What are tiskets and taskets anyway?

Would you believe that this fabric:

Became this basket?

Cool huh? I am totally hooked on making these. A woman in my quilting group, Carol, started making them last fall and I've wanted to make one ever since. She gave several demonstrations, but I thought it looked too complicated. Not so! Although it does take quite a bit of prep time, it's worth the effort.

In addition to running around the city looking for the "right" clothesline to make these, I've been rummaging through my fabric stash (and rescuing some from the donation bags) to make more. This is my second version, with handles added.

The stripes remind me of Native American baskets.

If you are interested in making one, there is a book, It's a Wrap, which uses a slightly different technique to wrap the fabric around the rope. This is just the coolest thing!

Oh! Who's that peeking out of the basket?

It must be the Easter Bunny!

I knit him today, from this free pattern from Heartstrings Fiber Arts, using leftover kid mohair held together with some Dolly Maxi on size 6 Brittany Birch needles. The only modification I made to the pattern was in the ear decreases. I followed the instructions for Barbara White's ears and substituted this:

4) K2tog, K3
5) K2tog, P1, K1
6) SSK, K1
7) P2tog


My bunny is a bit chubby and has no tail yet because I haven't decided which method I prefer. This is what he looked like before I stuffed and sewed him up. Bunny vivisection! It reminded me of high school science classes. Thankfully no guts and no formaldehyde smell. Mr. Strange doesn't like my bunny because he doesn't have any eyes, but he always says that when I make eyeless critters.

That's OK, I love him anyway. Look what he made for me! A design board for my sewing room! Ignore the outlet on the wall. I have to. What a dumb place to put an outlet! What can I say? The house came that way. Someday, maybe I'll have it moved. Someday far far in the future. I can't stand the idea of messing up my room.

The frame is made from old yardsticks (my idea), but look which one he chose to put at the top:

He also framed and hung this sweet vintage print for me, which I received as a gift from my friend Linda this past Christmas:


My sweetie! He's done some great things to help make this my favorite room ever!

OH! I mentioned that I had fabric to donate. To be exact, I have 2 large trash bags full of cotton fabric scraps, one bag of other fabrics, craft yarn, Styrofoam balls and other miscellaneous crafting items that I would like to donate to a school or crafting program for children in need. If you know of an organization in the greater Portland, Maine area that could use this sort of thing, please e-mail me (upper right sidebar under the "About Me" box). I was going to donate it to the Salvation Army craft sale coming up in May, but decided that I would rather it go to kids who need it rather than to the closet of another crafter who doesn't!

I hope you all had a great Easter!