Back on the Bench

Many other fibrey pursuits pulled me away for awhile, but I'm back on the bench again. The weaving bench that is.

Travelling Inlay

I purchased a studio wound vibrant green warp from a friend a while back and it is finally having its turn on the loom. The warp is 6m long, 245 threads, and mostly 5/2 and 3/2 cotton, but with one fifth of it being a single ply of a yarn called "silk cloud". I was a little concerned at first when, within the first few inches of weaving, I had one of those singles break, but I repaired it and have been weaving along with no further issues. 

Ribbon Insertion

I'm really enjoying weaving this warp and that enjoyment is translating into a very fast weave! I'm almost half done. 

In my usual style it is a real mixed bag of weaving techniques. Though I've stuck with (almost) all cotton as my weft the colours are being laid in randomly. I'm using numerous shades of green and ranging into teals and bluegreens. Much of it is stash generously donated by another weaver. It was in small bits and bobs that had been left on the cardboard cores weaving cotton comes on. 

 

In these final few photos you see the progression of a section of Sakiori.

A small piece of fabric chosen for it's vibrant colour, with no concern for the actual print, since it won't show.

The fabric was then torn into random (unmeasured) narrow strips. 

And then woven into the warp interspersed with several shots of the weaving cotton weft. 

My intent is just to use the fabric strips as accents in the weaving, not to create the densely woven fabric usually associated with Sakiori by inserting fabric strips with very little weft thread in between.

More of this warp yet to come. I think in the end it may be made into a jacket or vest.  

Morning on Slough

 We spent a lovely morning kayaking on the slough only minutes from our home.

We traveled quite a distance and were back before breakfast.

Fitting Muslin Saves the Day

 Well the "fitting muslin" does fit, but I don't know if I like the test garment enough to sacrifice the good linen I've been saving for the right project to come along.

This is Jalie 3678, otherwise known as the Rova Blouson Tank and Dress. True to the pattern name it "blouses" over a drawstring (or elastic) waistline, and I don't know if I want that effect enough to make a "good version" out of my hoarded linen.

I've worked hard to lose a significant amount of weight and I'm not willing to look like a sack of potatoes.

The designer used one fabric, top and bottom, and I know that would help avoid the visual widening effect that happens when an outfit cuts you in half, right in the middle. The half and half proportion is not one I would normally choose, but it worked with the fabric I had available for the fitting "muslin". 

It was a weird polyester sheet for a double bed, and oddly enough it was divided exactly in half, (vertically as far as I could tell), between the solid black and the black and white print. A Value Village find that only cost $4 CAD. It may have saved my expensive linen from a sorry mistake.

What really drew me to the design was the pockets. I do love to have pockets! There is a tunic length version too, but --- again with the figure drowning blouson waistline. I thought I'd like it more. What do you think?

Me Made May Nightwear

After sewing up 19 shirts for myself last month I have had no problem at all wearing something I've made myself every day throughout May. But what about the nights? LOL!

I know it's not a requirement, but I've tackled Me Made May nights too. Since my older night shirts are all hilariously large and sloppy on me now it was time for a couple of new ones.

Jalie.com patterns to the rescue again. I used a combination of pattern "3457 Dolman Tops" for the upper section and blended in the lower portion of the tunic view from pattern "3245 Raglan Tee and Racerback Tank". For the striped one above I had lengthened the tunic by 6", but have since decided it's too long for my tastes. I took 3 of those inches off for the red one below and I'm much happier with the length.

Both are made with a 95% cotton and 5%lycra blend jersey so they are very comfortable to sleep in. My bust measurement dictates a size that is 2 sizes larger than that for my hips but I just carried the one size from the bust down. I feel the extra looseness in the body portion is about right for a night shirt.

E-Spinning Outdoors

A beautiful sunny day perfect for spinning outdoors while catching a few vitamin D rich sun rays and enjoying the peaceful sway of a lawn swing.

Pocca is impressed with the huge bobbins included with the Electric Eel Wheel 6. They hold a full 8 ounces no problem.

Denim Statement Piece

Here's another pendant made using the basic ideas gleaned during the "Make a Statement" multi-media course presented online by Gwenn Lafleur. This particular one is my version of the "medicine bag". It forms a pocket for whatever special trinkets a person might wish to carry. 

I made the base of mine from an Inkle band that had been woven on my Saori CH60 floor loom for another purpose, but it turned out too wide. I repurposed it, and through some folding, fashioned it into an open pocket on the back. To form a "bezel" for the top of the pendant I folded the fabric over a plastic straw creating a reinforced casing. A tubular Inkle band, created on my Windhaven Ukulele Inkle Loom, passes through the straw in the casing. 

Both Inkle bands made use of weaving cotton given to me by a friend when she was moving to a new community. I believe it was originally part of the stash of another mutual friend and former guild member. In fact, all components of the pendant have special meaning to me.

All three of the buttons used came from a huge button jar that originally belonged to my grandmother and was handed down to my mother, and now to me. The buttons themselves may or may not be old since each of us has added to the collection over the years.

The pale blue lace surrounding the stacked buttons is a scrap leftover from making tiny doll clothing, another hobby of mine.

The frayed denim at the bottom edge is the hem of a discarded pair of my husband's jeans.

The large silver beads along the top, just below the casing, are from a broken necklace. Those beads are nestled into a small piece of tatting that I did years ago while learning shuttle tatting.

The thin blue fabric with white polka dots in the upper right corner is an ancient old, completely worn to tatters, handkerchief that belonged to my husband and perhaps might have originally been my dad's?

The little silver dragonfly was a gift from a friend that knows I have a special affection for dragonflies.

The small dark blue beads scattered beside the dragonfly are leftovers from an intricate beaded shawl that took many months to knit.

Arching down the left side is a piece of an heirloom crocheted doily. It was stained and there were holes in it so it had just been tucked away, unused. I'm hoping this use is more honoring of the original craftswoman.

The embroidery embellishing the fabric that runs diagonally across the middle of the piece was done using floss inherited from my mother.

I'm very pleased with this pendant. I think I'll wear it a lot, denim being such a wardrobe staple. 

StoDoll Eggy's Introduction

I've been so busy rushing to get the knitting patterns for DreamHigh Studio's micro doll Pocca ready for publication that I completely forgot to introduce a newcomer around here. Meet StoDoll "Eggy", renamed "Betty" after arriving here. 

I ordered her as a "full set", meaning she came with the wig, eyes, outfit, and shoes pictured above, which is a good thing because I was so caught up in the designing for micro-doll Pocca that I didn't have time to work with her much at first. 

(I know! Her expression does look like she was feeling the lack of attention!) 

The pattern collection for DreamHigh Studio's Pocca was published a few days ago, so now I can knit and/or sew a few things for Betty. This dress is the first of what will hopefully become a nice new wardrobe for her. 

She still looks a little sad. Maybe she's disappointed that it's only one dress after she waited so long? 

Fortunately Betty fits into the clothing from my Pukipuki line of knitting patterns. She is on a stodoll S body, which is much like an ob11 body but with legs that are 5mm longer and with stronger joints. 

The StoDoll body is amazing at posing unsupported!

True "ball jointed dolls" are strung with elastic cord, which often makes them "kicky" and prone to having their elastic stretch out over time leaving them less stable and needing restringing, which can be difficult. 

The StoDoll body has more of a mechanical joint and it holds varied poses beautifully.

Making a Statement

 A couple of days ago I took the online "Make a Statement" class taught by Gwen Lafleur. It was a mixed media class and besides basic jewelry/beading methods it also went into layering and using special mediums like embossing ink. I haven't yet gotten to Michaels in the next community, so I worked with what I had on hand.

The central medallion is one that I embroidered last June. I also made the tubular Inkle band at that time and put it together in a simple pendant style. Unfortunately it had a tendency to spin when worn and often showed the backside rather than the front. The problem was the way I had attached it  top and bottom from only one central point.

Now that it has beaded additions and is attached to the Inkle band on both sides it will stay put. 

Gwen Lafleur seemed to refer to "statement" as something containing a personal affirmation note. I would be more inclined to define statement jewelry they way Brittany's Fine Jewelry does in this quote:

"Statement jewelry allows both men and women to express themselves and their personality through jewelry. Statement jewelry is unique and bold and helps the wearer portray who they are through their outward appearance." 

When I portray who I am through my outward appearance I like to be seen as creative, unique, and a truly "one of a kind" fibre artist. I think this piece of wearable art says that quite nicely.

Jewel Splint

I've been having trouble for a number of years now with a trigger thumb. It doesn't happen all the time, but once it snaps once, it is painful, swollen, and takes time to heal. During that healing time I keep reinjuring it over and over. I've found a beautiful solution!

This trigger thumb ring-splint immobilizes the joint and prevents the "trigger" from occurring. Since the trigger thumb is most often set off by a period of hand spinning it was important to me that I still be able to spin with the ring-splint on. It came through the "test drive" with flying colours! It doesn't impede my spinning at all.

What is really amazing is that this custom ring, though it must fit both above and below the joint, as well as over the joint itself, and it came all the way from Israel, still fits perfectly, right out of the box. JewelSplint, the occupational therapist/jeweler, requests photos and measurements of the joint(s) in question and makes each splint to fit the customer. She did a wonderful job! I'm so pleased.

If you are a handspinner with a similar issue with your thumb, I highly recommend a custom made trigger thumb ring-splint by JewelSplint.

As always, links in this post are there for your information and convenience. I'm happy to send interested persons to good businesses, but I am not affiliated nor do I get kickbacks for your "clicks". 

19 New Shirts!

 I've been sewing --- a LOT! 19 new shirts have been added to my wardrobe.

Due to a large weight loss I have shrunk out of almost all of my pre-October 2020 wardrobe, from underwear to winter coats. I've bought a few pairs of jeans in the meantime, gradually buying smaller and smaller sizes of my favourite style over the past 6 months, but an update of my tops was very overdue!

Now that I'm no longer hiding under loose, layered clothing I came to the realization that what I really like to wear, that which I'm most comfortable in, is t-shirts --- long sleeved mock necks for cooler months, short sleeved V-necks in the warm summer days. Shopping for such shirts was futile. I don't like having writing and logos on my shirts, and I'm not overly fond of most prints. Add to that the fact that women's t-shirts these days are poorly made of cheap fabric that doesn't last, and are so thin you could spit through them! And colour? I like intense, bold colour in pure hues, nothing muted or pastel, and I can never find what I want in stores! Complicating things is that most stores in this area won't let you try anything on -- because of Covid. Returns are allowed, but what a hassle!

I decided that the only fix for all those problems would be to sew my own t-shirts from a tried and true pattern. I've made Jalie #2805, Women's T-shirts, with great success, many times before, in sizes from my smallest grandchild to me, at my largest. One pattern purchase and an incredible range of sizes (27!) all easily traced and used over and over again. 

Fabricland, the only fabric store in Chilliwack with knit fabric that I know of, didn't have much of a selection of jersey knit fabric. They had colours I don't care for, thin fabric, fussy prints, and high prices. Then one day while in Abbotsford for another reason I stopped in at Overseas Fabrics. Oh my word! What a selection they have! Reasonable prices too! ALL of the above fabrics were found there. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I couldn't choose just one or two. If you don't like my rather bold colour taste, they do have more muted, subtle selections too. 

So after about a month of frequent sewing I now have 19 new shirts! Nine of the shirts are long sleeved mock necks, and ten of them are short sleeved V-necks. 

In most of the colours I made both the long sleeved and the short sleeved versions. I have both styles in Dark Eggplant, Royal Blue, Kelly Green, Lime Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and White. 

I also have just the short sleeved in Black and Navy. I didn't bother with those in the long sleeves because I already have good store bought turtlenecks in those colours. 

I have just the long sleeved in Hot Pink because, as much as I would have liked a t-shirt that colour there was not enough fabric remaining on the bolt. I'll be watching for a restock though!

All links in this post are there for your interest and convenience. I am not affiliated in any way nor do I receive any kick back for "clicks". 

Kickstarter Success

Last June I took a chance and backed a "Kickstarter" project for a new e-spinner. It wasn't much of a risk since this isn't the first go with Kickstarter for the inventor, Maurice Ribble of Dreaming Robots. Previous backers were very happy with the products he has come up with, his customer service, and his record for keeping backers informed throughout the process. 

It was well worth the wait! I love this great electric spinner, the "Electric Eel Wheel 6.0". It turns out all my fears about not being able to adapt to the steady pace of an electric spinner were unwarranted. With an easy stop/start foot switch I can stop and start quickly any time a section of spinning needs a little more attention.

And now I'll need more fibre to spin!

The link in this blog post is there for your convenience. I am not affiliated, nor do I receive any reimbursement for "clicks". 

Blooming at His Request?

 My African Violet is blooming again, 

I wonder what Pocca's been whispering to them? 

He does seem to have a magic touch.

Two of Twelve

The first two shirts, of the twelve I intend to make, are now finished. I made the short sleeved v-neck for warmer days, the long sleeved mock neck for when there is more of a chill in the air.

I think when I cut out the next ones I'll shorten the sleeves some, otherwise the fit is good. 

Ten more t-shirts, in six more colours, yet to go. But first I have a couple of birthday presents to make for my youngest granddaughter.

 

Happy St Patrick's Day

 A happy St. Patrick's Day to you! Pocca says that whether you're Irish or not any day is a good day to celebrate and wish someone a happy day. He IS and elf, but not of the Leprechaun clan. 

So if you don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day then Pocca wishes a Happy Day to you as well. He received a special green outfit to wear for this happy day.

Me? Well even though I'm not Irish I do enjoy a "Happy Day" and ever since childhood I've made an effort to wear something green on St. Patrick's Day, just for fun. This year my "bit o' green" is a long sleeved t-shirt I finished sewing just in time. I also have a short sleeved t-shirt almost finished in the same colour.

In the weeks and months to come there will be many more made, in a variety of my favourite colours (pure hues). I scored big time at Overseas Fabrics in Abbotsford, BC. If you're looking for a great t-shirt fabric the "Miracle Knits" in 10oz is excellent and they have a good stock. You can even order ahead for curbside pickup. 

I plan to make 7 short sleeved V-necks and 5 long sleeved mock-necks from this stack of fabric using my favourite t-shirt pattern, "Jalie 2805 - Women's T-shirts". 

I'm not affilated with either of these businesses, and I don't get "kick backs". The links are there just for your convenience, if you choose to use them.

Signs of Spring

The first signs of spring have begun to appear.

 

These newly sprouting leaves were spotted while walking the Chilliwack Rotary Trail.

A Boy in a Dress

With each day that passes Pocca seems more and more like a boy. I've referred to him as such since the beginning. 

There have been some Pocca owners requesting a pattern for a dress though, so this little guy, being the good sport that he is, agreed to model the finished dress. He may end up with one more dress as I test knit the final pattern one more time for accuracy and clarity. After that though, he's really hoping for some more pants!

Lace Trimmed Bonnet

    I've spent the last 3 days designing an itty bitty bonnet for Pocca.

The process for designing takes a lot more time than just knitting something. It started with the idea and some researching of lace patterns that I felt could work at this tiny gauge. The pattern had to be visible, yet not too complex to work since it can be difficult to manipulate the tiny stitches. 

Once the idea was fully formed I had to work out how many stitches it would take to fit her little marble sized head, when to begin decreasing for the back of the head shaping, and where to put the openings so that the big ears would have room.

Then there were multiple knittings of the bonnet. It's the only way to test that the pattern works in more than just theory. The very first time through for anything is usually scrapped as I find stitch counts I need to correct, or adjustments to size.

And just incase you haven't fully comprehended just how VERY TINY Pocca is.....

Her "friend" here is a standard sized Lego people.