Tuesday, July 10, 2007

She loves gin and I love rum


This little jug was knit in Cleckheaton merino spun (80% wool 20% acrylic) which felted well and so fast, I was really surprised. Just one strand made quite a nice solid fabric. I've been knitting all of these vessels from the top down. With this one I started with the handle, just a long strip knit back and forth, then cast on more stiches and joined to work in the round.

I was idly browsing the button section in Lincraft, thinking that I ought to look through my collection at home before buying something. But once I saw this one, I Had. To. Have. It.



I felted the whole thing before joining the handle on at the bottom of the jug using the button. For some reason I really wanted the button to be functional - even though there is no real reason to ever unbutton it - so I did actually cut a button hole in the handle. Unfortunately it moved around too much, so I ended up tacking it down with a couple of hidden stitches.

I didn't think to measure it before it went in to Crafts ACT but I'd say it was not much taller than 10cm. It also wouldn't sit quite flat, due to the weight of the handle pulling it back just a tiny bit, just enough to look a little bit off. I hope the way it is displayed in the exhibition will hide this, but I had to tack a little bag of glass beads inside it to get it balanced. Dodgy but effective. I'll have to put some thought into how to tweak the design so that next time I knit one, it can sit nicely on its own. Oh yes I have to make more of these.

11 comments:

Taphophile said...

I can see why you'd want to knit more - it's so satisfyingling lovely. The button is a great touch.

amy said...

Oh, I think that's just about the nicest felted object I've seen.

Bells said...

yes, I fell in love with it the first time I saw it at the exhibition. It's just beautiful and the wonkiness is endearing. :-) The button suits it perfectly.

Alwen said...

I'm not a beader, so I don't know what the technique is called, but I've seen art pendants made of, er, "globs" of beads all sewn together.

I don't know what's in that jug, but beads come in all colors -- milk, wine shades, tea, coffee -- and you could fill the jug with beads and make it sit how you like it.

Just an idea, use it for skeet shooting if it doesn't appeal!

Olivia said...

Alwen I love the idea of filling it with beads of a milk colour!(or other relevant fluid) I wish I had thought of that. See, I should have posted this BEFORE it put the thing in the exhibition.

Rose Red said...

I love this jug. Love it. Also love watching your exploration of different felted shapes and vessels - I admire your creativity very much!

DrK said...

gorgeous! love the button.

Anonymous said...

Ok that's my favourite. I love it and want to meet its family.
Looking forward to the show. x

Anonymous said...

Any chance this show will go on the road? I am missing out down here! (I realise the obvious answer that would be to 'move back to Canberra' *grin*). Please take LOTS of pictures so I can have some idea of how the exhibition went. Love you and your pod people.

Olivia said...

It's not on the road, J, but it's on the net. All the participants blogs should be linked from www.knit1blog1.blogspot.com, though I'm not sure if they're all there yet.

Denise said...

What an elegantly perfect little jug - and I can see why you had to have that button!