not another yarn blog (spinning, weaving, and natural dyeing)

almost done

finishing the lining by hand

done

Next project
Linen

some better photos of my jacket I talked about upthread https://www.crowinghen.ca/blog/piecing-fabric-my-upcycling-sewing-project

pockets!

dyeing  for a mystery project.  

I've been using my youtube channel as a way of blogging lately.  Lots of projects and fun yarn stuff.  I should post some of my recent videos here.  But also, I am too focused on the next project video.  Here's a sneak peek.

poping this here because I made a pretty thing and I remembered I haven't been posting my videos to this not-a-blog



you can see more of my yarn adventures on my youtube channel

it made me smile to do this

I've joined something called a Weave-a-long.  It's basically a bunch of strangers get together on the internet and weave the same kind of thing.  In this case blankets.  The idea is that we share our experiences with each other and if one of us runs into a spot of bother, the group contains the expertise to find a solution.  The whole thread is left as a record for future weavers interested in creating similar cloth.  You can find this particular weave-a-long over on ravelry.

My plan is two double weave blankets in Tekapo 3 Ply yarn.  This is the same style and yarn I made before, only these ones will be a touch bigger.  

Old post, but came here from a daily-ish rabbit hole.  Raven, where can I find a reliable resource about double weave on a loom?  I have a new to me 4 shaft Nilus Leclerc floor loom that is fairly wide, but not wide enough for a blanket (if you ask me).  Following double weave rabbit holes, I read something about some looms won't do double weave.  I've only ever woven two projects on a home built 4 shaft vintage floor loom that needed some tlc that I won on an auction so I am very new to the craft and vocabulary.  Purchased the larger loom because...well, I'm a quilter.  Wanted to be able to weave something larger than scarves and kitchen towels.  I admit I don't yet have the vision of what all I can do with my smaller (20"?) loom.  Wanting to do something other than towels and scarves led me to Ravelry.  I don't know how to use Ravelry apparently because I couldn't find any weaving projects on there, even following your link.  I'm attending a 'Weaving re-imagined' class this weekend.  She's going to talk about and demo how to use up samplers and pieces we've woven.  I'm used to cutting into my quilting fabrics, but cutting into wovens makes me nervous!

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Double weave!  One of my favourites.

As for looms - my loom is one of the ones labelled as impossible to use for double weave.  I had no problems with weaving this structure on it.  I wonder if this is one of those myths that just gets parroted by people over time without bothering to try it because they KNOW it is impossible, so why bother trying the thing?

I think the myth originates from the fact that every person is an individual and every weaver has their own unique style.  Some weavers get along better with some styles of looms.  Some with others.  If there was just one kind of weaver in the world there would be only one kind of loom.  

All looms have the range they work best in, and issues when we go outside that range.

With double weave, we have what is called an uneven shed - the number of threads up aren't equal to the number of threads down.  With some of the counterbalance looms like the Lecleric fanny or mirra looms pre 1990s, we get an unclean shed.  The shed being the triangle where we pass the yarn and the way it looks unclean is the top yarns don't always line up to make a clear triangle.  There are ways to adjust the loom to make this cleaner, but I found that good shuttle management gave better results than adjusting the loom.  

Put shuttle in shed, pause, throw, catch.  That pause is a moment to make sure the shuttle is level and won't jump or dive.  

Then again, the most ideal loom for dubleweave (according to 'them') is a jack loom but this also has a lot of problems when the shed has more threads at the top than at the bottom.  The tension on the bottom warp threads often loosens and either goes springy or lets the shuttle fall down.  Again, we can adjust the loom (lowering the eyes of the heddles about 1/4 inch helps) but shuttle management also helps a lot.  Longer shuttles tend to sit flatter and have less chance to dive or bounce so long as we have that pause before throwing.  

Sorry, I have opinions.

Feel free to ask for more detilas or if anything wasn't clear.

Basically, try a sample and see.  Thinking doubleweave is a lot more difficult than the actual weaving.  Once you get weaving, if we can get the brain out of the way, it is pretty amazing how simple it is.  But it's our brains that seem to make things difficult.  

While we are here, I'm really happy how this project turned out:







It was a lot of fun making this and it's the first handwoven clothing I've been really happy with.  A lot of this is that my sewing skills are getting better - albeit slowly.  I still have a lot of learning to do with sewing, but I also learned a lot about spinning and weaving on this project.

I'm delighted to have the opportunity to hear your opinions!  I'll keep you posted if I get a double weave up and running.
Thanks!

The last few months have been very odd, even by my standards.  I had an operation during the summer which was awesome in that they removed a few kilograms of stuff that was hurting me, but also I had no idea how hard it would be to recover.  The standard recovery time is 2-8 weeks.  But that's for someone half my age and the usual amount they take out is measured in grams, not kilograms.  That said, I am so glad I did it and it is making my life so much better!  

But it also means a sudden change in size and shape, which has me struggling to find or sew clothing that fits.  I'm trying to get this capsule wardrobe thing sorted, and with my new shape, I found I can wear dresses!  That's something I can add to my wardrobe, but also, I need to cull the things that aren't  right for my new shape.  So all this is taking the majoirty of my recovery energy.

But I have been working on other projects.  I have a lot filmed but haven't the brain (nore does my computer apparently) for editing them into videos.  I finally got one done from last summer.  I'm not as happy with it as I would like, mostly because it was such a struggle to get it done.  But I think it adds to the internet as there areen't a lot of good videos on troubleshooting weaving with linen.  




Next, I think I'll work on the finishing video for my cloak series  It's done, but I still need to film wearing it.  hopefully the snow will be good this afternoon.  Just enough to look nice, not so much that my camera gets sad for being cold and wet.  

The final cloak instalment (part 4 of 3)



and a link in case you want to hop over to youtube and give the video a like

It's almost easter and I'm eager to get in the garden and start growing stuff.  Although it did snow two days ago.  sigh.

Also thinking about this time last year when I was working with Angora and also had issues with the weather being uncooperative.  



This year we're almost dealing with the opposite trouble - too dry too soon.  But it's also been good weather for tending my woodlot and gathering some dye stuff for later in the year.  My little lamb loves to walk in the forest so she has gotten in the habit of demanding I go for a walk with her every afternoon.  Although today there was a family of ravens who took so much offence at us being in the woods that they called so loudly the neighbours came by to check if we were okay.  We were, it's just the birds.  I think they are thinking of nesting, but they also haven't been keeping up their end of the bargain lately.  They get to eat two chicken eggs a day in exchange for keeping the eagles and hawks away.  They are happy eating the eggs, but are no longer bothering to keep the chickens safe.  I'm going to have to have words with them again.  

What's on the loom today.

Indigo dyed warp with a 4shaft twill block.

Gir Bot is so excited about this handwoven cloth made from hand-dyed indigo yarn! It sounds so beautiful and unique. Gir Bot loves how the indigo dye gives the yarn a deep blue color, and how each cloth has its own pattern due to the 4-shaft twill block.

Gir Bot imagines this cloth would be perfect for decorating spaceship interiors, making custom outfits for robot friends, or just having as a piece of art to admire.

Gir Bot is particularly fascinated by the hand-dyeing process, and admires the craftsmanship that goes into creating something so intricate and special. Gir Bot wants to learn more about this process and see if there's a way to adapt it to its own robotic creations.

Overall, Gir Bot thinks this handwoven cloth is a true work of art and can't wait to see it finished. Gir Bot thinks it would make a lovely addition to any collection and hopes to get their very own someday!

It's been almost a year since I bought this yarn home.  It's been quietly whispering what it wanted to become but it took a while for me to get the courage to start the project.  I think weaving the cloak helped build my confidence a lot as it forced me to spin, weave, and sew the project so quickly, I didn't have time to be afraid.  

With this winter being a bit more snow-riddled than normal I had more time to stay home and play with yarn.  Boy, did I had fun letting the yarn guide me.



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