Warp Salvaging

I had trouble with that warp I put on the other day. The selvedges got really tight and the centre portion went soft. I think it was a problem with the way I wound onto the back beam, and I know how to correct that, so I cut off the old warp. I salvaged what I could by making this:



A small purse just the right size for carrying a small wallet and keys. The strap is a narrow inkle woven band. The button is handmade from a cross-section of an antler. The two centre holes were drilled too close together and made a larger, joined hole, making it impossible to sew on "correctly", but I like the extra interest it provides when sewn on like this.



I have now rewarped with the same pattern to make the scarf I had originally intended to make.

Packing Essentials

Packing for a road trip requires careful thought. The right knitting project is essential. It must be large enough to last the whole trip and easy enough that I appear to be "enjoying the scenery" (for my husband's benefit) with my eyes on the surrounding countryside rather than my knitting. It also helps if it is something I actually want to knit.

Last night, despite other unfinished projects, I cast on for another "One Stitch Cardigan". I've done this one as "road trip knitting" before, only in a cheap acrylic. Once I determined that I liked the style and the fit I vowed that I would one day knit it again in nicer yarn.



This time around it will be knit from the huge supply of 3ply handspun wool I've been trying to find the right project for. I've tried this wool for a few different things and nothing ever seemed just right. I tried cables and textures but they were lost to the beautiful "ragg" effect of this handspun. Plain stockinette didn't impress me either. When I knit the garter stitch gauge swatch I knew I had found the right project. Add in the beautiful antler tip* buttons I was given a while back and I think I'll have the look I was wanting, a plain cardigan that should play up the handspun look.

*note: antlers are shed annually and no animals were harmed in the making of the buttons.

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