It all started with Maryann Moodie. I can’t remember if I first heard her on the Woolful podcast or through Tanis of Tanis Fiber Arts but I was instantaneously and absolutely captivated. Her weavings have a simplicity and a vintage quality that I love. Who knew triangles could be so amazing?! Her colour palettes are right up my alley, and I was not surprised to find that they include many colours from Tanis. I knew I wanted to learn to weave so a few clicks later a hand loom was headed my way!
Like many things I have learned to do over the years I figured I would just read the manual and when in doubt there was always youtube right? Well, while I did manage to warp the loom and get started but I felt I could use a little help.
When Lucy Poskitt (her Instagram account is amazing, check it out here) was offering a weaving class at Studio 126 in Vancouver it seemed the fates had aligned! It was a fabulous class (including Rain City Knits yarn!), and I loved playing with different yarns in a new format. I finished this little weaving and Hunter immediately claimed it and hung it above her bed.
Along with my desire to learn to weave, I have also long wanted to try my hand at a woolly tattoo. I first saw this beautiful embroidery style when the incomparable Tif (aka Dotty Angel) ‘tattooed’ Maize mitts and posted the picture to Instagram. That was a while ago indeed! I asked her if she would work her woolly magic on a pair for me and the results were spectacular! (those are mine, the blue ones top right)
Along with lovely woolly tattoos, Tif also has a wildly popular dress patterns from Simplicity. There is something magical about Tif. Her crafty aura, her colour choices, her turn of phrase….and it is all more magical in person! Of course, as a crafter, I wanted to try a woolly tattoo of my very own. Last Sunday I hit the road VERY early for Tolt Yarn and Wool and had a chance to combine weaving and embroidery with Tif and her daughter Meg (Prideofmice)!
The weaving was done on a vintage picture frame re-purposed into a loom. I wove a background fabric with various black/dark grey yarns, and then it was time to tattoo! There were lazy daisies, fly stitches, and couching, I was so excited I don’t think I looked up or opened my mouth for an hour (very unlike me). For a little extra woolly tattoo inspiration, you can check the Pinterest board I created too!
When I described the class to a friend she exclaimed that it was possibly the most hipster thing she could imagine: hand weaving and embroidery on a vintage picture-frame-turned-loom, and learned from the small batch, artisanal creator herself. I am so pleased with the results (imperfections and all!) and I will definitely be creating more in the future!
Patterns calling for a woolly tattoo
December 7, 2016 @ 8:37 am
astounding xooo
July 2, 2016 @ 3:46 pm
I love the wooly tattoo idea–especially for warm, woolen socks. I have a beautiful sweater that a moth got a hold of, and think this might be the perfect cover up!
June 30, 2016 @ 6:42 pm
Utterly inspirational! So much pretty. Thanks!
June 30, 2016 @ 12:00 pm
I love everything about this post :) Now I have to try wool tattooing for myself, it looks lovely <3 Your weaving turned out gorgeous.
June 30, 2016 @ 10:59 am
I love the combination of crafts represented here as well! I have been harvesting vintage embroidery bits for future projects locally, and they are such a treasure, particularly for those of us that appreciate the time and care and skill involved in handcrafting.
Also, I am now stalking the Simplicity 1080 pattern because I think it is the very dress I’ve been (passively) seeking for a long time! Once it is in my hands, I foresee an entire new handsewn wardrobe…
June 30, 2016 @ 9:29 am
Wow! All of the pieces are stunning! What awesome new skills to have.