Accessories are now including a tent which I think needs to be slightly bigger and I may have to play the game again so I can check out what colour it needs to be painted. Suppose I could just check out some playthroughs but it will be more fun to play the game through again myself.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Embers of The Last Campfire
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Basic Hat for Gamer Girl
Many of my hats are started from a base pattern I created. My preference was for a solid base so I could easily add embellishments like face details and ears so it is done using single crochet. It is a basic pattern and very beginner friendly as the only stitches used are single crochet and increase and it is done crocheting in the round.
The yarn I normally use is #2 (fine) and 100% cotton my finished hats fit a head circumference of 8.5" to 9". My preferred hook size is 2.25mm, recently I have been using a Furls Odyssey as these have become my hook of choice.
A picture of my Furls Crochet hook collection in the beautiful display case my husband gifted me |
Otherwise I use Clover hooks as I find both these brands much better when crocheting for any length of time. Your finished measurements may vary slightly from mine as it greatly depends on how tight you do your stitches but if you are a creator of Amigurumi your tension is probably similar to mine.
I have been enjoying the process of creating hats for my Gamer Girl dolls. By adding ears and other embellishments it is possible to create little hats for practically any fandom. The inspiration is endless and the possibilities neverending.
Basic Beanie Hat
Round 1 MR 6
Round 2 6inc (12)
Round 3 (1sc,1inc)*6 (18)
Round 4 (2sc,1inc)*6 (24)
Round 5 (3sc,1inc)*6 (30)
Round 6 (4sc,1inc)*6 (36)
Round 7 (5sc,1inc)*6 (42)
Round 8 (6sc,1inc)*6 (48)
Round 9 (7sc,1inc)*6 (54)
Round 10 (8sc,1inc)*6 (60)
Round 11-22 60sc (11rows)
Fasten off
A basic beanie finished with one of the books I use for inspiration |
Monday, May 17, 2021
Hat Designs
Have been busy designing different hats for my Amigurumi dolls. Finally found the perfect size of styrofoam ball to make some hat stands. Wooden candlesticks + styrofoam balls = hat stands.
Inspiration for hats vary and I have been going down many rabbit holes on the internet looking at official imagery and fanart. It is so easy to get sidetracked when looking at fanart and it is so enjoyable. Lots more hats are in the works as every Gamer Girl Doll is going to need her own hat. Part of the issue so far is to try to keep them simple, many of my design ideas start to get elaborate. Limiting my materials to cotton yarn, felt and embroidery thread is helpful to keep the designs simple.
The design process for me often includes simplifying my original design concept. It has gotten to the stage where I often don't finalize a design anymore as I just end up eliminating much of it. I now try to keep it all a bit more abstract so I won't overthink each stage. The tendency to get hyper focused is very easy for me and something I try to curb, otherwise nothing gets done.
Gamer Girl Dolls progress has been going well. The doll wigs I got work well and allow for a variety of hair colour and length. Also found some keychains that mean I can give each doll her own controller :0) It's nice when an idea comes to fruitation.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Hats. Hats and Hats
Have gradually been getting back into the swing of things. I've been getting caught up on projects and managing to stay focused a bit more. Still looking for that magic way to STAY FOCUSED. Basically I have way to many ideas milling around in my head at all times. That is the end of my Whinging about Focus for this post. (Whinging is one of my favourite British words)
For the month of May Hats will be my focus. Hats are an obsession recently be it sewing them for other people, making them for dolls or acquiring a new one for myself. Hats can also have so many accessories themselves- hatboxes, feathers, hatbands, hatpins, hat stands. The goal of May is to create an item related to a hat or a hat itself each day of May. Some will be for humans, some for dolls and perhaps even some for my dog.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
New Studio Space
Friday, May 11, 2018
Creative Update
Creating new designs that are less dependent on sizing has been a goal during this time. IsaTe's Designs has always been focused around repurposing clothing, comfort and one of a kind. Often a client would fall in love with an article of clothing and it wouldn't fit. This has always created some difficulties as more often then not I could not recreate the garment in their size. This is a definite problem in how I create. A problem that became more prominent when I moved from Ontario to Seattle. It became much harder to satisfy clients who had now become long distance, the one on one aspect differed greatly. No longer was I as attuned to their body fluctuations or changes in their lives and wardrobe needs. So lots of thought as to what direction IsaTe's should go has been occurring.
One of the changes that has occurred is the creation of CleavageandGeekage. This is going to be focused more on custom clothing, lingerie, cosplay and my interest in pop culture. You can check it out at CleavageandGeekage
Below is a sample of two new designs which are not dependent on sizing. Both just slide over your head and provide drape and layering to any outfit. The one on the left is made from repurposed golf shirts and has the feel of a shawl. The one on the left made from repurposed t-shirts has actually become a staple in my wardrobe. It is perfect for those overcast cool mornings and evenings in Seattle. It provides a bit of warmth without bulk around the neck and/or adds a little flair to an otherwise basic ensemble.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Who? or What? Is A Luddite
The Luddite Triangle represents where the main occurrences of activism happened, the Counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. These Counties were greatly affected by the Industrial Revolution and the middle classes vastly changed. The Luddites in the Midland Counties were comprised mostly of workers in the framework - knitting and lace trades. The Yorkshire Luddites were croppers from the woolen industry, who were supported by other skilled workers such as the saddle-makers.
After centuries skilled, middle-class workers lives were being upended by the machines replacing them with low-skilled, low-wage labourers in dismal factories. Thus early incarnations of "Fast Fashion". The workforce was changing and most artisans were unprepared. They had been accustomed to working limited hours, spending time with family, and making decent wages for their skills. Now with the introduction of automated looms and knitting machines being run by unskilled labour their livelihoods were being threatened. Also due to Trade being barred to Napoleonic France and any nations friendly to them the British Textile Industry was suffering a economic decline, this along with the rise of food prices caused anger among textile artisans.
Most Luddites were not actually opposed to machinery aka Technology. They felt the use of machinery was a way to get around standard labour practices and only benefited the factory owners financially. Negotiations to acquire minimum wage, minimum labour standards and the possibilities of workers pensions were rebuffed by factory owners and the government met any protests/strikes with military action. Protesters who were arrested were often imprisoned, exiled to penal colonies or even executed. At one point there were more British soldiers fighting the war against Luddites then fighting Napoleon.
Many types of handbills were posted offering rewards for the capture of participants of the movement. The resistance movement escalated and in 1812 the death penalty was introduced by The Frame Breaking Act. The most intense activity occurred between 1811 - 1813, activity started to decrease with the rescinding of the Orders in Council(1812), some wage and usage concessions, and some reduction in food prices. Though attacks were still documented until the end of 1816.
This movement brought the rights of workers to the attention of England. People were forced to look more closely at the positive and negative effects of having an industrial society. It also brought about the idea that technology is never neutral and some can even be harmful. Karl Marx in 1867 noted that it would be some time before workers were able to distinguish between the machines and the form of society which utilizes these "instruments" and their ideas. The era of the Industrial Revolution and the Luddite Movement are still pertinent to today's society and can help us understand our diverse reactions to technology today.