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Every time ski season rolls around, I get an overwhelming urge to knit hats.  Ironically, now that I’ve got a helmet, I can’t even wear hats when I ski.  This isn’t something I took into consideration when I bought the helmet, but I figure safety trumps cute headwear.

The hat below was knit a couple of weeks ago to match the scarf, which I knit last year.  Originally, I envisioned a hat with a folded ribbed brim, but I didn’t like the look of it so I wear it more as a slouchy hat.

 
The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky in light teal, which is one of my favorite yarns.  There is really no pattern for the hat–I cast on 76 stitches on size 9 double pointed needles.  I knit the ribbed pattern for about 3 inches, then switched to stockinette in the next round, increasing 1 stitch every 19 stitches (80).  I continued in stockinette for about 2 1/2 inches.  For the top shaping, I did a decrease row (knit 8, knit two together, repeating until the end of the round), followed by a regular round.  Next decrease row was knit 7, knit two together, repeating until the end of the round, followed by a regular round.  And so on, until there were 8 stitches left on the needles.  Break the yarn, put it on a tapestry needle, and run it back through your stitches, pulling tightly.  Weave in your ends, and Voila!  You have a hat.

For the scarf, I used my trusty Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns.  I highly recommend this book, or a book like it, because it is filled with loads of patterns that you can mix and match to add detail to your designs.  In this case, I used a basic cable stitch down the middle and some twisted cables on either side.  Forgive me, I knit this scarf over a year ago and I don’t remember exactly what stitches I used.  No matter–if you want to knit a scarf like this, create your own unique design.

I have a few more hats I’ll be posting in the next few days.  Please try to contain your excitement!

I suddenly, and inexplicably, have a fire lit under my booty to get better at promoting my blog and etsy site.  Not sure how that happened but I figure I’d better ride the wave.

One of the things I did today was ask for a link in a very cool blog called “Etsy Mini.”  Beyond the fact that I sell on Etsy myself, there are so many great artists there that promoting others as well as myself is a no-brainer.  And that is precisely what Etsy Mini sets out to do.

I recently re-discovered some sterling silver beaded wire I bought years ago but never did anything with.  When I saw it after all this time, however, I immediately saw a couple of things I could do with it:  Hoops!

Textured Hoop Earrings $18

To make these earrings, I first wrapped the wire around a dowel of the diameter I wanted (in this case, about 1/2″ around).  The technique is basically the same as if you were making jump rings.  I then used my jeweler’s saw to separate the rings and then used clippers to cut away part of the material for the hoops’ opening.  I pretty much just estimated the size it should be.

Next, I filed and sanded the both ends of both openings to remove any rough edges.  I then soldered pre-made sterling silver posts to one end of each of the hoops.  After pickling the earrings, I polished them to a very shiny finish and added the ear nuts to the ends.

I will be making more of this style of earring in the future as I like the look of them.  I’ve always really liked hoops, though in my daily life I tend to wear studs because they are a little more comfortable.

First of all, Happy New Year!

One of my goals for the new year is to offer video tutorials in metalsmithing. I’ve been asked so many times how one can learn metalsmithing so I know it’s something people are interested in. My first video will be an intro to metalsmithing and I hope to produce it some time in the first 2 weeks of 2008. Having never done anything like this before, I’m not sure how long it will take but I think 2 weeks is a reasonable time-frame when you include the other stuff I need to do to keep my business afloat.

This intro will primarily be about what tools and materials you will need to get started. This initial investment might seem daunting because there is a lot to get, however, I’ve been using more or less the same tools since I started making handmade jewelry back in 2001. Of course I’ve added to my tool box as I’ve developed my skills, but I still use these basic tools on a daily basis.  This list of tools is a companion to the video I will be producing in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned.

The first instructional videos will primarily use the tools listed under Raw Materials, Soldering, and Finishing.  Future videos will include sawing and forming metal.  The intent of the videos are to teach basic techniques for making headpins, clasps, earwires, jump rings, pendants, et cetera so you can enhance your designs by adding extra unique elements.

The list of tools and materials I’m listing is from the 2007 Rio Grande Tools & Equipment catalog.  I’m listing the name of the item, the item number, and price so you can quickly find exactly what I’m talking about, although I think Rio’s website requires one to register before you can shop (which is why I’m not linking directly to the items).  You can print this list out and use the item numbers to “quick shop.”  There are, of course, other sources for these tools, so by all means, shop around–I’ve tried to be as specific as possible so you know what to look for.  My apologies if I’ve left anything out.

TOOLS

Raw Materials (Sterling Silver – prices depend on silver prices at time of purchase)
21 gauge wire (1/2 hard) – 100351
26 gauge wire (1/2 hard) – 100356
20 gauge sheet  – 100120
Solder (easy) – 101200

Soldering
Butane torch – 500226 $47.95
Heat block – 502004 $13.20
Third Hand – 502066 $11.55
Cross lock tweezers – 115206 $4.95
Tweezers – 115053 $6.00
Soldering tweezers – 115074 $6.95
Copper tongs – 501017 $7.75
Soldering pick – 503021 $7.30
Flux – 504006 $8.50
Pickle – 5010233 $10.10
Pickle pot – 501012 $18.95
Straight snips – 114227 $19.95
Flux brush – a plastic paint brush will do

Sawing, Cutting & Shaping Metal
Portable bench pin – 110010 $7.95
Saw frame – 110068 $9.95
Saw blades: sizes 2/0 & 4/0 – 110195 $9.25 each
Pliers (needle nose, round nose, flat nose, half-round–buy the best you can afford, as these will get plenty of use.  I’m listing an economy set here just for reference) – 111909 $27.00
Dividers – 116329 $11.25
Automatic center punch – 118111 $15.75 or center punch – 118116 $7.50
Flexible shaft tool – A Dremel will work in place of this, but eventually you might want to get a Foredom flex shaft – 117534 $183
Twist drill bits – 77 (.46mm) – 349436 $7.10, 75 (.53mm) – 349434 $7.10
Ring mandrel – 112366 $24
Rawhide mallet – 112209 – $15
Ball peen hammer – 112198 $17.95
Steel bench block – 112495 $14.00
Safety goggles

Finishing
Emery paper – 337342 $14.60
Polishing cloth – 337040 $3.30
Hand file (half-round, 2 cut) – 114316 $26.50
Needle files (cut 2) – 114262 $16.75
Cup bur (about 1.9) – 344351 $9.40