Impromptu Project

I was thinking today that it would be nice to have somewhere on my wheel where I could store my scissors and spinning wheel lubricant. Next thing I knew I was digging through my fabric scraps and this little fabric cup with pockets was born.

Long ago I bought an acrylic cup holder for my spinning wheel thinking it would be handy to keep a drink nearby, especially at crowded spin-ins. While cup holders work well on some wheels the only location for one on a LittleGem is right below the flyer. It didn't take long to discover that this results in debris from spinning falling straight into my coffee. 

If I use the acrylic cup to hold scissors or other tools they rattle while I spin. I decided a cloth liner would be just the thing. I even found remnants in my scrap box that match the applique I added to my spinning chair eleven years ago. The spinning related implements fit snuggly in the exterior pockets while the centre cup portion can be used like a tiny garbage can to contain the debris picked from wool while spinning. 

Time for Replacements

I finally got around to making replacement hanging towels for my kitchen.

The ones I made in 2016 are headed for the rag bag, well worn and past their "best before" date. They have served well and owe me nothing. I will salvage the buttons for the next batch though.

Pattern is a freebee published at "Keliosbelly". 

Mini Niddy Noddy

Another handy little tool made by my resident handyman. This time a small niddy noddy for winding the shorter skeins that come off the charkha.

It's not as pretty as the spindle Lazy Kate he recently made, but it is very functional and was whipped up in a hurry using this tutorial when I grew disenchanted with the skein winder included in the book charkha. The PVC Lazy Kate makes little mini skeins only 1 yard in diameter. 

These skeins, and 3 more full cops waiting to be plyed, are the result of my first week of spinning cotton on the charkha. The one closest to the bottom of the photo was the first, a 3ply. The remainder are 2 ply skeins. 

Spindle Lazy Kate

Look at the great charkha spindle Lazy Kate my husband came up with for me. It works great! The weight of the spindles standing upright against the eyelets is just enough drag that I don't get backspin or pigtails when plying.

These kind of projects, whipped up without complaint, on request, are far better and more thoughtful than flowers! I'm a lucky wife.

Khadi Khanoo

Such a funny yet fun name for a shuttle, The Khadi Khanoo. What a gorgeous shuttle this is in the African Bubinga wood.

It's specially designed to accept a loaded spindle rather than the usual boat shuttle bobbin. This way singles can be woven straight from the charkha spindle rather than being rewound first onto a bobbin. 

I purchased it from NewWorldTextiles.com but apparently they are made by BlusterBayWoodworks.com.

First Cotton Skein

My first skein of handspun cotton. I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.

I filled 3 spindles on the charkha (about .25 oz each), placed them on a charkha spindle lazy kate that my husband is making for me (not quite finished but I got to take it for a test drive), and then plyed them together using my Majacraft LittleGem wheel. 

The resulting skein weighs 20gr (.705 oz) and is approximately 80 yards long. I forgot to measure WPI before skeining it, but it looks to be about a fingering weight. So soft and cuddly! I love it.

A More Colourful Bella

You may recall me introducing Bella a month ago. She's coloured up a lot since then!

And she's still such an incredibly active fish that it's difficult to even video her, let along capture a still from the video.

To jog your memory here's what she looked like on June 18th.

Charkha

The Mahatma Centennial Charkha I ordered from New World Textiles has arrived. Let the play begin!

Spinning cotton on the charkha is much easier than I expected. It will take some time and practice to get good at spinning a consistent thickness and twist, but after watching the basic beginner portion of the "Spinning Cotton on the Charkha" DVD I was able to produce a passable cotton thread. 

Yesterday a friend dropped off a stash of cotton that she is no longer interested in spinning -- 

-- and I also received over a pound of cotton that I ordered. Lots to keep me busy for quite some time!

Guardian of the Blackberries

Out on a walk by the Blue Heron Reserve my granddaughter discovered this beauty while looking for a handful of the first ripe blackberries.

Three For One

I entered 3 hand woven items in the exhibit at the ANWG (Association of Northwest Weaver's Guilds) Convergence 2019 held last month in Prince George and I did far better than I expected. My "What Rubbish" jacket won three different awards!

The awards ribbons from left to right are:

"Other Techniques, Best in Show"

"Recycled Yarn(s)/Fabric(s)"

"Other Techniques, "People's Choice"

Cash prizes were provided by:

The Portland Hand Weaver's Guild, 

The South Cariboo Weaver's Spinner's and Fibre Artists,

and The Shuswap Spinner's and Weaver's Guild

I've decided to use the cash prizes to buy a Mahatma Centennial Charkha and embark on the new adventure of learning to spin cotton. The charkha will be arriving soon, but it may be awhile before the cotton I also ordered arrives.

The members of the Tzouhalem Spinner's and Weaver's Guild did such a beautiful job of the handmade award ribbons that I decided to frame them and display them in my weaving room. 

The awards ribbons from left to right are:

Hand knit from handspun silk.

Tablet woven by hand and beaded.

Handwoven in fine cotton in an intricate pattern.

A big thank you goes out to the many people who worked so hard to make Convergence 2019 a success.