Scratching That Itch

I've always been intrigued by pine needle basket making.

There aren't many trees in this area that grow needles that are long enough and strong enough, but I've found one tree that is shedding needles that are at least the minimum six inches in length.

With the help of multiple YouTube videos and some supplies I had on hand I'm learning the technique. The orange piece is a plastic drinking straw being used as a gauge. I'm using weaving cotton in place of rattan or sinew. It's just a first, learning piece.

Wagging Tails and Vicious Snarls

A peculiar yarn with long waggling loose tails created quite a mess of snarls during warping today. Those tails did not work alone. A rather innocent looking, smooth but stretchy yarn was co-conspirator. They clung to each other mercilessly throughout the entire beaming process.

But I eventually won the war and I'm up and weaving. In fact I'm over 1/4 of the way through an eternity style scarf.

That's one of the beautiful benefits of a Saori loom. This pink yardage was off the loom and I had another project sleyed, threaded, beamed and tensioned later the same day and was up and weaving again. 

There is enough of this lightweight pink cotton yardage to make some sort of simple top I think -- if I ever find the time! So many hobbies, such short days!

• I have 2 knitting projects on the go with another 2 waiting in the wings. All of them I'd like to see finished and being worn. 
• I'm really enjoying working on a rather time consuming Boro/Sashiko stitching project. I'd love to be able to work on it all day, every day but unfortunately chores and other commitments intrude.
• My most recent Upcycle sewing project, "The Michelle Dress", is stalled because I am just not able to drape it properly on myself so I simply must get my dress form fitted and carved to better represent my true shape and size. Not an easy or quick project!
• My granddaughter and I gathered a large pile of pine needles and I need to get them sorted, washed, and then soaked so I can try my hand at making pine needle baskets. 
• When I can I like to get to the guild's Tuesday spinning so I can justify my spinning fibre stash.
• My fish tank has had an outbreak of what I think is Cyanobacteria, commonly called Blue-green Algae, though it's not an algae at all but a form of fast spreading aquatic bacteria. It's making a mess of my tank and I've got to get it under control. 
• And -- last but certainly not least, I walk Kona, my son's dog, for about and hour to an hour and a half 5 days a week.

So there you go Louise. That's what I've been up to lately.  ;-)