Christopher M. Ochs Arts & Crafts

10/08/2026

My new "Northern Lights" handspun and hand-crocheted scarf/shawlette is now listed in the shop: https://www.christophermochs.com/product/24473530/northern-lights-handspun-and-hand-crocheted-scarf-shawlette

After years of admiring other fibre artists' scalene triangle shawls, I set to crocheting my first. Having missed Tunisian crochet, I used the Tunisian simple stitch before I begin exploring other Tunisian crochet patterns.

This shape of triangular scarf is versatile in that it can also be worn as a shawlette to warm your shoulders or used as a shoulder accent with asymmetrical drape to complete an outfit. The handspun Merino wool/silk blend and density of the Tunisian simple stitch makes this a warm garment, even for its size.

Stay tuned for updates on scarves and shawls I have in progress and look forward to listing throughout autumn! 😊

"Northern Lights" handspun and hand-crocheted scarf.  Tunisian simple stitch. Approximately 4' across at top, 20" high; 60% Merino wool, 40% Mulberry Silk.Photos (c) Christopher M. OchsCLEANING: Hand-soak in a solution of warm water and gentle liquid soap (e.g., Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile....

08/26/2026

As the wheel turns closer to autumn, I’ve been getting more and more excited for cooler weather and all the fibery, woolly projects yet to be made (and to finish 😂).

Lately, I’ve had the crochet bug and am working on a couple of new pieces, one out of commercial woollens and the other out of my own handspun from a Merino and silk blend.

I also took inventory of all of my raw fleeces this year and it’s safe to say I would be hand-processing twice my lifetime over if I stayed that course. 🤭 So, I was recently informed of Wool for the People (woolforthepeople.com) where I sent a four-pound Gotland fleece. Gotland is among my favourite fibres for the rich, lustrous drape it gives to garments made from it. Once returned in roving form, I’ll send the next fleece. 😁

As I bind off on works in progress, I will have a line of new handmade pieces to list in my shop (www.christophermochs.com/shop), so do check back for more unique wearables, or browse what’s currently in stock for yourself or gifts for others! 😊

02/24/2026

My new "Feast of Starlight" handwoven scarf is now listed in the shop: https://www.christophermochs.com/product/22231274/feast-of-starlight-handwoven-scarf

To counter all the heaviness in the world, I've done my best to find and welcome whimsy into my life, including rewatching The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. This has also lately influenced my fibre artwork.

When I was selecting the yarns for the warp in this piece, there were enough bursts of silver and shimmer in the ribbon yarn that I was reminded of starlight--"It is memory, precious and pure"--hence, "Feast of Starlight".

I'm also excited to offer this piece ahead of a much larger shawl being woven out of the same yarns in the warp, only the shawl will have a different weft yarn. I will provide updates on that piece as it progresses. 😊

"Feast of Starlight" handwoven scarf. Plain weave pattern.Approximately 9', 3" long (including length of fringe on each end), 7" wide; 50% synthetic warp; 50% synthetic weft.Photos (c) Christopher M. OchsCLEANING: Hand-soak in a solution of warm water and gentle liquid soap (e.g., Dr. Bronner's...

02/24/2026

Here is a sneak peek of my latest handwoven scarf. With all the cool tones and ✨sparkles✨ in this piece, I’m waiting for the daylight to take listing photos.

02/19/2026

While warping a larger piece on my 32” Kromski Harp loom, I decided to warp up my 16” Harp for a quick scarf project. I haven’t been weaving in many months and wanted to get back to it while I also continue with slower crochet and knitting projects. There’s always something in the works! 😁

02/03/2026

My new "Homesteader" hand-crocheted shawl is now listed in the shop: https://www.christophermochs.com/product/21952582/homesteader-hand-crocheted-shawl

After sixteen years of being a crocheter, this is my *FIRST* crocheted triangular shawl! 🥳 Up to this point, I had always preferred making rectangular shawls/throws/wraps, but I admired the elegant look of crocheted triangular shawls. After re-watching the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman series, I was also inspired by the many patterns seen in crocheted shawls worn in the show.

I find that crocheted shawls look best with big, fluffy tassels. I literally could have crocheted this shawl twice over in the time it took to create the tassels (i.e., carefully measuring each strand cut, tying the ends with overhand knots to prevent fraying, and grouping together before tying off), but it's a labour of love that I think helps give a crocheted triangular shawl a classic look.

Though I've knitted plenty of triangular shawls and tend to consider myself more of a knitter, I've always loved how much faster crochet goes. While completing the "Homesteader" shawl, I went down a rabbit hole of crocheting two other triangular shawls in different patterns. It's safe to say my knitting and crochet might now be competing with one another. 😏

Stay tuned for updates on my second crocheted triangular shawl in blues. It's currently being adorned with tassels while I'm hooking the last rows on a third shawl in variegated blues and purples. 😊

"Homesteader" hand-crocheted shawl.  Mix of Granny and double crochet patterns.Approximately 8', 3" across at top, 4', 6" high (including length of tassels); 100% wool.Photos (c) Christopher M. OchsCLEANING: Hand-soak in a solution of warm water and gentle liquid soap (e.g., Dr. Bronner's Pure-...

02/02/2026

My latest “Homesteader” crocheted shawl is nearly complete and will be ready for listing soon! After that, the blue one behind it is next! And there’s a third one on the hook after that!

Personally, I think thick tassels help make a shawl a dazzling, whimsical piece of couture. They may take longer than the actual crocheting of the shawl itself 😂, but are 💯 worth all the effort.

As of today, there are eighteen tassels to go! I will share the listing for the “Homesteader” shawl from my shop when ready. 😊

01/23/2026

Little rearrange in the fibre art studio today. I think Mowgli approves. 😸

01/14/2026

My new "Icelandic Highlands" handspun and hand-crocheted scarf is now listed in the shop:

https://www.christophermochs.com/product/21700548/icelandic-highlands-handspun-and-hand-crochet-scarf

This latest handspun work of mine comes off a productive holiday season of knitting and crochet. I made an enthusiastic return to crocheting last autumn and, with that, I decided to revisit some of my favourite crochet patterns.

Using my own handspun Icelandic wool and alpaca yarn I sourced as roving from the local Compass Rose Farms (https://compassrosefarms.org/), I wanted this material to serve best as a warm fabric in the form of the thick crochet trinity stitch. It has an ornate starry appearance and helps to highlight the handspun texture of the natural fibre while feeling soft to the skin.

"Icelandic Highlands" handspun and hand-crocheted scarf.  Trinity pattern.Approximately 7', 6" long, 5.5" wide; 80% Icelandic wool, 20%Photos (c) Christopher M. OchsCLEANING: Hand-soak in a solution of warm water and gentle liquid soap (e.g., Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap, Eucalan, Soak)...

12/28/2025

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays with loved ones, or perhaps content in your own quiet space to work on a creative project. 😊

The holidays, for me, should always include some down time to relax, rest, and reflect, even if keeping one’s hands busy with something creative between holiday activities. There’s nothing holier than honouring your own creative calling.

I managed to do plenty of busying my hands with yarn. Unlike my beanie/hat knit-a-thon I did over Thanksgiving, I changed things up for Christmas by revisiting my fibre artist origins as a crocheter. I began crocheting fifteen years ago, self-taught by way of YouTube tutorials. However, a decade and a half later, I’m still learning to do new things with a crochet hook.

After all the triangular shawls I’ve made as a knitter, I realised I had never crocheted one. I had always admired the look of elegant crocheted shawls, especially after all those seen in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. So, I took to YouTube once again and was soon well on my way with one pattern, then another. Below are sneak peeks of shawls I'll soon be listing in the shop.

Before going down the rabbit hole of crocheted triangular shawls, I finished a scarf out of my handspun Icelandic/Alpaca yarn in a crocheted trinity pattern I've used before and loved for its texture and the thick fabric it creates. Below is also a sneak peek of the finished product before I list it in the shop.