I ALMOST FORGOT

I forgot that I had a friend take a short video of me using my Fantasia.  

It was amazing to me how many people said the wheel wobbled alot.  I personally haven’t  encountered that.  And several ladies at the retreat tried it out, and no one mentioned a wobble.

So far my only issues with this wheel are not deal breakers for me.  1.  When you stop treddling, because the wheel is so heavy, the momentum  allows the wheel to keep spinning for a rotation or two.  I’m working on figuring out how to minimize that.  And so far it’s not been a major issue for me.  Also, Beth pointed out and I agree that with the slider being made of leather it may stretch over time and not remain as snug.  But I don’t see that being an obstacle any time soon, and I’ll deal with it when it happens.

So that’s my opinion!  I hope it helps anyone who might be interested in getting, or trying out the Fantasia!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

It’s been over a month since I posted, so as I’m sure you can guess there has been a lot going on.  So much so, I’m not really sure where I should begin.  So forgive me if I jump around a bit.

I’ll start with the “Twill Block” scarf from Handwoven.  I finished it in time to give it to my sister when I visited for Easter.  This visit went from a one week visit to a three week visit.  And I had a great time!

Harley truly enjoyed himself during this visit.  We got a kick out of watching him chase my youngest nephew around the house.  And were amazed at how quickly he figured out he could catch him if he stopped and waited for him to come around again.    Luckily he only got stepped on once.  He barked insanely at my brother-in-law, which we think is because my BIL made so much noise whenever he came in or left the house.  Since Harley and I are used to being alone in the house, all the noises at my sister’s freaked him out at first, but he got used to it fairly quickly.  He even had a great time making me chase him around her yard.  

It was a little sad though.  I brought all these projects I had intended on working on, but all I got done was less than an inch of a Jaywalker sock I started months ago.  All the weaving, and spindled spinning sat in a corner untouched.  Mostly because I went to work with my sister to help her out several times.  I enjoyed meeting her co-workers I hadn’t met before, and getting reacquainted with the ones I already knew.  If it ends up that I get the job working with her, it’s going to be loads of fun doing something I love to do, with people I truly like working with.  So wish me luck!  I think I’d really like living with family again too.  I’ve been living alone for almost ten years, and being a part of a family’s daily routine was very nice!

After three weeks there, I got home with three days to spare before I headed up to Port Huron for our Knit-A-Way retreat.  And all I can say is, I had a fabulous time with fabulous friends (new and old)!  I didn’t take nearly as many pictures as I planned to take.  But I did get some pretty good ones.  Especially during an afternoon walk with a new friend.  we looked up the cliff and spotted a Llama looking down at us checking us out.  It was adorable!  You can check out the pictures on my Flickr page.  I also got to talk on a podcast for the first time.  One of the guests at the retreat was none other than “Coggie” of The High Fiber Diet.  She decided to record while we were there and allowed us to join her on the mic.  I got a little outrageous and trashy at points (not meant for young ears), but she seemed okay with it.  And it was loads of fun!  (I’m “I Have the Clap”)  I can’t wait for the next retreat.

The other great thing that has happened to me is my new loom came in.  I ordered the Kromski Fantasia and have been bugging my friend Beth of The Spinning Loft to get my hands on it as soon as possible.  And when it came in she immediately put it together and called me to pick it up.  I love Miss Beth so much!

Now I have to get things together for the return trip to my sister’s.  I’m going to spend a few more weeks trying to impress her bosses so they’ll consider hiring me.  But I have to be back by the first of June.  In time for my cousin’s prom and high school graduation.  And for my parents yearly summer visit.

Hopefully I’ll have some knitting, spinning and/or weaving content by then.

A LITTLE PROGRESS

After I finished the red and black Twill Block scarf I was dying to start a semi lace project.  I found exactly what I was looking for in the same issue of Handwaoven as the Twill Block Scarf.  The magazine called for Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Bamboo, but I didn’t have any in so stash.  So instead I decided to use the black bamboo I purchased from Herritage Spinning and Weaving last year.

I warped a modified draft that removed the extra lace strips on either side and added a few extra inches to the center lace strip.  Unfortunately after I got the reed sleyed, the heddles threaded, the warp wound and tied on, and the border woven I discovered that I had made several threading mistakes.  Luckily I was able to do a bit of finagling and I got it worked out without having to re-thread the entire project.  Yeah for me!!

I am really enjoying the process, and despite Harley trying to get my attention, he crawled between me and the loom and just sat there.  I was able to get a few inches done, and I’m loving it!!!

A LITTLE SCATTERED…

The last few weeks I’ve been a little craft scattered, with a really bad case of start itis.  It started with my decision to do a Crochet By Numbers project.  I had been coveting the idea of a picture of myself as a kid to hang in my craft room, and finally decided to just do it.  I sent my picture to Todd, and in less than two days had my design.  I chose purples, of course, and got started.   Click the flickr link to see photos of my progression

I was really excited, and crocheting away, for about a week then BAM!  I lost my motivation to keep working on it.

My problem was I kept looking at the beautiful “BMFA” Waffle Weave scarf that was still on the loom waiting to be completed.  So, I broke down and made myself finish it.  And I am so glad I did!   The Raven and Spirits colorways look really good together.  And the Black/Blue “Haida” really pops and is so vibrant in the sunlight.  I am really happy with my choices on this one.

During all this I remembered the BFL/silk fiber I bought a few weeks ago, thanks to Beth at The Spinning Loft, and decided I HAD to have some of it.  I actually had to have a pound of it to be exact.  It’s so luxurious!  And I’m so glad I bought it.   And it’s going to make a beautiful warp for the name draft shawl I want to make for myself sometime soon.  I was only able to spin part of a bobbin before I got distracted though.

Enter the distraction, “Twill Blocks” from Handwoven magazine, Sept/Oct 2009.  I fell in love with this cover project the moment the issue of Handwoven hit my mailbox.  And I knew I had to make one for myself.  So, after months of debating what fiber to use and in what color, I decided on a great red and black 3ply wool.  And from the start I loved it. Unfortunately, it didn’t completely hold my interest either.  But after jumping back and forth between projects, which also includes a pair of Jaywalker socks out of Wollmeise.  I finally finished it a couple of days ago.  And I’m so glad I did.  I love it, and I think my sister will too.  I decided that it was perfect for her while I was making it.  

During all of my flip flopping, and my horrendous case of startitis, I also started a Color Theory weaving class.  I’m hoping this will help me gain some confidence and daring in my color choices.  It took me two and a half weeks, but I finally got all 19 colors warped, and the loom is now dressed.   This week I got almost half of the weaving done.  But I forgot to bring my camera to take pictures.  I’m hoping to get to the store this weekend to maybe get at least two or three more colors sections done.

I’ve discovered something about myself the last few weeks.  I must have several projects going at the same time, or I loose my crafting mojo all together.  So it’s back to work I go.  This weekends distraction is a woven black lace bamboo shawl for my mom.

Wish me luck!  I think I’m going to need it.

NEED I SAY MORE!

SUPERBOWL AND BEYOND

I realize I have a few weeks to make up for.  So I figure I’d start with our annual “Knitting Bowl” party.

As is always the case, my good friend Angela hosted our party in her lovely new home.  And Amy’s husband made our annual Knitting Bowl brownie.   I swear if Amy hadn’t already scooped him up, I’d have to claim him for myself.  He puts so much time and effort into his work, and we appreciate every minute of it.  And this year’s brownie was no exception.  It’s so cute, wild animals (Saints) vs domestic animals (colts).  I guess you can figure out who he was rooting for.

The weaving has continued, despite the creative block I’m experiencing as far as color is concerned.  I finished the waffle weave towels, and used the leftover warp to make a scarf.   Then I dressed my loom and started a project that had been on my mind for a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, it was not a success.  I tried several different accent threads in the warp, but none really worked.   The closest to a success was a red suede yarn I got for my birthday last year.   But even that wasn’t the look I was going for.  Better luck next time.

I decided that a more portable loom was needed, so on a long overdue road trip to Forma, a weaving store in Whitemore Lake MI.  I found more than what I was looking for:   A Leclerc Voyageur with 8 shafts.  And a store I will be visiting regularly.  Their selection of coned yarns was overwhelming.  And their classes are very reasonably  priced, with teachers I can’t wait to learn from.

I’m currently working on an 8 shaft Waffle Weave pattern on my new table loom.  I’m only hoping the colors don’t bleed into each other.  

TOWELS AND A SCARF

I’ve been having a really good time with my loom the last few weeks. Despite a few minor and major setbacks.  Once  I finally got over the issues I was having, I ended up learning a lot.  I learned how to hemstitch.  Which once I found a video to help me, was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  And I did a pretty good job with it, if I do say so myself.

After I finished the five natural and gray towels yesterday, I decided to use the warp that was left over to make a scarf.  A huge scarf.   

I used Mini Mochi sock yarn, and loved the way the colors blended.  The towels and scarf are being washed and will hopefully look even better after they are dried.  I’ll still have to hem the edges, which is going to be interesting since I’m not a big sewer.

I also got most of  a charity helmet liner for a friend done.   I hope to get it finished this weekend at our annual “Knitting Bowl” party.

I can’t wait to see and hang out with my friends and have a tons of fun!!!

ANOTHER ONE OF “THOSE” DAYS!

Yesterday was yet another example of “One of those kind of days!”  Yet again, anything that could go wrong, almost did.

The fabulous owner of “The Spinning Loft“,  Beth, had ordered  a warping mill for me back at the beginning of the year, and it had yet to be delivered. So while I was waiting, she kindly allowed me to use hers, but she needed it back for a class that was supposed to begin this weekend.  While I was there, she checked the delivery date, and luckily for me it was out for delivery that day.  So, even though I was dying to get back home and work on my weaving I decided to hang out and wait for it to be delivered.  As my luck would have it, I sat and waited for hours.  Jokingly I said that minutes after I gave up and left the UPS man would pull up.  And that’s exactly what happened.  After waiting for more than 5 hours, I decided I had better head home, before the weather turned or traffic home got bad.  (The store is about 45 minutes to and hour from where I live.)  Literally 10 minutes out my phone rang.  I knew immediately who it was, but I called the shop to make sure.  And what I joked would happen is exactly what happened.  Just a few minutes after I left, the delivery driver showed up.  Needless to say, I turned around and went back to the shop to pick up my new mill.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again.  Sometimes Murphy’s Law is a BITCH!!!

On the weaving front, the 2nd set of towels are coming along great.  I’m having so much fun weaving them.  I finally got the first one finished, hemmed and started the second.  But I’m no cutting it off the loom this time after the disaster warp tension problem last time.

I’m so excited about how the waffle weave pattern is working up.  And I can’t wait to get another set on the loom.

Back to work I go!  Have a great weekend!

JUST A LITTLE WARPED!!!

Continuing yet another addiction.  I know, it’s not like I need another, but I can’t seem to help myself.  I’ve become addicted to the Waffle Weave pattern for towels.

I finished the second in the first set of towels.  They ended up a lot better than I thought they would.  Especially considering all the issues I was having.

Almost immediately after I finished these towels, I put a pre-warped 5/2 off white cotton, with 5/2 gray as the accent, on the loom and started weaving.

I’m hoping to have enough warp for at least three small towel.  I’m thinking this smaller size will be more my style.  The warp is set at 12 inches wide/20 e.p.i., on the loom.  So far the take up is less than a 1/2″.  And I’m hoping for less than 2″ of shrinkage, but only time will tell.

Time to get back to the loom.  Have a great day.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG GENERALLY WILL!!!

Did you ever have a day when Murphy’s Law pulled up a chair, sat down and wouldn’t leave?  Well that’s the kind of day I had yesterday and today.

The Waffle Weave towel warp has been kicking my butt since day one.  I got so angry with the 9 yard warp, that I simply cut it off the loom and started over from scratch.  The new warp is only 3 yards (about the same as I’ve used for my scarfs), so it should have been much more manageable.  WRONG!!

Almost everything I could have done wrong, or every bad thing that could have happened did.  The warp got twisted when I was chaining it.  I dropped the chain, which promptly came un-done.  Harley decided the loose thread from the cross tie was a toy, and snatched it off.  Once I got the reed and heddles threaded, I moved the beater and pulled all the threads through the reed.  DUH!!!

Luckily, I had decided that this project was not going to defeat me.  So I kept at it.  I fixed everything that needed to be fixed, re-sleyed the reed, and began weaving.  I’m so proud of myself.  I even found a hemstitching video, thanks to the wonderful weavers on Ravelry, and did a pretty fair job of hemstitching the beginning of the towels.

I got several inches done, and figured I should take a break for a little while and enjoy how it’s going so far.