Reweaving

14 threads rewoven

Now I can try cutting again. If it goes well this last band will be done in time for our next chapter meeting. If it’s done soon enough I might even get to work on another WIP before it becomes a UFO. Summer had begun with this strange idea that it would be filled with fun projects from the queue of dreamed projects and the pile of WIPs. Am I there yet or is this continued self-deception?

Unfortunately, the first five threads were rewoven in the wrong color white. Thanks to my lack of proper lighting. The area really shouldn’t be rewoven again and the threads I’ve woven will be covered so hopefully it looks okay.

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Weaving Errors

Didn’t wind my warp cross properly (little ones are very demanding and even when exceptionally patient aren’t patient enough for 177 threads at 3.5 yds each.

Ran out of heddles when threading from middle

Missed one thread of the pattern

Threaded 2 heddles on shaft 4 instead of on shaft 3

Twisted warp between heddles and reed

Missed one dent on the reed

The hill this battle was fought upon was steep. Having to thread the heddles 3 times and the reed 3 times around figuring out how to remove the harnesses to add/remove heddles. Having to untie a bundle of warp thread from the front bar to unthread them and rethread them through the reed. Having to resley a third of the reed again upon weaving the header and discovering the missed dent. Oh and removing and improvising heddles for the threads that were threaded on the wrong shaft. This took more hours than even the numerous hours it had been rumored to take. This is my first test weave moving from my rarely used child’s rigid heddle lap loom to a four harness table took and I think it might be my thing. You see, I never felt frustrated or angry or overwhelmed. I just wished for more time and energy to spend googling YouTube tutorials and fixing issues so that eventually it would be right-it would be ready.

I learned so much doing this and it feels great to have accomplished just this. Perhaps the actual weaving will be easier. Steam will swirl up sending the scent of blackberries and sage, bergamot or chamomile to join that of woodsmoke as a handthrown mug rests on the rich brown wood next to the loom. The light of the fire will be overshadowed by the brightness of the magnifying light my husband uses when painting his minis and the crackling sound of the fire and the clicking of the loom will be overlaid with the narrator’s voice as we listen to an audiobook. Thus shall we while away winter.

Big Four

Now that indie pattern companies are blooming like daisies, we have the contrasting Big Four and I ask myself, why I keep buying expensive indie patterns when I can buy the cheap big four patterns (which admittedly I do).  Well, it’s the other Big 4, where you make your pattern and it seems like it is at least 4 sizes to big when your done.  Of course it is.  This always happens.

So this summer nightgown (Butterick 6838),which has lovingly serged seams and nice neat insides, now needs me to remove the gathered sleeves, remove the body of the garment, take apart the yoke and yoke lining and cut them down.  Then regather the body to the yoke.  Refit, regather and reattach the sleeves.   At least some is months away.  Months I was going to spend on the embroidery for a second summer nightgown.

The kicker is that I’m now going to resize based on a RTW sleeveless nightgown that needed just a bit more space across the bust and could have been my starting point to begin with, but wouldn’t it have been nice to use the pattern with the sleeves and not have to draft them?

And I am reminded why I sew indie or draft my own.  Until next time I give in to the big four crazies.

Little Loom Big Loom

A pair of pink merino/nylon socks just came off the sock loom for A. Upon trying them said they are the most comfortable socks ever and demanded more. She’s planning to wear them tomorrow. We’ll see how she feels after a full day. The first of a heavier weight pair for me is already underway.

When your model is tiny and reluctant there may be tickling and turning upside down in your lap, then snapping a quick in the air foot pick. Sometimes you take what you can get.

The “big” loom is waiting to be warped. I’m not sure if I’m waiting to see if my birthday brings a new (not rusty) reed. It’s unlikely, but with the white warp the rust could be a real issue.

Adaptability

This pattern Queenstitch Pincushion (slightly altered) from the March 2019 issue of NeedleArts, consists primarily of queenstitch, however, the center is Smyrna and the borders are running stitch. The original pattern has a single running stitch border bordered by a satin stitch border. The second border seemed a bit too heavy and thus I substituted a second running stitch border. For the bottom I redrew the corner motifs from the front on a diagonal to place in what would become the visible corners. The colors I chose to complement my sewing space.

Our chapter is interested in learning more finishing techniques and this pincushion was easily adaptable for use as a biscornu demo. We may follow up in the future with a lesson on star shaped or 15 sided biscornu. What is your favorite finishing technique?

Cheat Knit

When in doubt, recreate your previous experiment.  That is what I did with knitting…sort of.  Since casting on other than the e cast-on seems to be challenging I went for another ball of Uluru and chose a pattern that only required me to cast on 3 stitches instead of 107.  Then I decided to change it from garter stitch to a jersey knit style with knit stitches on one side and purl on the other using a yarn over increase.  Not getting me anywhere in my planned projects or necessarily helping with cast on issues, but knit and purl yarn overs  increases are now part of my toolbox and I won’t forget how to knit or purl by putting it down for months again.

Eventually, this will be simple triangle shawl.  The knit yarn overs give me an interesting hole on that side while the purl increases don’t.  See trying allows lots of opportunities to learn. Though the original pattern also recommends another type of knit increase as an option to avoid the holes.  (I don’t recall what pattern I looked at originally and can’t find it on Ravelry now.  Something along the lines of Simple Shawl.  It called for worsted weight yarn.)

 

A Few Summer Stitches

Really a few is all there were this summer. My current projects are feeling uninspired. One mostly because it takes more concentration than has been available. And the other? Just too little time.  These are the stitches from last spring.

Maybe it’s time to add to the UFO project by starting a new project and ignoring the one that needs concentration? As few WIPs as possible is my comfort zone, but I’d like to get stitching again.

What do you do when you just can’t get in the mood to stitch?