I'm partially warped!!! =P

 

Many of you probably already understand the "warp/weft" idea from fabric/sewing/quilting. 

 



 

 

 

Hold onto this idea...then, follow a beginner (me) as threads become warped so they can eventually dance and play with weft threads.

 

This is looking from the top...down onto my loom...an

 8H Baby Wolf

And, these threads (Maysville 8/4 cotton) are going to be my warp.

 

(side view)

 

 

I'm soo excited (...I can't hide it!! - Pointer Sister's style).  See those little loopy-ties?  Each loop represents 8 single threads through the eyes of stainless steel heddles.

 

This is the view as I will sit in my chair to weave.  Although, the loom is still not fully dressed and ready for it's weft fibers.  Each of the threads still need to go through a reed

 

One heddle eye

 

I put a white paper behind so that you could see the 8 heddles in a row, threaded and

looped together. 

 

In all, I threaded 240 threads thru those "eyes".  It took about 2.5 hours.  That might be slow.  But, it's only my second time.  First time I had someone actually helping thread. You might be thinking, YIKES! THIS looks VERY tedious.  It wasn't for me.  I really enjoyed the semi-relaxing, almost think-less motions of the process.  I was a little sad when it was complete.  That's good, right?  Yep, 'cause I will be looking forward to my next threading.

 

However... this isn't the beginning.  I had to create the warp threads from cones of thread, 240 strands of thread, each to be 5.5 yards long. The length was predetermined by how long and how many towels I'm going to make and including some waste.

 

I came up with a rather crazy method to get my warp threads ready. It's a bit unorthodox.  You know me...I'm always looking for a way to re-invent "the wheel".  Sometimes I just waste time trying to find an easier way. Sometimes, I'm lucky enough to bump into a way that works better for me than the "normal" way.  =P

 

The three methods pictured below, all have something in common....

 

 



 

 

They use lifted arm(s), mostly (and can cause the back to feel really tired) to create the proper length and number of threads needed.  It's important that each thread of the warp be the same/correct length.  I see these methods, and I start to think (which is usually dangerous).  After wrapping the length I need a bunch a times around the pegs, using mostly my arms and back...my arms/shoulders/back will really be complaining of aches the day after. 

 

Now, if there was a way to use more leg, keeping my back straight and not having to lift my arm for long periods of time... that would be a lot better.  I don't mind walking all that much and if they take the brunt of the work, my arms and shoulders are MUCH happier.  Thought juices flow and light goes on!

 

...enter two saw horses from my husband's workshop and a dissected warping board.

 

With this method, I don't have to make as many wraps because I can space the pegs further away

from each other.  And, I can walk back and forth between the pegs using a lot less arm and more leg.

If a person didn't have enough space in one room, the saw horses could be placed down a hall or (weather permitting), in the garage.

 

I kept the cone of thread in a bucket so that it wouldn't run all over the floor as I walked and passed the thread around each peg.  One problem did surface.  If I pulled the threads just a teensy taught, the saw horses slightly tipped inwards towards each other.  Solution for next time - weight the legs of the saw horse down.  I'm not sure with what tho.  Would you have any ideas? 

 

The important CROSS needed to help keep threads straight when they go to the loom. More info HERE





 

There are more steps to get the warp to where I was able to thread each thread thru a single heddle eye like the photos at the beginning of the post.  Those steps are a bit blurry in my memory.   Yuh...it takes several a bunch of times for me to learn a process with multi-steps (usually more than 3, =P!).  I was concentrating while the teacher was instructing me...and I forgot to take better pictures.  But, maybe next time the concentration will make a better imprint.  And with photos, I can explain this area of the process more clearly. 

 

Anyway,  I'm having fun...learning to get WARPED.  You're whispering under your breath..."she's been warped for quite some time now, poor thing".  =P

 

Dare I ask for a Whoop-Whoop for a "warped" accomplishment?  Are any of you, out there, weavers? or have you ever thought about learning to weave? 

 



Visiting Washington...and bringing a bit back home

 

 

I left for Washington state a week ago last Wednesday.  I was half time visiting with our Son, his wife and three cute daughters.  The other half of the time, I was playing at the Madrona Fiber Festival. 

Lunch one day at the Hotel Murano with newly made friends.

 

Woolgatherings...beautiful hand dyed fibers.   

 

 

On my last day to the festival, the older grandgirl came with me.

 

She chose her thread, wrapped a weaving stick

...and wove a few inches of weft.

 

And, here is Emma modeling a fun hat knitted with pencil roving.

 

My stay in Washington lasted about 5 days.  Then, we...the two older grandgirls (7 & 10) and I, flew back to Utah. 

 

It's truly is one of my favorite things, to play with grandkids...when their parents aren't around.  I get to enjoy myself - with great company AND while eating over-buttered popcorn and watching chipmunks sing n'dance.  I can read books with crazy changing voices and the grandkids seem to have as much fun listening as I am reading. 

 

 

We went shopping for some pretty dresses. 

The two girls enjoyed some uninterrupted lego time.  Normally, they

would be hindered by their 2 year little sister.  They do love her.

But, it's also nice to have to creative play just the two older ones.

A cute pose on a big toad.  We visited the

Living Planet Aquarium and had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes

 

Sunday afternoon...quickly turned to Friday morning and it was time for

the grandgirls to go back home to Washington.

 

 

aaaw...do I have to

act like an adult now that the grandkids are gone???

 

 

 



Wonderful Wednesday...I'm in Washington state =)

I just landed at Sea-Tac airport about an hour ago. 



I'm now in an office/conference room where our son works...he picked me up at the airport.  The beautiful grey skies that so typically hover over the PNW...welcomed me.  I LOVE rain!  So, I'm hoping that I get to enjoy some along with the great smell of the "BUH-zillion" trees.  

It's wonderful to be able to spend time with our son, daughter-in-law and their 3 girls (2, 7, 10).  It's also going to be wonderful to go to the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival!

 

 

The Fiber Festival is located in Tacoma, Washington at the

 

Hotel Murano. 

The retail booths are located in the hotel's lobby.

 

I'm thinking that this could possibly be a dangerous weekend for me.  I'm going to have to make efforts to get in my walking, eat healthy (with considerable yummy stuff tempting regularly).  And, I will need to keep the padlock on my wallet too.  =P

 

 

May the force be with me!!!

 



 

 

I will post more later....

 

The weekend went fast...a bit of a recap

    
Friday   was busy with errands, one of which was to go to a real estate office to get some copies of escrow documents for a longtime friend. Her and her husband recently bought a second house that is a rental.  But, there were so many mishaps and she was being bullied around by the previous owner's

management company.  This is her first experience with buying an existing rental property.  The seller's agent, her agent, the title company...all dropped the ball with regards to information on paperwork securing the rights of a new owner as a landlord.  The management company totally refused to give the deposits that were given to them by the tenants.  And, on top of that they spoke rudely as they informed my friend that they were washing their hands of the agreement with the current tenants, that they had no obligations to do anything with a new owner.  It infuriates me when people see someone vulnerable, they just turn their face and hurry away or they directly take advantage.  This was happening to my friend and I had to help.  So, my husband and I spent several hours on Thursday evening looking over the documents my friend received.   We noticed that many things had gone wrong along the way...and it had started even before escrow was closed and money transferred.  We have bought and sold rental properties over the years, and we know certain things that should be included in an offer and on closing documents.  My friend didn't. (You would think that between TWO real estate agents and a Title Company that there would have been SOME knowledge of how things should be done??)  So, we decided to help her out and talk with people to get something going on her behalf.  We wanted to make sure she got the monies due her from the unscrupulous Management Company.  We also wanted to make sure that she had a legal document between her and the those renting the property that she now owned.  Husband and I did get a chance to have a nice lunch out, after the errands.  =)
Update:  I found out this evening, that all things with the rental problem, have been resolved.  =)

 

 

Saturday   I went the Knittin Pretty.  yarn shop. I met a friend there about noon and we worked on our projects while chatting with the owners and other ladies that dropped in.  I had a pair of socks that I had been working on ( pre-Sweet Tomato Heel).  The old-traditional heel had gotten me stuck and so I thought that being at a knit store could be advantageous to getting over the "mid-evil" (mis-spell intended) way of doing sock heels.  I was right!!  I got the boost I needed and now the socks are well on their way to being completed...

 



It started to snow big flakes outside the knitting store window.  It was about 3pm by then and outside it was getting cold fast.  The friend that met me there had offered to take me home.  Where I live has several roads that are steep hills and when it snows it can be VERY slippery.  My husband was going to be gone until about 10pm.  He and our daughter were going to watch the U of U gymnastic meet.  My friend and I had planned to go get a bite to eat after the knit shop.  Then she was going to come my house for awhile to get me started on a pair of knit-felted slippers. Those plans were quickly, sadly smashed by the looks of the weather.  I didn't want her to drive home in bad weather and icy roads, especially when it was dark.  She drove me home while it was still daylight.  I hung out in the evening and did some spinning.  It was relaxing...but, not as much fun as it would've been had my friend been able to stay. 





Sunday   came and reading a book (Pillars of the Earth) just started absorbing the morning hours.  Late morning brought on a bad tummy ache.  Something I ate, did NOT want to stay with me and it was loudly/painfully complaining.  So glad that I was able to stay home, in my PJs and deal with it.  I did do a bit more spinning, and some reading too...between visits to the "powder room".  I did get to feeling better by late afternoon.  We ended up watching some of the Grammy Awards and I did a bit more knitting on my (old tradition heel) socks. 

Just need to decrease to make the toe...

 

Sweet Tomato Heel - blue one on the right

"Mid-evil"  traditional sock heel on the right..

Which do you think would fit a "normal" foot better?

 

 

The "pink" sock heel on the right is the same as the lavender one in the above pictures, eee-GADZ, how can it change so much with a bit different lighting??  Oh well, the real point with this picture is to show the difference between these two ways to knit a sock heel.  The one on the right is a buhzillion times easier to knit too!  =)  Can you tell that I'm sold on it?

 

Boy...the weekend went fast!  And, now it's almost Tuesday!






How was your weekend?  Did you have time to rest or relax...or do anything fun? 
 

New fun Knit book

 

This is a really fun book that runs the "gammet" of yarn types

 and how various yarn fibers will act in your knitting projects.

 

I love this saying...but, I would tweek it just a bit.

"So many fibers...so little time".  The book does describe

the properties of several other fibers, including pictures

 and info about the sources of the fibers...i.e animal or plant.

 

There's sections in the book where you get to "meet" several "whose-whos"

of the yarn and knit world.  You read about what things inspire them and

what are their favorite things to create.

 

One of the chapters...reads "Know-How".  And, some advice given here

is "Try to learn a new trick every month.". 

 

The Chapters are spelled out with yarn...kind a cool!

 

This picture is a bit blurry...but, I wanted to show how some of the

pages are set up.  They use lots of close-up photos with tags and

very good descriptions/instructions.

 

The is mainly about different types of yarns and how they work

within the realm of knitting.  But, there is a couple of fun

chapters about spinning, weaving and dying. 

 

I think this is a great book...great visuals, great information,

well written instructions.  You can read bits and pieces randomly as

they interest you...or, you can read through chunks from beginning

to end.  I also think this is a good book for beginners as well as

those who are accomplished knitters.  =)

 

What are some of your favorite knitting books?

 

 

 

 

 



A friendly-fiber "Outlaw" retreat

On January 17th, I left my home about 9am to embark on a weekend like I've never had before.  I talked myself out of going at least 100 times in the previous weeks. The weather around my home was in the teens during midday for the past week.  Where I was going was going to be even colder. I was sure (almost) that it would be lots of fun,  even if it was a bit of a drive to get to the destination AND, that I had wanted to pack up and load into my car a great DEAL of crap stuff -  to make it more comfortable and more fun.  I'm the kind of person that says, "YES"to a party a few seconds after I discover the information.  Then, after a few days, I start to think about all the negatives...talking myself into how it might be more work than fun.  Do you ever do that?  Or am I just weird??? (don't answer yes to the weird part so fast!)

There were 3 of us in car and (almost) enough stuff for an entire Boy Scout Troup!  But, it was ALL necessary important (sorta). After a windy and bit icy, 2 1/2 hour drive we arrived at the fairly small college campus.  We found the building where we were to "camp".  It was a clean, carpeted, large multipurpose room with full service kitchen attached.  We were quite glad to find a VERY nice male college student who happily asked if we needed any help to take our stuff from the car and into the multipurpose room.  We happily replied, "Oh, yes...thank you".  Several trips in the literally freezing temps and it was all in.

In hindsight, I am so very-VERY glad that I talked my "not-so-sure" self into taking advantage of this wonderful weekend of relaxing, fiber-licious fun!  Below are some pictures of the "way it was" =D

Julie and Danielle are dragging out the racks of folding chairs to use as dividers.  We divided the room, one side for sleeping and the other side for chatting, watching movies and our fiber antics.

 

Utah State University...a branch in Roosevelt, Utah

 

There's my white blow up mattress, all dressed up to be comfy =) 

 

 

An overhead view or the "bedroom area" 

 

 

 

Here is the wonderful kitchen, dishwasher, stove, microwave, all the perks of home!

 

Oh...no puppies were aloud.  But, I nabbed the chance to hold this sweetness until his new (human) mom arrived to take him home.  

 

The was the 2-table long/2-table wide set up FULL of prizes for the regular drawing!!!  Everyone that came to the retreat was to bring at least 6 gift items for the table.

 

 

There were soooo many fun things it was really hard to choose when my name was drawn.

 

Oh! and here is just the start of the goodies/muchies counter.  By the time everyone arrived, there were twice as many "dangerous" foods =P.

 

The circle of friends and fiber fun

There were many different kinds of spinning wheels.

 

Some ladies were spinning and some were knitting too.

 

The long knitted item on the floor was a combination of rows that were knitted by different people and then attached together.  This is only about half (or less) of the finished length.  It was part of a "yarn bombing" in a nearby city a few days later.  It became a 58 foot-long scarf for a huge pink dinosaur.  (Click HERE to see pictures of the Dino and read more about the yarn bombing)

 

This yummy fiber is called "Confetti".  I bought it from one of the merchants that

was there to sell her luscious wares.  (Dangerous for the wallet)

 

50% soft Merino wool and 50% tussah silk

 

A bit of it spun onto my Pocket Wheel.

 

Here is one strand of what will eventually be a 3-ply yarn.  I am planning to do 2 thin strands and one thicker one.  The plan is to create a chunky textured yarn for a fun neck warmer. 

 

We stayed up late...got up early.  We had good food, lots of funny and friendly conversations.  We watched a couple of good movies in the two evenings while relaxing in our PJs. We made new friends and won fun prizes.  It was a great experience that I'm sooo glad I had the opportunity to enjoy.  (...and, to think I almost talked myself into not going).

 

Saturday morning we took down, packed up, had a late breakfast and headed for home about 1:30.  I have to admit it took this old body of mine a few days to recuperate.  But, it was worth any inconveniences that it might of cost for all of the pleasant memories deposited in my memory bank.

 

Thanks to the Fiber Outlaws Spinning group who organized the wonderful events of the weekend!

 

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**Don't forget about the giveaway!  click HERE for more info, ends 2.3.13