Crochet to Go

I mounted my felted "painting" yesterday. It's not quite right yet - I think I'll have to nail a frame around the edges - but it's getting there. As you can see, it definitely fills up a wall.

Here's another (semi-)related project that I found interesting. Marilyn Rose created these spectacular quilts from her own late night pictures: She snapped photos of the scenes with her point-and-shoot camera "from behind the wheel going way too fast on the highway." Read more here.

It's done! This is actually my first felting project. I suppose if you're going to try something, go big.

I definitely still need to block this, and figure out a way to hang it (I'm thinking I'll stretch it over a wooden frame, but does anyone have a better idea?).

In order, these are pictures of:
1) The original painting
2) The crocheted, unfelted version (36 x 36 inches)
3) The felted version (26 x 36 inches - I'm not sure if it's normal that the work only shrinks horizontally?)
4) detail of colors
5) side-by-side comparison of before and after

I'm pretty pleased with the overall result. It was a lot of work, but it's going to look great on my living room wall. My only reservation is the felting itself - I'm not sure it's a better work because of the felting? I loved it just as much before. Hmm. I'm going to tackle an ocean scene next.

I finished the blanket last night. It turned out beautifully - the worsted weight yarn creates a very different looking pattern, almost floral in appearance (you can see Poppalina's original and the pattern here). I kept the border simple, just a series of single crochet rounds. I've decided to not give it as a baby gift after all - it will make a nice reading blanket/couch throw for an adult.

All told, this project took about 3 weeks. The pattern is varied enough to not get tedious, and it's a great way to use up leftover yarn.

Next up: a couple of hats for charity and a felted pillow case for my living room.

Hannah's Baby Shower
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Hannah is the first of my friends from college to have a baby. I find this a little odd (I'm almost 30, after all), but perhaps it's normal now that more women in America are unmarried than married?

It's exciting - I can't wait for Hannah to have her little girl.

Blanket Detail
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.