Weaving with blues

After a distressing set up, finally loving this pattern.

Towels and two runners.

Weaving towels

Towel A and Towel B

Definitions:  warp=the long threads that are vertical on the loom;  weft=horizontal threads inserted by the shuttle.

Weaving with a table top loom is a joy for me.  The repetition is longer than knitting... Knitting is stitch, stitch, stitch, or some variation of that, while weaving is (1) select the shed (opening between warp threads), (2) insert shuttle and "shuttle" it through to the other side, (3) grab the edge to make it even, (4) arrange trailing thread (weft) in a nice arc, (5) close up the weft thread with the beater, and (6) admire....repeat.
This warp was put on the loom last June!  As you can see by the crazy pattern, it wasn't simple.  The edges are twill, and the middle is called Cottonwood Leaf. 
I wove the above towels, and needed a gift so I cut them off and retied. (That didn't go as easily as I had hoped...so, weaver beware!)  Towel A is hemmed and Towel B has fringe.  I like fringe...takes a little more time to sew the edge to lock in the weft.

Runner

So far, this runner is (only) the third piece on the warp.  It's a discovery that by zigzagging the twill (on the edges), another pleasing design appears in the middle.  You may notice there's a learning curve that I eventually mastered called "write it down, stupid".  This will definitely be a "handmade heirloom".  (Hmmm.  Heirloom.)  As I leave weaving for awhile, this runner is at the halfway point.

Towel A

Fighting boredom?  Sometimes, admiring the pattern you are creating isn't enough to entertain me for hours, but I've discovered time flies when I listen to podcasts at the same time.  AND there are SO MANY to choose from!  Radiolab, TED radio hour, and Wait, wait, don't tell me are some of my favorites.  Or you can choose knitting podcasts, of course...Good listening, everyone!

Busy weaving and knitting

Another warp woven in record time!  New colors for me, in Blues and White, with Yellow and Red contrasts.  Such fun to experiment, and then gift away.  But first, photos.

I tried fringe, which I really adore.

Something for a red kitchen:

Hmm.  A REAL experiment with thicker threads.  

Four smaller, placemat sized pieces.  Or hand towels, or fabric for future bags... Who knows?

A few false starts... looking for projects for Crazy Zauberball yarn.  This doesn't exist any longer...frogged.

The perfect pattern for my Shetland yarn.  

Bousta Beanie by Gudrun Johnston from Shetland Wool Week Website   

Organic Native Shetland Jumperweight by Uradale Yarn Sport 100% Shetland 189 yards / 50 grams

Fearing the worst for a mid-May need for RED*, I whipped up these... Then the weather was SO balmy, bordering on unseasonal, or atypical of Bergen, I didn't need them.  Lovely to look at and fun to knit. (You may not recognize Clara Parkes' pattern.  I got creative when I matched it to a sweater, hence no "Sweet Fern" allowed.)

Sweet Fern Mitts by Clara Parkes from The Knitter's Book of Wool  

Cascade 220® by Cascade Yarns Worsted 100% Wool 220 yards / 100 grams

If you notice in the right margin that I haven't knitted this year, you'll understand that I've been too busy knitting etc. to document my yardage/mileage.  

*In Norway, EVERYONE must wear red or have a Norwegian costume, for the 17th of May.  More red is better! Or you look like a tourist...LOL!

Weaving and nice things

I went to a weaving demonstration and was allowed to weave a bit on this rickety loom.  This young woman was presenting Monk's weave, which I had done in the 70's in Norway.  

It was held in an Art Wool shop in Lerwick with a feast for the eyes and hands!

A recommended book.

And recommended shopping...at Jamieson &Son's.

Last minute

The final week before leaving again, needed to finish my towel, so I purchased 1/4" double fold biased tape to use as a hanger.  I discovered that my sewing machine wouldn't sew through it... so I abandoned it for plain single white tape...  I was disappointed because I loved the color, but after tearing out my hair I gave up.  

And then, I decided that I HAD to have stockings for my knitting tour.  I LOVE the pattern, but...

I got to the first heel and thought, "OMG!  When will I ever wear these?  I think leg warmers are a better project"... so I finished off the first one, and intend to finish the second one on my travel day to Iceland.

Pattern:

Lissajous Socks

by Cookie A

from Knit. Sock. Love.

Yarn: color - Frog S Back

Findley Dappled

by Juniper Moon Farm

Lace / 2 ply

50% Merino, 50% Silk

798 yards / 100 grams

Hoodless hoodie:

Pattern:

Cadet Cardi

by Lena Skvagerson

from Creative Knitting, Winter 2014

Yarn:  Needles US 10!

Dover

by Idena

Bulky / 12 ply

68% Acrylic, 32% Wool

82 yards / 50 grams

Remember the legend...

The Loopy Legend sock. in Pacific Sunset.

Pattern: 

Zigzagular Socks

by Susie White

from Prairie Girl Designs

Yarn:  

Loopy Legends

by The Loopy Ewe

Fingering / 4 ply

80% Merino, 20% Nylon

435 yards / 100 grams

Meanwhile, I got my fix of weaving...

Same warp, endless patterns.

No slacking...

Loving the loom...

Finished three towels and a 50" runner. Used half of the warp, so after re-threading a few sections, I'll be in business again, soon.

Always a sock "on hand"!!!  Free pattern Diagonal Rib.

Looming

This might look familiar.  It did to me, but only after I started measuring out the warp...

Compare to this from 1-1/2 years ago...

I guess I like the colors.  These are not as vibrant as the previous project, and I hope to weave in twill and waffle weave.  The warp is just under 10 yards long... For you non-weavers I want to tell you, THAT'S JUST CRAZY!  For you weavers, you know that already! :)

Cotton thread

I don't know... When does thread become yarn?  Yarn goes through a needle so that can't be the criteria.  This is 5 lbs. of 8/2 cotton.  The idea of using variegated colors for weaving intrigues me... so I bit bought it!  How many towels...?

Weaving, Camp Day 2

Fiber, weaving, fever, wool... lovely stuff.

A collection of colors.

Bolts of woven fabric, and items completed.

Inspiration at Mary Randall McMahon's Weaving Studio in Geneseo, NY.

What's going on?  12 to 14 of us yarn crazies got together to enjoy some chatter, and revel in our love of all things knitted.  This was Knit Camp #2 (last year in Maine) in WNY.  

Another step

Horrors!  Crochet!  My least used skill, and therefore the most untrusted.  I have to look up every stitch, and then I'm always pleasantly surprised that I can actually do it--without pain and suffering.  Usually crochet takes me by surprise because I haven't read ahead through the pattern to warn myself, but this time, I knew it was coming.  It's going to be just fine!

Here's the pile of woven blanket.  Pictures in reverse order...

Blanket weaving

Trying to do the impossible: Create a wedding gift that young things will like/use and have meaning.  So here is the beginning of "Sisterdale".  Sisterdale happens to be the place where the wedding will happen, so when I saw the name, I thought immediately of them.

There are woven panels, which I just finished.  Then they are crocheted together, and given a knitted edging.  The edging will be the boring never-ending part....

Gift in progress.
Today is the day I'm going to cut the panels.  Fingers crossed. I have all morning to do this, and then I have a (totally unrelated) wedding to play this afternoon.  First time I've played a church wedding in years!  Times are changing...