Off and Running

I am delighted to say that the fabric that will become my Flame Lace top is finally off the loom! As much as I enjoy the meditative process of weaving, it always feels so good to near the end of a project. In life and crafting, I’ve found that there are all types of people: starters, enjoyers, tinkerers, thinkers, finishers, and on the list goes. I can dabble in many varieties of creativity, but I fall staunchly into the “finisher” category. I enjoy the process, but I love to see things through to completion.

In case you’ve missed the first few posts in this series on my Flame Lace top (from Simple Woven Garments,) you can find the warping post here,  how to make string heddles here,  and actually weaving the fabric here.  I’m using Flax as warp, and Whisper Lace with Garden 10. held together as warp. Today, I finished the final inches of weaving and prepared for taking my fabric off the loom.

Luckily, I recorded my notes on what I did for hemstitching at the beginning of the piece so I could match it at the end. The older I get, the more things I write down, or I can expect to never remember them again! The hem on this top is eventually going to be folded under and sewn, so this isn’t crucial, but I’m all about the details. Having the notes about precisely what I did at the beginning allowed me to do the same at the end of the piece.

Hemstitching_1

While doing my hemstitching, I went over 3 warp threads and under 2 weft threads. Because I’m headed straight to the sewing machine after this, all I need to do now is snip this baby free from the loom.

Hemstitching_2

Oh, what a good feeling!

 

After unwinding my fabric a little bit, I had my first good chance to take a peek at the back side of the fabric. I like it! In the photo below, the right side of the fabric is on the right, wrong side is on the left. The wrong side is still quite attractive. I’ll have to file this away in my brain as a good possibility for a scarf, where both sides will be seen.

Hemstitching3

Here is the full length of the fabric. And as I sit here now typing with my fabric soaking in water, I realize I completely forgot to measure my fabric just off the loom.  C’est la vie, eh?Hemstitching4

Now to secure the ends before washing. A simple zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine will do the trick.

Hemstitching5

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I can’t even tell you how excited I am to see how this fabric looks after washing. That’s when the true nature of the fabric reveals itself. As pretty as it was to look at taut on the loom, I just know it’s going to be full of character once it’s all settled.

Join me next time when this rectangle of criss-crossed yarn becomes something wearable!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Spring Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints Spring Pullover square hi-res GRAPHICS

Today, the Spring Pullover in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

What a great look for Spring, eh?  Cap sleeves, open neckline, and some lovely waist shaping for a more polished look.

You can juuust see the double eyelets accenting the neckline.

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints Spring Pullover detail_blog

This pattern is knitted flat.  Turn the hem up and stitch it to the inside for a nice non-rolly stockinette edge.   This is a great piece for warm weather, and the bright colors of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints really help set a bright mood.

We hope you find something colorful and fun to do this weekend.

Happy knitting!

UY YMN Bamboo Bloom

Free Pattern Friday – TNNA Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the TNNA Cardi in Bamboo Pop.

Here’s how this sweater happened.

“You know what we ought to do at this year’s National Needlearts Association Summer Show?  We ought to all wear matching outfits.”

“Yes!  And they should all be sweaters in our yarn!”

“Yes!!  And we should make them for the entire show staff!!”

Sometimes we get a little carried away.  But hey, go big or go home, right?  And thus was born the TNNA Cardi.

Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – TNNA Cardi”

Free Pattern Friday – Chasing Vines Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Chasing Vines Cowl in Cotton True Sport. We’ve had a recent rush of rain here, and everything is green and growing and glorious.  I was reminded of this again when looking at these photos from Jonas Farms, home to many a happy horse here in North Carolina. Their hay fields ready to be cut…
Hay fields at Jonas Farms, May 2016
And after more than a thousand bales have been put up.
“Last stack of over 1000 bales picked up in two days.”
Breathe deep, and imagine the glorious smell of cut grass, times infinity.  You can’t help but think of green and growing things. Enter the Chasing Vines Cowl. Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Chasing Vines Cowl”

Playing With Sticks

If you’ve been following along on my latest adventure in weaving,  you read about warping a wide rigid heddle loom for the Flame Lace Top, and then rigging up string heddles for a second pick-up stick. The warp is Flax. The weft is one strand of Whisper Lace and 1 strand of Garden 10 held together.

This week is all about the fun pretty stuff: woven fabric! Once I got my pick-up sticks taken care of and my shuttle wound, I set to the soothing rhythm of weaving. I started right in with the 2 pick-up-stick pattern, and practiced a couple of repeats before hem stitching:

FlameLace_1

Out of the 12 rows of the pattern repeat, 4 of these involve use of the pick-up sticks. It took me just a few repeats to get the hang of it and after that it was smooth sailing.

FlameLace_2

Weaving is such a good opportunity for me to unwind. Music streaming, audio books, or just sitting with my own thoughts is such a relief after a hectic day.

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Join me next time when I take my finished fabric off the loom and do – gasp – cutting and sewing with it!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Beachhouse Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

BeachhouseTank_hires

Today, the Beachhouse Tank in Good Earth Adorn and Good Earth Solids.

http://www.thekitchn.com/summer-refreshment-sweet-basil-90805
This is the life.

I love this tank.  I can easily imagine myself sitting on a dock, wearing sandals and linen pants with with this top, sipping a lemonade while gazing out at the water through oversized sunglasses.  Maybe I’ll wear a Yashi sunhat, too.  Bliss.

(Have you tried adding basil to lemonade?  Sooo good, and we’re coming in to the season for fresh basil.  Here’s a recipe if you want to give it a try.)

BeachhouseTank_back_blogThe pattern calls for Good Earth Adorn (MC) and Good Earth Solids (CC), both cotton/linen blends that come 170 yards to the hank.  It’s a great yarn for summer, and perfect for this drapey A-line top.

Laurel Murphy’s design is worked in pieces and seamed. The straps are knit on the front piece only and then seamed to the back bind-off edge, as shown here.

We hope you have a relaxing and refreshing weekend, finding an opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and breathe deeply.

Happy knitting!