Carla Mahan Beyerlein of CarlaBeads on etsy posted link on Facebook to a tutorial on Lampwork Etc. of “The Blue Bead” by Sara Kay that is such a lovely bead. It uses cobalt glass, silver foil and clear and the result is just beautiful. It’s a nice recipe and if you don’t have any Kronos glass you can get similar if not better silver glass effects. It is made with silver foil after all. This tutorial makes me want to get on the torch right now and make a blue bead. I’ve got a class I’m teaching this weekend and this might be a great thing to show my students on the second day. Something to think about. Well, if you try the tutorial out send me a picture of your bead so I can post it here.
Have you read?
Another Way to Use Up All Your Sock Yarn Scraps
I feel like I’ve been writing a lot lately about projects that are made to use up all your scraps, or that could be adapted to use scraps, because they call for mini skeins and the like.
I have been saying this for years, but I really am trying to use as much of my stash as I can, for economic purposes as much as I just like the idea of using what I have. I like the creative challenge of making a project work with the yarn I already have on hand.
If you happen to have a lot of odd balls in the sock/fingering weight category that at least somewhat coordinate in colors, the All Used Up Shawl might be just the project you need to clear out your stash.
This pattern, designed by Julia-Maria Hegenbart, uses two strands of yarn held together to make a DK weight. Change colors whenever you need to in order to use up all your yarn bits.
The body of the shawl is worked in garter stitch with a deep edging that uses slipped stitches for dramatic effect. It’s an asymmetrical triangle and you can make it any size you like to use whatever scraps you need.
In addition to the shawl itself, you can get a pattern for a coordinating shawl cuff free with the purchase of the shawl pattern, which is available on Ravelry.
This pattern looks so squishy and easy and like it would use a lot of yarn.
This is one where you should definitely look through the finished projects on Ravelry as you are deciding how you want to approach this one. I love the tonal quality of the original, but there are others that use more solid stripes, color blocking, a couple of colors throughout or a wild mix that truly looks like using up oddballs. And they all look great! What kind of magic is that?
[Photo: Julia-Maria Hegenbart]
Scarf Knitting Patterns Made with Sock Yarn