Crochet My Shadow with Upcycled Paper Yarn
October 16, 2009 by Noreen Crone-Findlay
Filed under crochet, eco projects & green projects & recycling craft, spinning
I love taking photographs of shadows.
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I find the distortion and playfulness
of shadow images to be endlessly fascinating.
For a long time,
I have been
contemplating
designing
a series of
scarves that
are crocheted
shadows.
I have been posting for days now about spinning the streamers from the Blue Man show.
I wove a Unicorn with the first of the upcycled paper yarn, then a Fairy doll, then a basket.
As I came to the end of the paper yarn, I realized that I just had to do something very special with the yarn.
When I flipped my sketchbook open to start some new drawings, I saw sketches and notes that I have made about shadows, and
VOILA! I knew what I would use the last of the Blue Man streamers for: I would crochet my shadow!
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I realized that I
didn’t have
enough
paper yarn to
complete a
full crocheted
‘Shadow Scarf’.
So, I dug out a
crepe paper streamer
that I had bought at
a garage sale this
summer. I had been
planning on experimenting
with spinning it, so this seemed perfect.
But, blech! It was awful to spin on the spinning wheel! So, I grabbed my Navaho spindle and:
So, eventually, I had enough upcycled handspun paper yarn to finish the Shadow Scarf.
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I LOVE IT!
Here’s
‘Patient Zillah’
my upcycled
cardboard Mannequin,
modelling it
for me.
Doesn’t she look
fetching?
LOL! Patient Zillah
is kind of related to
the upcycled paper yarn
scarf!
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
They both began their lives as trees,
and are now living
quite different lives as guests in my studio!
If someone had told me
that going to see
the Blue Man show
would have triggered
such an explosion of
creativity for me,
I would have been amazed.
Well, okay, no I wouldn’t.
But, anyhow, I am pleased
as can be with all the deliciousness
that I have had with upcycling the streamers from the show.
And now, I can play with my shadow anytime I want to, whether the sun is shining or not. Peter Pan would be jealous!
The Shadow Scarf is an original design by Noreen Crone-Findlay and is copyright protected.
Hi Noreen, the unicorn and the fairy were very cute but WOW That scarf is awsome! what a neet idea! you do have to look at it for a second but you can tell what it is, I would love to hear what responces you get when you wear it (you) out. Fun Thanks Carolee
I enjoyed the spinning and love the Shadow Scarf–You are always an insperation!! Kathie
Oh thank you so much, Kathie!
Hi Carolee
I can imagine that some people will think that the Shadow Scarf is mighty odd, and others will like it.
The paper version is the prototype, and I am working on another one now that has adjustments and refinements….. keeping my fingers crossed that it works out well! I have lots of ideas for this design!
Absolutely love the Shadow Scarf. What a wonderful idea! (I’m never surprised by you having a wonderful idea, just shake my head in amazement)
Hi Jorel
Thank you thank you thank you! Still working on streamlining the design, but I am loving it, and have lots of ideas with how I will be developing it.