Addy Tale

Addy: Granma, will you read me this book?

Me: Ok. It says " The Land of Many . . . "

Addy: GERMS!

New Weaver

Nine-year-old Naia watched me weaving Marie's poncho and asked if she could weave a scarf for herself. I was willing, but didn't think it would amount to much; I've tried teaching her other fibery crafts and she quickly loses interest. Tuesday night I picked up some colorful yarns from the sale rack at my LYS and when Naia got out of school at noon on Wednesday, we got to work.

And I am one very proud fiber granny. The girl took to weaving like a duck to water. I demonstrated each step of the process one time - and Naia took over and did it correctly. If she made a mistake, she immediately recognized that there was a problem (that's a big step for beginners) and asked how to fix it. She decided the color placement for the yarns, threaded the heddles, wrapped the yarn over the warping peg, moved the second thread into the heddle-hole and wound on the warp. The only thing I did was tie the warp to the front beam.
Naia got the concept of changing sheds and understood where the heddle needed to be (up or down) based on which side the shuttle was on. She remembered to angle her weft thread so it wouldn't pull too tightly when she beat. In short, she did an outstanding job.
After three hours, Naia started getting tired and since she wanted to wear this scarf to school tomorrow, I finished up the last third of the weaving. At 5:30 we took it off the loom, tied knots for the fringe, gave it a quick soak in the sink and pronounced it done. One very proud and happy nine-year-old will be wearing her very own handwoven scarf to school on Thursday. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Happy Hubby

Hubby has wanted a leather couch for as long as we've been married. I've always been against it - with cats and kids, and now grandkids, it seemed like a recipe for disaster.

But we found a great deal when we decided to replace our old sofa, and the salesman reinforced hubby's pitch that real leather would hold up better than fabric.

Soooooooooo - as of about noon yesterday, hubby is a very happy couch potato. Sure hope they're right about it being kid/cat/grand resistant.

Woven Poncho

Finished up Marie's poncho today; the sewing almost took longer than the weaving, especially since I kept putting the seams on the wrong side of the fabric. In my defense, it was easy to make that mistake since this has morphed into a moebius poncho, with one seam on the opposite side from the others. Very confusing. But I think it turned out pretty cute.

The back

My weaving buddy - and our local Queen of Colors - helped me with the warp. I'd planned to use the same yarn for warp and weft, but Deb thought the yarn was too loosely spun for warp. She suggested using two colors of blue as the warp, with my original yarn as the weft. Such a great idea - it gave lots of depth and visual interest to the plain weave structure. Sure hope Marie likes it. If not - I hope she gives it back to me. I *love* this thing.

Why I Love My Knitters Loom

1:00 pm: started warping.3:00 pm: started weaving.5:00 pm: the first 27" are done. Took a break to make cookies and deviled eggs with Naia, and play with Leia.

12:00 am: finished poncho is off the loom and cat-approved.
Couldn't do that with knitting or crochet! Final pictures and project details tomorrow.

New Tunisian Pattern

Just added the free pattern for my Starlight Tunisian Scarf to Ravelry (click the link in the right sidebar). Not a member of Ravelry? You can also download the pattern by clicking this link - download now.

This is a slightly more advanced Tunisian pattern that uses Tunisian shell and twisted stitches; although the pattern walks you through each step, it helps if you already know Tunisian basics - how to start; how to work the forward and return pass. The yarn I used was Aran-weight (Nashua Isabella) but this scarf would look great in any weight yarn. Or add more stitches to the width and make an open, lacy wrap. I love the softness and drape of this design. Hope you enjoy it too!

Sisters

Lei'a (2) and Nai'a (9) watching Elmo on the computer. They are such great buddies; Lei'a adores her big sister and Nai'a is very patient and gentle.
I hope they'll always be this close.

Shawl #15

I've had this shawl finished for several days, but had to hold off posting it until it was gifted. Today was the day - and she liked it!
This is the same pattern as the Zauberball shawl (here), done in a solid color rather than wild and crazy. Still love the first one best (isn't that always the way with firstborns?) but this one is nice and soft and cozy. Plus it's purple; always a bonus.I've already started another crazy color shawl for another friend and I'm thinking about making yet another in Zauberball's hot pink. Can you tell I like this pattern?

Treasures!

Hubby and I spent the day at some really great fibery events, starting in Ventura and ending in Santa Monica, with a side trip to Torrance (where I'll be again tomorrow, helping Lois sell at the weaver's show and sale - come join us!)

I've been hearing for over a month about a former weaving shop owner's estate sale in Ventura. I don't need anything, so hadn't planned on going - but curiosity got the better of me after one of my buddies was invited to help with the pricing and came to spin night Thursday with tales of treasure. Hubby and I were standing in line when the doors opened at 9 this morning. Not only did I find some good things, hubby got a Stanley plane (he collects them) and some leather-working tools.

I brought home some wood weaving tools (I'm a sucker for nice wood, especially walnut), over 6 pounds of blue rug yarn for $8 (planning to make a crochet felted rug), another 1.5 pounds of orange rug yarn ($2), a yarn winder ($12! couldn't pass it up), a handwoven table runner and a handwoven Christmas towel. The towel is nice and thick; can't wait to put it out this holiday season.Then it was on to Torrance for the bobbin lacers show and sale. Although they had only one vendor this year, I was hoping to find some slightly used equipment at a reasonable price. And I did! Lucked into the Flemish-style pillow for under $100 (they can go for double that when new), a zippered pouch with interior pockets for holding bobbins and small tools, and some small tools - all in pretty woods that will be as nice to look at as they are to use.

We finished up the day at the Contemporary Crafts Market in Santa Monica. Didn't buy anything - although it was filled with beautiful, unique hand-made items - but did have a chance to wear my Deb Jarchow original while visiting her booth. I love this thing!

Weaving Again

I kinda lost my weaving mojo when we put the guest bed in my craft room and I packed my Baby Wolf into mini-storage. I've had a warp on the Walling loom for over a year and haven't done anything with it. Just haven't felt like weaving; it seemed such a hassle to get started again.

I think that's changing. I signed up for a lace weave rigid heddle class at my local yarn store, mostly because I'm teaching a crochet border for weavers class in December and needed a sample (and because Deb is the best weaving teacher ever.) We warped the loom in the first class and once I got it home, it just sat. For two weeks. Until about 8 hours before the next class, when I finally got my b**t in gear.

Weaving on a RH loom with multiple pick-up sticks is sloooowww going. Throw six picks, put in stick B. Throw six more picks, take out stick B. But once I settled into a rhythm, I picked up a little speed. I had about 38", in 3 separate patterns, woven by class time. That's about 2/3 of the project. Just need to finish up the last two repeats, take it off the loom and wash it before sharing it here. Weaving, I've missed you. Hope you're back to stay.

Are We Comfortable?

There is no way she could be comfortable, but this was AJ's favorite spot today. Right smack in the middle of my weaving supplies. The rest of the bed was open and uncluttered but no, she had to be on top of the loom. Fortunately (for her) it wasn't the loom I was using. Stupid cat.

New Favorite

I have a new favorite shawl*. And favorite yarn. And favorite pattern. To say I love how this thing turned out would be a vast understatement.
I'd never tried Zauberball Starke 6 before; I bought it as 'souvenir' yarn because I hadn't seen it in any local shops and I liked the craziness of the colors. It's now one of my all time favorite yarns. Very soft, colorful, easy to work - and makes quite the dramatic statement. I'd make another shawl with it - if I could find anywhere to buy it locally. May have to take another road trip to N. Hollywood just for a Zauberball fix.

And I've already started another shawl in this pattern using some yarn I've had stashed for awhile (yummy alpaca silk). But I do have a bone to pick with Bernat Design Studio. What's up with the lack of descriptive names - this pattern is called #4922 - and the crummy pattern pictures that show no details at all of the stitch pattern?? If another Raveler hadn't started this and posted pictures of her gorgeous project, I never would have considered using this pattern. And that would have been a real shame - it's a great pattern, well-written and easy to follow, and makes a beautiful shawl. Did I mention it's my new favorite?

*I've lost count, but I think this is #13 for my 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge. Or 14. Definitely more than 10 though.

Homework

Whatever Naia does, Leia wants to do. So Sunday, when Naia and I worked most of the day on her extra-credit project (video is here), Leia wanted in on the action too. And it didn't hurt that 'homework' involved paper and colored markers, two of Miss Leia's favorite things. She worked diligently, marking both sides of the paper with intricate designs, always capping one color before trading it for another. And then, for a little variety, she decided to add a little artwork to her hands and arms. And rubbed her hands on her mouth for a little facial design. What a mess. Thank goodness for washable markers!