Having recently looked back at my assorted submissions, I found they formed a nice overview of the strange and colourful things I have released into this world over the years. Not wanting to miss out on yet another opportunity to show off, I’ve gathered them into a digital exhibition, which I hope you will enjoy.
1 - Leaves (or perhaps just leaf)
The elements of this poppy were knitted from a variety of patterns I have picked up over the years.
2 - Numbers
A "nine patch".
I was taught to make this by my sewing group. One day it will join some others to make something bigger. An 81 patch, maybe?
This particular formation could symbolise the stars and stripes of the United States, or it could just be some pretty colours. Whichever you prefer.
3 - Socks/slippers/stockings
Phones need cosy toes too.
4 - Mug/cup/hot choc
A "mug hug", knitted from a pattern by Alison Howard. I went through a phase of knitting these as gifts. I'm not sure they really keep your drink warm but they are great for experimenting with new stitches.
5 - Love
Straw plait in the shape of a heart.
I learnt to make this at a workshop. If you want to know more, I wrote a blog post about it:
http://fabrikatie.weebly.com/blog/corn-stars#
6 - Poppies
A collaboration by my sewing group.
7 - PJs
Bag decorated with ribbons, buttons and reclaimed fabric. The flower petals were harvested from three different sets of pyjamas, all of which are still contributing to new projects today.
8 - Books
This is a blog post I wrote about a book, as opposed to something physical I made, but I thought it fitted the theme reasonably well:
http://fabrikatie.weebly.com/blog/a-well-fitting-cliche
9 - Lips
This is George, lip-syncing to his favourite song ("Lucky Lips" by Cliff Richard). I tried to tell him it wouldn't be as impressive with his face cover on but he wanted to set a good example. In fact, he got quite lippy about it.
10 - Stripes
If Dennis the Menace wore legwarmers...
I made these in 2014 so I could learn how to knit in the round.
11 - Reflection
Thurlestone beach at dawn, October 2020
12 - Food
Onion flowers.
Each one is growing out of a standard onion that I failed to harvest the previous year.
13 - Chilly morning
Alpines, living their best life, in the company of a solar powered frog.
14 - Movie
Behold the Duck-billed-uni-puss! Loosely modelled on The Lego Movie's Unikitty. If this guy doesn't have film star quality, I don't know who does!
15 - Travel
Sun Bonnet Sue knows there is only one way to travel - in style!
(Stitched for a friend, following a pattern provided by another friend.)
16 - Magic
Below is just one example of the ways in which knitting astounds me. You take some pointy things and a bit of string and, hey presto, you've got fabric! I hope I never stop believing in its magic.
17 - Spots
I seem to have a lack of spots in my repertoire so enjoy this speckled decoration instead. It's made from the shell of a turkey egg.
18 - Guilty pleasure
Go on. Giggle!
19 - Window
Pencil pot cover with house motif.
It does have windows, but the blinds are down. Must have nosy neighbours.
20 - Words
Briquettes made from newspapers. Word count unknown.
21 - Jumper
I'm going literal today, with this hooded jumper I made for a friend's baby, back in 2007.
Please excuse the quality of the photo. It took me a while to realise the importance of good lighting.
22 - Pets
Coaster made to resemble a friend's cocker spaniel, from a pattern by Wendy Phillips.
23 - Sport
These exercise balls are pretty cumbersome to transport so I made myself a carrier out of yarn.
24 - Checks
Another "nine patch". I posted one for the numbers theme but here is a different one, to represent checks.
25 - Moon & stars
These were a bonus make at the end of a straw plait workshop I attended. The only thing more fun than making them was showing others how to do the same.
26 - Ornaments
I made this dragonfly on a willow weaving course last autumn. He has spent the last year ornamenting my garden.
27 - Merry Christmas…
...from A-wreath-a Franklin
28 - Family
Something a bit different today. This is the round I wrote for a family quiz, conducted virtually, during Lockdown 2.0. All the questions relate to "the sky at night". Play along if you like. I will confirm the answers later.
- Someone who uses a quiver. Radio 4 has several of them.
- Sirius Black is the fictional godfather of Harry Potter. Into what animal can he transform?
- In the early nineties, a popular confection changed the flavour of its nougat centre from chocolate to vanilla. Name that confection.
- Rupert or Paddington, for example.
- What do Romulus and Remus, The Krays and Jedward have in common?
29 - Bah humbug
This is a pincushion, stuffed with sheep's wool I picked up when I was volunteering on a farm. The relevance? When asked how they feel about Christmas, sheep will always say, "Baa humbug!"
30 - Slippers
Booties knitted for a friend's baby in 2007.
Smaller than your average slippers, but I think they still count.
31 - Christmas traditions
In 2014 I knitted a Christmas pudding for a friend, accidentally starting my own tradition. I have knitted and given away a pudding a year ever since.
32 - Oh Christmas tree
Spruce Springsteen!
Photographed in 2012 and 2019.
He has a story. If you'd like, you can read it here: http://fabrikatie.weebly.com/spruce-springsteen-the…
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the show.
Thanks to the creator of the group and the friend who invited me. (Being a closed group, I’m not sure it’s appropriate to include their names but I wanted to credit them all the same.)
If you were wondering about the answers to that quiz, here you go:
Q: Someone who uses a quiver. Radio 4 has several of them.
A: Archer [like the Sagittarius constellation].
Q: Sirius Black is the fictional godfather of Harry Potter. Into what animal can he transform?
A: Dog [as in Sirius, the “dog star”].
Q: In the early nineties, a popular confection changed the flavour of its nougat centre from chocolate to vanilla. Name that confection.
A: Milky Way.
Q: Rupert or Paddington, for example.
A: Bear [as in Ursa Major].
Q: What do Romulus and Remus, The Krays and Jedward have in common?
A: They are all twins [like the Gemini constellation].