...
Q & A: Adapting Strip Quilting
Enjoy sewing strip quilting without sight.
2017 Spring/Summer Fashion
Spring gardens are definitely reflected in this season’s fashion prints, colors and textiles. There is something to be found for whatever style desired; especially in classic, bohemian, retro 1950’s to 1980’s and Asian Indian influences. Any needle artist who can do...
Q & A: How does one non-visually trim a hem allowance evenly?
Templates are the key. First someone has to measure the hem length up from the floor and pin the hem in place. Decide what width of hem is needed, then cut a template out of lightweight cardboard. I use cardboard from the back of note pads or packaging. Use a paper...
Knitting Project Update #6~ Sweater Construction and Blocking
Working with mohair yarn I prefer the variegated color of mohair yarn for the mystery of how the colors will show in the pattern and so the eye gets distracted from the inconsistency of stitch tension. Working with mohair can be a challenge, so I don't recommend it...
Sweater project~ Adding Sleeves
With my narrow shoulders, I decided to double check the length and use a safety pin marker for my shoulder length. The safety pins on the shoulder seam mark the placement for where to place the sleeves at the end of the shoulders. I chose to knit the sleeves from the...
Knitting project update~ Binding off + Adding the Funnel Neck
The sweater knitting project continues~ To connect the front and back shoulders, I used the slipstitch with a crochet hook. Now on to the sleeves, with details in the next post… Keep on stitching your projects with enjoyment!
Dare to cut what you just knitted?!
Yes, must confess I had a brief moment of talking myself into cutting through the purl stitches; even though I have done a sweater with this technique before. A technique among others I learned in the early 1990’s from Ann Bourgeois at Philosopher’s Wool Co.,...
Continuing to Knit in the Round
This photo shows I compared the mohair sweater sides with my original sweater pattern inspiration for my desired length. Once I got the desired side length, I continued in the round to keep the pattern of the greens. Imagine a picture of rolling hills with...
Knitting Project Update: Fitting + Threading Cording
My sweater is coming along. I will share more adaptive techniques in this blog post and future ones as I let you journey through the process of this sweater with me. For me the slow knitter, I have decided to knit the whole sweater body in the round utilizing a few...
Knitting without Sight
Many knitters knit without looking while conversing with others and may not think about that fact. When I point this out to sighted knitters they then realize, yes; they do knit often without looking. Here are ideas to make it easier to knit with vision loss....
Q & A: What winter projects are you working on?
Since I am doing some traveling this winter, I decided I needed a warm lightweight sweater to coordinate with my traveling wardrobe of greens, burgundy and navy. Looking through my yarn stash I found some beautiful hand dyed variegated green mohair yarn that has been...
Q & A: What’s in your sewing box?
To enjoy your sewing, mending and needle arts projects it helps to have the right tools or notions. Here is a list of basics found in or with my portable sewing case and in a sewing box. Yes, I use two or more containers with basics; works well to take items on the go...
Needle Arts Projects
I mentioned in a previous blog that I have been doing more sewing than writing. Here are photos of a few projects made for and worn this summer. Before making these pieces, a friend and I decided to make duct-tape-dress forms to help us when fitting our garments. This...
2016 Fall/Winter Fashion
Looking at this season’s fashions and reading what I wrote last year, “Looks for Fall/Winter 2015”, there is little difference from last year in fabric types, texture, weaves and layering. Even the same past decades and global folkloric influences are seen in the...
2016 National Sewing Month
The logo has denim blue background with two parallel lines of yellow and orange ric-rac. Above the ric-rac on the right is a lighter blue 6-petal flower with a orange button center. White, yellow and orange above mentioned print overlay the previous mentioned design....
More Inspiration for Needle Arts
My favorite Needle Arts magazines is "Threads" published by Taunton Press. After I shared about Petersham ribbon last week I received the April/May 2016 "Threads" with a inspiring article sharing more uses for the ribbon. "Threads" phone number is 203-426-8171. Count...
Inspiring Resources
Ribbonerie at 3695 Sacramento St. in San Francisco is one of my favorite places for a varied selection of beautiful ribbon. Paulette, the owner, has ribbon of all types and colors displayed in vintage ribbon display cabinets, shelves and baskets. Amongst these...
Reorganizing Needle Arts/Sewing Space
If you have read my books or taken my classes, you will know that I stress the importance of organization and things having a home. Check out the Getting Started or Appendix sections on organization in my books for more details. Recently, I rethought my Needle...
Q & A: What Projects are you working on?
Recently, I have been asked what projects am I working on? Aside from purging and reorganizing in my household, I ventured into my fabric stash. I got back into sewing small projects that I have had students make in the past, while listening to carols. What fun to...
Discovery: Needle Arts friendships, Inspirations and a Knitting Book
Discovering friends who enjoy visiting textiles exhibits or knitting over a cuppa tea or a new Needle Arts book has occupied some of my time and given me happy moments during recent weeks. I was inspired by the San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s two wonderful small...
Looks for 2015 Fall/Winter
2015 Fall/Winter Fashion Descriptions Once again this is the time of year for me to share current fashion colors, styles, design details and fabrics you will find in the stores to create your individual style. For me, it is fun to add at least one fresh color or new...