Sunday 24 March 2013

Nesting...

Thanks for all your great bloggy comments, I really appreciate each one and many of them raise a smile, or further inspiration.
My last post certainly promoted some curiosity....
So without further ado....
going round in 3D circles...


 ...crochet nests!

...we did have some sun in March!
(Sorry Melody another sentence of woolly-randomness follows)
Starting with 3 chains and about 9 trebles in a magic circle (using a slip stitch to close the circle each round) - Round 1 increasing in each stitch, and then varying
combinations of  rows of trebles or  half trebles, and/or doubles, some in back loop only, some in front loops, sometimes increasing...


...each one is absolutely unique...


All of these were either (lovingly) hand felted or unceremoniously bunged in the washing machine with the usual washing...and felted!



The top of these two tweedy nests was washed in the washer and the lower one hand felted - both giving a different effect.

Following the felting process some are more irregularly shaped than others...
this pinky firey one has a gentle scoop shape on one side, but however hard I tried I couldn't capture it on camera... it does mean though that the recipient will have a unique experience not seen by others!


During felting, the bumpy texture (made by the back or front loop only rows) was usually lost, but some of the stitch texture is still visible.
I enjoyed experimenting with the hot water, soap and rubber gloves making different nest shapes and pummelling the fibre! 


It was also exciting to open the pouch when the washing machine cycle had finished to reveal a finished felted nest..
The colours in this particular wool became much more vibrant after  agitation!


Fuzzy nests were made with some mohair blended yarn...


 ..not felted but filled!






All the wool was from my stash ...

...and came to a eggsiting total of 110g!

The great thing about this project is that you don't have to count stitches or stick rigidly to a pattern - just go with the flow as a lot comes out in the wash!

My next post will be a picture-full one too....with a special selection of circular celebrities!



10 comments:

crazydazy said...

these are great....I like the idea of felting in the washing machine
really like the fuzzy mohair nest as well, ali

Ana BC said...

love them felted!!! a nest for candy...that is such a lovely idea :-)

September Violets said...

Hi Ali, Love these nests and all the colours! The felting makes them look so realistic ... need some little felted chicks for inside ;) I'm now following your blog and have enjoyed a bit of time reading back through earlier posts :) Wendy

Angela said...

I love the mohair nets Ali, they look so soft, fluffy and inviting

Angela said...

how about a running total of how much stash you've busted, it'd be interesting to know

Elisabeth said...

I love these, especially the felted ones! I saw a photo on pinterest this morning that made jewellery boxes in more or less the same way as these nests but I love yours even more :)
And yum, the mini easter eggs look delicious

linda said...

I love them Ali what a great idea, so cute :)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I bought some felting wool last year but haven't used it yet. Wasn't sure what I should make -- but I think I should do bowls and hearts. :) Have a great week. Tammy

Wendy said...

lovely! What a great idea for a nest

Ashley said...

These all turned out so cute! I still haven't learned anything about felting... but whatever it is, I respect that you to the time to do it by hand. ;)

Onto that cute little chick post I passed on the way down here!