It’s Been A While

As with all of us, it has been an odd and busy year. I cannot remember where I left off, but I will jump right back to weaving (and spinning).

My space is now back downstairs, everyone is still living/working from home so I am trying to make my space more permanent. The Oxaback Lilla will get a shaft draw attachment, the Overhead draw system on the Glimakra is semi in place.

I have been making wider pieces such as rugs and throws on the Glimakra and it seems a shame to designate such a large, functional loom to only drawloom weaving.

The jack loom is an 8/10 Wolf Pup. The warp is one of two, hand dyed linen/silk blends that I plan to weave on this loom.

The rep weave on the Glimakra is a slow weave. The warp is set with 2 ends per heddle at 45 ends per inch (90 epi single end). The shed has to be cleared frequently as the set is so dense despite using the counterbalance set up.

The warp on the Lilla is blue linen with chenille woven rosepath.

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Happy New Year (version 2.2)

Hi, hope you are hanging in there and /or flourishing.

I FINALLY finished my pandemic drawloom project. I have not wet finished nor sewn as yet.

EVERYONE came home to live last fall. We had 6 adults, 6 dogs and a cat. Lots of ups and downs, lots of cooking. But glad to have all my chicks (and step-chicks) home for a while.

January brought some positive changes, some chicks found a new apartment for their new job, some homebound chicks found a job, some others found work and school.

Someone had fatigue and breathing issues when working out, then someone else got a “head cold” that turned out to be covid but everyone else was fine.

I have found relaxation in spinning, I have a Polonaise, a Ladybug and awaiting a matchless. I have a Woollee Winder which took some time to get acquainted with, but it also fits my Polonaise.

I moved all my stuff downstairs again

It is a squeeze but works. The Glimakra drawloom almost fills the room. The shelving is Ikea and is fabulous! The AVL workshop loom and I are getting acquainted. It is actually quite wonderful! Onward ad upward (again we say)

Is the Pandemic Warp almost over?

This is the Koi design on the drawloom. It is being woven wrong side up. There is approximately a yard of this warp left.

Because the design is asymmetrical, it is easy for the pattern saving lashes to get out of sequence if not careful. I need to come up with a better system for tracking the lashes for complex or loosely scattered areas of pattern. Perhaps a color code assigned to every 3 lashes.

I am almost halfway threading the rep rug warp using 16/2 cotton doubled in each heddle. There was an interesting notation of “double thread per heddle” in the draft. After scouring other Swedish books, it became clear that two threads next to each other on the same shaft indicated 2 per heddle.

Last but not least, the AVL workshop dobby has a summer and winter sample. I am considering installing and upgrade from 16 to 24 shafts.

Deflected Double Weave

I finally finished the scarves using the silk wool/wool yarn. They came out wonderfully light and soft.

I still have to complete my pandemic drawloom project. I probably have another 2 yards to weave. I am currently dressing the Oxaback Lilla with a rep weave rug.

PTSDNWS

Yikes, feel like I have been in a bubble. I’m still weaving, sorta.

My running playlist from 2020 feels like PTSD, have to change it. My warp from 2020 on the draw loom feels the same. I have about 2 more yards to weave and It is a lovely warp, but it is just stuck. I have been spinning, which is fun, but now I have more yarn to weave with. The deflected doubleweave project is done. There is another whole scarf length of warp remaining. Started weaving that and again it is slow and just stuck in that whole 2020 vibe.

I started back working at the gym , lots of new clients. Training for the Berlin Marathon which may or may not take place. Everything is just very slow, or up in the air. Also, Cross Country resumed at the school I am coach for which is another Covid juggling act.

Finding it hard to juggle work, weaving and keeping house with 2 sons and a hubby home all the time.

All The Things At Once

My treadmill hasn’t worked since we bought it less than two years ago. After hours of phone calls and tech trips, we finally heard a new model is arriving in the next week or two.

My new VAV magazine arrived and the topic is flax/linen. Perfect timing as I have a package of flax I planned to learn to spin during Tour de Fleece (Ravelry). I am not a competent spinner but during Covid, I found spinning very relaxing.

I also ordered a sample pack of different wools to learn about how they spin, prep, best uses, feel etc. Today, two books about fleece types and spinning arrived.

My Polonaise wheel (a splurge purchase after selling a loom a while ago) is finally on it’s way after being delayed due to overseas covid restrictions! I will probably sell the Sonata wheel as I don’t spin a lot and don’t think I need two wheels.

I ordered replacement lenses for some fancy cycling/running glasses I won two years ago. They have transition lenses perfect for running/cycling as you can go from deep shade to bright sun when out training. They arrived today also!

The fancy pillows that we got to choose with our covid couch purchase last year finally came in.

I had a chance conversation with someone which had to be karma because I had desperately been trying to figure out a resolution or path for a long term issue. This person was able to provide recommendations as they had gone through the same experience.

All the things at once.

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The Little Loom that Could

I have an Ashford folding 8 shaft loom with a stand & treadle kit. There are pros and cons to most looms, this one is no exception but as far as table looms go, the Ashford is a very nice set up.

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I am working through the book “Tabby to Taquete” and even though I have a good amount of weaving knowledge, it is good to start at the beginning and work through each sample.

The sample on the loom is 12/6 seine twine set at 10 epi. The weft is 5/2 cotton. Weft faced weaves require good tension and a firm beat. I knew any table loom was going to be a challenge to get the correct tension and beat and this loom was no exception. However, it has enough tension and as long as I beat on the open shed, closed shed and the next open shed, the weave is coming along nicely. The Ashford is handling the sample well.

The treadle kit allows for a direct tie up for the first 4 shafts. Even with an 8 shaft weave, combining the treadles and levers makes the weaving go faster. A table loom is very useful for sampling and experimenting and the mechanics of the Ashford are smooth. The stand (which also folds) has shelves on either side which is a nice feature.

Projects & Plans

I have 4 projects in process, the draw loom warp is maybe 50% woven, crackle weave towels on the Ashford table loom, deflected double weave on the Oxaback and Nordick bands on the pvc loom.

Drawloom – fern design as seen wrapping around the beam.

I completed a fern design on the draw loom. Although 5 shafts are better for free flowing designs, it does look rather lovely. I used bamboo in a cool green and the sheen of the cotton warp is very pleasing. I have decided to carry over some of the band designs from the Norwegian Band book into the draw loom for the next block of designs.

Crackle Weave Towels

I am enjoying the Ashford table loom, having treadles makes the weaving/sampling go faster. Above is a 4 shaft crackle weave design in 16/2 cotton warp with 16/2 weft and 8/2 cotton for the pattern. The warp is set at 30 epi but could be set a little closer.

Deflected Double Weave

The above scarf is deflected double weave in wool and silk wool. Once wet finished the collapse of the weave will make the open long floats more secure.

Grand Canyon – Adventures – 49 miles – 11k elevation

Weaving has not been on my radar – for the last several months I have been doing trail runs in preparation for running R2R2R (down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, through the base, up to the North Rim and back down, across the base of Canyon and back up another trail – 49 miles, 11 thousand feet of elevation, heat/ice/snow.

We were well prepared so it seemed a lot easier than we anticipated. I am hoping to use some of my photos for weaving inspiration.

Now to get back to some weaving!

New Tool

The band weaving is coming along nicely. With more practice and after watching some vlogs on band weaving, I was able to develop a better rhythm and the band looks so much nicer.

I also received my Elk bone shuttle. It has a little weight to it and is very smooth and a pleasure to use.