Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Resist, Resist!

The warp - worsted-weight Bartlett 2-ply - is chained and ready to be sleyed on the reed for the wool throws.

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The weft - my handspun 2-ply, from a Romney fleece - is ready to go.

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I even sampled a little - so unlike me! - and that was a good idea.

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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.

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But I'm not going to begin to sley the warp yet, because this...

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needs to be finished. Tonight I gird my loins and get down to some serious fringe-twisting!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Making Stuff

I have been cranking.

Exhibit A:
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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:
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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:
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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...

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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:

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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.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

A Quiet Walk

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.

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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.

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And somebody was glad to see me when I got home.

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