tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46269872256672892362024-03-19T00:54:28.917-07:00Rabbitbrush StudioKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-9324310844012365022015-11-08T09:51:00.001-08:002015-11-19T20:08:34.766-08:00State Fair Sash 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22688682770/in/set-72157630303650154" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5819/22688682770_4def9bc648.jpg" id="blogsy-1447992475867.4673" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Pretty much last minute in August I decided to weave up a sash using my handspun yarns. I'd taken a break from weaving to spend the summer with my kids and this was kind of a reintroduction to getting back to weaving.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For over a year I have been spinning local New Mexican churro yarn. My original thought was I could build up my stash of finely spun local wool yarns to maybe use for tablet weaving or some on the inkle loom. But here's the catch, and I knew this but I still needed to try, churro wool is really good for weaving rugs or items that need strength such as bags. It's not a good choice for garments. But I thought, maybe I could weave it for items such as belts, trim, or sashes, since these items aren't worn against the skin and need strength.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22458351578/in/set-72157630303650154" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/687/22458351578_a7dcdeac18.jpg" id="blogsy-1447992475841.3389" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So I started with spinning my usual singles. Fat singles, and skinny singles. I prefer to weave with handspun singles. But no joke, every time I wove with them it did not go well. First I started with my inkle loom. And holy moly, shredded yarn. Then I moved to tablet weaving, and yikes, sticky, sticky, sticky beyond belief. So I abandoned my handspun yarns for quite some time and needed to just think about what I was going to do with them.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then in August, I decided to sit down and respin my singles almost to the point of being over spun, then I plied them firmly into a two-ply yarn. I washed and set the skeins and proceeded to do the same to a lone red skein from a local yarn shop that I obtained a few years back. I also grabbed a non-churro wool yarn I had spun, a variegated off white with flecks of brown and respun that too.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now I had a collection of 3 colors of churro, and 1 color non-churro. And here began the magic for me. I am usually pretty meticulous about drawing out drafts to weave and doing samples to work to a specific size for width. But a pattern popped in my head, a simple one, using a "comb" design and I just sat down and fully warped my inkle loom to the max.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22253926214/in/set-72157630303650154" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/738/22253926214_f2d9c9cf05.jpg" id="blogsy-1447992475913.2576" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I was pretty sure the yarn would shred and I would end up wasting it like I had been doing (it quietly kills me to waste yarn). And I am not sure if I've ever completely winged it when it came to warping. I had no idea how wide this woven piece would become let alone if I could weave it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I used a thinner spun plied wool for the weft and behold, I was able to weave it. The sheds opened without much difficulty (advancing the warp was challenging). And I loved it! The simple comb design was just what I needed and it all came together much better than I could have expected. I finished the band, and twisted the fringes. I had a beautiful sash, strong and sturdy. An item that had simple beauty, but rugged enough to be used.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The thought entered my mind to enter it in the state fair. For me, entering a woven product was about complexity or something grand, but this sash didn't fit that bill. I wanted to enter it because all the wool was handspun (and a respun commercial skein), I had used local wools, my weaving was even with nice selvedges (edges), and I successfully used my handspun on the inkle loom without shredding. Not one warp broke or even showed signs of wear! I finally learned how I needed to spin my churro for weaving on the inkle loom.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I entered it. And during my son's field trip to the state fair I dragged him to the creative arts building (my oldest son is pretty much completely not impressed with weaving, he is like, yeah mom, I've seen this a hundred times before). Even more crazy was I got a first place ribbon in my division! Wow! Coolest thing ever!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was totally exciting to see that they appreciated exactly what I saw too. I really couldn't believe it! Anyhow, this sash is staying in my personal collection for the time being and now I am slowly working thru my churro roving stash, spinning heavy worsted weight two-ply yarns for weaving. I am hoping next year to go collecting local plants for dyeing (I completely missed doing that this year) some of my wool.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22484521239/in/set-72157630303650154" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/22484521239_a43cdc2baa.jpg" id="blogsy-1447992475879.744" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Lesson learned, weaving doesn't have to be super complex, and pattern challenged to produce something beautiful!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Details! The sash measures 108" (86" woven, 6" x 2 fringe). The width is 2 7/8".</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-78071295238971088462015-10-25T14:50:00.001-07:002019-01-25T06:17:06.206-08:003 Color Pick Up Weave<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/21850747064" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781703.8364" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5669/21850747064_d567d0d593.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished guitar strap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Something new and exciting has come along for small loom weavers, the beautiful 3 Color Pick Up Weave!</div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22473475835" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781649.5134" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/759/22473475835_aaf46fbc7d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woven with the second draft option.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
My love of this weave actually started with <a href="http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/2012/10/post-renaissance-period.html" target="_blank" title="">this sash</a> by Annie MacHale. There was something just a little different about it, I could see that there were 3 colors, but I couldn't quite grasp how it was made.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Over the weekend Annie published her tutorial on how to do <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/252839995/inkle-weaving-tutorial-3-color-pickup?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=aspinnerweaver&ref=sr_gallery_2" target="_blank" title="">3 Color Pick Up Weave</a>. The design possibilities are ENDLESS! Included in the tutorial are two different kinds of drafts and a video, which is awesome, seeing the weave in action.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22460114142" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781696.6343" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/596/22460114142_9be6b0a370.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
This type of threading comes from a small province in Zanavykija, Lithuania. There are very few examples of this weave in one book about Lithuanian Sashes, and maybe one or two examples on the internet other than <a href="http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/2015/10/3-color-pickup.html" target="_blank" title="">Annie's blog</a>. It's a very rare weave not often seen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So here are just a few samples that I have to share:<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22285514930" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781633.2607" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5714/22285514930_0a5c2b9ea4.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woven in wool, with the first draft option.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22285517060" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781658.9463" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5685/22285517060_48c2e90308.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First draft option.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22285777278" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="184" id="blogsy-1445830781706.251" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/586/22285777278_614be83f6d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First draft option.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the guitar strap I just went for it, no pattern ideas in my head, I just started picking up and this is what I came up with!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/22484456031" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1445830781688.2783" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/749/22484456031_c5d06d006a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hop on over to Annie's blog (linked above) to read more about her tutorial, and the tutorial is available on Etsy (also linked above). I can't wait to see what everyone makes!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, the details! Woven on an inkle loom, 3 colors of cotton yarn, width 2", and length 49". I used a brown leather fob kit (from Annie) to finish it off!</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-89839759172825947102015-10-01T09:57:00.001-07:002015-10-01T09:57:44.285-07:00Greek Key Pick Up Draft<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/21854396312" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/636/21854396312_50720f65dd.jpg" id="blogsy-1443718623215.0037" class="aligncenter" alt="key fob with greek key pick up" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">key fob with greek key pick up</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> Last week I published my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/cart/">Wristlet Tutorial</a> on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RabbitbrushStudio">Etsy</a> and I had a request about the woven band I used in the video tutorial. My inspiration for this pattern comes from my weaver friend Annie MacHale. With her permission I will post my draft here and you will need to visit her blog for the instructions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Please note that this draft may or may not come out at 1" wide. It's a discussion that all of us have, how to weave to a specific size. The kicker is every weaver can warp on the same amount of yarn and each of us will get a different width. For instance, I weave using a backstrap set up or inkle loom, and when I set up the same project on each loom not only is my width different, my PPI (picks per inch) are different.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/21245256673" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/570/21245256673_e745f7123f.jpg" id="blogsy-1443718623193.1448" class="aligncenter" alt="H = heddle shed, O = open shed" width="500" height="47"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H = heddle shed, O = open shed</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">My advice is just to practice. It's taken me years of weaving with the same exact brands of yarns to be able to come close to guessing a predicted width. Also don't try to force the above pattern to fit 1", find where your 1" is, then add or subtract warps to the selvedge. It's a real bummer to weave to someone else's rhythm, find your own!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, the pick up sequence occurs with the 7 dark green and 6 yellow warps in the center of the draft.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Please visit Annie's blog by <a href="http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/2014/02/greek-key-pickup-tutorial.html">clicking here</a>, not only does she have the written instructions there's also a video.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you make anything with this draft, I would LOVE, LOVE to see your work. Email me rabbitbrushstudio at yahoo dot com or visit my <a href="https://m.facebook.com/rabbitbrushstudio">Facebook</a> and post your picture there!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17276907345" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7662/17276907345_44d9f8b664.jpg" id="blogsy-1443718623193.9993" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-30289230942991940822015-09-22T16:33:00.001-07:002015-09-23T07:18:22.967-07:00Wristlet Tutorial Done!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247963951/wristlet-key-fob-tutorial?ref=shop_home_feat_3" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5684/21641156552_71385e91c6.jpg" id="blogsy-1443017813314.3188" class="aligncenter" alt="how to make a wristlet key fob" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how to make a wristlet key fob</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Hey folks! I think I might be making my way back to my creative pursuits. As many of you know, I often say "maybe" because of these two cuties below:<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/21031512063" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/603/21031512063_634d30147d.jpg" id="blogsy-1443017813343.8691" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We had a series of medical issues at the start of the summer that had me stepping away from crafting. I was able to finish a few started projects, and I made a sash at the last minute that went to state fair (more on that in another blog post soon), but otherwise I had to basically stop all extracurricular activities! It's all good now, or I should say stable, so I'm going to try to do some catch up.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Often, I would post a photo of a key fob I made and people would ask me how I made it. Unfortunately I would give "half" answers. Mostly because it took me a couple years to get them just perfect! I really admire a well woven fabric, but if it's not put together beautifully it makes a so-so project.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I decided it was time to make my first <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247963951/wristlet-key-fob-tutorial?ref=shop_home_feat_3">online tutorial for sale</a> with all my tricks and tips. Key fobs make wonderful gifts. I've also donated a few for auction, and happily they get the right amount of bids for their worth! You can make key fobs for guys, gals and kids, just by changing the colors!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/21641210372" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5764/21641210372_1262cd1c23_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1443017813364.0195" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The most exciting part for me is making fobs from inkle-woven, tablet-woven, and backstrap-woven bands. What ever your weaving style/method, you can turn it into a fob! In fact, I am guessing you could make key fobs from webbing or fabric too.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Aside, from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247963951/wristlet-key-fob-tutorial?ref=shop_home_feat_3">PDF tutorial</a>, I decided to include a video that really shows the whole process from beginning to end. I was really nervous, because it was the first time I put together a video like this, but it's gotten great reviews. Whew!</p><p>The tutorial includes:</p><p>Part One: Supplies & Written Instructions</p><p>Part Two: Photo Tutorial With Written Instructions</p><p>Part Three: Resources & Links</p><p>Part Four: Instruction To Access An Online Video (9:18 minutes)</p><p>Part Five: Tips On Weaving Bands For Key Fobs</p><p>What I decided not to include is how to weave! But I do offer suggestions about how to go about planning for weaving specific sizes based off my experiences.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Please enjoy the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247963951/wristlet-key-fob-tutorial?ref=shop_home_feat_3">tutorial</a>, and even better, send me a photo of your finished product. I would love, love to see what you end up making!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At this time, the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247963951/wristlet-key-fob-tutorial?ref=shop_home_feat_3">tutorial</a> is only available at Etsy, and it's instant download!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am slowly working on another tutorial, and this time it'll be about weaving, so stay tuned for that some time in the near future.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-79855522359879322722015-04-22T06:20:00.001-07:002015-05-20T16:13:13.330-07:00Nålbinding: Socks Revisted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16793304421" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8577/16793304421_b8b3bd96bd_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1432163577540.9917" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="751"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> I found some of my notes on what I did making my socks! In the last post, I just quickly posted the pictures but didn't add my usual goals list, or any information. I'm here to do that now!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Goals for this project:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. Make a pair of socks!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Sample some stitches and decide which one to use.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. Practice round/spiral start, increasing and decreasing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Ask, did I enjoy Nålbinding? Would I make another pair? What would I do differently?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, those were my goals. It was a short list because I knew nothing about Nålbinding. What intrigued me was photos of beautifuls mittens and socks made with just a wooden needle and yarn.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I started my online research, it became clear that the bulk of people doing Nålbinding came to it because they do living history. My interest in this goes as far as thinking about my husband's Viking ancestors, and the surge in Viking history in general. The challenge for me was the thought of making a pair of socks with just a wooden needle! I have made many pairs of socks with 5 double pointed needles and/or 2 or 1 circular needle. This process makes for a very portable project, but could I literally put a wooden needle and some yarn in my bag, and that's all?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I saw a picture on Pinterest!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Surprisingly, I'd visited the woman's blog many times before, but for tablet weaving!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The picture that got me started was a pair of knee highs by Mervi Pasanen! They were beautiful! It's worth checking out her blog as there are other photos of Nålbinding goodies, and I even think there is a tutorial on edging. Anyway, her photo inspired me to make a pair!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16172111354" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/16172111354_d278137330.jpg" id="blogsy-1432163577529.5051" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> And when I say a pair, I meant just socks that came up over my ankle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> And, I think it was Mervi's blog that led me to Neulakintaat website (at this time I don't know the name of the woman who runs the site, but when find out, I will add her name here). There is a TON of information there, and links to YouTube videos. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I practiced the round/spiral start with different yarns in my stash and settled on using Brown Sheep Yarn, 100% wool, worsted weight. I also made the decision to make both socks at the same time, as I have learned from knitting that gauge can change every time you put down and pick up your knitting.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I only tried 2 stitches, Finnish 2+2, and Finnish 1+2 also know as the <strong>Mammen Stitch.</strong> I am one of those people that can sample forever, and this time I really just wanted to get started. I used stitch markers, which "traveled" due to the spiral nature, will have to figure that out at a later date.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Basically, I started with the round/spiral start with increases, tried on the sock, and continued doing increases here and there until I reached the arch area. I added yarn using <strong>spit slicing</strong>. I stitched half way across, then added an equal amount of thumb stitches and rejoined.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Continuing along, I worked the lower and upper leg with a few decreases and plenty of increases. After that, I went back to do the heel, working a round/spiral decrease. Originally I wanted standard socks, but had enough yarn to keep going.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I started the socks on 16 November 2014 and finished them 9 January 2015.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What I learned:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I absolutely <strong>love</strong> Nålbinding! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fabric is dense and warm. Nålbinding does not stretch widthwise, but it does lengthwise, so this would need to be taken in consideration if you were felting the fabric as seen mittens.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I don't really love the heel, it is sort of a Heel Type A but not as noted at Shelagh Lewins site. And as I read online, they are tight thru the ankle while putting them on. I don't really think there is much to do about that. Next time I will either try Heel Type A (adding on the heel cup) or Heel Type E.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am planning on doing another pair of socks with a different heel and a pair of fingerless mittens!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Note: Also saw on Mervi Pasanen's blog that she will be coming out with a book about Nålbinding, I know it's in Finnish, but hoping there might be some English???</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Resources:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://trollusia.blogspot.com/2012/09/projekt-germania-dodatki-i-bizuteria.html#more" target="_blank" title="">These really cool knee high</a>s</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/AxcGaAAQQJcAPQ3GsZsAAAA/" target="_blank" title="">Mervi Pasanen's Knee High Socks</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">N<a href="http://hibernaatio.blogspot.fi/search/label/nalbinding" target="_blank" title="">ålbinding Thread Mervi Pasanen's Blog</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://youtu.be/Znmp_bFRAak" target="_blank" title="">Neulakintaat Round/Spiral Start</a> - Video</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://youtu.be/OFNzcYhLmSk" target="_blank" title="">Neulakintaat Mammen/Korgen/Finnish 1+2 Stitch</a> - Video</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://youtu.be/uWqRsag1HUs" target="_blank" title="">Neulakintaat Increasing/Decreasing</a> - Video</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://youtu.be/Zz_9FAzsbhU" target="_blank" title="">Neulakintaat Ending/Finishing Edge</a> - Video</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Spit Splicing</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.shelaghlewins.com/reenactment/naalbinding/sock_construction.htm" target="_blank" title="">Shelagh Lewins Heel Type/Construction Page</a> - Heel Type A</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.en.neulakintaat.fi" target="_blank" title="">Neulakintaat Website</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-52454359943377564132015-04-17T06:26:00.001-07:002015-04-17T06:26:34.113-07:00Aletta's Guitar Strap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16969936497" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/16969936497_aac999473a.jpg" id="blogsy-1429277145647.8535" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> This sweet strap was originally a custom order. Unfortunately, the individual changed her mind at the last minute about what colors she wanted. But no worries! My soul sister exclaimed I love pink!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17151405946" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7589/17151405946_122ff59196.jpg" id="blogsy-1429277145622.0317" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In some ways this strap was a challenge because of the color combo. Rarely do I work with pink as a main color. But overall I think the strap is perfectly funky with its addition of orange and purple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16554917194" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/16554917194_4c62a96c40.jpg" id="blogsy-1429277145607.07" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The recipe: handwoven on an inkle loom, 100% percent cotton yarn, 5 colors, plain/simple weave, handmade leather fobs with handstitching, machine stitching to attach slider and loopers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16989812700" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/16989812700_0d0829952c.jpg" id="blogsy-1429277145645.0713" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Aletta, enjoy, and hope to see this strap in action soon!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-27487184965021816842015-04-15T17:09:00.001-07:002015-04-15T17:09:11.357-07:00Golden Yellow Border Guitar Strap
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17136197336" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/17136197336_b8891bd042.jpg" id="blogsy-1429142866215.494" class="aligncenter" alt="Golden Yellow Border Guitar Strap" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Yellow Border Guitar Strap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: center;">This strap was woven on a inkle loom. It measures 2" in width.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The weaving technique is called plain weave. That kind of makes me laugh,</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">because plain weave can be composed of the most awesome colors! Not plain at all!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">100% cotton! Colors: Golden Yellow, Olive Green, Off White, Cinnamon, & Rust.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17161522601" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/17161522601_fbcb9133a5.jpg" id="blogsy-1429142866188.2034" class="aligncenter" alt="Front and Back of strap, leather fobs need slits cut in!" width="500" height="497"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front and Back of strap, leather fobs need slits cut in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: center;">Handmade leather fob w/ handstitching (made by me), black plastic slider and loopers.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16975971649" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8808/16975971649_0cef7a25aa_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1429142866177.6877" class="aligncenter" alt="The Full Strap" width="500" height="726"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Full Strap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: center;"> This strap can be adjusted 33" to 57".<br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This sweet strap is up for grabs, contact thru FB, etsy, or email!</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16975972209" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/16975972209_e1e94a542a.jpg" id="blogsy-1429142866155.839" class="aligncenter" alt="Slider Close Up" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slider Close Up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-58457351993479966162015-04-14T06:41:00.001-07:002015-04-14T07:03:32.352-07:00Dad's Guitar Strap<p style="text-align: justify;"> First, I want to say thank you to the wonderful folks that have left feedback at my Etsy shop. I am starting to finally have more sales there and it makes me smile to know that the woven key fobs and trims that I make are starting to travel around the U.S.! And as always, thank you to my dear friends for supporting my weaving habit!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17146101705" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8768/17146101705_b022526bc4.jpg" id="blogsy-1429020169279.0303" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt="Dad's Guitar Strap"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad's Guitar Strap</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">A few months back I posted some photos of wider bands that were intended to be guitar straps or sturdy bag straps. Then the requests came from family members, and then a few more from friends. I've finished a series of 7, and now I have 3 more to finish and then I am ready to get back to designing more key fobs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17146102455" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/17146102455_205142748d.jpg" id="blogsy-1429020169270.447" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt="close up of pattern detail, the front side."></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of pattern detail, the front side.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">My dad had been asking for a strap for awhile. I settled on adapting a pattern from Manual de Telar Mapuche. I placed it in the middle, and added combs on the side (I love, love comb designs)! The pattern is a 15 pattern pick up design and was easy to memorize. This band was woven on an inkle loom.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16958562730" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8716/16958562730_a920368758_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1429020169225.0015" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt="The Strap!"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Strap!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is the funny (sort of) story behind this band. My little guy, who has been practicing his scissor skills, decided he was going to "practice" on this band. I have no idea when he did it, but it sent me into a panic, because the strap was hanging with other for sale pieces. Luckily, he didn't cut any other bands.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/16938691737" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/16938691737_c0946079a8.jpg" id="blogsy-1429020169238.9297" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt="close up of pattern detail, the back side."></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of pattern detail, the back side.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Sadly I showed my dad, and said I would have to make another one. My dad, who can work a sewing machine told me what to do, and we were able to repair enough of it to squeeze a length of strap out of it. I also think, for him, there is a "mark" there, my son saying here I am, and my dad wanted that in the piece.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/17146101705" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8768/17146101705_b022526bc4.jpg" id="blogsy-1429020169240.8518" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt="The strap (100% cotton) and leather hardware."></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The strap (100% cotton) and leather hardware.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I made the leather hardware and did the hand stitching on them. So that's the story behind this band. And my dad loves it! Stay tuned for more bands!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-92091697160128502712015-03-12T09:20:00.001-07:002015-04-01T06:32:05.086-07:00Nalbinding and Change<div style="text-align: justify;">
The end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 has been a whopper. I can't say that anything has been "bad", but difficult might describe it better. I have had to summon an extreme amount of patience, with the occasional melt down, but it the end, it reinforced the changes I've been working on for some time were appropriate, and well, needed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But first, a beautiful picture! I had a friend come in from the east coast (who is now moving to the west coast). Seeing her did tremendous things for my heart. I love you dearly B and I can't wait for the opportunity for a road trip to see you. We went for some hiking, I'd never been to Bandelier, so here is a beauty taken at dusk. I wished I'd had a different camera lens with me, as this shot is narrow.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And because I'm (lazy), I'm not editing any of my photos, just don't have the time right now.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/16793417452" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="dusk by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="dusk" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/16793417452_279e1979ae_b.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what's all this talk about? Change? Pretty much for the past 3 years I've been on a declutter mission. I kind of don't like that word, declutter, it's kind of trendy right now. I used to call it "yard sale" or "let's get rid of some things" but after not one but two neuro-diverse diagnoses in our home, decluttering on multiple levels had to happen. And wow, it did make a difference.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I committed fully at the beginning of the year to continue. But now I was getting down to the stuff that needed contemplation. Honestly, I am sick of cleaning stuff that just sits around and has no function. I do love beautiful things, but if I had a choice between my boys or dusting, I am choosing my boys. Also the hard decision came to selling some of my fiber arts equipment that I just was not using. So, yeah, it's gone. Most of the stuff I have is portable, but I did keep my rug loom, and a navajo weaving loom.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then something happened that devastated me completely for a week or so, until I blocked it out. I had to think about it again last week as I sent it off for assessment. And I cried,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every two weeks I back up everything on to an external hard drive. And in my "rushing" I didn't put the drive back in the safe.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My little guy, picked it up, and dropped it in a bucket of mop water.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
15 years of digital files gone. Yup, every single picture. Baby pictures, everything. Years of genealogy work. GONE.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The photos and the genealogy stuff really was the only stuff that mattered. Our whole music library was on there too, but that is "replaceable".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All I can say is IMPERMANENCE.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And to keep it going, some of my online accounts were hacked, had to spend a week changing all those freaking passwords. And last week my brand new iphone just died. Everything on there, GONE.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What I am choosing to think is FRESH START.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, so enough whining.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I see I have some catch up of projects. I decided I had to go all crazy and make a pair of nalbind socks in November last year. Knee high nalbinding! Mammen Stitch (Finnish Stitch 2+1). This was my first project in nalbinding. I wished I'd done a different type of heel. Worsted weight wool yarn. I will need to make a pair of garters for them. Who says only reenactors get to wear garters! I will be wearing these under my jeans!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/16794423665" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="nalbinding by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="nalbinding" height="266" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7619/16794423665_e9bd238fe0_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/16172111354" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="nalbinding by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="nalbinding" height="266" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/16172111354_d278137330_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/16793304421" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="nalbinding - socks by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="nalbinding - socks" height="400" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8577/16793304421_b8b3bd96bd_b.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So that's it for now! Not my usual packed with details kind of post, but at least some pictures!</div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/16172111354" title="nalbinding by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"></a>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-43370090168929850762014-11-08T08:56:00.001-08:002014-11-08T08:56:08.749-08:00Meandering Tablet Weaving
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Note: this draft of a blog post has been sitting for quite some time. These bands were done in August or earlier, and some have been sold already. I wanted to add links, but I unfortunately can't find the time! We've been back and forth to the hospital with both my sons, and sadly my oldest is still in there :( I've become completely unreliable at doing anything in a timely manner! But my sons are worth it!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> I keep waiting for a "break" from my daily happenings. And I do get a few here and there, and I quickly set up my backstrap tablet weaving project to weave a few rows. But both my kiddos have the cold virus with croup. We've never had croup before, and wow, it's terrible. So weaving time is out. I hope to catch up on reading, writing back, and a couple blog posts that have been sitting in draft for awhile.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14982010750" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/14982010750_55b849ea17.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256775.9375" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Weaving the first of my images that I saw at Pinterest! Whoop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I thought I better get this blog post started because, for the first time, someone pinned one of my images to Pinterest. I hadn't started pinning my images yet, for I didn't think I had enough readers, but two individuals actually shared my photo on Facebook, one person I don't know, but I am sending a thank you to Annie for sharing (as I suspect that may have led to pinning, lol!).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But before I get into the details, I have to tell you I was about to give up on Facebook, for my weaving and my personal page. I don't want to install another app for messaging, and I rarely use the laptop/home computer (I would have to wait on line for a turn, lol). I've stopped using twitter (need to delete that permanently) because I could not figure out how to "use" it. I made my Instagram account private, as I watched Instagram delete people's for apparently no reason, and now I rarely accept new people unless I recognize their name from somewhere. Generally, I find Facebook a time waster (no offense), but there is one group that saved me from giving up.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Historical Tablet Weaving Group is, well, downright awesome. Most everyone is a happy bunch, and it is fantastic seeing everyone's weaving and learning. And if you're looking to weave something historical accurate in certain time period, this is a great place to start.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, that's about it for my technical updated! Almost everyone is done with their withdrawal from me cutting off the cable tv in our home!</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14686217168" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/14686217168_053943aa3e.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256787.302" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.kivrim/running dog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I wanted to actively start doing what I call two-pack tablet weaving. One pack moves one direction, the other moves in the opposite. What better place to start than with Kivrim (I affectionately call it meandering) and Rams Horn variations. And wow, the sky is the limit for patterns on the internet.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15268616475" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/15268616475_af9a1c3f67.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256737.2078" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.running dog/kivrim, in wool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15265514281" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/15265514281_4533dc7a01.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256736.1663" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.running dog/kivrim, in cotton.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I started with a basic Kivrim often called Running Dog. Then I moved onto the classic Rams Horn, and then it's variations. I used this opportunity to sample the following yarns: size 10 crochet cotton, sabanilla weight churro wool, Shetland fingering weight wool, peruvian fingering weight wool. Out of all these yarns, the Shetland did not work out for me on my Inkle loom. And yes, all of these were done on Inkle.<br></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15268619005" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/15268619005_412f070a45.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256737.3767" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15268617755" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/15268617755_50b7b3943f.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256755.8923" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15268619535" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15268619535_cb076746eb.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256777.316" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The surprise for me was adapting a John Mullarkey variation, and, wow, it came out spectacular. This was not something I could have predicated, and this is the band that is now floating around the web. This band will be available as a key fob shortly.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/15082054238" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/15082054238_eb219dfa40_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1415465256803.0002" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What I learned: I love doing two-pack weaving!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And lastly, if you become a member of TWIST, there are a wonderful selection of articles and drafts available. </p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-33328973525482549992014-08-10T17:24:00.001-07:002014-08-10T17:24:28.584-07:00Double Woven Tablet Band - SZ Threading - Sample #3
<p style="text-align: justify;">As much as I've tried to stay away from "weaver speak" I had learn quite a bit to move forward in my tablet weaving. Warning (laugh), this post will get into "weaver speak" and I pre-apologize for any confusion, and welcome any questions, as this helps me to keep learning.<br></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> Continuing the year of learning for me, I admit that tablet weaving had been one of the simpler, mindless (in a way of its repetitiveness) weaving processes I've done. Until now, I've mostly done the 4 turns toward, 4 turns away type of bands. And these could go on forever, just in color combinations alone, the possibilities are endless.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I've always admired some of the more complex structures, and have tried a few over the years, managed to weave a couple, but not really knowing how the heck I did them. Somehow, they just came out.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When Interweave Store had one of their super sales, I decided to purchase <a href="http://www.malarkycrafts.com/">John Mullarkey</a>'s Tablet Weaving Videos: <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/tablet-weaving-made-easy">Tablet Weaving Made Easy</a> and <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/double-faced-tablet-weaving?source=igodigital">Double Faced Tablet Weaving</a>.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14686145230" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14686145230_5a40493390.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653133.9397" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my double faced weave sampler based off john mullarkey's video</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I can't tell you how much I really love these videos! I have them on my iPad, and it is just like having access to a classroom anytime. If I get confused, I can go to the appropriate section and refresh myself with the material. John Mullarkey is an excellent teacher (I was fortunate to sit in on one of his lectures at Convergence Albuquerque, where I also met <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/">Laverne Waddington</a>, <a href="http://www.lindahendrickson.com/">Linda Hendrickson</a>, and a few others. At that time I was deep into Navajo Weaving, and just starting to become interested in Backstrap Weaving).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Even thou Tablet Weaving Made Easy starts you from stratch, I learned a lot, especially in regards to setup on the inkle loom. My Inkle Loom is my go to loom, and the one I can most easily have around my children without disaster (laughing). Just for this aspect alone, tablet weaving on an inkle loom is worth getting the video. Other perks is learning how to design drafts to weave. John Mullarkey also explains things in a way that is easily understandable.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14872817855" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14872817855_b9dc179b30.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653135.3298" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a sampler based off a pattern from linda hendrickson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the past, when I've tried to do more complex set-ups, I feel what hung me up was "language". Each tablet weaver has their own language. To look up a draft in different resources meant different language, for example, towards, forward, and front can all mean the same thing when applied to the direction of turning tablets. For me, this was incredibly confusing as I moved onto "2 pack" techniques.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Warping my loom as instructed in the Double Faced Tablet Weaving video, I sat and worked thru the first 2 lessons: Doubled Faced All Threaded Z or S and Doubled Faced Threaded SZ. I really, really loved the second lesson, and my mind started whirling with the possibilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Searching online, I found some resources at Linda Hendrickson's website, and combined with the video, I moved on to do samplers. My biggest problems were the "language" and learning direction of twist. Once I was able to shift both weavers "language" into my own, my weaving took off.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Here are my goals and notes regarding this project:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><u>Double Woven Tablet Band - SZ Threading - Sample #3</u></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><strong>Goals for this project</strong></em>:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1. Using threaded-in tablets and a circular/continuous warp combined on the inkle loom.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">2. To be able to identify an S or Z threaded tablet, then arrange them into an SZ order across the warp.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">3. Continue practicing SZ Threaded Double Faced Weave.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">4. Weaving with 2 tablets on each edge, turned in a consistent direction for selvedge.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">5. Use a new brand of yarn (for me), noting how I like it, EPI, PPI, etc.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">6. Try various patterrns/motifs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">7. Using either blue or green for the background color and/or weft.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">8. Weaving the 2 pick sequence needed for double weave and identifying where I'm at if I stop in the middle of a sequence.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Equipment & Yarn Used</em></strong>:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">- Schacht Inkle Loom, Snipes Shuttle</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">- Bernat Handicrafter (Crochet Thread) Size 5, Blue (@35g) and Green (@25g)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">- Graph Paper, Post-it Notes, Pencil, Eraser, Ruler, Cardboard</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Resources: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?action=like&app_id=172525162793917&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2FoDB-fAAStWy.js%3Fversion%3D41%23cb%3Df3476f0534%26domain%3Dwww.interweavestore.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.interweavestore.com%252Ff3066575ac%26relation%3Dparent.parent&font=arial&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.interweavestore.com%2Ftablet-weaving-made-easy&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&ref=.U-bxoWAqHG4.like&sdk=joey&send=false&show_faces=false&width=90">Tablet Weaving Made Easy Video</a> (John Mullarkey), <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/double-faced-tablet-weaving?source=igodigital">Double Faced Tablet Weaving Video</a> (John Mullarkey), <a href="http://www.weavingtoday.com/media/p/79.aspx">Tablet Woven Leashes for Spike and Jones</a> (Linda Hendrickson), <a href="http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/hl2_tab2.pdf">Double Faced Tablet Weaving</a> (Linda Hendrikson), <a href="http://www.woolery.com/store/pc/Tablet-Weaving-Magic-p3685.htm#.U-bzFxy9KSM">Tablet Weaving Magic</a> (Otfried Staudgel). Note: I do not own Tablet Weaving Magic yet, but I thought I'd include it here as I have reproduced and altered one of the motifs found in her book.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Threading: I threaded all the tablets Z. The first two and last two were threaded-in, all others were done using a continuous warp method found in the Double Faced Tablet Weaving video. Then I rearranged all the tablets to altenate for and SZ threading.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To Start Weaving: Selvedge tablets will always turn in the same direction. The rest of the cards will be woven will the double weave sequence: 2 turns towards and two turns away. Inserted pieces of cardboard for fringe. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>PAW PRINT</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The first paw print went great, but when I moved on to the second motif, where the background colors reversed, I became thoroughly confused. I practiced unweaving my mistakes (practice is the kind word, it was more like torture) and somehow managed to weave the second motif, althou I was not entirely clear on what I was doing.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14676593017" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/14676593017_75386e9274.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653091.1099" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.paw print.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>What I learned: Each tablet weaver has their own way or "language" they use to give directions on how to weave a motif, and I need to pay very close attention. What I realized was I needed to firmly understand in this "2 pack" technique which pack was the "background" pack and which was the "pattern" pack, and to choose a fixed position to move these packs into each 2 pick sequence. I know this sounds confusing, but it's the only was I can explain it. Once I firmly understood these conditions, the colors of the weaving (ie blue or green) became a weaving tool that I was turning the packs in the right direction.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KIMBERLEY</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I graphed out my name for a bookmark. To deal with the twist build in the selvedge tablets I decided to change the turning direction. I was concerned this might confuse me, so I noted it on my draft.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14686208678" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/14686208678_3a6051873c.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653065.9915" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.kimberley bookmark.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>What I learned: Weaving my name helped me to continue to learn how to separate out the background and pattern packs into their "fixed" positions, shifting the selvedge tablets to the approriate pack which helped me as an aid in turning direction.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>GARRETT</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I graphed out Garrett's name, changing the color scheme for the background color and chose to switch to using green weft instead of blue.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14686302457" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14686302457_36c8e32df9.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653095.9167" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.garrett backpack band.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14872490902" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14872490902_57a47507eb.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653084.8037" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of the weft</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>What I learned: I decided to switch weft colors for 2 reasons: (1) when doing this type of weave a little bit of color can show thru in the weaving, which is fine, but I wanted that color to be all green instead of some blue, (2) I ended up loving the little bead of color along the edge that was produced by the contrasting colors. I was able to weave this segment with no problems, and if I did make an error in turning, I now can succesfully undo my mistake without it being stressful (big smile).</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SAMPLE FOR MOTIFS AND TWIST DIRECTION</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I graphed out a motif from a woven band that Linda Hendrickson did, she noted that the pattern was by Otfried Staudigel.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14870358474" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14870358474_22cd93900d.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653052.5918" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sampler for direction of twist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14872490002" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/14872490002_b24e048b02.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653076.1125" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sampler for direction of twist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>What I learned: Before I started this portion, I went back to the Double Faced Tablet Weaving Video and re-watched the section on determining twist. Again, I can't recommend this video enough. The video was what enabled me to understand what I needed to do to follow my draft. Once I figured out the direction of twist in the woven band, patterns/motifs will come out right. This may sound vague, but I recommend the video as it does a perfect job of explaining this, and if you want to design patterns, this will be essential!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>WYATT</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Okay, here comes the fun! This band was a representation of all the goals I listed above.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14870357544" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14870357544_d2393e8885.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653121.9854" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="220"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.wyatt backpack band.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It has <strong>threaded-in tablets</strong> for the <strong>selvedge</strong>. I turned those tablets in a <strong>continuous</strong> direction, shifting them back and forth between the <strong>background and pattern packs</strong>, using them as an aid for turning direction in conjunction to my written draft.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All the other tablets were strung using <strong>continuous/circular warp</strong> on the inkle loom. I then repositioned all the tablets in a <strong>SZ</strong> order. I can now firmly identify an S or Z threaded tablet (smiling).</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14686204888" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/14686204888_1ac891a436.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653089.2246" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.i am so happy with wyatt's band.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I wove the <strong>2 pick sequence</strong> needed for <strong>double faced weave</strong>, and I'm able to identify by (1) using my charted draft with notes and (2) looking at the position on tablets after 1 pick exactly where I was. This was a biggy for me, to be able to tell by looking at the tablets, and what color yarn was in what hole, where I was in the weaving sequence. It also helped me identify which pack was background/pattern. Everything finally fell together!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I used what I learned about <strong>direction of twist</strong> in the previous band as I drafted out Wyatt's band. I could now predict the slant/direction of twist which was needed in order for this pattern to work. I didn't mess up!</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14869756871" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14869756871_41ee2f7a5d_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653138.3074" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="555"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of weft and selvedge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For the <strong>weft</strong> I choose green again for design purposes, and I got that cool little bead of color along the edge.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And lastly, <strong>it didn't kill me to use a yarn with nylon</strong>. I typical use 100% cotton, or 100% wool (natural fibers). I don't know how this yarn will wear, it's has this odd fuzzy thing happening, and I think the ends are going to fray quite a bit. I'm not going to bother detailing EPI and such here because if I've learned anything, this can vary dramatically depending on the equipment and the weaver.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I have yet to press these with an iron (I am going to skip washing them), and the bands with my sons' names will be sewn to their school backpacks.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, one more thing, I wove a bit different this time, leaving a loop at the end of each row, and pulled it thru on the next row, it worked better for me.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14869758281" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/14869758281_7310586a66.jpg" id="blogsy-1407716653068.6985" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.all the bands.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-62551760297116494322014-07-07T09:31:00.001-07:002014-07-07T09:32:01.640-07:00Hot Days, Summer Breezes & Monsoon Rains<p style="text-align: justify;"> I have to laugh at myself, after a tough last few months of winter, I had this crazy idea that I would have a lazy summer filled with crafting and cooking! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I must have forgotten for a split second that I have children! Two very, very busy boys that need to be moving, especially my little guy. And interesting things have been happening, and I want to share but alas, I have no time to sit and organize my thoughts. I am hoping to catch up on emails at the end of the week as I will be traveling for a wedding. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And the business of weaving. I really thought I'd have both these backstrap woven projects done by now, but not a chance. I can safely predict that they probably won't be done until September, so you see, no new backstrap projects till then. I have many ideas floating around in my mind, but I don't want to get too many projects started. And I've committed to producing other projects too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14596633902" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/14596633902_325587fd28.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472014.0027" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p>So I'll share some pictures, and well, I'll see you in August :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14582067453" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/14582067453_25483e320d.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472081.183" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14391270065" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/14391270065_f16ac37cb2.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472071.2256" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14528300743" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14528300743_9aeb2089bb.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472090.0295" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14260317448" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5033/14260317448_a02ff3329c.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472091.0796" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14494991603" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/14494991603_d421627afd.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472024.9602" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14507066632" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14507066632_9db5dd48f6.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472013.7666" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14504807351" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14504807351_166d7199c0.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472083.0598" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14506844924" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/14506844924_7c6ba30830.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472030.0989" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14321602418" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14321602418_d1199fa1f8.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472070.641" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14329443469" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14329443469_224c51fb8d.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472037.916" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14596634932" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14596634932_80b78f7b3a.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472064.6013" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14410699468" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/14410699468_ddf0a658c1.jpg" id="blogsy-1404750472038.4756" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-21807856960108949832014-06-25T14:47:00.001-07:002014-06-25T14:52:07.304-07:00Summer Camp At Beauty That Moves
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14504685401" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/14504685401_60aa944b58_m.jpg" id="blogsy-1403732817804.0017" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="200" height="200"></a><br>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer Soul Camp - beautythatmoves.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;">
In the off chance any of you are reading me out there in the web universe, Heather from Beauty That Moves has opened up registration for her <a href="http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/2014/06/summer-soul-camp-online-retreat.html" style="line-height: 1.3em;">summer camp</a>. I am going to do it! But she is offering the bring a friend option, which drops the price to half! Anyone out there interested in participating? Check out the details <a href="http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/2014/06/summer-soul-camp-online-retreat.html" style="line-height: 1.3em;">here</a>. And let me know!
</div>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-65908685994721673032014-05-20T08:07:00.001-07:002014-05-20T08:07:06.133-07:00As The Light Grows<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898706513" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/13898706513_36001f668b.jpg" id="blogsy-1400598355669.0676" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.a little bit of practice tablet weaving on the inkle loom.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Not always by my choice, I've done very little weaving as of late. I have two backstraps in progress, one a sample, and the Inkle loom is dressed, woven with a few rows at a time, when time permits. As my time for weaving started to dwindle, I mostly did sampling, a new wool yarn to try, and practicing nawa awapi.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm elated that spring is here, but it's an equally difficult time. My rhythm tells me it's time to stick my hands in the earth, clean out the chicken coop and rabbit shed from the winter, but then I remember, I'm not living that life right now. For a few years now, I've buried those feelings, thoughts, but I desperately need to release them.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14206297716" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5192/14206297716_875b4fa590.jpg" id="blogsy-1400598355652.7788" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.nawa awapi, plain tubular, and dropped warp ribete.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I was speaking to a relative recently. Mostly about life's tides. The fear that hospital stays will come back, thou I deeply feel we are past that frequency. I made a comment that I couldn't have imagined that my life would have taken this odd course, the one without a vegetable garden, not putting up our own food, no rabbits, no chickens, and that dream of having a few sheep, or entertaining goats, has not come back to me. She said, yes, I wouldn't have imagined you where you either, but don't give up.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's time to let go of what I'm not doing, mind you, I also have a great appreciation for all the thing I've done in the meantime, it does not go unnoticed by me, formost being a mother.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14042821470" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14042821470_335ecaba1c.jpg" id="blogsy-1400598355693.1975" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.an ambitious warp that will be a WIP for sometime, I wish I could memorize the pattern.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">If I'm honest, I think I would have to say I gave up. Or I would change the goal and say, I will eventually have at least 6 chickens, or, just two rabbits, lol. But, I've come to the realization that I am not quite ready to give up entirely. Something deep within me has shifted and I know the next few years are bringing profound change. I'm not sure it's the change I think I want, but it's coming, and I still want to believe that I have the desire to influence that change.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14206299526" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14206299526_23fba14633.jpg" id="blogsy-1400598355675.1677" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.on the inkle loom.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">That's where I'm at these days, on the cusp of a new shift. The possibility of things to come.</span><br></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next two weeks will bring an end to an insane amount of commitments, activities, birthdays, and holidays (sighing in relief). I'm looking forward to a solo trip to Colorado in July for a much awaited wedding. There may even be camping involved, which delights me to no end. I'm ready to spend a few days with the friends that are more family to me than friend. And mostly, to see my sister from another mother (lol) marry an amazing guy! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/14229437475" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14229437475_1d56f620d5.jpg" id="blogsy-1400598355730.5867" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.a sample, modified Mapuche design.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Let June bring new weaving projects? I hope!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-87712847597153848862014-04-22T08:15:00.001-07:002014-04-22T08:15:30.801-07:00Weft Twining Mini Rug<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898094163" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/13898094163_7970a0e469.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701737.8123" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.mini rug with various types of weft twining.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">This is one of two projects woven on the same warp. Intially, I had adapted a supplementary weft pattern to do on this rug, but after about 10 rows, I just didn't like how it was weaving so I took it out and decided to just concentrate on the weft twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Before I go on about this project I must share some cuteness......</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13989905483" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/13989905483_9be37e95d6.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701786.736" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.loving on the tractor.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13947139556" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7410/13947139556_40f1c90d51.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701697.2524" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.tractor dreaming.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13970245215" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/13970245215_4baa3c612f.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701716.8176" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.so so sick he could not move :(</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">We've spent the whole month with various illness. It's been a bit of bummer! And I thought I was going to get thru it with just a milder version of the stomach flu the kids had, but then we got a cold. The kids are now doing good but I knew something wasn't right with me; I can't walk normal speed without my head feeling like it's going to explode and (laugh) I don't want to weave at all, like not one bit! Well, I have a raging sinus infection, last time I had one like this it was 20 years ago!!!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I finally decided to lift my "ban" on buying books. Honestly our library was so large that each time we moved it was crazy the amount we had. So over the past six years I have either sold or donated books I no longer use, and for the odd purchase I was using my kindle app on my iPad. But the time came around where I "needed" a few books, mostly for weaving. A lot of those books are out of print, but I will share 2 that I purchased on recommendations at Ravelry.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now back to weaving!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Goals for this project:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. Continue working on producing a beautifully balanced warped face simple weave with neat selvedges.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Use basic weft twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. Use two-color weft twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Attempt countered twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Decide how to deal with the weft ends from twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Interestingly, I had mentioned on the backstrap weaving group on Ravelry that I have noticed a change in my weaving. I am settling into rhythm and other than making adjustments due to using different brand yarns, I have been able to just settle into the weaving and not have so much anxious thought about how the weaving is going to turn out. I do occasionally take out the ruler just in case, but I really just relax now and weave away. My edges are also turning out better, so happy about that.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13490666123" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/13490666123_a2e1c177fb.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701730.856" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.the two projects on my warp, this rug is at the top.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I've been doing basic, one-color weft twining for awhile, generally not doing more than 6 rows. In this project I did a total of 8 rows dispersed in the weft twined band.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Okay, so the fun begins! I did two rows of countered twining dispersed in each band. Had no problem doing it, BUT I do think because I do beat the warp every few rows the detail in the countered twining got compressed (squished). It should look more like a knitted stitch, but compressed it starts to look like two-color twining. It's okay for this project and does bother me but it's interesting to note this for future projects.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The two-color weft twining came out better than I thought it would. I was really aprehensive about that extra twist needed to bring the right color to the surface and how the fabric may change size due to the bulkiness of this type of twining. Luckily all worked out well.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here's the interesting part. I was advised that if I was working both one-color and two-color in the same project I should treat the one-color twine as if it was a two-color twine, meaning, do extra twists as if it was two-colored. I didn't do this, and now I can see why I might want to do this. If you look closely at the photo, you can see that the two rows of white weft twining visually look different than the two-color weft twining. It does not bother me for this project, but again, it's interesting, and to note this difference when planning future projects.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898024025" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/13898024025_a5a88e9875.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701758.2031" class="aligncenter" alt=".from left to right: basic twining, countered twining, two color twining, and macrame square knot." width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Weaver-Speak: I am excited to do more two-color weft twining in the future and especially experiment with that little bead of color that can be produced by the twist. For this project, I made sure to tug the weft down to change colors, but it would be fun as a design element to use that "little bead" of color.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, and probably the most worrisome part of this project for me was what the heck to do with all the weft threads. Because I usually do 4 or 5 rows, a knot has been the way to go for me for it measures about the same as the band. But here, I felt a big knot or a bunch of smaller knots just wouldn't look right. I decided to try out a macrame square knot. Since this is the first time I've done this, I'm not sure if I will continue this way, but it felt like it worked for this project.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, and I want to add that I did the weft twining under tension on my backstrap loom. There are lots of tidbits at Laverne's blog about weft twining, and if you want to learn how to do it, she had video tutorials here. Also, if you search the Ravelry Backstrap Weaving Group there is info/input to be gleaned there and project notes about twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Overall, I am happy with how it turned out, and I am building my skills for future projects!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Okay, now for the links: <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-basic-weft-twining/" target="_self" title="">Weft Twining</a>, and this book I got for $3 at amazon:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13970384825" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/13970384825_70b8fa44d6.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701797.861" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taaniko, Maori Hand Weaving</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> This book has fantastic pictures if you are a visual learner!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13946506276" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/13946506276_164d0ea751.jpg" id="blogsy-1398179701762.9412" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The Chilkat Dancing Blanket. I did not use this as a source for weft twining, but these blankets are made with twining. This book is about the Tlingit of Yakutat, Alaska to Vancouver, BC that wove these robes. The book includes origin stories, fantastic photographs, and instructions on weaving. This book cost about $12 on amazon, and was worth every penny.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've got a few project ideas brewing and new techniques to learn! See you soon :)<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-75794159800891977032014-04-16T10:57:00.000-07:002014-04-16T10:57:00.635-07:00Supplementary Weft Bag With Bhutanese Motif<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898533334" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/13898533334_ee96c06d78.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605805.978" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.bag with supplementary weft pattern, cross knit looping, and 4 strand braid.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> This is one of two projects that came off the same warp. The colors are a bit on the light side for me, but the weaving process was pleasurable, and I learned how to do <em>supplementary weft</em> on a wider project.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, here were my goals for this project:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. Use Supplementary Weft patterning.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Weave my picks (rows) evenly to get even dimensions, and to weave neat selvedges (edges).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. To make a bag use no electric devices.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Use hardware and attach a 4 Strand Braid.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Apply a 3 stitch wide Cross Knit Looping to the edges.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. Use the bag to note the wear and tear and what I might do differently in the future.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The idea for some of the goals for this bag came from my friends. One friend in particular does ALOT of walking for exercise, and she wants a bag to keep her phone, license, and a key in. I made the <a href="http://rabbitbrushstudio.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-x-o-motif-yurt-band.html">yurt band motif bag</a> as a sample, but it is not big enough for my iphone, or rather the case that my iphone is in. So I kept that in mind for this project.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898086453" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/13898086453_a146edf5ed.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605805.3604" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.the practice sampler.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I used size 3 cotton that I had purchased from my local yarn store. It is different in texture than the size 3 crochet cotton yarn I normally use. The crochet cotton yarn has more twist, and well, I really like that. The cotton from the yarn store has less twist but a nice sheen. I am going to guess here as to refer to brand and I have seen it as Astra.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13318750803" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/13318750803_0b5e2c7c63.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605811.133" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.weaving in progress.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I followed the online tutortial and used 2 strands of embroidery floss for the supplementary weft. I had two charts I wanted to use, one was a bhutanese motif, and the other was and adaptation from Laverne's blog. You can see my adapted chart in the photo, and about 10 rows in I decided I didn't like it. I will save it for another warp.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13490915544" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/13490915544_f29b3fd98f.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605805.1726" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.both sides done!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I had no problems doing the supplementary weft and the weaving went quickly. After weaving, I hand-sewed a cotton/linen blend fabric to the top edges. I wanted to NOT use my sewing machine this time around.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898110405" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/13898110405_7a6c07b46d.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605791.548" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.close up of cross knit loopin.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I practiced and practiced the cross knit looping on a sample piece until I completely could identify the stitches using the same color yarn and could reproduce consistency in the loops<em>. </em>I applied this to the side edges of the bag. I then hand-sewed hardware to the top to attach a 4 strand braid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898173313" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/13898173313_181ff823b1.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605745.769" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.bhutanese motif.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Not using electrical equipment, well I sorta cheated, I did use my iron on the fabric (because I didn't have my cast iron one handy, just kidding). I wanted to see if I could put something together without relying on modern technology, and now I know I can.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm happy with this project and using the bag to test it's structure. I'm pretty hard on my bags, so we'll see, and if it holds up, I will be making a few more!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Link love: <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-supplementary-weft-patterning/">Supplementary Weft Tutorial</a>, <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-cross-knit-looping/">Cross Knit Looping Tutorial</a>, <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-4-strand-braid/">4 Strand Braid Tutorial</a>, <a href="http://issuu.com/dkbbkk/docs/bhutan_textiles%23">Textile Designs of Bhutan - David Barker</a> (you need to be signed into issuu to view this document).</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em>This project is at my Ravelry page: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/rabbitbrushstu/supplementary-weft-bag-with-bhutanese-motif" target="_blank" title="">Supplementary Weft Bag.</a></em><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13898537764" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/13898537764_018987835c_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1397670605720.2195" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-45218527445964908912014-04-14T12:08:00.001-07:002014-04-14T13:07:30.356-07:00Mini Rugs With Al'ouerjan Warping & Weft Twining<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850875975" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/13850875975_a1c37b0408.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007220.0854" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a set of mini rugs using the al'ouerjan warping method.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">This project was kind of amazing for me. For the first time I felt completely settled into the backstrap weaving process. But before I get onto that I have to back track a bit. And at the end of this post I will provide the links for tutorials that are available on the web.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I started with samples of <em>warp substitution </em>and <em>al'ouerjan warping</em> to practice using my trusty size 3 cotton. The samples went along fine, and I was able to practice <em>supplementary weft</em> using thread to secure the warp floats on the back.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13854040275" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/13854040275_057e4cb615.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007229.859" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">warp substitution and al'ouerjan samples</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13854062483" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/13854062483_b7b0a31559.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007293.4568" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">al'ouerjan and warp substitution samples.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I spent ALOT of time charting for a wider piece using these techniques. Although this piece looks better off loom than on, I felt it was plagued with problems, that eventually made me not want to weave on it anymore. Looking at it now, it's not <em>that</em> bad, and the piece is large enough to practice other techniques for making bags, so I will save it for that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13045181754" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/13045181754_d631fc7766.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007209.8445" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the original piece that I wanted to weave turned into a sampler.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">So, <em>the problems.</em> The first thing I ran into was the chart I made did not match then shed set-up on the loom. I really learned a lot in regards to charting for a project, and it's harder than it looks. But the end result is that now, using 4-stake warping board, I can actually identify which stake belongs to which shed. I know this may sound like Greek, but if you happen to go this route, you'll know what I mean.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This was also the first time I dealt with 1/2 revolution warps, and it was a lot to get my mind around (wondering what a revolution is? Check it out <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/backstrap-basics-an-article-from-weavezine-by-laverne-waddington/">here</a>).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I spent more time re-drawing my chart, modified this time without all the detail I had the first time around. I wish I took a picture of it before I threw it out!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13854421654" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/13854421654_e63c3b0ffb.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007219.3704" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back of woven piece using supplemental weft thread.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, I got to sit down and weave, the first few inches went fine, but I was really having a hard time with one of the selvedge edges. I inserted a second coil rod, and it helped, but eventually, my warp tension was all over the place. The weaving just didn't feel right, and I spent more time making adjustments than weaving.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At this point I had woven about a foot and I wasn't liking it. So sampler it became, and I went on to practice weft twining.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I thought at first it was because it had been the widest piece I'd woven, and that was part of it, but ultimately, it all boiled down to sloppy warping on my part.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Taking a deep breath, I decided to make more mini rugs. Here were my goals for this project:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. Use al'ouerjan warping technique in traditional colors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. Make 4 mini rugs using 4 different combinations in the al'ouerjan warp.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. Pay close attention to my warp tension as I wind the warp on the warping board.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Weave evenly with neat selvedges.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Use 1 color basic weft twining to edge each rug.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. Use a coil rod.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. Use a supplementary weft thread to secure the long warp floats.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Whew! That seems like a lot, but here was the magic in it for me: everything fell into place. When I sat down to weave I did a few rows to establish width, and some weft twining to see how many warp bundles I wanted to twine (glad I did it, for the number of warps I wanted to bundle changed fron the last project I did using the same size yarn).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850878283" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/13850878283_a0afe5ecdb.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007293.8967" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rug # 1 red diamonds</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850856995" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/13850856995_0580ca813c.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007298.2449" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rug # 2 white diamonds</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850887683" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/13850887683_10766f5bd5.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007285.3904" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rug # 3</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">My edges became so very consistent that I was amazed, I hardly had to use my ruler to measure. I don't assume that this will happen often, but it sure was nice this time. And using the supplementary weft thread to secure the long warp floats on the back of the fabric really neatened everything up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850870725" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/13850870725_abb5969ced.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007285.4036" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rug # 4, close up of warp</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13850893273" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/13850893273_185bc63dc8.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007292.85" class="aligncenter" alt="rug # 4, my favorite!" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">So I played around with different arrangements and the two photos above is my favorite. I noted this (what row to start the patterning on for it to look balanced) in my journal for the time I make these rugs again for gifts.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13854425194" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/13854425194_cc61470d05.jpg" id="blogsy-1397506007253.654" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of back of rug using supplemental weft thread</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Overall this was one of the most relaxing projects I've done so far. I will go back one day and re-try my original draft when the mood strikes me. I haven't tried the warp substitution, other than to practice the patterns in another technique called </span><em style="line-height: 1.3em;">one-weft double weave.</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em>If you are interested in learning these techniques, they are available at Laverne Waddington's Backstrap Weaving Blog: <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-warp-substitution/">Warp Substitution</a>, <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-warping-the-bedouin-alouerjan-pattern/">Al'ouerjan Warp</a>, <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/backstrap-weaving/">Supplementary Weft Thread</a>, <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/backstrap-weaving-the-curious-coil-rod/">Using a Coil Rod</a>, and <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/tutorials/tutorial-basic-weft-twining/">Basic Weft Twining</a>.</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em><br></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-23874915310618125272014-03-16T08:13:00.001-07:002014-03-16T08:29:37.998-07:00Bolita Beans<p><span style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.3em;">And now for a recipe!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13085583834/in/set-72157640327093126" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3716/13085583834_f7b8d281ec.jpg" id="blogsy-1394983671967.2107" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="333" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">My Bolita Beans</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This hands down is my favorite bean. It's also my kids favorite. Once you've had them, you'll see why, they are plump, meaty, smooth, easy on the stomach, and they are a local food for us. We get ours from <a href="http://www.schwebachfarm.com/beans1.html">Schweback Farm</a>, and surprisingly they aren't sold out yet from this past harvest. The year before they sold out so fast we went without for the year!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And if you are interested here is a little info about Bolita Beans at <a href="https://www.localharvest.org/ark-product.jsp?id=194">Local Harvest/Slow Food USA</a>, a recipe from <a href="http://www.taosnews.com/lifestyle/article_30662f06-2624-11e3-9b1c-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm">Taos News</a> (and chicos, which I'll be giving my recipe in the next blog post), and <a href="http://www.nmmagazine.com/top-fall-recipes/%23.Ux8zr5K9KSM">New Mexico Magazine</a>'s version.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What I've found is that I don't like my Bolita Beans complicated with a lot of additions. Many times, tomato products are added to beans because the acid in them tenderizes the bean, as the salt does. Any how I urge you to try them simple.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em><strong>Extra notes:</strong></em></p><p style="text-align: justify;">You can make <strong>1 pound</strong> instead of 2. I make 2 because we eat them a lot.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">You can also <strong>adjust the ham hocks, onion, and garlic ratios suited to your taste</strong>. My mom adds 6 cloves of garlic for each pound. For Texas style beans, I've seen as much as 8 ham hocks added to 1 pound of beans.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For vegetarian/vegans I imagine you could use <strong>liquid smoke</strong>, I have done this in the past, but never took any notes on the amount added.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For us locals, <strong>Keller's has someone that smokes their hocks locally</strong>. I can't recommend them enough. They are excellent quality and flavor. Call first to see if they have them, they sell out quickly. When they do have them, I buy extra to freeze.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Two pounds yields me about 12 cups cooked beans. <strong>I freeze them</strong>, and how I do it takes a bit of extra time, but do what works for you. Remove hocks, bay leaves, and onion and discard. Strain liquid from beans but <strong>reserve</strong>! Measure out two cups of beans into containers, then pour reserved liquid just to cover beans. I find that reheating them with their liquid after being frozen is better.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Before eating we often add either chopped roasted New Mexico green chile or <a href="http://rabbitbrushstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/red-chile-sauce.html">Red Chile Sauce</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And lastly, <strong>don't omit the bay leaf</strong>. It really makes a difference!<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"></span></p><p style="float: right; border: none;"><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2153377/print" title="Print Recipe"><img src="http://www.plantoeat.com/images/v2/button-print.png" id="blogsy-1394983671919.0405" class="" alt="Print Recipe" width="81" height="28"></a></p><h2 class="fn" style="font-size: 25px; line-height: 35px;"><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2153377/bolita-beans">Bolita Beans</a></h2><p><img src="https://plantoeat.s3.amazonaws.com/recipes/2153377/6732940f8ec0de2789dd7ec8d8092aac0bb56aa4-large.jpg?1394554503" id="blogsy-1394983671891.9119" class="photo" width="512" height="341" alt=""></p><p class="cuisine"><strong>Cuisine:</strong> New Mexican</p><p class="servings"><strong>Serves:</strong> <span class="yield">12 (1 cup portions)</span></p><h3 class="ingredients_heading" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px;">Ingredients</h3><ul data-yield="12 cups"><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">2 pounds</span> <strong class="'name'">bolita beans</strong> <em>rinsed well and picked over</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">3 </span><strong class="'name'">smoked ham hocks</strong> <em>rinsed</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">1 large</span> <strong class="'name'">onion,</strong><span class="'name'"><em> peeled and halved</em></span></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">4 cloves</span> <strong class="'name'">garlic</strong> <em>peeled</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">2 </span><strong class="'name'">bay leaves</strong></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><strong class="'name'">water</strong></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">1 tablespoons</span> <strong class="'name'">sea salt</strong></li></ul><h3 class="instructions_heading" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px;">Directions</h3><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;">Place beans thru bay leaves in crockpot. Add a minimum of 10 cups of water. Turn crockpot to high and let come to a good simmer (1 to 2 1/2 hours depending on model crockpot), then turn down to low and simmer for additional 2 to 3 hours. 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours of total cooking time for the beans to be tender and cooked thru, but you'll notice the skin may feel just a little tough. Add the salt and cook for another half hour, beans will be perfectly tender.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(110, 151, 169); border: none;">Powered by<br><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2153377/bolita-beans"><img src="http://www.plantoeat.com/images/v2/plantoeat-logo-wide-white-type-36h.png" id="blogsy-1394983671963.3064" class="" alt="Plan To Eat" width="147" height="36"></a></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-65948343988900525012014-03-16T07:43:00.001-07:002014-03-16T08:08:45.820-07:00Spring Is Around The Corner<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13045181754" target="_blank" style=" "><br><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/13045181754_d631fc7766.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982505815.0137" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedouin Sampler</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We got some much needed rain! And signs of spring are everywhere. The trees are exploding and the weeds are popping.</span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13192268444/in/set-72157640327093126" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/13192268444_a2822e1608.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982505746.443" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andean Pebble Weave Sampler</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I will be taking a break from weaving until April. We have lots going on with the family, I need to get some more items in my Etsy shop (I will start doing shop updates here), and I am nursing a shoulder injury that just won't quit.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13044501673" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/13044501673_f11aef286d.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982505816.1497" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple/plain weave with combs</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">And as a reminder, I do post to Facebook and Ravelry, but I am still learning how to use them. But that takes times, and well, I'd rather be weaving!!!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12823404824" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/12823404824_5807478afe.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982505729.6465" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampler Warp</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">So I'll leave you with a few pictures, and I will see you in April.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12839273713" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7328/12839273713_bdbc7180f9.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982505819.2627" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And some very lovely chickens!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-35280970131480358842014-03-11T20:00:00.000-07:002014-03-16T08:12:24.660-07:00Yurt Band Motifs Revisted<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I was really inspired to give this weaving pattern a try after I read the tutorial at Laverne Waddington's Backstrap Weaving blog (<a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/">link here</a>). It is probable that you will hear me mention her often in coming blog posts as I've finally had a chance to start reading her second book and work on tutorials from her blog. That means I will be sampling more! I think I am going to call this the "Year Of The Sampler".</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As much as I love sampling, I had a chance to complete some small projects using this motif.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13044886094" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3487/13044886094_5a4c13de7e.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657154.258" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the finished bag/pouch with button</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">After a small conversation on Instagram sparked me to clarify some details. Even thou I called my project on Instagram a yurt band, it is not a real yurt band, it is a yurt band motif that is most definitely woven in non-traditional colors!</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/13085571084/in/set-72157640327093126" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em; "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/13085571084_49bc1bda38.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657160.0977" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yurt band motif mug rug</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Following the </span><a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/backstrap-weaving-warp-floats-galore-a-tutorial/" style="line-height: 1.3em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">online tutoria</a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">l, I wove this using both my Inkle Loom and my backstrap set-up. I do prefer to weave this on my backstrap. If you are familiar with the Inkle Loom, the fabric that is woven can get slightly elongated. Either way, the fabric is still wonderful!</span><br></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Okay now for the details!</span><br></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I used both size 3 and size 10 cotton for the warp (not on the same project, either one or the other). The weft was also of matching size. The tutorial for the yurt band is located here. To completely understand the process I did weave an X band, an O band, and an X-O band. Then I wove two bands, both of these were done on my Inkle Loom.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12143881324" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/12143881324_af46808b9b.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657095.7378" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O, X, an O-X Bands</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12143878984" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/12143878984_4e87b9b732.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657100.4028" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yurt band motif, inkle-woven, size 3 cotton</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12144130666" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/12144130666_9e4a5f769f.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657107.4644" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yurt band motif, inkle-woven, size 10</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I hadn't used a backstrap set-up in 3 years. I ambitiously warped and wove a small piece of fabric. It was really more than I should have attempted but two wonderful things happened, I wanted to use my backstrap set-up more, and I decided to weave where my kids could touch it. This way really risky if you know my kids!!! Anyhow, they seemed to understand this was really important to mama and they respected the yarn! Doesn't mean I can leave it hanging there, but I can now weave without the fear of them pulling out the sticks while I'm working. My little guy asks to kiss the yarn, which I let him do, and I am over the moon with that!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12143720823" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/12143720823_ba21dc3553.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657155.271" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yurt band motif sample fabric, backstrap set-up, size 3 cotton</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">After a long break from ravelry, I popped on in to the backstrap group just in time to join the Olympic Weave Along. Deciding to give a go to a wide warp again, I wove a piece for a cell phone pouch.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In regards to warping, I used a 4 stake method. Instructions for this can be found in Laverne's first book. But it wasn't until I took the picture below that I found that I had made an error. I warped too many revolutions! After fixing that I went to weaving.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12798771743" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2870/12798771743_0d4bc513e0.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657157.6223" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">using the back of my Navajo loom to warp, and I warped too much!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Laverne has a video tutorial that deals with the topic of sticky sheds. Folks, I can't recommend it enough that you watch and practice this! The link to this tutorial is <a href="http://widgets.wp.com/likes/master.html?ver=20140212#ver=20140212&mp6=1">here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also, for the first time in a finished project I used a coil rod. I will write about that another time, but I can say I really liked using it and it made a difference.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12421679234" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/12421679234_0b4a6efa08.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657117.1494" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weaving in progress, with a coil rod at the top</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The pouch is completely lined, I hand sewed the lining in and the woven strap with a baseball stitch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527623143" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/12527623143_255f80a6b6_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657155.6514" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fabric covered edges</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12622925523" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/12622925523_c9a3caa41a.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657078.187" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">done but needs a button!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Lastly I wove a small mug rug. I had enough warp for two, but I decided to do weft twining for the first time (will discuss eventually in another blog post), and I kept weaving until I was happy with the result.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12755182914" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3683/12755182914_3f6eb83e4a.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982657139.1157" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yurt Band Motif Mug Rug With Weft Twining</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">So, that is my adventure with the yurt band motif! I'm sure I'm not done with it yet.</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-84417265499125849602014-02-14T13:38:00.000-08:002014-03-16T08:16:25.076-07:00As The Days Grow Longer<p style="text-align: justify;">We've past the solstice and the days are slowly growing brighter longer. We are also noticing a shift in temperatures, although, I see that many of you are still in the deep throes of winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527981404" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/12527981404_9459c8663c.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936346.6968" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This winter has been mild, with a cold snap here and there, but nothing major. As much as I am glad not to have snow, having shoveled my share in the past, it is worrisome when we go a length of time without precipitation. Please, please, rain or snow, we'll take it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12033291204" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title=""><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/12033291204_5805a66a81.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936343.318" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Sometime in the beginning of December I checked out on technology/media other than <a href="http://instagram.com/rabbitbrush">Instagram</a>. I needed to just BE with my family, and be with me. I did do a lot of reading, of the weaving kind!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've been struggling to find time to be with my camera, but finally carved out time to photograph my woven key fobs and opened my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RabbitbrushStudio">etsy</a> shop! And I've been sampling, studying and taking notes on weaving. I've wanted to keep a notebook, for instance, when I look at the tablet-woven bands I've made, I have no idea what I've done. Fourty pages of notes have been written so far!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527985174" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/12527985174_e7e6d1dfe4.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936353.5667" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intermesh Samples</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm still sampling Intermesh (lol, I'm still sampling a whole lotta techniques). I want to come up with a project that will really show off the double-sided nature of the fabric. I've settled on a guitar strap, but need to decide on a pattern that I will enjoy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/p/kNtbr2qivN/" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/06a5caa691e411e39915123a4da0689a_8.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936400.4368" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backstrap-woven small bag in progress, with Yurt Band Motif</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527623143" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/12527623143_255f80a6b6_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936396.1086" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I have been sampling ALOT, and feeling the need to make a small project. I joined the ravelry backstrap weaving group weave-along for the Olympics. I decided on a cell phone bag. I had my heart set on doing a tubular woven edge, but I'm not quite confident yet that it'll come out looking all that great. I made an Inkle loom band that ended up too short for a strap, so I am working on another one!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527142983" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/12527142983_2e84b5bae2.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936319.3079" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527509084" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/12527509084_128d98d700.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936340.5984" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger-Weaving</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, I started looking at the Weaver's Journal PDFs that are available online. You must take a peek at these! I have started with the tutorial on Andean Crossed Warp Techniques for Woven Trim and I love the weaving. It's done by finger manipulation, and the instructions were a bit mind boggling at first, but I figured it out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527332333" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/12527332333_9ccdbac28e.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936310.6914" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="499" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the book this is called pebble weave but I consider this speckled background.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I've been working my way thru the Inkle Weavers Directory and I will share some sample photos. I can tell you, I did not like doing Monk's Cloth at all, and will most likely never try it again. It's so funny how some weaves resonate, and some don't!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527210475" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/12527210475_d3f0a78147_z.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936383.4614" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12527695124" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/12527695124_97683d0a14.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936343.8853" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I also think we also underestimate how beautiful plain weave really is. It's fun to do complicated pick up patterns, but sometimes my favorites just end up being plain weave.</span></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-90249883570561310132014-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:002014-03-16T08:18:37.754-07:00Sopa de Papas<p> <em>Note: working on a better photo, I don't like this one. I am not a good food photographer!</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">And on the stove or in the oven at a New Mexico Kitchen.......</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12509396135" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/12509396135_7e8ea8c2fd.jpg" id="blogsy-1394982936348.3682" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sopa de Papas</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">This recipe is loosely based (to be milk-free/gluten-free/nut-free) from an adorable little gem of a cookbook called Flora's Kitchen, Recipes from a New Mexico Family, by Regina Romero. I think this was the first New Mexican cookbook I purchased the first time I moved here. I may have mentioned this before, New Mexican cookbooks are more than just recipes, they are history, a coming together of family with the staples of New Mexican cuisine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We eat this because, well, it is just down right economical and it tastes good. I will be the first to say that I love creating fancy meals when I have time, but lately, the trip to the grocery store is just killing me. And with the crazy food restrictions we have going on in our household our food bill is driving me a little crazy!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">I caramelize the onions while the veggies are cooking. If you don't want your soup to have a pink tone, remove the carrots before processing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">This is my version of her recipe. Yields 4 servings.</span></p><p style="float: right; border: none;"><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2049039/print" title="Print Recipe"><img src="http://www.plantoeat.com/images/v2/button-print.png" id="blogsy-1394982936412.589" class="" alt="Print Recipe" width="81" height="28"></a></p><h2 class="fn" style="font-size: 25px; line-height: 35px;"><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2049039/sopa-de-papas">Sopa de Papas</a></h2><p class="course"><strong>Course:</strong> Soup & Stew</p><p class="cuisine"><strong>Cuisine:</strong> New Mexican</p><p class="servings"><strong>Serves:</strong> <span class="yield">4</span></p><h3 class="ingredients_heading" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px;">Ingredients</h3><ul data-yield=""><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">4 medium</span> <strong class="'name'">yukon gold potatoes</strong> <em>peeled and diced</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">2 </span><strong class="'name'">carrots</strong> <em>peeled and diced</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">2 </span><strong class="'name'">celery stalks</strong> <em>diced</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">1/2 quart</span> <strong class="'name'">water</strong></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">1 1/2 cups</span> <strong class="'name'">rice milk</strong> <em>(optional)</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">2 </span><strong class="'name'">egg yolks</strong></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount">1 small</span> <strong class="'name'">onion</strong> <em>peeled,and cut into thin cresents</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><strong class="'name'">Olive Oil</strong> <em>(or other fat)</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><strong class="'name'">Herbamare</strong> <em>to taste</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><strong class="'name'">Black Pepper</strong> <em>to taste</em></li><li class="ingredient " itemprop="ingredients"><strong class="'name'">Roasted New Mexican Green Chile</strong> <em>(optional)</em></li></ul><h3 class="instructions_heading" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px;">Directions</h3><h3 class="instructions_heading" style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal;">Put potato, carrot, celery and water in pot and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until veggies are very soft. Strain and reserve liquid, puree veggies and return to stock. Add the rice milk and beat in the egg yolks, heat gently and season with Herbamare. Saute onion in olive oil to your liking, lightly browned or caramelized, and add to the soup. Serve. Of course we add a dollop of roasted green chile.</span></h3><p style="color: rgb(110, 151, 169); border: none;"><br>Powered by<br><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/2049039/sopa-de-papas"><img src="http://www.plantoeat.com/images/v2/plantoeat-logo-wide-white-type-36h.png" id="blogsy-1394982936408.9421" class="" alt="Plan To Eat" width="147" height="36"></a></p><p style="color: rgb(110, 151, 169); border: none;"><a href="http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/planit?ref=a2mruyxrad" target="_blank" class="plantoeat-it-button" title="Add to Plan to Eat" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.3em;"><img src="http://www.plantoeat.com/images/plantoeat-it-button.png" id="blogsy-1394982936359.1482" class="plantoeat-it-button" width="67" height="20" alt="Add to Plan to Eat"></a></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;"></span></p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-5704121484655047852014-02-01T17:18:00.001-08:002014-02-01T17:18:40.140-08:00Beginning With Intermesh<p style="text-align: justify;"> There's nothing like a new technique to make you feel like a beginner again! But that's part of the fun for me (or occasional frustration, lol). I am also getting reacquainted with my backstrap loom set-up.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12228409095" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/12228409095_1f49c123d0.jpg" id="blogsy-1391303837412.3955" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There is some thing very profound about working in a backstrap set-up. With minimal, inexpensive tools you can weave beautiful cloth. And for me, there's a connection in thought, as I think about all the people who have woven this way for generations in the past. Not only are these textiles beautiful, but generally they had physical function and spiritual meaning in away most of us take for granted. Cloth woven for clothing we now mistakenly call costumes. Those thoughts drew me to fiber arts years ago, that we must try our hardest to not lose these precious, traditional ways. Anyway, that's what I am thinking about while I am weaving.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I was first introduced to <strong>Intermesh</strong> in Laverne Waddinton's first book, <em><a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/books-and-articles/">Andean Pebble Weave (2010)</a></em>. In this book it is not introduced as <strong>Intermesh</strong>, but rather a technique to weave a thicker, sturdier border. <strong>Intermesh</strong> is a two-heddle weave that produces a sturdy, thick fabric that resists curling and lies flat.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12228588173" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/12228588173_112904750c.jpg" id="blogsy-1391303837432.379" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A fellow IGer posts amazing photos of textiles and I saw a few motifs that I thought would look amazing using this technique. And I needed a reason to get back into my backstrap! After trying a backstrap sample (the yurt band motif), my toddler has been really great about not pulling on the sticks.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I got Laverne's second book, <em><a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/books-and-articles/">More Adventures With Warp Faced Pick Up Patterns (2012)</a></em> as soon as it came out, and holy cow, what an amazing book! Until now, I've only been reading it, and as much as I want to dive into the Andean Pebble Weave patterns, I know my sons will not tolerate me staring at large pattern charts!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, in this book, Laverne goes into the <strong>Intermesh</strong> set-up. If you read her <a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/">blog</a>, there are pictures scattered among the posts where she has taught this technique at workshops.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12228408745" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/12228408745_a0ce209533.jpg" id="blogsy-1391303837430.5947" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So using the back of my Navajo loom, I set up my warp (it was a pain in the butt - I need to wrangle together a different way to warp). I used size 3 cotton, the blue color is not my style, but works for the sampler.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I will resist doing pick-ups for now. I just want to weave it plain, concentrate on the rhythm of weaving, getting reacquainted with tensioning and the whole backstrap process.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I love seeing the two sides, different colors! Some things I found very helpful while weaving. At Laverne's blog she has a great video/s about dealing with <em><a href="http://backstrapweaving.wordpress.com/faq-index/faq-10-how-do-i-open-the-sheds-on-wide-andor-sticky-warps/">sticky warps.</a></em> I had a terrible time with opening the sheds about half way thru weaving the band. I also took her advice about weaving the stick shed in one direction and the heddled sheds in the other. As I continued weaving I was able to distinguish which heddled shed I was to weave next. I think if I had jumped into patterning, I wouldn't have concentrated on these basics.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69109550@N04/12197573846" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/12197573846_45ea00d75c.jpg" id="blogsy-1391303837409.672" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a shed saver cord - 4 strand braid</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">At the very end of the band I couldn't help but try a horizontal and vertical line. I am going to warp on for another sample in size 3 cotton and start the tutorials for creating horizontal and vertical lines.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Weaver Speak and Tags</em></strong>: Intermesh, Intermesh Warp Floats, Two-Heddle Intermesh, Plain Intermesh, Two-Heddle Complementary Warp Weave, Complementary-Warp Weave, Double-Faced Complementary Warp Weave.</p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-5449685186037890452014-01-22T14:17:00.000-08:002014-01-22T14:18:43.936-08:00Sampling With Weaving<div style="text-align: justify;">
After such a long time being away, I wrote a blog post this morning on my iPad using a blogger app. I saved it online, took a peek at it once more, only to come back now to insert photos, and poof, it's gone! Not using that app again.....</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Instead, I'll leave you with a quick photo. I've been a sampling fool these days. One of my samples is an inkle-woven band with a tablet-woven edge. I originally loaded one card z-twist and the other s-twist, but didn't liked it, so I flipped the s-card to z-twist and wove turning the cards away.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/12092326125/" title="Tablet woven edged Inkle band sampler by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="Tablet woven edged Inkle band sampler" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/12092326125_172fb59bc5_z.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">A lot of fun, and really intense when you have a toddler into his alphabet, trying to read and yank on the tablets/cards. If you don't know what tablets are, you will think this all sounds crazy. I will try to include a photo on the next post!</span></div>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4626987225667289236.post-16945988285649661802013-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:002013-11-13T12:29:06.078-08:00Books & Yarn<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/10709661015/" title="Yarn Along 11/6/2013 by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Along 11/6/2013" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/10709661015_0e9f1242db_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I am nearing the end of this project! It has taken me a bit longer to finish than I wanted, but not because of the pattern or knitting. Finding time to sit and knit has been challenging! Mostly, I've been working on it when I get together with the girls to knit. I have about 10 rows to go, finishing the picot edge on the other side of the cowl (the top).</div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/10709930833/" title="Yarn Along 11/6/2013 by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Along 11/6/2013" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/10709930833_71cecf9d4b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/willow-cowl" target="_blank">Willow Cowl</a> and I can finally tell you what the yarn is: Studio June Yarn, Eight Bells, 100% superwash Merino, 8 ply heavy fingering weight, color TRUE NORTH. I feel like I bought this yarn at the Loopy Eve in Colorado, but I am not entirely sure. I am loving this colorway! I did alter the pattern a bit, thinking I wouldn't have enough yarn, but I now see I could have done the extra rounds, and just made it.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/10709736964/" title="Yarn Along 11/6/2013 by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Along 11/6/2013" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/10709736964_898b189f04_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I am still reading the <a href="http://rabbitbrushstudio.blogspot.com/2013/10/yarn-along.html" target="_blank">same book</a>, and probably will for awhile. I am chugging my way thru a manual of sorts that I will talk about next week (smile).</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitbrushstudio/10709751726/" title="Yarn Along 11/6/2013 by rabbitbrushstudio, on Flickr"><img alt="Yarn Along 11/6/2013" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/10709751726_60fe7217f3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Finally it has turned cool here in New Mexico, but we still need to prep our heater. We wait until we can't stand it anymore, and that time is nearing. At 3 am we are starting to find it chilly, and it wakes one of my sons up!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Joining Ginny over at the yarn along.....</div><br /><br /><br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343060057602729620noreply@blogger.com1