The Hills Are Alive...With My Knitted Ponchoooooo...
And You Better Find Some Mittens For The Bacon While You're At It.
Somebody Get That Kid a Carabiner!
More hilarious pattern commentary at www.threadbared.com
Monday, January 28
Saturday, December 8
I Heart Felt
Felt Trivia:
From the mid-17th to the mid-20th centuries, a process called "carroting" was used in the manufacture of good quality felt for making men's hats. Rabbit skins were treated with a dilute solution of the mercury compound mercuric nitrate. The skins were dried in an oven until the thin fur at the sides turned orange- hence the name of the process. Pelts were stretched over a bar in a cutting machine and the skin sliced off in thin shreds, causing the fleece to come away entirely. The fur was blown onto a cone-shaped colander, treated with hot water to consolidate it, the cone peeled off and passed through wet rollers to cause the fur to felt. These 'hoods' were then dyed and blocked to make hats.
This toxic solution and the vapors it produced resulted in widespread cases of mercury poisoning among hatters, which may have been the origin behind the phrase "mad as a hatter" and the character of the the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
The United States Public Health Service banned the use of mercury in the felt industry in December 1941.
From the mid-17th to the mid-20th centuries, a process called "carroting" was used in the manufacture of good quality felt for making men's hats. Rabbit skins were treated with a dilute solution of the mercury compound mercuric nitrate. The skins were dried in an oven until the thin fur at the sides turned orange- hence the name of the process. Pelts were stretched over a bar in a cutting machine and the skin sliced off in thin shreds, causing the fleece to come away entirely. The fur was blown onto a cone-shaped colander, treated with hot water to consolidate it, the cone peeled off and passed through wet rollers to cause the fur to felt. These 'hoods' were then dyed and blocked to make hats.
This toxic solution and the vapors it produced resulted in widespread cases of mercury poisoning among hatters, which may have been the origin behind the phrase "mad as a hatter" and the character of the the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
The United States Public Health Service banned the use of mercury in the felt industry in December 1941.
Working Class Heros
I found something so cool-- I just had to post it here:
They make beautiful stuff. If you want to see more, click here.
They make beautiful stuff. If you want to see more, click here.
Sunday, December 2
Thursday, November 29
regarding sewing machine status
since no one has taken the time to advance the issue of sewing machine superiority in this forum
- i will -
the three machines in question are:
1) an educational-institution worthy bernina - that is 1975 worthy
2) a euro-pro fancypants "it can monogram" monstrosity
3) an unassuming, humble, but readily capable brother
after a considerable objective discussion with myself concerning the qualities each machine had to offer
- i have concluded -
while the bernina enjoys the simplicity of "days gone by" it simply doesn't possess the, how does one say? chutzpah! of the new millennium (or the 90s or 80s for that matter) - one must, however, give their propers to the brand of bernina, but, unfortunately, sewing machines (per their usefulness) are not like fine wines (of course when I say "fine" I mean "boxed")
at first glance, the option-laden europro looks pretty, well (to steal a word from the bernina's generation), groovy - but at second glance, that grooviness disappears into the soulless abyss from whence this machine spawned - who really needs 400 stitches anyways? I think someone is compensating for something - a tiny needle perhaps?
refreshingly modern, with sleek lines, easy operation and a stunning sexiness that is surpassed only by that of its owner, the brother ce-4000 can be described with one word - that word - love (and of course when I say "love" I mean "sex") pure love (sex) - from the instant the power is switched on, the foot pedal engaged - all time stops (except for actual time - that kind of time really doesn't ever stop for some reason, even when your watch stops - don't ask me how) no single instrument of industry is as capable of joining two pieces of fabric as is the ce-4000 (I think the 4000 means it's 4000 times better - better than what? you, most likely) - I could go on but I would run the risk of being overly complimentary of such a deserving subject.
- the winner? -
if you can't figure that one out you probably are either
1) too old to form coherent thoughts
or
2) too busy monogramming my initials
this is my unanimous decision - Advise.
- i will -
the three machines in question are:
1) an educational-institution worthy bernina - that is 1975 worthy
2) a euro-pro fancypants "it can monogram" monstrosity
3) an unassuming, humble, but readily capable brother
after a considerable objective discussion with myself concerning the qualities each machine had to offer
- i have concluded -
while the bernina enjoys the simplicity of "days gone by" it simply doesn't possess the, how does one say? chutzpah! of the new millennium (or the 90s or 80s for that matter) - one must, however, give their propers to the brand of bernina, but, unfortunately, sewing machines (per their usefulness) are not like fine wines (of course when I say "fine" I mean "boxed")
at first glance, the option-laden europro looks pretty, well (to steal a word from the bernina's generation), groovy - but at second glance, that grooviness disappears into the soulless abyss from whence this machine spawned - who really needs 400 stitches anyways? I think someone is compensating for something - a tiny needle perhaps?
refreshingly modern, with sleek lines, easy operation and a stunning sexiness that is surpassed only by that of its owner, the brother ce-4000 can be described with one word - that word - love (and of course when I say "love" I mean "sex") pure love (sex) - from the instant the power is switched on, the foot pedal engaged - all time stops (except for actual time - that kind of time really doesn't ever stop for some reason, even when your watch stops - don't ask me how) no single instrument of industry is as capable of joining two pieces of fabric as is the ce-4000 (I think the 4000 means it's 4000 times better - better than what? you, most likely) - I could go on but I would run the risk of being overly complimentary of such a deserving subject.
- the winner? -
if you can't figure that one out you probably are either
1) too old to form coherent thoughts
or
2) too busy monogramming my initials
this is my unanimous decision - Advise.
Sunday, November 18
ginni's first craft night project.
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