Tag Archives: spool knitter

May 18, 2014 · 4:23 pm

4 videos on Lucet cord making techniques

I absolutely love Lucets.

I have designed and made a very small lucet that is my all time favorite.

It’s only 2 inches by 2 inches, and so it’s so easy to take with you wherever you go.

I am selling them in my etsy shop, here:

I’ve made 4 video tutorials that show how to use the Lucet to make cords, and then some wonderful things to make with them.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.crone-findlay.com

The first video shows the basics of cordmaking on a Lucet:

The second video shows how to add buttons, beads, charms and found objects to lucet cord – great way to make a wrap bracelet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtw1U22wuo4

The third video tutorial shows 3 different ways of making button closures using Lucet cords:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vlus76Owqc&noredirect=1

The 4th video shows how to make knots and Celtic interlaces to make beautiful embellishments and jewelry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF73AXpGa2k&noredirect=1

Here’s the template for the 4 loop Celtic interlace knot:

All my spool knitted patterns and designs will work beautifully with Lucet cords, so please check out my etsy shop for those, too: Link

1 Comment

Filed under buttons, jewelry, Lucet, tutorial & how to, video tutorial

Tagged as bracelet, cords, crafting, crafts, how to, how to make lucet cords, jewelry, knot making, knots, Lucet, lucet cords, necklaces, spool knitter, spool knitting, video tutorial, yarn, Yarn Crafts

March 22, 2013 · 11:13 am

Woven Women- Our Lady of the Waters

Today, on facebook, the National Parks of Canada said that it is ‘World Wide Water Day’.

So, I decided to post a photo of my newest tapestry:’ Woven Women: Our Lady of the Waters’

And, here is her poem:

Our Lady of the Waters

Moving in us, through us-

Fill us with awe

with wonder

at the beauty

the Every Thing….

Fill us with delight

in the power of

the sacred drop of water.

What color is water?

It is, ‘Yes’.

It is, ‘Life’.

It is ALL.

‘Woven Women- Our Lady of the Waters’ is a mixed media tapestry, including wool yarn, stones, wire and pounded metal.

I wove her with several different looms: A tapestry loom, a 2 harness table loom, a 2 harness Saori floor loom, a peg loom and also used a spool knitter.

She’s 28 inches tall by 11 1/2 inches wide.

I think that she is probably my favorite piece that I have ever woven.

Here’s a closeup of a section that I wove on the table loom at 15 epi.

I used tabby, inlay, soumak, clasped weft and embroidery.

It was VERY slow to weave:

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Peg and Stick Loom weaving, tapestry, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as 'Our Lady of the Waters' by Noreen Crone-Findlay, ecology, hand woven, mixed media, nature, spool knitter, tapestry, tapestry about water, the environment, woven, Woven Women tapestry

December 16, 2011 · 4:06 pm

Woven Whimsical Cats

One of the joys of self publishing patterns is that I get to talk about them as soon as I finish them. (Not allowed to do that with commissioned projects! It’s up to the editors to decide when the word goes out on those).

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

My most recent self published pattern is for the Woven Whimsical Cats.

You can order the pdf pattern from my website: Link

They have been so much fun to design.

I started the designing process for them last February.

I went through several variations of them before I settled on the two versions that are in the pattern.

There’s the sitting Whimsical Cats, who are infinitely poseable (and can be convinced to wear shoes and play musical instruments, too!)

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

They have distinctly, ‘Who me?!’ expressions of feline innocence, which probably means that they are up to all manner of mischief!

Their ‘Laying Down’ cousins:

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

are lovely to rest your wrist on when playing with the computer mouse.

Of course, they might take a swipe at the mouse, but that’s to be expected, isn’t it?

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

They were woven on the lovely potholder loom from Dewberry Ridge looms:http://www.dewberryridge.com/products/potholder-loom

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

The yarn is art yarn, handspun by the delightful Nancy Nagle of Nangellini: www.nangellini.com

Whimsical-woven-cats-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(c)

When I was designing and weaving the Whimsical Woven cats, I was remembering all the wonderful cats who have graced my life with their marvelous ways.

So, here’s to our Feline Friends! with love and thanks for all the blessings! 😀

5 Comments

Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, potholder loom, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as art yarn, cat doll, Dewberry Ridge potholder loom, hand woven, handweaving, Nangellini, Noreen Crone-Findlay, potholder loom, small loom weaving, spool knitter, woven whimsical cat

March 10, 2009 · 12:03 am

Spool knitting wire and making connections

spool-knitters-for-wire-4-peg-275 spool-knitters-for-wire-6-peg-275

Recently, a jewelry maker contacted me and asked me if I could make her some industrial strength spool knitters so she could spool knit wire for her jewelry making.

I went for a rummage through our stash and found a wonderful old piece of wood. It looked like it was an old handle off some kind of tool that had seen heavy and hard use. It was worn smooth but ripply and looked quite organic.

We inherited it from my husband’s Dad more than 10 years ago.

I cut some pieces off it and used them to make these 4 and 6 peg spool knitters.

Yipes! Is that wood hard! Drilling the holes and hammering the nails in was intense .

whew…. My tendons were screaming for mercy.
spool-knitters-for-wire-1-275

I love the way they feel…. the old wood is smooth and textured from having been worn by years of use- it’s quite alive!

The whole collaborative process is so inspiring to me. I just love it when someone says to me –

‘Can you think of a way of doing this or that….. ?’

Sometimes, I am not interested in making the new thing

(for instance, we just don’t want to make wooden potholder looms anymore….sorry)

But, lots of times, I am intrigued by the ‘Can you make a this or that’ question and end up in the workshop having a wonderful time!

This was definitely one of those times. I love working with wire, and do a lot with it. So, I am really glad that Vickey inspired me to make some super strong spool knitters for wire.

Just think. That old, old piece of wood out in the workshop would still be laying there, just waiting to come to life if Vickey hadn’t emailed me…..

This kind of thing makes me celebrate the joys of the internet.

Someone has a thought and sends a note to someone else a thousand miles away. Then, that person goes and finds a piece of the past and brings it to life in a new way. And that recycled, re-created, upcycled treasure goes off to the first person who creates all manner of magic with it.

Now, that’s creativity in action!

(image source: photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay. Copyright, not to be used without permission)

4 Comments

Filed under eco crafts & green projects, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as crafts, eco crafts, green crafts, handmade, jewelry, recycling, recycling crafts, spool knitted cords, spool knitter, spool knitting, upcycling

March 3, 2009 · 5:31 pm

Happy Girl’s Day! It’s Doll Festival Day

Today, Tuesday March 3, is a day to celebrate little girls and to wish them hope and protection.

In Japan, today is the day that elaborate displays of precious dolls are created….

Paper dolls symbolizing things that are unhappy are placed into boats and set afire, to take away the unhappiness…

And, little girls are invited to have marvelous teaparties with their friends and their dolls.

I wish I had known about this when my daughter was little, because we would have teapartied heartily!

It’s never too late to have a happy childhood, so I say:

Get out your dolls and have a teaparty!

Make some paper dolls that symbolize some kind of unhappiness that you are ready to let go of, and then burn ’em.

I am going to celebrate by sharing a picture of one of the new dolls that is in my just about to be released book:

‘Spooligarumi: Cute & Easy Spool Knitted Dolls & Toys’

Here’s the Fluffy Bunny Spooligarumi Doll – Perfect for celebrating Doll Festival Day:

spooligarumi-pink-fluffy-bunny-275

My new downloadable pdf book: Spooligarumi: Cute & Easy Spool Knitted Dolls & Toys

is now available from my website .

All text and images on this site are copyright protected and not to be copied or shared without Noreen Crone-Findlay’s permission

9 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as crafts, doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, spool knitted cords, spool knitter, spool knitters, spool knitting, Yarn Crafts

February 24, 2009 · 5:49 pm

Mardi gras butterfly masks

mardi-gras-blue-mask-0n-orange-275 mardi-gras-white-mask-0n-orange-275

Somehow, I don’t think that I will ever go to New Orleans for the real Mardi Gras,

but that won’t stop me from celebrating in my studio!

I made these Mardi Gras masks with all kinds of techniques and things that I love:

Tatting, spool knitting, crochet, butterflies, Grandma’s vintage buttons, beads and other found objects, as well as woodworking.

Feels like a celebration to me!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Images and text are copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay and not to be copied without her permission.

8 Comments

Filed under crochet, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as beads, butterfly mask, butterfly motifs, crafts, crocheted mask, embellished mask, found objects, Mardi Gras, mask, mixed media, multi media, spool knitted cords, spool knitted mask, spool knitter, spool knitters, spool knitting, tatted mask, tatting

February 12, 2009 · 10:05 pm

Tiny Spool Knitted Angel

spool-knitted-tiny-angel-plain-1000

When I am feeling sad and upset, I find it really helps if I make some Angel dolls.

This week has been a corker, with the death of our beloved old horse, among other challenges.

We have done a whole lot of soul searching, and have decided that we just can’t handle having horses anymore. So our dear little girl horse that we adopted a year and a half ago is going to go back to live with her momma and birth brother. She’s going to be well and truly loved and cared for.

This has been one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make in a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time, so believe me, I really have been needing to find comfort. (And yes, I certainly do pray, and meditate, so those are the source of great comfort, but making angels is also a HUGE comfort.)

So, in the interests of invoking Angel Energy for ourselves and for everyone else, too…

I have designed these sweet little, easy to make spool knitted angels.

I began with a design that I had developed a few years back and have re-fined and polished it. I am really happy with it now.

You can make the little angels very quickly and easily and can make them truly one of a kind by changing the yarn (handspun would be perfect)

and whether or not you add buttons for the face,

spool-tiny-angel-hair-1000

or add loops or other kinds of hair…..

I also like to stitch a pin to the back of the Angel, so I can pin it on my lapel, or scarf, or shawl, or bag, or hat….

I need to make a bunch more so I can send them and give them to friends and relations….

The more Angels there are, in every way, the better it is!

You can order the pdf for the pattern for the charming Tiny Spool Knitted Angel from:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/48409301/pdf-pattern-for-tiny-spool-knitted-angel?ref=shop_home_active_3

Please note that the images on this blog are copyright protected

and are NOT to be copied without permission.

Thank you.

8 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as crafts, doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, handmade, spool knitter, spool knitters, spool knitting, Yarn Crafts

February 5, 2009 · 6:45 pm

Hand made GREEN book Challenge

wooden-book-qs-4

On the Spool knitting group on yahoo, we’ve been talking about paper vs pdf patterns.

Several of the clever women there have said that they print out their pdf’s, slip them into plastic sleeves and pop them into a binder. The patterns never get lost that way.

WELL! That has inspired me!

wooden-book-qs-3

I LOVE making journals, notebooks, sketchbooks etc. that are one of a kind, eco friendly and oh so artsy.

So….. why not make your own book to store your pdf’s and loose patterns?

You could make 2 covers from cardboard or plywood or veneer or chipboard or somthing else, and then decorate them any way that you wanted to.

Then- spool knit, or tat or crochet or braid or kumihimo or use any other method of making a cord.

Use the cords to hold your pdf book together….

And, if you didn’t want to use plastic sleeves, you could punch holes in large envelopes, label them, and store your pdf’s and pattern bits and pieces in there….

And, Voial! your pdf’s, notes, sketches, clippings and patterns won’t ever get lost! Yay!

SO HERE’S THE CHALLENGE:

MAKE A BOOK

THAT IS PERFECT FOR STORING YOUR PDF AND OTHER LOOSE PATTERNS

THIS IS A GREEN CHALLENGE,

MAKE 2 COVERS FROM SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE RECYCLING, RECLAIMING OR UPCYCLING,

AND DECORATE THEM ANY WAY YOU WANT:

USE PHOTOS, PAINT, WEAVING, FLAT DOLLS, TATTING, CROCHET, STITCHERY, DRAWING, WHATEVER….

A N D !

THE BOOK HAS TO BE BOUND WITH HANDMADE CORDS

Take pics and post them to your blog

or wherever you post your pics

and then send me a link

so we can all be inspired and admire.

Who is the challenge open to?

ANYONE. Everyone….

Any crafter who loves making recycled and reclaimed and upcycled stuff.

People who like making books.

People who have never made a book.

This challenge is for spool knitters, tatters, scrapbookers, weavers, crocheters, yarnies and crafters in general .

Show us how it works for you to store your pdf’s, clippings and loose sketches, notes and patterns….

There should be a prize, shouldn’t there?

Okay…. I’ll work on something special for the winner… not telling what, yet.

The challenge STARTS NOW

and is open ended,

but I will award a prize on APRIL 22,

because that’s EARTH DAY

okay everyone…. get to work!

I have posted pics of some of the handmade books I’ve made over the years –

Here are the links to: Books with Origami Angels

images and text on this blog are copyright protected

so please don’t copy them without Noreen Crone-Findlay’s permission.

Thanks

16 Comments

Filed under eco crafts & green projects

Tagged as book making, books, challenges, cord making, cords, crafts, doll, doll making, eco crafts, green crafts, handmade, journal, mixed media, multi media, prize, recycling, recycling crafts, self published books, self publishing, spool knitter, spool knitting, tatting

January 28, 2009 · 11:19 pm

Wild and Woolie Spool knitted doll

spool-knitted-handspun-pink-doll-finished

Every once in awhile, a little wild woolieness ought to come into a Yarnie’s life.

So, I have designed this Wild and Woolie Spool knitted doll. I used hand spun yarn to make it, but any yarn that makes your heart sing would work well.

All together now, let’s sing: Wild Thing! I think I love you!

LOL!

I’ve got her pattern listed etsy shop now: Wild Thing

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay (copyright)

8 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as doll making, dollmaking, dolls, spool knitted cords, spool knitter, spool knitters, spool knitting, Yarn Crafts

January 10, 2009 · 11:31 pm

Rosie Recycle is done and ready to go!

rosie-recycle-book-and-dolls-2-qs

I am so excited!
I have finally finished The Rosie Recycle Doll Book!

http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsWhatsNew.html

tottie-and-pin-dolls-qs
Rosie Recyle dolls are charming little one of a kind dolls that are
an inspiration to ‘go green’, and become a thrifty ‘eco crafter’.

Combine your stash of scraps of yarn & embroidery floss
with colorful bits of junk mail, old magazines
and packaging to create enchanting & unique little
Rosie Recycle Dolls.

The book includes instructions and patterns for
* Knitted Rosie Recycle Dolls
*Crocheted Rosie Recycle Dolls
* Spool knitted Rosie Recycle Dolls
*Rosie Recycle Dolls with ribbon or lace scrap skirts.

The completed Rosie Recycle dolls
are approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall.

They have pins on the back of their heads, so they can dance from
your hat, bag, lapel, curtain, inspiration or bulletin board.
They’re also great for scrapbooking, too…..

The Rosie Recycle booklet is 48 pages, and is full color.
It’s 5 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches- so easy to slip into your tote bag!

I am doing the big time happy happy happy dance….

and Tottie Tomato thinks that Rosie Recyle is pretty darned wonderful, too!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

13 Comments

Filed under crochet, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, eco crafts & green projects, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as crochet, doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, eco crafts, green crafts, knitting, recycling, recycling crafts, Rosie Recycle, self published books, self publishing, spool knitted cords, spool knitter, spool knitters, spool knitting, Yarn Crafts