Starting the New Year Off With Old Lessons

So, I started the year repeating my mantra that I cajole my students with: sample, sample, sample! It’s always at the time when one is most pressed, that the temptation to skip this important step is most alluring. But let me tell you it just isn’t a time saver to not sample.

In this case, I was intent on getting a publishable-quality piece ready for my Knitting Daily taping I was going to be doing at TNNA last week. I had used the yarns before in a different application and I thought they would readily full, or bloom.

I wanted to set them for this project in a single heddle. I also wanted to warp up the loom for two scarves, one to weave off as a finished piece and the other to leave on the loom as a work in progress.

I started with a 10 e.p.i. sett and I could tell right away that the weave looked way too loose. I decided to cut off 4” of woven fabric and wash it to see if my hunch was correct. Sure enough, it barely held together, even with vigorous washing. It’s easy enough, if a little awkward to re-thread the loom. But this was quickly done in a 12-dent reed inserted in my second slot on the Flip Loom, removing threads one at a time from the 10-dent heddle and inserting them in the 12-dent. Again, the weave just didn’t look tight enough and the float structure didn’t curve in the way I had envisioned it. Again, there was still sufficient length to cut off a piece and wash it.

(By the way, all of the above was being done for me by our returning intern, Angela Johnson—who gained quite a bit experience with rigid heddle reed threading.) We washed this sample a little too vigorously and ended up with a matted mess—at least I learned that this yarn could not only bloom more fully than I thought it would on my first sample but that it could also be taken to the extreme of felting. This sample told me I did need to thread the yarn in two 8-dent heddles. Now, my weaving was too narrow—and we had to add additional yarn to the edges to bring it back into scarf-width range.

In a way you could say, all the iterations were sampling, and I did end up with a piece that I’m pleased as punch about, but I did loose the second scarf I had planned to leave on the loom. Instead my demonstration scarf barely fit beam to beam.

I show you my tests as well as the finished piece. Look for the finished scarf with instructions this summer as a free project on Knitting Daily TV, probably in July, when my taping about using a pick-up stick appears. Also on this program we mention my new book “The Weavers Idea Book: Creative Cloth from the Rigid Heddle Loom” (Interweave Press), to be released some time late summer or early fall.

The Gift of Time

Maggie Wallace spun this skein from corriedale on a Schacht Matchless Spinning Wheel. We give Maggie A+ for her clever tag.

We are packing up the entries for our I Made It on My Schacht Contest. It is time to get things returned to their respective owners, but I’ve felt a certain spirit around the office surrounded by yarn and weaving from weavers and spinners across the country and even the sea. It’s sad, like sending an old friend off, to see these things go.

One area of the exhibit that cheers me every day is our display of children’s weaving and skeins, which we accompanied with photos and stories. I like the engagement I see in their photos, and their stories mostly concern how a special adult in their lives taught them to weave or spin. I can't help but think how lucky these kids are to have someone who took the time to share their special skill with them. As much as I’d like for each and every one of these young people to become a weaver or spinner, I know they all won’t. But what I do know is that they’ve had memorable experience, a unique time, an opportunity. Somehow this seems mighty powerful. I thank all the adults in these kid’s lives for finding the time to make their entries possible.

Note:
I’m photographing all of the pieces and will post a show of the exhibit on our website sometime in late January.

Schacht Standard Loom for Weavolution Auction

Here's a great way to help a cause and get a new Schacht Loom in the process! Weavolution, the new on-line weaving community, is holding an on-line Ebay auction fundraiser featuring a one-of-a-kind special edition Schacht Standard Floor Loom. Check it out for a great deal and a worthy cause.

Below is Weavolution's notice on their website.
Between November 21st to December 1st, Weavolution is auctioning a brand new limited edition Weavolution Schacht Standard Floor Loom. Made of hard maple, this 36” low-castle jack floor loom has 4-shafts and the capability to add four more*. Included are all the wonderful features Schacht floor looms are known for such as a folding back beam for easy threading, a brake system that allows precise tension control, an easy treadle tie-up arrangement, light treadling action, friction reducing aluminum shaft channels, and an adjustable open-sided beater. You’ll find this loom a joy to weave on!

This is currently the ONLY Schacht floor loom with the Weavolution logo burnished on the loom. It is absolutely a one-of-a-kind loom. The loom can be seen here and will be on eBay from November 21 to December 1. There is a reserve set for this loom which must be met before it sells.

Future Weavers of America*.... *and embroiderers.

Mollie Baker


Nicole Nieweg

Two of our guests show off their declarations of passion

Some days ago we had the fibers class at CSU visit the factory for a tour of the facilities as well as to see our “I Made It On My Schacht” show. We’re still feeling light hearted…We loved the energy of these young students; their enthusiasm was infectious. It was also exciting to see young people passionate about weaving and spinning.

So cute--I just had to share

Not everyone has an art cake maker in the office. But we've got Christy--and boy oh boy can she come up with some delightfully clever cakes. Here's what she created for my birthday last week.

Join the Cricket Club

Gail and Rachel, mother and daughter, weaving on Cricket Looms.

Because of the tremendous interest in our Cricket loom, our very own Melissa has started a Cricket Club on Ravelry. This is the place to share your enthusiasm for rigid heddle weaving, your projects, get ideas, helpful hints, and become a part of the Cricket Loom weaving community. We've been hearing that people can't resist the Cricket due to its cuteness--as well as being easy as pie to use and take along, as well as super affordable.

Just go to www.Ravelry.com and join The Cricket Club Group. And if you don't know what Ravelry is, it's an on-line community of fiber enthusiasts. You can get patterns, information, enthusiasm with like minded souls. It's like Facebook for fiberholics.

Happy Weaving! chirp, chirp.

Join the Cricket Club