Kiki Mariko

I've basically been finished with this for over a year now. I've been waiting to post it 'cause I kept thinking that I would get around to binding the edge. But I don't think that'll ever happen :)

The Pattern: Kiki Mariko from Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines by Kay Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne
Size: 42.5 in x 35 in (108 cm x 89 cm) before felting
        37.5 in x 29 in (96 cm x 74 cm) after felting
The Yarn: Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky 2 balls of Chocolate and 1 ball each of Lime, Navy, Red-Purple, Burgundy, Pumpkin, Gold, and Oatmeal (108yds/99m)
Needle size: US 11 - 8.0 mm

Started: 6/6/10
Finished: 6/13/10

This is a colorwork project knit in the round, so you basically end up with a big tube.

A checkerboard pattern is knit at the beginning and end of the round to form the steeked egde.

To felt the rug I placed it in a pillow case and put it through the hot wash cycle of my washing machine.

As you cut through the middle of the checkerboard pattern your knitting will not unravel because the separate strands of yarn were fused together during the felting process.

The steek should be cut while the rug is still wet from washing, so that you can shape the rug. It took a lot of pulling and stretching to get the rug into a even rectangle. With a little more effort I could have also straighten out the edges. But I liked the slightly wavy look, so I left them alone.

The felting creates a nice tight fabric.

This is the edge that I had meant to bind in brown using a whip stitch. I just never got around to it and after a year I don't think I ever will. And I like the checkerboard pattern just as it is anyway.

Sightless

Poor Monster Bear. He has no eyes.

He's like Elijah Wood in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. You know that scene when Jim Carey keeps turning EW around to figure out who he is, but EW is faceless? Monster Bear is just like that.

Sort of.

Don't worry though, Kogepan is comforting him.

Monster Bear is one of nine projects that I haven't completed.

I have 6 WIPs. Some I haven't even gotten around to taking pictures of.

And 3 projects that are in hibernation and may never be resurrected.

But Monster Bear is almost done!

I just have to get off my lazy butt and buy him some eyes, but I don't know where I should get them. Where in Manhattan do you buy eyes?

I'd like to get some like this:

These are from Suncatcher Eyes. I would order from them, but I currently only need one pair. So until I set my sights (he hee) on another project that needs eyes I think Monster Bear will have to go without.

Pattern: 'Little Monster Bear' by Wendy Gross
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Dark Grey and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Mulled Wine, less than half a ball of each.
Needles: US 10

Started: January 20
Finished: January 21

Monster Bear was a really quick knit. The pattern called for a sz 10 needle, but if I were to make this again I'd use a smaller size. Even with the felting the stitches pull apart too much and reveal the stuffing.

On one arm I made a grey stripe for fun. I think that he turned out pretty cute.

If only he could see.

Fashioning Felt at Cooper Hewitt

I hiked it up to the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum yesterday to see the Fashioning Felt exhibit.

There were some pretty interesting and beautiful pieces. Of course they displayed the usual clothing, furniture, bowls, and the ever popular felt rocks.

I love this picture of Christien Meindertsma making her Flocks Pouf

Look at the size of those needles!

My favorite pieces were the more unusual installations:

Faucet with felt water

Sorry I didn't catch the name of the artist
Created by Janice Arnold. See below for some great comments from the artist!

Janice Arnold's Palace Yurt

West entrance to the conservatory

Conservatory ceiling

North exit

The Palace Yurt is a really spectacular installation located in the museum's conservatory. Janice Arnold was inspired by the conservatory's structural similarity to a yurt. She details the design process further on the Cooper Hewitt blog. There are also pictures of the construction process on her website. If I had a conservatory, sunroom, or any room with a lot of windows I'd love to drape it in JA's creation. The material and soft light create a very relaxing cocoon.

The Fashioning Felt exhibit will be on display until September 7th.

Cooper Hewitt is open Mon–Fri 10–5, Sat 10-6, and Sun 12-6.
Regular admission is $15 or $10 for students and senior citizens; children under 12 are admitted free.
The Museum is located on 91st btwn Central park and Madison Ave.

If you can wait to go until May or June the garden will be open. Or even better you could just go again :)