Meanderings of a Mermaid

Above are three images of the original pattern involved in this translation. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Three catalognes for the bed, pattern with large checks #A-M-4 The second image shows the tie up at top. One treadle is tied of shafts 2 and 4 and another treadle to 1 and 3. The treadling is shown beneath that, as alternating from the 1/3 treadle to the 2/4 treadle. Threading is shown in the third image.  Thread heddles in shafts 1,2, 3 and 4 repeatedly across the desired width. Reed: 12 dents per inch. 2 threads per dent. Warp: cotton 2/16 Weft: rag strips Pattern #1 Warp sequence: 120 threads pale green 24 threads white 120 threads medium rose 24 threads white. Repeat to get the size you want. Weft: rags pale green Rags white Rags pale rose. Weave in a manner to form checks. Pattern #2 Warp sequence: 144 threads yellow 24 threads white. Repeat to get the size you want. Weft: rags yellow Rags white. Weave in a manner to form checks . Pattern #...

Well I have been trying to wait for sunny days for this photography but even when the forecast calls for clear weather, we don't have it! So in an attempt to catch up a little with some finished objects and things still underway, here goes. Seeing as how we were trapped indoors for a couple of days (felt much longer) by freezing rain, I spent part of one day re-organizing the gear. Yes I seem to do this a lot. As new equipment arrives, and I start to use it, I determine where the lighting is the best and other factors play a role too. In this case, I want to be able to use the same weaving bench at either loom. So the Medico (back) and the Artisat are now side by side. Here is a limited image of the overshot I am attempting. I haven't woven enough length yet with the same weft threads to really show much. As with all my weaving forays I am learning a lot as I go. These batts are from some wool fiber that has been dyed with koolaid. I carded them just once, in preparat...

A lot of crafty things are happening. Because I am so busy in the studio, not a lot of time is spent getting online. I have started to flick and card the white Rambouillet fleece. This was so heavy with lanolin that I have washed it on two separate occasions. So far the carding is going well, albeit slowly. Stay tuned for photos of that. I will be spinning it for a fancy sweater or jacket project.  I probably posted pictures of this quilt top last summer. At that point I had the central blue parts done.  The graphic design is called Tippicanoe. I am going with a marine theme for this quilt. It is a king sized coverlet. This summer so far I have added the narrow green frame around the blue blocks. Then I still wanted it wider, and so I found this medium brown. Plus I had just enough of the yellow and orange fabrics, from the centre of the canoes, to use in a big block in each corner. Today I did most of the machine quilting of this blanket. That is not an easy task...

 So when I first got the Mighty Wolf loom with its eight shafts, I wove a long piece of cloth just to get the hang of it. I was using up all manner of yarn I had lying around. With the pattern draft and spacing I had selected, the very thickest cotton yarns turned out the best. So today I cut up the one long fabric into different pieces. I made a couple of tote bags. This first one I am calling Mocha Mint. I wove the outer fabric. The lining is linen I had left over from making drapes. The handles are made from the curtain tie backs and the striped strap I added to the handle is from a thrift store pile of ribbons and bands.  You might not be able to see it on the blue bands, but on one the woven pattern is Xs and on the other one it is Os. One is the reverse side of the other. So I called this tote, Xs and Os. And this is a little knitted piece I just finished. I had a little bit of green wool, and came across a pattern I quite liked. I just knit until I ran out of t...

 How's this for a cool little gadget? I bought it recently for a few dollars to have as a decoration. It is from an old ribbon weaving loom. The wooden box or base was mounted vertically on the front of a giant loom, with the thread feeding out the hole in the top of the handle. The base of the shuttle is notched and a cog wheel adjusts the angle of the shuttle on the base. As I hold the smooth, worn handle, I wonder about how many miles of ribbon were woven.  I have been remiss at photographing completed projects (as all my friends are informing me) so I am going to try to catch up. But as you all know I would rather be crafting.... Above is a piece that came off the loom last night. Blue cotton warp, with alternating bright green and sage green weft segments. It is a balanced twill pattern. I had two crossed threads at the start and one warp thread broke midway into the weaving. Both are easy fixes. Detail of the twill above. The warp is running left-right. Thi...