waldorf mama

works in progress...

this week i'm continuing to work on more of my felted water bottle carriers, which i'm committed to stocking up on so i will have plenty to offer at my waldorfmama vendor table at our school's winter fair in december. as you can imagine, there will be a lot more of these in the weeks to come (along with more gnome hats, iphone purses and bloom tunics)! here's my latest batch, drying after bring felted, with my klean kanteens to shape them...

i also have a new knitting bag (purchased on etsy)! made using the popular alexander henry koto print (love!) and lined with one of amy butler's lotus full moon dot prints...

and last, but not least, i have a small yarn stash update, as well:

100purewool.com worsted merino single, in natural/undyed...

and malabrigo merino worsted, in amber gold...

in strawberry fields...

and in ibiza...

i'd love to know what you're working on this week?

knitting in progress...

i'm teaching another little knitting workshop here in our waldorf community over the next couple of weeks (once again, on my felted water bottle carrier!)...so naturally, i've been preparing several samples in various stages so that i can demonstrate some of the tips and techniques i use when knitting this pattern. it's fun coming up with new and creative color combinations - each destined to be one-of-a-kind!

i'm planning on selling these (and many more that i'll be knitting in the months to come!) at our school's annual winter fair, on december 3. if you're in or near austin, texas, i hope you'll join us for this fantastic and full-filled event (more details to come as we get closer to december)!

my felted flute/recorder bag pattern is now available!

i am happy to finally announce that my felted flute/recorder bag pattern is now available on ravelry! i'm quite thrilled about the release of this little pattern as it's actually been a long time in coming. and it's truly such a fun, easy and useful knit!

for the experienced beginner knitter, this is a simple pattern for a knit-in-the-round (from the bottom up) felted flute or recorder drawstring bag. instructions for two size variations are given - one for a 10.5 inch choroi flute (or similar) and one for a 13 inch wooden recorder (or similar) - both, of which, are instruments that are traditionally taught in waldorf schools. and, as with all of my other felting endeavors, this pattern was created specifically with malabrigo worsted merino in mind. a perfectly lovely and mindful way to keep your and/or your child's instruments protected and safe!

i hope you enjoy creating a felted flute or recorder bag of your own!

a felted recorder bag...

here is the finished felted recorder bag prototype i've been working on. and as a result, i will be releasing my new felted flute/recorder bag pattern tomorrow in my ravelry pattern store! it will have instructions for both the longer length, for recorder, and the slightly shorter length, for flute (like maya's felted flute bag)...

oh how i love knitting and creating patterns for useful items in mindful ways!

p.s. check out soulemama today and see the little knitted bloom dress/tunic i made for her sweet annabel. :)

in my knitting basket...

this week, true to my word (and my commitment to myself)...i'm continuing to complete more of my unfinished projects. first up is a second prototype i began working on some time ago for an upcoming pattern i'll be releasing (very soon!) - a felted flute/recorder bag. (granted, i've only made a very slight bit of continued progress on this second bag, but progress...none the less!) the first version i made was a birthday gift for maya for her flute - way back in march (resulting in a few requests then for a pattern ASAP). so i'm quite excited to finally be nearing the release of this, as i've had it on my 'to do' list for so long now!

i'm also finishing up a few more of my felted water bottle carriers...

and surprise, surprise...i have a yarn update this week, as well!

malabrigo merino worsted, in citrus...

and in seleccion privada M...

100 pure wool worsted merino single, in yellow baby...

and in hasen...

what creative endeavor are you working on this week?

felted yoga mat bag, take two...

oh yes, another weekend completion of a long overdue and unfinished work-in-progress (i started this bag in march - yes, march!). of course, that's not really all that long considering the amount of knitting required for this felting endeavor, but still...it's been a project that's been lingering about in my knitting bag for far too long. (the truth is that the actual knitting has been done for some time; all that was needed was to sew/secure the strap to the top of the bag before felting - now, how silly is that?). it's interesting to note here that i find it generally takes me much longer to complete a second version of any project that i knit - does anyone else have that problem?

if you recall from my notes regarding my first felted yoga mat bag (a birthday gift for maya), my intention was to make this version (which i was making for myself) a bit wider and a bit shorter than my earlier attempt. and although it did, indeed, end up being just the right width...the finished felted result also wound up somehow being longer than the previous version (regardless of the fact that i knit them very close to the same length - not quite sure how that happened? hmm, that crazy malabrigo). but i remedied the situation by adding a drawstring to the top and, i must say, i'm really quite pleased with the end result! (ravelry notes here.)

as a matter of fact, the improvised drawstring has provided the additional benefit of not having to worry at all about how much or how often i sling this thing around - my mat is safe and secure in there! very nice...

as a point of comparison, here are both bags side by side...

each individual in their own way, and each perfect for their intended recipient (maya and i)!

a little silk bonnet...

i just finished this sweet little pink silk baby bonnet (link to ravelry notes). now, i'm not sure if this yarn was the best choice to show off the beautiful leaf design at the back of this hat...but my, oh my, it certainly is the most luscious of yarn choices for a newborn. silk is an excellent natural fiber when it comes to knitting for little ones, as it's undeniably one of the softest things you could ever put next to their tender skin. and, i must say, i believe it is especially perfect when knitting hats for babies...as it keeps those precious (and oftentimes bald) little heads warm in cooler temperatures and cool in warmer temperatures (and we're certainly big fans of hats around here)!

on a whim, i decided to add a very simple crocheted border onto the front edge of this bonnet, to make it a bit more feminine and dainty (and i'm quite pleased, as i think it did just that)...

now all i really need to do is to get a photo of this little bonnet actually on a baby, so you can see just how sweet it really is!