Remember that farm play mat from Living Crafts?

[feminist~mama]

Hi mamas! I participated in a co-op that made the farm mat featured in Living Crafts a couple years ago and would love to make another mat! I gave my first mat to my SIL last year, and now I'm pregnant and need my own! Is anyone interested in doing this with me? Ideally we’d have 12 participants and everyone would make 1 square 12 times. We’d all ship to the organizer and then the packages would be divided up and shipped back! Then you assemble, play with the layout, make some roads, etc.

The last group I did this with had a few hiccups of course, but I loved the way my mat turned out in the end!

So- who is interested??

Oh, and just to mention it ahead of time, we used Knit Picks yarn and I think that I ended up spending at least $50 on yarn, plus we all spent at least $15 on shipping I think. But it’s a fabulous play mat and really an heirloom type piece in the end! So totally worth it in my opinion (Plus I’ve long since stopped attempting to worry about the cost of yarn, lol. I remember when I started knitting and added up the cost of a felted bag project and realized that I likely wouldn’t spend that much for a bag! So I stopped thinking about it and just didn’t add up the cost after that!)

List of participants:
1. feminist~mama
2. railyuh
3. cristeen
4. MamaDona
5. moon mountain mama
6. MoreThanApplesauce
7. PNWmama
8. Malva
9. monkeybuttbabies
10. feminist~mama's co-worker
11. dorayme
12. quester


Waitlist:

[IntuitiveJamie]

Are crocheters allowed in too?
I do not have a copy of that magazine. Do you have a link? Off to google it in the meantime.

[feminist~mama]

Linking: Right here!

As for crochet- I don't really know. The directions are for knitting, I'm not sure if it could be adapted or not...

Are you on Ravelry? I'm feministmama on Ravelry, I have pictures on my project page!

[railyuh]

I love that playmat and have wanted to make one but didn't want to do all the different squares myself. I'd definitely be interested in doing this. Do you have a general time frame in mind? I'd just like to have an idea of how long I'd have to complete the project before committing

I'm railyuh on ravelry.

[feminist~mama]

I don't really- but I did feel that we gave ourselves way too long last time. It seemed like it contributed to folks not getting started forever! I think it actually took me maybe a month at the most to make all of my squares- they really aren't complicated! So time to get yarn (even if we don't use Knit Picks I'll almost certainly have to order it), plus knitting time... maybe 3 months??

[Aeress]

Interesting...I may be in...
I did a mix of needle felting and knitting to make my dd a play mat.

[cristeen]

I'm def interested!

[kennedy444]

Just wanted to add, I was part of that original group and LOVE the playmat. It was a great project and if everyone is committed, everyone will be happy with the end result. I agree with OP that the time frame should be shorter. If you remember too, we started a yahoo group to communicate through, show pics, discuss yarns, etc....

Have fun!

[railyuh]

I'm in, 3 months sounds good

[MamaDona]

Me, too, please. I think a 2 month timeframe after yarn arrival might work.

[feminist~mama]

Yay! I'm so excited people want to do this again!

[moon mountain mama]

I would love to do this, I may be in also. How big is each square? I will probably have to order a back order of living crafts to get instructions.
Crochet? If you get the gauge right and match the yarn and needle you should be able to do it. I am better at crochet than knit myself and when I want to get somehting done fast I crochet, it might take a little problem solving though.

[Artichokie]

I would love to participate, but while i am a proficient knitter, I have never felted.

i am notetojenn on rav.

[PNWmama]

I'm up for it. I think three months would be doable for me since I have no gift knitting to do. Plus, it would be a great way to get a xmas gift done for the kiddos way in advance!

I'm thelittlenest on Ravelry

[Malva]

I would love to participate!

I bought that issue of Living Crafts a couple years ago hoping to one day make it.

A Rav group for participants may be better that a Yahoo Group if we need to take the discussion elsewhere (I hope this isn't against the UA, please just delete if it is).

[feminist~mama]

Each square is 10x12 if I remember correctly. They were knit on 11's (2 squares were on 10's or 10.5's) and they were all knit with the yarn held doubled.

If you don't have the issue, you would need to order a back issue of it from the magazine website.

Last time we all agreed on colors and ordered yarn from Knit Picks. I don't know if I prefer that or not- I'd personally be fine with everyone using whatever color/brand worsted weight 100% wool (NOT SUPERWASH) yarn they wanted. I don't think that having a horse pasture in a Cascade brown combined with a raised bed in Valley Yarn browns along with a flower meadow in green from Lion Brand would look bad. I'd just really want to make sure that everyone knew what yarn you were using so they could get more if they wanted- especially for the pond square as we'll all likely want to extend the stream to the edge of the mat. Does anyone see a problem with non-cohesive yarn brand usage? I'm also okay with doing another order from Knit Picks or whatever. I just thought it might be nice if mamas (such as myself) who already happen to have a ton of worsted wool that they purchased for another blanket that they will likely never make (ahem) to be able to use what they've got! And there is something to be said for being able to look at yarn in person and decide if it looks "wheat colored" to you, KWIM? A couple people were surprised/disappointed with the yarn they ordered. (I might be less inclined to be supportive of Peace Fleece being used in this project, although they make awesome colors. The twist and texture is somewhat distinctive and I've heard that it doesn't felt as easily as most wool.)

Should we vote on yarn use? And would those who haven't got the magazine please order or borrow the issue?

I have to take my kid to school- more later!

Okay, back with a couple more things:

I'd love for mamas who are on the fence to decide so we can move forward. I'll check in with my co-worker today and update the list.

I don't quite remember why, but we didn't want to keep the general chat about this on MDC last time- something about post counts I think??? Anyway, I really don't care for yahoo groups, the organization of the threads makes me feel insane and frustrated! Lol! I'd be happy to start a group on Ravelry- is everyone a member? Or willing to join?

So to recap, please respond with:

1) Yarn preference- order from one supplier or use whatever brand of feltable, worsted weight yarn you have easy access to?

2) Ravelry group or keep the discussion on MDC?

3) In or out (for those with question marks)?

[MamaDona]

1) Yarn preference- order from one supplier or use whatever brand of feltable, worsted weight yarn you have easy access to?

Either is fine. Maybe a list of approved brands to choose from? Or (in the case of Peace Fleece) un-approved yarns.

2) Ravelry group or keep the discussion on MDC?

I'm Beatriz on Ravelry.

[moon mountain mama]

1). Yarn - I am fine with choosing our own yarn to use. and second the opinion on having a list of approved yarns to use. also, as far as colors go, maybe we can have a general consensus on color theme. Nothing too constraining. My preference would be to keep the colors on the more natural side than bright and unnatural. Except of course to use your own judgement because there are some things that might look nice bright, such as flowers, etc.

2) I'm not on ravelry and I don't know about it, but I'll figure that one out. sounds good.

[PNWmama]

1. I'm fine with using our own yarn choice as well. It will give me a chance to use up some of my stash . I'd also like for there to be a list of "unapproved" yarns, just because some don't felt as well as others.

2. a group on Ravelry is fine with me

[cristeen]

Random yarn choices is fine with me.

I'd rather keep it on MDC - I don't hang out on Ravelry, and will probably miss a lot if it's taken over there.