Wonder Weave U Tube Video
Just a short post to try to catch up on what I've been up to.
I have been flirting with the idea of another craft. Not like I have time for yet another activity but somehow it just feels like something I might enjoy. I'm thinking of trying a little bit of weaving and I imagine it's not big surprise to those of you who already enjoy weaving and for me, it just another excuse to play with fiber :-) Now I'm not talking about getting a floor loom mind you. Just a simple Rigid Heddle loom. So I've bought a few books on the subject thanks to "Sock Pron" who suggested which books to look at. I got, "Rigid Heddle Weaving" and "Textures and Patterns For The Rigid Heddle Loom" both by Betty Linn Davenport as well as a really old book "The Xenakis Technique For The Construction Of Four Harness Textiles" by Athanasios David Xenakis (this last is very advanced but a nice investment if I really get into weaving). I am waiting for a book on edge finishing for weaving as well. Books are never a waste for me and I like to know what I'm getting into before I commit. I have my eye on the Schacht Flip Rigid Heddle Loom but decided I needed to check out U Tube for any weaving videos just to get a look at people actually weaving. While surfing the tube, I saw this video on the Wonder Weave Loom and just had to give it a try since it mimics the process used in Rigid Heddle weaving. Got one for $2.00 on E-Bay though shipping was $10.00. It's fun and it really is very addicting :-) Silly I know, but I wanted to know if the process of actual weaving was going to put me to sleep or be something I would get caught-up into like spinning. I will let you all know what happens but I am really very tempted!
I have posted a few pictures of some very pretty stitch markers in copper that I got from Spindle Cat Studios. They are very tiny and they fit up to US 3 needles. I really find them charming and I like the little "keepers" that she makes to keep those stitch markers corralled as well. Though I generally use cheap plastic hair ties as markers, these were so attractive and well made that I could not resist. The singles on my wheel are of some of the CVM I prepared with my mini-combs. When plied, it's a light taupe color and makes a bouncy, soft lace weight yarn. I'm still enjoying using my combs and since I have this week off, I can indulge myself as much as I want with my crafts. My version of Heaven! I will be working on all my knitting but wanted to give a few more shots of one of the shawls I'm working on. It's from "Knitted Lace of Estonia. Techniques, Patterns and Traditions" by Nancy Bush and is called "Crown Prince Square Shawl". I'm knitting it using US 3 needles and "Holding" a 100% baby alpaca lace weight yarn from "A Verb For Keeping Warm" in colorway "Twilight". I only was able to show the border on my previous post and I'm now working on the center. I love how this alpaca feels in my hands. It has a nice spring to it and the fuzziness fills in those big holes that are made with US 3 needles. The color is subtle but looks very nice in person. I'm half way through the center portion of the "Triinu Scarf" from the same book and have all my other projects to knit on. If I need more to do there is always the reading pile with lovely trash novels along with making stuffing and pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. Until my next post I hope everyone stays/gets well (Get Well Soon Fleegle!) and that you are all able to have a little fun before the end of the year!
16 comments:
I love, love, love your Price shawl! I can feel it's silky fuzziness right thought the internet :)
As for weaving, hmmm. I will be fascinated to see what you make with your little loom. I had large looms years ago, but found weaving a bore. Thump! Whap!
I almost fell for the stitch markers, but realized that much as I love to look at dangly stitch markers, I never use them. Oh well :(
I am feeling a bit better, but still can't figure out which end of the dpn I should be using, so it's back to the doctor tomorrow.
The variation in color of the combed cvm is beautiful!
I was sucked into weaving too :) It is very satisfying to have something finished so quickly, but I find I prefer the smaller space saving fiber pursuits (knitting, etc.) We'll see, I'm still weaving though!
Your Prince is a stunner.
I love your little loom. I've sort of gotten into the weavette looms (thanks to Girl on the Rocks), but don't have room for another large hobby.
I love how your shawl is looking. Beautiful. That's on my list to do, but I think I'd do a rectangular shape shawl. Happy Thanksgiving.
My advice for what its worth: get a 4 shaft loom. You will outgrow the rigid heddle in NO time at all. There is a Leclerc dealer that sells refurbished looms for a song let me know if you are interested and I will dig out his info. Knowing what I know today about weaving, it is not worth buying a new loom if you can find a good used one with the specs you want. Go over to www.handweaver.net and poke around in the gallery.......
Dear fleegle,
I really love how the alpaca is working out for the Prince shawl too. I don't do mohair so this is something I like to use when I need that type of a look and the yarn from "Verb" is always really pretty. As for the weaving I'm only planning on being a "dabbler" in it so I don't expect to be crazed. So far, I enjoy the simple act of weaving with the tiny loom I got so I figure it's one of those crafts that might be something I do when I fry my brain with knitting. I dabble in other crafts as well(tatting, silk ribbon embroidery, quilting) but they have never overtaken the lace knitting for personal interest or satisfaction. I really never use my collection of stitch markers either but I can't help getting them from time to time :-)
I hope a trip to the doctor will help you on the road to recovery. Feel better soon!
Dear aija,
I really enjoy working with the fiber I processed myself from purchased fleece and the color variations while spinning are really pretty. I have no idea how uniform the color of the end product will look but I hope it will look good knit up. It's interesting to hear other people's experience with weaving. Obviously fleegle didn't find it addicting at all. You enjoy it but not to the exclusion of your smaller hand work. I only plan on the weaving to be an "in between" type of project. Something to do in between knitting when I've fried my brain for knitting lace. I wouldn't even touch a loom if I thought it would take over all my time. Not part of the plan :-)
Dear Amanda,
Thank you! It's a pretty pattern on big needles with lovely yarn and not too complicated at all. Very pleasant Winter knitting indeed :-)
Dear z's momma,
The little weaving machine is fun and it was inexpensive to get one so I thought "what the heck". I'm going to practice weaving "floats" onto the surface just to see how that looks. The Prince is very pretty but I think it could easily be made a a rectangle shawl. I would not have the big blank space in between the border and the center in that case though. I know you could work something out. The book has other shawls that are rectangles but they have millions and millions of Nupps in them.
Dear Laritza,
Though it's always possible I will eventually want that 4 harness loom (drool) I am not willing to give up the house space to have it at this time. I'm betting that weaving will only be a small obsession, not a big one but I've been known to be wrong :-)I think I will mosey on over to the weaving marketplace on Ravelry and have a look-see.
Oh I love the shawl! It looks cozy. bit delicate.
Have fun with your weaving endeavor!
I look forward to seeing what you produce with your loom.....
I like the stitch markers and the thingy that holds them... I do like to use stitch markers it makes life so much easier....
I love the CVM is beautifully shaded and look forward to seeing what you knit up...
I'm enjoying watching the Estonian lace grow I have the book down as a Christmas present but stocks are out in the UK at the moment...
What a cute little loom! You can make very lovely patches (an afghan or quilt?) with it.
I really love the lace, the alpaca makes it thát more attractive.
Dear Opal,
Loved the weaving! Had to get a bigger loom though :-)
Dear LittleBerry,
Make sure to get the corrections for that book on the errata page! I got a copy for my sister-in-law and laminated the corrected pages :-)
Dear MoniqueB,
The loom is very cute but I really was lusting after something bigger so I gave in and got a Flip Loom ;-)
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