08.27.09

So August has been a stressful month for me. Lots going on family-wise, not all good. Not lots going on craft-wise. The loom is still warped waiting for weft. I have ripped some cotton prints into strips for a rag rug. That was more work than I thought it would be and I am not quite done but am still considering how best to use the strips. Should I use them individually? Should I combine strips for a heftier rug? Should I combine colors when I combine strips? Input on rag weaving is appreciated!

Speaking of looms. Last evening a few took up residence in our garage. I know that is not an ideal place for them and they will be moved into the house tonight. The looms came from a local high school. The powers that be at the school were cleaning out a closet for ROTC to use. ROTC vs. Weaving. A sign of the times I guess. I guess they didn’t have a weaving teacher. THEY WERE GOING TO THROW THEM IN THE DUMPSTER!!!!!

Anyway, the looms were rescued by the physics teacher who is also the coach of the FIRST Robotics team at the school. My husband and another Dad are parent coaches/mentors for the robotics team. Physics teacher called Other Dad about the looms as Other Dad had seen the looms in a closet some previous year, telling the physics teacher he would take them if no one wanted them. Other Dad took possession of the looms called my husband about the looms wanting to get them out of his wife’s family room. My husband obviously said “you called the right person” and so we went to get them last night. Loom Rescue business is born.

Two are frame tapestry looms (The Friendly Loom) one with a stand. Two are 4 harness Dorothy table looms, just about brand new. One is a Leclerc Artisat, also new. One is an old Harrisville Designs 4 harness, 4 treadle. I am not sure about it’s completeness and it has been used. There is also a box of parts. The Harrisville is a little rusty and there is no manual or instructions on assembly. The Leclerc I understand. The Harrisville, not so much. It has some sort of pulley system for lifting the harnesses but I don’t think it is a counterbalance loom. I am keeping the Harrisville and we will work on restoring it.

Knit-wise, I finally finished my Hanging Garden Stole by Sivia Harding. This shawl took me a year and a half to complete. It is beautiful and soft and beaded only on the ends in the cast-on and bind-off rows. The 100% alpaca laceweight was the reason for the delay. Very fine yarn does not like me. Fingering, OK. Merino lace, OK. Alpaca lace, not OK.

Do you see the Error in the Stole? That is where I stopped soon after I started. I resumed at an incorrect place in the chart. I am happy this is finished.

And then there was last Saturday when I reconnected with my friends from TNK (Tuesday Night Knitters). Why did I ever stop going to the meetings? Last Tuesday was a blast. Other things intruded on life and choices are made. The River City Knitters group (many of the TNK’ers are members) had a little fiber faire organized by Cathy and she invited me. And Pat from The Yarn Barn was there with this beautiful wool and alpaca yarn. Marianne Isager’s new book is the source of The Fan sweater pattern that caught my attention immediately.