alipyper

Author: Allison

  • the incredible power of handwork

    [embedplusvideo height=”337″ width=”550″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/bfoByYLSBY8?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=bfoByYLSBY8&width=550&height=337&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep2746″ /]

    I was deeply touched by this short clip of Renate Hiller, co-director of the Fiber Craft Studio at the Threefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, New York, who speaks on the transcendent and meditative qualities of creating with our hands and the importance of using natural and beautiful fibers in our work.

    To quote from the video clip:

    “…in handwork, in transforming nature we also make something truly unique that we have made with our hands, stitch by stitch, that maybe we have chosen the yarn, we have even spun the yarn — even better, and that we have designed. And when I do that, I feel whole. I feel I am experiencing my inner core because it’s a meditative process. You have to find your way; you have to listen with your whole being. And that is the schooling that we all need today. Because we’re so egocentric and this makes us think of what is needed by something else. So we are in a way practicing empathy — empathy with the material, empathy with the design. I think this practicing of empathy that we do in the fiber crafts is paramount for being healing to our world. And it’s a service for the divine that we are surrounded by.”

    Thank you Amanda!

  • spiderstitch baby blanket up for auction!

    Our friends, the Truax Family, are making the final push to raise enough money to adopt three orphan siblings from the Ukraine. They’ve set up an online auction and have listed some really fantastic items people can bid on Thursday and Friday, November 15-16th! See all the details here.

    Last month I crocheted a baby blanket that will be part of the auction! This blanket was hand crocheted with high quality 100% mercerized cotton yarn from England and can be lovingly passed down from generation to generation. It’s a great baby size, 27.5″ x 34″, and will work for summer or winter.

    If you want to bid on the blanket, set your clocks for 1 am Thursday November 15th to get your bid in! Check out the bid page here.

  • Granny Love Guest Post at Harmony

    In preparation for the Granny Squares class I’m teaching tomorrow at Harmony in Provo tomorrow, I was asked to guest post on their blog.

    Go check it out here!

    Photo credits: 1/2/3/4

  • Colonial Day with {K}

    I volunteered down at the school for Colonial Day today. I cut off a pair of thrift store pants to make breeches for {K} and made a simple mob cap out of muslin and a long skirt and apron for myself. I was able to help teach the children how to tie quilts. The kids were so smart and quickly learned how. They finished 6 baby quilts that will be donated to the Humanitarian Center.

    {K} was such a pill about the tri-corner hat I wanted him to wear! Apparently the rest of the school was having “Crazy Hair Day” and he thought the hat would get in the way. He would only wear it for a picture – and then only begrudgingly. Oh well.

  • Intro to Crochet class added at Harmony

    We’ve organized another beginning crochet class this fall at Harmony! The class will run Thursday mornings from 10 am to noon on November 1, 8, & 15. I’ll walk you through all the basics of chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, changing colors, reading patterns, increasing, decreasing, and weaving in ends when you’re finished.

    You’ll leave the class with a gorgeous scarf and the confidence to try new crochet patterns – just in time for Christmas! The cost of the class is $60 and you’ll receive a 10% discount on supplies purchased at the shop.

    *If you’re left-handed, don’t despair! I have experience teaching lefties how to crochet!*

    Have you ever wanted to learn how to crochet something like this?

    Rose Hip Blog Crochet Flower Pattern

    Or this?
    Yvonne Eijkenduijn Copenhagen Pillow Pattern

    Or any of these??
    Attic 24 Inspiration

    Call or stop by Harmony, or sign up for the class online and come learn how to crochet!

  • Learning to Smock, a Bake Sale, and Granny Squares

    I signed up for the Smocking Class at Harmony and I’m over the moon to finally learn how to embroider smocking!! I’ve wanted to learn since {G} was a baby and for one reason or another I never have. Thank you Harmony!! And I also learned how to embroider bullion roses. Bonus. My lines are a little wonky, but I’m thrilled with how it’s turning out. Just need to sew the smocked panel into a skirt and I’ll be done!

    I promptly put Sabrina‘s cute new logo that she painted for me to good use! {K}’s soccer team was having a fundraiser so I made a little tag and put them on my famous Peanut Butter Cookies with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, and my mom’s Gingersnaps to help raise a little bit of money. Super happy with the logo!!

    I’m teaching another class at Harmony on Saturday November 3rd from noon to 2 pm. Do you want to learn how to crochet Granny Squares?? I’ll discuss how to quickly change colors, weaving in ends as you crochet, different methods of circular crochet and joining the blocks together as you go! The 2 hour class will be jam packed with tips and tricks that you can apply to all your crochet projects. Come join us for a great class to elevate your basic crochet skills to the next level. Only $20!

  • alipyper likes to bake

    My sweet friend Sabrina designed and painted a new logo for me!! I’m super duper thrilled about it! Like turn cartwheels over it. I think it’s darling and I’m going to plaster it all over everything I bake from now on 🙂

  • Eyelet Lace

    I recently designed a crochet edging that looks kind of like eyelet lace. When I was trying to find a crochet pattern to edge my robe, I came across these laces available from the famous Britex Fabric shop in San Fransisco. Aren’t they gorgeous?

    Britex Fabric Eyelet Lace Selection
    I’m thinking I need a couple yards of each of these! So beautiful!

  • Eyelet Lace Crochet Edging Pattern

    I finally made myself a housecoat (is that what they’re called? is it a robe? a muu muu? I don’t know!). We all share one bathroom right now, so it was high time. One of my small indulgences is a subscription to the French craft magazine Marie Claire Idées. In the March/April 2012 edition they had this picture (and pattern) and I had to make it!

    Unfortunately for my husband and children, the decision to make myself a housecoat was not prompted by necessity. It only came about because I saw one that I felt like I could tolerate wearing. If I hadn’t seen it, I would be still be slinking between the bathroom and the bedroom in a towel.There are other areas in my life where this principle applies, to the detriment of my family members. But why compromise for bad design?? I’d rather slink in a towel than buy an ugly robe.

    Granted, it’s autumn and the linen/cotton I chose will not be very warm in the coming winter months, but it had to be linen. I decided to trim the housecoat with a simple crocheted lace and I had it in my mind that I wanted the crocheted lace to look like white eyelet lace. So, I searched high and low to try and find a pattern in my books and online, but to no avail. So, I made a pattern up! It’s not EXACTLY like eyelet lace, but for a simple crocheted edging I like it quite a bit.

     

    Pattern repeat is 7 sts +2. 

    On a foundation row (see this tutorial for ideas on how to attach crocheted edging to your linens): ch 1, sc in beg st. Sc in next st *Skip 2 sts. 7 dc in next st. Skip 2 sts. Sc in next two sts.* Repeat from * to * until you reach your last 7 sts. Skip 2 sts. 7 dc in next st. Skip 2 sts. Sc in last 2 sts. Ch 3, turn.

    Row 2: Skip first 2 sc. *Sc in 1st dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 3rd dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 5th dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 7th dc of shell. Ch. 3. Skip next 2 sc.* Repeat from * to * until the last shell. Sc in 1st dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 3rd dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 5th dc of shell. Ch 3. Sc in 7th dc of shell. Ch 3. Skip 1 sc. Sc in last sc.
    Knot and weave in ends.

    I’m thinking that I need to figure out how to attach this edging to some linen handkerchiefs or napkins. I’m thoroughly in love with it!

    ps. The Intro to Crochet class at Harmony was a hit last night! I’m so excited to continue for the next two weeks with the great group that signed up! Hooray for crochet!!

  • Benefit Bake/Yard Sale

    New York Style Cheesecake, Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, Gingersnaps, Coconut Cake, & Peanut Butter Cookies with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

    Our friends, the Truax Family, are having a huge benefit bake and yard sale tomorrow, Saturday September 29th starting at 8:00 am at 11742 Current Creek Drive, South Jordan, UT 84095 with all proceeds going toward their adoption of three sibling orphans from the Ukraine.

    Come Support Our
    Benefit Yard/Bake Sale!
    We’re raising money to help three
    orphans from Ukraine leave their
    life in an orphanage behind and
    experience life with a family in the US.
    They need your help!
    All proceeds from the yard/bake sale
    go toward adoption funds.
    Join us Saturday morning 
    (September 29, 2012)
    beginning at 8:00 am.
    11742 Current Creek Drive,
    South Jordan, UT 84095
     
    I will be bringing a yummy 10″ New York Style Cheesecake, a 9″ double layer Coconut Cake, Gingersnaps, Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, and Peanut Butter Cookies with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 
     *PLUS* 
    A dear friend gave me a large bag of gorgeous apples and said, “Use these for the fundraiser!” So, I’m also bringing a Mile High Apple Pie! 
     
    I’ve been making this yummy, yummy pie for 20 years! Picture circa 1995 – excuse the burnt edges 🙁
    If you can’t make it to the Bake/Yard Sale tomorrow, I will take orders for a short period of time and deliver in Northern Utah! With all proceeds going towards the Truax Adoption Adventure.