A few of us beginner musicians are making music (and magic) every week.  Our motto is "We suck, and we have fun."  And it is great fun.

"Saxon" Cables

My first cables beyond the basic twist.

 A warm hat!  Just in time for summer!


As I type, the heat index is over 100F where I live.  But that skein of yarn could not wait.  I want to use up my stash and move on with my life!


This is perfect for my hair.  A too small, too stiff cowl fits my head and lets my bun poke out the back.  Win.


I'm also pleased with the cables, but I am looking forward to pattern-free, stockinette knitting now!

Nesting: A Rag Rug

Finished!

I have a plywood floor.  I really like it, honestly.  But a little rug by my bed is just what I needed.  Ripped up sheets and curtains, purchased secondhand.  Freehand single crochet.

An earlier stage

Want to make this?  All it takes is a knowledge of how to crochet circles and rectangles.  I started with a desired length and width, subtracted the latter from the former, and chained the difference.  At the end of the chain, a half circle, or 3 single crochet.  Single crochet across the bottom of the foundation chain, then another half circle.  End of first round.  Each successive round consists of two straitaways with no increases and two half circles with three increases each.  Or you can simply increase "when it feels right."  My rug used up three curtains and three bedsheets.  One-inch strips and a size N crochet hook make a fairly dense fabric.  Final measurement about 25 x 50 inches.

One Dress, Revisited

Here's an old friend from last June, my One Dress!  In 2011, I wore this dress every day in June but one, a particular festival day.  In 2012 I made up for it by wearing it on the missed day!  A Plain cap and a matching apron give it a different look, and you can see how much it has faded from use in a year.  I continue to experiment with Plain dress.  The Regency-ish apron gives shape to the unfitted T-tunic dress, although the current length and placement of the straps cause them to fall down constantly.  I think shorter straps (and a higher waist) will fix it.

My community knows that the best way to welcome summer is with facepainting, drinks, and music.  I spent the afternoon lounging on the grass and generally enjoying myself.  While this is not a true Solstice festival (it is a bit early), it serves reasonably well.  And, almost halfway through the calendar year, it is a proper foil to our massive New Year's party.  Happy Summer.