Home Sweet Home

While I am on Facebook and I use Twitter for educational resources and updates I feel most at home here.  I'm sure that most of my readers have gone by the wayside but as many bloggers have mentioned the writing and documenting is the top reason most give for blogging.

This hit home when I was trying to remember how I made a huck lace baby blanket way before I had my own grandchildren.   I spent an hour or two trying to remember where I got the idea and how many threads I'd need, etc.  before I got the brilliant idea to check my blog!  Oops, here was everything I needed.  I love the reference to my mp3 player.  So old school.

This was from July 2004.

 I love the little insets of huck that surround the purple. 

 

The new incarnation will be pink, green, and a very pale yellow.  Why do I need to weave a new baby blanket you ask?  Here's why ....

After a false alarm round-trip to Long Island on Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon I found myself back in the car driving up at 1:00 AM Monday morning knowing that this little sweetheart had arrived.  

Totally worth the drive, I'd say!! And how is Jackson taking to this new addition?

It's exhausting work being a big brother.

But, again, totally worth it!!!!

Tying One On

I feel like I'm coming home! I haven't had towels on my loom for more than a year and I've missed it!  Bright and cheery log cabin towels are the next project.

 

I've woven a lot of towels for presents and I try to keep at least one towel for me.  One of the joys of weaving, or really making any household item, is the pleasure of using something for everyday chores that was made with purpose.  I also think about the recipients as I work.  Later when I pick up this yellow and red towel I will smile and think of my son and his family.

Baby Quilts

In between sessions at the loom finishing up the last two scarves I've been getting some new baby quilts put together.

I was wandering through YouTube this winter when I stumbled across a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company for making a tumbler quilt out of 5" charm squares. This is made from Sandy Gervais' Lollipop. I'm going to put a narrow border (1.5") with the marbled blue in the top picture, a wider border with the brown fishies fabric (middle in the bottom photo), and the backing will be the green lollipops in the top photo.

This one is for my new granddaughter, who will be making her appearance in November.  I used AmandaJean's Stacked Coins pattern but added an additional 4" border to make the top 48"x58"  Unlike what you see in this hanging from the I-beam of the basement photo, the colors of these Sugar Pop fabrics are crisp and clean.  The sashing is Moda Snow.

I had a request from Dan for new kitchen towels so some winding was done too.

The plan is for two log cabin towels, two with just yellow weft and two with the red.  We're heading up to Long Island for Labor Day.  That gives me 18 days to get them on the loom, woven, and sewn up.  With school starting on the 29th it could be close. 

We Have Some Weaving Here!

I was having some problems with the end warp threads shredding on this Alpaca/Silk scarf.  Believe it or not it's the first time I've woven anything so narrow and I wasn't sure what was causing the problem.  I'm thinking it might have been the old 10 dent reed with some rust spots on it.  It works for my cotton towels but this is a much softer yarn.

So I cut the first one off and resleyed with a stainless steel 5 dent reed.  It's going much smoother now.  Cutting off the first one gave me a chance to wet finish and check the drape before going on to the next one.  20 epi with a 2/2 twill gives this a great hand!

The second scarf is the same as this.  I'm trying out a 1/3 on the third and final scarf. 

Back in the Garden

I'm only teaching two weeks this summer so I hope to get my gardens back from the weeds.  For now, it's only close ups :-)



Once the scarves are off the loom I have some place mats and a runner, followed up by a tablecloth in the works.

Lots of good ideas.  Finally a little time!

Dyeing Onesies Again!

Was it really over four years ago that I dyed a batch of onesies for Jackson?

Onesie, pants, hoodie combo

A few years ago (hmm, apparently it was the summer of 2007!) I bought a Wonder Washer.  I thought it would help when I wanted a more even dye.  Life, as it has a way of doing, got in the way and I finally brought it out last week to dye these pants and hooded jackets.

Rockin' Crocodile

This one is a present for one of Josh's friends.  Tripp, he is the third Joseph Paul.  Granddad is Joe, son is J.P. and little one is Tripp.  J.P. is in a weekend band - a guitar player.

Appliqued Fish

This one is for Jacob, my new grandson. 

These are 6 month Rabbit Skin blanks from Dharma, despite their clown-like appearance here!

Sanity Returns

There is such joy in taking a moment to breathe.  I sat down on Sunday and my only intention was to hurry and get this scarf off the loom.  School is over next week and I have a dyed warp that I am anxious to get working on. I looked at this scarf as just another task waiting for a check mark!

Hemstitching

But taking the time to stitch across the width gave me more than just another tick on my list.  My breathing started to slow and my shoulders started to relax.

2/2 twill

Maybe Stephen Stills had it right - Love the One You're With!!

Fiber Muse

I've been working on improving my photography skills - okay, who am I kidding? I am trying to acquire some photography skills - to go along with my new camera. I knew there was no way I could keep up with the different 365 groups. I'm a big believer in keeping your goals achievable to prevent giving up. The MCP Project 52 seemed to be a good fit for me. Week 5's theme was "Muse".  All photos have to be taken uploaded during that week.  The week ends Friday night and at 10:30 I found myself in my basement studio grabbing colorful fibers that inspire me.  I kept a shallow depth of field and used an action that blurred the edges slightly so you couldn't see the rest of the mess!  Posted it at 11:15.  Phew!

The warp is a new one that will be going on the loom tonight or tomorrow.  WEBS 2/14 Alpaca Silk in black (looks more like a really deep charcoal) for the warp and a light gray for the weft.  I have two different 2/2 twills in mind for the scarves and hopefully there will be a little leftover for sampling. 

This Week 6's theme is words.  Boy do I use a lot of them! 

Back to Weaving!

Kutztown Overshot

If you thought there was no weaving going on in my life lately you would be correct.  But I'm ready to change that because I really miss throwing that shuttle.  The Kutztown Overshot runner has officially become the Kutztown Overshot placemat!

Well, it might just be a little bigger than a placemat.  I plan on using it on the hall table.  While I really enjoyed doing this, at this point in my life I want simple weaves with lots of color.


So ..... I'm going to take off the rest of this 20/2 mercerized cotton warp, dye it, put it back on and weave two more runners. When I have time I can weave and not have to take 20 of the 30 minutes I have available trying to figure out where I was and what comes next!

Lease Sticks in Tabby Shed

Next up, getting my knitting mojo back!