Recycling glass for bead making and fusing is all the rage. There are so many beautful bottles out there that are luscious color wise. I recently used a Pelligrino bottle for both a small decorative plate and some lovely glass beads. In the past I would cut strips from the bottle to make beads but that wasn’t always reliable since sometimes the bottle didn’t cut well and I found myself trying to make beads with chunks. Not fun. So I thought…why not put the broken bottle in a pot and pull it into rods from the vitrigraph kiln. It worked so well that I plan on making rods with every bottle I get my hands on…always remember though, your bottles will probably not be compatible with each other. Keep it all separate…when you melt the glass, make the beads or fuse it. Check out some vitrigraph in action with Leigh and Larr…
Have you read?
The Journey Hat – Where Wild Horses and Wool Meet – Knitting Pattern
I honestly fell in love with this Journey Hat the moment I saw those wild horses galloping across it—it just spoke to something in me. As someone who knits a lot (and I mean a lot), this pattern was a refreshing change of pace. It’s beautifully designed and incredibly clear to follow. You can tell it’s been thoughtfully written.
I used a mix of natural wool tones with a soft charcoal for the horse silhouette, and the final result? Magical. The colorwork is rhythmic and satisfying once you find your groove. I wouldn’t call it beginner-easy, but if you’ve done some stranded knitting before, you’ll be absolutely fine—and the payoff is so worth it.
It knit up quicker than I expected, and the finished hat has a lovely, sturdy-yet-soft feel. It made a gorgeous gift for my horse-loving teen (though I’m secretly making another for myself!).
If you’re after a meaningful, eye-catching knit that’s a little different from your usual fair isle, this is the one. Highly recommend for any horse lover out there. Makes a great gift too and dare I say Christmas is not that far away.