Weaving A Gem Of A Life

Bamboo Infinity

I finished the bamboo warp. I’d warped for two wide (20″) handwoven scarves or shawls in 100% bamboo yarn in a cool minty green.

I wove the first in a tabby, planning to make this one into an infinity scarf.

I decided to try something different to close this one. This bamboo yarn needs to be finished with a double-twisted fringe to keep it from totally poofing out, so instead of sewing the ends together, I took 3 threads from each end and twisted them together. After each piece was double twisted, I tied a simple overhand knot very close to the scarf itself for strength. I don’t know that I’d do this every time, but I like the effect.

After I’d woven the first scarf, I realized I didn’t have enough of that minty green bamboo left for the warp of the second.

So I explored other options, and ultimately ended up with green tabby ends, and the majority of the body in a white point twill. I like this one, too, but perhaps not quite as well as the solid green.

I’ve got a warp for 4 earth-toned bamboo-cotton scarves on my loom, and 3 are woven. I’ll finish the fourth today.

Best Buds

Red & Magic really do love each other. I took this photo from my porch last summer. I don’t know which of them was lying comfortably in the grass first, and which joined later, but the order doesn’t really matter. What matters is the fact that this is, or at least was, a common occurrence. These two choose to be close to each other.

Magic was already beyond middle age (11 cat years, 69 human years) when Red came to live with us (OMG, how has 6 1/2 years gone by so quickly?!), but it didn’t matter. They became fast friends quickly. They used to spend lots of time wrestling, all in good fun, taking turns ‘winning.’ But as old age has crept up on the Magic kitty, that’s declined. Red really missed that rough cat-dog play for some time, but has come to accept it. He’s not, however, happy with Magic’s recent declines, and the fact that we both know there aren’t years left to enjoy him.

So for me, looking at pictures like this reminds me that they’ve had a good run as best buds. We can’t ask for much more than that.

This photo, and the warmth and greenness it portrays, are in response to Carmi’s weekly thematic photo. Your turn: play the photo game along with us, or tell me about the animal friends in your life.

New York Bamboo

Continuing with Jan’s scarf-a-day challenge (even tho I’m getting concerned about her) and my need to keep preparing for the upcoming show season, I completed four bamboo-cotton scarves over the weekend.

All woven with Tammy’s handpainted yarn, these are in a colorway she calls New York. The pinks and purples are nice and rich. You can see that I did one in a point twill (top), and two in tabby: one in the same weft as warp (right), and one with a solid purple weft (left).

I also wove a fourth, again in a tabby with the same warp as weft, and made it into an infinity scarf.

I’m working on those wider 100% bamboo scarves. They’ll be done soon.

More Infinity Scarves

Olive Oil infinity scarf

NY infinity scarf

I’ve made two more infinity scarves, in two ofÂ Tammy’s handpaintedÂ colorways.

Both are handwoven from a bamboo-cotton blend — 2/3 bamboo and 1/3 cotton. Â I really like working with this blend. Â I like the way it drapes, I like the way it takes color, I like its softness. Â I even like the way it smells. Â Every fiber has its own scent, and to me, bamboo-cotton smells great.

Although I’m not particularly fond of having pictures of myself taken, I’m the only one handy most of the time. Â I wanted to show a few ways to wear infinity scarves, so it was me or me. Â You’ve already seen the double wrap and triple wrap around my neck — here are three more options.

infinity scarf drape

infinity scarf keyhole

infinity scarf bolero

I’m going to make a much wider infinity scarf now out of 100% bamboo. It will have different looks and wrapping options.

Macomber At Rest

I told you about getting my vintage Macomber 8 harness loom in pieces a few months ago, gave you a few stories about its assembly, and showed you some table linens I’d made on it. But I never showed you the loom in all its finished glory.

The Macomber is resting now. It has been for a few weeks, and will be for at least a few more weeks.

As it turns out, that ugly toe I dropped firewood onto wasn’t just bruised, I broke it. I spent some days when I needed to have the foot elevated when I could, then some days when it needed nighttime attention, and now I merely need to remember that I still am healing. The foot really likes to be in a sturdy Keen shoe – no mushy Crocs, no slippers.

I’ve been working on my lovely, little counterbalance, and I can do plain weave with my shoes on with no problem. The other day I decided that I wanted to do a simple twill. Much more of a challenge to do with shoes on. It’s almost possible if you don’t do a regular sort of tie-up, instead leaving treadles 1 through 4 with only 1 harness each, so that you have to step on two treadles at a time to do a 2-2 twill. But still not easy.

I wove several inches with the shoes on, and then said, “Hey, it’s been 3 weeks, take your shoes off and weave in your socks. You don’t have to use your toes, after all.” Well, I did it, but it wasn’t a great idea. The toe wasn’t happy. It made it through the rest of the scarf, but by evening it was talking to me, reminding me that it’s still vulnerable.

I don’t know that it’s even possible to weave on my Macomber with shoes on – 10 treadles and complex patterns require some fancy footwork. I’m sure I could do plain weave on it, but why would I, when my counterbalance is so sweet and easy to use? Â Besides, I can do 2/2 twills easily on the counterbalance loom by tying 2 heddles each to the first 4 treadles and treadling with my left foot only. Â SoÂ my plans for some clever-patterned bamboo scarves have been put on hold for at least a few more weeks.

Sorry, Macomber. Enjoy your rest! (This is my second entry into Carmi’s challenge this week.)

Weaving A Gem Of A Life

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