Weaving Standstill

I haven't warped the loom in so long that I feel like I'm second-guessing every step.  So that went to the back burner and I took on projects that needed immediate attention.

I finished the pieces of my Nordique Swing. Now I need to block it then seam and finish the neckband and button band.  I bought this yarn from WEBS years ago.  I've made a Little Dimun shawl, this sweater, and I still have 8 skeins left!!  It is a lovely shade of red and a wonderful weight so I'm sure there will be make one or two more projects with it.

I also finished a quilt for little Autumn Jo.

Butterfly from Jacobean Flutters, digitized by Designs by Juju

I followed (not so well, apparently) Terry Atkinson's Yellow Brick Road.  I was so proud of myself for using up stash that it sort of went to my head.  I cut out everything right off the bat rather than reading the directions carefully.  You know, like the part that says read everything first, circling the numbers that apply to your size!! So, good news, I now have a quilt top ready to quilt for my brand new niece, Fiona Frances.  Little Fiona was not set to appear until October but she made her wishes known at 24 weeks and on Friday, June 13th was born weighing in at 1 lb. 4 oz.  She's a trooper, as is her mom, and is hanging in there, getting a little stronger every day.

The quilt can wait but I'm going to make a little flannel square with her initials to put over her crib so she has something from Auntie Char!

Life Begins Anew!!

My retirement will begin in three weeks.  In the meantime I'm preparing to reenter the world!!

Just scroll down two entries and you'll see the last thing to come off the loom -- over a year ago!  I thought I needed something simple to work out the kinks from weaving inertia.  These towels are known by Friendship Towels or Keep it Simple, but they actually date back to an old draft known as Huckaback in Davison's book.

Sewing Bee

I watch Project Runway and enjoy the creations, and even the snarkiness, but The Great British Sewing Bee has really won me over!

I've watched the first two episodes and am looking forward to the rest of the season.  Give it a try!

Off the loom!

Both of the scarves are off the loom. I've finished twisting the fringe on one and hope to get the other one done by the weekend.  I forgot how time consuming, and repetitive that chore is.

 Next up are the From Hopi to Huck towels from Interweave's Winning Towels.

Two Quick Scarves

I'm trying to organize the overwhelming number of skeins, cones, and bags of fiber - not to mention the fabric, patterns, rulers, and embroidery threads!

I don't usually buy kits but I found this one - No Hassle Rayon Slub Scarves -  buried under piles of fabric.  You can choose your own colorway, so I went with the Autumn multicolor and two solids,  in curry and gold.

I'll weave two scarves.  One using the gold yarn for warp and the second with the curry.  Immediate gratification weaving!! I can't believe I've never woven a scarf before!

Tied One On!!

I absolutely love this part of weaving prep! As the warp smooths out and the colors line up there's nothing but possibilities.

All I have to do is tie up the treadles and I'm ready to go.  Considering how long it took to get this warp from the warping reel to the loom the weaving will seem like a minute! 

I don't know about your corner of the world but it's but excessively hot and dry here - well, no rain but plenty of humidity - this is PA after all!  The flowers and grasses are looking pretty bleak but I was able to catch a pretty good shot by getting on the ground and shooting up.  I don't think I need any reminders of how parched everything looked this summer.

Another One for the Queue!

My LQS, Chester County Quilting,  runs a monthly workshop, imaginatively called 2nd Fridays, where we bring whatever we want to work on, eat, talk, and give suggestions and feedback.  During the school year I'm usually so tired that I don't plan ahead and end up starting a new project each month.  Maybe that's where all these projects came from?

This is called Blossom Time, from Pam & Nicky Lintott's Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts.  I walked into the shop with nothing more than a copy of the pattern (my books never leave my house!!) and finished up the night with all of the blocks pieced!!

 

I didn't get any quilts done yet but I did quilt two table runners and hand stitched the bindings so I feel somewhat accomplished.   While they were here for the 4th, Jackson saw the brown corriedale I was spinning and asked me to knit some mittens for him.  We had fun tracing his hand and measuring his hand circumference.  I'll make them bigger so I can full them a bit.  This yarn is fluffy and loosely spun so it will shrink down to a nice warm mitten.  With the heat we've been having this summer it's a little strange to be thinking about woolen mittens!!