Funny Farm

Off the loom

2010-02-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

No idea what happened to the text when I hit "edit". I had to change the title of this entry as I've gotten many span comments. I think the word -hot- generated some interesting comments that I didn't think anyone would want to read. I got tired of deleting them so I'm hoping changing the title will help.
Since these photos I've woven 8 more scarves and of course failed to take pictures before going to their recipients. You'll just have to trust me on this. I may have some in-progress pictures in the camera, I'm not certain. I'll have to check.
A friend brought over a rag rug she received 20 years ago. It was falling apart, so I took out the weft, warped the loom and now I'm reweaving it. The weft material is certainly circa '60's........whoosh! My eyes are bleeding. It was also a strange dimension so I'm adding some denim strips to hit the golden mean. I would have preferred a navy but don't have any on hand.
That's my story!

Musings on a winter's afternoon

2010-01-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

My dogs on a cold winter's day, longing for..........

warmer days to come.

Me too!

It has been a long while since last I wrote. So many things have happened and things to come in the near future I'd imagine. I've been away frequently dealing with an ill Mother and eventually moving her into assisted living. It has been very hard on her and she accepted it kicking and screaming. It has not been easy or pleasant. I do hope I grow old being a kinder and gentler person. However, I thought I'd reach this age looking like Katherine Hepburn. I never looked like her to begin with, but a person can dream can't she? I just don't want to grow old being helpless and angry at those who love me and help me. In pondering my way of life, growing as old as my Mother is highly unlikely. Humph!

I finally did finish knitting one sweater during the earlier stages of the Mom Saga. The sleeves are tight which speaks to the change in gauge and state of mind. I think I may have been a wee "uptight". But it's finished, tight sleeves and large neck. It'll make a fine barn sweater. Then I started another sweater, a cardigan in alpaca. I got it started a day or two before one of my flights back out to AZ. It was going well during that particular trip until more Mother drama. It needs to be frogged back. Perhaps even ripped out all together and a fresh new start. Someday.

There are either two or three rugs finished on the loom with the final one, half way to the end. Odd verbiage, but I like that! As usual, my poor camera with fluorescent lighting does not give accurate color, but here is the latest:

So, to my minions, that is my whine. Pass the cheese, please!

Farming and Weaving, a very brief overview!

2009-07-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Luckily, this is not a "scratch and sniff" photo. The girls are growing well for this winter's eating, but they sure do stink! All CornishX do. Chicken *hit doesn't smell good, but eating breed chickens really have an awful odor. Other details "of the why" I will keep to myself!

Bee Balm and Cone Flowers I keep meaning to plant

Mindless wood carvings of the summer.

Rayon scarf

and another rayon scarf! Clever.

I'll be away for a bit. Family issues and I'm flying out to Arizona this Monday. Not the best time of year to visit the State, but if you're in the Phoenix/Peoria area, send me COLD air. I'm going to swelter.

We sent 7 critters off to auction this week. Mr Buck has been retired (sent to auction) and Joey will be the new goat stud. I must get a picture of the studly dude. Whadda guy. Several lambs and kids and one dairy goat (crazy girl) headed out as well. I'm afraid some of the spent hens are due to go soon as well. I've found raising chickens much easier overall. However, the hens did a job on the asparagus and raspberries this summer and Mr Princess is not a Happy Farmer. I keep yelling, "FENCING, YOU MORON"! No, don't like the word either, but how many times must this be reiterated, I ask you? Late Blight has hit the North East and I'm afraid all my the tomato plants must be ripped out. No idea if the potatoes will make it. Note: I had to plant a second crop because the first rotted due to all the rain we've had and continue to have. This is the same blight of the infamous Irish Potato Famine. That's what brought my family over here. I do wonder what it would have been like to have been brought up in Ireland. Brief thought though only, since I probably wouldn't have existed! A fond fondue until I'm back in the Land of Much Rain.

Painted rug warp

2009-07-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

painted rug warp and dyed cotton sheeting for weft

sett 12

strips cut at 2"

hem strips cut at 1"

what colors does Marie like?

More scarf warps

No orange

orange scarf #1

Need to trim the fringe

orange scarf #2

all dyed

2009-06-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

All 8,000 yards are dyed and dried and ready to be wound off onto the spools. Eventually. I'm warping the big loom for a rug as a reward for completing the above task.

I failed to tell of the (almost) dye disaster. I had just enough dye to dye 4,000 yards of each color. I haven't dyed vast quantities on the stove in a long time so it took some sleuth work to find my trusty big pot. Mr. Princess often (always) takes my stuff because I'm fairly organized and it's easier to pilfer from me than for him to go looking for his own stuff. Lord only knows what he used my pot for. Probably seating near the wood stove in the basement. But I found it, washed it up and put it on the stove in the kitchen. I tossed in several cups of salt, some boiling water and 3.7lt of dye stock. Stir, stir, stir. Turned on the heat and began filling up the bucket with water. I added one bucket full and filled up the next. While adding the next bucket I saw dye on the (glass) stove. I grabbed some paper towels and began wiping up. The more I wiped the more dye appeared and suddenly, whosh, a LOT of dye. A hole in the pot! I started bailing dye from the pot BECAUSE I HAVE JUST ENOUGH DYE FOR THE PROJECT! There was no way to calculate how much dye was lost and how diluted it was. After resuming breathing I found a smaller pot, added less water and started again. Luckily all 4,000 yards appear the same purple color. No more disasters and the dyeing is done. Though photos would have been amusing, clean up and dye saving was more important. Lesson: always hold the pot up to the sun and look for holes. Amen and amen.

8,000 yards of chenille

2009-06-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

I pulled this alpaca/silk scarf off the loom several weeks ago. I need to twist the fringe (ugly story) and wet finish it.
As I was cutting the warp off the loom I got distracted and cut about 1/3 shorter than I should have. This should be fun stuff to twist and to knot. Not!

Sorry, but Penelope should have been the final photo. Here she is with one of her 2 kids and a few chicks on her back. She is a conveyance at that moment.

Damn! Blogger won't let me rearrange the photos today.

I've wound off 8,ooo yards of chenille and have dyed 4,000 yards thus far. To the left is a photo from Handwoven, issue 132, of a shadow weave shawl. I'm using this pattern to make a chenille throw, approximately 60x80. It's really more of a blanket.

Here is an overall view, albeit a crappy picture.

These are the colors I am dyeing.

When the dyeing is complete, I'll wind the yardage onto spools. . .

40 freakin' spools, and hope I wind sufficient yardage onto each. My main problem is that my clock reel is not adjustable and I know that the hanks will have shrunk. I'm still unsure of how I will transfer the 200 yard hanks to the spools. Once that is complete, I will check myself into a mental hospital for about five years. Please write.

Spring overdrive

2009-05-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

The table cloth has been off the loom for two weeks. I finally got it washed, hemmed and pressed. Overall I'm pleased. The center fold I'm not pleased with. Unlike wool, cotton is less forgiving. I had trouble finding a rhythm and when I did, I began to fret about the center fold. I can see I should have just woven. Where I thought the weft was too tight would have been just fine after wet finishing. Lessons learned.

At least the inconsistent tension appears to be a design element. Sort'a.

And now we know why it is recommended that there be a color change at the fold....lesson 2 learned!

The first six chicks of the season.

75 more will arrive in early June.

The seedlings are growing in the greenhouse. The garden has been enlarged to 100 x 40 and I'm waiting for the fence to go up so I can get the potatoes, peas, beans and lettuce in. However, Mr Fence Man is in the woods today cutting logs for the 2,000 mushroom plugs he just got. I ask you...priorities? The plugs can wait but my peas can't! They're vining in the greenhouse. My onions will be useless!

PROXIMIDADE

2009-04-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

I received this award from Sharon. Thanks, Sharon! I love getting awards..........passing them on however, can be a bit difficult because my choices have been already honored!

This award is to acknowledge the following qualities: "this blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!"

I can't cut and paste! Got a new mouse and cannot get it to do it's job. Using the control C isn't working either. What a dilemma. I'll have to do this the old fashioned way or just let you find my blogger selections!

My picks are Charleen and Sara!

I'll write more this week if I have the chance. I've found a wee trick in advancing a doubleweave. I've woven perhaps four blankets, in wool, in doubleweave and never had a real problem with the fold. I'm finding it more difficult in cotton. I'm about 2/3 of the way through the warp and now decided to weight the fold. It has helped quite a bit. I didn't use the fishing line. I tried that only once, and though it works, it is too fiddly for me.

I had a difficult time finding the rhythm for this project. I finally did. If I stick with the piece, day after day, which I usually do, I can maintain the rhythm. However, it is planting season and the season of selling lambs and kids. So, I start weaving, the phone rings, make a deal, plant a seed and get back to weaving. Not a good plan.

I know there are some skipped threads, I just hope they are minor. I need to get heavier, longer shuttles. I've added weight by putting heavy nuts on either side of the bobbin, but I think longer would also help in NOT skipping warp threads. One of the three shuttles I'm using has a curved (curved UP!) point in the front and back and often snags the weft. Interestingly, my one heavy and long EFS (which I love) didn't want to cooperate with me for this project.

My blog-less friend Bev drove up from SC and dropped her dogs off while she visits Boston. On the way she stopped at Webs and picked up an order for me and of course, enhanced her stash! She'll drop by Pro-chem on the way back here tomorrow. Webs is having a great sale and I'll soon post a photo of what I ordered!

McGregor, My Dawg

2009-03-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

My dawg, my trusty companion died peacefully yesterday afternoon. He rallied two weeks ago but decided his time had come. I will miss him desperately.

Greg followed me everywhere and was often underfoot. But he loved me and I him. He was my bud.

double weave table cloth

2009-03-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

I finally ordered the weft. That's the good news. The bad news is that Web's only had 2#s of the daffodil in stock in two different dye lots. Okay, plan B. Use all three colors. Bad news: out of the burnt sienna which I have been calling copper. Who knew? So, I order the two different dye lots, and boy-oh-boy are they different, and the green which they call Lizard. So, I'm casting my fate and plowing ahead.

Modified clasped weft rug

unhemmed rug............just using up odds and ends. Bad photo, mediocre rug. Threading error to the left. Hummphhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I see the counting threads are still attached to the right side.

Winter logging and view of Bart's bottom.

Featured?

2009-02-24T20:19:00.000-08:00

Click on postcard to enlarge, or as Marcy would say, "click for big".

Modified Clasp Weft?

2009-02-05T10:36:00.001-08:00

To answer Charleen's question:

I'm calling this a modified clasp weft. When looking through my references, the clasp weft technique involves running the weft back through the same shed. I'm changing sheds. This is adapted (by me) from the Swedish Rag Rugs-35 New Designs (see page 30). I liked the overall look of the 'Rolakan' Rug, but with modification. The weaver of this rug exits both wefts at the same point but does not "clasp" the weft. The weft is not interlocked, but turned back and entered into the same shed. The edges just meet. I tried playing with this on another rug but feared that the weft wouldn't hold up as well. What I have done is clasped the warp, changed the shed and taken the weft back to their original sides. The drawback, if any, is that with the clasping, there are significant bumps, but not uncomfortable to bare feet. Here I've set my warp at 12 epi. The sheeting is cut 2 inches wide. This is not a fast weave.

Weft coming from left and right and exiting at the same point. The green warp thread is down.

The weft from the right (paisley) is brought to the right, crossing the left (merlot) weft.

The shed is changed and the left warp is brought through to the left selvage.

The merlot weft is entered into the same shed and travels right.

You can see the two wefts interlocking.

The wefts are beaten into place.

Look who is coming to dinner!

2009-02-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

One day old, Hooligan

I hope we can keep her alive. Chances are slim. However, she is a feisty gal!

Our newest Funny Farm Resident

January's rug

Which weft, Wanda?

2009-01-25T09:56:00.001-08:00

No, that is not Wanda. This is Joanna. Cowboy Dave found her wet and chilled in the pasture and brought her over for Auntie Re to care for. After three days she is doing well and will return home tonight.

I thought I'd like the bronze as weft but was surprised to find the gold is the better choice.

I can't wait to get the weft and begin weaving.

If the economy would just smile upon me I could get the weft sooner than later.

January on The Farm

2009-01-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

5/2 Mercerized Valley Cotton
Bronze, Gold, Moss Green

Doubleweave
37" in reed (74" off the loom)
32 epi (16 epi per layer)

Marie's tablecloth

I haven't decided on weft color yet. I'm leaning towards the bronze. The warp will sit until Ms. Indecisive can make up her mind.

Pigs in the cellar

Winter - View of the front pond and stream

Backyard

Where is the back pond?

I just started a rug on the Union while I debate the weft for the table cloth. I'm playing with color ideas with the rug, attempting to stretch one prepared weft.

While avoiding knitting the final sleeve on my sweater I've knit about 18 pairs of socks. The handspun stash is finally thinning! Why haven't I finished the sweater? I think it will be a bit too small. I may be able to block it out or I may just have to lose weight. Blocking is easier!

what does this say about us?

2009-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

some food for 2009...........prior to the onslaught of snow and sub-zero temps, thankfully!

Misspelled gift

another gift

Bent Dent

2009-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

...or a dented dent? Not good either way. This is the only 60" reed I have. Luckily it's off to the far side, but when weaving a wide piece, as this tablecloth was, it is a problem.

See?

However, I found I could scoot the warp threads in place.

Finished piece. After a vigorous wash, dry and a heavy ironing, there is no evidence of "scooted" warp threads.

frantic weaving and knitting

2008-12-15T13:31:00.001-08:00

I was commissioned in October to weave a tablecloth that would fit a table 33X83. I made NO promises to have this completed by Christmas, however I received "the" guilt phone call two weeks ago imploring me to have this done in time for Christmas. I respond to guilt.

The loom is threaded 54" wide and will weave to 124". I'm around 90" at this point. The set is 20 and I'm using both 8/2 and Eight-Two. Do these colors look familiar? He saw my table cloth and wanted the same colors. The stripe pattern is different, thankfully.

I'm fortunate that the treadles lock so I can run to one end or the other to catch the shuttle. It's part of the exercise regime, you know.

Here is a photo of nine of the 11 pair I've knit so far. One pair Bob got early because I forgot our anniversary. He forgot too.

The other pair is still on the needles. So I suppose they're not really a pair yet.

Shades of neutral

It is a pity when the cat is larger than the dog.

For Sharon

2008-12-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

Here is what Sharon told me to do:

The directions are:
*Go to your sixth picture folder and pick your sixth picture.

*Pray you remember the details.

*Tag five others.

(please don't hate me)

Dalas, Charlene, Sara, Carol, and someone else please

Double Binding Rag Rugs&Butternut

2008-11-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

That is not an error running through the middle blocks. Interesting how that shows up.

This is a fascinating technique. I used very narrow strips, 1/2" or a bit less. Depending on the treadle pushed one color or the other is dominant on one side or the other. As with my past few rugs, they are thinner, mat-like more than rug-like. I've been reading several English reading Swedish rug books and all call for narrower strips than what I am accustomed to using. However, when reading the poundage of weft called for in their patterns, my rugs don't weigh close to what they call for. One of these days I'm going to follow one of their patterns to the letter and see what is going on. Or not. As the case may be.

This is Butternut....she is named after the creek that runs through the farm. She followed the flock across the creek the other day, and as they do at least once a day. She must have slipped and got carried by the current down stream, then snagged by a branch. Bob found her half frozen, unable to walk. He dragged her to shore and brought her back to the house in the bucket of the skid steer (spell check insists this is two words. I'm not so sure.). I dried her off the best I could and took a very old, very valuable Hudson Bay blanket and covered her up and rubbed her down until my arms ached. A few hours later she stood up. Many lambs and kids live inside this time of year, but never a yearling.

Tear Out My Hair Rugs

2008-11-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Color chips -vs- dye

Clasped rug

colors: blues to lavenders to pink

single weft rags

36" x 72"

set at 8 epi doubled (16 ends/inch)

Detailed view

Same colors but adding a new color as one ran out.

Doubled weft

36" x 70"

Detail

Yellows and greens with Laura Ashley print

36" x 60"

BarnE Cat and his rooster

More on rag rug weft

2008-10-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

other joins:

continuous strip-- cut or tear the fabric warp-wise to about 1/4" from the end of the piece and begin another cut from that side and cut down the fabric in the opposite direction. Round the corners at the ends. The down side is that you get bumps or "ears" where the strip changes direction. This is a similar problem to the slot join

glued strips--join pieces using a glue stick. Overlap the ends 1.5-2". The glue sticks are water based so the joins are not hard or brittle and the glue washes out after the first laundering. I've used this method a number of times. If weaving a day or two after gluing the pieces may come apart when tugging the weft. If allowed to sit over a period of time I've found the joins to be quite strong.

Most join techniques are labor intensive for one reason or another. The only technique that is not as time consuming (other than just placing each unjoined
strip into the shed) is over-laying the strips and zigzagging the end. The only cutting is the thread from one join to the next. Mittering is the most attractive but the seam must be cut. Obviously, if you have a serger this is not an issue. I have no serger.

Reason for ironing strips when folding: only the right side shows. Some prints are much lighter on the wrong side. The wrong side showing on the woven piece can be a nice design element and other times just looks odd. I have read that one can place two pieces right side together in the shed but I haven't tried that yet. Fabric that is not "printed" has the color on both sides such as vat dyed fabric.

I have cut strips then wound them into a roll, right side facing out. Then reach into the center of the roll and pull out the end. The strip will coil, right side facing out, making a tube of sorts, while winding onto the shuttle. This works nicely if the strips were cut and not torn. I have used this technique only when using purchased fabric selveges and not pieced strips.

I have a commission for two large rugs with specific color requests. These are colors I've never played with so I'm testing DOS and blending. I started the "experiments" yesterday afternoon and they're batching. I can see that the ice blue needs to be stronger and the pink needs to be lighter. The lavender seems vibrant enough without being too strong. Each color is being tested for four different percentages of dye. Today I begin another color run for other colors.

Rag Rug Prep

2008-10-25T07:07:00.001-07:00

It takes longer to prepare fabric for weaving than to weave a rug in most cases. I don't have an electric or crank cutter so I either rip the fabric into strips or use a rotary cutter. Some fabric cuts easily using the rotary cutter and other fabrics seem to have a protective barrier, like the old Colgate shield!

Lately I've been weaving with 1/2" strips. No folding involved. But it takes me a day to rip two full sheets into these narrow strips.

One inch strips get folded in half and pressed. Some weavers fold in half and wind the fabric onto a rag shuttle. I've tried this, but find that the strips open up in the shed. I suppose if the strips sat folded for a year they'd stay in place.

Two inch strips go through the bias tape gadget and pressed. Time consuming? You betcha! But the results are stunning. No frayed edges or long pieces of thread peeking out between the warp ends.

I'm weaving the second double binding rug and found I hadn't calculated the weft correctly. The blocks are a patterned white and a navy/dk green plaid. I had no more plaid of significant yardage so I grabbed a blue and white calico print and threw it into the dye pot. The sheet weighed a bit over a pound. A 4% solution of navy was mixed. I found it to be a bit too much on the purple side so added black. Though the dye looked great, next to my plaid strip of dk green and navy it just looked bland. I poured 200 ml of 2% gold into the pot. That did the trick. I left it overnight to batch. I really need to rescue that sheet from the pot, rinse/rinse/rinse, then dry it. Today while watching college ball I'll tear 1/2" strips. God be with me.

Joining strips. Strips 1" and wider get sewn on the sewing machine. I usually miter the join but sometimes I just overlap and zig zag. For the narrow strips I cut a slot at both ends and loop them together. I've learned through trial and error to leave "ear" at each end because the ends lie nicely under the warp. When cut short, or the slot is cut too close to the end (which is what I've been doing, silly me), the end bits stick out. Yeah, the edges could be rounded when cut, but I'm spending enough time with prep work.

Rhinebeck 2009

2008-10-19T20:56:00.001-07:00

Charleen and I spent Saturday with Sara at Rhinebeck for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival. I've never seen it so crowded and it was impossible to shop. I did score 2#s of 5/2 bamboo, but that was it. We ran into Carolyn (now blogless), JR and "T" and ate lunch with them in the bleachers. Boy, do we know how to dine. We saw Pete and Carol and later ran into Deanna (you look mah-vel-ous). Marcy called in sick.
The short one on the right needs to cut her hair. And my, has her hair turned gray. I think I'll tell her to get some color on those tresses.
Of course we stayed at Chez Countrywool and were treated to hamburger soup and peach cobbler. If I tell you what we had for breakfast you'll want to stay there too, so I won't tell you. What I will tell you is that it was wonderful and I ate too much. Thank you Claudia and Jim for being such great people. I wanna go back!

More rugs done

2008-10-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

I've finally woven off all the rugs from the two looms

Nine Rag Rugs

2008-09-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

denim rug

It looks so much nicer in person. Here it looks bumpy with bad selveges. Not so.

love the fabric hem over one created from rug warp

multi-colored warp and black fabric

flannel rug

and a matching flannel rug

denim rug with white denim stripes

taupe sheeting with multi-color warp

rosepath design showing front and back. That's the hem in the center

Black and white warp and black patterned sheeting

another rosepath rug but showing the back. Problem. I was careful to run each fabric strip, face up, in each pick. I was very pleased with the lighter shade on the reverse side of the rug. However, half way through the color changed. I can't figure out why. One one side (up while weaving) the color is consistent. The color shifted on the other side. The fabric is all from the same source and was washed. No idea what happened.

We Didn't Start The Fire

2008-09-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

The Beast

2008-08-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've never named a car, a spinning wheel or any loom until now. I've named her The Beast. I suppose because she is large and I am not.

My first project, looking quite "ethnic", is the Rosepath III from My Favorite Rugs. I'm not crazy about the colors, but they'll do as a test run.

Charleen and I took our annual run up to
WEBS. I didn't spend as much as I usually do but I got to fill in some colors in different weight cottons. I had a nice starter palette in Eight-Two but added some greens this trip. I then went a little crazy with Valley Mercerized Cotton. I bought a lot of 5/2 and a few pounds in 3/2.

As is tradition, we left WEBS and shot down to Countrywool "hotel" and spent the night in Claudia's shop. I bought some lovely rusty/orange wool to make a sweater from one of Claudia's designs. I wonder if it will be ready for Rhinebeck.

There are several rug designs I've been wanting to try. I've also be toying with the idea of a double weave rug. Please shoot me.

treadle assembly for Anne

2008-08-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

closer to the first warp

2008-08-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Many things had to be packed up to make space for the new loom.

Without going into what stayed, what was stored and what was trashed, let me just say it has taken five days.

I'm still not done.

But the Union got to stay after a lot of rearranging.

This is the filthy chimney breast wall...before.

Chimney breast after.
New shelves freshly primed.

Cranbrook from the doorway.

....from the Union

Once the final coat of paint is on the shelves, and it has dried of course, the room can be finished and the Maiden Warp can commence.

Cranbrook question

2008-08-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

Any ideas what these two slots are for? They located above the warp beam on each side. The photos of the Cranbrook don't show anything mounted in the slots. Actually, I can't even see slot in the photo in the ancient pile of assembly directions. I'm curious. Perhaps to hang a pole and dry laundry?

Loom of Doom?

2008-08-05T15:06:00.001-07:00

Beater bar. The table is closed up so measures around 60" wide to give you perspective. Obviously I had none when plunging into this next chapter of my weaving life.

The jacks

The sides and sectional warp beam. The two white tubular pieces are the breast and back beam.

Nestled in the back is the spool rack. Much larger than the one I have. This one holds 52 spools. My other one holds 24.

After a four hour drive up to MA I got to see the loom I had purchased. It's from the early 1980's and was still made by Bexell and Son. I don't recall seeing a foot lever to release the tension, but did see a metal bar on the side mid way up that does this. The original manual mentions a foot release as does current Cranbrook info by Schacht. If anyone reading this has a Cranbrook, has once owned one or is intimately associated with one, please leave your email so I can clarify some issues that may or may not exist!

The big, heavy old desk must be moved out of the loom room and taken upstairs, steep/narrow steps, and put into Bob's office. But of course his office has to be cleaned out first. Then there is the issue of the Union Loom. Where can she go? Upstairs some room can be made, but can we get it up there? My sewing machine, dresser, carder and picker will be moved out. I'm hoping the machine and dresser can return once the loom is up. Before any of this can take place I have to finish weaving the last rug on the Union. That can be accomplished tomorrow, then the chore of all of the above will commence. Anyone wanna come and help? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

Dirt To Dinner and Weaving News

2008-08-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

I put up 35 pints of blueberry jam...............it has been a busy summer.

Today I picked beans, and more beans, and then more. I declared Dirt To Dinner Night.

Venison steaks from the back 40 this past Fall. The end of this meaty goodness!

Dug up a few potatoes. What is a meal without potatoes? Hmmm, Italian?

Yellow squash and lettuce.

The cucumber pairs with the lettuce and the zucchini will be sauteed with the yellow squash.

I'm cutting up weft to try out rug making on the new loom which will be coming home Monday. This coming week is really busy so I don't know if I'll have the chance to set her up.
This is a rug on the Union. Interesting looking.
And a denim rug with another one under it....somewhere.
Mug Rugs, just because.

And that is what I've done this summer................since my last post.

Weaving

2008-06-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

Remember the red star towels that drove me crazy because of the skeleton tie-up? Here is the navy and white using a different threading and tie-up. I only completed two of the five due to the loom sale.

And here are the other three.

The first prototype saddle blanket is off the loom.
On the loom it measured 36x43
Off the loom it measured 31.5x43
After wet finishing: 28.5x38

I attempted some kind of braid-y hemmy finish and didn't like it at all. Too fiddly and the pre-washed wool was unpleasant. I threaded the doubled ends back into the piece.

Another view.

I have a second one on the loom which will be twice the length. It will still end up too narrow but I'm using these as learning tools. I'll have to wait to get the new loom to weave a saddle blanket that will actually end up being 32" wide. The finished blanket should be either 32"x36" or 32x72". Poor me. I can't weave any wider than 36" on this loom. The now gone loom could not have held up under the tension.

It's officially summer

2008-06-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

It's officially summer because I have poison ivy on my face, on one eye lid (now swollen), in my ears, between my fingers, on my hands and one leg. I look and feel like this.

Loom, no loom, soon a loom

2008-06-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

From this

To this

Coming soon!

2008-05-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

I've Been Tagged.
Sharon recently tagged me for a meme and asked me to play, so here goes.

The rules: Posted here at the beginning. The player answers all questions. The player then chooses six people you want to know more about and tags those people by listing their names at the end of the post and going to their blog and leaving a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Also, you let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Pretty much what I'm doing now, except slower. Waz dat, you ask? Weave, sweep the floors, spin, sweep the floors, knit occasionally, sweep the floors, raise farm animals, sweep the floors, muck, sweep the floors.

2. What were five things on my to-do list today (not in any particular order)?
Continue planting in the garden.
Bake schnickerdoodles for Jobe and Shane
Pack up Jobe and Shane's birthday presents and get them into the mail tomorrow. I'm only five days late. The cookies are a mea culpa
Wash my hair
Rinse out the dyed yarn
Continue spinning the white roving for an upcoming project

3. What snacks do I enjoy?
Doritos
Yellow sucky things..............I can't recall the real name.....crunchy/salty goodness
Anything that involves a dip
-
4. Where are some places I've lived?
I was born in Seattle. Shortly thereafter my Father went back into the Army. I moved to Japan when I was 2 or 3 years old. I guess I was 5 when he was stationed at Ft Belvoir, VA. Dad then got orders for Atlanta General Depot. I lived there for perhaps 2 years. Then off to Heidelberg, Germany for 3 years, Orleans France for 2 years and spent one year outside of Harrisburg, PA. We returned to Heidelberg for another 3 years where I graduated from High School. I wanted to stay in Germany and go to the Univ. of MD in Munich, but Dad (wisely?) said no. Back we came to the USA to Ft Monroe, VA. I spent one year in WA State for college, then transferred to NJ. Went to college, got married, raised four children then moved to Elizabeth City, NC for maybe 8 years. Got a divorce. Moved to MD and eventually married Bob, who I had gone to high school with in Germany. I lived in Frederick, MD for maybe 8 years. I now live in south eastern PA in Sterling.

5. What things would I do if I were a billionaire?
Get my loom out of lay-away! Obviously I'd do the build my dream house thing. Nothing ostentatious, but large, bright and airy rooms. A new chicken house would be built as well. I'd pay off my children's bills and give them each a generous sum of money and set up trust funds for the grandchildren. I'd help out friends and family and put the rest in the bank for further consideration. Oh, I'd buy new underwear!

That's why this is called a Meme - it's me, me, me, me....But 'nuff about me. I'd like to hear from: Charleen, Sara, Sylvia, Dalis, Carol and Marcy!

Loom For Sale

2008-05-26T07:57:00.001-07:00

1982 Harrisville floor loom made of maple. 40" weaving width, four shafts/6 treadles. The warp beam can be converted to a sectional beam. Located in north eastern PA. Pick up only unless you have a shipping company in mind and make the arrangements. Email me if you have questions and are interested. Please be interested!
ell eye ell em see see oh why @ gmail.com

Just a thought or ten

2008-05-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what preceded a thought I had yesterday. What drew me to an astounding conclusion. I have never seen anyone but me weave. Everything that I know about weaving is from books, not many, but actually from weaving lists and blogs. And trial and error. Probably a lot of "error".

Then my mind wandered, as it is wont to do, and thought about all the things I have learned on my own. Years ago I taught myself to knit by buying two cheap books from MJ Designs and then discovered the Internet. I asked questions on the "original" knit list. It was still .edu in those halcyon days. I did have one quick spinning lesson, then spent the weekend gnashing my teeth until I had that instant light bulb moment. There have been many things that I have tackled on my own, just because.

I found the loom of my dreams and will pick it up in August. Poor thing is on lay-away. I don't want to jinx this wonderful find, so I'll dish out the details when I finally get it, or if you call me and ask. I have no self control.

Can You Say "Cheese"?

2008-05-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Bob has been milking the cows down the road and has been bringing his work home with him. We're lucky the goats aren't freshened. If they were, I'd be forced to leave home. My house smells like cheese. The cellar smells liked aged cheese, because well, there is aged cheese down there. Stinky! The Gouda is aging for 3 weeks before coating it in wax. The Mantasio dries for a week then Himself smokes it on an open fire. I've found that if you crumble up the dud cheese, and there have been a few, pop it in the microwave for one minute. Instant cheese puffs! Crunchy, cheesy goodness.

More Rug Weaving-redux

2008-05-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

An emerging pattern

more rug weaving

2008-05-13T13:08:00.001-07:00

More about seams

2008-05-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

After washing, drying and ironing, I don't like the seam. I think it would be less noticeable if the seams were solid in color and not painted. I put it on the bed and I think it's really too narrow for my taste. Bob and I are both blanket thieves, so the only one comfortably warm would be the dog who sleeps in the middle. Our Little Birth Control Pill. I will probably use it as a table cloth, but I know every time I sit at the table my eyes will zero in on the seams and I'll hate it. Anyone who walks into the dining room will be regaled with stories of how hard I tried to do a better job and how many different techniques I experimented with. These people will have me committed. I'll be happier "away" because I won't have to see the damned seams.
This yardage of 8/2 cotton has been waiting to become a table cloth for a few years. It was cut into 4 panels and basted. I overlapped the red stripe over the yellow selvage by 3/8" and basted.
I flipped the piece over and basted the other side, the yellow to the red. I have basted two sets of two together and will machine sew fake top stitched french seams (or side seams to jeans). I'm debating about reversing colors in the bobbin to hide the stitching even more. I do have red thread but I'm out of yellow. Or perhaps I'll hand stitch with red. A daunting thought!

I should have done the same on the green piece. To late! Taking out those stitches is more than this Moron could handle.

Seams on Woven Panels

2008-05-08T07:58:00.001-07:00

I still prefer seaming woolen items that I've woven, but I have two projects of 6/2 cotton that must be sewn together. This piece I dyed last fall. It's 3 twill panels, each 84" long. The technique I've used on wool just didn't look good with the cotton. I tucked this way for a long, long time. Today I decided I'm going to find something that works, looks good, or close enough, just to finish up this summer blanket and the table cloth. I used the Ball Stitch from Finishing Touches For The Handweaver, by Virginia M. West.

I'm sewing from the wrong side.

This is the right side.

The thrum balls are all tied and trimmed. Now I have to measure the lengths of each color so I can decide how far I can travel on this "reclaimed" cotton.

Son#2 and his wife are still in the Will.
Happy Mothers Day!

Just One of Those Daze

2008-05-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

What is wrong with this picture? You know how you plan out your warp? How about incorrectly? Here is how you do it if you'd failed to fail. You decide to warp for a log cabin rug at 12 epi, 28" wide. You have a LOT of fabric in shades of blue. Okay, not a problem....I have lots of blue and white 8/4 cotton warp. Oh no! I have lots of white and only 6 spools of blue. The Union is sectional and I've mastered that technique at least, usually. The warp will be only 10 yards long, so I'll just run off 10 yards on 6 shuttle bobbins. So I did. And I wound off one two inch section. Ooops! 10yds x 28 sections is a wee bit more than 10 yds per bobbin. I pulled out the trusty cardboard spools and wound off what I thought were correct amounts, and would have been if the counter would count. Well I got it done, except I somehow wound on only 26" onto the warp beam. That error I can live with. Yes, I do like the photo upside down.

Pile of blue

One of our good Catholic/Mormon ducks hatched 17 ducklings who are now happily swimming around in both ponds. No death count due to preditors yet.

weft prep

2008-04-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

It is fascinating to me how much a woven piece can change its look merely by changing the weft prep.My first three rugs woven on my current warp were carefully ironed using the handy, dandy bias tape maker. Actually, my last dozen rugs were made this way. I am really tired of all that ironing ... a minimum of 130 yards per rug. My friend Bev loaned me her book of Swedish rugs.

Rug woven with the above weft. These are 2" strips ironed into oblivion, or 1/2". Nice, neat, tidy, all raw ends tucked inside of this ridiculously long strip. Makes for a nice rug with very distinct colors.

This rug is being woven using 1/2" strips, unironed. It was woven willy nilly, meaning it made no difference if the right or wrong side appeared in the shed. I love the muted appearance. Yes, a thinner rug, but the Swedes seem to weave thinner rugs. Some of the rugs in the book had two 1/2" strips in the same shed, others only one. It does pack down more easily.
I doubt I'll have enough warp left to try the two strip trick but will on the next warp I wind on. I have woven using 2 strips, each 1.5 o 2" wide but set at 6, ends doubled. I'm really curious to see the difference with rugs. Oh! I also changed the dreaded hem treatment on this rug. I threw 4 shots of tripled rug warp followed by 4.25" of 1/4" wide fabric. I do hope this works well as I'm not that crazy about the other hem.

2008-04-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Every morning Barn E. Cat climbs into bed, right about the time I'm going to make it. I gently pull the covers up and rearrange the pillows. I try to do this all in such a way so as not to "bother" the cat. We do this each morning, and every morning, as I am in the final stages of bed making, Barn E. jumps off the bed.

Why do I bother........

Why not just jerk the covers up and let the cat be catapulted?

Remember the red and white star towels? This is another variation, but in blue and white (no!) tied onto the other warp.

Here is cotton weft, folded in bias tape fashion and ironed, ready to go.

I'm about 24" into the rug. It looks something like this.

Did you ever read a hint or idea on a List, only to later forget who shared the idea and which list it was on? See yesterday's post of No Brain. Last week I read a great hint on how to successfully tie the warp onto the cloth beam without having to adjust! Her tip * works like a charm and I'd gladly clean her bathrooms for sharing this with the population of which ever weaving list I read. So, whoever you are, and if you're reading this, thank you!

*tie the two outside bouts onto the bar of the cloth beam so the tension of the 2 feel about the same. Tie into square knots and advance the cloth beam one click. Tie the next two bouts and advance the beam one more click. Continue until all bouts are tied on. The tension is magically even across the warp. No more readjusting to the point of tears.

One Morning...

2008-04-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

I woke up old and without a brain.

I was reduced to rolling balls of thrums because

my brain had turned to this

Luckily I got the final two rugs completed before I woke in such a state, or non-state, depending on your point of view.

My spirit is a black void, much like this warp

Five Purple Rugs

2008-04-10T15:02:00.001-07:00

Stack of 5 purple rag rugs completed the other day.
Over the past week I've woven one rug per day.

All are 36" wide,
varied lengths.

There are two green rugs that were completed today, but no photos until the batteries are recharged.

Happenings at Chez Funny Farm

2008-04-10T09:12:00.001-07:00

Chop off a honkin' part of the root of a horseradish plant and wash well. Peel said root.

peeled roots

set up a work station in front of a window with a large fan venting OUT. Your eyes will thank you.

Grate the root into a food processor then put in a chopping blade and chop the grated root. Add vinegar until the horseradish is smooth.
Now go buy a few steaks and grill until the beef can only say "moo". Serve with your Powerful Horseradish".

Collect the sap from about 30 trees over a period of weeks and pour into containers located in someone's neat and tidy kitchen.

Mr Princess proceeds to drive his to drive his Betrothed nuts and brings in no less than 9, varying sized containers into the kitchen (where she had been keeping a variety of large weaving tools). The containers were filled with sap, sugar, yeast, and in the large white container (formerly a feed bin) with corn, sap and yeast and sugar.

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.........................

2008-03-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

12 coils of cotton strips, averaging 21 yds each. The strips are 2" wide, folded and pressed.

I've since taken the denim weft off, fixed the two threading errors, made another one, fixed that and will use this warp for the above weft. It's been so long since I warped the Union I can't recall how many yards I wound on. Probably 10 yards since that seems to be my usual practice.

I sold this ("Transitions") table runner and got a commission for a hallway rug as well. That isn't a stain, but I have no idea what that spot is other than a shadow of something! I got a call two days ago about weaving a saddle blanket. I've been doing some research but find that most information is about navajo looms. I'll muddle through.

We have two beavers that have taken up house in the small pond. They're a riot to watch but we fear at some point they'll have to be relocated due to their nasty habit of rerouting water or just stopping it at one port'o call or another. I tried taking photos, but at best, you'd just see two brown blobs (heads) in the water. I haven't seen them on land like Mr. Princess has. I watched them synchronize swim today while ironing the weft. That could account for the length of time I had to iron.

Red Star Towels

2008-03-28T08:14:00.001-07:00

I managed to weave 5 towels from the recommended warp length, instead of 4. I wove 4 of the pictured towel on the left. The final towel, which I made longer, is on the right. I wove a border at each end of 13 horizontal star stripes and the center was woven in vertical stripes. Another warp in navy is waiting to be put on the loom and I have no idea when I'll get it on. I've been busy sewing 240 yds of 2" cotton strips together. I'm now ironing those strips. I hate to iron. And wash windows.

Sugar Season

2008-03-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Go here! There are Funny Farm references so I'm not completely cheating. I'm too busy to blog.
http://dancingleaffarm.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-sappy.html

HYSTERICAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *

2008-03-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorite blogs re-enacting an old John Wayne movie. Please empty your bladder prior to viewing.
http://www.iambossy.com/i_am_bossy/2008/03/blog-kindergart.html

*edited typo
oops

Visitors from Maryland

2008-03-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Dalis from Dancing Leaf Farm brought me 1.5# of lovely merino that she dyed in three different colorways. She does beautiful work! Go to her online shop and see what she has to offer. Better yet, go to Barnesville, MD and visit her shop and her sheep, dogs and chickens.

I spun up 8oz of one of the colorways. I just sat and spun singles, not giving it any thought. After the "three bags full" escapade of nasty wool, this was such a joy! Last night I began plying. It has been a long time since I've spun painted roving and forgot that I don't like barber pole yarn. I had spun it a bit too thick to Navajo ply, so I'll have 8 oz of barber pole. The other two 8oz bumps I'll spin thinner and preserve the color changes.

So, Dalis, Anne and Bev came up for a few days because it is sap season and they wanted to experience tapping, gathering and boiling. And they did! They even made maple cream. Now Bob has to start brewing sap house beer and whiskey!

I saw quite a few Red Wing Black Birds yesterday and our Blue Heron returned. That means Spring is around the corner. Now to peruse the Johnny Appleseed catalog.

Haste Makes Waste

2008-03-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

I sleyed the reed at night. Not a good thing for these eyes apparently. This is a 32" wide/12epi warp. The header and hem seemed fine. Saw no errors. I got into the body of the piece and noticed two sections where the warp ends were close together..........I had sleyed two ends to a dent. If it had been evenly spaced, I'd call it a design element. But one error is the center and the other error about 9" from the right side. You all know what I'm doing today. Crap.

2008-02-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

This was my experimental piece (in our previous episode). I had cut out 5 warp threads between 20 end groupings. Obviously I should have cut out 4 or 6 ends. My concern however, was how to treat the ends after it was off the loom. I hadn't left enough space at the beginning of the "runner" (cough/hack) to twist the fringe.

I heavily zig zagged the edges then double folded the edges and used a 3 point zig zag to secure the hem.
The white warp and the green weft makes my eyes spin. It's much too busy though it doesn't really show in this photo. White weft is ok, but my preference is color. White washes out the weft, though there are times that it's needed. I think I had a specific plan when I warped the Union, but I have no idea what that plan was. Perhaps I thought I should put on a generic warp so I could use any weft. Dunno, but sorry I did it that way.

This is one end of a rug using white as an accent. I believe Shaker rugs use this technique, though far better, to create sharp arrow patterns. I attempted this, but it is mighty fiddly, so I relaxed and just made "free-form designs".
Sure looks pink, doesn't it? It's not. It's the same weft as the above rug. I learned a lot about the definition of "value" with these two rugs. I dyed lots of muslin a few years ago. One piece was LWI in oranges. Another piece was dyed using fuchsia and deep gold and the third piece a gold/orange. The 3 pieces were then sewn together at the selvages and finally sewn into a tube. One, continuous strip was cut . The long strip was ironed with the edges folded in towards the center, then folded in half. Next time (ha!) I will make sure not to use the same value so the changes in color is more distinct. I do like these two rugs. Now to twist the fringe on this rug.
I love this! This piece transitions gradually. I had two very old, thin duvet covers. The fabric was a border print. The fabric was quite thin and cut into 1" strips. This could be a rug, obviously using a rubber mat, or better yet, a runner for a long table.
This shows the transition from one part of the duvet cover to the next. There were four distinct parts to the overall print. I separated the strips into four piles then divided them into two groupings so the rug/runner would be symmetrical. The rug shuttles have to be wound twice to preserve the order of the weft as in the orange/pink rugs.

The morning is over and nothing but this blog has been done. I'm outta here!

How To Finish Projects That Bore You

2008-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Whew! That took some doing, not ending the title with a preposition!

About a year ago I was slogging along with a long, boring, monochromatic warp and weft. It just didn't seem to be progressing. I begin to find myself avoiding the loom day after day because I was so, terribly bored with it. I eventually realized that I wasn't going to finish it by avoiding it. I got the kitchen timer and brought it into the weaving room and set it for 15 minutes. That is a doable time. The timer went off and I set it for another 15 minutes. I don't recall how long I actually wove that day, but did realize that once I'm seated, and there are no interruptions, I'm likely to sit and weave until my butt-bones cry Uncle. There are times when 15 minutes is all I can take. I've also learned that it is a (project)"state of mind", which often changes day to day. Those 15 minute intervals of weaving pays off. The project is magically completed, another warp wound, and there is new hope.

Friday birds

2008-02-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

I'm at the end of the warp on the Union and decided to experiment. I cut out 5 warp ends between sections of 20 ends (sett 12). Jury is still out. If I finish it, I'll declare it a table runner. I woven a 2" hem. Oops! There is no way this can be sewn because of the cut warp. I'd have to tie the fringe and there is only about 2" to work with unless I go into the hem of the previous disaster. We'll see. It's an experiment, right?

Donkey Barn in the snow storm
Boy Bird ignoring the snow storm The North East Chapter of the Polar Bear Club. Silly Ducks, swimming in the spring!
Pond, spring and ducks. Note the duck to the left watching the silly ones swim.

February Fiber

2008-02-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

Star Towels from Interweave Press/Handwoven download: I'm weaving the second of three towels on this particular warp. I'm using a skeleton tie up because I don't have enough treadles. It slows me down and I'm bored with this. They are lovely, but for some reason I feel very uninspired. I suppose these are just too conservative for me.
I'm working on rug number five. It will be interesting to see them all off the Union, finally. Two are t-shirt rugs, my first. I doubt I'll like them. However, I had many t-shirts and cotton turtle necks cut up and decided to finally try them out. I'm laying single strips into the shed and not joining them because I don't like bumps in rugs. I've seen pictures of sock loopers with "bumps" and thought they looked fine, but I'm a barefoot babe and those bumps hurt.

The first of the three bags of wool is spun up and all that damned greased washed out. Post washing, the skeins weigh 1398 grams (3#s) and a total of 941 plied yards.

I'm into the second bag and have two bobbins spun up. This roving isn't as greasy, though there is still more than I'd like. I don't need to heat up the roving prior to spinning so that is a time saver.

Lambing season is over. It went quickly this year, I think in under 10 days. We have two house elves, uh, bottle lambs residing in the back room of Chez Princess. I hate that! I fall in love with resident lambs and don't want to give them up. Ever. We're attempting to phase out the sheep over time. We lost our oldest ewe this winter. She was our last Romney-Coop, my favorite cross, though her fleece was not my favorite. We were able to save one of her lambs, a black ewe.

The buck was (finally) returned to us so I expect kids in mid-summer. Not the best of plans, but it is what it is. Profound.

Serious Hat Head on Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

I had great plans for today:

wash hair

make Super Bowl Sunday horse devours

vacuum

weave

roast a chicken

I got the chicken into it's clay pot for a quick 80 minute roast and managed to wash my hair when Mr Princess came into the house to inform me our eldest ewe, Soot, looked like she was finally ready to lamb. She has ketosis, which luckily we caught early, so have had concerns. So I pulled a wool hat over my wet head and grabbed the lambing supplies and out the door I went. To make a long story short, Soot had triplets, all ewes and two were born strong and healthy. The third one didn't make it. I also managed to remember the chicken between lambs 2 and 3 and ran back to the house to pull it out of the oven. I didn't really run because we have lots of ice and it is slippery!

I believe in miracles..........GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

spell check still isn't working

any ideas????

Animal pictures for Marcy

2008-02-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

Because we are having sleet and snow we had triplets................Finn lambs born to GooDeeLooKey. Two ewes and a ram lamb.

And here is Soot. She looks ready to lamb, doesn't she? Tapping foot here.
And here is Laz, our eldest sheep, a Corriedale.
Tracks that belong to,
Keely, the peacock.
Last week's lamb ram, a singleton.

You Make My Day

2008-01-31T23:50:00.000-08:00

Sharon has graciously awarded me this honor. I often go to my bloglines during the middle of the night for some inspiration until my body tells me it's time to go back to bed. Imagine my surprise when I saw this. So many of the blogs that inspire me, "make my day" have been listed. I will now have to think ourside the box knowing there are still some fiber lovers that have not been mentioned. I will now save this to draft, go back to ponder this as I hopefully drift back to sleep.

To quote Sharon: The rules are as follows: “Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.

As The Whorl Spins: Love her opinions

Constance Rose Textile Design: a fairly new blog. Wonderful photos of her work that often shows works in progress that I always appreciate

A Movable Feast: Neki thinks outside of the box. This is the only blog with a black background that I will read

A Simple Yarn:A North American living in Ireland and tags each day of the week with a task.

Sheep Tales: Dalis is one of the most fearless people I know. She will jump into almost any situation with both feet and come out a winner. She is singlehandedly responsible for most of my fiber madness.

Carol's Blog: I love how she often takes a philosophical view of her life or life around her. Not to mention her love of all things fibery!

Beebonnet Report: Always something of interest.

Fiber Arts and Furry Critters: She'd rather do fiber related things than clean house, and has goats.

Fiber Brain: a new blog to me but fun to watch her progress.

The Knitting Curmudgeon: my kind of woman! And if you think I'm going to email her and tell her that she has been mentioned, you're nuts.

I tried to mention those that have not been mentioned, or that I've not seen mentioned, which is probably closer to the truth. I read a fair amount of blogs, ha!, more than I should. However I've learned so much from the above blogs and from the many, many blogs that have already been "awarded". Note to Charleen: I gave you a break!

I promise to follow the rules and email them (if I have their addresses) or report their "award" on their blog. Soon.

Now off to see if we have any new lambs.

Thanks, Sharon!

PS Spell check isn't working. So get over it!

None of the links are working either, even though the addresses are correct. I dunno. It's not even Monday.

Three Bags Full

2008-01-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have three bags of roving sitting, waiting, to be spun. They've been waiting for about six years. I decided to start with the silver/gray 4# bag. Very greasy. Hard to draft. I struggled and managed to spin 180 yards. Not acceptable. I washed a handful but found that it felts easily and I just don't want to fiddle with 4#s of roving. I measured out about 6 yds of roving and stuck it into the microwave knowing that heat would loosen up the grease and make drafting easy. It works! I am trying to spin it up bulky but the fleece prefers worsted weight. I can't remember how to spin bulky weight yarn. I took a class from Peggy (?) Casey at SOAR, but it was a number of years ago and my memory is, well, not great. But, she had me spinning bulky and it was easy-peasy.

Blogless Kim gave me 400 grams of Polworth-Mohair a few years ago. It is luminous. The roving graduated from navy to a wonderful copper, with bits of natural brown here and there. I now have just under 1200 yds of plied goodness.

The newest warp is on the Union. At this rate I'm going to have wall to wall rag rugs.

Now to publish this and get to winding 10 yards x 30" for the other loom.

tote revisited

2008-01-17T21:08:00.000-08:00

New straps/handles...........old ones in the trash. Happier, but still not that pleased. I may just have to buy strapping. I can't find what I want on-line, but may be there is another term I don't know about.
Magnolia at night during a snow fall. If you look up to the right you can see some snow falling.

Wee Bear

2008-01-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention that the bear pattern is from '94 SpinOff..........I thought I had made this one before, but the previous bear was 12" tall. I must find that pattern!

I used EZ's percentage method to knit Wee's sweater. The panties and hat was from my own noodle. Not brain surgery, but got the deed done.

And Kim, what is a blog without a little bit of porno?

Another project just completed:

This is what I did at the end of the warp for the 2 rugs.
I'm very unhappy with the braided handle. It doesn't have enough body. I'll cut it off today or tomorrow and try something else. There is no fabric store close so I don't have any of the obvious remedies on hand. My interfacing is too thin and I have no welting nor any rope the right size. So, here is my plan. Sew two pcs of fabric together and stabilize it with wide black elastic..........because that is what is on hand. The elastic is for body and not "boing". I'll get back to you about this plan ("A"??). Mother of Invention signing off.

Rugs and A Bear

2008-01-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

One of two matching denim rugs, fresh off the loom..............................

A 4.5" bear knit from brown handspun wool from the flock. Her sweater, hat and soakers are knit from sock yarn. Front view:
Rear view:
Front and back view:
Showing off her panties from the front, and
from the rear!

another Monday

2008-01-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

Here we go again. It seems to be the same snow the Packers experienced on Saturday!

This last photo certainly doesn't represent the true color! That's what I get for playing around on Infraview. Oops. The first picture is the closest to the true color. This is the completed Clapotis (pronounced clap-o-tee), and sounds like a gynecological problem when pronounced in "American". Much better in French. I used handspun, a blend of Finn and mohair. My shawl/scarf measures 6'3" in length, well over the patterns measurements. It was fun to knit, except for the middle section when I found myself becoming bored. I put it down for a week and that helped. I love the way the shawl stays on and seems to hug my shoulders. My neck isn't long enough to use it as a scarf. I would consider knitting it again...

During the one week hiatus from the Clapotis I knit a purse and felted it. I'm underwhelmed for several reasons. It is a mosaic knit which I've done before. Silly Marie. I knit it fair isle. Duh! I also over felt the piece because I was so angry at myself. I threw it into the washer and let it go. The strap is too long but fix-able. The bottom was to be flat but the blue felt differently than the off white. I thought the blue and white were both Icelandic wool. Apparently not. So I cut the bottom in the center and adjusted a bit. I probably should have cut the entire bottom off since there is still a bit of a flair. I'm mulling that over. Then again, I could re-knit it properly!

What am I doing today?

2008-01-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Down To The Wire

2007-12-23T07:37:00.000-08:00

another pair of Fetching fingerless mittens on top of one of the scarves (queen's cord) I wove. Shows both sides. Clever?
My daily fuzzy photo. This is a chunky cable scarf half done. I hope I can finish it today so it can be washed and dried before Christmas day. Wager anyone>
Both scarves. Bob thinks they're terrific, which is interesting since he notices little . I'm somewhat pleased. I see some beating inconsistencies which infuriates me because I took care attempting to beat the same each throw.

There is a third scarf that will not become a scarf but small coin purses or (eye)glass cases. As easy as the treadling was, my right foot always wanted to dance to a different song than what was written. There are three places that I failed to catch my little foot breaking into a cha cha cha. Yeah, I could fix it but I'm not gonna!

I'm a Flippin' Idiot

2007-12-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

There are a few more pair of mittens I need to knit and the above colors wasn't in my stash. I pulled out two skeins of Lopi Lite, soaked and dyed the skeins. I was very careful to put them into the dye pot at the same time so that the strike would occur at the same time for both skeins. I went back to the loom room and finished weaving the second scarf. I checked the dye pot after an hour and saw the discrepancy in color! I was fuming because I couldn't figure out how this happened. I decided I'd blog about it and call this entry "I'm No Dye Virgin". Well, the joke, as usual is on me. Once I rinsed, well actually during the rinsing I noticed one skein is 1 ply and the other is plied! What? These were purchased at the same time, kept in the same bag, lo these many years. I pulled the tags out of the trash. Here is what I found :

The third scarf begun, again Queens Cord. Yes, Carleen! I'm using different tie ups and treadling for each one. The warp is black rayon and the weft is a deep lavender, though you certainly can't tell. I carried around a bobbin of the perle cotton along with the camera. I guess because we're having a temporary blizzard I'm unable to get a shot of the correct color. Or could it be the Gama waves?

It'a Not Fun Anymore

2007-12-18T12:36:00.000-08:00

Stash Reduction Fingerless Mittens: Top of The Lamb sport wt. doubled. One down, one to go.
The second scarf on the loom. Queens Cord VII. Warp rayon 20epi Weft 5/2 perle lavender

one less hurdle

2007-12-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

Fetching mittens washed. I may try steaming the picot cuff so it is more defined. If I remember! Ira's rug made from Pendelton selveges. Nice and fluffy.
Denim rug for the kitchen to keep my feet warm while I cook. It's about 70" long.

Two commissioned runners from denim. Hemmed and ready to go. I'm glad that's over.

Winding down

2007-12-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

Fingerless mittens: "Fetching" by knitty needle size US3 yarn Scottish Heather by She Who Must Not Be Named
The end of the warp, praise to the goddesses! Mug rugs (5) + 2 runners and 2 rugs

Now I can get back to the other loom and weave up the scarves.

Moving right along

2007-12-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

Men's sized fingerless glove, "Dashing" from Knitty. Another Christmas gift crossed off the list.
Pendlelton selvege rug. The sett is close so the rug doesn't appear shaggy...yet! Another gift.
I've been cutting strips from zillions of old jeans. What to do with those wee bits that are left over? http://paperstringcloth.blogspot.com/2007/07/pincushion-tutorial.html

Projects completed and in progress

2007-12-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

The fingerless gloves are done! Washed and kind of blocked. They're ready to be boxed up.

Rug one of two is complete. Two commission pieces: 34 x 60. Sett 12 denim cut 1" wide Hem woven 3" at each end.
Queen's Cord by M. Davison: photo of the underside. Sett 20 black rayon Weft is a gray-ish green wool. Oh, it's a scarf!
The right side with my ratty looking measuring devise.

Bob's second pair of socks will be finished tonight. I forgot to carry the "clock" down into the foot as I did on the first pair. I could drop back and turn the knits to purls, but I won't. He won't care and probably will never notice.

I've joined Ravelry and it's a giant black hole in regards to my time. Yesterday I got the first of the two rugs woven. Today? Woven in the first hem for the second rug and have uploaded some photos to Ravelry and read other member's profiles and lists of projects. I must pull back and read Ravelry less frequently and save it for after the holidays.

Hell Freezes Over

2007-12-08T06:27:00.000-08:00

My typical blurry photo. I was feeling rather blurry eyed by the time I took this. Matches my brain.
I once said I'd never, ever knit gloves. Okay, these are called fingerless gloves, but there are fingers, albeit half fingers. One down, one to go. I found about 6 colors of Heilo in the stash and decided to knit a more interesting glove, using up the remnants. These are a gift for a friend that mentioned a few years ago she needed some fingerless gloves. She wasn't hinting that I knit or buy them for her, it was just a passing comment. I had other Christmas gift ideas for her, but the Christmas budget (ha!) wouldn't allow for either. Google, being my friend, found this pattern. This took three evenings of tv knitting. The first night was spent knitting 8 half fingers and figuring out the placement. The instructions are very clear. My mind isn't. I joined them that first night. The second night I got up to the ribbing. Last night I completed the glove. Now it's time for the dreaded second glove. Why is the first always fun and the second such a drag? Rhetorical question.

HOLY CRAP!!!

2007-12-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

Look what I just found on my back porch. After posing for several photos, Bob escorted him out into the cold, snowy environs.

Felted Knit Cat Bed

2007-12-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

Completed cat bed or basket. The diameter prior to felting was 27". I put it through two wash cycles and one rinse. The final diameter is 13". I've made similar cat beds and felted them down to 17" which I feel is too big. My cats are large but prefer very small, cuddly nests. Of course, this is not for my cats but for my sons 15 cats. They'll have to share. In his defense, his wife is a vet and brings home her work sometimes. They have cat doors so the cats are in and out. And, their house is huge. End of disclaimer.
The sides were too high. Again, my personal preference is for lower sides. I folded the top edge down and discovered this stabilized outer perimeter. The rim height, after folding is 3.25".
The mice wanted to try out the bed. One more gift complete! Their boa, Scout, will get a personal note from me that she is not allowed to eat the mice.

Pattern is from wendyknits.

Last blanket ready to be sent

2007-12-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

The blanket is slightly fulled and hard pressed. It's ready to be wrapped and sent to my oldest son for Giftmas. All three sons get blankets this year. I may weave one for my daughter next year.
I find this so interesting. Before (L) and after (R). What a dramatic change.

Measurements: (54" x 75") finished 44" x 68"

I finished knitting a cat bed and it's in the washer, hopefully felting/fulling sufficiently. Pictures eventually..........oh, and Sara and Bev? I will include the pattern!

Mice Patterns

2007-12-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

My favorite pattern, "Catnip Mouse Toy", I got back in 1995 from the knitlist. It was designed by Esther Bozak and Robert Matthews.

Another very quick knit is made from Fun Fur. I have no idea where this fun fur came from, since I'm not a fun fur kinda gal, but I had some in gray. Perfect color. The pattern is from Lion Brand free knitting paterns. It called, ready? Fun Fur Catnip Mouse.

The third pattern has great shaping but I have no idea which site I copied the pattern from. Well, a simple google found it. It's called "Mmmmm...Catnip!"

6 Blind Mice

2007-12-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

Six mice, not only without eyes, but no ears or mouths. These are cat gifts for Christmas, so I felt it best not to give them bits to choke on. I'm nothing, if not politically correct.

Another double weave blanket off the loom. The ends have been hem-stitched and now I must twist the fringe. Boooooooooooring. Then wash and hard press.

There was enough warp left to weave a much smaller blanket...if it's turned 90 degrees and hemmed ?

Blurry boot socks for Himself. He needed another pair of socks that he can wear with thinner wool socks during the coldest months. Here they are hanging/hiding in the closet, drying.

More socks, in progress, for Himself.

Lots to do........must scurry along.

Thanksgiving is over, so back to work!

2007-11-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

(notice the new heddles?)
The Union is beamed for 3 rugs. Two will be denim runners. I cut the denim strips 1" wide and will lay two strips in each shed. That's the plan today. I'm undecided what to use as weft for the third rug. I have Pendelton "worms" in this colorway so that is a possibility. I also have some acrylic chenille that could be doubled or tripled. I could use the chenille and the worms. I still need to thread the heddles and sley the reed. Hey, a girl can only do so much in a day.

Another double weave blanket. This is ready to be woven. Since the last photo from last week, it remained untouched until today. I wound it on and it's tied onto the front. It's a "go".

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Three of the four Evil Spawns came, along with my son-in-law and two grandsons. The boys helped Bob burn many brush fires and chop down saplings. Nothing like child labor.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

2007-11-19T06:18:00.001-08:00

Saturday: my Ewethful 3, or three isty ugliers

Sunday: after our walk about
Getting ready to leave and I can't shut up!
Monday: an it's still snowing

no progress since Friday

Dalis, blogless Bev and Ann dry and wet felted unphotographed (because I forgot to) flowers that were awesome. I felted balls because that is all I can handle. Introducing my fuzzy balls. I'm sure Dalis took pictures because her camera didn't leave her hands very often. They're not up on her site yet because she probably is on the couch with a cold cloth on her forehead after her visit up here in lala land. Bev and Ann promised me they will start a blog. Ha!

Time to get my day going and finish up the loom or at least work on the placemats. The evil spawns and grandspawns may begin to arrive Tuesday.

Next up, but with a delay

2007-11-15T11:09:00.001-08:00

I wound a warp for another double weave blanket last night. The reed is sleyed and I hope to get some of the heddles threaded today. I probably won't get back to the loom until Monday. Three "ewe"-th-ful friends from MD are coming up tomorrow for the weekend. I miss living near them. They are responsible for this crazy weaving and, in fact, my spinning. They're now into felting and I refuse to succumb! Dalis has a blog, but the other two are blog-less.........which is a shame and perhaps something I can change! They are all so artistic, talented!

My four children, at least one spouse and two grandchildren will be going over the river and through the woods and will arrive here sometime late Wednesday. The traffic sucks this time of year and they all have to go by D.C. I was 4 hours closer when we lived in MD. I really do like it here, but I'm so %&()# far away that I don't see them often.

But I've gotten away from the weaving. So, I won't be weaving until they leave sometime next weekend. Not weaving will be a good thing. I need a rest. However, the placemats and runner won't be ready to send back down South, wrapped in festive paper.....but will have to travel via the post office. Obviously the blanket will suffer the same fate.

I hope to get some pictures of the Ewes felting and knitting and spinning! They won't be coming up with their looms. I don't think they will. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Woolen Shawl

2007-11-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

I wove this shawl for my forever chilly daughter. I dressed the loom Monday and wove it yesterday.

The wool is 2/4 Highland Tweed, Starry Night. The other wool is unknown, but is a deep violet.

I warped alternating the blue and violet yarn and wove stripes 1" wide, again alternating the two colors.

The shawl was 25" in the reed, set at 8epi and woven plain weave for 72". I left 6" at each end for fringe. Final dimensions 20.5" x 67". Fringe is around 4.25".

After twisting the fringe I filled up the washer with warm water and a dash of detergent. I allowed it to agitate on gentle for a few minutes then let it soak because something good was on TV and I forgot about it. I think it soaked about 30 minutes longer than I would ordinarily let it soak. I spun out the water, removed the shawl and filled up the washer again with warm water for the rinse. It agitated only about 2 minutes (heart palpitation time)and set the washer to spin. I filled the washer a final time and added a healthy glug (1C?) of vinegar to the water. I emptied the dishwasher and came back and spun the shawl for the final time. I threw it into the dryer set on "air" and let it flop around for a few minutes. I read somewhere that this will eliminate any creases caused from spinning the fabric in the washer. I put it on the washer to dry overnight. I'll hard press it today, or eventually. The blankets have yet to be pressed.

Blanket off the loom

2007-11-12T07:33:00.000-08:00

I've only woven double weave once before and wasn't all that pleased. This time I am and will certainly do this again. Easy, easy, easy! The center fold is not at all evident, much to my surprise.

It measures 48 x 72 plus 3" fringe at each end.

My fringe twister is wearing out and I fear it's time to search ebay for another one.

The wool is mill ends from Webs

Kraemer Textiles, Inc.

4/8.0 W.C.

sett 9 (18 doubled)

ppi 9

Note to Anna

2007-11-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Anna, here is the information you wanted for the placemats. The warp is 8/4 cotton rug warp from Leesburg Loom. The sett is 12 and is 16" wide in the reed. I weave a hem using the 8/4 cotton for 1.5" at each end. I "paint" the hem edge with a water soluble glue (1:1 water to glue) to hold the weft between the loom and the sewing machine. The fabric is cut 1" wide. Weave the fabric strips for 18. I use a contrasting yarn between the placemats by throwing 2 shots. After the mats are woven I zig zag the edge of each hem, then cut them apart. Fold the hem in half and sew the fold. Fold in half again and stitch near the edge of the fold where it meets the fabric. I also stitch the little sides of the hem for a neater appearance. Good luck and let me know your placemats turn out!!!

chugging along pre-Christmas

2007-11-10T04:44:00.000-08:00

I woke up to this! We won't get any significant accumulation, but it marks winter's arrival.

I'm weaving another blanket, double weave this time. I'm always nervous when working with these colors. I don't want the resulting fabric to look like a sofa from the 1970's. We'll see. Specs: 28" wide in the reed
Set at 9 epi (18, because it's doubled). This is intended for one of the boys......unless it looks like a herculon couch.

Placemats for a(nother) gift

A Pink gift. Pattern from Claudia's September newsletter.

Hey! It's dark and dreary and this is the best I could do. Pattern from Yarn Harlot.
I had to add another 1/2 repeat. I used Lopi, and don't think this yarn was quite bulky enough. Must check the stash as I think I have some really chunky wool fermenting on a shelf. This is a quick knit.......like a few hours. If you're a really fast knitter, probably knit in an hour. It's knit on US 10.5. Both hats are free patterns.

All Fixed!

2007-11-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Don't you love it when a plan comes together? The errant panel has been successfully shortened!

carefully cut the weft at each side of the panel and pull out the length.

When you're 3 rows from matching the lengths, stop cutting the weft shots at each end and carefully pull out a continuous length. This will be the yarn for sewing the hem stitch.

Making the hem stitch.

Locking in the stitch

Hem stitches completed

All matched up!

A very pink hat

Now it's time to wind off the next warp. Tonight I'll twist the fringe and wash the blanket.

Sharon, except for the past two weeks, I can honestly say I completed more projects when I worked. I managed my time much better than I do now. I can procrastinate now and that is not a good quality. I have a room I started painting, oh, about 3 years ago and still haven't finished it. I ran out of primer and asked Mr Princess to take down this huge gun of some importance off the wall. It's still mounted and I have yet to get the primer. We won't talk about the cupboards in the old kitchen that haven't been finished, or my bedroom walls that are in serious need of paint. You're working, making money and will retire well. I will move my refrigerator box to your farm to retire !!!! Now settle down, make some soap and smile!

seaming panels

2007-11-02T12:54:00.001-07:00

Insert needle into the weft at the edge of the panel. Pull the yarn through and insert the needle into weft "loop" on the second panel. Pull the yarn through.

You're not going blind. The camera doesn't do close up very well.

Here you can see where I joined three weft turns on each side.

Snug up the stitches gently. You don't want to pull the stitches too tightly.

Two panels are the same length and the middle panel is considerably longer. Stay tuned for possible solutions.

2 more completed projects

2007-11-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

This years new hat for me! The pattern is by Claudia from Countrywool.

http://countrywool.tripod.com/kits_patterns/hat_sc.htm
A fun hat to knit.

This is the blue-black ikat blanket all woven and waiting to be sewn together. I like sewing the panels together when it's wool. The seam disappears once washed.
A fast weave: 3 days
4/8 wool from Webs
10 epi
plain weave
3 panels 80" long

I'm really pleased with the blue-black dye.

The three panels are laid out on the table ready to be sewn. After looking at this for a few minutes I think next time I'll create ikat sections that are no wider than 1.5". Wide sections work fine (usually) with painted warps, but I believe the ikat has lost its "punch" in the wider areas.

The weft dyed unevenly and looks fine, actually good, in the dark areas. However, and isn't there always a "but", where it runs through the white areas, it almost looks like weaving errors. It isn't as obvious from afar, but upon close inspection it looks like this:

I measure each panel with register tape as I weave and I've always gotten consistent results. Not this time. Two panels match and one is one inch longer. I guess it's from inconsistent tension on the warp. This can be easily fixed, hidden, but noteworthy.

I'm waiting for new heddles for the Union, which is warped, so I can weave off that warp and throw on another for two commissioned rugs and two rugs as gifts. Or so the plan.

I'm knitting another hat, in pink, a Giftmas gift. Too cute. I must get busy sewing so I can wind another warp for another blanket! Busy time of year.

Productive Week

2007-10-28T13:59:00.001-07:00

I knit a Lopi sweater this week. My last blog entry noted that I prefer texture in knitting, and I do...but! I had this in my stash and figured I'd better do something with it. It has been a few years since I've knit a Lopi sweater and had forgotten how heavy it is and how it affects the length. I opted for the XS length and still ended up with a sweater almost 3" longer than my preference. The main color is more of a navy, but this shot shows the detail better than the other picture.

I cut 4.5#s of fabric. Here it is. Sure doesn't look like that much to me! This will be for placemats, I'm hoping a dozen, and maybe a runner as well. The rug loom is beamed but not threaded or sleyed.

The blanket is ready to be beamed. I'll do that tomorrow. It's the only part of weaving I don't like. If I had more room I think, no, I know it would be less of a hassle.

...........and that has been my week.

Ruminating on Uniqueness

2007-10-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Before I die I want to create something that is unique to me. At this point all I can think of is a dead fly collage with a few finch feathers and some bird feed thrown in. Can you tell what I just finished doing?

I love Sara's work and her never-ending creativity. Bonnie's work is always inspiring, whether it's using re-cycled sweaters or putting together a quilt made from sample weaving. I copy what I like, and when copying, one cannot help but put her own unique fingerprint on the piece. However, the inspiration came from another ,via plagiarism (broad stroke use of the term)or some type of infringement. I've learned a lot by doing this, but I'd like to do something unique, even if it's "unvented". I'm not a terribly intuitive person, especially when knitting. I feel more comfortable with weaving. Perhaps because it's flat and I don't have to worry about whether to short row or just decrease and if choosing one, what the ultimate outcome will be. I like texture in knitting and color in weaving. So I've narrowed down what I like. But to do something unique. Something that stands out in a crowd of fiber fanatics, in a positive way. Not an "oh my gawd, what was she ever thinking" way. There is that satisfied feeling when pleasing oneself, but better when it's recognized by one's peers. I'm aware that this is looking for outside affirmation, and so be it. I'm hoping to have a vision, a dream of what this will be. Mushrooms, anyone?

Union Custom Loom

2007-10-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

This Union Custom Loom has seen better days, uh, and nights. The shuttle tray has serious water damage, missing the bottom and needs to be rebuilt. The crank is missing as are the treadles. The second shaft rubs against the warp beam, which by the way, has a brake at each end. I'm thinking that simply squaring the loom will rectify the problem. She needs major work. It was a "free to a good home" loom. She was a beauty in her day though. If only I could find a four shaft Union.

I finished the sweater last night during the Sox-Indian game. Sorry the photo is so dark, but it's the best one of the three I took.

Warp and weft drying. This is the wool I just dyed in navy/black. The center skeins will be the weft and didn't dye as evenly as the warp and has some interesting color variation that I actually like.

Some of the flock just hangin'

Big enough to eat!

1-2-3 WEAVE

2007-10-12T11:25:00.002-07:00

The Union is warped for placemats and some strips will be cut into smaller 1/2" strips for placemats. The denim may become a rug or more placemats. I have a table full of jeans waiting to be cut .

The Harrisville needs to be warped, but I decided to wind warp and weft for a blanket instead. I had some 4/8 wool in my stash that is perfect for a toasty blanket. I decided on a sett of 10, plain weave, probably warp face. Tied a bunch of bouts for ikat. So, I went to the dye shelf. I'm going to dye me some black, thought I. Nope, not enough if using 4% DOS, so I mixed 4% navy and black. So, whatever it dyes is what it will be. I love it when I'm profound! The weft is soaking and will see a dye pot tomorrow since I'm using my dye pots for the warp. Hmmm, maybe I'll fire up the roaster!

Ducks

2007-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

We now have 11 ducks. One, Woody, won't stay in the duck yard and is currently residing under the van. Last night he wanted to join the layers in their house. They were not pleased and put up quite a fuss. He went back under the van. I hope I can herd him back down the hill to the duck yard. Our two ducks have been trained to a whistle and now I must try and train the other 9. I can't until we have a proper duck house. Just going out and whistling to them won't do a darned thing. Two of the new ducks have discovered the wee duck pond, though they're staying in the shallow end.

The cotton blanket is off the loom. Now I need to decide how I will put the panels together. It's much easier with wool, in that the seam is more forgiving and has the tendency, usually, to disappear after lightly fulling. Joining panels has been a topic recently on one of the weaving lists. I may try the crochet method; sc1 on one side, sc1 on the other side. I think I can handle that. I suppose the trick will be deciding what size hook to use. I have a fair amount of small, steel hooks around, so hopefully one of them will be appropriate for the job.

Next on the loom will be chenille, for someone else. I think the warp is 15 yards. All plain weave. I'll need to get a "talking book" so I can plow through this.

One of my sons wants a blanket so I'm playing the design game in my head. We'll see what I come up with. I rather like the recent blanket Bonnie wove, well, is actually still weaving. I like her ikat panels and think that Patrick would like something very similar. The men in my family think wild and crazy colors are shades of gray. My Father, on the other hand, loved wild and crazy colors and frequently reminded me of a walking color wheel after he retired. I suppose this change in him was 32 years wearing Army uniforms and moving to Sun City, AZ. It didn't help that he was color blind. And his colors were often blinding.

I've continued knitting the pullover, knowing that winter will arrive at some point. I'm loving the weather lately. I can still wear shorts and light weight t-shirts and not get bundled up to do chores. But soon it'll be freezing out and the different flocks will need the water carried out to them. Not fun.

I am anxious to dye something while the weather is still warm. Perhaps I'll wind some warp for Patrick's blanket. It's more interesting than what is on today's "to do" list....like shovel sh*t.

MISSING !!!!!

2007-10-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's mate is missing. The dogs deny being part of this kidnapping. They've never slipper or shoe-napped before, so I tend to believe my dogs. I've searched under and behind every piece of furniture. Please help. Below is a profile for further identification.

Howetown Fall Harvest Show

2007-10-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Smokin' Bacon

Bob spent the weekend smoking his hard cheese and various cuts of our pork. He fed the crowds well. Meanwhile, Herself was up in the small house weaving and starving!

Bob's Smokehouse

I think it looks like an outhouse. The wood burning stove is behind the house at the end of the dirt pile covering the pipe. Honest, no body is buried there.

Galvanized Tub

Cook stove to warm your thighs

Front Porch Laundromat

Union Special

please tilt your head to the right.

yup, more work to be done on this puppy. Winter's work. 'Nuff said!

My corner of the world this weekend.
Hungry Me.

Canadian Production Wheel

It will be spinning next year. I promise you!

Does anyone know why the pictures are so far apart in the preview area? I have no idea what this will look like published. I want the pictures to stay put!

busy, busy, busy

2007-09-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

It has been harvest time in the garden. Harvest time leads to canning time. I've had a bumper crop of peppers this year. I just picked over 300 peppers, after having picked at least that many during the summer. I've been on a relish frenzy, using as many peppers as I can. I'll post our favorite recipe (so far) one of these days. I also made hot pepper jelly that is good on just about anything. Many more peppers in the garden. I have enough peppers, cabbage and tomatoes in the freezer to supply a small country.

The Heritage Fair down the road begins today. I've spent the past few weeks fixing up their Union Special which is sweet, sweet little rug loom. I think I spent more time sewing together strips of cotton sheeting for demo-ing than any other one task in the past month.

I'm on the final panel of the green (painted warp) blanket. I need time to weave this off because I have a 15 yard warp commission I must get done ASAP.

I started a sweater. The sleeves are knit and I'm a good 14" into the body. I bought a Countrywool sweater pattern and some Cascade 220 while visiting Claudia last month. It's a fun and easy sweater to knit and a great thing to do during a Yankee game. My gauge changes when the score is close or the team is losing. Oh well. There is no local knitting police that I'm aware of.

There has been discussion on a "list" about blogs and why you love 'em or hate 'em. I love blogs and I like to blog. I was raised not to toot my own horn/brag. Writing of one's accomplishments on a list rings of "bragging" according to my Mommy Tape. Writing the same missive on a blog isn't bragging because it's my space, my diary of sorts, my calendar of events and achievements. Glad I got that off my chest.