Moving Day

Today was moving day ----

Well, it was for the Saori CH60 anyway. My tiny little weaving room has been terribly overcrowded ever since the Woolhouse Tools Carolyn and the Leclerc Dorothy moved in. Tired of barely having room to turn around, let alone actually weave, I moved the Saori to an unused corner of the living room today.

On the loom is a warp made from a "grab bag" from a former guild members estate. The guild challenged us to use these yarns to create something and to have it ready in time for the Christmas Luncheon which is only one month from now. 

These are the yarns I received. Most are handspun. I think one is a commercially spun yarn, perhaps dyed by the former guild member.

Rooting through my own stash I found little bits n bobs of yarns I can use with the ones from the grab bag. Most notably is the multicoloured handspun one. I think it will be a good colour inspiration for choosing further yarns for both warp and weft. 

In other news, I spent ALL of October working exclusively on a Mystery Knitalong that has now come to an end. Wow! Big project. LOTS of knitting! I'll tell you more about that once I have a few modelled pictures.

 

Wee Walnut Windhaven

This beautifully handcrafted Inkle loom arrived yesterday. Isn't it a cute little thing? It's petite size means it can be used in one's lap and will make a convenient portable loom for away from home use.

It was made of beautiful walnut wood by Miss Maggie of Windhaven Looms.

The loom comes with a narrow stick shuttle, a laminated quick reference card showing the warp path, and a well laid out instruction booklet with several pretty patterns to start you off.

I was up and weaving the same day and I'm very happy with the results.

Pretty Piccolo

While I was out and about today running pre-Christmas errands a wonderful new treasure arrived.

I put the money I earned from sales of Saori woven items toward an additional Saori loom. This is a smaller "Piccolo" loom that can be adjusted to allow children as young as three years old to weave, even operating the treadles themselves. I bought it so that my granddaughters, aged seven and nine years, can weave along side me when they visit. They are tall enough that I think they will be able to use it at the regular height. I also purchased an "inside set" so that the warps can be swapped out between their visits and each girl can weave on their own warp without having to share. 

Between their visits I can fold the loom up very small so it's out of my way. I can also use the loom occasionally for demonstrations and weaving at alternate locations. I'm hoping I'll be able to convince my Christmas guests to give the loom a try too. 

Loom Elves

I've discovered that I have loom elves!



They seem to be quite helpful --- when they aren't playing tricks!

Oh Happy Day!

It wasn't until 9pm, but we did get the loom assembled and I even managed to weave an inch or so before bed.

I love, love, LOVE this loom! She's so sturdy and beautiful and the mechanics of it are so nicely thought out. It was hard going to bed last night knowing I wouldn't have a chance to weave again until around noon today. I woke up at 4am just itching to get back at it but had to restrain myself so as not to disturb my sleeping husband.

Yesterday was a fabulous day for me. I mean absolutely FABulous. First off I got this lovely little loom and I'm so, so happy with it, but that wasn't all. A large part of my day was spent at an eye surgery centre having tests done. How is that fabulous? After all the testing was done I learned that I qualify for Lasik eye surgery! Squeeee!

The actual surgery will be scheduled for near the end of September. For the first time since I was about 7 years old I won't have to wear glasses or contact lenses for distance vision. I'll still have to wear reading glasses for close up work, but that's better than having to wear glasses ALL the time. For me it's not at all about vanity. It's all those little, annoying things about wearing glasses. For instance, I'll be able to walk the dog in the rain without wishing my glasses came with windshield wipers.

Yesterday was such a great day that I was practically bouncing in my seat with excitement. A new loom AND some great news.

Some Assembly Required

This could be -- interesting.

                        Perhaps even --- Challenging!


My new loom arrived yesterday afternoon. I was warned. Yes I was. I knew it was coming in pieces and would need assembly. Perhaps I was unprepared for the magnitude of this job?



This is how far I've gotten so far.



Yes, so far I've only unwrapped most of it and identified (most) of the pieces. To be fair I spent all day yesterday, and well into the evening, decluttering, organizing and cleaning my weaving room. I only got around to opening the box this morning. I have a lengthy eye exam scheduled for today so I'm not likely to get the whole loom assembled, let alone operating, until tomorrow, but I'll pick away at it whenever I have a moment.

Off to a Good Start

After scrapping that failed, fuzzy blue-violet and chartreuse warp, I've wound another warp and this one is much proving to be much more successful!

The warp is all cotton and the colours chosen were inspired by the ball of dishcloth cotton you see in the centre. The white, green, and light blue are not in the warp but may end up included as weft. 

Kona was a patient supervisor of the beaming process, though she chose to lay right where I would have to step over her every time I went from the front of the loom to the back. Using the "yank and crank" method of keeping a uniform tension I was stepping over her a LOT. 

I put this warp on my loom so that it wouldn't be empty when a visitor interested in Saori weaving comes by. But I find it a very pleasant warp to weave and cannot seem to stay away. I may end up using up all 6 metres of it before the guest arrives! 

The colours are most accurate in this final photo. I have no idea what the final use will be of the yardage, but I certainly am enjoying weaving it.