Issue 21, putting the new leaf motifs into freeform projects

and a few ideas for future leafy freeform

hey everybody,

With just a few weeks left in the 100 Day Project (100DP), I’ve been revisiting some of my hibernating works in progress, looking for opportunities to use some of my new leaf motifs. It started with a poncho cowl about a month ago. The first time this cowl was finished was actually a couple of years ago, but there was too much color contrast between the original freeform section and the plain knitted section; they just didn't relate to each other very well.

I took the freeform panel off the knitted section in 2022, put the live stitches of the knitted section on a circular needle, and decided to replace the freeform section with a new palette of yarns in colors that blended better with the knitting. Then I forgot about it for a while.

When I came across the blue knitted section of the cowl, I realized that the little spiral leaves I’d been making seemed just about the right size for the freeform section that needed replacing, so I yanked the cowl out of hibernation and made a bunch of leaf spirals in super-blendy purples and blues.

In the original version, I had made the freeform panel first, picked up stitches using the main blue yarn, and finished by knitting up the plain section. In the reboot, though, the salvaged blue plain section was already complete, and I didn’t want to rip it back far enough to allow it to spread out flat. If I had done that, the freeform section would have been much easier to join, but everything worked out alright. I ended up using a piece of heavy paper between the folded parts of the poncho to avoid seaming through too many layers at once:

I’m happy with the result.

And there’s one more photo of the finished poncho cowl at the top of this newsletter, worn the other way around.

The next project to be rescued from hibernation was a Freeform Denim Tote that I started last year using some of the 2023 100DP spirals.

I added a few small spiral leaves and filled in some gaps.

Then, suddenly, it all came together, and I found myself sewing the freeform cover to the top edge of the tote.

Riding the wave of all this finishing, I'm optimistic about wrapping up this small scarf, another project started last year.

It just needs a little more length and some filling in.

new ideas to consider

Finishing a project that’s been languishing is always cause for celebration, but it’s exciting to start new projects, too. I've got some ideas brewing based on a couple of 100DP leaves that were made as mini-swatches for future large leaf wrap designs. First, this half-and-half leaf:

With more length it could be a nice scarf, but adding both length and width would make it a really cozy wrap. I’ve already done a little stash diving to consider yarn choices.

Second, I'm considering making a mitered leaf wrap, perhaps a bigger version of this swatch:

I loved using mitered construction and random feather and fan together. I'm thinking about using those two components as a starting point, adding lots of variety in colors, stitches, and stitch patterns along the way.

Or maybe I’ll design a wrap based on this group of leaves:

The freeform section could be made with large spirals, perhaps some of the 2023 100DP spirals.

Hmmmm, lots of options. There aren’t many days left in my official 100 Freeform Leafy Days project, but it's looking like leaves will continue to show up in my freeform work for a long time.

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a few things you might like

Here are a few more cool log cabin quilt photos that make me want to pick up knitting needles and cast on.

I don’t know if the clothes folding in this video demonstrates good technique, but it’s certainly mesmerizing to watch.

Check out the recent Velones in Action article about Magali Wilensky, a Brooklyn based textile artist who uses felt and fabric to create large quilled wall pieces.

That’s it for today, thanks for reading!

Lisa

PS: If you made the spiral leaf from the pattern in the last newsletter, do you have any projects ideas? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments.