The warp - worsted-weight Bartlett 2-ply - is chained and ready to be sleyed on the reed for the wool throws.
The weft - my handspun 2-ply, from a Romney fleece - is ready to go.
I even sampled a little - so unlike me! - and that was a good idea.
From this sample, I learned which treadling patterns worked and which ones didn't in this yarn. I learned that my little 4-inch-long bobbins don't hold squat for weft of this weight, so I'm going to use a rug shuttle. I used a floating selvedge on the sample, but I think I'll pair the floating selvedge with a heavy, smooth cotton yarn for the throws (and pull out the cotton after the fabric's off the loom), because I think it'll help make the edges neater. I learned I should beat a little less hard, because my thick handspun overwhelms the Bartlett warp, as seen here on the back of the sample.
But I'm not going to begin to sley the warp yet, because this...
needs to be finished. Tonight I gird my loins and get down to some serious fringe-twisting!
I have been cranking.
Exhibit A:
The DROPS jacket 103-1 that's been making the rounds. Here we see it in two yarns held together, the lovely raspberry Harrisville Orchid Line that Sue gave me for my birthday a few years ago and a dark pink Cascade 128 Tweed from WEBS. Cast on Nov. 30, 2009; blocked Jan. 3, 2010 - a quick knit for me. This is very warm and snuggly, perfect for the cold weather in the beginning of this month.
Exhibit B:
A blue silk scarf, just pulled off the loom last night. The fringe isn't twisted yet, but I have to say that this is the best thing I have ever woven. The warp is hand-dyed 50/2 silk (probably tussah) from Port Fibers; the weft is a 60/2 silk mill end from Pasa Yarns in Uxbridge, MA. For your knitters out there, these are skinny yarns, about like sewing thread, especially the 60/2. Woven in a twill, the scarf feels incredible, and I'm told it'll feel even better after it's washed. Once the fringe is finished and I've washed this, you'll see modeled photos.
Exhibit C:
A pile o' warp chains, for the next project, just waiting for the silk scarf to get out of the way. This is worsted-weight Bartlett yarn; the weft will be white handspun 2-ply. I'm planning on weaving three small throws, each in a different twill. I wove a sample today, trying out various patterns...
and figured out I like this one in particular. You'll see more of this project as I go along.
I've been awfully productive in the past month, and here's part of why I'm producing so much - Exhibit D:
A notebook. Every day, I write down what I accomplished. Sometimes I write down ideas for future projects, sometimes I note what issue of Handwoven has good info on doubleweave, sometimes I work out calculations for a warp or whatever. I believe it was Sara Lamb who suggested keeping a fiber journal (thanks, Sara!), and I'm looking forward to this year of making stuff, stuff, and more stuff.
Yesterday was the first time the temperature rose above freezing this year, and today was beautiful, for January. I took a walk south along one of the old town roads criss-crossing the Quabbin Reservoir watershed lands near me, starting at Gate 30.It was lovely. A few people hiking here and there, a few birds calling, a red squirrel chattering for no good reason, a raven kawkking unseen. I looked at the ordinary landscape here, and found it good.And somebody was glad to see me when I got home.
