A New Net Toy and Netting Contest Results

My oldest son seems to enjoy finding and helping me design new and different netting projects.  He suggested that I net something other than doilies.  When I asked him what, he suggested netting snoods.  He was the one who helped me design the net Klein bottle bag.  So I was not too surprised when he recently suggested a new project.  He wanted me to net a poi.

"A what?" I asked, thinking that poi was something to eat.

It turns out that he was thinking of another kind of poi.  The kind of poi he meant is a ball on a chain, or a length of fabric that holds a ball.  Since he is into juggling and martial arts, I could see why he might want me to make one.

He was willing to help me design it, provided I make him a set in black and white. We came up with a single poi and a double poi.

I made the 2" balls out of black and white denim, using only two pieces and one seam.  The seam on the balls makes them look like baseball-shaped beanbags.  I used poly-fil by Fairfield to give them some weight and allow them to be washed.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

The contest that ended last week had only two people brave enough to post their guesses.  They were both right, so I decided to make something for each of them.  Carmen has chosen to have me make her a set of mesh poi.  Lucy, let me know what you want.

Gauge = mesh stick size and yarn size (continued)

Last week I showed three small round pieces of netting that changed size when the yarn and mesh stick size were increased.  This week I finished three more.

Here they are shown as the top of bookmarks.

Flower

Candle

Magic

And here they are shown as hot pads.

Hot Pad #1

Hot Pad #2

Hot Pad #3

Can you match the hot pad to the proper bookmark?  On August 4th, at noon EDT, the contest will end.  I'll put the names of all those whose comment included the correct answer in a bowl and draw out the winner.  The winner can choose either one net item from Knots Indeed (1,000 knots or less) and I'll make it for them, or 2 of my netting patterns.  Be sure to leave some way for me to contact you, in case you are the winner, otherwise I'll pick again.

Net Bags - Prizes for the Winner

Earlier this year I held a contest and announced the winner.  Then life got busy and I had plenty of things to put on this blog so I never showed what Lucy selected.

large square-mesh net bag

large diamond-mesh net bag

large, top-down circular net bag

As she explained on her blog:

          The blue one on the bottom is mine, the two on the chair belong to each of my girls. 

          They made my errands this past week much easier, as they fit a LOT and then when empty will fit into my pocket or other bag.

Some of you may think that she won the contest because she is my daughter.  She won for two reasons.

1. She was the only one who submitted names for the handles.
2. I liked the names she suggested.

Moral of the story:  If you want to win a contest, you have to enter it.




P.S. I'm about half done designing the patterns for the circular netting class.

Name the Net Handle Contest Is Over

Lucy is the winner with credit for 2 and a half names to her credit.  I really liked her suggestion for the large bag handle.  She suggested "Lumiere (in reference to the candlestick in beauty and the beast, but really, looks like a candlestick with a nice heavy base to me)" and I agree.

For the medium size bag handle, I'll give her half credit for her suggestion "Solid Ground (like the kind you would pound a tent stake into)" which made me think of the one I will use - Spike. 

I also liked her suggestion for the small size bag's handle.  She said "Waiting (like a little kid with their hands behind their back)."  










I've decided to call this one Delta.  




I finally got the bags to the point where I can record the process of making the four handles shown above.  Once that is done the Square-mesh netting class should be done.

I've also been working on a face-lift for knotsindeed.com which is ancient by internet standards.  It's to the point where there is at least a sample of everything, even though there is still much that needs to be moved from the old to the new site.  If any of you want to take a look, you can go to new.knotsindeed.com and let me know what you think and if I've missed something important.

Name that Net Handle Contest

This week I have been checking the instructions for the square-mesh rectangular bag patterns that will be included in the Square-Mesh netting class.

I realized that I have called all the handles "diamond-mesh handles" even though they are all slightly different.

I thought it might be fun to have you submit names for the handles.  The four winners (one for each handle) will get a string bag of their choice.  I will close the contest on January 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

This is not a random drawing.  It's very subjective.  The winning names will be those that most appeal to me.

And now for the handles.







This handle is for the large square-mesh rectangular bag.

This handle is for the medium square-mesh rectangular bag.

This handle is for the small square-mesh rectangular bag.























This handle is for the tiny square-mesh rectangular bag.











I'm looking forward to your creative suggestions.

Happy New Year - - to the winner

And the winner of a Klein Bottle Bag is . . .

Bettina Groh.


Congratulations Bettina.


Happy New Year everyone.

Klein Bottle Bag

Would you like your very own klein bottle bag? Just make a comment and tell how would you use it. On New Year's Day (or soon thereafter) I'll draw a name from among those that comment. The winner will receive their own Klein Bottle Bag.



To learn more about Klein Bottles check out Acme Klein Bottle.

Anyone besides me want a Klein Bottle Hat?