Nangellini

Free Mega Infinity Cowl Pattern

2012-01-26T13:35:00.001-05:00

Technorati Tags: pattern,cowl,infinity,knitting,bulky yarn,yarn

Mega Infinity Cowl

1 Ball Ella Rae Mega (MC)

1 Ball Viking Balder (CC)

US15 Needle 36"- 48"

With Mega (MC)Long Tail Cast On, cast on 130 stitches

Place Marker.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: * K1, P1 * around.

Row 3: Switch to Balder (CC), Knit

Row 4: With MC, K1, P1 around.

Row 5-12: repeat row 3 & 4 changing yarns as indicated.

Row 13: With MC, Knit

Row 14: MC, K1, P1 around

Row 15: Knit

Bind off loosely, being mindful to check as you go that your bind off tension pretty much matches your cast on visually.

©2012 Nangellini All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce physically or electronically without permission. This pattern is for personal use only. Contact Nancy Nagle at nancy @ nangellini.com or 215-413-5001 for permission and restrictions.

why didn’t I do this sooner?

2012-01-20T16:55:00.001-05:00

Wire. Hyperbolic lace. Duh!

I am in love. Again.

Work that Mohair!

2012-01-19T15:40:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to be approached about working on some props to be used in a movie. What fun! And a challenge as well, since I really did not know how to execute what they were asking for!

It sounded to me like everything was to be imbued with life-force energy. Well, duh!

So, I se out to swatch a bunch of different fibers and see what would create the undulating and life-like textures….I started with some not-quite-right things and moved on to some wonderful mohair that did just the trick, albeit slippery as all get-out!

These are much closer to the look….

and here is an approximation of the intention with more changes to come:

I am going as fast as I can working mohair and merino on 35s and 9s and ultimately this will become a series of panels and a large blanket for the big screen.

Also working on some hyperbolic lace pieces for same. Should prove interesting.

I will keep everyone posted, details are super secret but I will share when I can!

Pattern will follow so you can knit yourself one!

More off the loom…Scarves be Free!

2012-01-17T20:49:00.001-05:00

Here we go again, I am freeing the scarves…More shots to follow soon, on bodies…

These first two shots are just about 23 or 24 inches of fabric for my friend, Marsha to make me some hats I think…it was all the warp left after I finished these others so I warped with some handspun remnants!

Theses next shots are from several strands of cotton threads worked together, handspun black superfine merino, and some cotton flake, and then a bit of other goodies thrown in, some shredded Grateful Dead tie dye a la Stephen , sequins and more.

Handspun merino and a bit of angora plied with fancy threads…..

More Handspun, lots of locks and fancy plying threads….

I think this is my favorite way to spin these days and I love how it weaves up!!

Scarves Abound.

2012-01-06T13:43:00.001-05:00

I just completed this handspun merino, angora, mohair, silk

Technorati Tags: scarf weaving handspun yarn nangellini art-to-wear sequins spinning yarns

with tons of sequins scarf!! I am really tickled to see it complete as I had saved the yarn for so long thinking about what it might become. Sometimes I want to hoard the yarn just to have it, and using it for something becomes secondary.

Ta da:

AND more fun…I am now weaving my latest handspun into this:

After struggling with a twill handspun lace weight single which was taking forever, I moved on to what I really want to do…you can see the singles on the bobbins below! I really wanted to play with designing the scarf in the spinning stage with more serendipitous weaving as the yarn comes off the bobbin….I think I like it!

Yarn is good. Weaving is good. Electric bobbin winders also good.

More gratuitous close-up shots to follow shortly!

To Scarf or Not to Scarf

2011-12-22T12:05:00.001-05:00

Feather and Fan Infinity/Cowl: Everyone (or almost everyone) can make a quickie bulky or novelty scarf when in a pinch. The Ruffle yarns are super duper fast and knit up in about two hours, bulky yarn or multiple strands held together work up on a US 17, 19 or 35 really quickly, an hour or so….but when that gets too old or just one more scarf simply wont do, what do you do?

Well, I decided to try cowls a while. Now for certain, I love circles. I make hats and circular lace and mandalas of every flavor (including sushi) so a cowl was a logical leap.

And now with everyone so Infinity Scarf happy, I worked up a Feather and Fan Cowl/Infinity Scarf with both size options. I used Kochoran from Noro which is 165 yards per 100 gram hank, and about half a ball to do the cowl and the whole hank to do the Infinity./ Two hanks would yield a wider Infinity scarf.

Cast on multiple of 18 sts

For Cowl use 72 sts --- for Infinity Scarf, use 180 sts

Chunky yarn (shown in Noro Kochoran, Color 66) and US 10-10.5 needle

Cast on your number of stitches as above

Rounds 1-2: Knit every stitch.

Round 3: *k2tog (3 X), (K1, YO)(6 X), k2tog(3 X)* repeat * to * all the way around.
Round 4: Purl every stitch.

Rounds 5-6: Knit every stitch.

Repeat rounds 3-6 until as long as you desire.

Bind off loosely OR do I-cord bind off is as follows:

Cast on three stitches,
* knit two, ssk,
pass three sts back to left hand needle*
repeat *-*
graft after last stitch is done.

| |
>* *<

These are also same pattern but I used some left over mohair for a few rows and a bit of wool mixed with the Kogarashi (another Noro wool/silk blend)

Some Recent Obsession Hats

2011-12-12T15:20:00.001-05:00

Addendum: Of the hats below, 6 have sold as of 1/5/2010. The first, second, third and fourth hats sold as well as the seventh and the thirteenth. Eventually they will all find their perfect heads!

So I have a little bit of a problem. Sometimes I can’t stop.

I make hats. A lot.These are some of my latest creations.

At the time of this posting, all of these are available.Contact me if you see something you are interested in. We sell most of the hats here at my shop for $60 - $80 with the entrelac and handspun hats coming in at the higher end of the range there. Each one is created with love, and joy, and no two are ever the same!

There are a couple below for which I will post patterns, the top two hats are crocheted with a strand of Noro Kureyon carried with a strand of Debbie Bliss Angel, and also below there are a couple of Feather and Fan pieces, a cowl and an Infinity scarf, with Noro Kochoran, The pattern will be posted shortly!

Ready for a good soak.

2011-12-07T13:15:00.001-05:00

I cut this one off the loom last night, and now it is ready for a bath…I only had to re-thread a few strands of the warp through the heddles and sley the reed with them…Thanks for the help, Amanda! This process was to set up for the next scarf and remove this one so I did not crush all the dimensionality of it as I continued to weave. I may leave the rest on the loom, but I really wanted to cut this one free.

I am not sure how much additional waste there is by cutting and retying but I am trying to be careful with my warp yardage.

Some close ups:

I am pleased with the Saori on the HD loom, it is really fun to have the freedom to play! That said, I believe the next thing up on this warp will be one of my handspun merino, angora and sequin yarns.

I hope it works out, but either way, I will post pictures!

Do something you love today. It’s good for your health!

♥

Yarn

2011-12-03T19:42:00.001-05:00

New Set of Saori

2011-12-02T18:46:00.001-05:00

Here is the warp. It is alpaca and rayon. The variation in the weight will produce some fun effects. I am excited to see how it will play out.

The gold threads were an accent just for the fun of it.

I am slaying the reed here, I think. That happens after threading the heddles.

Here I am doing the hemstitch after the first few rows.

Just finishing the hemstitching.

The pink and black silk fabric is from a skirt that really never worked for me, Stephen handled it swiftly with the rotary cutter and the self-healing mat.

My new boat shuttles are SOOO Big! that I can put the fabric on them, and thread it through the holes! Yay!

I put some bright orange-pink roving in here between the green. Hey, it matches my hair!

I love playing with patterns that develop with roving and yarn together!

And so it goes…I will post more when I make some more progress!

Warped again!

2011-12-02T16:25:00.001-05:00

I am going to do more Saori style weavings on the big loom now.

This is what just came off of the Cricket and at the time of this posting, it is still available.The pink and green one sold almost instantly.

Price is $150. USD email me if you want this one.

Off the Loom……

2011-11-25T19:03:00.001-05:00

I Love this style of weaving, I am having a ball.

Hand Spun Fun

2011-11-25T14:50:00.001-05:00

What I did on my day off!

New Handspun Yarns from Tiny Airplanes

2011-11-22T12:34:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to get a restock of the lovely Nikki Virbitsky’s Tiny Airplanes yarns. Nikki hand dyes the wool which is superfine merino, and then spins the most interesting yarns with all kinds of fun things included and plied into the mix. Great fun!

This one is corespun with mohair wrap, a special request from a friend who is in love with Tiny Aiplanes’ yarns.

and still more photos of my saori adventure…

2011-11-21T18:33:00.001-05:00

I am just having a ball with this! It is really fun and even with all the goodies I have to weave in, I still want to spin some more hand spun to include. I may take home some of the roving and yarn bits to spin up a bit more.
The bits and clouds of roving are behaving well on their own, but together with a little twist, who knows what fun might ensue.

More Gratuitous Close-ups

2011-11-21T17:48:00.001-05:00

I AM IN LOVE. Ok, so Saori weaving is where it’s at. This is where I am at.
kthxbai.

Playing with Saori on Cricket

2011-11-21T16:58:00.001-05:00

The black rayon is very slippery. It was challenging to warp the loom but with a little help from my friends, (thanks, Rod!) it is warped and I am well on my way to weaving a couple of free form scarves. I selected several bits of roving and locks from my stash as well as yarn bits, balls and samples, and trim and rick rack, ribbon and whatever else was in the bags of goodies I keep for these very projects.
I went with fuchsia and bright greens….one of my all time favorite combinations. I think it is because I had a dress up costume when I was 12 or so with those colors. It was an old burlesque kind of showgirl outfit which I loved with alternating fuchsia and lime green satin stripes outlined in black with long black fringe and sequins.
anyway…I stated working on the Cricket today with all my lovely and nostalgic colors and textures and this is the progress so far…

More to come!

Washing the Wool.

2011-11-20T14:07:00.001-05:00

I love how soft everything becomes when I wash and block it! Even just the water changes the fiber, and many yarns bloom considerably. I just washed and hung a hank of hanspun yarn, merino with mohair, silk and other sparkly goodness, as well as all my new scarves off the loom.
The water was hot and then warm mostly, I really did not want to felt it, but just ‘set’ it nicely. I sent the Bunny out to replenish the Suave Green Apple hair conditioner supply, which totally softens the fibers. I just add a tablespoonful or so, a couple of squirts to each piece. Less for smaller things. I don’t even rinse it all out, I just squeeze out most of the water in towels.
For this purpose, I brought in several bath sheets (read:gi-hugic) towels to dry everything. They were drenched when I was done. I rolled each scarf up and then stepped on them to remove as much water as I could.
Now they are all in the backyard drying on the drying rack.

Freeing the Scarves

2011-11-18T16:59:00.001-05:00

This has been exhilarating … after weaving for weeks on this same warp, I am finally removing everything from the loom today! I finished up the free form piece at the end and cut everything off and wound it up into a giant ball…here:

Next I used the rotary cutter to separate one from another and now there are 7 different pieces!! Woo.

I will take pictures of the saori bag when I am done sewing it together into a bag-shape! I am having a good time with it, so I am not rushing….
All these scarves above are going to receive a bath and then will be available for purchase. Each is 9” wide and between 60” and 72” before the fringe. Each has approximately 6” fringe per end. Washing the scarves allow the fabric to come into balance and the yarns to bloom slightly and also softens the fabric even more for the next-to-the-skin softness we all desire in a scarf!♥
Here are more gratuitous close up shots of the weaving":

Saori Weaving: Taking the Plunge

2011-11-18T11:46:00.001-05:00

With just a small amount of warp remaining, I decided to play around with the Saori style of weaving, including roving and loose fiber, bits of silk and threads and yarns of all kinds…not that I limit my regular weaving to exclude these things, but the Saori style allows all of it and more.

Saori comes from a Japanese style created in 1968 by Misao Jo, the name comes from SA- from the Zen alphabet meaning each one has their own individual dignity and ORI is Japanese for weaving.

I am eager to see what the future holds for my weaving as I allow it to unfold.

In this first piece, I have used the small hand made comb beater Alisha loaned me rather than beating across the whole warp at once, and it allows me to create the curves and swells and mountains in the fabric. The warp threads are actually flat on a horizontal plane, it just appears bent, but that is an illusion. The texture on the surface is just the roving and locks poking through.

As much of a risk-taker as I consider mysel to be, taking this plunge into Saori weaving has been harder than I expected. I wanted to warp the small Cricket loom with black rayon first, and botched that all up; well, tangled it up, really. Then I figured I would wait until I had rounded up all the color coordinating fibers I wanted to use all together with other inclusion and get everything totally ready, then yesterday I just jumped in with the end of the warp on the 4 harness loom. Now I think I will work a few more inches and make this into a bag or purse.

I will post the progress as I continue. Stay tuned.

Weaving Adventures

2011-11-17T13:09:00.001-05:00

After about 10 scarves on the Schacht Cricket loom, I decided I needed to get a little bigger…so I invested in what I understand is a good starter loom, a 22” Harrisville Designs 4-Harness floor loom.

After about 6 hours of warping and instruction, I got 14 yards of warp onto the thing, enticed my lovely Bunny to build me a raddle and lease sticks, and have woven 5 and one half scarves on this warp. I am allowing 12” of fringe between my hem stitching, and moving on to the next scarf, so when I am complete I will have the wonderful treat of seeing all my scarves at once! I have pretty much forgotten what went on at the beginning of the warp!\

Trying to match the painted warp I chose was a little bit of a challenge, the first scarf is an assortment of different yarns, all fairly neutral and matching somewhat, the second is my handspun with some mill spun merino wool, the third is all corespun white-ish bulky which I love! Then I worked more handspun, wait, maybe the next one was the green and brown, and then there is a hank of really fun slubby yarn I did with a thread ply and lots of coils. Ok now I am confused but I know I am halfway done with the last one and it is part hanspun, part thick and thin millspun merino and part boucle mohair which I love, its an old Ironstone from the last of a cone. I really love the boucle mohair for weaving.

Some more of the cricket scarves are here:

The larger loom is here:

And this is what I have been weaving with plain weave/tabby and twill. (I tried to figure out if I could do anything else with a 1-2-3-4 warping…I found no other patterns without sticks or other set up…)

Technorati Tags: Weaving Harrisville cricket scarves loom Nangellini woven handspun yarn

They look similar because of the painted warp I have chosen here. Next time I will warp with more subtle warp contrasts.

Checking in

2011-11-17T11:41:00.001-05:00

Technorati Tags: knitting crochet weaving spinning

I am interested in recording my knitting, spinning, crocheting and weaving here and documenting what is new and exciting at Nangellini. After unsuccessful attempts in the past to synch the posts to the blog, I am revisiting again to see if I can make it work.

I believe in the path of ease and grace and also in allowing what presents itself as a part of the process. Now is the time to do this. The past was perfect and the timing is perfect. Now.

earthairwaterfire

2010-10-28T11:14:00.001-05:00

earthairwaterfire
Originally uploaded by Nangellini

Some on ravelery just asked if I had the Itata Multi in Elemental colors, so this is what I came up with,
From left to right: Earth, Air, Water and Fire.
THese are superwash wool with 15% Silk and 15% bamboo, which make them great for shawls and garments requiring a nice drape as well as socks, as the bamboo and silk add great durability and strength for long wear!

Feeling Light

2009-10-07T12:08:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to share the thoughts of light and love that are in my mind and heart right now.

We can take a moment and feel good about something, really anything that comes to mind. I was tagging some yarn that arrived today and enjoying the colors and softness of the fibers in my hands. Arranging the colors and rearranging them in differnt ways, and touching the hank of yarn to my cheek and sniffing it, and petting it made me smile and feel glad.

I am grateful to have to opportunity to be surrounded by color and beautiful things.

Across the street is a community garden and there are flowers growing, and across the room is a wonderful loving being whom I share my life with.

I have so much to be grateful for. I need only look and I find something else to thank God for.

I am inspired to make things that make me smile and make others smile. I want to inspire others around me. I am grateful when someone tells me I have done so.

Thank you.

paintings...

2009-07-20T01:20:00.006-05:00

I have been painting acrylic on canvas and having a great time. So far I have created one Heart painting which has been purchased, and two more Heart Celtic Knots which are available.

I am painting more and will continue to do so as the inspiration strikes. It has been great fun and I look forward to what will come next.
Celtic knots are something I have been playing with for some time, designing and creating them on paper, and I have been planning to construct them with fiber and felting as well....the possibilities are endless. I will also paint more in various colors and play with the combinations and variations of the knots I have designed as well as designing more.

Inspiration, Entrelac and Reinventing Ourselves.

2009-06-26T11:10:00.008-05:00

I just got a package in. The joy of ripping open the overstuffed plastic and investigating the fibery goodness contained within is hard to contain. I wish the DHL man safe travels and begin exploring.

I like what I see. The rayon has sparkly bits intertwined and the cotton is smooth and shiny and the carry-along yarns are just perfect to add a hint of color and shine to some soft mohair....it is all perfect. These were ordered sight unseen (or at least untouched; via the web), except for the reorders....anyway, its all good and I am delighted.

The entrelac portion of our post is brought to you by the Tuesday night knittig group. We are entrelacing along.
The basic instructions are coming along but we are working this a piece at a time; part of the joy of entrelac; bite-sized pieces, you know.

Etrelac-A-Long

Ok, to download the pdf file, please visit Nangellini
and go to the goodies section, where the patterns live.

♥*♦^♦*♥

Today is beautiful and can become exactly what you desire. Stay open to inspiration, where it may hail from, allow it to light on your shoulder, back of your hand, cerebral cortex. Notice when it does. I love you.

How Nangellini was Born

2009-02-14T14:29:00.001-05:00

How Nangellini was Born

Posted using ShareThis

New Slideshow of Images

2009-01-15T13:10:00.002-05:00

I have been busy crocheting and knitting but don't often stop to photograph or share...so here are few new pieces concatenated into a slide show. Enjoy, and peace, and love,
Nancy

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-05-09T15:51:00.001-05:00

Leaf Tess

2007-11-06T03:52:00.001-05:00

Leaf Tess
Originally uploaded by cedison

Amazing paper folding; Illuminated from behind. Simply gorgeous!

Visit form the Yarn Fairy!

2007-11-03T13:04:00.000-05:00

I have been playing with the latest booty from the yarn fairy, really fun stuff.
He brought some Lantern Moon knitting bags which are gorgeous and clever, one even has a pin cushion hidden inside the basket. There are also a couple of messenger bags which look to be made of some recycled material from Cambodia, really fun with fish prints on them.
Also got lots of fabulous yarns and needles most of which are on sale now, and some cute knitting themed mugs. Lots of fun stuff. I made a hat with some of the samples he brought...I am very pleased. We are still sorting things out now.
Also have some boucle on the way. Oh an d more interesting yarns, I will post again soon and describe in detail...:)

Did I mention...Colinette, Prism, Blue Heron, et al

2007-07-06T13:52:00.000-05:00

As I am sorting through the new yarn, I thought I might just share...there are three Colinette Vintage Kits. These retail for $140, but we are going to offer them for much less since we got a price break on them, everyone wins! Also found lots of Blue Heron which is hand dyed (various textures of that, have not yet sorted or inspected what they all are) Also some Claudia's, which I recognized.

I am thinking I may want a Colinette kit for myself.
I had that same thought about the Prism. I have 4 half skeins of Cool Stuff in Tea Rose colorway. It is very pretty and I may just have to keep one for moi.
Each fabulous yarn that I have never tried yet calls to me...saying "How can you sell me if you never tried me yourself. Don't you want to knit me NOW?

I know at most of the novelty and onsie balls are going in our sale bin, which should be fun for those that peruse them on a regular basis...basically new balls are finding there way in there every day. If I didn't have this store, I would be customer here for sure. :)
I am starting to sound like one of those car salesmen on TV commercials. "We must be CRAZEE to sell this stuff so CHEAP." Ok Maybe I feel more like Tom Waits singing "Step Right Up."
Always wanted to feel like Waits, er, maybe that was I always wanted to feel Tom Waits. Close enough.

Amazing Abundance of Yarn

2007-07-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

It is almost unbelievable the abundance of gorgeous yarn that has come into life of late.
I have been fortunate enough to purchase the contents of two, not one, but TWO closing yarn shops.
Well, not the entire contents but you can be sure I got the best, most yummiest, most fantastic yarns they had. Not only that, but the lovely women with whom I was trading were quite generous. I use the term trading loosely. I was trading cash for yarn, which is pretty much how that works for me. I have cash, you have yarn; we trade; I am happy.
Anyway, I got lots of hand painted goodness, lots of silk and silky things, lots of gorgeous bulky wool and super bulky winter time fun stuff and of course novelties, needles, and notions, scarf pins and more. It is too much to believe.
After the first round with the Jenkintown ladies, Nicole, my assistant, and I were kind of rolling around the floor in all the hand painted Great Adirondack and Schaefer yarns, when Carolyn called, so she came in and proceeded to lay on the floor...with the yarn. It was a nice afternoon.
By mid-week we had everything sorted, tagged and entered into inventory and onto the shelves and racks.
Then it started all over again; just last night I went visited another woman with the contents of her shop spread between her beautiful finished knitting room/basement and her garage, all the boxes in the garage were labeled with the intricate contents of each box marked with quantities of each and the circles and the arrows and a full color glossy photo of....sorry, no, I digress...anyway, we got some amazing things there and I look forward to sorting thru it all to see what we actually purchased. :) I know we will be pleased in the long run. Getting it all into inventory as 'assorted' or as what it actually is...is another feat all together. Oy.
Well, by the time we got out of there, we were drenched with sweat, it had begun to rain, and my Tupperware bins were nearing capacity with yarn and the cardboard box was getting wet in the back of my truck, but we pressed on...we had another stop in Jenkintown with the original and first yarn-store-going-out-of-business-whose-inventory-I-must-obtain.
We were late but I knew the yarn was patient, it always is.
Just as expected, it was waiting shelved and bagged politely with its people and pets occupying themselves amongst the books and notions. Good yarn. No wait, bad yarn, all vying for my affections and wooing me like that.
Damn it, I want you all. OK Focus, Focus. (That was heard quite a bit last night)
Now the fun will really begin, as we do the sort, catalog, enter data and tag portion of this adventure. We got through the first round so this shouldn't be too bad--although this latest haul is twice as big.
I am happy to report that I spent less than 5K. If your SO ever gives you a hard time about your yarn shopping, or yarn acquisition addiction, you can him/her about me.

Love and blessings,
Nancy

Sari Silk Solids--Most Gorgeous Thing Ever!

2007-06-29T12:02:00.000-05:00

I just got in an order from one of my most favorite yarn vendors, Frabjous Fibers and I was unpacking and labeling the yummy yarns. There was a bright yellow Banana Silk and some Red Banana Silk, and more Kathmandu, the traditional multi colored silk spun from the weaving waste of the sari looms. Now bear in mind, these are all spun by a fair trade women's collective in Nepal, a cottage industry, and imported by this wonderful woman in Vermont who runs Frabjous Fibers. Well, all was going well until I unpacked the silk solids which I ordered for the first time, these are softer than the regular sari silk, and the colors are intense and they are subtle shades within a shade of luscious goodness. I was just drooling all over them, I so very much wanted to eat them. [I refrained.]

In lieu of eating them, I collected a fuchsia, cobalt and a dark green, and escorted them around town for the evening in my bag, checking in with them periodically and showing them off at every opportunity.

Pictured above are the Sari Silk Solids encircling a couple hanks of Kathmandu. Radiant, isn't it?

For knitters, crocheters and yarn collectors, these lovely hanks are 100 grams for the solids and they sell for $12.00, the Kathmandu Original is 200 grams and sells for $15.00. please call for availability 215-413-5001 and we can send them out to you straightaway.

Flaming Sweeater Dress

2007-03-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, I have been busy. Trying to quit hats cold turkey is not working but creating larger work is a good distraction. I still manage to squeek a hat in here and there...

This is a more recent [almost] completion for me.

It was a fun endeavor.

I still have a few ends to weave in here and there, but it is virtually done.
I am also thinking about knitting the top of something like this and crocheting the skirt. I had intended that with this flame dress, but wound up picking up stitches and knitting and increasing and feather-and-fan-ing the skirt.
These projects evolve like that so what I initially intend is usually not what I get in the end.

Blessings, joy and inspiration!

New Sweater Dress

2007-02-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

I decided it was time to work on some larger projects for a change, I have been addicted to hats for long enough, time to move on, so I made a little tank top from some hand painted Cherry Tree Hill ribbon called Baby Sachet in the colorway Champlaign Sunset, and then I moved on to this sweater dress using a whole bunch of different rosey tones of wool, a wee bit of ribbon and some novelty yarns.

I was looking for interesting designs to incorporate into it and wanted a Greek key patten of some kind that would repeat around the sweater and connect one repeat to another, so I designed one myself, the lower fishy design is from a stitch bible book, and so is the flower motif just below the bust. The trim on the neck and sleeves is crocheted and I am still not sure I want longer sleeves but for now, I like it as it is.

The red wool is a 3 ply hand spun wool from someone at the Phiadelphia Guild of Handweavers. It was wonderful stuff to work with. I am going to work on more sweaters and larger pieces, they really don't take all that long, and I have a lot to learn about techniques so it keeps it interesting and engaging.

I basically work in the round until it feels big enough and then bind off a few stitches for the arm holes and then work the back and front separately and when I am ready for the neck (in this case, a v-neck) I split the stitches of the front and start to decrease each side. What I discovered with this piece is that I could work the front and the back simultaneously using two balls of yarn and keeping all the stitches on the same circular needles I wan using. THen when I split the front into the right and left sides, I still kept them all on the circs and introduced a new ball if the same yarn. I knot one piece, then the next, then the back, each from their respective balls, then turn and purl back each piece, each from his own ball. Kind of like kntiting two socks at once, each from its own ball. It makes the piece grow more slowly but consistently.

Blessings , love and peace,

Nancy

Karaoke Hat Collection is Here!

2006-11-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

We just received the Trunk Show Hats from South West Trading Company. They are gorgeous!
We also have a samle copy of the book and are currently taking pre-orders. It will be available very shortly!
Woo Hoo!
Stop in and check it all out!

Stango Ebay Auctions

2006-01-30T17:23:00.000-05:00

Just listed these two pieces on eBay...
Stango Heart Painting, 18 x 19 inches

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7386726872
Albert Einstein 25 x 30.5 inches

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7386729403

Handspun Pics

2006-01-28T01:32:00.000-05:00

This is the fabulous new yarn I got in! I had a ball with it, just getting it ready for the shelves. What a joy to hold it, twist it into hanks, label it, and get it on the shelves....I am going to be working with it for a while and share with y'all what comes out!
Have a beautiful, joyful day.

This is available @ http://www.nangellini.com

Handspun Hand-dyed

2006-01-26T00:23:00.000-05:00

I just received the most amazing yarn from Uruguay today! I am so excited. Just labeling the hanks of yarn was a sensual experience. The colors are so luscious and the wool is so silky soft, I was completely beside myself!
I wanted to set a hank of each color aside just to fondle and make pretty little things with...I tried hard to control myself so there would be plenty for the customers but it was difficult, each colorway was better than the last...total there are 20 colors, 10 are kettle dyed and 10 are 'space-dyed' I think. I will post photos tomorrow...and fondle some more...and somewhere in there I have to put together more shelving to accomodate all this stuff...
btw, this one-ply hand spun yarn is the perfect thing for bullions. Bullions are crocheted stitches, which Free Form crocheters love, thanks to Prudence Mapstone --www.knotjustknitting.com and her Fabulous book Bullions and Beyond, Bonnie Pierce--http://www.elegantcrochet.com/ and other designers.
Free Form crocheters and knitters all over have glommed onto this stitch because it is a challenge to learn (for many) and it looks so neat, unusual, organic, etc.

I also got a new shipment of recycled silk and Midas, the recycled rayon with goldish coloring. Both of these are available at www.nangellini.com in the yarn section if you want...they come in 200 gram hanks. I like that. More yarn is always better!
Oh, and additionally, I got a bunch of Gedifra which I am able to offer at greatly reduced pricing which makes me happy. What is better than great yarn at a mucho discount price? Um, other than chocolate, I can't think of anything!
Diane came in to help me tag it all, Thank God! I needed the help, plus I needed someone there to listen to me kvell over all of this stuff. Sitting there petting all this yarn all alone just wouldn't do. Have to share the joy!

OK, currently I am working on

one fair isle tam on the dpns mid-wheel section, but need to concentrate to finish. Oh and I have to finish designing the rest of the wheel...
Also have thin belt with the Gedifra Gigante on the 15s, that is a quicky but I am too tired to finish tonight
also some Japanese yarn on #10 circs making a tam. Thank you Shiho for the Japanese yarn.
Also started a crocheted vest worked vertically, in bright oranges and pinks, that is only a front panel so far, not even all of the front panel is done, and it got set aside
What else, oh, there is a ripple tank top in the basement of the store in many white cottons and off white cottons, that has been sitting for a while and I keep forgetting.
Also a bright orange sweater vest for my fiance' almost done,
and I want to start a few other things, like scrumbles for brooches, and more beading on hats and scarfs.

Oy!

Fair Isle Tam

2006-01-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

I finally did it. I have been stalling on attempting
this for months, and just got my feet wet with the tams by doing one color and of course having to learn how to use dpns. Well after about 10 one yarn tams, I did it. I had to improvise the patterns and figure out what to do with the two yarns, one in each hand yeilds two different tensions for me, since I am a continental knitter by nature (I knit like I am crocheting; really) Here it is, Thank you to Claire for modeling it for me! I was being wrapped up in a kimono and obi and my head was unavailable at the time (Thanks, Shiho for the dress-up!)

Hendrix & Ali

2006-01-15T14:44:00.000-05:00

New Stangos here!

Beads

2006-01-13T01:54:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for beads. I am going hog wild buying beads for the store and to use in my own work. I like to dangle a bead or two at each end of a scarf and also to incorporate them into crocheted pieces, so we will see what evolves.
I am particularly fond of lampwork glass beads and that is primarily what I have been ordering.
I also am partial to leaves so there are some lampwork glass leaf beads coming in this week.
I ordered kitty cats too. I think they will be sweet at the end of scarves.

I think I am going to finally bring the spinning wheel down to Nangellini...I miss it. It must be lonesome up on the third floor...well, it has the yarn up there to keep it company. Some of that should come down to the store too....soon. It all needs a good sorting out. What is mine and what will get tossed into the sale bin and the "Here, you look like you could use one more ball of yarn" pile.
I read some recent posts about spinning up the cats hair into yarn and all I could think is, "Ew!" and "Isn't that why we got the maids?" I have seen just about enough cat hair, thank you!

Blessings and gratitude,
Nancy

New Stango Paintings

2005-10-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

Just arrived! We have new Tiny pieces by Stango, all approximately 19 x 21.
There are Hearts, Flowers, and Eiffel Tower and Marilyns.

To see more Stango work, visit www.stango.com or come see us at Nangellini!

New in Nangellini

2005-10-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

I now have several beautiful handbags created by local artists. They are felted knit and crocheted wool. Some are plain, some with gorgeous embellishments; all are handmade with love.
Also new are the ponchos and wraps I have been creating.
I am currently uploading photos to www.nangellini.com At present, there are many hats and hat/scarf sets available for viewing and purchase. If you see something you like, please call me for ordering info.

I am anxiously awaiting delivery of my most recent order of recycled silk and banana silk, as well as the new Crushed Velvet (which is viscose, a rayon derrivative which means it started out as wood pulp.)
I am knitting a shrug with the Crushed Velvet now and it is just amazing, it is so silky soft and luxurious to work with.

Also New: We are having a Knitting Circle on Sundays at 3 PM in addition to our Tuesday night Circle. Please stop by and knit or crochet with us!

More Yarn

2005-08-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

Just got new Ribbon Yarns in fabulous colors, should be on the shelves this afternoon!

Also added more discount novelties up front in the baskets. 50bs for $2.50 two balls will easily make a scarf or hat!

Finished up several new hats and working on scarves with new mini needles with fancy beads. Several pair still available for $20 or $25 each.

These were intended for hair sticks, but I like them for scarf needles.

New Yarn is In!

2005-06-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

We just received the first batch from Bartlett Yarns, which is a lofty two ply wool that works up the same as any 4 ply worsted. It is just gorgeous, and while I have about 15 colors here, I am due to receive dozens more colors soon. Also from Bartlett, Bulky FIsherman wool. All is in 4 0z skeins @ $6.00 each.
Also, today I received Feather from NY Yarns in Coral Sea $6.50 for 50 g, 76 yards and two colors of variegated Pixie which is a baby yarn. 50 g, 136 yards @ $5.00 each
I plan to have camera to shoot this new yarn tomorrow.

I am very excited about the Bartlett Wool, as I want to try my hand at some intarsia and the rich heather colors lend themselves so well to that.

Pictures in Posts; What a Great Idea!

2005-06-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

I am considering using a different hat each time I need to order new business cards. People can start collecting all the different Nangellini hat cards, like trading cards...maybe we can start a trend, who knows. :)

Original image for Nangellini logo. I have since added a bit more neck to the image.

2005-06-10T14:36:00.000-05:00

Felted Crocheted Rose Pins

Thanks for Coming to Crochet Group!

2005-06-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

It was fun last night! Thanks for coming! Everyone's working on such great stuff and I love to see the progress from week to week. Next week, bring your drop spindles if you got em.
Personally, I would really like to finish all the WIP I have going, but I can't seem to stop myself from stating new things, too.
Today Stango delivered a small Superman painting and a big Coppertone piece (for my client in Rehoboth Beach.) She is coming to get them tomorrow, so they wont be here long.
It is pretty hot out, so I am chillin' in the AC trying to finish up some more of these started projects. My red handbag is not cooperating so that will have to wait for another day.
This week I plan to order a yarn counter so I can start working with all the Silk City yarns I bought, and I will bring the spinning wheel into the store, too, so I can spin and ply durring the slow times.

My Cafe Press store is open! You can order lots of fun things that say "It takes balls to crochet like this!" (or knit if you prefer.)

Crochet MeetUp Tonight!

2005-06-07T14:07:00.000-05:00

Come on down tonight for our Weekly Knit and Crochet gathering! It's nice and cool in the store and we have plently of room!
We get started around 6pm, so grab your knitting/crochet bag and come on down!
Nangellini is located at 832 South Street Philadelphia.
Bring your current WIP and some finished items for show and tell!
See you there,
Nancy

Getting Started

2005-06-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been thinking about blogging for a while now, this seems like as good a time as any to get started!

Here's What's New:

I am currently finishing a bikini bottom (top is done) with purple/white variegated ribbon from Silk City, as well as a vest/sweater with recycled silk, marroon, teal, forrest and blues
I have dozens of NEW cones of yarn from Silk City waiting to be plied together and with other fun and funky yarns for novelty one-of-a-kind yarns for consumption and sale in Nangellini.
I am waiting to hear from Wool in the Woods sales rep for carrying various yarns from their line! I am very excited about this.
I am getting ready to stock Wilde 50/50 wool mohair yarns and lots of colors of Barlett Yarns, too.
I still have some 200g hanks of the recycled silk and recycled rayon --that is twice the weight they used to be available. I just love that. Twice the yarn for the same price! Woo hoo!
Still bringing in more unusual yarns. Will be posting photos soon.