AAW Mittens No10

I have fell in love with this new method Shepherd's crochet I learnt only in this year in January. Just few weeks ago. In January I made similar looking pair of mittens but in green shades. Actually they differ from each other. I designed the difference in increasing the stitches. Both are slim fit designs to be able to use these mitten under bigger ones to create more warmth when needed. Or, when it's warmer they are perfect to be used on their own.

I used our own AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool and 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I plant dyed the yarns with coffee and tea. It is ethic and sustain produced wool and dye. It is a slow craft. And they are FashionNOW. 

Hankikanto

I designed and knit this beautiful set of knitted gloves and woollen socks. It is called Hankikanto which actually should be "kantohanki" that means the snow when it has a cover that bears a human  to walk or ski on it. So, it is a wordplay. 

It is a challenging design with the impression of skiing track and Lapland's iconic deadwood. And I am not sure yet what I will do with the pattern, like with Metsänneito. I used Novita yarns. I'd like to publish it in some form some day so no more details available now. I can tell this set was designed and made for a special person for the Yule 2025 and February 2026!

ForestSámiWomen'sGoatFurHat (trad.)

This is traditional style Forest Sámi goat fur hat. Its pattern bases on the traditional style form that is used in different types of Forest Sámi hats. Previously in this blog I introduced the same pattern in Forest Sámi woollen hats. This is the exactly same hat but made of fabric. For this GeatFurHat I made the ties by historical fingerloop braiding technique.

SaunaSeatCovers

Everyone who has been in Finland knows sauna. In most private homes have sauna. There are also many public saunas in Finland. My family use these seat covers made of Terry Fabric TPU in public saunas. TPU-side against the seat. They are perfect also in private saunas for ladies in certain period of month, or our private sauna guests if desired. They are washable and reusable. Usually they last decades. I started this blog in January 2011. The last Terry Fabric TPU seat covers I made for about 20 years ago around 2006. Only now we have ran out of them. That's why you have not seen me making any. I still have few but children size. So, now I made 6 adult size.

Actually you don't need the bias tape around the edges. The bias tape makes it just more personalized so you find your own easier at public saunas. For the red ones I had factory made bias tape at home but not for the blue ones. Well, I could have used the red one but did't want to. That's why I made my own from the fabric. You can find Home Made Bias Tape -tutorial here.

I need a longer bias tape so I sew together the shorter pieces.

I was happy and satisfied with the result.

You can sew the bias tape with the normal basic presser foot or use the bias tape presser foot. It is up to you which you prefer. I usually sew it without, but now I decided to use the bias tape presser foot and was happy with the result.

When you make the loops for you seat covers they are easier to hang to get dry. Despite this material has plastic and they are brand new, they are FashionNOW products because they last long and replace the disposable seat covers in public saunas and holiday homes.

AAW Mittens No9

Just 2 weeks ago I learned this new craft technique: Shepherd's crochet. I introduced it to my students at my working place at Tornio community college. Last week a student started to make mittens by using this method, but she had few wonders and open questions in the project. 

That's why I started to work with the Shepherd's crochet mittens to find out the issue she wondered and see what is the point. We can't know all, none can, not even a professional teacher. By the way, teacher's job is not to know everything, it is to help your students to know what they need and want to know. And that's why I have the promise for my students; if they want to learn something I can't, we learn together. 

At 1st I planned to start the same instruction like my student, but then I realized I had similar mittens for about 25 years ago. I received them as a gift from a friend. Shepherd's crochet is not so stretching sideways. Your thumb needs that in wither action from the mittens & gloves. That's why I designed another type of Shepherd's mittens you see around here.

I used plant dyed (different shades of reed) AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool and 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I used the last remaining left over yarns I have from my projects WaterGrassVest OOW, NB Hat No2 and PolarBears AAW. It really is slow craft and FashionNOW. They are very warm, thick and durable mittens. That's why I like Shepherd's crochet, and have already started another project with this design of my own; because He wants a pair too. 

And yes, I figured out the answer for my student's wonder & question. 💕

Learning new is good for your mental heath! And brains! Two weeks ago I had just tried out this method and now I have my own designed mittens! WOW!