Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...and I've declared one project done. This is Pacific Waters [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 3/3/2021 Finished 10/6/2023 Weft: 8/4 Maysville Carpet Warp in White Warp: Handspun yarns Beads and charms from stash I think it would have been better to do this project on my rigid heddle. I was frustrated with the small shed on the tapestry loom and that resulted in my shortening the intended length of the project.  I was tired of looking at it in its unfinished state and decided to add fringe and a hanger before declaring it done.

 ...I've worked on a little bit of everything this week. I finished the first sleeve and the second pocket liner on my Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry ]: I started a new cross stitch scissor fob and worked on a couple more hexagons. I really need to get back to my cross stitch mermaid, but this new toy may get in my way: This is my new Arras tapestry loom from Schacht. Technically, it's my mom's birthday present to me, but I didn't get around to ordering it until October. Once I figure out what the first tapestry project should be, I'll warp it. I might have to decide RSN because I can't wait to get my hands on it! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Trying a variegated yarn to see how that affects the hexagon. Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Now that I've finished the first sleeve and the second pocket liner, I'm knitting the second sleeve. Christmas ...

...and it's been quite a month. I finished the Scarab handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 3/17/2020 Finished 3/27/2020 Falkland (4.1 oz) from the Yarn Wench 185.4 yds. chain-plied with beads, 10 WPI I started a new weaving project yesterday. I'm calling it Milky Way [ Ravelry ]. It uses the Destination Yarn Space collection minis and yarn that I bought at this year's Stitches West. I also went through my stash and found some complimentary sparkle yarns to use in the warp. I spent some time trying to sew a mask using a pattern from Masks Now and ran into a problem with the instructions. The pattern is for a mask that covers an existing N95 mask.  It took me a while to figure out that there were a couple of steps missing. Now I need to go back and try again to sew the mask. It was frustrating. At least I was making a mask for myself as a way to try out the pattern. I baked another loaf of sourdough bread, this one with olives. It was a...

...back to completing some spinning! I finished weaving the Cylburn Wrap [ Ravelry ] on the Knitters Loom. I named this project after the Cylburn Artboretum in Baltimore MD. The weft yarn is souvenir yarn from a trip to Baltimore and the colors reminded me of the flowers and grassy areas at the arboretum. and a close up: Specs: Started 3/3/2020 Finished 3/15/2020 Warp: Lion Brand Cupcake in Forest Path Weft: La Perfecta from unknown dyer; souvenir yarn from Baltimore MD 10 epi/11ppi on Ashford Knitters Loom 81" long (including fringe); 18" wide I finished spinning the Sandpiper handspun [ Ravelry ]: and a close up: Specs: Started 2/26/2020 Finished 3/15/2020 Merino-Silk-Cashmere (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 262.5 yds., 14 WPI I decided to spin a quick bulky yarn. This is Bracken [ Ravelry ], a Falkland top from the Yarn Wench: and a close up: Specs: Started 3/6/2020 Finished 3/16/2020 Falkland (4.0 oz) from Yarn Wench 7...

...a little organization and a new WIP! I've needed to go through the contents of a storage basket that's been sitting unopened for 5 years (oops), but just hadn't wanted to spend the time on it. I had stored a bunch of doll clothes that I had cut out but never sewn together - the clothes were for my daughter's Cabbage Patch and Barbie dolls. She's 42 now and I don't think she's interested in them anymore! On Monday, I was reorganizing some fiber and loom tools that were on top of the basket, so it was time. I had forgotten how many items I had cut out for those dolls! Unfortunately, most of the pins had rusted, making the fabric pieces and the pins useless. I managed to salvage some of the patterns and either set them aside to keep or put them into the Goodwill pile. Those that I couldn't salvage went into recycling. Since I had to file the ones I'm keeping, I took the opportunity to go through my craft patterns and found several unused patterns...

...and the weekend report. I spent most of my weekend at the loom, in one capacity or another. The first thing I wanted to address was how to track where I was in the pattern draft. Each pattern repeat has 72 picks, so memorizing it would not be easy. The original pattern was from a magazine and the treadling image was too small to see easily. I created an Excel spreadsheet and input the treadling pattern into 2 tables, 1/2 of the pattern in each. I made it so it would fit in a 5x7 area so I could trim down the paper. I tried using it last weekend, but I didn't have any place to mount it on the loom. I did not buy the high castle for my Baby Wolf so I don't have anywhere I can mount the pattern at eye-height. After Googling a bunch of options, I bought a gooseneck clamp that has clamps on both ends. It's designed for photographers to clamp onto a table and use the other clamp to hold paper, backdrops, etc. The features that I liked were that the gooseneck is 20-inches...

...I ran out of time yesterday to post. I was trying to make my Ribbet app (Mac OS) talk to Flickr again, but it just wouldn't connect. I use Ribbet to edit all of my photos and it's usually easy to save edited versions directly to Flickr. However, with Flickr's latest upgrade, many things are still not working correctly. I gave up and went through the browser version of Ribbet to upload my photos. The majority of my 3-day weekend was spent working on the Shimmering Points Wrap [ Ravelry ]. I finally threaded all of the heddles. I had set-aside the number of heddles needed for each shaft according to the iWeaveit program. As it turned out, the number wasn't quite right, but that was no biggie. As it turned out, I found a couple of empty heddles in the mix, where I pulled 2 over instead of one. Fortunately, the pattern is correct, so the empty heddles can just hang out where they are. The pattern calls for 2 threads per slot in a 12-dent reed. I started sleying the...

...and the weekend report. We had an early Mother's Day with the Husband's mother on Thursday. Her facility is very good about having special luncheons for their residents and their families to enjoy. I gave the Seaside Dreams quilt to my MIL as her Mother's Day gift. When I got back to the office, my new 12-dent reed had arrived...hooray! Friday afternoon and Saturday were spent doing the laundry and working on the Shimmering Points Wrap [ Ravelry ]. I spaced the warp out across the raddle, trying to keep all the threads untwisted. I didn't have wide enough paper to wind the warp, so I went through my collection of paper bags and found 3 extra large craft bags that I cut apart to use. I wound the warp onto the back beam, keeping the threads straight. It looks good! Then I cut the ends to be ready to thread the heddles. Sunday, we met The Daughter for lunch at our favorite Peruvian restaurant. We had a wonderful meal and a great time catching up with her. She...

....I know, I know. A post on Monday is unusual (at least lately). Most of my weekend was spent working on the Shimmering Points Wrap (weaving) [ Ravelry ]. It took a while to wind the warp, mostly because of the way I have to use my warping board. Right now, I do not have a place to hang it. I have to prop it up against a piece of furniture or a step stool and sit on a low ottoman while I wind the warp. It's hard on the shoulders and the back, resulting in a lot of breaks. Technically, I could make my quilt wall do double duty and hang the warping board there. However, then I'd have to move the storage baskets that sit in front of the the wall so I could reach the warping board. And I don't have a good place to move them to. Having the baskets in the front of the wall is not a problem with a quilt-in-progress because I can reach the wall to hang a square or section without moving them. To wind a warp, I need to stand closer to the board than the baskets allow, and for ...

...it was a productive weekend. This is Rose Banderos handspun [ Ravelry ] : and the close-up: Specs:  Alpaca-Merino-Bamboo (5.5 oz.) from Ranch of the Oaks Started 3/15/19 Finished 4/27/19 332 yds. 2-ply; 14 WPI This is Malibu handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Merino-Yak-Silk (4 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks Started 4/13/19 Finished 4/27/19 194 yds. chain-ply; 13 WPI I have officially started the Shimmering Advancing Point Twill Wrap project. I named it Shimmering Points [ Ravelry ]. I started winding the warp on Sunday. I'm still debating on whether to use the Red Purple tencel as specified in the project (warp) or as the weft yarn. If I decide to use it as weft, I'll replace it with Amethyst. Guess I better decide soon! I'm making progress on the Estrella Marina Shawl [ Ravelry ]. I wasn't sure how the triangle edging was going to work, but now that I have a couple done, it makes sense. I'm much happier with th...

...because that week just whipped by! I some finished items and a new list of WIPs to display. Here's a look at the 4-shaft Weaving Sampler [ Ravelry ] that I finished weaving at the beginning of the month: Specs: Originally started 5/1/16 Restarted with new warp 9/20/16 Finished 9/7/18 Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet thread (Size 3) in Maize and Blue, plus leftover yarn from other projects It's not the prettiest thing ever, but I learned lots about my loom and twill! I spent a lot of time picking and planning my next weaving project. While I was doing the thinking part of the planning, I did some more spinning. This is Bountiful [ Ravelry ], a Sparkle roving from Greenwood Fiberarts: and the close up: Specs: Started 9/14/18 Finished 9/16/18 Merino-Stellina top (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberarts 184.3 yds, 2-ply; 11 WPI I also finished knitting the Stormy Weather hat [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 9/8/2018 Finished 9/21/2018 Pattern: Classic K...

...I have a work project that is time-critical, which is why I'm not posting regularly. One Finished Object: Echo Hat [ Ravelry ] Specs: Started 9/18/16 Finished 10/16/16 Yarn: Red Heart Unforgettable in Echo Pattern: Noro spiral one-skein hat by Manuèle Ducret For Halos of Hope A couple of WIPs...the current view of the 4-shaft sampler with the new warp and weft yarn: ...and a new spinning project with some of the fiber I bought at Taos Wool Festival: *WIPs roll call* Worked on: Mother of Dragons shawl (knitting)  [ Ravelry ] Knit a few more rows Multi-Llama handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Working on the singles 4-shaft sampler (weaving) [ Ravelry ] Re-warped and wove 6 twill types Works In Progress, did not work on: Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint) Finishing work St. Charles (needlepoint) Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) UFOs/Hibernation: Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Canto de Sirena shawl (k...

...and summer plants are starting to bloom. The yellow kangaroo paw plant is back: The foxgloves are starting up: We have some dahlias: And (a big surprise for us) we have about 6 nectarines on the tree: We're completely surprised that the squirrels haven't made off with the fruit yet.! Up this weekend: Spin-In on Saturday! I haven't spun in so long...it will be nice to get back into it, especially since Tour de Fleece starts on July 2nd. Between Spin-In and my regular weekend chores, I need to wind the new warp for my loom and at least get close to rewarping it. Whether I continue with my original plan, or do a completely new project remains to be seen. I figure I can make progress on the finishing work while I'm deciding what to do about the warp. Guess I should start thinking what my Tour de Fleece goal will be. Hmmm... .

...why is it that short work weeks always seem longer than regular weeks? This weeks eye candy is all over the board.  I've been testing the camera on my new iPhone to the quality of its photos. This photo of Tica turned out really well: On the other hand, the sky photos that I took this morning weren't worth keeping. This hibiscus photo is OK: The Husband's tomato plants are starting to produce baby tomatoes: And I had fresh apricots for breakfast: Up this weekend: No specific plans. I'm not going to attempt weaving on the big loom until I receive the yarn I ordered.  I saw a pattern on the WEBS site that looked interesting, called Santa Fe Summer Towels . The basic structure is twill and I liked the color combination. I ordered the unmercerized yarn it specified for the main color (a red), but they did not have the lighter color (yellow) available. I decided to just get a lighter shade of yellow, which I'd like better anyway. So I'll ju...

...and it's been a day! It started off with Microsoft Windows 10 automatically installing itself on my work PC...and I needed to finish something for a client. ARG! Chalk up about half the day when I couldn't do anything on the machine and then the research to figure out why the stupid thing wasn't displaying anything.  It's owkring now, but it's days may be numbered... In the garden, the Husband harvested some carrots: Last week, I took this picture of the Tivoli squash we have in the back yard. This week, it looks like this: Wow! That was fast! And finally, we have Queen Faviola blooming in the courtyard: Up this weekend: More weaving! I'd also like to attached the hanging loops to the Hawaiian shirt quilt, so I can give that back to its owner. I have some major housework to do, but it requires an empty house (read: no one tracking dirt and garden stuff onto newly mopped or vacuumed floors). Hopefully, the weather will cooperate! ...

...where we talk about how I spent the weekend playing with the loom. (I know...big surprise!) My Baby Wolf stroller (wheel assembly) arrived on Friday, so the first thing I did was install it. It only took me 2+ hours to do that, not because it was difficult or complicated, but because the Husband was out all morning and I had to go searching for tools.  The Schacht video on how to install it was very clear on which tools were needed as was the list of needed tools in the printed instructions. I had to find something that would work as well as the 2-inch wooden block they suggest you use. I found a couple of 2-inch bricks that I wrapped in paper to protect the loom from scratches. I found all of the other suggested tools and got started. Inserting the first bolt was fiddly, but all of my experience of putting Danish furniture together came in handy here. Inserting the second bolt was a PITA. What they don't tell you #1: When the directions tell you to "tap" the...

...and finally photos of the latest spinning project. First, the eye candy. The Husband bought me some new flowers for Mother's Day. This is Mimulus naiandinus: This is is Rhodohypoxis baurii "Pintado": and this is Meadow Foam: Next, the Finished Object. This is Empress handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/20/15; Finished 4/30/16; Batt (2.0) from Purlescence Yarns; Tour de Fleece 2013 prize; 148.9 yds. chain-plied, 13 WPI Up this weekend: More time with the Baby Wolf loom! My BW stroller arrived today, so I plan on installing it tomorrow. The wheels will allow me to position the loom in front of one of my storage benches, which I hope will work for this first project. I think in the long run that I'll have to buy a real weaving bench, but I need to know the optimal height for me and I won;t know that until I've tried a few options. I plan on sleying the reed and getting the tie-up right for the twill patterns ...

...I missed the Tuesday weekend report in favor of getting the recap uploaded. The company party on Saturday was fun. It was a little smaller that usual, but that was nice for a change. It made it easier to talk to people and it wasn't crowded. My cupcake turned out pretty well. I used a recipe that started with white cake mix. To that you added instant pudding mix, eggs, oil, and water, plus mini-chocolate chips. It made a good cupcake base. I used whipped white frosting from a can because I didn't have time to make frosting from scratch. As it turned out, I had a terrible headache all day, so not having to make one more thing was a plus. I used Hershey's chocolate drops and dark chocolate chips for the paw prints on the top of the cupcakes. I also made one Cruella deVille cupcake with white and black frosting. (I wonder why no one ate that one?) You can see photos of the other contributions in this Flickr photo album . The Daughter sent flowers for Mother...

...Happy May! We have a few things going in the garden. Our lone cherry is ripening: We also had some mulberries, but the birds have already eaten them. We still have a few Icelandic poppies: And the occasional calendula: In the last week, an amaryllis plant has bloomed. These flowers are huge: Up this weekend: Our company's holiday party is Saturday. We're a little later than usual this year because the office move in January set us back a bit. Our theme is Disney and I'm making cupcakes in the 101 Dalmatians theme. I'm using white cake with mini-chocolate chips and white icing with (I hope) paw prints on top. If I can't get the paw prints to work, I'll just use chocolate chips as spots. Sunday is Mother's Day and I've asked to spend the day in my studio. I want to warp my new loom! .