Italian Silk To Begin the New Year

 I did manage to get another loom dressed in time for the New Year.

This is the little Leclerc Dorothy 4 harness table loom dressed in pure Italian silk for a Pinwheel pattern. It will be a learning experience for me, for sure. I'm not really sure how to "properly" carry the yarns up the selvedge. I'm also not sure if I should have done the beginning hemstitching in black, before throwing the first few picks of the pattern in white? I kind of wish now that I had, though I'm not taking it out now.

One Neck Kink Later

 I managed to get the 6 metre, 480 thread warp onto the Woolhouse Tools Carolyn yesterday, but it was quite the undertaking and resulted in a sore neck.

Did I learn my lesson? Nope. I'm back at it again today, planning, winding, threading, sleying, beaming, and tying on another warp (if all goes well!). This time it will be a smaller project. Just a scarf for the wee little Leclerc Dorothy loom.

New Starts for the New Year

I'm attempting to get all my looms dressed in time to ring in the New Year. I have some vague recollection that a dressed loom is supposed to be symbolic of great potential for the new year -- 'er somethin'. Maybe I made that up? Anyway, sounds good to me.

First up is the Saori loom, now dressed in a multi-textural warp in natural colours. No specific end product in mind, just "yardage" to tame the overflowing stash box of natural coloured yarn bits and bobs.

Next up is the larger of my two Inkle looms. I have warped it for a white/black/grey-silver band that I'll use a portion of for my growing collection of interchangeable bands for my medical alert information tag.

Now being wound for my Woolhouse Tools Carolyn is an 8/2 cotton warp for dish towels. These will be woven in a 2x2 twill. They are another stash buster project, this time using up small amounts of various blue cottons.

If I somehow find the time between now and the New Year I'd like to also put a short warp on my wee little Windhaven Ukulele inkle loom. Maybe a tubular band of some sort? The little Dorothy could use a scarf warp too. We'll see how far I get. Not much time left in 2022!

Narrow Scarf Passes the Test

In late November I scrounged around in my stash looking for a ball of somethin-er-other to pair with a quick and easy pattern I could do while waiting in the car while my husband had cataract surgery, since I was to be his designated driver after the procedure.

This little scarf, somewhat of my own design, but inspired by the Pomegranate Shawl by Drops Design, paired with a single ball of King Cole Riot Double Knitting, fit the bill. It's simple garter stitch other than a bit of shaping done on every 6th row. My innovation was to give it an I-cord edging all around.

It's been finished for a few weeks now and has passed the test of daily use. It's warm and cozy and just the right length and width. I like the way it hugs my neck without long ends to worry about.

It's nice and warm on our chilly early morning dog walks.

 

Nano2 Arrival

My little Nano2 spinning wheel from Dreaming Robots has arrived. I backed the Kickstarter for it with no hesitation whatsoever since the inventor, Maurice Ribble, has such an excellent track record with his Kickstarter funded projects.   

I've individualized mine with a few vibrant green 3D parts printed locally by "Got Wood Customs".

Here is what it looked like before the customization:

Each tiny bobbin only holds 2 ounces, so I will continue to use my EEW6 for plying. 

My first skein is 2.65 ounces (76 grams) of Gotland wool spun to a 2ply laceweight. 

Kisses For Santa

Teddy had a bath this morning in preparation for a visit to Santa.

While he was there he made sure to give Santa a KISS. 

 

Brightening a Dark Corner

 In 2020 I wove a Saori wall hanging. I had a difficult time finding the perfect spot for it. It is lit with 50 tiny battery operated Christmas lights. If hung where it is too dark the weaving itself doesn't show, just the lights. If hung in a bright place the weaving looks great but the lights aren't show to best effect. This year I have found the perfect corner. It's away from direct light but not in total darkness either. 

The lump underneath it, covered in a plastic Christmas table cloth, is actually my Saori loom trying to hide in plain sight. Just a little closer to the camera position in the next photo is a Christmas table runner woven in 2013 that is remarkably similar to the wall hanging. 

And for those that don't visit via my Facebook page, here is our Christmas tree set up in the opposite corner near the fireplace.