Art To Wear!

GenWearsSHSShawl

There have been a hand full of times when I have envisioned, planned, created, and enjoyed the result so much so it makes me float on clouds for a few days. This  may sound a bit arrogant, but it isn’t meant to. Perhaps it is the reward for a creative person when they are able to see a long-term project come to fruition.

SHSSketch

Somewhere in mid-April I had several capelet/shawl ideas pop out in sketches. Here’s the one for this capelet I’m calling Spring Has Sprung.

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I set about gathering yarns I had on hand, leftover bits of this and that, mostly cottons, bright springy colors. I relish that part of the process…picking the colors and textures that will somehow blend to a pleasing whole in the end.

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I choose an edging from Kristin Nicolas’ book and begin there. I work my way up adding stripes of colors, a decorative eyelet row, intarsia the flower centers here and there, finishing off with a stand up collar mirroring the stripes at the bottom. This is only the beginning.

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I like to think of the basic cape as a painted canvas on which to now collage whatever I’d like to. Crocheted flowers, knitted leaves, embroidered stems, buttons, beads, etc. All of this gets added to the “painting” in yarn.

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It is satisfying work. I love the process. I love seeing it evolve. I love that it takes a while. And then, I love to wear it. Art for my shoulders…so fun and fulfilling.

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I even made a clasp for the capelet out of an aluminum stitch holder. I simply bent the wire out to allow for my chosen beads to slip on. I bent the wire back and voila! A lovely clasp for my new Spring Has Sprung Capelet.

SpringHasSprungClasp

**If you’re interested in seeing a couple of other Art To Wear pieces I’ve made, click here and here!

More views…

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*Please honor the fact that this is an original design! It is not to be copied or duplicated in any way. I am toying with the idea of typing up a pattern so that others can make one for themselves. In the meantime, simply enjoy viewing it as you would a painting. Thank you!

10 thoughts on “Art To Wear!

  1. freebirdsings says:

    I love it! It’s super cute. I like how it actually fits over the shoulders and that pin is truly the crowning touch. I can see this sitting on a dress form for showing off when you aren’t wearing it -until you’ve made another version. Is a Fall one coming off the needles soon?

  2. jenpedwards says:

    Hi Timaree! I’m actually working on a crochet flower cape let now using the same leftover yarns. And I have a knitted shawl design I’d like to type up into a pattern if I can. Please continue praying for my recovery…It is very slow going and I’ve developed some issues that will need to be taken care of soon. This is much harder that I thought it would be. Painting and knitting are keeping me sane. And friends who kindly stop by for a chat here on my blog. :)) I hope you are healthy and being as creative as you can!

    • freebirdsings says:

      Will keep praying. I actually meant to ask how you were doing but the looks of your capelet distracted me! Glad something is able to take your mind off your health issues at least for a bit!

  3. Lynda says:

    I see “happy”…happy colors, happy flowers, you happy as you created it! It makes me smile…now I’m happy! I love the whimsy in your work…your joy comes through. Thanks for the smile this morning! Hope we see a selfie of you wrapped in a “happy” hug. Lynda 🙂

  4. Jacquie says:

    Hi Jennifer,
    thank you for your comment. I’ve followed it here and I’m bowled over by all the glorious colour in paint and yarn. So happy I found you.
    Your capelet is wonderful, I love all the little details and it really is art to wear.
    I love all your paintings too and I’m off to read more of your blog.
    Hope you are feeling better soon.

    Jacquie x

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