PatsyZ, the Hand Spinnin' Guru
This gorgeous lace shawl is a perfect project to begin understanding a few fundamentals about lace knitting.
It is a simple triangle shape, using a two row lace pattern and lovely yarn.
The stitches used are K-knit, P-purl, YO-yarn over and K2tog-knit two together.
The dynamic design comes from choosing a variety of special yarns and rotating between them. The pattern is for sale.
Spinning matching yarns for socks or mittens can be a challenge when you start with a painted roving. But the effect is well worth the small effort.
These socks combine three different yarns that all started with the same painted roving. The basic two ply is used in the foot of each sock.
A blend created with blending nylon is used in the heels and the toes for extra strength.
Then a fancy slub is used in the cuff to highlight the colors in the roving.
My daughter is wearing the crocheted cocoon as a vest in this photo.
There is only one crochet stitch used in the whole piece. That is Lover’s Knot
The dynamic yarn comes from using an illegal plying combination. The cashgora is spun Z and the fine silk is spun S. The combination is plied in the S direction. The pattern is for sale.
My favorite winter hat and scarf came from two different projects.
The hat started with a group of spinners trading a variety of fibers. All of them were blended on the drum carder and spun thick and soft. Then they were knit large and loose then felted to size.
The scarf was created just to go with the hat. I had to search through all of my fibers to find a dull mauve wool which would tone down some of the warp yarns and maintain the soft coloring of the hat.
Some of the warp are plied against a sparkly starfire nylon. Then a fancy slub is a core-spun bouclé, which is used as a warp.
The weft is a painted roving that was totally blended to prevent the creation of a plaid instead of emphasizing the subtle stripes in the warp.
Lopi is the name for puffy single ply yarn that is spun from both the Thel and the Tog, (short and long), fibers in Icelandic fleece. These are carded together into a rolog and then spun thick with a light twist. The open airy yarn is easy to knit on large needles. The stitch definition is muted since the yarn is very fuzzy, so choose large motifs.
Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
My newest liturgical art was created in 2005. The machine appliqued pieces reflect my interpretation of the Lutheran concepts of Word and Sacrament, Communion and Baptism. the pulpit and altar pieces are shaped to fit the furniture. The banner is 42 by 72 inches. Click on each photo for an enlargement.
St. Thomas Lutheran, Bloomington,IN , USA
Patsy created a pair of these commissioned banners in the spring of 2003, for an ordination celebration. One banner stays here at the church and the second one was a gift to the newly ordained Pastor.
The original design is machine appliqued from commercial fabrics. It measures about 30 by 48 inches.
Created for ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly 2002, Louisville, KY, USA
Then purchased by St. Thomas Lutheran, Bloomington, IN, USA
Patsy created this commissioned piece in 2002 for a backdrop during the Assembly. Later it was purchased by St Thomas to hang in their Heritage Hall
The original design, consisting of three large panels is handpainted on cotton fabric and outlined with machine applique. Each panel measures about 5 feet by 6 feet.
St. Thomas Lutheran, Bloomington,IN , USA
Patsy created this commissioned piece in the spring of 2002, which hangs in the entrance to the church sanctuary.
The original design is machine appliqued from commercial fabrics. It measures 40 inches by 30 inches.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran ELCA, Greeley, CO, USA
Using all handspun yarns, dyed with natural dyes, Patsy created this commissioned piece in 1988, which hangs in the entrance to the church.
The original design is woven in a balanced weave tapestry style to make the most of her handspun yarns. It measures 36 inches by 63 inches.