Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Shakespeare and QR Codes

Okay, so I have been having some fun creating QR Codes with lines from Shakespeare embedded in them because I had the bright idea of using QR codes as punchcard patterns for machine knitting. Like this one:

It reads "When love speaks, the voice of all the gods makes heaven drowsy with the harmony"
I had envisioned using quotes like this as edgings for cardigans.

However, it dawned on me that punch cards can only be 24 "punches" across and QR Codes are more than 24 squares across...sigh. I'd have to get a knitting machine than can handle more than 24 punches... Alas! Back to my idea of using a random pattern generator to create fair isle patterns...

Friday, March 09, 2012

Lacey Lace and some Groovy Patterns

I've recently taken classes in advanced machine knitting and was thrilled, thrilled I tell you, to learn how to use my trusty old Toyota 901 to make lace patterns. OMG. OMG. O.M.G.














I then tried to knit up some rather scratchy hand spun lavender-colored yarn JoAnn had in her stash, but to no avail. The yarn was too unevenly spun and plied and my machine simply DID NOT APPRECIATE IT and immediately began dropping stitches left and right as if to say "Oh, did I do that? Sorry!"











Alas. in consolation I hit a local Value Village and found these groovy groovy patterns.










Now tell me, is this far-out hot pink paisley barkcloth not perfect for the frock in the background of Simplicity 7673?

I'm Just Mad About Saffron

Well talk about a brain dump - it's what you're about to be subjected to, if you dare to read on...
I found out that Donovan is appearing at the big Faery Festival in Eugene, Oregon at the end of July, so naturally I had to get tickets and create a very special hat to wear to the concert:













But I was also intrigued by the idea of going as a Maenad, so I've begun making a horned headdress to wear during the day at that festival:













Eventually, I will add flowers and ribbons and googaws to make it resemble something like this:












Or this:








The original inspiration was this: