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Nerikomi Mugs, Plates & Art

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After months of “research” (watching videos and saving posts) I finally decided to just try it. I bought four colors of mason stain, carefully mixed them in my garage, and made my first mug. For future reference here’s what I used:

  • MA6600 – Best Black
  • MA6471 – Old Gold
  • MA6126 – Hazelnut Brown
  • MA6109 – Deep Brown

I mixed 5% of the wet clay body’s weight of stain into 3 lbs of clay. I chose 3 lbs because it felt like a manageable wedging amount. After mixing the black, I decided to bump it up to 10% for a more saturated color. White porcelain is generally recommended for mason stains, but Clay Art Center’s BC 6 fires to a creamy white and I was curious if it’d work. It’s also recommended to use the dry clay body’s weight, but I didn’t want to introduce more dust into this process.

This technique uses small balls of clay that are kinda pinched together and shaped. The handle is made with a “log” of balls and attached before trimming. The piece is then slowly dried to leather hard and trimmed inside and out. I learned the ball technique from here and here. Once bone dry, I used a sanding sponge to smooth everything out and crisp up the lines.

I also used the ball technique to make a small plate.

Once the first mug had survived the bisque, I felt ready to spend a little more time playing with patterns. I layered deep brown and unstained clay slabs to created these zebra lines.

You can be really ordered and precise with this process, but I actually really like not knowing how shapes will turn out when I’m a little sloppy. So many fun surprises happen when I just let go.

These plate forms were perfect for these slab experiments.

Nerikomi produces a lot of waste, so I wanted to try using leftovers to create a wall hanging similar to these beautiful things. I also tried making flowers, but there’s not enough contrast between the gray background and hazelnut brown petals. Some of the leftovers were really dry, so I really hope this thing stays together.

I haven’t glazed anything yet (only three things are bisqued), but I’m planning to use Mayco’s Stoneware Clear (fired to cone 6). One of the mason stains recommends using zinc glaze for best results. Fingers are crossed!

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Updated Sewing Machine Covers

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I decided to remake my sewing machine covers (here and here) for a couple of reasons. First, my serger didn’t have its own cover. Second, the current covers don’t fit well when the tables are on, meaning they either look silly or the tables are off and in the way. Third, I wanted them to all kind of coodinate, so I planned on using the same leftover bias tape for the piping for a through-line. And fourth, I had so much leftover canvas in my stash that needed to be used.

Serger Cover

Screen printing
Constructing

The first cover I made was for my serger since the plastic one it came with was just sad. I hadn’t played with surface design in years but inspiration hit and I pulled out this old screen and just went for it. I used the free Closet Core patterns so I wouldn’t need to draft anything. I like how they have rounded edges, piping for some structure, and the sewing machine pattern has pockets, which would solve the issue of where to store the tables. I followed the instructions for the first cover, but the piping running all the way down the hem makes it really bulky so on all the others I ended the piping right before the hem line. I also added a pocket to the back since my serger has a detachable table.

B 530 Cover

Old cover

After the successful serger cover, I decided to work on the one for my secondary sewing machine. Since the images in the CC tutorial showed the same machine as mine, I wrongly assumed I wouldn’t need to make any pattern adjustments. So without testing, I block printed the same design as the original cover and started assembling. I omitted the second pocket thinking that the free arm and table could just fit in the front pocket.

It came together quickly but the table did not fit in the pocket. Thankfully, it’s stretched out over the past couple weeks and now is just a very snug fit. But this didn’t happen before I made three frustrating mock-ups trying to find the right size before re-printing new fabric. A second pocket was added to balance out the weight of stored items.

Coverstitch Cover

After making the serger cover, I was able to check the fit of it on my coverstitch machine. The L-220 is a little smaller than the L-460, but the cover seemed to fit just fine. At this point, assembly was super fast, even with block printing, and there was no need for a pocket on this one.

Old cover.

This design is one of my favorites. It’s made up of four blocks and is really fun to print.

B 770 Cover

Then I hit a wall. I had used all the surface designs I’d already made into blocks (or screens), plus I’d need to adjust the pattern to fit the 770’s honker size. I made a few mockups and then decided that it would be easy enough to just shave off some length and re-attach a side if necessary. After flipping through an old sketchbook, I decided on a very simple square design. I opted to not print the main pattern piece since there wasn’t an easy way to ensure the surface design would line up neatly.

Old cover.

This one isn’t fully finished yet. The canvas seems like it’s growing, so I’m going to wait to finish the seam allowances and hem.

I’m really happy I decided to tackle this project. The covers look great, they coordinate well with the room, and I used up a lot of materials.

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May Update (plus some other months)

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It’s been a minute. I’ve still been making, but sharing feels kinda weird. Here’s some stuff that I’ve been busying my hands and mind with…

New Zealand Possum Scarf

A person holding a knitted swatch in olive green yarn, seated on a wooden surface with a patterned fabric in the background.
Close-up of knitted pieces in progress using olive green possum yarn on a patterned blanket.

While in New Zealand in March, I bought this possum yarn in the most perfect color. If you want to learn what the hell possum yarn is, here’s a pretty thorough blog post.

Graphite Ingrid Top

A person with curly hair smiles while sitting on a couch, gently petting a small, shaggy dog beside them.
A knitted black top with a textured pattern laid on a colorful patterned surface.
A close-up of a knitted top in progress, draped over a couch, next to a blue bag and knitting needles.

I finally finished this knitted top. Good grief, this pattern. You can read more about why it was such a slog to finish it here. Some additional notes on this pattern are that I redid the neckline picking up every 2 out of 3 sts instead of as instructed and used a different cast off method for both the neckline and hem. The first neckline attempt flipped out at the back and the thought of having to sew the entire hem this way made me want to light it on fire. I used a stretchy knit bind-off method from an Ozetta pattern instead.

Some Ceramics

A handmade ceramic mug with a textured, brown and yellow glaze, sitting on a wooden shelf among other pottery and colored pencils.
A green ceramic pot holding various art supplies like pencils and markers, placed next to other decorative pots on a wooden shelf.
A bowl of granola with milk sits on a green table next to a cup of coffee, with a stack of books in the background.
A close-up of a textured orange ceramic mug held in a hand, with a patterned cushion and a colorful blanket in the background.
A handmade green ceramic mug filled with tea or coffee, sitting on a textured teal surface beside a patterned cushion.

I think I’m finally finding a rhythm at the pottery studio. I’ve made several mugs, pots, and bowls, all while using new-to-me clay bodies and paint-on glazes. I even made my first nerikomi project.

A pottery workspace featuring a wooden table with various clay materials, a bowl of black clay, a sketchbook with floral designs, and a digital scale.
A workspace featuring a small bowl made of grey clay filled with black powder, accompanied by a jar of liquid and a dropper, with additional clay objects in the background.
Four different colored clay pieces on a wooden table with various pottery tools and materials in the background.

The studio I’m a member at doesn’t allow dry media like mason stains, so I had to do this in my garage with a respirator on. It was messy, but I’m definitely getting better at wedging!

A handmade ceramic mug with a patterned design, resting on a wooden surface beside a yellow sponge and tools for pottery, with plastic wrap in the background.

I’m really hoping this little nerikomi mug stays together as it dries. I also need to figure out how to clean it up a bit. The clay was really wet, so some of the black clay created a film on the unstained parts. This process was slow, but I’m really excited to explore this technique more!

I’ve been sewing a little too, but nothing is photographed 🙂

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Are vintage sewing tools better?

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I’ve had this set of Dritz pressing tools for close to a decade now. They’re fine – they make pressing things easier for sure, but they aren’t pretty, they’ve developed some hollows, and I’m pretty sure the plaid side is a pilling polyester blend (just looked it up and, yes it is).

After perusing Etsy and Ebay for vintage hams and sleeve rolls, I finally bought one of each and was pretty surprised when they showed up.

Firstly, the shape and size are different. These old things are significantly larger and rounder than their newer versions.

Secondly, they weigh more. They are super packed with filling and even at their age, show no hollows.

Thirdly, the materials seem to be of higher quality. The woolen side especially, feels like it’s made of all natural materials. There’s no pilling either.

And lastly, they just look nicer. I think if the newer versions were heftier and made from better materials, the appearance wouldn’t irk me as much, but now that I’ve seen what Dritz used to offer, they just look cheap.

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February Update

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Things feel dark as fuck, but I’m still making shit. I hope you are too.

A very stained shirt.

After years of flawless use, my go-to washable marker let me down. On a white shirt, no less. I also used the shittiest interfacing I have in my stash and it has not held up to the numerous stain remover and bleach baths this shirt has been subjected to.

It’s the Closet Core Jenna. It was worked on over a few months and I plan to make a light-ish weight denim version soon. I learned how to do the burrito method on cuffs and waistbands when I was taking patternmaking classes in Oakland, CA but had never tried it on a collar before. IT WORKS SO WELL!

My one pain point in the construction was hem gusset. There’s no way to stitch it down neatly. The white fabric is a little sheer, so there was no hiding that it doesn’t quite line up with the shirt hem. I took them off and I’m kinda mad about it.

A very big bag.

I’ve been toting a lot of things back and forth from the office. Several paper bags have ripped on me, so I made this huge tote out of this really fun Japanese fabric my husband bought me a few years ago. I added a lining too.

A very lumpy mug.

Who doesn’t want to press their lips against ceramic lumps? I’m not sure why I went with this texture, but I did. It kinda reminds me of a corn cob.

And another brown sweater.

I like what I like. Finally joined the fronts and back together – there’s only 7″ inches before I can start the ribbing.

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Vertical Storage & Display

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I just finished turning these plywood shelves into these smaller wall shelves. Since selling my big IKEA mega desk, the plywood’s just been sitting around, waiting to be useful again.

Initially, I planned to have three shelves above this table, but the sloped ceiling had other plans. But two shelves is better than none, especially since they now prominently display some of my favorite ceramics I made last year. Prior to shelf life, they were all kinda cluttered together and invisible.

The third shelf found a home above one of my sewing tables and is providing much needed storage space for my ball winder and new (but very old) swift. The art display is still being figured out over here.

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Last week in making.

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In an attempt to be productive while dissociating, I am prioritizing daily creative acts. And I’m going to try to document some of it too. Last week felt especially creative, so here’s what I did.

Fine Things Community Pottery Studio

I joined a brand new studio and successfully threw two pots! I feel really nervous not having the traditional support of a class, but I’m excited to explore some ideas outside of the scope of local classes. Here are the things I’m planning to work on:

  • Nerikomi patterned pieces (this technique excites me so much)
  • Tiles for my fireplace renovation
  • Chess set for my husband
  • Hand-built plates using MDF forms I eventually make
  • A tabletop lamp?

Painting Workshop

I attended a really lovely painting workshop taught by Allie Yacina at Happy Anyway. I am obsessed with sketchbook artwork and Allie has an incredible practice, some of which is currently on display at the shop. The morning consisted of creating color swatches using a primary palette, thumbnail sketches of a still life, and then a final painting. I left so inspired, I spent way too much money at the art store. Acrylic gouache is a fun medium and I learned just how creamy Caran d’Ache pencils are.

Cast on a New Sweater

Portuguese practice.

In additional to just starting the Port Jacket, I learned the Portuguese knitting style. I wanted to try this method out because I read it can reduce hand pain and give you better purling tension. I’m not getting amazing results doing German short rows with this knitting style, but I’m hopeful it’ll get better with practice.

Shirt Sewing + A Weird New Shelf

And lastly, I made a lot of progress on this button up. All that’s left are the cuffs and buttonholes. I also bought and installed this so-hideous-it’s-kinda-cute towel rack that I’ve had my eyes on for months. I wanted something on the wall here where I could hang works in progress and in-use patterns. I also moved my small “design board” over to this wall too. It’s way easier to access now that it’s not behind a table. You can see I have quite a few outerwear projects planned!

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Feeling ALIVE!

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I had no idea how much health issues had slowed down my desire to play around with materials and make stuff. But now that my thyroid medication seems to be at the right dose and I no longer have a uterus (thanks to fibroids), I’m BACK BABY.

It’s really exciting to feel like I’m actually awake during the day now. And I want to celebrate my newfound productivity by cataloging my recent makes. First up, I just added the binding to this wall hanging I made years ago.

I refinished this “gentleman’s cabinet” which you can read more about here and here.

This thrifted stool got a much comfier seat. The rope basket turned cushion cover was already made, but I added the fabric and drawstring bit to keep everything in place. There’s now 2″ of foam too since the plywood was much too hard of a seat. I finished this project by splattering some acrylic paint on it because why not?

I’ve actually been finishing some sewing projects outside of work! I made a dress out of fabric that’s been in my stash for YEARS, a quilt coat with fun yarn ties, several new machine covers (also using old stash fabric), these amazing mellow yellow Cloud Sweatpants, some basic tees, and I batch cut out like ten more projects. I’m planning to share more about some of these makes in upcoming posts.

I finished two sweaters in December and started playing around with duplicate stitch.

I got out my tufting gun and was a total beginner again. This process is so challenging and I hate not being in control, but I’m willing to keep going! The ultimate goal is to make little rugs for all the steps leading upstairs for Otis.

And I’m trying super hard to reestablish my logbook practice. In 2018, I captured a trip in one of these sketchbooks and I’ve missed so many travel adventures since. This practice is one of my proudest accomplishments and I’m determined to pick it back up.

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Hysterectomy Recovery Project

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As I mentioned here, I had an almost overwhelming amount of knit WIPs. My goal was to finish at least two of them before the year ended, and I did! One of them was this sweater that I started about 3 weeks post-op.

PATTERN: Seaway Pullover by Ozetta

YARN: Purl Soho Linen Quill, colorway Baked Earth (discontinued)

SIZE: M

NEEDLES: US 7 needles for the body and US 6 needles for the rib

The pattern calls for a DK weight, but I had this worsted yarn in my stash that I thought would look really good with these understated cables. It’s such a pretty color and the drape is lovely. I’m kinda shocked it was discontinued.

I have some tension issues on the right front that was knitted flat. My purl rows were a little loose for some reason. Maybe I can blame it on the surgery? Thankfully I feel like it’s only really visible in photos. I’m pretty pleased with this sweater and learned that cables are quite easy.

I had a lot more yarn than the pattern called for, so I decided to make it a turleneck. I still have one whole skein leftover that I’m pondering how to use.