Saturday, April 28, 2012

Pearl Beads


I’ve started the Brine Fly Headband just in time to see the real brine flies at the lake. Although the pink test headband I did was beautiful, I am not really a pink person. I like neutrals better so this headband appeals to me much more. I was able to finally get the pearl beads on the yarn. It just took some creative thinning of the yarn end.




I hope to have the pattern done soon as well. It shouldn’t be too hard because it is quite small. I am going out of town for work which means nights without children and the possibility of uninterrupted knitting. 

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Brine Fly Headband Test Run


I decided to do a test run with some leftover yarn I had and some random beads. It turned out even better than I thought. I love how the beads appear random on a more structured lace net.




Now that I see the headband and the beads I think I need to figure out a way to use the pearl beads instead of the hematite. The hematite is a little too large and too regular. I wonder if sewing beads on would be a nightmare…

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Reworked Headband

In trying to sketch out the lace for the Brine Fly Headband, I reworked my idea slightly to have a button at the back instead of ties.



I then started drafting my pattern with an open lacework and beads placed throughout. I am going to have to use the hematite beads, which I don’t like as much, but I just couldn’t make the pearl beads work. I think I may try to dremel out the hole a little larger and see if it works, but the thought of drilling 200 beads seems daunting.



Monday, April 9, 2012

Brine Fly Yarn

I bought some yarn that is gorgeous. It is purple/black and will make a great soft headband. Malabrigo 100% merino fingering yarn in eggplant.



I also bought some baroque seed pearl beads and although I love them, I think they are too small so I also bought some hematite beads. I will test them both. But I do like the pearl beads more.


Sunday, April 8, 2012

Headband


What about a headband? The brine flies I discussed in my last post always seem to stick in my hair so why not make a brine fly headband that a) keeps my hair our of my face and under control, and b) mimics brine flies in my hair!

I made a quick sketch in my notebook of what I am thinking:



I would love to use some hand-dyed black/gray yarn and do a lace pattern with some black pearl beads. The pearl beads are beautiful and remind me of the flies but I am not sure if the hole will be big enough for yarn to go through. I will have to experiment. 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Brine Flies

Yes, brine flies. I am inspired by these annoying little things because they are such a part of the Lake. I have seen them, been annoyed by them, and kind of repulsed by them, but I really know nothing about brine flies.

When you go to the Great Salt Lake in spring or summer you are inundated by the number of flies on the shore, like big black clouds floating just off the ground. Here is an image so you can get the idea.



After a little research, I see now that they are very important to the Lake’s ecosystem. The flies support all the shorebirds along the lake and inlets. There are three or more species in the lake: Ephydra cinerea is the most prevalent. The Weber State University Website explains their life cycle:

“The adult flies have an average life span of 3-5 days. Eggs are laid continuously through the summer at the surface of the water. The eggs hatch quickly into larvae which graze on the algal and bacterial community on the bottom, on rocks, or on logs. The larvae receive all their oxygen from algal photosynthesis. When the larvae develop into pupae the adult features develop rapidly and the pupae trap air bubbles which cause them to float and be transported to the shore by the wind, hence the enormous windrows of pupae on shore. “




What’s not to be inspired by?