So I Put A Bird On It

Several years ago I was at a local auction and saw what I thought was a really nice foot stool.  I think I paid $10 for it and when I got it home it was not so nice at all-plastic leather and China made.  So I have been pushing it around since that time always thinking what I could do with it.  We had this very neat "Army" blanket that was somewhat the worse for wear and I thought "why not".  Since the winter has been snow less here I went up into my woods and picked up some leaves and began.  Towards the end I thought it needed a little boost so I put a bird on it!  I like it and so does my old cat who has begun camping out on it.

Its Magic

Somehow I always think it is magic when what looks like a jumble of ends actually works! Maybe cause I've been known to have a jumble of ends that don't work!  Anyway it always amazes me when what was in my head actually works! I used 16/2 cotton at 30 epi and I think it will be fine for the chair cushions.

Back to Weaving

It is good to be back to weaving.  I thought a lot about what I wanted to do next and decided to make 4 chair covers.  I rearranged my studio and set up my jack loom.  I have another rep weave project in my head but need to put on four more shafts before I can do it so I thought this would be a good interim project.  So I got out my favorite book and decided on Goose eye.  I had a lot of 16/2 cotton and decided to make all four of them somewhat different.

The gold on the lower left is going to be the background and then I will make the four cushions with each of the other colors--at least that is the plan for now.  I decided to add a 1" stripe in each of the colors  thinking that this would combine them as a group.

We will see--it is good to be back weaving again.

The Rooster

I think the rooster is the last animal for a bit.  There are no more in my head right now.  Who knows when the next one will come.  They were really  fun to make.  Used a lot of scraps up and they make me smile

A Smile is a Good January Thing

So this is my angel--she makes me smile!  My inspiration was a set of Christmas plates that I got years ago--probably 25 or more.  They are my favorite holiday things.  They are by an artist from Japan named Kiki. I have tried looking on the web for more information but so far have found little. She is going to have a place of honor in our new nook. I like her a lot.

Merry Christmas Everyone

I have been working on some whimsical little critters.  The inspiration came from a lovely book from Estonia filled with old patterns and very sweet puppets and critters. I had some leftover hand dyed yarn in yellow and blue that I thought would be fun.  The yellow is goldenrod and the blue indigo.  I have enough to make one more and am pretty sure it is going to be a chicken.

Then I have angels in my head--so who knows. Merry Christmas everyone, Peace.

The Rug is Done

So the rug is done--I am pretty happy with it--I used some heavier warp that I liked a lot however it didn't cover as well as I would have liked.  I think it was because the twist was not consistent--but it is a great bathroom rug--I think it will suck up a lot of water out of the shower----next I think I am going to do some stripes for a cushion for a bench--we'll see

Why do I like it?

Well I am almost ready to go--seems I always say that and then I make an error slaying the reed or something really dumb. Have been thinking about why I like rep weave so much and I think it is because there is a rhythm to the threading much as there is a rhythm to knitting.  There is also the geometric aspect--I like it when the calculations work --its truly magic.  Will have to let it rest for a few days, am having a house full for Thanksgiving-so it looks like Sunday or Monday--that's OK it will be fun to have family here for the holiday.

Animals on Parade!!!!

My "Penny Rug" animals are done.  It was such a fun project--they seemed to grow right out of the felt.  I have another one in my head---birds---but I think it has to wait for a bit. I have a sweater that needs some attention first.  I almost have my rep weave warped and am anxious to get that going. 

Good, not so good.....

Sometimes it takes me a long time to figure it out!!!! I finished both my rag rug and penny rug. I love the penny rug--the rag rug--not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love rag rugs.  It just seems when I make them I have a "vision" in my head that just never turns out.  So I am kissing my rags goodbye.  For anyone that wants some I will bring them to the next weavers and feel really good that they are going to a good home. I am really enjoying the wool, beads, applique process and have another in my head--it is all animals and so far I have the giraffe mostly done.  I am also starting another rep weave--this one will be for my husbands bathroom.  Right now I am moving heddles--but maybe next week I will be able to start warping it. 

Two New Porjects

I spent a good deal of time last winter making rag balls out of all my unused quilting scraps!!!! It was a long winter!!! Anyway I finally decided to make a rug for my son and his wife in Colorado.  So far I have about 20" done--I want it to be about 60".  We will be visiting them in less than a month so I guess I should keep at it.

My second project is my version of a "penny rug".  I have always wanted to make one but did not want the usual version.  So I decided to make a bouquet of flowers.  It is all wool with embroidery and beads. Very fun to do.

Summer is almost over and....

I finally got my rep weave done!!!! I like it!!! I wanted to add some more color and decided to add a border. I had enough fabric to make some napkins.  I was going to cut one of the runners and make place mats but my friend Susan thought it would be a good idea to keep both of them and overlap them when I needed four--I really like that idea

I like the darker side better but think it would be fun to use both.

So its on to another project--think I am going to do a rag rug--

Maybe Cool Colors Will Help

I am lucky enough that my weaving studio is in the shade until afternoon.  It has been OK with a fan until about 2:00. Then I make a mad dash back to the house and the air conditioning.  I started another rep weave.  I am not sure what the end product will be.  I have enough on for 2 place mats and a table runner, four place mats or I was thinking maybe I would use the fabric for a couple of bags.  We shall see when it is done.  I did get the warp done so maybe tomorrow Harry will help me wind it.

This is my dog Scraps-.  It's actually not really my dog but that is a whole other story.  He is my weaving companion.  He comes to the studio and sleeps while I weave.  He has good taste when it comes to places to lay!

It's Done

It's Done--and I love it.  It started out 70" long and shrunk to 54".  The width did not shrink much, less than an inch.  So my next one will have to be a lot longer!!!  I did weave off the rest of the warp but I only had about 20" so I am not sure if it will ever be anything.  I really liked this project-I learned a lot and it was fun to see the calculations work out.  So maybe I will put on another one!!!!!

One is Done!

So I am facing a dilemma.  One of the rep weave rugs is done.  It turned out to be 69" Long.  My dilemma is that most of my weaving friends said to put enough warp on for two-which I did.  But I want to whack it off to see just what it really looks like.  It looks like I have enough for a 45" one or so.  So I have resisted my urge, as well as better instincts, and will go on!

2640 Threads all in a row!!!!!

So it worked, magic!!!!! The first 2.5 inches are hem and below that some fooling around.  Then I started for real.  The  book is not exactly right--it doesn't weave up that fast--but who cares! I think I could get hooked on rep weave.

It Worked!

No  pictures yet but it worked.  Angie came and helped finish setting up the loom.  I have no idea what she did but it worked.  I had to fiddle with the tension to get a shed but am actually starting to weave.  It is magic.  When I have enough done to get a good picture will post it.  Fun, fun, fun.

Ready-Set-Go--I Hope

So it is all threaded and came out exactly. I am pretty sure there are no threading errors as I read my scribblings back inch by inch and came out right--who knows?  Angie is coming over tomorrow and we are going to finish setting up the loom and then eat strawberries and weave!!!! Hope the weaving gods are with us.

ITS STILL OK

It's going to be fine! I have 21 inches done and 12 to go.  The math is still OK--hope to have it done by early next week and then Angie is going to come over and finish setting up the loom so I can actually weave.

IT'S OK SO FAR!!!!!!!

 So far so good.  Harry and my good friend Susan helped wrap the warp.  Must say even though it was not easy it certainly went better the second time.  I think making chains for every inch was a good idea.  I also think it helped with my math because if I haven't made a huge error everything is OK

 The last time I tried to get the warp on all the threads were tangled in the back.  This time they look like they will wind off OK.

I threaded two inches--only 31 to go!  Thanks again Harry and Susan!