Lots of progress

Like anyone in business, I have to prioritize. What has the closest deadline? Do those things first. So here’s what I’ve accomplished since my last post…4 days ago. (You know that saying, if you want something done, give it to a busy person? Yep.)

• Wash & dry a bunch of pillowcases and other fabric, then cut them into appropriate sizes, sew 31 bags, print and cut my bag tags, then thread the bags with ribbon and tie a bag tag on them. (no pix)
• Do both the machine and hand sewing on those 8 bumberet towels, then wash and dry them. They still need the hard press, but that won’t take long. (no pix)
• Thanks to my son, get the 2nd heddle kit installed on my rigid heddle loom.



• Get the heddles and reed threaded, and the treadles tied up, for that custom baby wrap order.



• Get a warp prepped, dyed, and threaded on that RH loom. This is a story in and of itself.

Here’s another saying, this time a bit modified: If at first you don’t succeed, dye, dye again.

After measuring out a 10/2 tencel warp, I went down to my basement and hand painted it in cool blue and 2 greens, thinking they were perfect colors for summer at the lake, where my show will be next weekend.

I was happy with it. Until after it batched and was rinsed. The greens were ok, but the blue was WAY too pale. So after consulting with a great dyer I know, I laid the wet warp back out on the table, mixed some more concentrated dye with the soda ash so I could skip the pre-soak step, and painted over the blue. I also decided to eliminate the unpainted/white areas, since the colors were pale. Here it is in process.

Meanwhile, I wanted to dye the wefts to coordinate. So I measured out 2 small skeins, just under 2 ounces each, 1 for the weft for each scarf. I immersion dyed these wefts before I knew how the warp would turn out. Since the skeins were so small, the dishpans I usually use as vessels were too big to be practical. I searched around the house for smaller containers that I wouldn’t need again, and ended up at my neighbors, too. The end result? I was dyeing al Fresca. (Get it?)

After all the yarn was dry, I didn’t think the wefts were right for the warp, so I wound and dyed a third skein. Here’s how things proceeded…

First, the hand painted warp

Next that warp with the first 2 wefts I dyed

Then with the 3rd weft I dyed – this one is perfect, righ?

I looked through my stash and added 2 more potential weft colors. All will need to be auditioned on the loom.

I’m still not sure if I have the 2nd weft color yet, but won’t dye any more. I’ll have to use one of those colors or find something else in my stash.

Here’s what’s left to do by Wednesday evening:

• Make a cake for my son’s birthday on Monday, and enjoy a family dinner tomorrow night;
• Make something nice to bring to a dinner with friends on Tuesday to celebrate the 4th;
• Tie on that RH warp so I can test out wefts and decide what to bring to the show;
• Warp up my little tapestry loom, also to bring to the show, with a variety of yarns for people to do a bit of community weaving while I’m there – anything to bring people into my booth;
• Hard press and label those towels;
• Begin weaving that baby wrap – I made a time commitment to those women.

Think I can do it? I’m sure I can. It’s all about time management.