Went stash diving and found THREE purpley colored wool cones, plus a cone of fuschia or something like that. hmmmm.
Something else. I want to film the weaving of the band. Part of it, at least. Maybe Annaliese could help me? I don't know. Have to ask. How much is a digital camcorder? Can I get good quality on a cell phone? I could do this myself, maybe.
Getting ahead of myself. Need to make warp calculations for the header bands and for the actual warp. Need to figure in twice the amount of intake. I didn't do that last time.
I want a finished width of about 36 to 42 inches at about 10 ends per inch. Length doesn't matter, but I think about 10 feet--a little over 3 yards--is good. Now to the project page!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Notes for the loom
I was looking back over my older posts and came across one from the last time I set up the loom, two, maybe three years ago, now. I got some more technical I'd forgotten.
Warp bundles of 10 ends need about 5 or 6 ounces of weight to make them hang properly. The clay weights weigh around 1 ounce or so each. The new ones weigh more than the older ones, obviously.
I was reading a blog post the other day from someone in England who weaves on a warp weighted. She addressed a problem with "waisting" selvedges which I've also encountered. There you are, weaving happily along and all of a sudden, you've got a cloth narrowing into a triangle and you didn't want that. It's similar to what happens in crochet when you don't chain up to begin the new row. Her solution was to graduate the weights--more on the sides, less on the middle bundles. I will try that, but I need to ask her how much more on each side or if she just did what worked and didn't calculate how much.
I'm toying with an idea of making the band out of two purpley colors...a Roman Senate look, maybe. I've got the wool on cones for that. hmm. Or maybe just go with a blue band and not be so controversial...I've got the blue in wool for that one, also. Or I could really play with fire and do temple colors on the band. We'll see.
Warp bundles of 10 ends need about 5 or 6 ounces of weight to make them hang properly. The clay weights weigh around 1 ounce or so each. The new ones weigh more than the older ones, obviously.
I was reading a blog post the other day from someone in England who weaves on a warp weighted. She addressed a problem with "waisting" selvedges which I've also encountered. There you are, weaving happily along and all of a sudden, you've got a cloth narrowing into a triangle and you didn't want that. It's similar to what happens in crochet when you don't chain up to begin the new row. Her solution was to graduate the weights--more on the sides, less on the middle bundles. I will try that, but I need to ask her how much more on each side or if she just did what worked and didn't calculate how much.
I'm toying with an idea of making the band out of two purpley colors...a Roman Senate look, maybe. I've got the wool on cones for that. hmm. Or maybe just go with a blue band and not be so controversial...I've got the blue in wool for that one, also. Or I could really play with fire and do temple colors on the band. We'll see.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Gearing up for Journey to Bethlehem, 2011
So my church, Journey of Faith in Manhattan Beach, is putting on Journey to Bethlehem in the lower parking lot after a sabbatical year in 2010. I'm back doing research and development for this.
I had cut the project off the loom last time because I didn't know if we were going to do this ever again. This time around, I have to start from scratch. Right now, I'm planning the new project for the demonstration. I'm thinking of making a 2/1 twill set, but I'm not sure how to go about that on the loom.
They should get the box down for me from the attic by Sunday, then I can see what I'll need to order as far as spinning wool and the like.
I need to get more clay for loom weights and more lead fishing weights.
I'm going through my boxes here at home and digging out all the wool handspun that I can find, to see if there is enough to make a header cord. There probably is. It's going to be rather motley, though.
My oldest is a senior so he's got an SAT class tonight, I've got to find out where at Hamilton the class meets, so I'm stopping here. More later when I start with the header cord.
I had cut the project off the loom last time because I didn't know if we were going to do this ever again. This time around, I have to start from scratch. Right now, I'm planning the new project for the demonstration. I'm thinking of making a 2/1 twill set, but I'm not sure how to go about that on the loom.
They should get the box down for me from the attic by Sunday, then I can see what I'll need to order as far as spinning wool and the like.
I need to get more clay for loom weights and more lead fishing weights.
I'm going through my boxes here at home and digging out all the wool handspun that I can find, to see if there is enough to make a header cord. There probably is. It's going to be rather motley, though.
My oldest is a senior so he's got an SAT class tonight, I've got to find out where at Hamilton the class meets, so I'm stopping here. More later when I start with the header cord.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
What I need for the warp weighted project
I need to make some more weights. The ones I had are in storage with the rest of the props. I need a dowel about an inch or two thick for the beam, and some 2 x 4's. I don't need to make sure it's period for the frame.
I want to do a soft warp, so I may see what I can do with (gasp!) acrylics, so I don't have to spend that much. I do have some weaving yarn in cones, so I may use that and see how it goes. I've got gold, brown, and some heathered lavendery-purples. We'll see.
I want to do a soft warp, so I may see what I can do with (gasp!) acrylics, so I don't have to spend that much. I do have some weaving yarn in cones, so I may use that and see how it goes. I've got gold, brown, and some heathered lavendery-purples. We'll see.
The plan for this summer
So this is my plan for the summer.
I want to work on a few things.
I'm trying to lose weight, and I'm considering weight loss surgery as part of that. I need to lose between 130 to 150 lbs. I need to be a lot more active than I have been. I'm already cutting my diet, but I find I'm cheating.
I intend to go to Curves at least 3 days a week, even if Ashley IS there.
Spend a little while in the pool every day--that's IN the pool, not watching the kids in the pool.
Keep busy.
Daily scripture reading. Curves/Exercise. Menus. Drink water constantly. Set out time each day/week for spinning, weaving, knitting/crochet. Keep up with laundry and housework. Plan time for research and revision of the J2B articles on the various trades. Research tapestry techniques and incorporate into warp weighted project. Time in evening for updating facebook, blog, and food journal.
Goals:
Spinning--finish spinning the tussah and dye the resulting yarn. (get more bobbins)
Weaving:
Begin a warp weighted project for J2B this winter. Begin it on a separate beam and tie the beam to the J2B loom later. (Need to make weights.)
Make a Greek key, a flower, or a palm tree design in a contrasting color on the hems and the sleeves? This is rather ambitious.
Knitting: finish scarf and hat for Anna. Socks for Matthew, Scott and Lenore for camp.
Deadline for socks: August 1st. Deadline for scarf and hat: September 30th.
I want to work on a few things.
I'm trying to lose weight, and I'm considering weight loss surgery as part of that. I need to lose between 130 to 150 lbs. I need to be a lot more active than I have been. I'm already cutting my diet, but I find I'm cheating.
I intend to go to Curves at least 3 days a week, even if Ashley IS there.
Spend a little while in the pool every day--that's IN the pool, not watching the kids in the pool.
Keep busy.
Daily scripture reading. Curves/Exercise. Menus. Drink water constantly. Set out time each day/week for spinning, weaving, knitting/crochet. Keep up with laundry and housework. Plan time for research and revision of the J2B articles on the various trades. Research tapestry techniques and incorporate into warp weighted project. Time in evening for updating facebook, blog, and food journal.
Goals:
Spinning--finish spinning the tussah and dye the resulting yarn. (get more bobbins)
Weaving:
Begin a warp weighted project for J2B this winter. Begin it on a separate beam and tie the beam to the J2B loom later. (Need to make weights.)
Make a Greek key, a flower, or a palm tree design in a contrasting color on the hems and the sleeves? This is rather ambitious.
Knitting: finish scarf and hat for Anna. Socks for Matthew, Scott and Lenore for camp.
Deadline for socks: August 1st. Deadline for scarf and hat: September 30th.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Knitting the Cable luxe maxi (Lion Brand yarn pattern) in the round
6/17/10
I decided to post my notes on my blog about this, I had them on ravelry, but I think I can link to there from here. So in case anyone wants to do the same thing(knit the Cable Luxe Maxi pattern in the round) and, like me, hasn't much of a clue how to go on, maybe this can help. I've mostly done crochet in the round.
I ordered a couple more cables and a pair of size 7 needle tips from Knit Picks. They haven't come in yet, perhaps later this week or next. I went down to Joann's and got more stitch markers and a needle size gage thingy. The jewelry beader in me wants to make better stitch markers, but I really want to finish this dress and I can't allow my ADD tendencies make me lose focus. Squirrel!
So: What I've done so far.
I've made the cable yoke and sewn the ends together.
I'm picking up the stitches on one side of the yoke, marking every 20 with a stitch marker. I'm all the way around.
Now I have to decide how best to proceed from here in the round. I'll be knitting the sleeves and the front and back at the same time, and I'm not sure how to work that...perhaps I'm thinking too far ahead, because the separation for the sleeves won't come for another several rows.
The next row is the foundation row and it's supposed to be the "wrong side". I think I'll knit the wrong sides on the right side, purl where it says knit and knit where it says purl. I hope my math is right on the stitches for each side. It's almost 8:30 and time to stop this and get my daughter to school.
Audrey
I decided to post my notes on my blog about this, I had them on ravelry, but I think I can link to there from here. So in case anyone wants to do the same thing(knit the Cable Luxe Maxi pattern in the round) and, like me, hasn't much of a clue how to go on, maybe this can help. I've mostly done crochet in the round.
I ordered a couple more cables and a pair of size 7 needle tips from Knit Picks. They haven't come in yet, perhaps later this week or next. I went down to Joann's and got more stitch markers and a needle size gage thingy. The jewelry beader in me wants to make better stitch markers, but I really want to finish this dress and I can't allow my ADD tendencies make me lose focus. Squirrel!
So: What I've done so far.
I've made the cable yoke and sewn the ends together.
I'm picking up the stitches on one side of the yoke, marking every 20 with a stitch marker. I'm all the way around.
Now I have to decide how best to proceed from here in the round. I'll be knitting the sleeves and the front and back at the same time, and I'm not sure how to work that...perhaps I'm thinking too far ahead, because the separation for the sleeves won't come for another several rows.
The next row is the foundation row and it's supposed to be the "wrong side". I think I'll knit the wrong sides on the right side, purl where it says knit and knit where it says purl. I hope my math is right on the stitches for each side. It's almost 8:30 and time to stop this and get my daughter to school.
Audrey
Thursday, March 5, 2009
How to make rag strips from a plastic grocery bag
You will need:
plastic grocery bags
scissors (or one of those coupon zippy cutter thingies)
a magic marker (sharpie type)
cutting mat(optional, but you don't want to get sharpie on the dining table)
ruler(go borrow one of your kids' from their school supplies)
Okay. First, find a plastic grocery bag. Make sure it is clean. If it has holes in it, that isn't as much of a problem unless you are a perfectionist.
Cut off the handles of the plastic bag as evenly as you can (see note about perfectionists, above).
Cut down the sides (Not the bottom, the sides!) of the plastic bag and open it out on the cutting surface(I used my ironing board).
Take the ruler and mark off 1 inch increments, then draw a line with the sharpie connecting the "dots."
Cut the bag on the lines.
To connect the strips:
Fold one end of a strip over about one inch and clip with the scissors perpendicular to the fold. Do the same on the other end. Repeat for each strip. Each strip should have a vertical snip hole in each end.
Next:
Bring one end of a strip("A") through the clip hole in an end of a second strip("B").
Here's the tricky part:
We have strip A sticking through the clip hole, (say an inch or two) in strip B.
Take the other end of strip A and bring it all the way through the snip hole of in the end of A which is inserted in strip B.
The resulting "bag yarn" takes a fairly large crochet hook: at least a size N, or larger.
Some notes:
Any pattern can be used with any yarn, but I wouldn't want a sweater from this kind. Since the bags come in different colors, you can make designs if you can collect enough colored bags. I did make a door mat awhile back with the grocery bag yarns. The rugs are very nice for a mud room, because you can take them out and hose them off to clean them.
I hope this makes sense.
Audrey
plastic grocery bags
scissors (or one of those coupon zippy cutter thingies)
a magic marker (sharpie type)
cutting mat(optional, but you don't want to get sharpie on the dining table)
ruler(go borrow one of your kids' from their school supplies)
Okay. First, find a plastic grocery bag. Make sure it is clean. If it has holes in it, that isn't as much of a problem unless you are a perfectionist.
Cut off the handles of the plastic bag as evenly as you can (see note about perfectionists, above).
Cut down the sides (Not the bottom, the sides!) of the plastic bag and open it out on the cutting surface(I used my ironing board).
Take the ruler and mark off 1 inch increments, then draw a line with the sharpie connecting the "dots."
Cut the bag on the lines.
To connect the strips:
Fold one end of a strip over about one inch and clip with the scissors perpendicular to the fold. Do the same on the other end. Repeat for each strip. Each strip should have a vertical snip hole in each end.
Next:
Bring one end of a strip("A") through the clip hole in an end of a second strip("B").
Here's the tricky part:
We have strip A sticking through the clip hole, (say an inch or two) in strip B.
Take the other end of strip A and bring it all the way through the snip hole of in the end of A which is inserted in strip B.
The resulting "bag yarn" takes a fairly large crochet hook: at least a size N, or larger.
Some notes:
Any pattern can be used with any yarn, but I wouldn't want a sweater from this kind. Since the bags come in different colors, you can make designs if you can collect enough colored bags. I did make a door mat awhile back with the grocery bag yarns. The rugs are very nice for a mud room, because you can take them out and hose them off to clean them.
I hope this makes sense.
Audrey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)