Almost a Match?

What do you think? The vest material is on top. I think it looks a little darker, but it's been washed so the fabric is a little denser and the pattern is pinned to the other side. I think (I hope) that when the vest is lined the back will blend in nicely with the two fronts. I'm going to dye muslin with Sabracon violet to use as the lining.

Felt good to weave again - the first time since school started - but cutting back perennials yesterday did a job on my elbow and shoulder :-(

Threading

The morning sun that I was trying to block with my new curtains was welcome this morning as I threaded the loom with my dyed raw silk. The sun felt so good on my back and came over my shoulder at just the right angle to illuminate the heddles. Such a simple task feels so refreshing after the week I had at school.

I got about 2/3 done before the hunger pains got to me. I should be able to finish up in another hour. It's already in the mid-50s --when I finish I'm heading outside for some much-needed garden cleanup.

They're Up!

I rinsed out the fabric last night and got the curtains made and put up today. I'm not sure if I like the lighter spots. I'll keep it up a bit, but I may overdye with another color. There's a another one to the right of the tv stand, it's the standard high basement window. I love the view out my window but early in the morning the sun shines right over the loom and into my eyes. Now I can go down there on weekend mornings with my coffee and weave - uh, as soon as I warp it, that is! But it won't be long - I dyed the raw silk warp and it's dry already, but I have a big project for my hypermedia class so I don't know if I'll get it warped tomorrow or not.


I found this warp chain in with the stuff I got when I bought my loom. Most of what she gave me was linen and wool, I'm not sure how I overlooked this. I can't tell what it is, but I think perle cotton. It's pretty thick, maybe 5/2 or even 3/2, it's 22wpi. There's about 80 ends and I haven't unchained it, but I'm thinking 2.5 - 3 yds. So, what can I do with it?

It's Amazing

what you can accomplish when you don't have to be at school until noon (parent/teacher conferences from 12:00-7:30) and the high winds rip off your gutter and slam it against your house all night! By 5:00 I knew there wasn't going to be anymore sleep. That's when I usually get up anyway, but I stayed up late last night dyeing the material for the curtains and knitting - thinking that I could sleep a little later.

So far I've wound the warp for the back of my silk vest. I painted the warp at Claudia's last summer, but didn't wind it long enough (doh!). Luckily I used straight Sabraset colors, violet, golden yellow, and magenta, so I don't have to worry about intricate mixing. I'm just going to use violet for the back.

I also finished the third pass of carding for the silver-gray-green Finn. I need one more color and then decide whether I want to dye the main color or keep it white.

Last night I started the sleeve for one of my longtime UFO's. See My Wall of Shame on my old blog. I'm about 2/3 through this sleeve and hope to have both finished by the end of conferences. It will be my first handspun sweater and the first finished project from that sorry list.

Slow Progress

Despite the low profile I have been making some progress on my fiber projects. School is consuming most of my time, but whenever I can I head to the basement, card a little and listen to a book. I just finished Life of Pi. What a great story. I was hooked right from the start. Now to figure out what to listen to next. I have six more books I've downloaded but haven't had time to listen to yet.

I also finished up my fish and got them sent out for the ST Fish Exchange. Got my mini-skeins labeled and sent out too. Can't wait to see what everyone else sent it. Why do I always worry that mine won't measure up? Gotta build up that self-esteem!

Josh came by today and we were able to get the the big chair moved out of the basement. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the the studio cleaned up and warp my loom. It's been a long time since I've woven. I guess since school started. I wanted to dye some muslin for curtains for the studio, but I realized I didn't have any soda ash. I'm going to see if the pool supply store has any. Paula Burch had something on her website about getting it there. I want it now and if I can skip the shipping charges from Pro Chem so much the better!

My husband is visiting his brother in Alabama for a few days. Laura is working part time at the bank again and she babysits overnight. (hope she's not taking on too much, but her second year of law school seems to be less hectic for her) That means I've had the house to myself for the last two nights. It's been really weird. I haven't been alone, at home, for 28 years (to the day actually - since Dan turned 28 today)

I finished the Fibertrends tote for Sarah. I made it a little longer than it called for and it was a good thing, because it seemed to shrink much more in length than width. I did give it a few good vertical pulls, like the directions said. I also was surprised at the fuzziness of the BS Naturespun. I usually use Lambs Pride and the mohair gives quite a halo, but I didn't expect it with this yarn. You can barely see the novelty yarn around the top couple of inches. I think she'll like it though. No pictures - left my camera at school.

A New Project

It really is invigorating to be planning something new. Check out Carolyn's musing over her Viking cables and Claudia's dye experiments if you need a little inspiration.

I'm not sure if this is going to be too bulky. The gauge is about 3.5sts/inch, 6r/inch on size 9's. It will be a cardigan so the bulkiness won't be too much of a problem. Maybe I'll try to go a little thinner this weekend and see how that works up.

Back to grading - what stupid person decided to test in all of her classes today, which means about 130 tests to grade? Oh, that would be me. I usually have the grades back the next day, but I told the kids I might need the weekend for the bigger classes.

Ouch!

I need a new, wider, motorized carder. I do really like my Louet roving carder, but when you do a pile like this it's little hard on the wrist and elbow. This was after the second pass. I don't think it would have needed three, except it really needed to be teased and I didn't want to bother. So I put it through the first time just to open it up. I'd like to make a cardigan with a ski-type yoke. I have the silver gray green ready to card. Then I could card up some of the natural. I'll have to play with the browns and grays I have to see which would be better for the main color. I was thinking about overdyeing the light gray with Cushing's khaki. Or not! Time to dig through the stash. But first I need ice!