Counting Down

Fringe Blanket/Hammock

I've had my eyes on fringe blankets for a while.  These props can help create wonderfully dramatic photos, and I'm always looking for ways to make my portraits more creative.  If you're not sure what I mean, just check out these images (Google Images of Fringe Blankets).  Now that we have our own little bundle of joy on the way, I MUST have one.  MUST!  You can find these all over Etsy, and I almost caved and just purchased one.  But, the miserly woman in me said, "NO, you're not allowed!  You can make this."  So, no matter how many projects I have going on at the moment, I'm adding this one to the list.  I have scoured the internet for different ways to do this.  There are several methods, depending on what you want. All of these methods use yarns of various colors and textures to make a very rich yet ragged looking fringe edge. 

Fringe Blanket:

• Crochet or knit a small blanket and then tie yarn to the perimeter.  There are lots of patterns available on Etsy.
• Doily Method: Buy a dollar store doily and tie on the fringe.

Fringe Hammock:

• Crochet or knit a hammock, and then tie yarn to the edges.
• Weave a hammock using a home-made loom, leaving extra length to each side.  Then tie the fringe in knots to secure the weave.  You can also run the edges of the woven portion through a sewing machine to be extra sure that the weave is secured. 

To make a more versatile prop, I've decided to go with the hammock model for my first fringy.  Since I have crocheted a hammock before and it took a fairly long time, I would like to try weaving.  With a quilt and a baby blanket in the works, I can't afford to spend too much time on this.  Of the fringe hammocks that Ive seen out there, the woven ones also seem most secure under a little ones fragile body.  I don't have a loom, so the first order of business is to make a basic loom.

Making a Loom:
If you're like me, you probably don't have a large space to store a 3ft by 5 ft frame loom.  Again, I consulted my trusted source.... youtube.  I found several videos for making very complicated or large looms, and then stumbled upon one that was a simple rake loom.  It's just a thin board with nails pounded into it. 


What I plan to do tomorrow, is make two of these at a 3 foot length.  Then I'll attach these to either end of my kitchen table with c-clamps.  Once I've assembled my makeshift loom, I'll be ready to weave. 

Hopefully I'll get time to finish this project soon.  Look for an update.  I'll be back soon with photos of how this all worked out.

Why I became who I am

Long ago, when my sister and I began to get curious about where babies came from and finally worked up the courage to ask, my mother told us that one of us came form a thrift store and the other came from a yard sale.  Very funny, mom.  This was a perfectly fitting and hilarious answer because just about everything we wore, played with, or snuggled up to at night came from either a yard sale or what we called the "sleek boutique".  Needless to say, as we grew up, we learned from her every trick to living on a budget while still discovering the great finds that can be found from being thrifty.

I am also from a small town.  When I say small I mean that there are more cows than people, my graduating class had a whopping total of 78 kids, we call it a CRICK not a creek, and there are no stop lights within the town's borders.  Really small!  Because I was raised in one of these rare underdeveloped gems that are left in today's world, I had the privilege of being surrounded by my 100 plus person extended family and living down the road from my crafty grandma.  Whenever we went to grandma's house there was always something to make or do.  She taught me at an early age how to sew and crochet.  I still remember sitting on the davenport making chains and whining, "When will I actually make something."  Her response, of course, was patient as ever: "When I see that you've got a good chain stitch going, we can work on making something out of it."  Aunt Suzie was also a teacher of crafty ways.  She showed us how to take something simple and create beauty.  I never truly understood how valuable these little crafting lessons would be until I reached adulthood.  I hadn't crocheted since I was a kid, but when I suddenly had the urge to make precious baby items for my portraits, that chain stitch came right back to me.  When one of my students asked me to show her how to make a snowflake, I showed her how to make elaborate designs containing angels, snowmen, and various other embellishments.  Their teachings were truly a gift. 

Now, it's my turn to teach.  As I venture off on my new journey of becoming a mom, I plan to thrift and create many necessities and accessories for my beloved little one.  I hope to share thrifty tricks and creative ideas with you all so that you, too, may benefit from the wisdom that has been passed on to me.