1895 Miser's Purse ~ My Latest Vintage Reproduction Project ~ I'm Finished!

I decided to buckle down and get my pattern finished today. So here it is, my completed 1895 Miser's Purse Pattern. I'm thrilled with this little project and I can't wait to make them as gifts. They are just so unique and endearing; the perfect place to keep your little treasures!

I decided to keep the beaded trim and have included that in the pattern notes as well. I think the purse looks cute with or without beads, but the original has steel beads so I decided to go for it.

I think the Miser's Purse could look great in so many variations. I'd love to see it in a variegated fiber or with embroidered flowers. This is a project where you can let your own personality shine! I guess I've said that before, but it's so true!



I almost forgot! Here's the first generation picture that inspired it all. A BIG Thank You to Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions for their wonderful help in supplying me with images. If you love these vintage patterns as much as I do, Iva Rose is an incredible resource. You'll feel transported in time!

This is my third vintage inspired pattern. Writing them is a lot of work, but I'm having such a great time exploring these designs. Now I just have to decide what to make next!

One Sided Miser's Purse

One more show and tell today. I told you I had catching up to do! I just wanted to show you this One Sided Miser's Purse I designed. I used the basic premise of the two sided pattern I've been working on, but altered it so that it attaches to a ring and has just one pocket. I also changed the size to fit my iPhone. It opens and closes the same way and it's very comfortable to carry. You can just put the ring on one finger and clutch the chains or the pocket itself.

I guess I'm procrastinating on publishing my 1895 Miser's Purse Pattern. I keep going back and forth about the beaded trim and though I like the way it looks in person, it's not showing quite as well in the pictures I've taken. To bead or not to bead? That is my question!

Super Cute Pottery!

I have another cute creation to share from my visit to the AZ Renaissance Fest. I love pottery and I kind of have a thing for art with faces too. So when I saw this happy little bowl, I headed straight for it!

My first thought was tea light holder, but as it turns out, it's an egg separator. Isn't that fun? Now I'd love to give credit where credit is due, but going back to the list of vendors from the fair, there is no website associated with this little guy. All I can tell you, is that if you visit the fair here in AZ, the name of the vendor is Chime-a-Lot. This might be the same name they go by at Ren. Fests all over, but I can't be sure about that.

I also searched for pottery egg separators online and found quite a few. There are some really pretty ones at Blue Ridge Pottery. Anyway, as much as I like the whole egg idea, I confess I bought two and am now using them for tea lights on my kitchen table. I love candles and they just look so sweet!

Hair Jewelry ~ The Majestic Hair Flower

I can't believe it's the last day of February already! I've got so many things I've been meaning to show you!

When I go to an event like an art show or festival, I like to search for items that I think are unique and special and then bring them back to share with you. It's my way of supporting and promoting the arts. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

Last weekend I attended my state's Renaissance Festival and it was there that I discovered the Majestic Hair Flower. I might have missed them as there was so much to see and my senses were just trying to take everything in. It was more a case of the Majestic Hair Flower people finding me. I guess when you sell hair jewelry, you have to keep an eye out for women with long hair of which I am one.

The Majestic Hair Flower is a beaded, metal.... gee I almost don't know how to adequately describe it for you, so I'll let the creators do it for me, "With its roots in antiquity, this beautiful hair adornment works to make pony tail holder and bun shapes. More that 20 different hairstyles are possible all together, just by changing the shape of the Majestic Hair Flower. It moves and twists and turns making more than 60 shapes all together." You can visit their gallery to see more hair designs.

You can buy the Majestic Hair Flower from their website, or look for them the next time you are visiting a Renaissance festival. It's fun to see them demonstrate the different looks that can be achieved with this one amazing piece of art!

How to Use a Lucet ~ A Great Video

I received my lucet in the mail yesterday and eagerly carried it outside along with the directions. I sat down in the sun ready to make my first luceted cord. I didn't get very far. Though I felt like I was following the instructions to the letter, something was not going right. I'm a visual person so my first instinct is to find a picture. I jumped online and found this great YouTube video from martmaille. The picture is nice and clear and takes you all the way to how to finish off your cord in just under three minutes.

1895 Miser's Purse ~ My Latest Vintage Reproduction Project ~ Part III

Hello, I'm taking back something I said yesterday and adding something new.

First, let me just say that I seem to be forming a pattern in my pattern writing. Right before I'm ready to post my final product, I find something wrong. Last time I got the year wrong for my 1885 Baby's Bib. I was writing down 1895 up until just before I published. This time I've been calling my project a Miser Bag when I should have been calling it a Miser's Purse. It's a small correction, but I believe in getting my details right.

In the same spirit, I decided I had to add a beaded trim. The original pattern (I'm working on getting a first generation picture for you) has a beaded trim, and so shall mine. Of course one of the "fun" things about reproducing these vintage patterns in filling in the gaps. The original pattern just says, "add a fringe of steel beads to the ends and laps". In response, I have designed a beaded fringe that is similar in appearance to that of the original image. Of course any fringe would be fine, but once again, I'm trying to acheive a look much like the purse from 1895. I think that's what makes this whole "Vintage Made Modern" thing cool.


I also added a fringe to my brown wool miser's purse that seemed to photograph even better than the green. In both cases you should be able to click on the picture for an enlarged image.

It's kind of a strange and subjective thing I'm doing here. I'm reproducing vintage patterns, but not transcribing them word for word. As a matter of fact, once I get to the point where I understand the gist of a pattern, I stop looking at it altogether and the patterns I'm writing are basically from scratch. I form a line between keeping the design authentic while at the same time, making a product that works well in our modern world. Not only am I taking the hooks and yarn we now use into consideration, but I'm also looking for patterns that I can still see us really using everyday. I guess I'm trying to keep us linked to our rich heritage while still enjoying the present and looking toward the future.

1895 Miser Bag ~ My Latest Vintage Reproduction Project ~ Part II

I'm back again today with a picture of the Miser Bag completed in a pretty fiber with a silky sheen. When writing my patterns, I look for a fiber that people can find in a local craft store, but still one that suits the project well. For the miser bag I am using Patons Silk Bamboo. It is 70% bamboo and 30% silk making it an affordable fiber with the silky sheen we want for our authentic look and feel. It only takes one 1.8oz skein to make the miser bag you see here in the color moss. That's less than 102 yards for the finished product.

I want to give you a few more specifications today. It can be hard to judge size from a photograph. The L x W of each pocket is 4" x 3". When folded in half as in my picture, the length to the top of the ring is 7". After working through this pattern once, it will be easy for the crafter to adjust these dimensions to suit a unique purpose. For instance, this pocket is a little too small for my iPhone, I may want to make a bag that is a few stitches longer so I can use it as an iPhone case.

I chose the size that I did because I think the proportions look nice and because it's large enough for practical use in our modern world. It will nicely accommodate business or credit cards as well as smaller phones, iPods, keys or cash. The covered ring could be easily replaced with a key ring or a snap hook. Like I said yesterday, I thing the design possibilities are great with the miser bag.

For this first pattern, I am going to resist the temptation to dress it up with beaded trim or embroidery. I'm going to keep it simple and allow each individual to personalize their miser bag according to their own taste. I have all of my pattern notes sorted and now it's time for me to write up the pattern. I should be back in just a day or two with a link for you to the completed miser bag pattern.

1895 Miser Bag ~ My Latest Vintage Reproduction Project

Here's my latest project. From the moment I saw my first vintage miser bag, I knew I had to make one. There is just something magical about them, like a puzzle left for us to solve from the 1800's.

So I guess I should start out with a little history. Miser bags were popular in the 19th century and were used to carry money by both men and women. The name "miser" comes from the design in that the pockets are somewhat concealed and not as quickly accessed. There are many designs from extremely ornate beaded bags to simple little cotton ones. Men would carry them in their pockets whereas women were more likely to carry them folded over a belt or in their hands as a dainty accessory. They were often weighted at each end with decorative beads to help keep them in place.

The one you see here is a very simple version. I may still add a beaded fringe and some embroidery to dress it up, but I was anxious to show you my progress. This bag is made from wool, but I will be eventually working the pattern up in a fiber with silky qualities as miser bags were very often made form silk. I will be making this pattern available at Wind Rose when it is complete. I can't wait to share it with you!

There is no great substitute for actually getting to handle a miser bag, but since I can't put it in your palm and let you experience it, I've taken lots of pictures.



In the left photo, you can see the miser bag laid out flat. Each end has a little bag and they are held together by chains. The ring in the middle can be used to attach the purse to a belt or you can wear it like a ring and clutch the purse in your hand.

The middle photo shows one side of the bag with the flap up. There is no apparent opening until you pull on the bag. As you can see in the picture on the right, the chains draw through the flap and reveal the opening of the purse.



Here I'm showing how the pocket opens and you can slip your belongings inside. They just slide in between the chains. You can see that this pocket is the perfect size for my iPod. If I wanted to travel light, I could have my music in one end and my cash and keys in the other. When you want to close your miser bag, you just give the chains a pull and the pockets close like a drawstring or in this case strings.

I just love the miser bag and I can't wait to finish this design so I can create even more. I can see so many applications for this little coin purse that it's making my head spin! I'm forcing myself to stay calm long enough to provide you with a good basic pattern. Once you work through it for yourself, I just know you're going to love it and want to make it your own. The design possibilities seem endless!

The Ancient Lucet ~ Popular Again!

I had a wonderful time yesterday visiting The Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival. Among the many colorful sights and sounds was a little huddle of people called The Crofters. I have some connection to The Crofters as members of my weaving and spinning guild are part of the group.

A croft is an enclosed area of land and a crofter is one who dwells and works on the land. The Crofters at the renaissance festival display and demonstrate many of the trades that might be encountered on a croft during the Renaissance.

I was given a friendly tour of all of the different crafts and projects. Among them is what I want to tell you about today, the Lucet.

"A Lucet is a tool used in cordmaking or braiding which is believed to date back to the Viking and Medieval periods, when it was utilized to create cords that were used on clothing, or to hang useful items from the belt. Lucet cord is square, strong, and slightly springy. ....formed by a series of loops ...lucetted braids can be created without pre-measuring threads and so it is a technique suited for very long cords." (Wikipedia)

Wikipedia goes on to share that the lucet made revivals in both the 17th and 19th centuries. I think one day the the 21st century will have to be added to that list. Along with the regained popularity of knitting and other fiber crafts, cord making seems to be making a comeback. Perhaps we all have childhood memories of knitting spools and making large bulky cords. Now, as the love of "do it yourself" is stronger than ever, you can find people not only making their own clothes and accessories, but the components that go with them.

We need and use cords for so many things from the drawstrings on our favorite handbag to the laces on our shoes. This gorgeous picture of a lucet is one I found from a fellow Etsy artisan. In her blog, Twenty Pound Tabby, she tells about using her lucet to make cord for a poet shirt. She also shares how she designed and made the lucet you see up above. It makes me want to run out and buy a scroll saw! To learn more about this artist, visit her blog or check out her shop Tabby Too on Etsy.

Why do I think lucets might just be getting popular again? Well because I didn't have a very hard time finding them online. In fact, they are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Yes, there is even a lucets.com where you can pick out your favorite style and the wood you want for a custom lucet!

I am very drawn to crafts and techniques that have an ancient history. I love the connection I feel when I take part in them. As a Scandinavian and descendant of vikings, I feel a pull towards the lucet. Maybe a great, great, great, great, great grandmother held one in her hands as she sat by the hearth at the end of a long day.

The Original Automobile Scarf by My Mom

Not too long ago, I was working on my first vintage pattern, The Automobile Bonnet. The original pattern was a hat and scarf set. The hat was designed to hold a scarf that could then be let down to protect a woman's face from the elements.

The hat was crocheted and the scarf was a knitting pattern. Unfortunately, I am not much of a knitter. After reworking the hat which was time consuming, but in my comfort zone, I set out to try the scarf. For several hours I started, made a mistake, ripped out my work and started again. I tried different needle sizes and types of yarn, but I finally surrendered.

I told my mother about the vintage pattern I was working on and how the scarf was eluding me. I even sent her a copy of the original pattern, but I didn't really expect her to make one. Like so many other handiworkers, we enjoy sharing our projects with one another. Yet, when she arrived on her latest visit, she produced this blue scarf from her knitting bag.


Her scarf, pictured above, is made to the exact specifications of the original pattern from 1885. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to feeling better after my mother said she too had to rip out her initial efforts. "This is a pattern that you just can't make a mistake on" she told me. My mom has years of knitting experience, but she also said that she has rarely encountered the same double wrapping that this pattern calls for.

So now I'm going to make one more Automobile bonnet in black to go with her scarf. That way it will be a complete set. Truly I believe that the modern day application of this pattern is to use it to showcase your favorite scarves and I'll go as far as to say that I think the hat looks prettier with a scarf that is less wide. Even so, it will be fun, as a mother and daughter project, to produce a bonnet that is true to the original. It will be our own little showpiece in honor of a time gone by.

P.S. ~ My mom is also known as Helen Athey "Knitter Extraordinaire!"

Dyeing and Me ~ It Was Meant To Be!

Just a silly little post today. I had one of those OMG moments over coffee this morning. My mom is visiting and we were talking about science projects. My nephew is turning one in today and as a mom, I've worked on my fair share of science projects.

We began to share memories of past science fairs and that was when my mom reminded me that I did one on dyeing. I was in the 7th grade and I dyed yarn all different colors using natural ingredients. I wound the yarn into little discs and attached them to a poster board with explanations beneath each. I wish I could remember more details, but I can conjure a picture of that poster and my mom remembers that I received a good grade for my efforts.

It's so wild when you retrieve a memory long forgotten and given what I do these days, its incredible to remember dyeing yarn when I was 13. Little did I know what I would one day do as a beloved hobby and small business. What a foreshadowing of things to come!

Beautiful Knitted Scarf ~ With a Link to the Pattern!

My mom is visiting this week which means I get to share some of her gorgeous knitting with you. I just went downstairs to ask her if I could borrow this piece to take a picture. Instead of knitting, I found her lounging outside in the sun. It's her first day in Arizona after a couple snowy weeks in Virginia. Rather than interrupt, I borrowed the scarf and then returned it. She'll be surprised when she sees she is featured on my blog later today.

This stunning Painted Cables Scarf Pattern is one I purchased for my mom from a very talented designer right here in Arizona. The name of her store is Peacefully Knitting in Arizona and in it you'll discover a lovely collection of hat and scarf patterns. I think this one is particularly beautiful. The variegated yarn showcases the charming design. For this scarf, my mom is using Sensations It's A Wrap in Purple/Rose. I'll be back with more of my mother's creative work later this week.

Loving the Craft Supplies from DreamWeavers!

Hi everybody. A while back I was showing off my first ever beaded cabochon bracelet and I shared with you a great website I found for beading supplies. The store is Dreamweavers Beadwork-Supplies.com and they can also be found on Artfire.

I was completely and pleasantly surprised one day when I received an email from them thanking me for my blog post. Even more, they said they had a present in the mail for me! Sooo nice and incredibly generous. I received a collection of aluminum cuffs that will keep me beading for a long time. I also received what you see in the pictures above.

Now I have to make a little fun of myself, because at first I said, "Oh cool, a hair clip. I wonder what the rectangle piece of aluminum is for?" Happily, it only took a couple seconds for the massive "DUH" to sound in my brain and I put the two together!

How fun is this? I get to make my own hair clip. I've never seen the two pieces sold like this before and my mind immediately began to think of possibilities.

Here is what I think I'm going to do. See the cloth that the hair clip is sitting on? Those are felt cloths that I made sometime last year. I was actually thinking about selling sheets of handmade felt and then changed my mind. As a result. I have a small collection of one-of-a-kind felt pieces.

My plan is to pick either the black or the blue felt (I'm leaning towards the black) and embellish it with beads. I may even back my felt with some Lacy's Stiff Stuff just to make it stronger. Then I'll sew it onto the aluminum rectangle just as I would a cuff bracelet and attach the hair clip. When I have my project finished, I'll come back with the results.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think the worlds of beading and fiber arts are so compatible. That's why you see beading appear from time to time on my fiber blog. I just can't help myself. I loves the beads!

Visit my new friends over at Beadwork-Supplies.com. They really have some amazing products and really nice prices too. You can even have custom cuts of aluminum made for truly original creations. I think that's so awesome!

Have a crafty day!

Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kits

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get a couple hours to myself in my studio. Sometimes there is just nothing better than being in your own space with an audio book and a project. I decided to make a few more Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kits for Wind Rose. As you know, for every kit I make, I design unique, drum carded and hand pulled roving. Here are the three I made yesterday. Click on the pictures to visit their listings. :D

1885 Baby's Bib Crochet Pattern (a vintage reproduction) Part V ~ I'm Finished!

That may be the longest title for a blog post yet, but I'm elated to have finally completed this pattern! The 1885 Baby's Bib Pattern and now ready and available at Wind Rose Fiber Studio!

About a week ago, I had to take a break from this project because I kept coming up with small things I wanted to tweak in the design. I made bib after bib until I frankly couldn't take it anymore and had to walk away from my work for a few days. I was getting frustrated. Sometimes it's the designs that look so simple that can cause you the most trouble.

I don't want to scare you off. This bib really isn't hard to make. It was just a challenging pattern to write. If I were to rate the difficulty, I'd probably say intermediate, but that is only because there are armholes to be worked which require a good comfort level in pattern reading.


I'm also happy to be able to share an image of the original pattern today. I want to thank Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions for providing this first generation photograph with me!

Isn't it sweet? There are some styles that just take us back in time and this is one of them. Look at that ribbing and those bows. I find this pattern so charming!

Two Exciting New Ecru Yarns!

I feel like it's Christmas today at Wind Rose Fiber Studio! I just received my shipment of two gorgeous new Ecru Yarns from Ashland Bay.

On the left is a Lace Weight Merino/Tussah Silk. It's called Silver Creek Lace and it is sooo pretty! It actually makes me want to hold a tiny crochet hook and make lace!

On the right is a Sport Weight, Falkland Wool, Superwash Yarn. This makes a great sock yarn or baby yarn and it's completely machine washable. It's so soft and versatile!

These yarns come dye free and can be painted or dyed with your favorite acid reactive dyes like Jacquard or Landscapes. You may also just want to enjoy them in their natural state.

I've been busy adding new things to my inventory this year. Often I choose based on my own projects. If I am making something and I don't have the yarn or fiber I need in my studio, than I add it to my studio. I figure if I use it, you may too. I'm always open suggestions though. I love to learn about what people are interested in and what kind of projects they are making. Please, always feel free to share!

Needle Felters, I Need Feedback Please

Every year I look to expand my inventory and offer my customers even more of what they are looking for. As a fiber shop that sells fiber by the ounce, I have always had the felting community in mind. For quite some time I have been thinking about selling felting needles, but I only want to sell them if I can offer a good price. That's leads me to my questions:

Is $12.oo too much to pay for 10 medium felting needles?
Do you buy your needles individually or in bulk?
Is 10 a nice amount to buy at a time?
Do you use a felting tool?

Thank you for your help!

Cotton Roving and Ginned Cotton

I've decided to add some cotton to my inventory. I have both Acala Cotton Roving from Southeastern New Mexico and Long Staple Ginned Pima Cotton from right here in Gila Valley, Arizona. Both are wonderful for spinning. Of course the roving is especially easy to work with, but the ginned cotton can produce those gorgeous rustic skeins of handspun yarn.

They are naturally white and can be dyed with Procion dyes. Another favorite use of natural cotton is as a filler for doll making. The ginned cotton is a wonderful organic filler. The pencil sized roving of the Acala Cotton would make stuffing small arms and legs so easy and so smooth.

You can see all of the available sizes in the Undyed Fiber Section of the shop. I hope you enjoy these soft new fibers at Wind Rose Fiber Studio!

Sea Spray Blue Merino

I have a brand new color of Merino in the shop at Wind Rose Fiber Studio. It's called Sea Spray Blue. Sea Spray is a very pretty pale aqua. As we head into spring and shift toward lighter colors and pastels, this is a lovely choice. It's so soft and dreamy and makes me fantasize about days on the beach!

Crochet Spa Basket

I'm still in Crochet For Fun mode here at Wind Rose. Last night I made this small spa basket using organic cotton yarn. I wanted something pretty to hold my large Himalayan Salt Crystals.

I have to admit that I'm completely drawn to anything that promotes relaxation and healing. I love salt because I've used it for years to soothe my skin when I get psoriasis flare ups. Salt crystals are also said to improve air quality by balancing out the excessive positive ions produced by things like computers. That's why this little basket is sitting on my desk.

In case I've just gotten you interested in salt crystals, I did a little Googling and there are quite a few stores where you can buy Himalayan Salt Crystals of your own. Isabella sells them in large chunks like the ones I have in my basket, but there are lots of venues. Just search Himalayan Salt Crystals and you'll find them.

Wouldn't a little spa basket like this one look pretty next to the bath? I think I may have come up with a nice gift idea!

Crochet Tassel Bag ~ Crocheting for Fun!

I'm just playing show and tell today with this shoulder bag I made just for fun. Lately, I've been working my way through 110 year old patterns which tend to mentally tire me out. I realized my brain needed a vacation from deciphering and pattern writing so the last time I was shopping for yarn, I picked up a couple cheap skeins of acrylic.

The great thing about acrylic yarn is that it's freakishly strong and durable making it a pretty good choice for a shoulder bag. In this case I used Olivine by Yarn Bee and I carried two strands as I crocheted to make it thicker and stronger.

The best thing about this project is not the new Tassel Purse that I get to add to my collection. The absolute sweetest part was just sitting down with some yarn, a crochet hook and NO PATTERN! It was like reuniting with an old friend and just hanging out. There's is nothing better sometimes than just design-as-you-go crochet without a serious goal or outcome in mind. If, like me, you haven't done it in a while, I highly recommend it. Crochet for fun!

Parade of Yellows!

Yesterday was Yellow Dyeing Day here at Wind Rose Fiber Studio. I went a little crazy and dyed up five very distinct shades.

While my family is being buried in the snow back in Virginia along with many other parts of the country, Spring is in the air here in the Phoenix valley. Trees are budding, birds are chirping and the sun is bright.

So let me pass on a little of this sunshine. It's time to start felting those flowers and little baby chicks! Spring will be here before you know it, even if you are spending most of today with a snow shovel.

From left to right the colors are: Lichen (this one has a little more green), Chamomile, Moon Yellow (very reminiscent of glow-in-the-dark stars), White Corn and of course, Baby Chick! I hope these happy colors will brighten your day!

Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kit ~ With Beautiful Roving!

I always like to share with you when I make a new Top Whorl Drop Spindle Kit. Each one I make is unique in that I design two ounces of hand pulled roving for every kit. I pick beautiful colors and textures and I always add tons of sparkling Firestar.

This kit has a super soft blend of Merino wool in burgundy with blues and purples. There's just a tiny touch of grey Mohair for contrast and it's loaded with hot pink Firestar.

The kit also comes complete with directions, a leader cord and and ounce of ecru wool to give you everything you need to begin your spinning journey!

Baby's Bib ~ A Vintage Reproduction From 1885 ~ Part IV

Back again with yet another bib picture. I actually am nearly done with this project. I just wanted to show you how the bib made up with the Debbie Bliss yarn I picked out.

I love the colors, but I've come full circle as far as yarn choice goes. What I plan to recommend for this project is Lion Brand Cotton. The Debbie Bliss is lovely, but I think it's too soft for a bib and probably will have trouble holding up under actual use. Lion Brand is a little thicker and less delicate looking, but I feel it's more equal to the task of being a bib.

There are hundreds of yarn brands out there. I know this, but again, I want to make my patterns using brands that people can pick up at a local chain. For this project, I want a natural fiber and one that is machine wash and dry. I'm going for practical here! Of course people will be free to choose their own favorite fibers. I was actually thinking of making this pattern up in ecru superwash merino and then hand painting it for my niece. It would be like a little piece of wearable art!

Baby's Bib ~ A Vintage Reproduction From 1885 ~ Part III

While I've been waiting on the cotton I plan to use for my last work through of this project, I decided to go ahead and put trim on my prototype. I have a facebook friend who said she had trouble visualizing how this could actually be a bib, so I've also taken some additional pictures.

I'm sad that I don't have any friends with one year olds, because that is about the size I'm going for. It would be nice to try it on a real baby, but I think the bib should work for children 1-3 years of age. The only thing that might limit the size is the armholes. After people make this pattern for the first time, it will be easy enough for them to add additional rows to the straps if they need larger openings for the arms.





Let me walk you through the pictures:

In the upper left, I have just untied the bows so you can see how they become the ties for the bib. I have changed the design of the original pattern from ornamental silk or satin shoulder ribbons to ones that have a more practical purpose. However, it would be quite easy to slip a length of ribbon under a couple of stitches at each shoulder and tie pretty bows. This could be quite sweet on a Christmas version or a special occasion bib.

In the upper right hand corner I have the ties tied as if the bib were being worn. The front would then show the scalloped edging around the neckline and the trim. I need you to use your imagination to fill in an adorable baby. For a moment I thought I might sketch one on the paper I'm using as a photo background, but I thought it might turn out a little creepy. *giggle*

In the lower left corner is what the back side looks like with the bib fastened. I think this picture in particular helps to illustrate the bib the best perhaps. You can see how it will tie and how the straps will wrap around.

The lower right hand corner is the front view again. It's basically a flat version of the tied bib.

I guess that's all for today. I now have some very pretty sport weight cotton from Debbie Bliss that I plan to use to make my final bib. It won't be long before I'll be able to add this pattern to my very small collection. (Right now it's a collection of one.) See you soon!

Three Pretty Tussah Silks

Here's what I dyed yesterday. I'm at the point where I'm low on most colors, so I just picked three. Yesterday I was feeling the Turquoise, Gypsy Wine and Teal. They are now available by the ounce at Wind Rose.