Gradient Shawl

A month ago I posted about some gradient yarn I had recently finished spinning.  I was anxious to get it on the rigid heddle but I wanted to get a few more projects ready to weave before I started.  Today however, I received a really nice big and sturdy Squirrel cage swift in the mail.  I had been looking for one for quite some time, and I had a smaller version, but it was not as sturdy or as tall as what is required for this job.

 This is the smaller warp skein on the swift, I was sure that it was really going to be nice to use this swift for warping the rigid heddle, and I was right!  The yarn fed very smoothly off of the swift and I was able to move the swift easily as needed so that there was little friction on the yarn.

I soon had the warp ready to wind on, I used every bit of that small skein to fill every dent and hole on the loom.   I really like it so far!

I evened up the ends and then threaded thru the heddle.











I put the large weft skein on the swift so that I could load the ski shuttles from it.  In order to keep the color sequence, I will load one of the shuttles and then rewind it onto a second ski shuttle.

I started weaving with the dark end of the large skein, and I was able to get almost all of the darkest color on one shuttle.  I don't know if I will get to use all of the large skein, but I know I have 96 inches to weave, and I am hoping that I have enough to get there.








It feels good to get a project long in the planning stages finally on the loom.  I am ready with at least one more handspun shawl, and then I thought I would tackle that red and black handspun that has been ready for quite some time.  It is a little thicker yarn than I usually use but maybe I could use something really thin for weft, and it would enhance it rather than overwhelm it.  Stay tuned!

Until next time, Happy Weaving, Tina

Getting Ready For The Fair

  It's getting close!
  The Anderson County Fair is July 16-22, and Carl and I have been talking about woven items that we could enter this year.  Last year, the only woven items were the ones that I entered, and I would love to see more woven items on display!
  Today I went over to Carl's apartment with my serger to cut apart and serge the edges of his card inserts.  Carl likes to send his special cards during the year to his family and friends.  This batch of inserts will be his Christmas cards this year!










  I didn't count, but I think Carl has plenty of cards for the upcoming holiday season.  Plus, he has some designs he can use for other occasions.
  Carl is going to enter two of his cards in the fair:  a Christmas card, and a Spring card.

  Carl just finished a one man show of some of his tapestry pieces.  These are the ones that hang in the hall outside his apartment.  He'll be sending one of his pieces to the fair, too!

   This is his latest tapestry piece.  He's working on the hemstitching on the piece before it is cut off the loom.  Each of his pieces have a special meaning for him.

  Needless to say, there are more woven items that will be going to the fair!  We went through and selected a placemat, table runner and scarf to enter, also!  He's going to be tough competition!!!!

  Now, I have to finish up MY pieces for the fair!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

We Came, We Dyed, We Left!

Last Thursday and Friday we had dye days at the center. I almost forgot to take any pictures but near the end of the day, I did snap a few.

There were about 5 of us each day but the only person I snapped was Sharon. She was having a blast working on a Tuesday Weaver project Thursday and then on Friday dyed for herself. Her project was inspired by a garden she saw on her morning walk with her dog. Of course, this picture is of the skein she dyed for TW.

I had a bunch of small pieces of fabric that I'd cut and serged after a project that resulted in a few seconds. So I ended up soaking them in a small bowl. It was kind of fussy but it worked. The next day I brought a set of mixing bowls to dye the fabrics in.

Rolling them up into small ovals, none of them took up much space. I'm almost finished rinsing them this afternoon.

We'll see how the projects turn out! 

When we are busy doing projects like this, I seem to not think about taking pictures even though my iPad was right there!!

Tomorrow is July 4. Often on holidays, we weavers meet anyway because none of us watch sports and we need our TW fixes!! However, we decided not to meet tomorrow because July 4 is family time. I've already celebrated because Saturday was July 1, Canada Day. Canada is much younger than the US but 150 years old is still a milestone!! Tomorrow we'll all be celebrating Independence for the USA. As a transplant, I'm proud of both of my countries.  

Until next week, I hope you find time to weave because I will be sidetracked with other responsibilities and my poor loom will remain empty.

Carol

Full

Life is very full of visiting grandchildren these days, so not much else going on.  Picture last nights sleep over.  Pizza before going to the movies, and cake and ice cream after the movies. (9:30pm!  I know we were asking for it!)  A living room full of air mattresses, blankets and pillows.  The highlight of my week!

Today they will be heading off to Aunt Mary's house to continue the fun.  We will take a nap and rejoin the fun tomorrow after church.

Just a little peek,

Until next week hug your family, Tina

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

  That phrase has something to do with the midday sun, right???  Well, I'm inside until the sun starts to go down a little!  I worked on my flower bed this morning...oh, the humidity!!!  I can't believe I let the grape vine, Virginia creeper and poison ivy get such a hold on that little piece of soil!!!!  But, weeds aren't the only thing that just keeps growing!  I love seeing the cacti and tiger lilies in their glory.  Even my red yucca bloomed this year!  The hummingbirds and butterflies are having a field day!

  My surprise plants continue to amaze me!  The tomato plant is the same variety that I grew last year.  I'm still not sure just what my vine is going to be, though.  I'm thinking little yellow squash....or maybe cucumber.  We'll have to wait and see a little longer.

  I've been weaving in the evenings after being outside during the day.  The blue jean rug is done!  And, since I've got a little time until we're ready to move the loom, I thought I'd weave a tote bag or two for the fall sales.  I cut the weft last night for the next bag.
  That reminds me....while I was weaving I watched a new BBC series on my Acorn account:  Loch Ness.  It's a mystery series set in Scotland.  There's a new episode every week.  INTENSE!!!!
  The final season of Broadchurch has started on BBC America.  That's another good one!!!!  After your ears get adjusted to the accents, you will quickly get involved in the plot. 
  It's nice being back in the 21st Century...although there are still some glitches in my computer.  It seems that malware had invaded my computer, but that still doesn't explain the problems with Windows 10.  I've got a lead on someone to take a look at that.  For now, I'll be happy with what I have.  That was a long week with only the Kindle and my iPhone as my link to the cyber world.  The good news is that I didn't buy anything online for a whole week!!!!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

That's A Wrap!

  Pat stopped by the Studio to touch bases with the Weavers, and ended up putting together some weft for a new rug!!! 
  Last week, Carol brought in 7 boxes of donated fabric that had been used for home decoration (drapes and upholstery.)  Pat fell in love with that piece in the front, and started putting other pieces with it....this will be a great rug!!!!
  Sadly, she couldn't stay.  It seems that she went by a  favorite nursery yesterday, and ended up with a load of plants for her yard.  Her job today was to get them all in the ground!









  Bonnie's plants are producing lots and lots of veggies!  So many, in fact, that she brought squash, zucchini and cucumbers to share with the Weavers!!!!
  Thank you, Bonnie!!!


   Meanwhile, on the porch, Irene and Ron are getting ready for Kids Camp in July.  Ron is busy making some simple looms for them to use to weave wall hangings.
  Frieda brought her knitting....but, only got here with one needle.  Hummmmmmm........








  You might call this HIGH STEPPING braiding!!!  This is an eight strand flat braid that she is practicing for Kids Camp.  (Love the technique!!!!)








  This was the view from my loom...Ray is working on the towels, Alyce is busy with her placemats.

  Across the way, I can see Anna catching up with Tina.  We're all glad that Anna had a good trip!
  Marie was finishing up the first shawl on this pink warp.  The next one will have a gray weft.










  Marie went ahead and cut off the shawl so she could retie the warp.  I guess there is some fringe twisting in her future!!!








  Tina finished a towel and got started on the next one.  You can just see the trees as they make the turn on the breast beam.









  Joan finished her scarf warp, so now it's time to twist those fringes.  Helen's warp is coming right along...she'll be ready to get on a floor loom before long!

 

  Shirley's back from vacation, too.  She had pictures to share on her phone (plus, she has a great tan!!!)  Carol and Carl got a few minutes to catch up....this is a busy time for them.

  Linda got her towels done just in time for her big trip "back home."  Don't you just love navy and khaki together????  These towels are from a 2014 issue of Handwoven.   What a thoughtful hostess gift, Linda!!!!










  Whoa!  I think that might be the end of the warp!  Carl will be cutting off this warp of rugs when we meet again July 11.  That will be just in time to enter one of the blue jean rugs at the Anderson County Fair.
  I guess that IS A WRAP!!!!!


Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

Bit by Bit!

Last week was another special one. My lace guild flew Louise Colgan out from California again. We've done this for several years now to teach us Milanese lace. It's 3 days of uninterrupted lace making. From 9:30 til 4:30 each day with just a half hour break for lunch we worked on our pillows. By the end of each day our eyes and brains were pretty fried!

Remember we worked for three days. This is what my piece looked like at the end of the third day. There are 3 reds or 3 green colors plus a metallic in each section. I did pretty well. I only have a leaf and half the stem left to do. Lace is tricky. The tape patterns are intricate to make which slows us down.

Those of us that are weaves know about unweaving. Well, lacers do the same. Sometimes they have to unlace! Slowly the piece takes shape. The size is controlled by the many pins we use. We even have special tools to lift up all the pins once the project is done. The thread tails are trimmed then as well.

My piece is supposed to look like this:

Normally I take pictures of some of the projects on pillows during class. I didn't this time because none of the lace was showing. As we work, we cover our pillows with cloths to protect the threads from the pins already in the pillow. You only see just a tiny bit of the project, just the part you're working on. When you're done, it's a piece worth framing!

Not much weaving will happen in this studio for the next few weeks but it's going to be a busy time anyway.

Until next week, keep weaving, even if I don't !

Carol