Project 21: More Bolsters

I started teaching an Iyengar style yoga class this past January.  We use a lot of props.  Since it is in a community centre, the previous instructor provided all the props, which can add up to a lot of gear, about 4 hockey bags full, and occasionally some folding chairs.  Luckily, some of the students bought their own props, so I didn't need a full set. The bolster is one of the most useful and also most expensive of the props needed.  A new yoga bolster is about $60.  So here is my version, using what you may already have around the house, and some new fabric.  If made from all new materials (from IKEA), the cost is about $30.  So your bolster could cost between $0 and $30. Previous, I made my first bolster, stuffed with re-purposed linens (towels, curtains, etc). The stuffing here is similar, but I've added a few different covering options.

The bolster filling

The filling
This time I added a pool noodle in the middle of the bolster, cutting down slightly on the number of towels needed. Here I used a firm blanket and some towels, the whole thing tied together with fabric strips from an old t-shirt. The easiest option is just to use this bolster with no cover.

But to here are 3 options for a cover cover option:

1. Tied Spring roll
Cover Materials: a large piece of fabric, about 1m x 1.5m, it could be a table cloth, sarong type wrap/beach cover up. I used a new piece of cotton canvas fabric. 2 Straps to tie the bolster together.

Method: wrap up the bolster like a spring roll or burrito and tie it up.

 2. Sewn cover with tie closure

This cover is a cylinder sewn with an opening with 4 pairs of ties to close it up. If you don't like zippers, this is a good option. A handle was added to one side and I will sew in an inner piece of fabric so the sides can overlap at the closure. In the photo below a piece of fabric is simply inserted under the closure. It is more adaptable to variations in bolster size.  I would sew the ties farther back from the edge of opening next time ( about 5 cm on each side. )

3. Sewn cover with zipper closure

At first I was hesitant to sew in a zipper, but it really wasn't that hard once I got going.  Measure carefully, cut on the large side to be safe, it's easier to trim than add on fabric.  Try it out for size as you go. The finished bolster looks the neatest.

Aaaaah....  Lie back and enjoy some restorative yoga poses....

Project 20: More messing, less outcome focus

So January is almost up.  I've never been good at resolutions.  Here is a simple one.  I will work on 'MESS' (the book by Keri Smith) every week.  It is a commitment to get creative without attachment to results. So I suppose a measureable would be a good thing.  10 minutes a day, more or less for 108 days. Small, doable. I will post photos here, adding to the photo pool already started by Keri Smith. I tend to overthink things.  Here is one small step towards practicing surrender and just doing it. Here is one example of the messy exercises featured in the book that I did today. Crayon shavings heated with an iron.

Project 19: Crochet circle mat using t-shirt rag yarn - work in progress

I am de-cluttering around the house and I am working on my sewing area.  I've decided to reduce the amount of out-grown-clothing-stash.  I donated some nicer pieces to the Good Will and I have two projects on the go to use up scraps and less than perfect articles of clothing.  I am making yarn out of t-shirts and collecting scraps to stuff into another bolster.

The pattern is from the book Crochet me, by Kim Werker and is written for bulky yarn.  I used the rag yarn instead. As you can see the circles are not quite uniform, but an extra round of crochet should fix that when it comes time to assemble them into a rug.

So far, I have cut up old t-shirts to make yarn, but I will also try out some woven fabrics as well.  To make yarn, I cut fabric into one inch strips and used this technique to join them together.

Then I pulled on the t-shirt strips which makes them curl.

Here is a modification of the method to join very long strips to an existing ball of rag yarn (-for instance a t-shirt cut in a spiral fashion to give a long continuous strip).

First, cut a slit long enough to fit the ball through at the end of the rag yarn where you want to join a new strip.

Cut a small slit in the end of the long t-shirt strip.

Then insert piece of yarn with the long slit into the smaller slit. 

 Draw the ball through the long slit... 

...and pull to tighten the join.

Pull on sections of the strip as you wind it onto the rag yarn ball.

Ready to crochet or knit!

Project 18: Pickle juice to pickle juice popsicles

This one is not for everyone.  I didn't make it up though.  I saw it on youtube and found articles for pickle juice as a sports drink, like Pickle Juice Sport.  It is supposed to relieve muscle cramping.  I don't like pickle pops, but my gymnast daughter does. She is the only one in the family who likes them. So I made a few.

It's just plain pickle juice, strained of any solid bits, frozen in popsicle moulds.

Project 17: Furoshiki wrapping fabric from a sundress

Wrap it up!  Here is a wine bottle wrapped in a 1m x 1m square of fabric.  I followed this instruction sheet from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.  There are instructions for 14 different methods of wrapping.

I really like the fabric, but not so much as a dress.  You could also re-purpose a scarf or any underused fabric that is hanging around.

Project 16: Nursing cover from men's shirt

Nursing cover

I followed the excellent instructions here from the Southern Institute of the Domestic Arts.  The changes I made are noted below. When the usefulness of this nursing cover is over, it can serve as an apron.

Materials

1 Men's XL shirt

2 D-rings

15" of boning

I cut the back off the men's shirt including the yoke to use as the cover, cutting along the side seams and arm hole seams. This shirt had French seams, so I didn't finish the edges and took advantage of the shirt hem.  The side seams will fray a bit on washing and need to be trimmed, but I don't mind and I don't think the recipient will either.  I used the front button band as the strap.

For the top of the nursing cover, I used the double layered yoke to encase the boning and the straps.  I folded under the raw edges and stitched the top of the cover.  Using a shirt with French seams, makes this project super fast. 

Self-regroovenating

April - first crocuses

May - Sorrel

May - chives

 I've been watching the perennials come up and the trees leaf out.
 Last night I made a sorrel and goat cheese quiche, using the sorrel and chives from my garden, and goat cheese made from an Alberta family farm, Noble Meadows Farm, that I got at the Kingsland Market.
Last week I made chive pancakes and I found a great collection of Korean recipes with youtube videos at
Maangchi.com.