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2 more wraps out

JJ & PW's completed wraps

Here’s the finished wraps, all ready for mailing, for JJ & PW. J’s is a royal blue cotton weft, and P’s a black tencel weft. They both turned out well. I got them mailed on Monday & my moms, both in California, should have them in their hands today.

Meanwhile I am frustrated. I got a warp on my counterbalance loom for a few shawls. It’s not perfect, and I wanted to show you what it is now and how I plan to fix it. Unfortunately, my camera is acting up. It’s been cranky for a while, not always flashing for reasons unknown to me, but I could usually cajole the flash into working. I’ve now tried all my tricks many times to no avail. So no picture. I’d rather not buy a new camera, but what are my options? I guess I’ll try googling it.

But now I have to go walk the dog.

Making up time

On Thursday I finished weaving PW’s wrap and started on JJ’s, as planned. Here the weft is switching from black tencel to royal blue cotton.

PW to JJ's wraps

I got about 40″ of JJ’s woven on Thursday. A similar amount woven on Friday morning but then no weaving for the rest of the day. I apparently pinched or pulled something in my back on Thursday while shoveling, even though I didn’t feel it at the time, and was quite uncomfortable by mid-morning on Friday. I knew that if I sat at my loom I’d only make matters worse.

So I spent the few hours it always takes to do all the paperwork and calculations needed to order the yarn for the next 2 baby wrap warps. Then I knit for a while, but mostly vegged out.

This morning my back felt pretty good so I figured I’d try the loom. I wove for a while and went for a walk. Still felt pretty good, so back to the loom. By 6:30 I’d woven 160″, finishing JJ’s wrap, too!

JJ's wrap woven

Tomorrow I’ll cut them off the loom, hem them, & toss them in the washer & dryer. If time allows, I’ll wind a warp for my summer shows – I have a shawl or scarf in mind – not sure which I’ll end up with. I’ll do some planning on my weaving software tonight and see which ‘seems’ to work, then I’ll have to see if the real thing works like the computer mockup.

Winter Weaving

It’s been nothing but winter here for weeks, with more to come. Unless I have other commitments, that makes for good weaving days. Today was one of those days. I got PW’s warp tied on the front apron and wove. Went for my walk and wove. Shoveled a bit and wove.

PW's wrap on the loom

I got almost 130″ woven today! I have to say, my favorite part of this warp is the magenta to cream to turquoise to cobalt section. Not only do I love the way those colors play together, I like the fact that the cream, which draws your eye, is off center in the warp.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a bunch colder, so I’ll probably finish weaving this wrap and start on JJ’s.

It looks like I’ll have another lag before the yarn comes in for the next batch of baby wraps, so I’ll be able to get some of ‘my’ weaving done. That is, weave some more items for shows. I have some ideas and the yarn in house to implement them, so I have hopes that they’ll work out.

XLIX & L

There’s a reason we don’t use Roman numerals anymore. It’s so much quicker and easier to say 49 & 50 than XLIX & L. Unless, of course, you’re running a super bowl. Then, Roman numerals are apparently a must. I’m sure if it wasn’t for super bowl, only 4th graders would have a clue what the Roman numerals mean.

Then again, they probably don’t teach them in schools anymore. Heck, they’re not even teaching cursive writing anymore! But I’m not going to climb on my penmanship soapbox here.

Anyway, yesterday & today I wound the warp for my 49th & 50th baby wraps. Seems like a milestone that should be acknowledged. PW & JJ are warp sisters for this. Like a few of my other wraps, these two moms don’t know each other; they’re joined by their love of their children and handwoven fabric. I love that!

Here are their four bouts (bunches of warp threads) on the warping mill.

PW & JJ, bout 1

PW & JJ, bout 2

PW & JJ, bout 3

PW & JJ, bout 4

PW designed this warp, and it looks great! I’m almost done beaming it (winding it on the back beam of the loom) in this shot.

beaming PW & JJ's warp

From left to right the warp colors are dark mauve, mauve, magenta, cream, turquoise, cobalt blue, medium blue, and navy.

Tomorrow I’ll start threading.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

I’ve made it a point not to complain about the weather this winter. It’s winter! I get it! It’s supposed to be cold & snowy! But this? This is over-the-top ridiculous.

thermometer

I just keep feeding the woodstove and my house is still cold. Brrrr!!