April's BlogNew spinning wheel enters. Looking for a handmade Reeves but meanwhile found a Country Craftsman Saxony style wheel at Woodland Woolen Mills which is going out of business. Impulse buy but very satisfying one.
With the double drive I have more control over twist. This wheel joins my Louet single drive wheel.
I wove squares on the 7″ Hazel Rose multi-loom and then couldn’t decide what do to with them. The owner of Fibers of Vision in Ashland suggested sewing each in the middle of a fabric square. That is what I did for both Lily and Jackson. With the addition of ribbon, the effect was lovely.
The second weekend was a shower for Megan with many friends and family
32 inch Kromski harp rigid heddle loom. 10 dent reed.
Warp goes well with warping peg instead of the warp pegs that turn the back of this loom into a warping board (for longer warps). Minor mishap, puppies find brown ball of yarn and turn it into a massive mess (see top of warping peg).
320 threads pulled to the front of the heddle (warp wound on to the back beam). Ready for threading…one of each pair of threads will go through the eye of the heddle.
Warp below wound on to the back beam (from the back beam side).
The tie up begins from the outsides in. I thread the eyes of the heddle at the same time as tying up 10 threads at a time in a traditional tie-up.
Tie up complete.
Weaving begins. I am reminded that warp selection is important. I had been weaving on a knitter’s loom from Ashford. The eyes in the heddle were larger so less wear on the knitting yarn. Two threads are dangerously weak in the early weaving. Use fray check from my sewing box to help prevent some fraying.
Weave color is lighter than I anticipated. Called Yarn Garden in Portland to get another skein of brown. Plan to weave weft in stripes. They were very helpful.
Going to order the 8 dent reed for Lily’s blanket. I think it will allow me to use this knitting yarn a little easier. The dent size is good for Jackson’s blanket, the holes are just a little small.
This stand can be used for my Navajo loom if I so choose. Weaving helps me hold a space for moving to Portland
Going to visit Llamas and Llambs. Kathy has a book to look at by Sarah Natani and has met a woman who has been to the Navajo reservation 5 years to weave. There is much to learn in one’s hands. Getting the facts on one’s head is easier.
The book that Kathy has includes photos and weavings by many of Sarah Natani’s students.  The photos and letters from students were gathered by Lora Pirtle Rinke and published a book called Sarah Natani.
Trev, my oldest son, has said it is a go for him to build the portable loom that we will use to learn on. I found a simple one to purchase on Halcyonyarn.com if all else fails.
Nick, also my son, has applied for a URL for my blog. It will be aprilponders.com. Fitting. My father always used the term “ponder”. He always had plan 1, 2, and 3 or A, B, and plan C. Usually plan A worked.
Today is a step forward.
