Yarn Fun Box and a Mixing Bowl

Box of fun just waiting to happen! I bought the large ball of Chunky yarn and the gold and beige Maysville cotton warp on the far right separately. The rest is a variety of colors and textures in wools and acrylics that came in a grab box (I didn't know exactly what I was getting). All ordered from Dick Blick Art Supplies.

 

 

Now I get to figure out what to do with them! Yay!

 

I am currently warping my loom with the bronze gold Maysville 8/2 cotton yarn for a sampler. Then I'll go from there!

 

I saw some of the yarn bowls on Etsy and thought to myself that they were really fun and useful, that I'd like to have one. Instead of buying one, I'm going to make one out of paper clay at some point, but for the time being I'm using a 64 year old large ironstone mixing bowl that my mom got at her wedding shower that many years ago. It also happens to be the same age as me, and I've always loved it. She was going to toss it out, so I brought it home with me. It makes a wonderful yarn bowl that holds cones, tubes, or balls, with plenty of room, and it keeps them from turning over or rolling all over the floor when I'm warping or crocheting, plus it's decorative.  

 

 

Sorry about the picture quality, but I was in a hurry! :/ Hard to see the yarn coming up out of the bowl and onto the loom, but it's there!

 

 

My husband also suggested that I could turn a flower pot with a hole in the bottom to pull the yarn through, over the yarn to keep it from rolling around, or use one of those pots with holes in the sides for hen and chicken cacti. Great ideas! Much cheaper than ceramic ones, but maybe not as cute or pretty though!

 

My work space is currently in such disarray that I don't have space for art and stuff, but I'm beginning to have withdrawals and a yearning to try out those new Liquitex Open acrylics that I bought a few weeks ago on my Gelli print plate. Stay tuned! :) 

Lessons Learned the Hard Way-Part 2 (weaving)

continued from previous post...

I had a heck of a time weaving this, as when I untangled the mess that had dumped on the floor during warping, and re-warped it some of the threads got crossed. I thought I got them untangled and straightened out during the rolling up on the apron bar process with the paper rolled in between, only to discover that the tension in some threads was much looser than others and I had failed to get some of them around the apron bar altogether, which created many problems during the weaving fun. I had encountered many dropped and picked up threads along the way and had to un-weave and re-weave many rows, some I caught right away and some not until the end. Couldn't do much about those! lol

I ran out of the weft thread I was using to begin with, so I skipped up on the warp threads and started using a different weft yarn. Up until now I had been using all Peaches and Crème cotton yarn, but for the last part I used a variegated acrylic Red Heart yarn and above is what I had at the end of the warp length.

I didn't leave a long enough skip on the warp. When I cut it into, the fringe was so short on these ends that it was difficult to knot them off to keep it from raveling. I'm learning!

After I cut them in two. See how short the fringe on one end is? Anyway, I wound up with a long, very soft, scarf and a square one too.

Front side, 12x14" after wet finishing. A few boo boos on the back, but looks ok on the front. Will probably lose the fringe before putting it to use. Could make a cushion cover!

 

 

Back of the long piece, which is about 44x14", showing some of the bobbles. A few rows of weft accidentally got two lines woven through, which accounts for the thicker lines. These I didn't see until after the fact, but I think they add to the texture and design of the front. Some of the threads had long spaces where I missed picking them up, so I clipped them, took a needle, and wove them in the best I could that way. I also had to tighten up some of the loose loops and weave in loose ends.

 

 

The front side after wet finishing. It will make a good piano bench cover maybe?

 

I made a lot of mistakes while I was weaving this piece, and I got really frustrated with it and almost ditched it at one point, but I refused to let it beat me and stuck with it until the end. I'm happy I did, because I really learned a lot of valuable lessons on it, plus I used up some of my scrap yarn stash.

 

Lessons learned the hard way always tend to stick with one, don't they? And experience really is the best teacher.  I now know what to watch out for and pay close attention to the next time. :)

 

Shared on Creative Every Day, where you can find many different artistic styles and blogs just by clicking on a picture!

Lessons Learned The Hard Way -Part 1 (weaving)

Yippers, I'm still learning to weave on my Cricket loom and having a blast! I agree that this is a great first heddle loom to learn on before going on to the bigger floor or table looms. The Cricket teaches you how to warp and then to work a heddle while weaving. Like everything else, it does take practice and having your mind on what you're doing.

 

Okay, so I wanted to start a new weaving, but I couldn't decide on a project to aim for, so I decided to just warp the Cricket with extra long threads, and just practice weaving to use up some of the yarns I had on hand to weave a long piece of fabric, which can be cut up into smaller projects if I want. That was my first mistake, but the biggest mistake was, being the inexperienced weaver that I am, I got the bright idea to thread each slot and each hole as I went, with DOUBLE threads.

I had never warped with more than one color before either. This time I decided to do the sides in yellow stripes with a large middle stripe of off white speckled. All yarn used in this project is Peaches & Crème 100% cotton 4-ply, medium weight, which I got at Wal-Mart. After counting out and marking how wide each stripe would be, I pulled the yellow DOUBLE threads about 8-9 feet across the living room to my warping pole, which was clamped to a second wooden tv tray. Yellow stripe left side, done. Got over half way across with the off white speckled and ran out of yarn. The cone was empty! :o

My eyes fell on a skein of plain white, so I tied that onto the speckled DOUBLE yarn and kept warping...til I ran out of white. :/ Oh, well, why not use the rest of the skein of hombre pink up while I'm at it, so I tied that onto the white and finished out the middle stripe.

But I get ahead of myself! Being a rank amateur at this, I did not think about the LONG lengths of DOUBLE yarns needing a support of some kind in the middle to keep them from sagging down from the weight, and about the time I started warping with the pink, it happened.

The warping pole, clamp, yarn, and all, came off the table and dumped all those yarn loops in a pile in the floor. I have to confess that I did talk a little ugly, and for a brief moment considered taking all the yarn off and starting from scratch on the warping, this time with SINGLE threads, but I was determined that it wasn't going to beat me. :{

I re-clamped the pole to the table, thought I got all the untangled warp loops back over it, not necessarily in the order they were in to start with (my thinking was that I was going to cut them off the pole later anyway), and continued the pink stripe to where the planned yellow stripe started, and then finished the yellow stripe on the right side. It's 15" across. I never experiment on small stuff. That would be too simple! :/

Finally, all the DOUBLE threads were pulled through and both TV trays were leaning inward from the yarn weight, but now I could start winding the warp onto the loom. I carefully lifted the warp loops off the pole and cut the loops in two, which I straightened out like a giant pony tail, tied a large overhand knot in the end for safe keeping and prepared to start rolling on to the back apron bar.

Winding the threads through the heddle was a whole other adventure in itself. The threads had gotten crossed and what not when they dumped on the floor, so I had to keep combing through them with my fingers to straighten them out enough to go through the slots and holes as I wound it onto the back apron bar for weaving. Trust me, it was not easy to keep all those DOUBLE threads winding over the paper winding over the apron bar either. :o

It took a while, but I finally got it all rolled on, and the ends separated and tied around the front apron bar. There was a pile of those to tie off too! But I got er done! Yay!

Then I sat in awe and looked at my whole evening's worth of work and wondered what ever possessed me, a beginner, to attempt such a thing as DOUBLE threads. But that was only the beginning of the adventure.

I now wish I had made pictures of the warping process, but at the time I didn't plan on sharing the details of my misadventures on this project.

To be continued...

Shared on Creative Every Day, where you can see many different artists work and blogs just by clicking a picture!

Strapless Woven Bag (weaving)

 

 

This is a bag (lacking the strap) I made from the very first piece I wove (first pic) when I had no idea at all of what I was doing, other than making a piece of fabric from yarns that I had on hand.

I used a cotton yarn (Peaches & Crème) for the warp and a thicker acrylic yarn for the weft. I don't know if this was such a good idea or not, but the main problem I had when I took it off the loom was that I didn't keep the heddle really straight when I beat the weft into place, and the selvages were not straight, so the overall shape of the fabric was kind of crooked.

I had problems when I sewed it up with one side being longer than the other and kind of curvy, but I managed to get the bag fairly straight. I cut the fringe short and left it on for embellishment. Both sides are alike, and I will probably add a lining too, when I decide what kind of strap I want to add.

I think it will be handy for craft supplies or something. Good experience! I'm learning! :)

First Project Sewn From My Own Hand Woven Fabric

I'm still learning and practicing weaving on my small Cricket loom, and having fun doing it. Remember this woven piece that I shared a few days ago? It was my third weaving off the Cricket.

 

I'm not real fond of the color. It's a little too much for me, so I decided to use it as my learning piece to sew with...



 

 

and a tote bag is what I decided to make with it. First tote bag, and I researched some on the web, then went my own way, as far as a pattern and directions. I folded the fabric up from the end enough to leave room for a flap, so the bag wouldn't be too deep and because at the time I wasn't sure how to cut up the fabric and keep it from raveling on me.

 

I was a little lazy, and I am not a great seamstress, so I layed the lining on fabric and sewed the side seams all at the same time, plus I sewed across the corners to give it a little depth. This left raw seams down the sides on the inside, which is not too attractive, but it works. I should also mention that before I did anything else I zigzag stitched around all the edges on the machine to help keep it from raveling.

I have all kinds of fabric pieces, but none of them were big enough for a lining, and since I'm just learning and practicing, I found an old bed sheet and cut a lining out of it. I wouldn't have chosen this pattern for this project, but it also works. I folded the edges over the lining and machine stitched them down for the flap.

 

This is the back. I made the shoulder strap by making a thick length of each color yarn (Peaches and Crème solid yellow and yellow/pink/orange variegated), twisting each separately, then twisting them together, and tying a knot, leaving a tassel. I machine stitched an end to each side, making the strap, added a large pink button on the flap for decoration, and called it done! I am now wondering about the large pink button though. :/

 

Finished size is 10" wide, 12" high, 2" front to back, with a 36" strap

 

I learned on this one what not to do on the next one! However, this one is very usable. :)

 

The time I'm spending on my weaving practice is not to say that I'm neglecting my art and other projects. I've been doing some quirky doodle sketches along, and I've just finished the 3rd book in the Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson, which I enjoyed immensely, plus a book written by an old classmate of mine, October Snow and Other Stories by Caldwell Davis.

 

Next on my reading list is Rod Stewart's autobiography. I can tell by sampling it that it's going to be good. I love his sense of humor.  I've been listening to his new CD too and it's awesome! Can you tell I'm a fan? :)

 

Life is also constantly happening in all sorts of unexpected ways, keeping me busy. I can not say that the house work is not neglected. Stuff and dust bunnies have all but run us out since hubby retired. :o

 

It's all good though, and I hope, in some way, I made you smile! :)

Weaving and Peonies...



It's a beautiful, but chilly, morning here on Rabbit Hop (yep! It's a real place! :)). I've been busy with life and not getting much creative stuff done...or housework either. I have several projects to the midway point that I hope to get finished soon. In the meantime, I'm still playing with my Cricket loom. I love it, but now I'm wishing I'd splurged for a few more dollars and gotten a bigger one than the 15". After the pieces are wet finished they shrink down to 12-13", at least the cotton Peaches and Crème yarn I used did. It's a good size for placemats, runners, etc., but too narrow for rugs and other projects without having to sew fabric pieces together, which we all know, I dislike intensely. :/

 

You can always make it smaller on a bigger loom, but you can't make something larger in one piece than the loom you're working on. Maybe if I get good enough on the 15" Santa will bring me a bigger one in a year or two. Meanwhile, I'll keep practicing on the one I have! Practice does make one better! :)

 

 

So this is my third project on the Cricket all warped, shuttle loaded, and ready to weave. I am so proud of myself. I warped it this time without having to check the directions once. See? I'm already getting better! :) Peaches and Crème yarn, yellow warped with pink, orange, & yellow variegated weaving. Let the fun begin!

 

This is once again the basic plain weave stitch. I planned on learning a different weave for this project, but never could find something that I was comfortable trying just yet. My plans often go awry.

 

I also planned for this to be a small rug for the bedroom...

 

however, it was too narrow to look right, so I'll have to do something else with it. This is the finished piece, before the wet finish, removal of the base yarn, and doing something with the fringe. I may try it as a runner for the dresser in my bedroom. The colors match. Anyway, I now have three lengths of woven fabric, and I'm thinking I'll get out the sewing machine and see what I can do with them. We'll see what they turn into. Wish me luck! :)

 

 

I also wanted to share my white peonies with you. I only have one puny little bush. The rocky clay dirt in our yard doesn't lend itself well to growing flowers, or anything else much for that matter, but somehow, this little bush keeps fighting to survive. The white peonies are my favorite flowers.

 

 

I LOVE their scent!

 

My maternal grandmother had peonies, both the white and the rose colored. She knew how much I loved them, and every Spring she would give me the first bloom. When she was no longer able to pick it for me, she would tell me it was there, to go get it. After she was gone, Papa would pick the first one for me, and he gave me roots off hers to start my own, which I did. I enjoyed it for many years and thought of them every time it bloomed (I think of them every day, but especially when the white peonies bloom). The bush eventually died, due to a very hot and dry summer, but I bought a new one and planted it in a different place. Some springs it really struggles to produce even 2-3 blooms and some times it produces many, like this year. I continue to love it, and my grandparents, whom I still miss every day. The white peonies produce more than gorgeous blooms. They produce lovely memories.

Thank you so much for visiting! I hope you enjoyed it and that something I said made you smile. :)

2nd Cricket Loom Weaving, Quick sketches, and A Book

Since I got the first attempt at a tote bag fabric a little short, I decided to try another one. The only weave I know, so far, is plain weave, and this time I used the same size cotton yarn (Peaches and Crème, I think) for both the warp and the weft. I got this one a little longer than needed, and it wound up narrower than the first one. This fabric is about 41" x 12" after it was washed and not counting the fringe.

 

The fabric has been washed and dried here, but I haven't pressed it or smoothed the fringe back out yet. I haven't decided whether it's going to be part of the bag or not. This piece could also make a table runner for a small table or a scarf for a smaller table where it hangs off the sides. We'll see. :)

 

I also did a quick sketch of a crow sitting in a dead tree with a marker that is getting low on ink. I'm thinking about making a stamp with him.

 

A different quick sketch, which didn't turn out too well, but nevertheless I got some sketching in for the day. :)

 

Same woven piece. All I have to do now is press it, zigzag stitch around the edges to help keep it from raveling (if I'm going to make it into a bag), decide what to do about the fringe, and sew it into a bag, or whatever  I decide on.

 

A close up of the plain weaving. The warp yarn is off white with little smidgets of color here and there, and the weft yarn is ombre shades of brown. I love that where the colors cross it forms tiny crosses all over the piece.

 

I'm really wanting to warp the Cricket for another piece, however, there's a cone of butter yellow yarn at Wal-Mart that I've been lusting after for a while, but there is so much yarn on it I thought I'd never use it all. Since I now have the Cricket though, it's not a problem. Now the question is whether to wait til I go to Wal-Mart and get the yellow thread or go ahead and start another weaving with what I already have and use the yellow for the next project. Decisions! Decisions! :)

 

While I've been practicing weaving, I've also read the first two books in the Millennium Series Trilogy by Stieg Larson. I know, I'm way behind everyone else. Now that I'm reading them, I find them very hard to put down and can't wait to start the third one, "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest". I've seen all three movies, two of them subtitled too. I guess you could say I'm really enjoying the characters and the writing. :)

 

Anyway, hubby has gone fishing with his dad and his cousin, and I need to do some much needed cleaning out. Now to decide whether to do some de-cluttering, start the third Millennium novel, do some laundry and warp the Cricket. Hmmmmm...